Ho, Oct. 15, GNA - Mr Emmanuel Keteku, the Volta Regional Director of Education, has appealed to people living with disabilities to combine wisdom, information and knowledge to transform their lives.       He said the world is now in the wisdom age and that the blind for instance have little or no obstruction to success.      Mr Keteku said this at the Annual Regional Conference of Blind Teachers in the Region in Ho and it was on the theme, “Mobilising and Motivating Teachers with Visual Impairment for Effective Development of Ghana’s Education System.”       He said blind people should come out of self-pity and push on and be of good character to make it in life.       “Vision and imagination are the greatest things in this age and you stand a better chance to use your mind for the good of society and yourselves,” Mr Keteku said.             Mr Michael Bedi, National President of Blind Teachers Association, said  some school heads were underutilizing blind teachers and called for orientation for school heads.     GNA ...

  Takoradi, Oct 15, GNA – Ghanaians have been urged to observe environmental cleanliness in order to prevent the outbreak of communicable diseases. Mr Francis Anleah, Western Regional Disease Control Officer, said most communicable diseases are caused by human activities therefore pleaded with the public to ensure that the environment was always clean.  He was speaking at the Western Regional launch of the Sanitation Task Force held at the Takoradi Central Market by the Zoom Alliance Ghana Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Mr Anleah said population growth had brought challenges to the environment and this required the public to lead responsible lives by avoiding indiscriminate littering. Launching the taskforce, Mr Abudulai Zakaria, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Coordinating Director, commended the efforts of the Zoom Alliance to clear filth from the system. Mr Gershon Sogbey, Western Regional Manager of the Zoomlion,  expressed the readiness of his outfit to support people with logistics to undertake cleaning exercises.     GNA ...

  Takoradi, Oct. 15, GNA -  Management of MTN Ghana has held a corporate sales fair in Takoradi for its customers and rolled out products aimed at promoting service communication and business transaction. Management also explained the frequent interruption in service communication and attributed it to the destructions of their underground cables by road contractors. Mr Samuel Appiah, Senior Manager in charge of the Western and Central Regions of the MTN, said the frequent break in communication especially at weekends is caused by contractors who normally tamper with their cables in the course of their work. He said management was working feverishly to address the problem and urged customers to bear with them describing the interruption as unfortunate.   GNA ...

  Gomoa Jukwa (C/R), Oct. 15, GNA - Mrs Akosua Aseidu Ntriakwa, Head of Women and Children Ministry of Mid-South Ghana Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church , has observed that discipline is the only panacea for students to chalk academic excellence and success. She therefore urged students, especially the girl-child, to desist from pre-marital sex and other social vices which could truncate their vision of climbing higher on the educational ladder. Mrs Ntriakwa said these when she launched the 10th Anniversary Celebration programme of SDA Senior High School at Gomoa Jukwa near Agona Swedru in the Central Region. The school magazine and anniversary cloth were also unveiled and launched at the ceremony. She said most students failed because they deeply involved themselves in immoral acts that derailed them from their vision. Mrs Ntriakwa who is also immediate past headmistress of the SDA Senior High school, urged the students to learn hard to help them become responsible future adults. She commended the board of governors, headmaster, teaching and non-teaching staff for their hard work and encouragement that had lifted the morale and academic standards of the school. Mr Frank Bortse Ghartey, Headmaster of the school said the prgramme would commence on November 10, 2012  with a float through the principal streets of Gomoa Jukwa to Agona Swedru, fun games with sisters schools, and exhibitions and quiz among school houses. Mr Ghartey praised the efforts and vision of former director of the school, Pastor Richard Ntriakwa and Elders of the Church at Agona Swedru for establishing the school in the area. Mr W.B. Mensah, Central Regional Manager of SDA educational Unit promised that the unit would help the school to become one of the best in the Region. He cautioned students to desist from habits that could spoil the image of the school.   GNA ...

Cape Coast, Oct. 15, GNA- The New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the weekend organised primaries for four parliamentary candidates to contest the newly created constituencies in the Central Region.   Mr Oppey Abbey, a former Member of Parliament (MP) who is representing the NPP for Awutu-Senya West, polled 192 votes to beat two other contestants, Mr Justice Quaye who had 183 votes and Mr Patrick Amoako who recorded 60.   Another former MP, Mr Richmond Sam Quarm also carried the day with 158 votes to become the candidate for Gomoa East, followed by Kwadwo Asomaning Budu with 90 votes and Mr Max Jewel Annan who had 51 votes.   At the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam primaries Mr Festus Beedu Turkson 43 emerged victorious to replace, Albert Ato Quainoo the NPP candidate who passed away last month.   He bagged 423 votes to floor his only contestant, Mr John Kobina Amissah who had 108 votes.   However, in Cape Coast, Dr Mrs. Henrietta Abane was elected by popular acclamation, likewise Mr Ebenezer Appiah Kubi for Assin South.     GNA...

