Nakong (UE/R , Oct. 21,  GNA  – Some Chiefs and people of the Upper East Region have commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for bringing development projects to the Region.      The Chiefs made the commendation at separate fora, when the Vice President, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur paid courtesy calls on them to solicit for votes for the NDC.      The Paramount Chief of Nakong, Pe Joseph Banapeh Afagachie commended the NDC government for awarding the Bolgatanga–Tumu road on contract and said when it is completed, it would help reduce the travelling distance from the Upper East region to the Upper West region, as well as curbing the high incidences of armed robbery due to the bad nature of the road.      Pe Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam III, the Paramount Chief of the Chiana Traditional Area also paid tribute to the NDC Government for the unprecedented development projects such as the construction of Senior High and basic schools in the entire region.      The Chiefs pledged to contribute towards ensuring peace during and after the forthcoming election and appealed to all political parties to equally do so.      They also appealed to the government to focus more on developing the three northern regions to bridge the development gap between the north and the south.      The Vice President commended the Chiefs for their prayers and support to government and pledged that the NDC government had more plans for the development of the North and that the only way to accomplish it was for them to retain the party in power.      Addressing members of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch of the Navrongo Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) at Navrongo, Mr Amissah-Arthur stated that the NDC Government was more committed to the development of education.      He said to prove this commitment; it had established two Universities and had also built basic schools, including Senior High Schools in the country.      He noted that no government had been so committed to improving education than the NDC Government and urged the electorate to retain the NDC in power.      He told the students that the UDS was dear to the NDC government and that it would continue to support its growth, stressing that, the construction of a modern auditorium and a drainage system at the Navrongo Campus would be completed soon.      The Vice President called on all members of the TEIN to embark on serious campaigns to explain the good policies and programmes of the NDC to the people at the grassroots to win more votes.      The student leadership of the UDS appealed to the Government to provide hostels facilities and accommodation for lecturers, as well as the tarring of roads on the campus.   GNA...

Agona Kwanyako (C/R), Oct. 21, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday presented a set of musical instruments worth GH¢4,000 to Agona Kwanyako Brass band at a ceremony at Kwanyako in the Agona East District of the Central Region.       The presentation was made on behalf of the former President by Mr John Kwesi Agyabeng, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area and some NPP Constituency executives of Agona East.      Making the presentation, Mr Agyabeng said the donation was in fulfillment to a promise made by former President Kufuor when he visited Agona Kwanyako three years ago.      It would be recalled that the Kwanyako Brass band members were involved in an accident on the Agona Swedru/Akim Oda road after attending Late President J.E.A. Mills one week cerebration at Agona Nsaba.      The group members were hired by Maame Pokua Sawyer, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Agona East.       The MP called on the political leaders and supporters in the Agona East and other constituencies to conduct clean campaigns to ensure peace in the country.      Mr Agyabeng said the parties should help promote peace and tranquility that Ghanaians are yeaning for before, during and after December 7, elections.      According to the MP, it is the responsibility of all Ghanaians to bury their political differences in order to deepen the country’s democratic processes.      The MP called on the people of Agona Kwanyako and others in the Agona East to vote massively for Nana Addo Dankwa  Akufo-Addo in the December 7,polls for free-Senior High School, quality health care and others.      Mr Kweku Buabeng and Mr Kofi Amoah leaders of Agona Kwanyako Brass Band group expressed their gratitude to former President Kufuor and the MP for the donation.      He said since 1958, when the brass band received musical instruments from a British national, the group had been grappling unsuccessfully to get a new one.   GNA...

Apam (C/R), Oct. 21, GNA - The District Magistrate at Apam, Mr Charles Wiafe has stated that the police are not debt collectors and therefore the public must desist from paying moneys at the police stations.      Addressing members of the Gomoa West District Oversight Committee of the African Peer Review Mechanism at a validation workshop at Apam on Friday, Mr Wiafe said debt collection is the duty of the law courts.      He said the courts are not meant for adjudicating cases only but handles ordinance marriages among others.      The Apam district Police commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) L. K. Lumor said suspects do not need to pay money before being granted bail or lodge a complaint.      According to him, accident prone-zone areas had been identified between Winneba Junction roundabout and theApam highway hence the presence of police personnel on that stretch of the road to control traffic.      The Central Regional Director of the National Commission of Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Victor Markin urged Ghanaians to review their communal spirit of voluntarism.      The Chief of Apam, Nana Effrim X, who chaired the function, called for compulsory military service for all school leavers to enable them to be disciplined citizens in future.      He said in Israel, Denmark, Holland and Switzerland school leavers are conscripted into the army.      According to him if the citizens are disciplined, they would never engage in corrupt activities as well as indiscipline acts.   GNA...

