Kumasi, Oct 17, GNA – Mr Enock Teye Mensah, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, has urged students of Architecture and Planning to find new ways of applying time-tested principles to tackle the growing challenges of shelter, increasing traffic, and filth in the cities.         These, he noted, had become a major public concern at the time of their training.         The expectation was that they would bring their knowledge, expertise and best practices to bear on the planning, design and supervision of the building industry for the benefit of the nation.         Mr Mensah said this in an address read for him at the launch of the seventh annual week celebration of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) College of Architecture and Planning Students Society (CAPSS) in Kumasi.        It was on the theme: “Housing and Infrastructure: Key Elements to Promote Development in Contemporary Times, The Role of our Profession”.       The minister acknowledged the fast changing and impressive skyline of urban cities and towns but pointed out that these were occurring at a time when rural/urban migration was on the rise with its attendant problems – shanties, sanitation and strain on public utilities.        The oilfields had also exacerbated problems associated with traffic congestion.         Mr Mensah said this would require the students to use all the skills acquired as professionals to address the challenges.        Mr Kwabena Boateng Mensah, President of CAPSS, said housing and infrastructure were vital for the promotion of development in modern times.        It was important the state took advantage of economies of scale in land management, bulk construction materials and credit for real estate developers among other things.        He invited his colleagues to rise up to the challenge and help to improve the building and construction industry.   GNA...

Subin, Oct. 17, GNA – The Member of Parliament for Subin, Mr Isaac Osei has said he can vouch for Nana Akuffo Addo’s integrity that “he is not corrupt and can never be corrupted”.    “I have known Nana Akufo-Addo for over 40 years now, both in private and public life, and I can vouch for his integrity that he is not corrupt and can never be corrupted”, he stated.   The Subin MP and one-time Ghana's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom was addressing a charged crowd at the inauguration of the Old-Tafo constituency Nasara-wing of the party in Kumasi.   He indicated that "Corruption within the present NDC regime is of gargantuan proportions and has contributed to retarding economic growth and also diminished the standard of living of the people”.   He said under the Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo, God-willing, the country’s resources will be used judiciously for the benefit of all Ghanaians and not some greedy few”.   Earlier, Mr Osei had visited some churches within his constituency to fellowship with them and also to seek the face of God as the NPP gears towards victory in the upcoming general elections.   He first visited the A.M.E. Zion Cathedral where he joined the congregation for a special prayer for the peace and unity of the country as it draws nearer to the December 2012 general election.   He said election is about choice and the trading of ideas, adding “It is important the electorate weighs the manifestos of the various political parties and choose from among them one that can transform their lives and the nation”.   He also visited the Church of Pentecost at Asafo and urged the congregation to vote back the NPP to power so they can get the opportunity to enhance their livelihoods through policies such as: Free SHS, Strengthening of the NHIS and Job creation.    “Every child must have the opportunity to go to school no matter the circumstance of their birth”, he added.    Hon. Isaac Osei, entreated the congregation to pray not only for him but also his opponents.   “Please pray for Nana Akufo-Addo, John Mahama, Paa Kwesi Nduom, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and all those who seek to lead Ghana in the highest office of the land”, he stated.   The Presiding Elder of the Church thanked him for worshiping with them and prayed for the favour of God upon him and his Presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo. Prayers were also said for all other political leaders.   GNA...