Saboba (NR), Oct. 15, GNA- President John Dramani stated at the weekend that he does not believe in the use of ethnic sentiments to garner votes in the forthcoming general election.   He said: “Since I started working as a public servant and as a politician I have never believed in (ethnic) politics, since that is not enough to drag us out of poverty and illiteracy.”   President Mahama made this known when he addressed a rally at Saboba in the Northern Region as part of his three-day campaign tour of the Eastern parts of the area.   The President was apparently reacting to a rumour that was making the rounds that he as a Gonja Head of State would oppress Konkombas who had fought the Gonjas in the past.   President Mahama added “if I had that power I will rather use it to fight poverty which is a common enemy and not other ethnic groups in the country”.   “In all my dealings in Ghana, what I know is that if you bring out a Konkomba poor person and a Gonja poor person, there is no difference and therefore prefer that we fight poverty, illiteracy and diseases and not these rumours that will not help our development, he added.   He said it was based on underdevelopment, depravity, and poverty that the ruling National Democratic Congress had implemented the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), which would provide a number of jobs and stem rural urban drift in the years to come.   President Mahama promised the people that SADA would support them with money as equity to kick-start the establishment of a rural bank and advised them to buy shares in the financial entity to make it a sustainable venture.   The President promised that under the eastern corridor road project, streets in Saboba, Tatale, Chereponi and Zabzugu had been captured to relieve the people from the struggles they go through in travelling to other areas.   He said these development interventions would attract many more professionals to accept postings to Saboba and other communities.   On the December 7 polls, President Mahama said government would put in place measures that would provide incident free elections and make it acceptable and unique among her peers in Africa and beyond.   President Mahama announced that government had attained equipment from Spain to fix the bridge on the Oti River, which separates Ghana from Togo.   Mr Ken Ujangi, a member of the Konkomba Youth Association on behalf of the chiefs and people of Konkomba Traditional areas called on government to increase the infrastructure at the local E.P Senior High School.   He said lack of banks in the area had over the years compelled workers to spend so many days getting to urban areas to receive their salaries and appealed to the President to encourage the establishment of local banking facilities.     GNA...

Tamale, Oct. 14, GNA – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has selected five candidates to contest the primaries of the newly created constituencies for the Northern Region after a keenly contested primaries. The five selected out of 17 qualified candidates are Mohammed Kumaru Adam for Salaga North, James Cecil Yayunbe for Tatale, James Kwaku Alhassan for Yunyoo, Samuel Yeyu Tika for Daboya and Sheikh Yakubu Adul Karim for the Sangnarigu constituencies. Mr Faisal Gbangili, Head of Research and Election of the NPP, said the elections were conducted peacefully with the supervision of the EC. It will be recalled that the Electoral Commission recently created five new constituencies out of the 45 nationwide for the 2012 elections. As a result of the creation, various political parties have been conducting primaries in the new constituencies to select parliamentary candidates for the constituencies. Dr Clifford Braimah, the NPP Secretary for the Northern Region, had earlier told the GNA that the NDC was quite aware of the chances of the NPP in the newly created constituencies saying they know that “our chances are brighter than theirs”. He predicted that the least number of seats the NPP could get out of the five was four, adding that the NPP had selected good and capable candidates for the new constituencies who were going to match the NDC boot for boot. “We are going to increase in popular votes and increase in the number of seats of the NPP in the Northern Region and our opponents should take note of that”, he said. GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Herewith the standings of the 2012/2013 Premier League after the opening matches played on Sunday, October 14, at the various league centres   Club                                   P          W        D          L        GF        GA       GD       PTS   Medeama SC                2            1          1          0          1          0           6           6   Hearts of Oak              2             1         1          0           5          2         +3         4    Amidaus Profs.             2          1          1          0            2          0          2          4           Brekum Chelsea          2          1          1          0            2          0          2          4           Aduana Stars               2          1          1          0          2          1          1              4           Tema Youth                 2         1         1          0            2         1         +1              4     Heart of Lions             2          1       0        1           2          3           -1                3   Asante Kotoko            2         0         2          0           2          2          0             2           AshGold                         2          0          2          0          2          2          0             2             Arsenals                        2           0           2          0          2          2          0           2            RTU                                2          0          1          1          3         4            -1             1           All Stars                       2          0        1          1            2         3              -1            1           Dwarfs                          2          0          1          1          1          2            -2          1            King Faisal                  2          0          1          1          1          2            -1          1           Liberty                           2          0          1          1           1          3         -2          1            Edubiase                       2          0         0         2            2          6           -4         0          GNA...

