Accra, Nov. 4, GNA – Herewith the standings of the 2012/2013 Premier League after the Week Six matches played on Sunday, November 4 at the various centres; Club                             P          W         D         L          GF       GA       GD       PTS     Medeama SC             6          4          1          1          6          2          4          13       AshGold                      6          3          3          0          9          5          4          12       Berekum Chelsea     6          3          2          1          7          2          5          11       Asante Kotoko            6          2          4          0          6          3          3          10       Liberty                           6          2          3          1          5          4          1          9         Tema Youth                  6          2          3          1          6          4          2          9         Aduana Stars               6          2          3          1          5          4          1          9         Dwarfs                           6          2          2          2          5          5          0          8         Hearts of Oak              6          2          1          3         11          12       -1         7         King Faisal                   6          2          1          3          5          6          -1         7         Edubiase FC                6          2          1          3          6          10        -4         7         Wa All Stars                 6          1          3          2          6          7          -1         6         Heart of Lions             6          1          3          3          6          8          -2         6         Amidaus                      6          1          2          3          5          8          -2         5         RTU                              6          0          3          3          6          10        -4         3         Arsenals                       6          0          3          3          2          7          -5         3   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 4, GNA – Hearts of Oak laboured to a 3-2 win over Real Tamale United (RTU) in their week six 2012/2013 Premier League encounter on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium.   A last-gasp strike by Edward Affum handed the Phobians their first win in four matches and fuels their thirst ahead of the derby  with bitterest rivals Asante Kotoko in a fortnight.   Playing their first game after the dismissal of head coach Charles Akunnor, Hearts, yet again were ordinary with a performance which left many wondering if the decision to part ways with the former Black Stars captain was the best.   RTU ended the game without head coach Mohamed Gargo on the touchlines after being sent off and only have themselves to blame for finishing a game they were on the verge of victory pointless. The ‘Pride of North’ registered their first ever win over the Phobians in Accra during the 2010/2011 season, a 2-1 scoreline.   Hearts got off well and had the luxury of missing a penalty in the early stages of the game as midfielder Moro Abubakar blasted wide from the spot.   On the quarter-hour mark, captain Mahatma Otoo broke the deadlock firing in from close range, making clear their intent to grab the maximum points.   The goal however turned to be a flash in the pan as the visitors took control and it was only a matter of time that the equalizer would come. It did arrived 40 minutes on through Abdul Aziz Yusif who connected in a free-kick.   Having lost the midfield battle to the visitors, veteran Laryea Kingston was introduced into the game in the second half in the quest to recapture that segment. However, it was the central defence weakened by the absence of the burly Godwin Osei Bonsu in the early stages after sustaining an injury that exposed the Phobians as Abdul Ganiyu failed to meet the demands.   Expectedly, RTU shot into the lead on 58 minutes through Salim Sakara who slammed home after Hearts goalie Tetteh Lugard spilled Amin Mohammed’s thunderbolt unto his path.   Hearts fought on and landed a penalty on 80 minutes after Affum was fouled in the vital area by his marker. The resultant spot kick was converted home by substitute Iddrisu Moro for the equalizer.   The match was heading for a stalemate and on the stroke of full time, Gargo was given the marching off orders for allegedly exchanging words with the referee after Abdulai Karim was left unattended following a collision with a Hearts player.   Just when Gargo was being ushered off the pitch, Affum scored the match winner heading home from Kingston corner-kick at the edge of the penalty area to seal victory.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 4, GNA - Stanbic Bank has launched a funeral insurance product to provide individuals and families the financial support to lessen the cost burden during funerals.   Dubbed: “Stanbic FuneralPlan”, the product is underwritten by Metropolitan Life Ghana, a leading insurance company in the country.   Launching the product, the Managing Director of Stanbic Bank, Alhassan Andani said the low contribution of life insurance of 0.7 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product was not good enough.   It is in this direction that Stanbic is partnering with Metropolitan to provide to the bank’s clients insurance products that enhances their well being, he said.   The new product, Mr Andani said was part of the company's drive to meet the diverse needs of customers through the provision of competitive financial products and to also improve the financial inclusion of people who did not have access to financial services.   Stanbic Bank, he said, had committed a lot of resources to the development of the continent over the last decade and also in Ghana.   He said the bank last week launched its Offshore Banking products to provide external banking services to its customers.   Mr Andani said the bank would continue to develop innovative products to address the financial needs of its customers.   “Stanbic is here to make a real change in the life of Ghanaians,” he said, stressing “the bank has qualified and dedicated staff to deliver on that promise.”   The Chief Executive Officer of Metropolitan Life Ghana, Diop Frimpong said Metropolitan Life was excited to be associated with the Stanbic Bank FuneralPlan.   He advised Ghanaians to purchase the policy to save them the cost of giving a befitting burial to their loved ones.   He said the 'bancassurance' of Stanbic Bank was one of the methods being adopted all over the world to deepen insurance penetration.   The Head of Bancassurance at Stanbic Bank, Henry Manyo Plange said the policy was the most competitive priced funeral policy in the country.   “For as low as a monthly premium of GH¢2.50, a customer of Stanbic Bank can buy the funeral insurance policy,” he said.   Mr Plange explained that a customer, who purchased a policy worth GH¢2.50 would earn GH¢1000 when the policy holder loses any of his or her family relations registered with the policy.   The Head of Bancassurance of Stanbic Bank, said the funeral policy covered six children up to 25 years and sixteen family relations of the policy holder, including adopted children.   Mr Plange said prompt claim payments would be one of the distinctive feature of the Stanbic Bank funeral policy, adding that the policy would provide an immediate lump sum payment to cover the funeral expenses of named beneficiaries in the vent of their death.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 4, GNA - More than two hundred participants from Ghana and other African countries are expected in Accra for the maiden Africa Construction Development Conference.   The conference slated for Thursday and Friday, the 8th and 9th of November 2012, is to create a platform for constructors, built environment professionals and stakeholders in the Construction Industry on the continent to deliberate on how to develop the industry.   The two-day conference is a prelude to the second edition of the National Contractors Excellence Awards slated for Saturday November 10.   About 20 speakers and discussants from Egypt, South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Ghana will address participants on myriad of issues bordering on the growth and development of the construction industry, with the objective of creating construction giants on the continent of Africa.   The conference and the Excellence Award are organized by the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG) in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).   Speaking ahead of the events, the President of ABCECG Martins Nnuro said the indigenous African construction firm was lagging behind its counterparts on other continents and efforts must be made to reverse the situation.   He said during the conference the contractors would have the opportunity to listen to experts views on how to the change the fortunes of the industry.   Mr. Nnuro was hopeful that rich ideas would be shared during the conference, so that indigenous contractors could learn best practices in order to grow and be able to compete effectively.   Mr Rockson Dogbegah, Chairman of the Technical Committee of ABCECG, who also doubles as Chairman of CIOB Ghana Centre, said it was about time, African construction firms shared ideas and considered possible areas of partnership and other forms of collaboration.   He explained that the conference was therefore apt for firms on the continent to build synergies and began working towards joint project as well as cross border projects.   Mr. Dogbegah said Ghanaian contractors would benefit immensely from the conference and therefore urged them to register and participate. “For lack of knowledge my people perish, we don’t want to perish, so we are assembling the best minds to inform us about the best way to also build our capacity and become construction giants for absolutely no charge” he indicated.   Mr. Dogbegah said ABCECG was determined to lead the change in the construction industry, adding that the conference was one of the methods being employed.   He emphasized that the conference was on construction development and therefore opened to all contractors as well as built environment professionals such as engineers, surveyors and architects.   ABCECG has earmarked a number of events to celebrate this year’s Excellence Awards. It began with a football gala played among five different contractors associations last week Friday. The awards itself is slated for Saturday, November 10, however there will be a tree planting exercise and tour to the Akosombo Dam before the awards night.   GNA...