Tamale, Oct. 17, GNA – The Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba has expressed dismay at the phone-in segment of radio discussions stressing that many faceless individuals have been hiding behind such programmes and denigrating personalities.   He said the media instead of helping to fight corruption and instill accountability in public sector workers, had rather turned to be tools behind which disgruntled individuals hid to attack politicians on corruption allegations without showing any evidence.   Mr. Mabengba suggested that radio stations must stop the phone-in segment if they did not have a proper means of preventing unscrupulous individuals from hiding behind the scene to denigrate others.   The Minister expressed this frustration in Tamale on Wednesday during a public consultative forum for national action plan on Open Government Partnership Initiative-Ghana, a new programme being implemented by the government to instill transparency and accountability among citizens.   The forum was supported by the World Bank and initiated in September last year with full implementation likely to begin in 2013.   Mr. Mabengba who said he had been working as a Lecturer before being made a minister emphasized that he could not be tagged as corrupt as was being peddled by some people, adding that “I will prefer television to see those faceless people”.   Mr. Alhassan Azong, Minister of State at the Presidency Responsible for Public Sector Reform said Ghana signed onto the Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative in September last year and was expected to develop a national action plan for submission to the Global Secretariat of the OGP in New York by December 2012, and demonstrate its implementation by 2013.   He said the Steering Committee had been inaugurated with the mandate of planning, developing, and implementing Ghana’s action plan in accordance with the process of multi-stakeholder consultation agreed by OGP member countries. He said the country had made a lot of progress towards the fight against corruption and was committed to that fight to promote public trust and integrity.   Mr. Kwesi Jonah, a Consultant to the Programme and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Democratic Governance said the main aim of the programme was to deepen democratic governance with organic linkages with national programmes that were ongoing.   He said it was a continuous governance process that would improve the lives of the people, stressing that Ghana had already made progress in maintaining fiscal budgetary expenditure but suggested that there was the need for a mid-year review of the country’s budget.   Mr. Jonah expressed dissatisfaction with government about its inability to fulfill its promise of passing the Right to Information Bill, saying “I am not sure the Right to Information Bill will be passed before the end of the year”.   GNA...

Accra, Oct 17, GNA - Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Flag-Bearer of the National Democratic Party (NDP) on Wednesday said the purpose of governance was to serve the governed, but unfortunately that had not been the case in Ghana for some time now.   “NDP is therefore seeking the mandate of the people to correct what had gone wrong politically, socially and economically.       "There are serious problems that need immediate solutions, and the NDP would give you the best you can ever have", Mrs Rawlings stated at a press conference in Accra.    "What excuse could we give for badly maintained hospitals where patients sleep on the floor? For poorly equipped or no schools? And for the payment of exorbitant judgement debts when many cannot afford a three times daily meal?      She said the nation deserved the best, adding that no matter what resources such as minerals and oil there might be, "the human beings are the most valuable resources of the state that must be invested into".     The NDP flag bearer said: "We are charting a new course to correct things that have gone wrong in the country. Ensuring grassroots participation in governance and encouraging entrepreneurial skills are key things we plan to do, to ensure that the country makes tremendous developmental leaps."     Mrs. Rawlings said whilst it was excellent to have women occupying influential positions, empowering women generally was also very important, and congratulated political parties that had elected female running mates.    She said the time had come for Ghanaians to re-consider whether to stick to the old, traditional major political parties or to chart a new course of rapid progress and development. "Let us all be determined to chart a new Ghana," Mrs Rawlings stated.    Mrs Rawlings was last Saturday elected through popular acclamation by 2,500 delegates, at the maiden congress of the NDP which was held in Kumasi, to become the party's Flag bearer, for the 2012 Presidential election.   GNA...

Kumasi, Oct. 17, GNA – Mr Akwasi Addai, popularly known as “Odike” has given up the fight to contest the December 7 presidential poll on the ticket of the United Front Party (UFP).          This followed his decision not to continue with the legal suit filed in a Kumasi High Court, challenging his dismissal by the national executive committee.          Mr Addai had on December 10, last year, been elected the flag-bearer of the UFP, but was dramatically removed by the party’s national executive for political inertness and pocketing fund donations among other accusations.          This led to the holding of another delegates’ congress in Cape Coast on August 29, to pick Mr Kwaku Owusu Antwi, as the new leader.          That set Mr Addai on a collision course with the national executive, culminating in the legal action he brought against the executives.          He was seeking among other reliefs a declaration that his dismissal as flag-bearer was wrongful, to restrain the party from nominating a new presidential candidate and special damages.          A notice of discontinuance to the Registrar of the Kumasi High Court “5” and signed by his lawyers said their client “seeks leave to discontinue his action against the defendants with liberty to come back”.         It copied the defendants, who included Nana Agyenim Boateng, the National Chairman, Razak Kojo Opoku, Deputy General Secretary and Kwaku Antwi Owusu, the Ashanti Regional Chairman.   GNA...

