Accra, Oct. 18, GNA – Screening for the Glo Soccer Academy (GSA), commenced at the Lizzy Sports Complex in Accra on Wednesday with hundreds of teenagers showing up for the exercise.   Players between the ages of 14 to 17 years displayed their skills in a bid to attract the attention of the coaches in the two day exercise.   Coach Tony Baffoe, one of the technical officials for the exercise expressed satisfaction with the level of skills displayed by the teenagers adding that adding that the momentum would be sustained for the exercise in the coming weeks.   “I am also delighted that parents are making time off their busy schedules to accompany their wards to the venue of the screening.” Baffoe stated.      The Academy is designed to scout for talents from Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic.   In all 33 talented finalists will be shortlisted for the Dream Team and camped in Lagos where they will be trained by celebrity coaches from West Africa and Manchester United for five weeks.   The sixteen finalists who make the Dream Team will go on training tour of Manchester United Soccer School in the UK and also become Glo Ambassadors.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA – The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has congratulated the senior national team, the Black Stars, on qualifying for the 29th Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa next year.   It said the Black Stars lone goal victory over Malawi at their own back yard was a clear demonstration of their determination and commitment to make a representation at the continent’s biggest football festival.   According to the statement, qualifying for the competition is just the beginning of the journey to glory, hence the team should not be swollen headed but remain focused in the attempt to restore the glory of the nation at the continental level.   “We have for the past 30 years gone without any continental glory despite the many successes chalked over the years.   “It is, therefore necessary for members of the technical team and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to draw up a comprehensive programme for the competition to enable the team put to up a good show at the continental show piece,” the statement noted.   It also congratulated the national under-17, female team, the Black Maidens on winning the bronze medal at the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) under-17 female World Cup in Azerbaijan.   It said the performance of the team gives the nation enough hope that will one day the country will conquer the continent and world in the near future.   SWAG also congratulated the GFA for ensuring the successes of the two national teams and urged them to remain focused to ensure the effective execution of future assignments.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 18, GNA - The 20th edition of the annual Thome Halim Cabalan basketball memorial tournament will commence on Monday October 22, in Accra.   This year’s edition marks the 20th anniversary of the death of the man, who donated the Lebanon court to the Ghana Basketball Association (GBA), which has helped to develop the game tremendously.   The championship will be fought keenly between the top flight sides in both the male and female divisions in the Greater Accra League.   Teams expected to competitive in this year competition include CEPS, Tema Youth, Reformers, Holy Family, Fire, Magic, Panthers and Police during the two-week period.   At stake will be a giant trophy and cash prizes for winners.       GNA...

Accra, Oct 18, GNA - Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, Presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), on Wednesday called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to vigorously investigate allegations that foreign entities were funding political parties in the country.   He said if such allegations were true, it contravened the Political Parties Law,  Act 574, that prohibits foreign funding of political parties, demanding that the Electoral Commission investigate the matter properly to engender confidence in the country’s political order and to bring about transparency in the body politick of Ghana.   “The EC should not take this matter lightly; it should build the capacity to handle these issues in order to bring greater transparency in our political processes so that the people can accept the outcomes of the election”.   Dr Nduom who was speaking to journalists after filling his nomination papers at the EC, said foreign interest should not invest in political parties because the political entities end up doing what is consistent with the interest of the foreign entities.   He said Ghanaians should not trust and vote for any political party in Ghana that does not disclose the sources of its funding, challenging his political opponents to disclose their sources of funding for accountability and transparency sake in order to protect the sovereignty of Ghana’s electoral process.   The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has alleged that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) was being financed by a Chinese company, Huawei.   Dr Nduom also cautioned those who intended to cheat in the polls to gear up for a show-down with the PPP, because the party would contest the EC in court to annul the results of any polling station that records even one vote more than what is on the register.   “We will not allow anyone to cheat or steal in this elections and go  free….So if some people thinks that a polling station is in their strong hold and wants to use that advantage to subvert the electoral process should think twice.   “Those who want to cheat and steal should stand ready to face the consequences of their actions”, he declared.   Dr Nduom also renewed his challenge to other contestants in the presidential race to make firm commitments to transparent and incorruptible leadership, by declaring their assets and tax obligations to Ghanaians.   He reiterated that what Ghana needed to propel it to the enviable economic status was a competent and incorruptible leadership, one which the PPP would offer and bring about true progress, peace and prosperity to “Ghanaisn”.   Dr Nduom said that he was committed to the principle of incorruptible leadership and had thus requested the Internal Revenue Service to furnish him with certified true copies of his income tax returns and that this would be made available to the public when he gets the document.   He disclosed that he had also asked the Auditor-General to provide certified true copies of the assets report that he filed as a Minister of State and Member of Parliament and his party’s National Treasurer was working to provide the public the PPP’s financial report that would include the sources of funding for  national campaign.   He said PPP was a purposeful, positive and peaceful entity, saying, “Ï am happy that in this short period the party has attracted the right people for the right image”.   He said “there is a silent majority who are supportive of this party and we are very confident of our chances in this elections”.   “Whatever the outcome of results of the election, I would be proud of the PPP and the team it has built….And no matter the results of the elections, the PPP would keep the message of incorruptible leadership on the front burner”.     GNA...