Bekwai, Nov 4, GNA - A late goal by Bernard Ofori earned New Edubiase United a lone goal victory over visiting Wa All Stars in their sixth week fixture of the Glo premier league played at the Gyamfi Park, Bekwai.   Both sides started the game on a bright note with the ball moving from one end to the other with the strikers from both sides failing to utilize chances that came their way in the first half.   The same pattern of play followed in the second half, but Edubiase had the upper hand in the later stages when Bernard Ofori raced through the defense of Wa all stars and brushed past goalkeeper Robert Dabuo for the only goal of the game.   GNA...

Kumasi, Nov. 4, GNA – Visiting Ebusua Dwarfs stunned King Faisal with a 1-0  win in their Glo Premier League day-six clash at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, on Sunday.        Dwarfs’ Francis Morton scored the only goal for the visitors in the 82nd minute with a well-taken free-kick after Nicholas Gyan had been brought down outside the 18-yard box.         Earlier, the two teams remained uncompromising, particularly in the defence, making it difficult for the attackers on both sides to penetrate, but it was the homers that  began the match very vigorously.   Faisal will have themselves to blame for the defeat, having missed a penalty in the 18th minute through Joshua Akoto whose kick went way off target to the disappointment of their supporters after Dwarfs defender handled the ball in the penalty box.   GNA...