Sunyani, Oct. 17, GNA – The Sunyani Municipality was on Tuesday hit by shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) with some taxi cabs that ply the area parked in queues at various LPG filling stations.      Workers were seen standing for hours along some principal streets of the municipality waiting for taxis to convey them to their work places.   The Ghana News Agency (GNA) has observed that some of the taxis that use petrol or diesel in the municipality had been converted into gas use because of the perceived economic gains.       On the Abesim-Sunyani road, some workers were seen walking to their work places in the Sunyani Township.      Some taxi drivers told the GNA that the situation was not different at Estate, New Dormaa, Penkwasi, Mmeredane and Baakoniaba, all suburbs of Sunyani, as the gas filing stations there were not operating.       At the Joe Kona and Trinity Gas filling stations along the Abesim-Sunyani road, vehicles were in queues and some drivers said they woke up as early as 0400 hours to join the queue.      Asked why some taxis use gas, Kofi Emmanuel, a driver, said he could use GHc60 worth of the product for more than two days and make a lot of profit.      He said drivers who use petrol for the vehicles could not make much profit.      Kofi Emmanuel said the demand for gas by taxi drivers has resulted in intermittent shortage of the product in the municipality, this year.   GNA...

From: Albert Oppong-Ansah,  GNA Special Correspondent, Hyderabad, India (Courtesy: Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat, Global Environmental Facility and Internews)       Hyderabad (India), Oct. 17, GNA - A Ghanaian delegation led by Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, has arrived in Hyderabad, India to participate in the High Level Segment (HLS) of the on-going 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known as COP 11.   Members of the delegation include Mr Raymond Tawiah, Member of Parliament for Yilo Krobo and Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology, Mr Abdul-Rahman, Member of Parliament for Pru, Mr Justice Joe Appiah, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South and Ms Abigail Aba Anso, Parliamentary Clerk.   Ms Ayittey and her entourage joined the African Group in a meeting where the group was finalizing discussions on developed countries making funds available for developing countries, especially Africa, to conserve biodiversity.      The African Group will join the HLS after the meeting to make their presentation.   Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Justice Joe Appiah, who is also a Member of Parliamentary Committee on Environment, said the meeting would serve as learning and knowledge sharing platform.   "I will particularly be looking out for answers to some burning questions as to how to preserve the environment while insect and pest destroy the cash crops like cocoa that generate income for Ghana,” he said.   Mr Apiah said he would also be nosing around to identify more sustainable alternatives to improving crop yields in Ghana.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – The Ministry of Health (MOH) stated on Wednesday that the formal appointment of all health professionals takes effect from the day of assumption of duty at a facility.   “Depending on the requirements of the approved regulatory body, certain categories of personnel are required to undergo a period of internship ranging from three months to one year before being considered as qualified for employment.       “Any form of attachment to a facility prior to this is therefore not considered as employment,” MOH stated in a statement signed by Mr Daniel Osman Mwin, Head of Public Relations and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.   The statement was in reaction to a petition on backdating of appointments of Junior Nurses and Midwives presented by the Junior Nurses and Midwives Group at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.   The statement said MOH’s position was guided by its objectives of ensuring the wellbeing of all its employees in accordance with government’s guiding principles of integrity and accountability.   The statement said the Ministry also had extensive stakeholders’ consultations as well as a review of relevant financial guidelines of the central government before arriving at its position.   The statement explained that there were three distinct stages of employment of professionals trained in institutions of the Ministry: the student status, intern status and employee status.   It said the student status was the period when the trainee is in the training institution and was being taken through the school’s curriculum as prescribed by the regulatory body; this training may include theory, practicals and fieldwork and remuneration for this period is the trainee allowance.   The intern status referred to the period a trainee who had satisfied all the requirements of the institution and regulatory body, underwent a supervised practical attachment for a defined period and was assessed to ascertain his or her competency in the relevant field, it added.   It further stated that the remuneration given was the intern allowance. The period when a successful intern is employed by an Agency of the MOH and given an appointment letter to that effect was referred to as the employee status.   “This appointment, it should be noted well, is based on the availability of vacancies in the Agency and takes effect on the day of assumption of duty of the professional and subsequently is paid salaries and allowances as prescribed in the conditions of service.   “In consideration of the above mentioned statuses, the Ministry wishes to inform all trainees who commenced internship that they will receive internship allowances for the period and will be appointed based on their assumption of duty after the internship.   