Accra, Oct. 15, GNA- The Chiefs and people of  Akwamu  would  hold  a home coming event dubbed ,”Akwanu Nhyiamu Kese”, from 2nd November to 11th  November, 2012 at Akwamufie, in the Eastern Region.   Speaking at a press launch, Mr Godfred Akyea-Darkwa on behalf of the planning committee, said that Akwamu state under his new leadership was organizing the homecoming event to host sons and daughters of Akwamu, home and abroad to m reason in unity on how best they can revive the state.   According to him, under the leadership of Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, the new paramount chief, the Akwamu State, which was in hibernation for about 20 years, has been united and connected to strategic social and business partners and now poised for development.   “There have been a lot of discoveries, Alluvial Gold, Limestone deposits, and a strategic Real Estate Investor was also coming up with modern and state of the art buildings on a 2000 acre land”, he said.   Nana Semanhyia, Gyasewaa Hene of Akwamufie, said that Akwamu state, the citadel of Akan history had unadulterated customs, history which Ghanaians could learn.   “Queenmother Nana Afrakoma II and all chief, elders, planning committee members and the people of Akwamu have agreed to come together to celebrate this  Nhyiamu Kese, first of its kind in 20 years.”   Madam Gifty Ofei, a member of the planning committee, called on women to educate their children on Akwamu history to help revive the state in unity through reconciliation.     GNA...

Amoada, (W/R), Oct. 16, GNA - The Wassa Fiase Students Union chapter of the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, has donated learning materials to the Amoanda District Assembly Primary and Junior High School in the Prestea Huni Valley District at a cost of GH¢ 700.   The donation, which was made in collaboration with Prestea Sankofa Gold Limited, includes mathematical Sets, exercise books and pens, among others.   The President of the union, Mr. Ebenezer Mensah, who presented the items, said the donation is to enhance the level of education in the school.   He urged the pupils to stay away from illegal mining and focus on their education, because that is the only channel through which they can improve upon their standard of living.   Mr. Mensah appealed to parents to let the education of their children be their number one priority, since it is the only legacy they can leave for their children.   The Headmaster of the school, Mr. Appiah Takyie thanked members of the union, for their kind gesture and called on the Prestea Huni Valley district assembly to provide dual desks and construct a classroom block for the school.     GNA...

Bawku (UE), Oct.15, GNA- A seven member Municipal Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee (MIACC) was inaugurated at the weekend in the Bawku  Municipality to ensure good sanitation in the area.   The members are representatives of the Community Development Agency, Ghana Health Service, the Red Cross, and the Municipal Assembly, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency Ghana Education Service and Ministry of Food and Agriculture.   The committee had been charged to ensure the running of a programme dubbed, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) which is to ensure the provision of potable water, clean environment and the promotion of environmental hygiene in the area.   Mr. Dramani Imurana, Assistant Director in charge of human resource of the assembly, who chaired the committee on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Abduliah Musah, noted that the area was overwhelmed with poor sanitation and that it is about time clean up and promote good health.   He explained that environmental health was a major priority to the assembly and that it was committed to ensuring the promotion of good sanitation in the area for the wellbeing of the people.   Mr. Emmanuel Nyaaba, Municipal Environmental Health and Sanitation Officer,  lamented on the challenges facing the environmental health sector which include poor supply of fuel for vehicles to help dispose of waste, and the lack of other logistics to manage waste in the area.   He said as a result of the conflict in the area, no development partner such as non-governmental organizations (NGO) interested in sanitation were prepared to come to the area to assist and appealed for support     GNA...