Tamale, Oct. 17, GNA – Madam Delores Dickson, Executive Director for Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED-Ghana), has suggested the need for a linkage between school curricula and the industrial field for graduates to properly integrate into the job market.   She said what was being taught in our schools does not have much relevance to the job market thus creating problems in the system saying ‘there needs to be a better link between skills development, education and industry’.   Madam Dickson was speaking in Tamale on Wednesday during a learning forum for national partners of CAMFED innovation bursary programme where selected young ladies were being linked to some individuals and institutions to sharpen their business ideas. She said about 30 young ladies were being assisted by her outfit on the path to successful entrepreneurship.   Madam Millicent Achimboye, Business Development Manager of CAMFED, said had developed CAMFED Master Card Foundation partnership programme, a five-year pilot programme targeted at Cama members thus young women that have been trained by CAMFED.   She said the programme offers an innovative approach to expose beneficiaries to new knowledge, skills, markets and financial services that will allow them to replicate business models in their communities.   Madam Achimboye said the objective of the programme was to create the opportunity for potential young entrepreneurs to lead the change through innovation and diversification to be delivered with a network of partners both locally and internationally.   She noted that the new innovation had established businesses in rural communities using appropriate technologies and generating new employment generated by Cama entrepreneurs adding that it ‘will become a foundation for a more vibrant local business environment’.   She mentioned soap and detergent production, solar energy generation, textiles and agro-processing, mobile health servicing, crafts and catering services, Information Communication Technology /photography, bead making, fashion designing and shea butter processing as some of the business ideas that the Cama members were engaged in.   Madam Achimboye said young women needed to develop good business plans to attract funding support provided by micro finance institutions.   Alhassan Sohua, a young entrepreneur trained by CAMFED, said she has ventured into solar installation and selling of solar energy products to hospitals, schools and communities and making good profit and entreated more young people to develop interest in business activities to make good money for themselves.   She said her products have helped most deprived communities to have access to electricity noting that the set up capital has been a major worry and appealed to organizations to support young persons interested in growing their own businesses.     GNA...

Kade, Oct.18, GNA - A police prosecutor on Wednesday challenged the eligibility of a lawyer to ply his trade and dared him to produce his license in court.        Police Chief Inspector, Francis Cobbina, said since Mr Osei Kwadwo Addo’s name was not on the list of lawyers permitted to practice law in 2012 published by the General Legal Council, he should not be permitted to appear for a client facing a criminal charge before the Kade District Magistrate’s court.     When the Magistrate, Mr Abdul Majid Illiasu, asked the prosecutor for the grounds for the submission, he said he had the list of lawyers who had been licensed to practice in 2012.     The Magistrate therefore asked Inspector Cobbina to submit the list and he later produced a Daily Graphic issue of June 17 this year, which had the names of all licensed lawyers.     The magistrate then requested Mr Addo to produce his license but he replied that he left it at home.     The case was then adjourned to November 08 for the lawyer to produce his valid license which allows him to practice law in Ghana.     It all started when Mr Addo, who was defending Christopher Gbadasu, who stood surety for one Victoria Agboada, facing charge of “fictitious trading”, submitted that his client never entered into any agreement with the Police before Victoria was released.     The lawyer called on the prosecution to prove that the surety truly entered into bail agreement (bond) of GH¢ 10,000.00 before Victoria was released.     The prosecution had it that Gbadasu after signing the bond on January 07. was asked to produce Victoria on January 10 and when he failed to do so on January 13, a forfeiture of recognizance was served on him and was summoned to appear before the Court to show cause why the bond of GH¢ 10,000.00 should not be extracted from him.     Chief Inspector Cobbina not satisfied with the submission of the lawyer, who is also the counsel for the Kwaebibirem District Assembly, applied to the court to ask Mr Addo to show his valid license that allows him to practice law for the year 2012.     GNA...