Additionally, the Ministry assured all affected junior nurses and midwives that the payment of all internship allowances owed them would be made by the end of October 2012 and this will include arrears starting from January 2011.   “We also wish to explain to all interns in particular and all health workers in general that delays associated with the payment of intern allowances and salaries is not deliberate but as a result of technical difficulties facing the staff of the IPPD Unit, as well as the huge workload associated with the migration of health workers onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS)”.   The Health Ministry assured all concerned that steps had been taken to ensure that subsequent batches received their allowances on time.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – Mr Isaac Osei, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Subin Constituency on Wednesday vowed for the integrity of the party’s flag bearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.   He said: “Nana Akufo-Addo is not corrupt and can never be corrupted; I have known him for over 40 years now, both in private and public life, and I can vouch for that”.   In a stamen to the Ghana News Agency in Accra signed by the MPs Special Assistant Chief Obosu Mohammed, alleged that corruption within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) “is of gargantuan proportions and has contributed to retarding economic growth.   “Under the Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo, God-willing, the country’s resources will be used judiciously for the benefit of all Ghanaians and not some greedy few”.   The MP said election is about choices and the trading of ideas...“It is important the electorate weighs the manifestos of the various political parties and choose among them, one that can transform lives and the nation”.   He urged the electorates to vote back the NPP to power so they can get the opportunity to enhance their livelihoods through policies such as: “Free Senior High School, strengthening of the National Health Insurance Scheme and Job creation”.   Mr Osei added that “every child must have the opportunity to go to school no matter the circumstance of their birth”.   The MP entreated the Christians to pray for candidates; “Please pray for Nana Akufo-Addo, President John Dramani Mahama, NDC Flag bearer; Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, Convention Peoples’ Party Flag bearer; and Mr Hasan Ayariga, Peoples National Convention Flag bearr.   “Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom,of the Progressive Peoples Party and Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings of the National Democratic Party, and all those who seek to lead Ghana in the highest office of the land”.   GNA...

Gwollu (U/W), Oct. 17, GNA  - Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister has called on voters in the Sissala West and East constituencies to vote massively for President John Dramani Mahama in the December elections to deepen the long standing relationship between them and the President.   Traditionally, there is a playmate relationship between the Sissalas and the Gonja ethnic group of the Northern Region, from which President Mahama hails.   Alhaji Sulemana made the call when he launched his campaign for the Sissala West Constituency Parliamentary seat at Gwollu in the Sissala West District of the Upper West Region.   The Regional Minister stated that a vote for him would also complete the wish of President Mahama since the latter needed all his Parliamentary candidates to support him run an effective and vibrant government to continue delivering the ;Better Ghana Agenda'.   Alhaji Sulemana urged all his supporters to go about their campaign peacefully devoid of any violence to enhance peaceful and successful elections.   Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, appealed to the constituents to desist from the practice of voting 'skirt and blouse'  which they did in the 2004 and 2008 elections, saying that the practice deprived the district of certain developmental needs.   Dr. Kumbuor who is also the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Nandom Constituency, said there were many things the NDC could point to in the area of education, health, agriculture and road infrastructure.   He advised supporters of the party to conduct their campaign based on its performance in government and avoid personality attacks.   Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minister of Health, said Alhaji Sulemana had for a long a time offered himself to serve his people, adding that the experience the Regional Minister had gathered put him in a better position to represent his constituents well in parliament than any other candidate.   Mr. Bagbin who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli West stated that President Mahama would win the 2012 elections and that it was better for them to have an MP whose Presidential candidate was in power than a "hanging MP".   Mr. Moses Dramani Luri, Sissala West District Chief Executive (DCE) said the performance of the NDC in the district had overshadowed that of the NPP in all areas.    He said since the NDC assumed office in 2009, a total of 108 development projects had been undertaken in the district as against a total of 44 projects in the eight years of the NPP administration.   On rural electrification, the DCE said for eight years the NPP was only able to connect electricity to seven communities, whereas the NDC within its first four years was already completing work on the connection of 40 communities to the national electricity grid.   Mr. Luri added that under the NPP only three communities benefited from the School Feeding Programme in the district as against 44 communities under the NDC's first term in office.   GNA...