Kumasi, Oct. 14, GNA – Visiting Tema Youth F.C., fought gallantly to record a 1-0 win over King Faisal Babies F.C. in their Glo-Premier League Day Two encounter at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. Faisal had the better part of the exchanges in the first half, playing according to a well-rehearsed tactics but the final delivery remained the problem in most part of the game as they continued to squander many begging chances. The home team, came close to scoring on two occasions, however, Eric Boakye threw away those chances in the 19th and 21st minutes.   In the second half, Tema Youth threw caution to the wind and attacked in droves, particularly from the flanks, where dare-devil Francis Narh operated effectively with incessant runs upfront. The home team seemed to have no answers to the strategy and resorted to physical and rough play with skipper Kwadwo Boateng and Ransford Kwakye being the worst offenders. In one of their advances to break the deadlock, a Tema Youth player was brought down and skipper Jeremiah Arkorful took the kick which was connected home beautifully by substitute Daniel Appiah in the 81st minute to send their supporters into wild jubilation. Faisal, with defeat staring them in the face rallied back strongly to get the equalizer, however, Joshua Akoto surprisingly shot a ball feebly into the waiting arms of goalkeeper Kofi Mensah after he had meandered his way through the Tema Youth defence in a solo effort. GNA...

Bolgatanga, Oct. 14, GNA - The People's National Convention (PNC) of the Bolgatanga Central Constituency at the weekend elected Mr Rockson Ayine, a legal Practitioner as its Parliamentary Candidate for 2012 election. Mr Ayine polled 72 votes to beat his opponent,  Mr Thomas Akurigu Ayinezirigiya who got 70 votes. Speaking to the Media after the keenly contested election, Mr Ayine said he would work harder to ensure that the party wins the seat this time saying “I will move to all areas in the constituency including the hinterlands to win more votes” He commended the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and impressed upon them to embark upon vigorous campaigns by moving from house to house to persuade more people to vote for the party. The Regional Secretary of the Party, Mr Henry Fatchu told the delegates that now that they had a candidate, it behoved on them to bury their differences and unite in a common front to win both the Presidential and Parliamentary slots in the Region. GNA...

Ho, Oct. 14, GNA - Rev Dr Lawrence Tetteh, an International Evangelist, has said religious groups were the bastions keeping societies from sliding into doom, in these days of high moral decadence across the world. He said but for the churches, things would have been worse for Ghana and many other societies. Rev Dr Tetteh was answering a question at a press-conference in Ho on whether in the light of increased deviant behaviours, the churches were not losing the war against immorality. The interaction with the media occurred during the celebrated evangelist’s religious outreach effort to the Volta Region in collaboration with local pastors and his guest, Rev Paul Naughton of the Benny Hinn Ministries in the UK. The programme dubbed Ghana for Christ Crusade, comprised intercessions, healing and deliverance and mentorships and it attracted large groups of people from all parts of the region. Rev Dr Tetteh, who is Founder/President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach said the fight against deviant behaviour was a fight for all. He said many of the people of character in society today were products of the church. Rev Kwabena Kodua of the Gracious Seed Exploits said the church was conscious of its role in national building and would support anything would promote good governance. GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Alhaji Halidu Haruna, Public Relations Offcer of the National Hajj Committee, has denied allegations that a member of the Committee has been arrested for possessing cocaine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He said two pilgrims and one member of the Hajj Task Force were earlier detained and after some time the two pilgrims were released. Alhaji Haruna said the two pilgrims were arrested for possessing pain killers without prescriptions and the medicine which was carried by the Ghana Medical Team for the treatment of Ghanaian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.  “The medicine is the normal pain killer we use in Ghana, but is not allowed by Saudi authorities, it is just like cola nuts which are not allowed into the kingdom”. Alhaji Haruna said the Saudi authorities initially called on the National Hajj Committee to pay duty for the medicine but later rescinded is decision and refused to allow the medicine to enter the Kingdom. He said the Committee through the Ghana Embassy in Saudi Arabia was dialoging with the Saudi Authorities for the release of the Task force member. Alhaji Haruna appealed to the remaining pilgrims who are yet to depart from the shores of Ghana to desist from carrying any unapproved substances that are against the laws of the Kingdom. GNA  ...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Herewith results of match day two of the Glo Premier League matches played on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14, at the various league centers   Accra:                 Hearts                     5               N. Edubiase         2   Obuasi:               Ashgold                 2                 Kotoko                 2   Berekum:            Arsenal                  1                 A. Stars               1   Tarkwa;               Medeama            1                 Dwarfs                  1   Tema;                 Amidaus Prof.     2                 Liberty                 0   Kpando:             Lions                       2                 RTU                      1   Dormaa:             Aduana                 0                 Chelsea               0   Kumasi:              Faisal                     0                 T. Youth              1   GNA...