Agona Swedru, Oct. 21, GNA - A 150 member newly recruited Zoomlion Ghana national sanitation taskforce for the Agona West Municipal and East district has been inaugurated to ensure absolute environmental cleanliness.      The inauguration coincided with a four-hour massive clean-up exercise assisted by Zoomlion staff from Gomoa East District to clean vantage points of Agona Swedru on Saturday.      Speaking to the Press after the prgramme, Mr John Sackey, Central Regional Manager of Zoomlion Ghana Limited said the inauguration of the taskforce was in line with the Policy Statement by President John Dramani Mahama at Parliament recently to improve the sanitation situation in the country.      He said similar taskforces have been inaugurated in all the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to reduce filth within three months.     The Regional Manager said the President’s directive enabled Zoomlion Ghana to recruit 500, 100 and 50 staffs from Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts respectively to augment the existing staff of the company.      Mr Sackey said education would be the top priority of Zoomlion Ghana to raise awareness about the indiscriminate dumping of waste into gutters and unauthorized places.      The Regional Manager said the clean up exercise was simultaneously done in Ajumako-Enyan Essiam, Asikuma-Odoben –Brakwa districts and Mfantseman Municipality.      Mr Francis Asirifi, Agona West Municipal Environmental Health Director said sanitation should be everybody’s concern.      He said environmental sanitation officers have been deployed into the Municipality to arrest and prosecute people who dump human and liquid wastes indiscriminately in their soundings.      He said 25 people have been fined GH¢60 each by the Agona Swedru magistrates’ Court between January and September, 2012.      Mr Christian Ocran, Agona West and East District Manager of Zoomlion Ghana hoped that the inauguration of the sanitation taskforce in the two districts would help improve sanitation.   GNA...

Ajumako(C/R), Oct. 21, GNA - The Taxi Drivers Association of Gomoa Ajumako Ayan Assiem District of the Central Region, has been commended for their outstanding and dedicated service to saving the lives of pregnant women and their unborn babies.   “Your altruistic efforts in driving pregnant women who are in labour to deliver in health facilities have saved many lives and even reduced maternal mortality in your area,” says Ms Rosina Barba, who is part of the 10 -member delegation of the friends of UNFPA who are in the country from New York in the United States to acquaint themselves with the reproductive health of women.   She was speaking at Ajumako.   The delegation, have visited health facilities in Greater Accra, Northern and Upper East Regions  supported by the UNFPA’s fifth Country Programme (2006-2011).   Friends of UNFPA, is a US based non-profit organisation that advances UNFPA’s global efforts by mobilising funds, doing advocacy and action for life saving work by the Fund.   The visit to Ghana forms part of organisation’s annual visit to field offices.   Ms Doris Ahelegbe District Director of Health explained that the region constantly recorded the highest maternal mortality in the early 2000s and decided to sign a memorandum of understanding with the local road transport union to transport pregnant women to the nearest health facility.   “I am happy to let you know that some of these drivers donate blood when necessary to the pregnant women. Since 2006, we have not recorded any maternal deaths.”   The Ghana Health Service and the Transport Union Initiative supported by the European Union, UNFPA and the government, reward hard working drivers who excel under the initiative to save lives.   Mr Philip Asamoah District Coordinating Director commended the drivers for their assiduous effort for supporting lives.   Ms Esi Awotwi UNFPA HIV and AIDS Focal Person who accompanied the delegation commended the district for the hard work in ensuring that the area recorded no maternal deaths since 2006.   The delegation presented a certificate of appreciation to the district for the outstanding and dedicated service to women, children and families of Ghana.   Outstanding drivers who have excelled in transporting pregnant women to health facilities were given certificates of appreciation and UNFPA souvenirs.   At Agona Abodom , the delegation called on Nana Ahwer Anquandoh III Tufohene of Agona Abodom in the region, who have an adolescent Reproductive Health initiative christened “Time with Grandma”, which helped the youth in the community to lead a responsible sexual life.   The 65 year- old chief initiative organises the youth after school every Tuesday and takes them through adolescent and sexual reproductive health issues.   She also organises women support groups to embark on house to house education on proper bathing, hand washing and keeping the home clean.   For the aged, Time with Grandma organises keep Fit exercises to keep them fit and stay healthy.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 21, GNA - Liberty Professionals remain winless in the 2012/2013 Premier League after playing out a barren draw with Ashantigold on Sunday at the Sly Tetteh Stadium, Dansoman.   The match was balanced with both sides having their fair share of proceedings with attacking midfielder Louis Agyemang stealing the headlines with a superb performance.   Both sides failed to make the most of the scoring opportunities that came their way whilst goalies Daniel Agyei and Fatau Dauda of Liberty and Ashantigold proved why they are the safest pair of hands for their respective clubs.   Hosts Liberty got off well but it was the visitors whose dominance from the half-hour mark with the likes of David Telfer, Agyemang and striker Yakubu Mohammed that led to scary moments for the rearguard.   After a barren first half, the two sides yet again failed to take advantage of the chances that came their way, ensuring that the game ended without a winner. Liberty are still without a win the three-week old premiership after a 1-1 draw with King Faisal and a 0-2 to newly promoted Amidaus Professionals in their previous games.     GNA...