Denu, Oct 17, GNA - Mr Bernard Amarble, Ketu-South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has said that the closure of the Togo side of the Ghana-Togo border on election day, could disfranchise some  Ghanaians living in Togo, Benin and Nigeria.          He said in 2008, some Ghanaians resident in these countries, who attempted entering into Ghana through unapproved routes to vote, in view of the closure of the border, were detained by both Togolese and Ghanaian security  personnel until after the polls .       Mr Amarble made the observation at the inauguration of a 20-member Security Taskforce to coordinate the polls in the area, in December, at Denu.   He said there were hints that a group was planning a hoax along the frontier on the day of the election to provide the Togolese government grounds to close its side of the border.      The MCE said Ghanaians who could be prevented from voting if the border was closed were sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress.      “We have reports that some people want to cause disturbances to prompt the closure of the Togolese side of the frontier to prevent Ghanaians resident in Togo and others  from coming down to vote,” Mr Amarble stressed.      He said that monitoring elections in the municipality could be particularly challenging and asked the security to be vigilant, fair and resolute on the day of elections.        Mr Amarble appealed to political parties not to do anything to obstruct the operations from carrying out their activities.       He also appealed to radio stations to ensure that political party activists and social commentators show decorum in their discussions.      The taskforce consist of personnel from the police, Bureau of National Investigations, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, National Commission for Civic Education, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Electoral Commission, and Information Service Department.   GNA...

Winneba (C/R), Oct 17, GNA - A total of 70,273 professional teachers have graduated from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), since the university's establishment 20 years ago.      Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Vice-Chancellor of the University, made this known when launching the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the university at Winneba on Tuesday.      The one year celebration is under the theme: “Twenty Years of Quality Teacher Education”.      Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw, giving the history of the university, said the UEW was established in September 1992 as a University College under PNDC Law 322.      He said UEW brought together seven diploma awarding colleges located in different towns under one institution.      They are the Advance Teacher Training College, Specialist Training College and the National Academy of Music, all in Winneba and the School of Languages at Ajumako.      The rest are the College of Special Education, Akwapim-Mampong, Advance Technical Training College in Kumasi and the Saint Andrews Agricultural Training College at Mampong-Ashanti, saying that all these centers were satellite campuses.      The VC said the first batch of 481 students was enrolled in November 1992, adding that the university gained autonomy from the University of Cape Coast in 2004 by the University of Education Act 2004 (Act 672).      The first Vice Chancellor of the UEW was Prof. Jophous Anamuah-Mensah and the Registrar was Mr J. N. Aryeetey.      Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw said the faculties of the university had increased from six in 2007 to nine presently while the academic departments/centres had also grown from 30 in 2007 to 50 currently.      He said improving on physical infrastructure is of priority of the university for creating conducive environment for academic and administrative activities.   GNA...

