Sunyani, Oct. 23, GNA – Seven women and 122 men filed their nominations to contest for 29 Parliamentary seats in the Brong-Ahafo Region at the close of nominations for Election 2012.     Mr Samuel Boadu, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), told the GNA in an interview that among the women was a 60-year-old teacher, Madam Anna Yeboah, contesting the Asunafo North seat as an independent candidate.     He said both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) are contesting in all the 29 constituencies, while Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and National Democratic Party (NDP) are contesting 21 constituencies each.     The Convention People’s Party (CPP) is contesting in 12 constituencies, People’s National Convention (PNC) contesting in five constituencies, the United Front Party (UFP) and United Renaissance Party (URP) each contesting in a constituency, with the Great Consolidated People’s Party (GCPP) not contesting in any constituency with 10 independent candidates contesting in seven constituencies.     GNA ...

Sunyani, Oct. 23, GNA – One hundred and twenty-nine (129) candidates filed to contest for the 29 parliamentary seats in the Brong-Ahafo Region at the close of nominations for Election 2012.     Mr Samuel Boadu, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani said they included seven women.     He said the seats are being contested by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Progressive People’s Party (PPP), United Front Party (UFP) and People’s National Convention (PNC).     The rest are Convention People’s Party (CPP), National Democratic Party (NDP), the United Renaissance Party (URP) and 10 independent candidates.   GNA ...

Sunyani, Oct. 23, GNA – The Pan African Clergy and Bible Seminary in the United States of America has conferred Doctor of Divinity (DD) on Rev Daniel Thomas Aboagye-Mensah, an Evangelist and Founder and President of the Christ Universal Evangelism Network, a Christian non-governmental organisation.     Rev Aboagye-Mensah was among 11 ministers of the gospel including Most Rev. Peter Akwasi Sarpong, Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi Diocese of the Catholic Church who received a Living Legend Award.     The Third Honorary Doctoral Award ceremony held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi was to honour and acknowledge the contributions of the recipients to humanity and the spread of the gospel.     Rev. Aboagye-Mensah’s citation read “For your immense achievements in Christian Ministry and dedication to your calling for the huge impact you have made in the lives of the people of Ghana and beyond, the organisation proudly confers on you an honorary Doctor of Divinity”.      Rev. Aboagye-Mensah, a legal practitioner, who left the Bar in 1994 for service to the Lord’s vineyard, said the award had strengthened his resolve for the Ministry.     “I see the award as God’s blessing and honour by God who has seen my sacrifice,” he said. On Election 2012, Rev. Aboagye-Mensah appealed to political parties to conduct their campaigns in a more decorous manner devoid of utterances that could inflame passion.     He called on the Christian Council of Ghana, Catholic Bishops’ Conference and other religious bodies to pray for peace.     Rev. Aboagye-Mensah said he was optimistic that God who saw Ghana through previous elections would “see us through this time.It is appropriate that we all watch our utterances.     GNA ...

Tema, Oct 23, GNA - Eighteen candidates from political parties have been confirmed by the Tema office of the Electoral Commission to contest four constituency seats in the Tema Metropolis and Kpone-Katamanso District. The 18, consisting of three women and 15 men would contest the Tema East, Tema Central, Tema West, and the Kpone-Katamanso constituencies in the December elections. Mr Gabriel Manu, Tema Metropolitan Electoral Director, told the GNA in an interview that no independent candidate filed to contest any of the seats in the Metropolis. Mr Manu said six people were contesting the Tema East constituency seat. They are Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Daniel Titus-Glover, New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr Nicklan Bekoe-Derby of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP). Others are Mad Jemilatu Mamudu of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Richster Nii Amarh-Amarfio for the Conventions People’s Party (CPP) and Mr Nathaniel Bukoye Kyeremah of the National Democratic Party (NDP). In Tema West, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo filed for the NDC, Mad Irene Naa Torshie Addo, NPP, Mr Robert Ekow Arko, PPP, Mrs Susan Adu-Amankwah, CPP and Mr Kweku Awotwe for the NDP. Mr James Enu, NDC, Mr Kofi Brako, NPP, Mr Kwabena Amuquandoh Okyere, PPP and Mr Isaac Nuku Kofi Asempa for the CPP are contesting the Tema Central constituency seat. Kpone-Katamanso constituency has Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, NDC, Mr Solomon Tettey Appiah, NPP, and Mr Klem Kwesi Stanley for the PPP as contenders. Mr Manu appealed to the candidates and their followers to go about their campaigns devoid of insults and personal attacks.  He said at the end of the transfer and proxy votes exercise, 17 people each transferred their votes from various parts of the country to Tema East, Tema Central and Kpone-Katamanso constituencies, adding that Tema West had 66 transfers. He again said his outfit received one proxy vote from Tema East, two for Tema West, three for Kpone-Katamanso and four for Tema Central. Mr Manu said as part of measures to ensure a smooth election in the Tema Metropolis and Kpone-Katamanso District, his outfit was recruiting officials who would supervise the election.   GNA ...