Accra, Oct, 17, GNA - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), on Wednesday received donations from seven more companies towards this year’s National Farmers Day celebration slated for November 2nd at Abokobi in the Ga East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.      The donation, which was the seventh in the series of presentations, is to hasten planning towards the 28th edition of the celebration on the theme: “Grow more food: Strengthening Farmer Based Organizations for Market Place Bargaining Power.”      The companies include Nestle Ghana limited, which presented assorted food items worth GH¢ 6,500, Dizengoff Ghana limited donated Amiran farmers kit worth GH¢1 5,000 and a cheque of GH¢ 5,000.      Tropical Ghana limited, presented organic fertilizer worth GH¢ 3,000 and Atlas shipping line, Singapore also donated a cheque of USD 5,000      SIDALCO Ghana presented fungicides and weed killers worth GH¢ 12,220 and a cheque of GH¢ 20,000, whiles Pioneer food company(PFC) gave fish meal and varieties of Star Kist tuna worth USD 2,370 and a cheque of GH¢ 11,000      AFCOT Ghana limited also donated a cheque of GH¢ 15,000.      Mr Kwasi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), who received the items, encouraged other institutions in the private sector to also come on board to support the 2012 Farmers day celebration.      “The budget for the 28th edition of the farmers’ celebration is very big and government alone cannot shoulder it, we are therefore depending on you, the private sector even though some of you are already doing well to come in your numbers and support, he said.      He expressed gratitude to the donors and assured them that their presentations would be used for the intended purpose, saying government recognizes their support towards the success of the celebration and appealed to corporate bodies in the country to emulate the example of the companies.   GNA...

Breman Jamra (C/R), Oct. 17, GNA – Mr Albert Kobina Koomson, Director for Distant Education Continuation, University College, Cape Coast, (UCCC) on Wednesday said a centre of the institution would soon be established in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District.      He said the Centre would reduce the travelling distance of students from the area who use the facility.       Mr Koomson made the announcement during the installation of Nana Kwaw Fosu III, known in private life as Mr Adu Gyampoh, as the Odikro of Breman Jamra in the Breman Asikuma Traditional Area.      Nana Kwaw Fosu was an Assistant Senior Administrator of the Distant Education Continuation Centre at Ho in the Volta Region until his installation.      Mr Koomson said the establishment of the centre is to support the expansion of education in the district.      The Director said Nana Kwaw Fosu graduated at the UCCC in 2008 and did his National Service there and then posted to Ho where he was until his installation as a chief.      Mr Koomson said he had established 48 distant learning centres throughout the country within the past 14 years and that plans are far advanced for the Breman Asikuma centre to start.   GNA...

Accra, Oct, 17, GNA - The Accra Diocese of the Anglican Church, on Wednesday cut the sod for the construction in Accra of the Anglican Bishop Towers at the cost of Forty million US dollars.      The ultra modern 11 storey building is located on the High street, within the Central Business District of Accra.      According to the Project Coordinator, Ms Yvonne Sowah, who is also the President of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, the building will among other features, have two levels of underground and surface parking to accommodate a minimum of 232 cars.      She said each floor will also have two meeting rooms, unique view from all floors with offices on the east and west wings.      She said the building would also feature a conference room with a total seating capacity of 500, and a roof top restaurant, facing the Sea.      Mrs Sowah said the facility would bring uniqueness to the banking industry as it will accommodate two symmetrically identical shaped banking facilities of 530 meters banking space and 322 meters of office on the ground and mezzanine floors respectively within the same location.      She indicated that the sixth floor would be reserved for the Diocese in Accra, adding that, the building would be a reinforced with glazed aluminium, curtain walling and alucobond cladding on its sides.      The Most Reverend Dr .Justice Yaw Ofei Akrofi, Primate and Archbishop of the Church of the Province of West Africa, Anglican Church, encouraged the church to support the project to make it a reality to raise the image of the Anglican Church.      “Let us gather every resource needed to support this project to the glory of God and to make the Anglican Church proud” he said.      He expressed appreciation to individuals who had been at the forefront in coordinating towards the project.   GNA...