Wa, 0ct 16, GNA -  A group calling itself  "Stand Up for Bagbin “ has advised critics of Mr Alban Bagbin, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli West Constituency to rally behind him, if the only reason they had against him was his long stay in parliament.   The group noted that with the level the MP had reached, coupled with his political maturity, he was better oriented to attract development to the constituency.   “It would be detrimental if not suicidal to the development of the constituency and district at large if we replace him with anyone else,” the group said at a press conference in Kaleo in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region on Tuesday.   Miss Florence Kpan, organiser of the group, noted that for most people who were against the retention of Mr Bagbin, the only reason attached to their claims were that he had served for too long and therefore denying other people, especially the youth, the opportunity to go to parliament.   Miss Kpan said the MP’s leadership style and life was an inspiration to the youth and the people of the constituency and that his good performance at the district, regional and national levels was never in doubt.   She highlighted some achievements Mr Bagbin had chalked in his years of service to his people which included the provision of water, health facilities, electricity, enhancing education, construction of roads and improving agriculture for communities in his constituency.   With regards to enhancing education in the constituency, she said Mr Bagbin had been able to provide furniture, textbooks, computers, and other logistics to facilitate teaching and learning at the various senior high schools.   Ms Kpan said the MP recently constructed a new library complex for the Kaleo Senior High Technical School.     The immediate past three years alone had seen a total of at least 61 boreholes sunk across the constituency, she said.   The group called on the masses in the constituency to put aside all flawed impressions created by the MP’s detractors and vote massively for him in the December elections.   GNA...

Tamale, Oct 17, GNA - The defections drama that hit the National Democratic Party (NDP) in the Northern Region last week continued on Tuesday when a group of N/R Constituency Executives of the party announced their defection to join the National Democratic Congress. Announcing the group's decision at a press conference in Tamale, Mr Abubakari Abdul-Karim, who until the defection was the Savelugu Constituency Youth Leader of the NDP said, "We declare our unflinching support and resolve to work assiduously for the victory of the President, John Dramani Mahama and the NDC in the December elections". "We felt disillusioned and cheated by some of the NDC leaders in the past but today, we are happy to state that the leadership of President Mahama has not only brought a spark but rekindled our spirit and confidence in our great party". He said the prevailing atmosphere in the NDC was an opportunity that must not be lost on its members, and expressed their belief in the sincerity and astute leadership of President Mahama. "We are of the firm belief that we are better off staying with him (President Mahama) and pushing for the reforms rather than being in the NDP, a party that clearly lacks vision and direction" he added. He said he and the other former NDP executives  will hand over all NDP items in their possession to the Regional Police Commander in Tamale for safe keeping for Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, and entreat the former First Lady to stop using their names as executives or members of her party because "we are not going to support her". He appealed to other NDP members in the Region to abandon the party and join hands to help enhance the 'Better Ghana Agenda' of President Mahama. It will be recalled that last week, some members including N/R executives of the NDP resigned from the party and joined the NDC citing similar reasons. GNA...

Kyebi Apapam (E/R), Oct. 16, GNA – Nana Mbiah I, Mponuanohene of Akyem Abuakwa State, has appealed to the country’s security agencies to collectively help in  ensuring free, fair and violent-free elections in December.   He tasked the Ghana Immigration Service, in particular, to be vigilant and prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country, to make Election 2012 peaceful.   Nana Mbiah made the call at a durbar to climax a two-week Ohum festival of the chiefs and people of Kyebi Apapam, at the weekend.   Nana Mbiah cautioned chiefs, assembly members and other people, who were selling Okyeman lands without proper documentation, to stop the practice.   The chief, said as part of his traditional role, he inspected boundaries of stool lands at Adoagyiri, Ntoaso, Sakyikrom, Fankyenekor, Anoff, Duayeden-Nyanaoase, Kofi Kwei, Danso, Djafoakwah, Akroso, Osebo, Nwanta and Esuso, all in the Akyem Abuakwa State.   He appealed to the Police to check sand winning, which had destroyed land at Teacher Mante, Govinakrom, Pampamso, Krokese, Kofi Kwei, Obregyima, Anoff and Adoagyiri, also in the area.   He commended the media for reporting on socio-economic activities in the Akyem Abuakwa State.   GNA...