Wa (UWR), Oct. 21,GNA- Dwelling on past and present achievements in the educational sector, Vice  President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur says the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has a better strategy  for developing the educational sector.                He said the nation would have to find  a way to finance the promised  free senior high school education by other political parties, explaining that the “free” really had a price to be paid for it to be achieved.              With an analysis of the concept of Opportunity Cost in economics, the Vice President said the provision of free Senior High School education would definitely have to be paid for from other sectors of the economy, thus depriving Ghanaians of qualitative services from other equally important sectors.             Vice President Amissah-Arthur had met with students as part of a five-day campaign tour of the three Northern Regions of Ghana.             At the Wa Senior High Technical School, Vice President Amissah-Arthur commissioned several projects including to a new assembly hall, an administration block and two storey girls’ dormitory, all constructed with funding from the Ghana Education Trust Fund.           Addressing staff and students later, Vice President Amissah-Arthur said free education could never take place without the necessary infrastructure           The Vice President said there were 725,000 students in public second cycle schools for the 2010/2011 and the total cost of keeping the students in school was about GH¢ 600 million.           He said there were problems even at the basic level, where the current Ghanaian constitution stipulates that education must be free and compulsory, because of lack of facilities.           Government was therefore concentrating on the provision of facilities and conditions with that would make it possible for children to go to school and stay in the classrooms. .         Aside the provision of more classrooms, the ruling NDC Government has enhanced the School Feeding Programme, providing free textbooks as well as other interventions to enhance accessibility to quality  education.          “How can children concentrate in school when they are hungry? Where there are no classrooms, when it rains, it’s a holiday,” Vice President Amissah- Arthur said, adding “the current Free SHS does not provide the necessary conditions.           He said public Senior High School Education cannot be free now, because you have to pay for everything you take, and invoked the constitution to the effect that education has to be progressively free.          Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the financing of SHS education has to be subjected to a national debate.          He reiterated the commitment of the NDC Government to ensure equal and fair access to quality education, which he had featured prominently when he earlier addressed students and staff of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies.         He described the University as a baby of the NDC, and urged the people to vote massively for the NDC to have a “one-touch” victory on December 7 to continue to serve in the interest of the education sector.        He assured the Ghanaian electorate that the NDC has a superior strategy for development, and called on them to reject what he called “textbook economists.”     He had earlier called on the Vicar General of the Wa Diocese of the Catholic Church, who represented the Catholic Bishop of Wa, Bishop Paul Bemile, and assured the cleric to look in the suggestion to re-establish the collaboration enhance access to quality education .   Vice President Amissah-Arthur appealed to all religious organisations to continue to pray for all presidential candidates and their party leadership against any misfortune including accidents as they moved across the country campaigning.    They should also pray for peace to prevail even after the election.    The Vicar appealed to Government to improve the road network in the Municipality and its environs, refurbish and expand the Wa Regional Hospital.     Vice President Amissah-Arthur also called the leadership of the Ahmadiya Mission and Zongo Chiefs, and requested their blessings for a successful campaign and victory at the polls.   GNA...

Nsawam (E/R), Oct.21, GNA – The National Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Zongo Caucus on Saturday toured parts of the Eastern Region to educate zongo communities on the party’s manifesto and President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for zongo dwellers.      They visited the Aburi/Nsawam, Upper West Akim, Lower West Akim and Suhum Constituencies.      The tour was part of the Caucus’ planned visits to all zongo communities in the country to educate them on President Mahama vision and to win more votes for the NDC in Election 2012.      Alhaji Yussif Captain, National Coordinator of the Zongo Caucus, who led the delegation, said the NDC as a party upholds the dignity of Muslims and the people in the country’s zongos.      He said the NDC established the Islamic Education Unit to improve education in Muslim communities, especially zongo’s adding, “It was the Party that made Edhul Fitr and Edhul Adhar.public holdays”      Alhaji Yussif said the NDC led by late President John Evans Atta Mills was from since 2009 paying Arabic teachers through the National Youth Employment Program to encourage them in the teaching of Islam as Ghana’s Constitution permit the practice of every religion.      He said President Mahama was raised in the Zongo Community in Kanda in the Greater Accra Region and that there was the need to vote for him as he knows the existing problems of the people of living in zongo communities.      Alhaji Captain said many supporters of the NDC in the Zongo communities were passive and called on them to vote massively for the NDC in this year’s election, adding, “We have done it before, and we can do it again.”      Alhaji Bawa Ismael, Former Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central in the Greater Accra Region and Executive Member of the Caucus, said the NDC government had reduced and stabilized inflation to a single digit and that this was a history lesson in Ghana’s economics and democracy.      He said the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) free Senior High School (SHS) policy was impossible and that the government in its quest to prioritize education was currently providing free school uniforms, exercise books, increase the capitation grant by 50 per cent and also expand the School Feeding Programme to reach more deprived school.      Alhaji Ismael said education remained the bedrock for development, and government was ensuring that basic education became accessible to all Ghanaian children.       Alhaji Yussif Osman, Eastern Regional Co-coordinator of the Caucus  said President Mahama was a peaceful man and was always preaching peace in all his campaigns, adding ,    “God has already chosen President Mahama because he is a peaceful person and not a person who want to be President through bloodshed  as amplified in other people’s rallying cry; ‘all die-be-dies’.      The Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapim South, Mr Mark Dompeh Amoako, said the NDC was on its way to victory through the programmes that it had implemented since 2009.      He said the projects implemented by the Municipal Assembly by the NDC in its three and half years of governance was far better than the eight years of the NPP under former President John Agyekum Kuffour.      At Adieso, Mallam Yahaya Abdul-Karim, Imam of the Zongo Community, said the community would always vote for the NDC, adding, “In every election, we vote the NDC 99 per cent, this year, it is going to be 100 per cent”      Mr Aminu Issah, Constituency Organizer of Lower West Akim, said no political party could win elections in the country without the support of the zongo community.      Alhaji Yussif Abubakari, Suhum Constituency Coordinator of the Caucus, noted that the caucus’ initiative to educate people living in zongo communities on the Party’s manifesto was in the right direction, adding, “We need to educate our people on the programmes and projects that are executed, on-going and those in the pipeline.”   GNA...