Aburi (E/R), Nov. 4, GNA – Sweden Ghana Medical Center (SGMC), a medical centre which provides specialized cancer treatment, will on Thursday November 8th launch the Sweden Ghana Cancer Foundation (SGCF), a non-profit organization in Accra.   The objective of the foundation is to provide financial support for early treatment to Ghana’s cancer patients who cannot afford cost of treatment at SGMC and to minimize the consequences of cancer.   This was made known by Mr Joshua K Tetteh, Chief Operations Officer of SGMC at a media interactions organized by the SGMC at Aburi in the Eastern Region on Saturday.   He said the cost of treating cancer continued to be expensive irrespective of the treatment method chosen and that the disease was not absolutely covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).   Mr Tetteh said it had become necessary to provide funding for patients who needed financial assistance. He said there was the need to also step up educational campaign to sensitize the public on the early detection of the disease, adding, “The cost of treatment of cancer is within US25 to US35,000” dollars.   “The SGMC had provided a seed capital of GH₵200,000 to start the operations of the foundation”.   SGMC operates a basic cancer care unit, consisting of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, magnetic resonance imaging and computerize tomography scan, offers consultation and advice to cancer patients.   “In Ghana, there are only six doctors (Oncologists) and 20 Chemotherapy nurses who have just graduated and work with the SGMC”.   Mr Tetteh said the SGMC was giving 40 per cent discount to its patients and that; it was worrying that the number of cancer patients visiting the centre continued to increase.   The foundation has a board of trustees to provide policy guidelines and framework; an approval committee, which will report review submitted as qualified for financial support; a review committee which will also review all applications submitted.   “The board of trustees is made up of Dr Henry Broni-Amponsah, Board Chairman of SGMC, Mrs Julia Osei Tutu, Wife of Asantehene Osei Tutu and Mr Kwasi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association”.   Mr Tetteh said to ensure integrity and credibility of the foundation's funds, “the accounts of the foundation would be audited every half a year by Adom Boafo and Associates and the independent findings submitted to the Board of Trustees.”   He therefore appealed to Ghanaians to support the course and contribute their quota to the country’s cancer patients.   The SG-Cancer Foundation was incorporated in June 2012 with the objective of providing financial support to Ghanaian cancer patients who cannot afford cost of treatment and aims at educating the public on early detection of cancer to enhance effective treatment.     GNA  ...

Accra, Nov 4, GNA – Here in the results of week six of the Glo Premier League games  played at eight centers.   Hearts                     3 - 2    Real Tamale United                  Tema Youth      1 - 1       Berekum Chelsea                                Edubiase FC     1 - 0    Wa All Stars   Heart of Lions  0 – 1      AshantiGold FC Aduana Stars      2 – 0    Amidaus Professionals      Arsenals          0 - 1      Liberty Professionals   Medeama SC      0 - 1      Asante Kotoko   King Faisal           0 - 1      Ebusua Dwarfs   GNA  ...

Gomoa Potsin (C/R), Nov. 4, GNA – Mrs Ama Benyiwaa-Addo, Central Regional Minister has acknowledged with admiration the invaluable and collective efforts with which stakeholders have managed and sustained the activities of the T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School (SHS) in Gomoa Potsin in the Central Region.   She congratulated the Board of Directors, Parents Teachers Association, teaching and non-teaching staff for their support towards the sustenance of the school.   Mrs Benyiwaa-Addo made this known in a speech read on her behalf by Mr Opare Okyere, Deputy Central Regional Coordinating Director at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Potsin T.I Ahamadiyya SHS at Potsin in the Central Region on Saturday.   “Forty years in the life of any institution such as this is no mean an achievement, considering the fact that the school started from a very modest beginning and has since chalked significant successes,” she said.   Mrs Benyiwaa-Addo noted that it was the right of every child of school going age to have access to quality education and a proper up-bringing which was a pre-requisite in an individual’s life, adding “A nation of educated, skilled, well-informed and morally sound people can build a just and prosperous society.”   Mr Charles Aheto-Segah, Deputy Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) said forty years in the life of a school was the proof of acceptance by society and the indication of their reliance and confidence that had the capacity to support the up-bringing and formation of its young citizenry.   He said the T.I.Ahmaidiyy had fulfilled the hopes and aspirations of the people and had acquired in addition a reputation that went beyond its immediate environs.   Mr Aheto-Segah said the dynamics of socio-economic and political setting had informed the present changes in how education at this level was delivered, adding “the local environment in which schools are situated have barely influenced the policies that help in governing the delivery of education services.”   “The GES is determined to continue to place majority of our trained teachers in rural areas and shall remain resolute as we try to resist the parochial interest of sections of our populace who by dint of their migration into urban areas believe that our rural areas should remain static”.   Mr Nazir Ahmad Keelson, Headmaster of the school appealed to Government and other stakeholders to support it by providing a girls’ dormitory and staff bungalows which were major problems the school was facing.   He advised the students to take their studies serious, be law abiding and discipline which would help them in their carrier to chalked successes in the future.   Potsin T.I.Ahmadiyya SHS was established by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission with support from the Gomoa Potsin Community initially as a private institution in 1921.    GNA...