Nsawam (E/R), Oct. 16, GNA – Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, former Eastern Regional Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been elected as the Nsawam/Adoagyiri Parliamentary Candidate for the NPP.   He polled 366 votes to beat Lawyer Seth Wiafe Danquah who had 116 votes at the primaries held on Sunday.   Mr Annoh-Dompreh in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the election, said when given the nod he would ensure that all children of school-going age are enrolled to support the free SHS vision of the Flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.   He called on the executive members of the party to take the campaign more seriously by highlighting on the free education policy to woo supporters for the party.   He appealed to the people in the area to vote massively for him and Nana Akufo-Addo so as to develop the newly created constituency.   Mr Charles Dokyi Kesse, NPP Chairman for Nsawam/Adoagyiri, commended the constituency executives for the peaceful manner the election was conducted and asked supporters of the party to take the same steps during the December 2012 Election.   Alhaji Ismail Zakariya, NPP Aburi-Nsawam Constituency Secretary, said there was the need for unity among the supporters of the victor and the loser saying the NPP is one party and all should come together to ensure victory.       GNA...

Pusiga(UE) , Oct 16, GNA - Assembly Members for the Pusiga District Assembly in the Upper East Region on Tuesday confirmed Mr Abugbila Awuni Alhassan , the President’s nomine as the District Chief Executive(DCE) for the area.    The endorsement which was conducted by the Electoral Commission, did not last more than 10 minutes and saw all the 21 assembly members confirming the President’s nominee.    Swearing the new DCE into office, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo  said he was highly impressed about the overwhelming endorsement of the DCE and said it demonstrated unity among the Assemblymen in the house and entreated them to give him maximum cooperation to steer the affairs of the area.     He also admonished the DCE to run an open door policy` and not to discriminate, stressing  "welcome and listen to everybody irrespective of their political affiliations”.    Mr Woyongo indicated that  the creation of the new districts would bring governance and development to the doorsteps of the people because it would have its own resources including the District Assemblies Common Fund, District Development Facility, among others to develop on its own instead of relying on the Bawku Municipal Assembly.   “One thousand Ghana Cedis had already been paid into your account to start operation and more will follow. All these will be translated to the development of your District. It took a lot of lobbying and efforts for this dream to be realized. You must therefore work in unity to ensure development”, the Minister stressed.    He promised the newly created Assembly of 100 poles of Streetlights and Public Address Systems and impressed upon the people in the area to vote the National Democratic Congress to power to continue with its good work.    The DCE-elect commended the Assembly members for the confidence reposed in him and entreated them to eschew all negative tendencies that usually drew the development of most districts backwards.     In the Upper East Region the four newly created Districts are Pusiga, Binduri, Builsa South and the Nabdam Districts.   GNA...

Accra, Oct 16, GNA – Madam Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director, ARK Foundation on Tuesday called on the mass media to promote the “Grandmothers Speak for Peace Documentary" as part of their corporate social responsibility towards a peaceful general election in Accra.   She made the call at the media launch of a 15-minute documentary featuring 20 grandmothers whose ages range from 59 to 89 years sharing their views on the importance and benefits of peace before, during and after the December polls.   Madam Dwamena-Aboagye said the documentary which was an initiative of the ARK Foundation was aimed at creating a platform for grandmothers to add their voices to the call for peaceful elections and to sensitize the general public on the dangers of conflict and wars.   Mrs. Margaret Kutsoasi, a grandmother who launched and featured on the documentary said that some of them had experienced wars and that “it was not a pleasant experience”.   The grandmothers said: “We could not sit unconcerned in this crucial period of our democratic development and allow our sons to destroy the country just for political power....our sons and grandchildren must give peace a chance in their campaign”.   The messages on the “Grandmothers Speak for Peace Documentary,” cautioned politicians not to kill the very people they want to help with their words, actions, and guns.   They also called on all to be patriotic, peace makers and peace keepers before, during and after the December polls.   The documentary is being funded by STAR-Ghana a multi- donor pooled funding mechanism (Funded by DFID, DANIDA, EU and USAID) to increase the influence of civil society for a peaceful election.   GNA...