Vea (UE), Oct. 20,  GNA- The Chief of Vea, Naba Thomas Azubire, has called on the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (UERCC) to hold a stakeholders meeting to address issues that have contributed to the stalled work on the Vea dam.          The Contractor working on the dam had a disagreement with some of the community members spearheaded by the “Tindana” (spiritual leader)         Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at the weekend, the Chief indicated that a stakeholders’ meeting including the Regional Minister, the Paramount Chief of Bongo, the Tindamas, the clan heads, and the Ghana Water Company including the contractor was the only way they could resolve the problem to allow the contractor continue work.      According to the Chief, he is the Custodian of the land and wields much influence over his subjects and could resolve any problem that has the tendency of stalling development of the area.      The contractor, the chief alleged, went behind him to the “Tindana” after they (he and the contractor) had finished negotiations to use some piled rocks in the area for the rehabilitation of the dam wall.      According to the chief, he earlier held series of meetings with the people whose houses were to be affected when blasting of the rocks took place.           He explained that the Tindana was involved in those negotiations where all the parties agreed to take compensation from the Contractor for those to be affected “only for the contractor to go behind me to the Tindana. Having breached the agreement, he organised some people in the area to prevent the contractor from blasting the rocks leading to work coming to a standstill”.      Naba Azubire indicated that as a chief of the area who had ruled for twenty years, he was development oriented and had lobbied for lots of development projects for the area and said it was not true that he was behind the delay in the execution of work at the dam as alleged by the contractor and some other people in the community.      He threatened to sue anybody who intended to drag his hard won reputation into the mud and said he was not happy with the contractor for telling the public that there was a power struggle between him and the Tindana hence the delay.      According to Naba Azubire, the role of the Tindana is purely  spiritual which includes the purification of the shires and intermediating the gods and the people in times of disaster and that he is not the overseer of the land, adding “the Tindana is  subordinate to the chief in our custom“.      Earlier, the management of the construction firm, Eunitack Services Exchange Limited, said they would have finished the project by now had it not been the misunderstanding between the community leadership.     The project which was awarded to the Contractor in 2010, is expected to be completed in December this year otherwise funding sourced from international donors would go back to them.      The contractor is expected to work on the up and down streams of the dam walls with funds from some international donors.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 20. GNA - Mr Justice Amegashie, Chief Executive of Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority, has called on all road users to take road safety issues seriously since it was a shared and collective responsibility.      He said road safety issues required collaborative efforts amongst public institutions, private sector and non-governmental institutions.      Mr Amegashie made the call at the launch of road safety instruction documentary to disseminate information to road users in Accra over the weekend.   The documentary was put up by the Ghana Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and Culture (GHANECC) in partnership with the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU).    He thanked the leadership and members of the Ghana Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and Culture for supporting the initiative.    According to him, the initiative was to introduce an innovative and creative intervention to educate Road users.     He said it was a clear demonstration of the understanding that the nature and scale of the road crash and casualty problem could not be solved by one Agency or Institution alone.     He said everybody was affected in one way or the other whenever a road crash occurs.    “The word responsibility is key to the prevention and reduction of road crashes and casualty on the road,” he added.    He said drivers were responsible for their own safety, the safety of those they carry in their vehicle and other road users.     Mr Nico Van Staalduined, Managing Director of GHANECC, said he has never seen so many professors who are genius, intelligent lawyers, clever businessmen, smart taxi drivers and streets smart ‘trotro’ drivers behaving so “stupid” as in traffic.     He said our behavior in traffic makes you wonder sometimes if we forget all road safety and traffic rules after our examination.     He noted that the basics of improving the safety on the roads lies in education, there should be constant education for drivers on safety.     Mr Staalduined said in the Netherlands, road safety instruction movies have been used to educate the general public for the last 50 years.     He commended the MTTU of the Ghana Police for embracing the idea to donate road safety instruction movies as part of GHANECC’s Corporate Social Responsibility.     “With the assistance of MTTU, GHANECC developed the first road safety movies, starting with the most important, most urgent and majority “killers”: Pedestrians crossing roads,” he added.     He disclosed the movies would be released once every month and called on the media especially the TV stations to air these videos to impact on road users.     DCOP Angwubutoge Awuni, Commander of the MTTU, said the unit believed in proactive enforcement which hinges on education.      He said the initiation was a unique visual approach curving rules and the use of side mirrors, dangerous overtaking and braking would definitely help to reduce the needless death and injuries on the road.     “The Police MTTU is doing her best to improve the competence of its personnel and will welcome any institution willing to support in that   GNA...