Obuasi, Oct. 14, GNA – Ashgold FC and Kumasi Asante Kotoko shared honours in match day two of the Glo Premier League as the two sides settled on a two all game at the Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi on Sunday. Kotoko, was the first to open the scores in the 16th minute through Kofi Nti Boakye, who slotted home a ball past keeper Isaac Ackon from Yaw Frempong’s pass. Playing their first game of the season at home, Ashgold, pressed for the equalizer and created two clear chances in the 27th and 29th minute but the cross bar denied Yakubu Mohamed and Ben Akuffu the opportunity to level up as they ended the half the disadvantaged side. Ashgold came back from recess, a stronger side  and succeeded in fetching the equalizer through Mohamed, who capitalized a defensive error on the part of Ohene Brenya in the 60th minute. Seidu Basit however restored the lead for Kotoko after he made good use of a cross from Ben Adama a minute later. The home side could have equalized in the 80th minute as they ensured intensed pressure on Kotoko but they failed. Ashgold never relented on their efforts and fetched the equalizer in the 87th minute through Mohamed to end the action packed game. GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Accra Hearts of Oak trounced New Edubiase 5-2 in match day two of the Glo Premier League at Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, to pick the second spot on the summit of the two week old league. Hearts, who had greater part of the exchanges despite stiff opposition from the visitors started their impressive run in the 35th minute when Edward Affum was brought down in the vital area for referee Samuel Suker to point to the penalty spot. After few minutes of protests from New Edubiase, Godwin Osei Bonsu converted the penalty to put Hearts on top of the game in the 38th minutes. The phobians increased the tally on the stroke of first half when Attakorah  Gyimah’s swift cross was headed home by skipper Mahatma Otoo to end the half. Hearts resumed the second half much stronger and nearly went up again, but a well taken free kick in the 52nd minute was blasted off by Moro Iddrissu. Edubiase thereafter capitalized on a quick counter attack in the 57th minute and with a quick combination between Aseidu Attoborah and Basit Adams saw the later placing the ball through the legs of Sammy Adjei for their first goal in the game. The visitors, five minutes on, initiated another counter attack and moved swiftly into the area of Hearts. This saw Nuhu Alhassan delivering another perfect cross, with Ebenezer Ofori out-jumping Hearts defenders to apply his head to the ball for the equalizer. Sensing danger, Hearts recomposed themselves and went back into the game with the determination to retain their leadership and this materialized in the 67th minute as Otoo, headed home a cross from Iddrissu. Otoo, was on hand again in the 83rd minute to record a hat-trick, when he pounced on a lose ball and slammed it into the net for the fourth goal, as keeper Abdul Rashid fumbled with a cross by Iddrissu again. The visitors seemed to be disorganized at this stage and Hearts took advantage of the situation to record their fifth goal through Sulley Nuru, who benefited from a seeming goal mouth meele during injury time. GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Herewith results of match day two of the Glo Premier League matches played on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14, at the various league centers   Accra:                 Hearts                     5                N. Edubiase         2   Obuasi:               Ashgold                 2                 Kotoko                 2   Berekum:            Arsenal                  1                 A. Stars               1   Tarkwa;               Medeama            1                 Dwarfs                  1   Tema;                 Amidaus Prof.     2                 Liberty                 0   Kpando:             Lions                       2                 RTU                      1   Dormaa:             Aduana                 0                 Chelsea               0   Kumasi:              Faisal                     0                 T. Youth              1   GNA ...