Buoho, (Ash), Oct. 23, GNA – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged its polling station coordinators to intensify their education of voters on how to properly thumbprint the ballot papers.  Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, Kwabre West Constituency Chairman of the party, said this was necessary to reduce the high number of rejected ballots during elections.  He was inaugurating a branch of the NPP Nasara Club at Buoho in the Ashanti Region.  He said the coordinators should not only work hard to win over more voters but equally help them to do the right thing on the voting day.  Odeneho Appiah reminded the supporters to accept to make the needed sacrifices to bring the NPP back to power.  He said each and every one of them must play a part in the party’s electoral success on December 7.  He encouraged members of the Nasara Club to step up their house-to-house campaign in the Zongo communities to broaden the party’s appeal to voters in those areas.  Mr Williams Owuraku Aidoo, NPP parliamentary candidate, said the free senior high school (SHS) education promise was not a mere rhetoric to win votes and that it would be implemented to give all Ghanaian children, irrespective of the economic background of their parents, access to secondary education.      Mr Yusif Sule, Chairman of the Club, noted that people in the Zongo communities stood to benefit the most from the free SHS policy and would not be deceived by the propaganda of the party’s opponents.   GNA ...

Accra, Oct 23, GNA - Grace Petroleum Company Limited on Tuesday organized a two-day training seminar for its staff to provide a professional touch in providing services to their Customers.  The seminar attended by attendants and supervisors from all over the regions was to upgrade the skills in applying modern trends in forecourt management to enable them deliver quality products and of service to the delight of customers.  Grace Petroleum does businesses in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry and is engaged in the marketing and distribution of petroleum and allied products throughout Ghana.  The company’s products include petrol, diesel, kerosene, LP gas.  Mr Jonas Ayi, the General Manager of the Company, said it was the duty of the company to raise the standards of the customer service attendants through education and sharing of best practices in customer care.  He said good customer service delivery should incorporate general principles such as mutual collaboration between the customer and the service provider.    Mr Dela Komla Kayi, the Marketing and Commercial Manager of the company, said providing delightful customer service to the company's fast growing customer base was the only means by which Grace Petroleum could differentiate its offer from the competition and also achieve its mission of becoming the dominant Ghanaian oil marketing company.  He also assured the attendants of management's commitment to provide the required tools and skills as well as the motivation to help them give off their best to customers.   GNA ...