Tarkwa, Oct. 16, GNA - The council of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, has installed Professor Jerry Samuel Kuma as the new vice chancellor of the university.      The former Pro Vice Chancellor, who had served in several positions at the University for twenty seven years, is succeeding the immediate past vice chancellor professor Daniel Mireku Gyimah, whose eight year term of office ended on October 15, 2012.      The ceremony to install Professor Kuma was attended by the Omanhene of the Wassa Fiase Traditional area, Osagyefo Dr. Kwamena Enimil VI, members of the University council, the Municipal Chief Executive Officer of Tarkwa Nsueam, Mrs. Christina Kobinah, vice chancellors of sister Universities, members of the mining fraternity, stakeholders, management and students of the University.   The Chairman of the University Council, Professor Bruce Banoeng-Yakubo said in accordance with the UMaT, Tarkwa Act 2004, Act 677 and the provisions of the statutes, council, at its 39th meeting in September this year approved the recommendations of a search committee and appointed Mr. Kuma as the second Vice Chancellor with effect from October 16. He therefore appealed to the principal officers, deans, heads of department and all others to offer the new chancellor the needed support.      He said in November 2004, the University was established by an Act of Parliament Act (677) and that since then the authorities of the University have endeavored to put the administrative, academic and financial structures of the institution into workable system and to nurse a culture that supports the vision of the University to become a center of excellence for the training of professionals in mining and other related engineering programme.      Mr. Banoeng-Yakubo said having spearheaded the transformation of the then Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology school of mines to become the Western University College and thence to the UMaT, Mr. Gyimah, became the foundation vice chancellor in 2004 steered the affairs of the University.      The chairman said through the able leadership of Mr. Gyimah infrastructure has improved enormously and the number of programmes offered in the University has increased with corresponding increase in the number of academic, administrative and professional staff.      He said the former vice chancellor has earned lots of awards because of his hard work and will receive another award in November,an honorary doctorate degree by the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria for the contributions he has made to the mining industry and University education in Ghana, Africa and the world at large.       The immediate past vice chancellor, Mr. Daniel Mireku Gyimah expressed gratitude to members of the council and management of the University for their supportive leadership and commitment.      According to him, the University started with dilapidated lecture rooms and had no library, auditorium and hostel, but can now boast of a modern auditorium, well equipped laboratory, vice chancellors lodge and offices for all senior members.      Mr. Gyimah said the institution’s teaching staff has improved tremendously to 4 professors, 6 associate professors, 43 lectures, and 89 senior staffs.      The past vice chancellor thanked the government, mining companies and other stakeholders for their financial support as well as the traditional ruler of Wassa Fiase for donating a 26 kilometres of land to the University.      He entreated management of the University to give out their best to the new vice chancellor to ensure that he maintains the strong foundation they have built for the University.      Mr. Gyimah presented an emblem of the University to the authorities of the institution.      The new Vice Chancellor, Mr. Kuma in a brief address explained that he will increase infrastructural development, teacher to student radio and seek for more financial assistance to help execute extra developmental projects to meet the present population of 1,856 students.      Mr. Kuma also promised to put in measures that would enable the University to meet its target of 5,000 students with 40 percent of the total number been females.      The authorities of the University as a sign of gratitude unveiled a bust of the immediate past vice chancellor at the fore court of the University’s auditorium.     GNA...

Fiapre (B/A) Oct. 15, GNA – Professor James Hawkins Ephraim, Vice Chancellor, Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG), on Saturday lauded the premium placed on education by politicians campaigning for the mandate of Ghanaians in the election 2012.          He said “investing in the right kind of education is considered a major vehicle for national development”, hence “some of us are very excited about the prominence given to education as the nation prepares for elections on December 7, 2012”.          Prof. Ephraim, who was addressing a joint seventh congregation and 15th matriculation of CUCG at Fiapre near Sunyani, however, stated that experts in education had cautioned the nation not to make education a “political football”.         The Vice Chancellor said “the pragmatic approach to the issue is for the country to decide on acceptable levels pertaining to access, quality and finance”.         He therefore proposed that Ghanaians asked the aspiring leaders of the nation the same questions “so that from their answers, the nation shall enhance her chances of finding the most suitable solution to our problems”.      