Accra, Oct.20, GNA – Professor Robert Kwame Nkum, Provost of the College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), said the University will continue to make Science and technology education more accessible by all Ghanaians.      He said the KNUST was currently operating in the ten Regional Capitals in the country in addition to some other potential centres in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, Akosombo in the Eastern Region and Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region.      “Plans are also underway to start the construction of our cherished Accra-City Campus for IDL”.      Prof Nkum made this known at the matriculation ceremony of the Southern Sector fresh students admitted into the Institute of Distance Learning of the University (IDL) on Saturday in Accra.      He said the University through its IDL, was working on efforts to establish a number of computer laboratories and multimedia lecture rooms with video conferencing facilities at the various IDL centers in the country and on the main campus.      Prof Nkum said the University had admitted a total number of 3,892 which comprises 1,628 postgraduate and 2,264 undergraduate students and that the figure revealed that majority of the students admitted were concentrated in the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regional centres.      He said the KNUST continues to reform its systems and standards and attempts to provide its services in the most efficient and effective manner to the satisfaction of its clients, various activities were undergoing serious reforms as a University of Science and Technology.      “This year we were able to send regular updates to our applicants, informing them of the status of their admission application through text messages and emails, applicants were also made to print their own admission letters”.      “Today’s ceremony marks the official acceptance and entry of these fresh students into the University as junior members in Status Pupillari; it is after today’s ceremony that the University will officially recognize these students as bona fide students of KNUST”.      “The students would thus be entitled to all privileges accorded students of the University as well as be bound by the responsibilities of attached to their new status as proud students of KNUST”.        He said a similar ceremony would be held next week for the Northern Sector students in Tamale and congratulated the students on their admission into the KNUST.   GNA...

Cape Coast, Oct. 20, GNA- The Augustine’s College in Cape Coast on Saturday launched the Archbishop William Thomas  Porter Endowment  Fund  to facilitate  infrastructural  development  and face-lifting of the college.     Launching the fund in Cape Coast, Mr Kabral Blay Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), said the College was among the first catholic schools to be built in the country and has trained a lot of illustrious sons including lawyers, doctors, journalists, politicians and engineers who have and continue to contribute towards the development of the country.    He underscored the importance of education to the socio-economic development of the nation and said the government has a major role to make education affordable and accessible to all Ghanaians as stipulated in article 38 of the constitution.         Mr Amihere, who is an old student of the college, said as much as the government was doing everything to ensure quality education, most mission schools lacked the necessary infrastructure as compared to the time they were being managed by the church and missionaries.        He said the Fund was being launched to get a regular source of funds to help address the numerous problems facing the college and urged all stakeholders particularly, parents, old students and the Catholic church to contribute to the fund, stressing that it was through the efforts of the church that Archbishop Porter was able to establish the college in 1935.       He said the Fund would be used to support needy but brilliant   and disciplined students, provide scholarship for outstanding sports boys, procure prizes for best students including WASSCE, as well as support newly recruited teachers with basic   accommodation furnishing and provide accommodation for internship and national service teachers.          The fund is also to support newly recruited staff with refundable financial support, provide uniforms and equipment for non-teaching staff as well as equip the college’s sick bay, provide teaching and learning material and procure sport s equipment.         The fund would in addition be used to undertake general rehabilitation of infrastructure, modernize and develop the school park, put up and expand the college church building and put up staff accommodation.      Mr Amihere called on the Board of Trustees of the Endowment Fund to use the “widow’s mite approach” in raising the funds, this he noted would encourage all stakeholders to contribute to the fund.     Most Reverend Mathias Kobina Nketsiah, Metropolitan Archbishop of  Cape Coast, paid a glowing tribute to the founders of the College and said the facility was synonymous with excellence and urged the students and stakeholders to endeavour to uphold the good name of the college.      Archbishop Nketsiah, who is the Patron of the college, expressed concern about the deterioration of facilities on campus and attributed it to the lack of maintenance and the large student’s intake and stressed that the fund was a step in the right direction.     He called on stakeholders particularly, Catholics to contribute to the fund just like how the founders in the past engaged all parishes, deaneries and philanthropists to contribute to the establishment of the college.    He commended the teaching and non-teaching staff for their commitment and dedication to duty which has made the college what it is today.      Mr Joseph Connel, Headmaster, said the college was ranked among the most productive and dynamic Senior High Schools in Ghana and because of that there was high demand for admission among Junior High school graduates thereby putting pressure on the facilities in the college.       He mentioned the lack of adequate residential accommodation for staff, renovation of staff bungalows and rehabilitation of structures, maintenance and improvement of college infrastructure as the challenges facing the college.        Mr  Kenneth Ashigbey Managing Director  of Graphic  Communication Group Ltd, an old student,  who  presided, said to sustain the fund,  it was imperative to  establish a permanent secretariat to manage  it.      He also called on the nine member board of trustees of the fund to be independent of the college’s administration but should have representatives  from the Parent Teacher Association (PTA),  the College Board and the old Students Association  to form a corporate body to effectively manage the Fund.       Mr Ashigbey further suggested that an audit company be engaged to regularly audit and publish the accounts of the fund to attract contributors.      Archbishop  W.T  Porter  was born in 1887  at Birkdale,  a suburb of Liverpool, England,   and  upon assumption of  office  as Bishop  of Cape Coast  in 1933, he   sourced funds from both within and outside the country to establish  Saint Augustine College in 1935   GNA  ...