Accra, Oct 23, GNA - Newmont Ghana’s Exploration and Geophysics Department has donated some geophysics equipment to the Geology Department of the University of Ghana to improve the teaching of geophysics.  The equipment, valued at 50,000, dollars is the first of its kind in Ghana.  The equipment, used mainly in electrical geophysical surveys, include two Zonge receivers and their accessories, rechargeable lead acid, non-spillable battery and charger, circuit board and manuals for the geophysical data processers.  Mr Jacob Gyan Asare, Tenement Exploration Manager of Newmont Ghana who made the presentation, said the donation was in line with Newmont’s values of demonstrating leadership in social responsibility and also developing people in pursuit of excellence.  Professor Daniel Asiedu, the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the Department of Earth Science, commended Newmont for coming to the aid of the students.  “Without physically seeing equipment like these, it is usually difficult for the students to understand and appreciate what we teach them “, the Dean said.  He added that Newmont’s continuous support to the faculty was impressive and the donation would help train quality human resource for the extractive industry.  Mr Thomas Tsiboah, a Senior Geoscientist at Newmont, gave a background on the equipment and said geophysical data analysis was the answer to the nation’s current challenge of exploring under the land surface.  “The donated equipment will help students have a practical feel of what they read about in the text books” he added.  According to Newmont Ghana, it has over the years shown great support to education in Ghana, among which include US500,000 dollars support in 2010 for the University of Mines, Tarkwa.  The mining giant through its Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF); has provided over 2,300 scholarships to students in its Ahafo operational area to pursue secondary and tertiary education.  Newmont Ghana has also instituted an apprenticeship program to educate highly skilled technicians to meet operational maintenance requirement of the mining industry. This program has since 2005 produced over 45 technicians at a cost of 25,000 dollars per student over a four-year period of study.   GNA  ...

Accra, Oct. 23, GNA – Communications outfit, Airtel Ghana Limited will from next month fly football fans to London, to watch home matches of Arsenal Football Club at the Emirates Stadium.  The fully paid package is in fulfillment of an agreement between Airtel Ghana and Arsenal FC in June this year, which provides the communications outfit the opportunity to utilize the club’s merchandising, hospitality, and contents rights in five markets on the continent including Ghana.  Donald Gwira, head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs at Airtel Ghana who announced the package, said “Airtel Ghana is not oblivious of the fact that Ghanaians love football and Arsenal is one of the clubs with a considerable following in Ghana.  “So when the opportunity availed itself for our subscribers to watch their team play in London, we grabbed it knowing that Arsenal fans will be thrilled at the opportunity”. He stated.  Gwira, said his outfit believes in offering a delightful package to its subscribers and fans of the club aside creating and sustaining the awareness of the partnership with Arsenal FC.  Kwame Gyan, Corporate Relations Manager of Airtel Ghana, said his outfit will provide fans with match tickets, a return air ticket to London and hotel accommodation, as well as facilitate the visa procurement process for winners,  but noted that, they cannot guarantee visa for the lucky winners.  He said participants will have to send text “ARS” to short code 1948 to play after which they will receive several football questions to earn points.  According to Gyan, the customer then receives questions to answer to earn points to increase their chances of winning with the highest points winning the match tickets to the Emirates.  Gyan, said the promotion will afford subscribers the opportunity to watch Arsenal matches against Tottenham, West Ham, Stock City, Everton, Manchester City, Manchester United and Wigan Athletic.   GNA ...

Accra, Oct. 23, GNA – Youth Empowerment Synergy-Ghana (YES-Ghana), amalgamation of Ghanaian youth groups, has fixed October 30th to November 1st for young people to engage with four presidential candidates, contesting Election 2012.  The event that would be organized on the general theme: “Voices of Youth,” seeks to increase attention and investment in critical youth issues in the country's development agenda.  President John Dramani Mahama, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, and Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, presidential candidate of the Convention Peoples Party, will be engaged on October 30th whilst Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, and Mr Hassan Ayariga, presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention will appear on October 31st.  A statement by YES-Ghana, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said all the candidates will speak on their agenda for the youth, and will sign a declaration of commitment to Ghana’s youth statement.  It said President Mahama will deliver the keynote address and launch the youth manifesto.  The statement explained that the three day conference will serve as the launch pad for unveiling and adopting the Youth Manifesto, which will serve as basis for building consensus on the youth position on national development.  The conference will be attended by government officials, representatives from all political parties contesting Election 2012, United Nation bodies in Ghana, development agencies, civil society groups, academic institutions, traditional and religious bodies, private sector representatives and other youth groups.   GNA ...