Prof. Ephraim reiterated the CUCG remained committed to contributing her quota to the development of the country through the courses being offered as well as the provision of education and training “which enables the students to blend the acquired knowledge with their faith”..      The University graduated 57 students who had fulfilled all the stipulated requirements of the institution whilst it admitted 789 students to undertake various courses, increasing the current student population to 4,097.     The graduates successfully pursued Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in courses such as Public Health Management, Public Health Informatics, Public Health Education, Economics, Management, Computer Science, Banking and Finance, Mathematics with Finance and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Religious Studies.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA - Sheikh Yacoub Abban, General Secretary, Al Sunna Wa Jamaa, on Tuesday said the irresponsible attitude of some Ghanaians towards the environment was partly the cause of changes in rainfall and weather patterns being experienced these days.     "Today you can't discern or tell whether we are in the rainy season or in the dry season all because of climate change",he added.      He said this during an interview at the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) follow-up consultation on climate justice and sustainable peace in Africa and programmme for Christian - Muslim relations in Accra.      Speaking on the topic: Climate Change Reflection Based on the Quran, he said there was the need for human to conserve and preserve the earth's natural resources to ensure its sustenance for all other creatures.      The two day international interfaith conference, which opened on Tuesday, would seek among others things to discuss the role faith based organisations can play in climate change adaptation and mitigation; challenges faced by churches and mosques in climate mitigation and adaptation and to seek the extent the churches and mosques have been working on climate change mitigation and adaptation.      Sheikh Abban said the time was ripe for people to rethink their ways and attitude towards the environment to avoid bringing destruction upon themselves.      He said there was the urgent desire to mitigate the effects of climate change in order to forestall future dangers by minimising the effects of green house gas emission and the depletion of the forest vegetation.      Most Rev Dr Robert Aboagye - Mensah, AACC Vice-President for West Africa, said the AACC would mobilise and engage faith leaders in Africa to use their moral authority to communicate messages that not only gave hope to the affected and the vulnerable communities to take grass-root action on mitigation but also convince global leadership to be sensitive of the plight of climate change victims and accelerate action for mitigation.      Rev Godwin Osiakwa, Clerk of the General Assembly, Evangelical Presbyterian Church, said “the depletion of our immediate atmospheric cover has now reached alarming proportions and climate scientists have warned that if nothing is done to reduce the emission of these poisonous gases, all forms of life on earth will be adversely affected”.      He said climate change is a direct result of human activity due to global warming caused by increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.   “The tragic irony of it is that the countries which have done least to cause climate change are those that suffer, most from its impact,” he said.      Mr Oppong Kyekyeku, Chief Programme Officer, United Nations Framework on Climate Change, said there was the need for the judicious use of natural resources saying more needed to be done to reduce green house gas emission.      He said government was actively promoting afforestation programs in an effort to help address the climate change phenomenon.     GNA...

Tamale, Oct. 15, GNA - Wuni Zaligu Development Association (WUZDA), an NGO, on Monday presented a hand washing facility to Bamba International Complex Academy in Tamale as part of efforts to ensure a hygienic living amongst school pupils.   The presentation of the four water container facility, formed part of WUZDA's activities to commemorate this year's Global Hand Washing Day.   It also brings to 11, the number of basic schools which have benefited from WUZDA offers in the Tamale Metropolis.   The United Nations had set aside October 15, to be observed annually as the Global Hand Washing Day as part of efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals (seven).   Mr Abdul Karim Ziblim, Programmes Manager of WUZDA, who made the presentation, encouraged pupils to inculcate the habit of regularly washing their hands to stay healthy.   He said a hygienic lifestyle would ensure poverty reduction since individuals would not fall sick and spend resources to seek treatment.   Imam Amin Bamba, Director of Bamba International Complex Academy, who received the items, underscored the importance of cleanliness saying it was necessary for effective human development.   He said the facility would enhance the health of the pupils as it would help to prevent diseases.   Imam Bamba stressed the need for the pupils to wash their hands before and after break periods as well as after visiting the wash room.     GNA...