Tamale, Oct. 20, ,GNA - The over-bearing influence of politicians and traditional rulers on policemen and women in the Northern Region has rendered the Police less effective in the nation’s biggest region, Naa (Chief) Alhassan Issahaku Amadu, Zangbalun Bomahe has said.      He said the situation had emboldened miscreants in the region to foment trouble with impunity.      Chief Amadu, who is also the Northern Regional Director of the National Population Council, was presenting a paper on: "The Role of Traditional Rulers in Promoting Peaceful Elections", at a town hall meeting organised by the Satellite Peace Centre of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tamale, in Tamale on Saturday.      The meeting aimed at discussing ways of ensuring peace at the project areas including Tamale, Yendi, Bawku and Wa during this year's electioneering season.      It formed part of the United Nations Human Security Programme to bring relief to vulnerable people, and was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme, with personnel from the GPS, traditional rulers, youth groups of political parties, and community members in attendance.      The Police Service in the region has been complaining of constant interference in its duties by highly placed authorities who always call on them to release people arrested on suspicion of violating the country's laws thereby demoralising the Police in their efforts to secure the region.      Chief Amadu said such a practice was inimical to efforts at promoting peace in the region and called on the Police to be assertive and deal ruthlessly with miscreants to deter others.      He also called on traditional rulers and other authorities who were fond of such a practice to stop it and respect the independence of the Police institution.      He said "as traditional rulers, we need to conduct ourselves well in public to command the respect of our subjects" and condemned chiefs who attended political party rallies to endorse candidates.      Chief Amadu also called on political parties to stop creating avenues that enabled youth groups to engage in violence.      Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Caesar Abanga, Tamale District Police Commander, who spoke on: "The Role of the Security Agencies for National Peace", assured the people that the Police Service was firmly in control of the security situation in the region adding, there was no need for fear or panic before, during and after the elections.      He called on all to be abreast of the provisions of the Public Order Act and obey them to avoid unnecessary confrontations with the Police.      Reverend Father Thaddeus Kuusah, Coordinator and Project Manager of the Satellite Peace Centre of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tamale, expressed hope that the meeting would help remove the barriers that existed amongst traditional rulers, security agencies and political parties to enhance trust and confidence in the performance of their respective duties.   GNA...

  Pwalugu (UE), Oct. 20, GNA-  Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, Commissioner of Police in charge of Human Resource, says the country’s constitution mandates citizens to arrest criminals and hand them over to the police for action to be taken.          He said it was not the Police alone that was supposed to cause arrest and indicated that in advanced countries, citizens played a very significant role by calling the attention of the police to effect arrest.         “In the same manner, citizens in Ghana will do the Police a good service by volunteering information to the Police or could cause arrest of any criminal and hand him over to the Police. The idea where most communities shelved criminals must be discontinued”   The Commissioner of Police  said this when he addressed 355 police recruits on Friday at  a passing out ceremony  at the Police Training School at Pwalugu in the Upper East Region.         He said as part of efforts to help reduce crimes drastically, the Police Administration tripled the enlistment of personnel into the service and indicated that government had also provided it with 435 vehicles which have been distributed to all the 10 Regional Commands.     “The Police Service is also expecting additional 660 vehicles soon which will help boost our operations”, he added.     The recruits, who underwent six months basic police training, were also trained in contemporary and democratic policy to be able to address contemporary and democratic issues.     Alhaji Mahama admonished the new recruits to exhibit a high sense of professionalism, stressing “your actions and inactions will be seriously monitored constantly and when caught in indecent acts you will not be spared at all. As you are all aware you have six months probation to serve”.     He commended overall best recruit, Takyi Emma and other award winners for their achievements and entreated them not to relent on their efforts but continue to strive harder to win more laurels.   GNA...