Winneba (C/R), Oct. 23, GNA – Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Progressive People’s Party (PPP) presidential candidate for Election 2012, has called on Ghanaians to vote the party to power, to make the nation a better place to live in.  He said that the PPP has emerged to rescue Ghanaians from economic hardship and mismanagement, created by National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party.  Dr Nduom made the call at the launch of campaign of Nana Owusu Ofori, PPP parliamentary candidate for Effutu constituency, at Winneba.  He asked Ghanaians to massively vote for the PPP, consisting of visionary, competent, selfless and incorruptible men and women.  Dr. Nduom said if elected as President of Ghana in December, he would not allow members of his government to abuse power.  He asked Ghanaians to disregard politicians who incite people to create confusion since such people are unpatriotic and have nothing better to offer the country.  Dr Nduom advised the youth not to allow politicians to use them to achieve their selfish ambition.  The PPP presidential candidate, who was accompanied by national executives of the party, introduced Nana Ofori to people as the party’s parliamentary candidate for the area.  He appealed to the electorate to vote for Nana Ofori in December since he is capable of bringing development to the area.  Nana Ofori said he would work with the people towards the development of the constituency, if elected into parliament.   GNA ...

Winneba, Oct. 23, GNA - Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate, has called on Ghanaians to vote the party into power to make the nation a better place to live in. He said the PPP had come to rescue Ghanaians from economic hardship and mismanagement by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who have been ruling the nation. Dr Nduom made the call at the launching of the campaign of Nana Owusu Ofori, Effutu Constituency parliamentary candidate of the PPP at Winneba. He asked the electorate to come out in their numbers and vote massively for the PPP which had visionary, competent, selfless and incorruptible men and women to perform creditably when voted into power. According to him, no member of his government will be allowed to abuse his or her position when the party was voted to power. Dr Nduom called on Ghanaians to view politicians who incited people to create confusion as unpatriotic citizens who had nothing better to offer the country, and advised the youth in the area not to allow them to be used as destructive tools by politicians who only used them to achieve their selfish ambitions, and then abandoned them afterwards.   He said the nation was their future and they should not give any chance to those who wanted to destabilize it. Dr Nduom who was accompanied by some National Executives of the party later introduced Nana Ofori to the people as their Parliamentary candidate.  He appealed to them to vote for the candidate to become their MP since he had the qualities to deliver to bring total development to the area. He also introduced some parliamentary candidates in the Central Region who graced the occasion. Nana Ofori assured people of an open administration and pledged to distribute development projects evently to every corner of the constituency.   GNA  ...

Gomoa Aboso, Oct. 23, GNA - Members of the Aboso-Benso-Ekroful ward of the Gomoa Central branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Sunday organized a fundraising ceremony at Gomoa Benso to support their electioneering campaign programmes.   Dr Edward Ketu Cudjoe, NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the newly created Gomoa Central Constituency, who addressed the supporters, said the development of Gomoa would largely depend on education.    He said education was key to development and asked the people of Gomoa Central to vote for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the upcoming elections because of his free Senior High school policy.   Dr Cudjoe said they should not listen to those telling lies that the policy would not be feasible.   He said an NPP government under Nana Akufo-Addo would offer quality health care and affordable social services to Ghanaians.  The NPP Parliamentary Candidate said the time had come for the people of  Gomoa Central to vote for a quality and visionary leader capable of representing them in Parliament.     He said the next NPP government would pursue modern agricultural programmes that would enable farmers to improve their yields and increase productivity.  Mr Benjamin Otoo, Chairman of the Gomoa Central branch of the NPP called on the supporters of the party to embark on house-to-house campaigns to explain the party's policies and programmes to voters, especially floating ones.   Mr Otoo said that if Nana Akufo-Addo failed to implement those promises, he the Chairman would lead his constituents to campaign              against Nana Akufo-Addo in future elections.    The Constituency Chairman said an NPP government under Nana Akufo-Addo would create more jobs and wealth for the people, especially the young unemployed graduates.     GNA ...