Tema Newtown, Oct. 14, GNA – Unilever Ghana has handed over a 50,000-Ghana cedi Life Buoy Hygiene Station to management of Tema Manhean Presbyterian Cluster of Schools at an impressive ceremony at Tema Newtown.      The facility, comprising eight washrooms and six hand-washing units for both teachers and pupils, was the first phase of Unilever’s Community Investment Projects aimed at inculcating the habit of regular hand-washing with soap in school children.      Ms Maidie Arkutu, Brand Building Director of Unilever Ghana who handed over the facility, quoted a UNICEF Factsheet Report of May 2010 as saying that 2.2 million deaths of children could be prevented through improvement in the provision of safe drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene practices.      Ms Arkutu said sanitation research has shown that human hands are the principal carriers of disease-causing germs.      The Brand Building Director said by making the washing the hand with soap before eating and after visiting the toilet into a regular daily practice, more lives could be saved than any single vaccine or medical intervention.      Mrs Patience Arthur-Badoo, General Manager of Presby Schools who received the facility on behalf of the school management, thanked Unilever for the kind gesture.      Mrs Arthur-Badoo said the authorities of the school would ensure proper hand-washing by the pupils to prevent the spread of diseases.      She urged the school children to undertake peer-tutoring so that by learning from one another they may not only change their attitudes and adhere to good hygiene practices, but would also develop sound bodies with sound minds to learn.      The General Manager of Presby Schools appealed to the authorities of the schools to ensure proper maintenance of the station to prolong its lifespan.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Herewith results of match day two of the Glo Premier League matches played on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14, at the various league centers   Accra:                  Hearts                      5               N. Edubiase       2   Obuasi:               Ashgold                  2                Kotoko               2   Berekum:           Arsenal                   1                 A. Stars               1   Tarkwa;              Medeama               1                Dwarfs                0   Tema;                  Amidaus Prof.      2               Liberty                0   Kpando:             Lions                         2                 RTU                    1   Dormaa:             Aduana                   0                Chelsea              0   GNA...

Nadowli (U/W), Oct. 14, GNA – Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the Minister of Health Mr Alban Bagbin as an excellent candidate who should be retained as Member of Parliament for the Nadowli West Constituency.      He appealed to voters in the constituency not to change him for any other candidate saying "my only problem with Mr Bagbin is that he is too good for everything, any position you put him he excels. He has obviously become a good material that cannot be thrown away or exchanged for someone else".      The NDC General Secretary made these remarks at the launch of Mr Bagbin’s campaign for the Nadowli  West seat in Parliament at Nadowli in the Upper West Region on Saturday.      Mr Bagbin has won all parliamentary elections in the constituency on the ticket of the NDC since 1992.       The NDC General Secretary called on the people to vote massively for President John Dramani Mahama and all the NDC Parliamentary candidates for them to complete the “Better Ghana” Agenda.      Mr Nketia said the NDC had no independent candidates and cautioned party supporters against voting skirt and blouse in the coming elections.      Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister, cited the extension of electricity to over 400 communities in the region, the construction of five polyclinics, the establishment of two new Senior High Schools and two health training institutions as some of the evidence of the achievements of the NDC in the region within the past few years.      He also mentioned the construction and tarring of some roads in the region, the expansion of classroom infrastructure in addition to other pro-poor educational interventions spread across all basic schools and urged the people not to be deceived by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for they have seen their performance in the past eight years.      Mr Bagbin thanked President Mahama and the NDC party executives for graciously endorsing his candidature and appealed to the party supporters not to go to sleep after the launch of the campaign but to work harder both day and night to ensure victory for the party in the December elections.      He said in the Nadowli District every Day Nursery, Primary and Junior High School was now benefiting from the School Feeding Programme as against only two schools during the NPP regime.      The Health Minister said the government of the NDC had done a lot to transform the country and would have its mandate renewed based on its incomparable performance.   GNA...

Fijai (W/R), Oct. 14, GNA -  The Coalition on the Right to Information Ghana over the weekend called for the amendment of certain portions of the bill before its final passage.      The coalition said the bill, passed in its current state, would make access to information rather a difficult task.      The Coalition at a Focus Group Meeting with stakeholders at Takoradi in the Western Region said though government's commitment to the passage was appreciated there were still eleven areas that needed some critical reviews in order to bring the bill in line with international best practices.      The areas are: Maximum Disclosure, Elaborate Penalty Regime, Independent Enforcement Organ, Appeals Process, Fee requirements, Timely Access, Inclusion of private Bodies, Inclusion of Chieftaincy Institutions as Public Bodies, Implementation and Record Keeping.        Ms Esther Ahulu, an Administrative Assistant with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and a member of the Coalition, said though freedom of information was fundamental in any given democracy, it was also imperative that the right things were done to secure it.      She said it was time for all Ghanaians to own the bill and push for its passage since it would be interest of all.      Ms Ahulu said information flow strengthened democracy, good governance, transparency, accountability, economic growth and development.      It also fights poverty and corruption and that the passage of the bill in its right frame would definitely enhance the socio-political discourse of the country.      Since 2002, the Coalition has been advocating for the passage of an effective and efficient bill into law to give legal backing to the people's right to information.   GNA...