Anum-Apam-Nuamakrom (E/R), Oct. 16, GNA – Barimah Nuamah Larbi Asare III, Chief of Nuamakrom, a suburb of Anum-Apapam in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region has urged the youth to endeavour to take their education serious.   He said education is the key to national development and the surest way for them to become useful citizens, adding that, “it would also help you to get a better job or employment.   Barimah Larbi Asare gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Anum-Apapm-Nuamakrom after he had been enstooled as chief of Nuamakrom, at the weekend.   The Chief, who is also the Executive Director of Black Ark Mining Company in Accra, succeeded his late elder brother Nana Kwabena Nuamah II, who died last year.   He called on the government to reconsider registering all small-scale miners to enable the youth in the mining areas to have jobs to prevent them from engaging in illegal mining (galamsey).   Barimah Larbi Asare said his company had employed over 50 youth in the area.   He swore the oath of allegiance to Barimah Amarko Darko Ampem, Kyebi Gyaasehene and the Krotihene of Kyebi Apapam, Baffour Ansah and the people of Nuamakrom.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday said government have achieved tremendous gains towards strengthening the local government and decentralization sector since assumption of office in 2009.   He said the party in its 2008 Manifesto promised to strengthen the sub-district structures, which has been fulfilled by the passage of Legislative Instrument 1967, changing the Unit Committee from a geographical to a functional concept.   The Unit Committees jurisdiction has now been made coterminous with that of the electoral area, and reduced the membership from 15 to five.   “We promised to hold a National Stakeholder Conference on Decentralization to drive the decentralization programme.   “We have done that, which culminated in the Decentralization Policy Framework and the National Decentralization Action Plan, which were launched in November 2010,” he said.   President Mahama outlined the NDC government’s achievement in the local government and decentralisation sector in a speech read on his behalf, during the launch of Best Local Governance and Decentralization Journalist of the Year Award Scheme in Accra.   The Award scheme was also to whip-up the interest of Ghanaian Journalists in the area, to raise awareness among the populace on issues about decentralization.   President Mahama said the promise to strengthen and provide logistics for Assembly Members had also been kept by the provision of over 9000 motor bikes and 170 four wheel station wagons to all Assembly Members and an orientation programme for all of them.   The President said the NDC government had also fulfilled the promise to publish the resources transferred from the Central Government to the District Assemblies.   He said this publication in the newspapers has enhanced transparency and created means for more effective monitoring mechanism of the annual allocations to both District Assemblies Common Fund and the District Development facility, among several others.   Mr Ben Hagan, Secretary to the Cabinet, who chaired the function, said the Award Scheme would further serve as a form of motivation to journalists in the country in their quest to educate and inform the public and highlight various efforts that were being made by stakeholders to achieve the objectives set out in the policy and the Action Plan.   Mr Blight Blewu, General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) congratulated the IMCC for the foresight and urged journalists to take advantage of the scheme to achieve the goal.   The Award Scheme was initiated by the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralization (IMCC) to encourage and acknowledge Ghanaian journalists to report on issues concerning decentralization and local governance in the country.   The scheme, “Best Journalist in Local Governance and decentralization Reporting” would be an annual event incorporated into the GJA annual awards and would follow the laid down policy and procedure of the GJA.   For the first year, the winner would receive a television set, a laptop, an internet modem and a cash prize of GHC2,000, which would be reviewed periodically.   The IMCC with membership from the Ministries of Local government and Rural Development; Food and Agriculture; Health; Education, Justice and Attorney General, among others, was composed by Government to pursue the agenda of the New Decentralization Policy and Framework and the new National Decentralization action Plan launched in November, 2010.   The policy sought, among other things, to provide conceptual clarity on what decentralization means within Ghanaian context. It also provided guidelines on the concepts of local level democracy and development.    GNA...