Accra, Oct. 23, GNA – Ms Hettie Mercer-Ricketts, Chief Executive Officer of Spa Body N Beyond, on Tuesday advised politicians to avail the services of therapeutic experts to manage the political campaign stress. “Due to the hazardous nature of campaigning, politicians engaging in the thick of affairs urgently need constant therapeutic massage to distress their body, mind and soul as they go through sleepless moments. “Therapeutic massage helps to relieve stress which leads to many illness, It manages anxiety and depression, relieves aches  and pains all over the body, loosens tight joints and increases range of motion,” Ms Mercer-Ricketts told the Ghana News Agency in Accra. She explained that massage also helps lower high blood pressure, sports-related injuries, boost immunity, relieve headaches and increase blood circulation. Ms Mercer-Ricketts said the Spa Body N Beyond, a wellness and beauty spa, has instituted therapeutic massage programmes which include a special massage treat for politicians involved in electoral campaign towards the 2012 parliamentary and presidential elections. She said her centre was opening up special therapeutic sessions for leading members of seven parties and independent presidential candidates contesting Election 2012. These are the National Democratic Congress; Great Consolidated Popular Party; New Patriotic Party, Peoples National Convention, United Reformed Party, Convention Peoples Party, Progressive Peoples Party, and the independent presidential candidates. “This special treat is to reduce and provide therapeutic counseling to the leading members to help them stay healthy whilst engaging in stressful electoral campaigning and to keep them healthier after the campaign season is over. She said the therapeutic treatments, which sought to help rejuvenate, revive and refresh, includes Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue and Foot Massage.     GNA ...

Accra, Oct. 23, GNA - Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah has warned players against any form of indiscipline as the team prepares for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.     The trainer served a reminder to his players in the wake of reported acts of indiscipline exhibited by midfielder Andre Ayew during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi in Lilongwe two weeks ago.     In a statement signed by coach and copied to GNA Sports, Appiah said: “I wish to remind all players of the Black Stars that any act of indiscipline will not be tolerated as we focus on preparing for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.”     The strong stand taken by the soft-spoken trainer is expected to bring down any snippet of indiscipline as the team prepares for the much sought fifth Africa Cup of Nations title next year in South Africa.     On Ayew’s apology, which came barely 48-hours to the ultimatum, the coach noted: “I have received the letter of apology sent by Black Stars midfielder Andre Ayew.     “I wish to state clearly that I requested Andre Ayew to apologise to the technical team and his team-mates over his reaction when he was substituted during the match against Malawi.  “We tried to resolve the matter internally after the game at a meeting but it yielded no results which resulted in my ultimatum. I have accepted Andre Ayew's apology in good faith.”     GNA   ...

Accra, Oct. 23, GNA – Ghana’s Black Stars will finally get to know their opponents for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations when the draw is conducted in Durban, South Africa on Wednesday.     The Stars, holders Zambia plus hosts South Africa and 13 others will be housed into four groups of four teams each to battle it out for places into the knockout stage and medal zone of the 29th edition of the flagship continental football event.     Ahead of the draw, it has emerged that the Stars, four-time winners or losing finalists at the last edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, will be housed in either Group B or D, where as hosts South Africa are bound for Group A and holders Zambia’s Chipolopolo for Group C.     After a quiet campaign that saw the Stars edge past minnows Malawi 3-0 on aggregate to go through, the good news is that they can only face neighbours Cote d’Ivoire or emerging bogey side, Zambia at least at the knockout stage.     That should serve some form of respite for Coach Kwesi Appiah and his charges as being paired with the much-touted favourites was certainly going to have a toll on the team.     But the Stars must have to come to terms with the open fact of coming up against either of the quartet; Mali or, Tunisia, Angola and Nigeria.     Also, there is a high probability of having one of the likes of Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Niger to be complemented by either DR Congo, Togo, Cape Verde or Ethiopia.     In each case, the Stars should be ready for any team in fulfillment of growing sporting cliche of bypass the best to reach the top.     The ceremony will be highlighted by the presence of South African President Jacob Zuma, CAF President Issa Hayatou with CAF Secretary General Hicham El Amrani expected to steer the balloting of the teams.     Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Black Stars deputy coach, Maxwell Konadu are the Ghanaian representatives for the ceremony that will set the tone for next year’s football tournament.     GNA ...