Kintampo (B/A), Oct. 20, GNA – The College of Health and Well-Being-Kintampo (CoHK) on Friday matriculated 836 students for the 2012/2013 academic year to pursue various programmes run by the College.     The figure has now increased current number of student population of the College to 1,800 studying programmes like Medical Assistant Psychiatry and Dermatology at degree levels, Community Medicine and Health, Community Mental Health, Medical Laboratory Technology and Health Records Management.      Dr. Emmanuel Teye Adjase, Director of the College, addressing the students, disclosed they gained admission on their own merit, out of nearly 7000 applications nationwide.      The Director therefore reminded them of the College’s vision and core values that informed them to apply to the place to guide them in their lives and studies to achieve success.      The vision of the institution is “to be a world-class Health University that responds to the health needs of communities” with “Service to Humanity”, “Commitment to Duty”, “Respect for Human Life”, “Self-Discipline”, “Team Work”, “Craving for Excellence” and “Creativity and Collaboration” as its core values.      Dr. Adjase stated that the College for the first time had a total national representation because every region had adequate representation adding, it was also the first time female student ratio had gone up tremendously.      He explained in previous years, females constituted only one-third of the total number but this time, females formed 47 per cent.      Dr. Adjase said with their enrollment to study various programmes in the College, they had chosen life-long professions and needed to work hard to protect the image of those professions wherever they would be.      The Director advised them to endeavour to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge for effective service rendering on the field, in the interest of the people because knowledge gained without usage for public interest “is a waste and even financial loss”, he pointed out.      Dr. Adjase therefore implored them to be committed and return to serve the people in their communities on completion of their programmes since any excuse other than working to promote good and quality health of Ghanaians would be a betrayal of the trust of the people.      Reverend Father Peter Gyabaah Kumor, a tutor at the College, counseled them to be disciplined in all aspects of life to enable them “to take the best and keep the best because the College gives the best and wants the best from them”.   GNA...

Takoradi, Oct. 20, GNA- President John Dramani Mahama has given the assurance that government would not spare people or a group of persons who would interrupt the orderly progress of the forthcoming general election.     He said: “Ghana over the years has enjoyed five peaceful elections and my administration will do everything under our sleeves to ensure another peaceful election this year.     Let me however, warn that government will deal ruthlessly with people who try to create confusion before, during and after the December 7, poll.”     President Mahama was addressing a network of churches in Takoradi as part of his five-day campaign tour of the Western Region.     President Mahama also inaugurated development projects, cut sods for the commencement of work on new ones, addressed rallies and visited some district capitals of the region.     He said Ghana had carved a niche for herself in the eyes of her counterparts in Africa and beyond and he would not do anything that would reverse the trend, “but rather I will do everything possible to increase that respect”.     He called on the religious leaders to continue to provide intercessory prayers that would help reduce election-related violence before and during the elections.    Reverend Dr Paul Henry Dsane who delivered a speech on behalf of the network said the church had been instrumental in ensuring electoral peace and would continue to pray for more successful elections in subsequent years.     “Let me use this platform to appeal to politicians to note that human kingdom and powers will come to end, but it is only the kingdom of God that will stand forever,” he added.     Bishop Emmanuel Botwey also of the network appealed to politicians to campaign according to the rules of the game without venturing into violence and other practices that could undermine and disrupt the country’s political development.   GNA...

Half Assini (W/R), Oct. 20, GNA- President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday announced that government would build two additional berths at the Takoradi Harbour to accommodate more ships as a result of the oil extraction in the area.      He said government would also build a mini-harbour at Domuli in the Western Region to increase the intake of ships and goods at the harbour.      President Mahama announced this when he addressed a party rally at Half Assini in the Region as part of his five-day campaign tour.      The President also addressed rallies at New Takoradi, Takoradi Polytechnic, Nkroful, Jomoro, Nzuelezu, Gwira, Value among other communities.     President Mahama said government was spending $1billion out of the $3billion Chinese loan to establish a petrol-chemical and gas processing industry to make Ghana a net exporter of gas to her neighbours.     He said government would also spend 500 million dollars of the Chinese loan to revamp the Takoradi- Kumasi railway lines to create more jobs for the youth.    President Mahama said government would also build 1,000 houses for teachers and 5,000 houses for 20,000 nurses and their families.    He advised the people to train in technical courses that would be relevant to oil and gas exploration to qualify them for jobs under the oil and gas industry.    Awulae Annor Adjei III, Omanhene of Half Assini commended government for providing the area with numerous development projects.    He appealed to government to establish a training College to train more teachers for the area as most teachers do not accept postings to their communities.   GNA...