Nkoranza (B/A), Oct. 17, GNA – Mr. Adem Sam Gariba, National Coordinator of the Local Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP) has appealed to master craftsmen and women beneficiaries of the project to show commitment and passion in training the youth in their communities.      He said those masters who had already received tools under the project must impart their knowledge and skills to the unemployed youth in their localities for them to acquire similar vocational skills to enhance their living standards.      Mr. Gariba made the appeal at a meeting of about 100 master craftsmen and women and their apprentices at Nkoranza last Friday where he presented a quantity of working tools on behalf of the government to 24 master craftsmen and women to promote their businesses.      The tools comprised 11 sewing machines, eight hairdressing equipment, four catering materials and five transport services.      Mr. Gariba said LESDEP was an initiative by the Government to create job opportunities for the people as part of efforts to address the unemployment problems in the country.      Mr. Isaac Owusu-Asante, Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinator of LESDEP announced that managers of the LESDEP had opened an account for all beneficiaries to pay for the cost of the tools into it by installments.      Mr. Paul Opoku-Nsowah, Presiding Member of the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly, commended the Government for the introduction of LESDEP to boost up small scale private business enterprises in both urban and rural areas.      Mr. Opoku-Nsowah called on the beneficiaries to establish cordial working relationships with their apprentices and also show respect to their customers to promote their businesses.   GNA...

Sunyani, Oct. 17. GNA – The Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Ayensu Pantampram, has confirmed that the party would contest in all the 29 constituencies of the region.      He said the vetting of the nominees is ongoing and that there would be no voting since all nominees would be returned unopposed in the 29 constituencies.      Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani on Wednesday, Nana Pantampram said most of the candidates were National Democratic Congress (NDC) members who lost the party’s parliamentary primaries.      He said about 95 per cent of the supporters of the NDC, who were ignored had now joined the NDP, adding that, all the supporters who attended their congress in Kumasi were card bearing members and not supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).      The Regional Chairman said Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings had the welfare of Ghanaians at heart and had therefore promised to bring her governance to the level of the ordinary Ghanaian.      Nana Pantampram expressed the optimism that despite the party’s late entry into the race, they were sure of clinching victory to crown Nana Konadu as the next president of Ghana with majority seats in parliament.      He appealed to the supporters to boldly withstand intimidations by NDC supporters and activist and come on board to campaign massively for the party.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – Balloting for positions on the Election 2012 ballot paper is slated for Friday, October 19th, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, stated in Accra on Wednesday.      He said political parties whose flag bearers would successfully complete the electoral process for filing nomination papers on October 17 and 18 would qualify to participate in the balloting.      Dr Afari-Gyan later explained to the Ghana News Agency that there would be two ballots - one prior to the actual ballot would allow political parties to pick a number which would indicate when they would pick for their actual positions on the ballot paper.      That, he explained, would allow the parties to have fair opportunity to pick their positions on the ballot paper.      Balloting for positions on the ballot paper is keenly anticipated, since political parties use their positions on the ballot paper to coin attractive political slogans to attract more votes.      In 2000, for instance, balloting and sloganeering became a tool for campaign when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) found itself at the bottom of the ballot paper and coined the slogan “Asee Ho” (at the bottom).     The National Democratic Congress (NDC), which occupied the second position on the paper, came up with “Esoro ho” (at the top). Those developments generated intense interest in the political campaign.     Dr Afari-Gyan said independent candidates would not engage in the balloting because they automatically would follow the political parties on the ballot paper.     “If there are more than one independent candidate, the EC will use the alphabetical order to position them,” he said.     The EC Chairman said ballot positions picked by the political parties at the national level would be replicated at the constituency levels.     He said the exercise would start at 10.00 a.m. and presidential candidates had the option to be there in person or delegate their representatives.   GNA...