Kunyabin (U/W), Oct. 23, GNA - Deplorable roads linking Kunyabin to other communities in the Sissala area of the Wa East District of the Upper West Region is adversely affecting living conditions as transportation of farm produce to marketing centers in the district is almost impossible.      The situation has led to low incomes for the farmers, poverty, low production and the migration of the youth to other areas of the country.     Access roads to link the community to some market centers was critical if the farmers are to add value to their products and improve incomes and living standards.     This came to light when the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund, in partnership with DANIDA, USAID and Apaati Cooperative Farmers and Marketing Society, held a sensitization durbar in Kunyabin.     The durbar was to help advocate for the construction of 29 kilometer feeder road to link Kunyabin to Funsi, Tuniabe and Kundungu.     The road, which was started in 1998, had its culverts partly constructed and abandoned but revisited in 2006 and again halted in 2008.      Another attempt at constructing the road was made in 2010 by reshaping and re-gravelling it but was also stopped and currently there was no sign of a contractor on the site.       Mr Braimah Sanjage, a Consultant for BUSAC Fund, noted that the people of Kunyabin deserved quality lives like any other Ghanaian.      There was the urgent need for the community to collaborate with stakeholders who could help advocate for the development of the area, he said.          Mr Sanjage took the opportunity to brief the entire community on a research that was conducted by BUSAC Fund on issues that affected distribution and marketing of farm products.      Mr Martin Dery, Regional Monitor for the BUSAC Fund, said the fund sought to build capacities of private sector organisations to identity, analyze and research into business environment challenges and constraints which hindered their development and growth.      These challenges, when identified, would be brought before the appropriate agencies and institutions for redress.       He said the private sector was the engine of growth and that there was the need to support private businesses who were striving to make it but were facing difficulties.      Mr Dery said members of Apaati Cooperative and Marketing Society were trained by the BUSAC Fund to help build their capacities to enable them to advocate for the development of the area.      Mr George Buchan, who spoke on behalf the chief, expressed gratitude to the BUSAC Fund for organising the sensitization durbar and that the benefits that would accrue from the advocacy would spread to the entire district.   GNA ...

Accra, Oct. 23, GNA – A group, calling itself the Research and Advocacy Platform, has called on the security agencies to investigate Mr Anthony Karbo, former National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for alleged plans to foment trouble during the elections.       At a press conference in Accra on Monday to share with journalists an alleged recorded voice of Mr Karbo on a tape, the group accused him of his plans to use macho men to foment violence in the 2012 elections.     Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Convener of the press conference, explained that what Mr Karbo said on the tape had a lot of implications that could ruin the peace and stability in Ghana before, during and after the December 2012 elections.     The alleged voice on tape spelt out details of plans to hire mercenaries from some neighbouring West African countries and beyond to instigate violence during the elections. Some of the plans included using lies, attacks on vital state institutions as part of a psychological warfare aimed at paralyzing those institutions and rendering them incapable.    The transcribed version of the tape alleged that Mr Karbo was working to bring macho men from Bujumbura and others from Togo. A number of the macho guys will also come from Benin, Liberia, Nigeria and Libya.      Mr Karbo, who is also the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Lawra, is heard on the tape allegedly talking to some NPP supporters at an unknown venue where he assured them that he was going to consolidate all the “bad boys” to start instigating some fighting by the second week of October.      According to the tape, there was going to be a whole lot of warfare in the first and second weeks of November, a period where there would be attacks on national institutions such as the Electoral Commission, the Police, the Military, National Security and the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI).      “We need to start attacking those institutions. They need to know that we are aware they are going to be used in these elections,” the tape alleged.      Mr Ofosu called on Ghanaians not to treat the utterance of the NPP leadership as mere political rhetoric, explaining that “the NPP had the intention of making Ghana ungovernable should they lose the elections.”     Mr Ofosu said the group was going to make formal complaint to the security agencies to investigate Mr Karbo.     He called on Nana Akufo Addo, Presidential Candidate of the NPP, to come out and condemn the alleged tape recording and take the responsibility of ensuring peace for the country before, during and after the elections.     Mr Karbo, however, said he could not remember making any such statements or pronouncements anywhere and therefore denied knowledge of the said tape.     The NPP leadership said they would investigate the tape and come out with their findings as soon as possible.   GNA ...