Tamale, Oct. 16, GNA - ActionAid Ghana has expressed concern about the continues acquisition and grabbing of agricultural lands by multinational companies saying such acts was denying the smallholder farmer of farmlands with a consequence of increasing food insecurity in the country.   It has therefore called on the government to establish legally enforceable regulatory framework that would protect communities from land grabbing and save guard security tenure for women and communities to sustain right to food and livelihood.   Madam Queronica Quarley Quartey, the Right to Food and Climate Change Policy Advisor to ActionAid raised these concerns in Tamale on Tuesday during an interactive forum on land grabbing in commemoration of World Food Day.   The event is being celebrated globally under the theme; “Land grabbing is a threat to food security and rural livelihood: give women farmers secured land”.   The participants of the forum, mostly farmers, were drawn from various parts of the country.       Madam Quartey explained that the land acquisition often involve long-term transfer of land user rights and sometimes ownership from communities to investors resulting in the loss of cultural heritage, saying that, domestic responses should involve strengthening transparent, accountable and accessible national land governance to protect agricultural lands.   She said many thousands of hectares of the country’s lands has for the past few years been acquired by both local and international companies rendering farmers inaccessible to lands for agricultural purposes, cautioning that, if the trend was not halted, the country could face serious food crisis.   She observed that a larger chunk of the lands in the country have been acquired for bio-fuel and jatropha projects, projects she said does not auger well for food production.    Mr. William K. Boakye, Acting Programme Manager of ActionAid said women and smallholder farmers need to be acknowledged for their immense contribution to food security and availability and must be assisted by government to increase production.   “To ensure that farmers contribute their quota to the development of this nation, we must acknowledge their challenges in accessing productive resources and support them….land is one of the most important resources for farmers”, he said.   Mr. Boakye called on the need to secure farm lands for agricultural purposes in the face of rapid urbanization and development to protecting land tenure for individuals and communities and external land investment.   Mr. Bakari Sadiq Nyari, a resource person noted that the country’s lands have been captured in the constitution, placing the individual and the institutions mandated by law to be the sole protectors of the lands in the country, adding that, the constitution gives sovereignty to individuals over their properties.   He called on the government and chiefs to hold lands in their trust in the interest of the people such that they could accrue the benefit of it.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 15, GNA – An African Delegation would participate in the EmPeace LABS 2012 International Leadership Training Programme from 18th to 26th October, 2012 Jalgaon, India.                              The theme for this year’s Programme is: “Empowerment for Peace through Leadership in Agribusiness and Sustainability; Eradicating Poverty in Rural Areas”.   A statement issued in Accra by Cordie Aziz Member, Executive team University Community Partnership for Social Action Research Network (UCP-SARnet), said it will bring young leaders from around the world to co-design and implement pilot projects that would leverage local natural and human resources in building sustainable communities.   It said Mr Tsonam Cleanse Akpeloo, UCP-SARnet Regional Representative for Ghana, who is also the UCP-SARnet head for Africa, would be leading the African delegation.   The workshop would explore the historical depth and current relevance of Mahatma Gandhi's concept of peace through leadership.   It would also provided assistance and mentoring in implementation of knowledge and skills acquired during the training, as well as in planning and organization of subsequent trainings at a local level.   The statement said through the mutual exchange of ideas and professionally supported mentoring relationships with local and global researchers, innovators, and practitioners, it would build a network of support for young community leaders to make a positive difference in their communities.   It said it would help the young leaders to ultimately contribute to the realization of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and ensuring a more peaceful and stable future.   The leader of the delegation, who is also the winner of the prestigious young entrepreneur of the year award, is expected to make a strong case for Africa.   He would be speaking on issues on using technology to promote sustainable development in areas of Agri-business, water resource management and entrepreneurship.   The delegation comprised of National heads of UCP-SARnet in over 20 African countries and other leaders from the continent.   The training programme organized by Arizona State University in partnership with Gandhi Research Foundation, Jain Irrigation Systems limited and the Center For Community Based Research (USA) would be attended by young leaders from every continent of the world,  working towards the achievements of the MDGs by 2015.      UCP-SARnet is dedicated to the education of the next generation of community leaders by compiling and housing an interactive on-line library of resources and facilitating cross-sector collaborations, networking and multicultural dialogues.     GNA...