Kotokrom (B/A), Oct. 17, GNA – Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has advised supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to restrain themselves in the face of all provocations to allow peace to reign during the December 7th elections in the region.      He urged them to avoid all temptations by followers of opposing political parties that could spark misunderstanding to disrupt the elections in any of the constituencies in the region.      The Regional Minister said experience had shown that some members of opposing political parties intentionally created problems at polling centres of NDC strongholds and cautioned supporters of the party not to be taken by events before, during and after the elections.      Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo gave the advice at Kotokrom on Tuesday at separate rallies organised by the party at five electoral areas in the Sunyani East Constituency.      The other electoral areas where he addressed party faithful were New Dormaa, Atronie, Nwanwasua and Abesim.      Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo, who is also the Party’s Parliamentary Aspirant for Sunyani West Constituency, urged members of the party to undertake “house-to-house” campaign in their communities with emphasis on the number of projects already executed and those yet to be completed by the government in three and half years.      He recalled that the results of 1996 and 2000 general elections in the constituency were not encouraging because whilst in 1996 the New Patriotic Party Parliamentary candidate won by a small margin against the NDC, the gap widened in 2000 and blamed it on complacency on the part of party members.      Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo asked voters in the five electoral areas not to be swayed by unnecessary propaganda, especially by NPP and vote for Mr. Philip Awuah, NDC’s Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency.   GNA...

Tamale, Oct 17, GNA - An African, Caribbean, Pacific - European Union (ACP-EU) Energy Facility (II) Project designed to support communities in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region to access renewable energy services for lighting and cooking using Jatropha curcas, has been launched.       As part of the project, a production and service centre will be established at a community in the district and rural farmers using marginal lands will produce Jatropha seeds, which can be milled to produce Jatropha oil for running basic engines.       The four-year project is a collaboration of Spallanzani Technologies of Italy, New Energy, Nucleo Ricerca Desertificazione (NRD)- Universita degli Studi di Sassari (Italy), Technology Consultancy Center (TCC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Municipality of Dori (Burina Faso).       Its overall objective is to provide rural dispersed populations in Ghana and Burkina Faso with access to sustainable, renewable, affordable and more efficient energy services and opportunities.       In an address read for him to launch the project in Tamale on Wednesday, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, Deputy Minister of Energy said the government recognized the important role bio-fuel could play to ensure energy security and job creation, adding it was also "aware of the potential concerns about land grabbing and the public outcry on conflicts between demands for land, for food production and energy crops".       Alhaji Fuseini said, "It is against this background that the Ministry of Energy fully supports the NewEnergy and TCC of KNUST in collaboration with Spallanzani Technologies of Italy to implement small scale community-based biofuel renewable projects that could address the challenges of land grabbing and provide important lessons and cost evidence about the role biofuel can play in meeting rural energy needs."       He, therefore, urged the implementers of the project to factor in the concept of sustainable food production, adding "Africa needs food (Bio-energy) to provide the human energy required for most of our productive activities."       Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, Deputy Northern Regional Minister described the launch as timely as it would contribute to reducing poverty in the communities. Mr Asabigi said it would also help small and medium enterprises in the communities to reduce their costs of production thus leading to reduced prices of services.      He called on the communities to embrace the project by offering their support such that after the four years, they could assume ownership of it (project).      Professor Giuseppe Enne, Project Coordinator of Spallanzani Technologies of Italy, mentioned one of the expected results of the project, which was "Capacity building of local stakeholders improved through technological transfer and training on self-management of energy facilities and self-production, processing and use of Jatropha curcas".   GNA...