Sunyani, Oct. 20, GNA - Deputy Commissioner of Police  (DCOP) David Ampah-Bennin,  Director-General (Technical) of Ghana Police Service  at the weekend cautioned Police personnel  to avoid alcoholic intake on December 7, the day of the General Election.      He said abstinence from alcohol on the day would enable the personnel to perform their duties creditably to facilitate free, fair and peaceful polls.   DCOP Ampah-Bennin who gave the caution at the closing ceremony of a week-long course on Public Order Management for 130 Police personnel and two senior Officers in Sunyani, noted that the success of elections depend on the capacity of the police to handle the event during, before and after.       The course, which was organised by the Police Administration aimed at equipping the personnel with the requisite skills, knowledge and professional approach on public order management towards the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.      It also prepared them to be physically, mentally and psychologically fit to provide rapid security on crowd related violence, before, during and after the elections.      Participants were taking through how to give protection to political rallies and other special events to avoid clashes in accordance with the public law, dispersing violent mob, protecting electoral offices, materials and national installations from violent crowd, human rights and the use of force in crowd control in Article 12 and 13 of the 1992 Constitution.      DCOP Ampah-Bennin urged the police to prioritise the interest of the nation to ensure that credible voters exercise their franchise peacefully without any public intimidations.   DCOP Robert Ayalingo, Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander called on the political parties to eschew violence and desist from the recruitment of heavily-built men (macho-men) as polling agents to cause violence.       He appealed to the political parties to obey the Public Order Act and the Electoral Laws and abstain from interfering with the election process to ensure peaceful elections.       The Regional Police Commander warned that the Police are ready to deal with people, especially macho- men and supporters of contestants who try to cause commotion and disturbances at the polling stations.       “Attacks and prevention or delay of delivery of election materials to polling stations will not be tolerated by the police to affect the peace of the nation,” he said.       DCOP Ayalingo asked the personnel to be able to identify and arrest ring leaders of riots mobs without the use of force and fires arms.   GNA...

Agona Swedru (C/R), Oct. 20, GNA- Five people have filed their nominations in the Agona West Constituency to contest the 2012 Parliamentary election.      They are Mr Charles Obeng-Inkoom for National Democratic Congress, Mr Samuel Kweku Obodai, New Patriotic Party, Mr Stephen Ato Wilson, Progressive Peoples Party, Mr Alfred Kwame Amponsah, National Democratic Congress and Mr George Biney Ampiah, Convention Peoples Party.       Mr Kwame Amoah, Agona West Municipal Electoral Director congratulated the contestants for successfully filing their nominations to contest the election.       He cautioned them and their supporters “to play the game according to the rules and regulations to ensure peace and stability”.       Mr Amoah said the Electoral Commission would not countenance any act that could jeopardise the December 7 General Election, adding that peace is the most essential tool to propel the democratic development of the country.       The contestants promised to conduct a decent and peaceful campaign devoid of insults, hatred, acrimony and personal attacks.   GNA...

Accra, Oct 20, GNA –  Mr Nii Ankonu Annorbah-Sarpei, Executive Director of Centre for Community Studies, Action and Development (CENCOSAD), at the weekend called on Ghanaians to promote and maintain peace in the country before, during and after Election 2012. He said that despite the cultural, religious and political differences, Ghanaians should be able to live together as one people with a common destiny. Mr Annorbah-Sarpei was speaking after a peace walk ahead of Election 2012, which begun at Mantse Agbona through Rawlings Park and ended at the Ga Matse Development Agency premises, in Accra. Participants, including more than 200 young people from Ashiedu Keteke, in Odododiodio constituency, took part in the march, wielding placards some of which read, “Say no to violence”, “women and children demand peaceful elections”, and  “tolerate each other, we are one”. The event, held on  the theme: “Promoting Health Rights and Accountability in a Peaceful and Fair Election“, was organized by CENCOSAD, a community development-oriented, non-governmental organisation (NGO), and Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights, also an NGO, as part of  STAR-Ghana funded project,  being sponsored by European Union, Danish International Development Agency and Department for International Development, to promote peace. The NGOs organized the walk in partnership with Ghana Health Service, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ashiedu Keteke Sub District Assembly, selected media organizations and other NGOs. Mr Annorbah-Sarpei advised: “we should cast our votes quietly and in a civilized manner, to avoid violence, come December 7”. He said that CENCOSAD organises members of political parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress and Convention People’s Party every quarter, to engage in activities to promote peace towards improving reproductive health.     Mrs. Rosemond Owusu-Boahin, Senior Field Officer of the NCCE, asked Ghanaians to desist from politics of insults and comport themselves during the December 7 polls. She advised the electorate not to wear party attire or paraphernalia when going to vote in December.  As part of the project, activities such as drama and masquerade sessions in which the youth will engage political leaders and representatives from political parties, to elicit their commitment in ensuring transparent peaceful and violent-free elections in December. GNA...