Tema, Oct. 16, GNA – Three pupils of Tema Parents Association School in Community 6 who excelled in an Essay Competition organised by PZ to mark the Global Hand Washing Day, were yesterday presented with their prizes at a ceremony in the School.   Nine-year-old Maame Ohenewaa Baah, a Class Four pupil placed first with Michael Mitchell, 10, of Class Five and Sena Mensah, 8, of Class Three emerging as the first and second runners-up respectively.   For their prizes, each award winner received a certificate and some products from the company.   Speaking at the function, Mr Eben Akyeampong, Brand Manager of PZ, said Global Hand Washing Day which falls on October 15 of every year, is a public/private partnership to help promote healthy lifestyles.   He said the Day was instituted in 2001 to give families, schools and communities in developing countries the power to reduce and prevent the incidence of diarrhoea and respiratory infections by supporting the promotion and practice of proper hand washing with soap.   He said the public/private partnership is basically to promote hand washing with soap as hygiene, good sanitation and water are recognised as pillars needed for a healthy lifestyle.   Mr Akyeampong said Carex, a sanitizer product of the company, is the biggest and most recognised hand care soap used in the UK and several other countries in the world.   He said Carex kills all germs faster than other brands on the market leaving the hand smelling nice several hours after use.   Mr Kwaku Agyekum, Headmaster of the School, thanked PZ for celebrating the Day with the pupils and pledged the school’s preparedness to ensure that the pupils observe sound hygienic practices to help keep them healthy and strong at all times.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 15, GNA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday expressed its commitment to the development and improvement of living standards of Ghanaians.   To this end, Mr Kamil Kamaluddeen, UNDP Country Director, said pragmatic measures have been instituted to support government’s effort to improve the lives of the citizenry.   “As Ghana builds its own development solutions, UNDP provides ideas for strategic development projects and capacity building in support of continued efforts to eradicate pockets of extreme poverty, improve gender equality, reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS, promote and protect human rights and enhance environmental management”, he said.   The UN Development Assistance Framework action plan 2012 -2016, launched earlier this year, seeks to invest 470 million dollars in resource towards Ghana’s development agenda for the next five years.   Mr Kamaluddeen made this known during a media briefing to mark UNDP Media Day in Accra.   He assured UNDP’s support to media saying, “I believe they represent a crucial pillar to foster democracy and contribute to the sustainable development of the nation as a whole.   He said UNDP was a reliable partner to every nation to drive and sustain development and improve the quality of life of people.   “On the ground in177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations”, he said.   He said UNDP had launched four new Information Communication Technology centres in decentralized areas of the country to provide internet access to inhabitants of most deprived areas.   Ms Ruby Sandhu- Rojon, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, said all the agencies under the UN umbrella worked as “one UN” to deliver a common objective of a better world for all.   She disclosed that the UN and all its agencies present in Ghana would celebrate the UN Day in partnership with the Government of Ghana on October 24. She said the platform would present another opportunity for the UN country team to deepen its collaboration with the media.   Ms. Sandhu-Rojon said the country had made giant strides towards the attainment of some of the major Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets before the 2015 deadline adding that serious attention should be given in areas like ending maternal mortality and poverty in the northern belt.     GNA...

Ho, Oct. 16, GNA - A group of women attending a three-day sensitization workshop in Ho on the electoral processes ahead of the December polls Tuesday appealed to Former President Jerry John Rawlings to be circumspect in his choice of words in public discourse.      The women said, Former President Rawlings, as a “role model” for both the young and old, in whatever circumstances should avoid being sharp-tongued such as happened recently when he described some people as, “evil dwarfs” and “babies with sharp teeth.”      The workshop, under the auspices of the Electoral Commission (EC), with support from the USAID, was towards building stakeholders confidence in the elections.      The women were drawn from faith and community- based organizations and professional women groups.      Madam Mawunya Demanya, a participant said her group had been praying relentlessly for peace to prevail in the country and therefore advised the country’s leaders and opinion leaders to desist from creating unnecessary tensions.      She described the meeting between Former President Rawlings and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as good gesture for peace building among different groups.       Madam Demanya said though the current political climate was encouraging, it must not be taken for granted and called for concerted efforts from all to retain the peace.      “We are happy that the campaigns are issue-based and we pray that it remains this way for peace to prevail,” Madam Demanya said.      Madam Bless Fiawoo of the Assemblies of God Church, Ho, reiterated the call on media practitioners, especially radio stations, to be circumspect in their reportage and programmes.      Madam Stella Darkey of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association commended the Electoral Commission for sensitizing different groups of people on the electoral processes apart from politicians.      Madam Mansa Dagbe, Ho Market Queen asked women to continue praying for peaceful elections and urged politicians to act responsibly before, during and after the elections.      Madam Saviour Demanya from the Word Miracle Church expressed confidence in the EC to organize peaceful and credible polls.      The group was taken through the electoral processes, from appointment of electoral officers to voting procedures.      They also went through a simulation exercise in voting.      Madam Laurentia Kpatakpa, Volta Regional Director of the EC said similar seminars would be organized for people with disabilities, the media and political parties.     GNA...