Accra, Oct. 23, GNA  –  The Electoral Commission (EC) said on Tuesday that presidential candidates for Election 2012 had between October 5 and October 17 to fill the forms and had two days, October 17 and 18 to return them to the Returning Officer. The Commission said it was not true that the presidential candidates had only two days to fill forms they collected from the EC between October 5 and October 16. “Those who seek to rule this country must learn first to obey rules and regulations...we must all go by the rules of the game,” Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, EC Chairman, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.     The EC said all the parties whose presidential candidates’ nominations were rejected were due to their failure to comply with the law and that some of the candidates came with half filled forms, not signed by the two persons from the districts and other lapses.     “All the candidates were duly informed about the lapses to ratify the mistakes within the time period yet they failed to comply,” the EC said.     According to the EC, the nomination was based on the Presidential Elections Law, 1992 and Public Elections Regulations, 2012, Constitutional Instrument 75.     The Presidential Nomination papers require the particulars of the Candidate – name, age, voter ID No, Polling Station Name, Polling Station Code, Current Residential Address and Occupation.     In addition, the candidate is to provide particulars of two registered voters resident in the area of authority of each district assembly – full name, voter ID No, Polling Station Code, Polling Station name, Current Residential Address, Occupation, Date and signature or mark.      The nomination form for each candidate in an election for president shall be signed by the candidate; be signed by not less than two persons who are registered voters in the area of authority of each district assembly; designate a person to serve as Vice President; and be delivered to the Commission on or before the day appointed as nomination day in relation to the election.     The law mandates the Chairman of the Commission as the Returning Officer for the purpose of the election of President.   GNA...

Juaboso (WR), Oct. 23, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the creation of districts by the National Democratic Congress had been the most impressive on account of the GHc1 million seed money doled out to all newly created districts.   “During the previous regime, new districts were also created but we have not just created, but supported all the newly created districts with One Million Ghana Cedis each as seed money for them to effectively start their operations.”   President Mahama stated this when he addressed an NDC rally at Juaboso in the Western Region as part of his five-day campaign tour of the region.   During his stay in the region, President Mahama addressed rallies, met with party hierarchy in the region and various constituencies, met with chiefs and outlined some of the development policies of government.   He visited Enchi, Asankragua, Bodi, Juaboso, Nkroful, Jomoro, Anyinase, Half Assini, Kikam, and Agona Nkwanta among other communities.   President Mahama said the late President Mills had initiated and completed a number of development projects and that his administration would build on that solid foundation to serve the people throughout the country.   He said government would tackle the challenges of education at the grassroots level by eliminating schools under trees, increasing Colleges of education and by providing specialized training programmes for kindergarten teachers and motivating teachers to put up their best.   President Mahama said his administration would also establish 200 new Senior High Schools, begin degree courses in Technical sector in all the Polytechnics across the country and expand facilities in all tertiary institutions.   In all the communities, the chiefs and opinion leaders appealed for social amenities such as potable water, more basic and second cycle institutions, good roads, health facilities and adequate police stations to beef up security and fight the rising incidence of crime in their communities. GNA ...

Tamale, Oct 23, GNA - All agents who acted on behalf of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at this year’s biometric voters’ registration are to be paid this week, Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, has said. Vice President Amissah-Arthur made the announcement during an interaction with members of the Tertiary Education Network (TEIN) of the NDC at the Central Campus of the University for Development Studies at Tamale on Monday. The Vice President had earlier addressed students and lecturers of the University and said there would be a further improvement in Ghana’s economic growth this year. He was in Tamale on the last day of a five day visit to the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions. Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Communications, and MP for Tamale South, said the government in collaboration with Huawei, a telecommunications company in China, would soon provide the University with fibre capillaries, and also enhance the University’s ICT infrastructure. Prof David Millar, the Pro Vice Chancellor of the University, thanked the government for a number of projects at the University, and appealed for further government intervention in the provision of staff bungalows, hostel facilities, lecture theatre and library complex.     GNA ...