Accra, Nov 4, GNA - Professor Justice S.K. Date-Bah, Chairman, Council of the University of Ghana, at the weekend called for collaborative efforts between parents and teachers in instilling discipline in children.   He said Ghana as a society could attain greater heights if people were ready to work hard and discipline themselves.   Prof. Date-Bah was speaking as the Guest of Honour at the 85th anniversary speech and prize giving ceremony of the Achimota Senior High School in Accra.   The ceremony held on the theme: “Discipline - the Hallmark of a Progressive Society,” was organized by the Board of Governors, Management and members of the 1987 year group.   It was attended by about 3,000 people, including parents, old Achimotans, teachers and students.   Prizes and certificates were awarded to about 60 students from form 1 to 4 in categories such as overall best in Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Food and Nutrition, Agric and Animal Husbandry, General Knowledge in Art, Christian Religious Studies and Sports.   The best teacher for the year was awarded a certificate and a deep freezer. The most Humble, Honest, Hardworking, and Helping student for the year was also awarded.   His Lordship Justice Date-Bah advised: “We should put in place a discipline system for out of discipline flows order and morality.”   Mrs. Beatrice T. Adom, Headmistress of Achimota School, said the school once again had 100% excellent and quality passes in the 2012 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination. Twenty four (24) candidates had ‘A’s in all their eight subjects.   She thanked government, Ghana Education Service, the Parent’s Teachers Association (PTA) and Members of the Old Achimotan Association for their donations.   Mrs. Adom appealed to the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology and the AMA Sub Metro Office to come to their aid and redeem the school from the Health hazard being posed as a result of the new waste dumpsite created because of the new Achimota Lorry Station.   She also called on government, parents, Akora and friends of the school to assist them with more infrastructure and furniture to enhance effective teaching and learning since the student population had outgrown the infrastructural facilities.   GNA...

From Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent in Madison-Wisconsin, USA (Courtesy of US Embassy)   Wisconsin, Nov. 4, GNA – Professor Kenneth Mayer of the Political Science Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says the Electoral College System of the United States of America did not make lots of sense because it does not allow popular votes to determine who sits in the White House.   He mentioned that the US has 528 electoral colleges and out of that, 270 Electoral College votes determine a presidential winner, adding “A party may have the popular votes but loose the elections”.   Professor Mayer said though the framers of the American constitution were mindful of majority rule and its associated abuses and therefore wanted to insulate the presidency, the system has raised some questions in recent times particularly in the 2000 elections.   The Political Science Professor said though the system could have seen a change during the 2000 elections where lots of issues were raised, it did not materialize because of the September 11 attack that changed the focus of all Americans into national security.   Mr. Paul Fanlund, Political Reporter of the Capital Times, said increase in partisanship had brought some competitiveness in the states, which had intensified the Electoral College system.   He however predicted a narrow victory for the Democrats and for that matter President Obama.   Mr. Craw Young, Professor of Political Science, who spoke on African governments’ and the US federal, state and local government’s effort to promote transparency, grassroots and community organization, said Africa had the chance to enjoy priority attention from a second tenure of Obama’s Presidency.   He said African countries did not do well in the early 80s and 90s after years of political independence because of coups and military overthrow, but now the continent had chosen a better option of democracy to advance its economic and political growth.   Mr. Young prayed that Africa would come to a point where elections would not be characterized with tensions and security issues that goes to affirm the growth of a country and its commitment at advancing peace and national cohesion.   GNA...