Tamale, Oct. 15, GNA – The Northern Regional branch of the Government and Hospital Pharmacist Association (GHOSPA) has appealed to the National Labour Commission (NLC) to expedite action on the matter between GHOSPA and the Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC).   “We will like to express our dissatisfaction about the inordinate delays in passing a final judgment on the issues of market premium and grading structure”.   These were contained in a press release issued in Tamale on Monday and signed by Mr. Frank Kumi, Spokesperson of GHOSPA, Northern Regional Branch. It would be recalled that a nationwide industrial action embarked upon by the members of GHOSPA had to be called off on 24th September, 2012, due to a compulsory arbitration process ordered by the NLC.   The statement said arbitration process which was meant to be a final resolution step between both parties was rescheduled to 10th October, 2012, on grounds that the quorum required of the empanelling of the NLC to pass a final judgment had not been achieved adding ‘NLC again postponed the date of final ruling to 17th October, 2012’.   “Whiles making the NLC aware that we the Northern Region members of GHOSPA are trying to comprehend the convoluted legal process needed to resolve this longstanding issue between GHOSPA and FWSC, we will also like to express our dissatisfaction about the inordinate delays in passing a final judgment on the issues of market premium and grading structure”, it said.   It expressed optimisim that a fair judgment on the issues brought before the NLC shall be finally pass on the set date of 17th October, 2012, in order to avert any preventable future disruption on the labour front.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA – Dr. Michael Abu Sakara Foster, Flag bearer of the Convention People Party’s (CPP) on Tuesday said a government under his leadership from January 2013 will ensure that all past government officials account for their stewardship.   “All government officials found to have made illegal judgment debt payments will be brought to book. A CPP government will not be part of any judgment debt.   “The CPP is against those who claimed to be incorruptible but have not walked the talk,” Dr Sakara stated at a press conference in Accra to highlight some of the policies and programmes of the party towards the December polls.   The press conference was attended by Nana Cherita Akosua Frimpongma Sarpong, CPP’s presidential running mate for election 2012 and other leading members, including the General Secretary, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet and Professor Agyemang Badu Akosah.   Dr. Sakara claimed that over 50 per cent of Ghanaians live in rural areas under deprived conditions while those in the urban areas face atrocious conditions of congestion, poor sanitation and mass unemployment.   He assured Ghanaians that the CPP under his watch will alleviate their suffering through job creation, agricultural modernization and an Information Communication Technology revolution.   He said the CPP government is against the over dependence on foreign development partners such as the International Monetary Fund.   Nana Sarpong in her contribution expressed concern about social injustices in the country, stressing that a “CPP government will not compromise in the pursuit of social justice.   “A CPP Government will ensure equal opportunities for all Ghanaians, as the future of Ghanaians should not be determined by accident but through opportunities created by government”. She noted that a CPP government would initiate social interventions to meet the housing needs of young people.   Nana Sarpong said under Dr. Sakara’s leadership, government will seek the welfare of all Ghanaians, irrespective of one political persuasion, tribal or religious linage or geographical location.   She expressed regret that 55 years after independence, Ghanaian children can not have adequate access to basic education, health, clean drinking water among others.   On sports and education, she emphasized that Opportunity Industrialization Centres will be established in every district to give alternatives to Basic Education Certificate Examination and Senior High School opportunities.   “There must be opportunities for those who are skilled to learn a relevant life skill and also improve their reading, writing and arithmetic skills, at every level of the academic ladder.   “While sporting activities will be revived and made an integral part of education at all levels under a CPP Government,” she stated.   Ms Samia Yaba Nkrumah, CPP National Chairman and Member of Parliament for Jomoro, said the mission of the party was to restore a sense of justice and equity among all Ghanaians.   She also catalogued a number of achievements she has chalked in her constituency as a lone CPP MP.   All others who addressed the press called on the electorates to massively vote for the CPP Presidential and Parliamentary Candidates to form the next government.        GNA...

Accra, Oct. 15, GNA – The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) on Monday presented 400 copies of the Association’s handbook on its Code of Ethics to the Ghana Police Service in Accra.   The handbooks are to help the Police understand the ethical guidelines of private media practitioners with regards to maintaining peace ahead of the December general elections.   The Association launched its Code of Ethics in July, this year, to serve as a conduct for journalists towards responsible reportage during Election 2012 and beyond.   Presenting the handbooks, Mr Akwasi Agyeman, GIBA Vice President, noted that the gesture was to reinforce the partnership the Association had with the Police Service.   He reiterated the association’s position on the fact that no member would be allowed to undermine the peace of the nation through the information they air to the public before, during and after the elections.   DSP Cephas Arthur, Director, Public Affairs, Ghana Police Service, receiving the items, said GIBA had demonstrated that ensuring peace, and order in the country, especially during elections was not a responsibility of the Police alone.   He expressed appreciation to the Association, adding that copies of the book would be distributed to all Commanders and various departments of the Service to serve as a guide in the discharge of their duties during the elections.        GNA...