Aburi, Oct. 17, GNA - The Akuapem South District Assembly on Wednesday endorsed Mr Winston Kwadwo Afari Djan, the President’s Nominee, as the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, at a special meeting at Aburi.      The election of the DCE became necessary as a result of the creation of the new District out of the former Akuapem South District with Nsawam as its capital.      The meeting began with an appeal by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Victor Smith, to members to bury all their differences and confirm the president’s nominee to speed up the development agenda of the newly created district.      After the voting, Mr Afari Djan, a Proprietor of Graceland Preparatory School at Aburi, polled 29 votes to get the required two-thirds majority of the total 31 votes cast to become the DCE for the newly created district.      Mr Smith congratulated the new DCE and urged him to work hard to accelerate the development agenda of the district.      He urged assembly members to bury their differences and consider themselves as one people with a common destiny and assist the DCE to move the district forward.      The Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Paul Boateng, supervised the election.      Last week, Mr Afari Djan failed to get the required two-thirds majority as he got a little over 50 percent of the votes so another election had to be conducted within 10 days.      In his acceptance speech, the new DCE thanked the assembly members for the confidence reposed in him and appealed to them to support him to move the area forward.   GNA...

Fiapre (B/A), Oct. 17, GNA - A Circuit Court at Fiapre near Sunyani, has remanded a businessman into prison custody for allegedly defrauding a trader of GH¢7,000.00 with the intention of supplying her with 140 bags of cement.     Fred Amaniampong pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretence and was remanded into prison custody to reappear on October 18, this year.    Police Chief Inspector Kingsley Baafi, prosecuting told the court presided over by Mr. Benjamin Yaw Osei on Wednesday that the accused lives at Agona-Nkwanta in the Central Region while complainant is a trader in Sunyani.     He said complainant met accused through a friend in Kumasi, who introduced him as cement dealer in early 2008, saying that accused agreed to supply 140 bags of cement to complainant at GH¢7,000.00.     The prosecution said the money was transferred into the account of the accused at the Barclays Bank in Agona-Nkwanta where he (accused) confirmed receipt of it to complainant via phone and promised to deliver the cement within a month.     Chief Inspector Baafi said complainant never heard from accused again until September 6, 2008 when she had information that accused had been arrested on similar case at Agona-Nkwanta.     Prosecutor said complainant reported the matter to the Sunyani Police and accused was brought to Sunyani where he was charged with the offence after admitting it upon interrogation.     He said Amaniampong was arraigned before the court but jumped bail until October 5th this year when the Police had a tip off and went to re-arrest him at his hide-out at Agona-Nkwanta.   GNA...

New Abirem, Oct. 17, GNA – Supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Birim North constituency have vowed to bury their differences and unite to ensure a resounding victory in the December polls.      A large number of the supporters from the various communities in the constituency converged at New Abirem on Wednesday to support the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Ms Esther Obeng-Dapaah, to launch her campaign.      Ms Grace Omaboe, Mr Osei Frempong, and Mr Kwadwo Afrifa, who lost the parliamentary primary in the constituency to the MP, were present at the function to give her the moral support.      Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, the MP for Assin North, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, said the National Democratic congress (NDC) had realized that it would lose many parliamentary seats in the polls hence rushing to create 45 new constituencies.      He said the NDC had nothing to offer the nation as they had failed to fulfil all their campaign promises.      Mr Agyapong advised supporters of the party to avoid voting “Skirt and Blouse” to ensure total victory for the party in the election.      The Assin North MP said the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy was feasible as the NPP government, if elected, would use the huge Judgment Debts to finance that policy.      Ms Obeng-Dapaah appealed to the supporters to bury their differences and vote massively for the party to come back to power.   GNA...