Kumasi, Oct 16, GNA – Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame, has inaugurated two school blocks built for the New Suame Methodist and Salvation Army Junior High Schools (JHS).          Each of the six-unit classroom block, funded by the Ghana Education Trust (GETFund), comes with offices, stores and washrooms.          Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said education was critical in national development saying it rallied all stakeholders to work together to improve the quality.          He said he was confident that the successful completion of the classrooms would create adequate space to help end the “shift system”.          The MP re-affirmed his determination to continue working hard in support of the promotion of education saying he had been assisting not only in the construction of schools’ infrastructure but supplying computers, books and other teaching and learning materials.          Added to these, is the award of scholarship to brilliant but needy students.          Mr Samuel Sarpong, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), reiterated the government’s commitment towards the development of the nation’s education.          He said this was evident from the construction of more classrooms, expansion of the school feeding programme, capitation grant, free school uniforms and books.          Mr Joseph Nsiah, Suame sub-Metropolitan Education Officer, described the performance of basic schools in the area as impressive.          The sub-metro, last year, topped the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) performance league in Kumasi.          He thanked the MP for spearheading the projects and the GETFund for the funding and said there could be no doubt that enrolment in the beneficiary schools would shoot up.          Madam Elizabeth Oppong, Head teacher of the Salvation Army JHS, appealed to the assembly to assist in walling the schools to check the nuisance of stray animals and people using the compounds as thoroughfare.          Nana yaw Dani II, the Chief of Suame, advised parents to invest more in the education of their children.     GNA...

Sunyani, Oct. 16, GNA- Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye -Marfo, Brong- Ahafo Regional Minister, on Monday stated that diarrhea has been identified as a major cause of illness and death among children in the country.      He said available statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) also indicate that about three million children die of diarrhea every year.      Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo made the statement in a speech read for him at the regional celebration of the global hand washing day to create awareness on the importance of hand washing and good hygiene practice in Sunyani.      It was on the global theme, “Help more children reach their fifth birthday”.      The Regional Minister stressed the need for a strong hygiene approach to curb the incidence of diarrhea and also reduce the burden of health care on families.      He said the region’s aim “is to ensure that children grow beyond their fifth birthday”, and therefore urged stakeholders to assist in sustaining behavioural change through sensitization at all levels in the society.      Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo stated that proper sanitation and good hygiene practice had been undervalued for the quest of development and modernization, adding that with the looming threat of cholera, promotion of hygiene would have a positive impact particularly on women and children, who were the most vulnerable to diseases.      As care-givers and major providers of food at home and public places, a woman with contaminated hands could easily affect the health of a whole family and outsiders, the Regional Minister noted.     He entreated the general public to religiously practice hand washing to reduce the high incidence of diarrhea, noting that the disease could be prevented by ensuring good and proper sanitation practices and clean environment.      Mr Divine D. Dugbartey, Chief Water and Sanitation Engineer, Community Water and Sanitation Agency in Sunyani, said the CWSA in collaboration with some development partners since 2001, had been promoting hand washing with soap to improve health conditions of Ghanaians      He said hand washing was a key action in promoting health since it was a main infection control and called on all stakeholders to support such a noble cause to achieve its objective.      Nana Bofotia Boamponsem II, Krontihene of Sunyani Traditional Area, stated that all food vendors, butchers, market women and all those who dealt directly with food must be sensitized to practice good hygiene to avoid food contamination.       GNA...