Foase (Ash), Oct. 17, GNA – The Ashanti Region recorded a total of 515 fire disasters during the first half of the year, resulting in the loss of property valued at more than GH¢2.5 million.      Mr Kwaku Aninkora-Sie, the Regional Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), said majority of the fires were domestic and industrial.      These, he said, from the research they conducted, were mainly caused by the use of inferior quality electrical cables.          Mr Aninkora-Sie said this when addressing a public forum on disaster management held at Foase in the Atwima-Kwanwoma District.      The event was organized by the NADMO to educate and encourage the people to join in the efforts at preventing disasters.      Mr Aninkora-Sie identified wildfires, domestic and industrial fires, social conflicts and collapse of buildings as the main disasters the nation had over the years been forced to tackle.      He, however, warned that the country could be hit by a major disaster including an earthquake because of the changing climatic and geological conditions.      Mr Aninkora-Sie said it was in preparation towards efficient management of any such sudden occurrence that NADMO had begun a nationwide campaign to create the necessary awareness to educate the people on what to do should calamity strike      He underlined the need for preventive actions to assure the people of their safety adding that   Civil-society Organizations should also take up courses in disaster management.     Mr Tony Nyame, the District Chief Executive, said the forum could not have been held at a more opportune time, given the extreme weather conditions and the nature of disasters the country had been experiencing in recent times.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 17, GNA - Participants from over 20 West African states have converged in Accra for a two-day workshop organised by the West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI).      The workshop, to deliberate on issues pertaining to civil society capacity building is expected to help outline key capacity development issues within the sub-region and develop best methods and strategies to address them.      Addressing the participants on Wednesday, Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy, Senior Research Fellow, University of Ghana, expressed concern about the inability of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to stand up to the same scrutiny they exert on governments.      She called on CSOs to exhibit professionalism in their activities in order to attract the confidence of all stakeholders, especially donors and the communities in which they operate.      Prof  Sutherland-Addy who is also a board member of WACSI,  expressed unhappiness with some CSOs who did not possess the requisite resources, skills and knowledge to effect the needed changes in their communities.      “By delivering training, undertaking research, creating learning resources and facilitating high learning access, the Institute seeks to support all stakeholders to become a stronger and better represented group”, she said.      Prof Sutherland-Addy, who is also the Head of Language, Literature and Drama Section of the Department of African Studies, lauded the ever increasing role played by CSOs in shaping national policies, delivering services and holding governments accountable.      Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive Director of WACSI, said the Institute was formed five years ago by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa to support CSOs in the West African sub region.      “Through enhancing skills and knowledge, institutional and personal capacity development and delivery of advocacy skills, the Institute continues to empower CSOs and leaders across West Africa to make their voice heard”, she said.      She explained that WACSI organised the meeting in an effort to take stock of its capacity development methodology and chart the course for future actions.      “WACSI also hopes to gather relevant information through this international seminar to guide the Institute in strategising and repositioning itself to contribute to the delivery of capacity building knowledge and effective decision-making processes of CSOs”, she said.      The meeting which brought together experts in  CSOs, academicians and  development partners was to assess current strategies in capacity development for CSOs and their effectiveness, create the platform for dialogue and mobilise African and international perspectives on CSOs capacity development.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – The Ministry of Food and Agriculture in partnership with the Australian-Africa Partnership Facility on Wednesday launched its Farmer Based Organisations (FBOs) Capacity Development Project in Accra.    The Project is aimed at improving service delivery and increased access to markets along the agriculture value chain and developing the capacity of the Ministry’s extension staff to provide adequate support for the FBOs.     Nii Amasah Namoale, Deputy Minister of Agriculture in charge of Fisheries, said the two year project seeks to address the knowledge gap in business development service saying “it would also strengthen the capacity of extension staff at all levels and help strengthen the FBOs to operate their enterprises in an effective manner.     He said the Ministry recognizes the need to deliver services through farmers groups as a strategy to ensure cost effectiveness in service delivery to the small scale farmers.      “Encouraging farmers to form sustainable groups would therefore empower them to participate in decision in the market and socio-political arena and increase their potential to benefit from the economies of scale”, he said.      Nii Namoale said the project would also seek to identify active FBO Apex bodies and strengthen them to play their roles adequately to complement the responsibilities of the extension officers.      He said the development and sustenance of FBO’s had become very important in the acceleration of agricultural development and called on all stakeholders especially farmers to avail themselves in creating a formidable FBO for accelerated rural development.      Madam Minica Van Wensveen, Food Security Advisor, Australian Aid, said it was important to promote and maintain training programs to extend innovations to small scale farmers across the country.      She said the partnership was to share experiences from both countries to improve the sector adding that it would also help improve agricultural productivity and community capacity.      Dr Kwame Amezah, Director, Directorate of Agricultural Extension Service (DAES), said the project was designed such that the FBOs would be able to live on their own and provide support for themselves.      He said the launch of the project starts the planning of the implementation in a participatory manner with DAES staff from all regions and representative from FBOs to continue to develop the annual work plan.      FBOs provides opportunities for farmers to benefit from economies of scale, better bargaining power and to maintain a stronger voice in policy development.   GNA...