Kumasi, Oct 16, GNA – Micro-finance companies have been urged to be more professional by upholding best practices, to become a real catalyst for the growth of small-scale and medium enterprises (SMEs).           Mr Frederick Osei-Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of GMC Consulting Limited, a Business Advisory Firm, said, if efficiently operated, there could be no illusion about their critical importance in job creation and the fight to bring down poverty. The micro-finance sector had seen massive expansion in recent times, something he said, was good for the health of the economy.           He reminded the sector operators of the dynamic nature and fierce competition in the financial sector and the need for integrity, discipline, time consciousness and the introduction of innovative products to meet the demands of the people.          Mr Osei Mensah was speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop on loan recovery being held for them in Kumasi.          The GMC organized the programme with technical support from the UT Collections, a subsidiary of the UT Holdings.           It targeted savings and loans companies, money lending institutions and the credit unions to build their capacity and reduce the risk of loans default.          Topics treated included positive attitude towards loan recovery, effective credit appraisal and disbursement, doing good credit, normal and bad debt recovery.           Mr Osei-Mensah expressed concern over the huge debt portfolio many of the financial companies were grappling with because of bad lending practices and indiscretion.          Their inability to recover monies given out to applicants could lead to their collapse with unpleasant consequences on the financial sector.          Major Stephen Antwi-Boateng, Managing Director of UT Collections, encouraged the companies to assist their workers to undergo regular training to upgrade their competencies and expose them to new ways of doing things.         He said “attitude, integrity and discipline form about 80 per cent of the success story of any organization” and that was why the micro-finance sector should always uphold those values.     GNA...

Bawku (UE) Oct.15, GNA - Dr. Mahamud Bawumia, running mate of Nana Akufo Addo, New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, at the weekend called on politicians to make the interest of society paramount by preaching peace as it was the surest way to develop society.   According to him, preaching violence instead of peace would destroy society where everybody would end up as a loser.Dr. Bawumia was speaking during a campaign tour of Bawku to elaborate on the NPP’s manifesto and reassure the people of the party’s commitment to solving identified problems.   He said politicians lobby for power to rule society but if they play selfish games such as deception and cheating among others on society, it would soon catch up with them and they would end up at the losing side.   Dr Bawumia, who was accompanied by the former vice president of Ghana, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, said the party had secured plans to build new 350 Senior High Schools (SHS) with teacher accommodation and rehabilitate the existing ones in the country.   He assured the people that to teacher would be well motivated to lead the implementation of the complete free and compulsory education to promote quality education for the needed human resource capital in the country.   Dr. Bawumia said health care would be a priority under the NPP government as it has become a worry to many Ghanaians who cannot access free and quality health care.   He disclosed that the NPP would put in stringent measures to improve the agriculture sector by expanding irrigation facilities to boost farming in the dry season.   Dr. Bawumia called on the traditional authorities to support the party gain power come 7th December in order to enable their tradition areas get development.   He later visited most of the party’s strong holds including Gingande, Natinga , sabon Zongo, Danduri,Pusiga, Zong Natinga and Wedana.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA - Standard Chartered Bank on Tuesday opened its Tema East Branch, bringing the banks outlets to 23, in a demonstration of the banks continued investment and strategy of driving access to financial services in the country.   The commissioning of the Branch follows the opening of the North Industrial Area branch in August this year and is part of an overall goal of moving closer to customers through proximity and remote channels.   Speaking at the opening session, Mr Kweku Bedu-Addo, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered, Ghana, said the bank was offering integrated solutions aimed at delivering efficient alternate channels such as online and technology platforms to boost customers’ value.   “That is why we are investing in the most excellent state-of the-art infrastructure ever witnessed anywhere in the country to move us closer to our cherished customers.   “This is an industry first and there will be a host of other truly innovative propositions to continuously make lives better in Ghana”, he said.   Mr Bedu-Addo said Standard Chartered had remained a key participant in the economic progress of the country, maintaining a sustainable business as a bank, simultaneously creating value for shareholders and contributing to the communities in which staff live and work.   He reiterated the Bank’s commitment to keep up a vigorous fight against money laundering and terrorism financing and said SCB would report suspicious accounts for the necessary actions.   Mr Bedu-Addo asked the staff of the new branch to be sensitive to customers, adopt a high level of risk management and high service delivery standards.   Mr Andrew Okai, Executive Director, Consumer Banking, Standard Chartered Ghana, said the opening of the branch was a demonstration of continued support to customers and the quest to provide convenient banking services to them wherever they are.   “With the investment we are responding to the needs of our customers as we transform the retail landscape in Ghana,” he said, adding that the ultimate goal was to enhance the overall customer experience in the bank’s branches and deepen relationship with customers.   The Tema East branch will offer several banking solutions including online, SME Banking and Bancassurance. It was formally commissioned jointly by Mr Kofi Amoa-Awuah of the Bank of Ghana and Kweku Bedu-Addo.     GNA...