Wechiau (UW), Nov 4, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday began a two-day campaign tour of the Upper West Region with a promise to expand road networks in the region under the second phase of the “Better Ghana Agenda.”   He said: ”Under the “Better Ghana Agenda One” initiated by late President John Evans Atta Mills, we provided a number of schools, health, water and sanitation facilities, but this time round we shall concentrate on the provision of quality roads in this region.”   President Mahama, who was addressing a rally at Wechiau in the Wa West District capital said the NDC government was a social party and would therefore continue to provide social services that would better the lives of all Ghanaians irrespective of their geographical location.   The President will also visit and address similar rallies at Dorimon, also in the Wa West District, Wa central, Funsi in the Wa East District and Nadowli, and Issa in the Nadowli West district.   President Mahama said the NDC was committed to providing development projects, particularly for the rural areas of the country and appealed to them to vote massively for the party to continue to support them to achieve their development aspirations.   He said his government would not make untenable promises, saying "but all of you here know the performance of the NDC in the past and you also know what we are capable of doing in the coming years."   The President urged them to warmly receive all party members, who for one reason or the other deserted the party in the past as multi-party democracy thrived on numbers and not through discrimination.   Naa Bandana Chielinah, Divisional Chief of Meteu, who spoke on behalf of the paramount chief, commended the NDC government for providing them with school, health and water projects and appealed to them to complete all the projects initiated in the past before embarking on new ones.   He appealed to the government to increase the number of basic and vocational schools in the area to absorb the ever growing school children in the region.   GNA...

Wechiau (UW), Nov 4, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday began a two-day campaign tour of the Upper West Region with a promise to expand road networks in the region under the second phase of the “Better Ghana Agenda.”   He said: ”Under the “Better Ghana Agenda One” initiated by late President John Evans Atta Mills, we provided a number of schools, health, water and sanitation facilities, but this time round we shall concentrate on the provision of quality roads in this region.”   President Mahama, who was addressing a rally at Wechiau in the Wa West District capital said the NDC government was a social party and would therefore continue to provide social services that would better the lives of all Ghanaians irrespective of their geographical location.   The President will also visit and address similar rallies at Dorimon, also in the Wa West District, Wa central, Funsi in the Wa East District and Nadowli, and Issa in the Nadowli West district.   President Mahama said the NDC was committed to providing development projects, particularly for the rural areas of the country and appealed to them to vote massively for the party to continue to support them to achieve their development aspirations.   He said his government would not make untenable promises, saying "but all of you here know the performance of the NDC in the past and you also know what we are capable of doing in the coming years."   The President urged them to warmly receive all party members, who for one reason or the other deserted the party in the past as multi-party democracy thrived on numbers and not through discrimination.   Naa Bandana Chielinah, Divisional Chief of Meteu, who spoke on behalf of the paramount chief, commended the NDC government for providing them with school, health and water projects and appealed to them to complete all the projects initiated in the past before embarking on new ones.   He appealed to the government to increase the number of basic and vocational schools in the area to absorb the ever growing school children in the region.   GNA...

Anaji (W/R), Nov 4, GNA - Mr. Joe Baidoe-Ansah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Effia-Kwesimintsim, at the weekend advised journalists not to lose sight of their noble role in the country’s democratic process.   He gave the advice during an encounter with journalists at Anaji near Takoradi.   Mr. Baidoe-Ansah said journalists should be alerted to their responsibilities and role towards nurturing of the country’s democracy into maturity.   “Journalists should be alive to their “Gatekeeping” responsibilities to keep politicians and public officers on their toes”, he said.   Mr. Baidoe-Ansah said, “Politicians and public officers should know what was going wrong in the society and journalists should keep them informed in order to maintain and protect what the country has”.   He urged journalists not to allow anybody to dent their reputation as professionals.   Mr. Baidoe-Ansah announced his intention to contest the Parliamentary Seat for the newly created Kwesimintsim Constituency.   GNA...

From Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent in Wisconsin (Courtesy of US Embassy)   Milwaukee-Wisconsin, Nov 4, GNA – US President Barack Obama said a second term for him was a term for research into new sources of energy, medical breakthrough and social security among others.   He mentioned the creation of over five million jobs, ending of the war in the Middle East, Iraq and the killing of Osama among others as some of his achievements in the first term and added that there was now time for “Nation Building” by the American people.   The US President was speaking at a rally at the Delta Centre in Milwauke-Wisconsin to appeal to voters to give him a second term to continue his vision of adding to the development prospects of America.   The Delta Centre rally saw thousands of supporters including a 98 year-old woman yesterday congregating to declare their commitment at giving the Obama-led administration another four-year term.   The teaming cloud chanted as Obama took the podium: “Four more years” and cheered him with claps and paper card reading “Forward”.   President Obama entreated the citizenry of Milwuake-Wisconsin to make the right choice between the different visions presented by his party and the Republican Party, adding “Your choice, mind you is for now and future”.   He said real change should reflect in education, health, politics, lives of the middle-class, saying “I know what real change is”.   He mentioned that Democracy works best when every individual had a say in the process, adding women would be empowered to take control of matters relating to women’s health.   President Obama said, “Change is an America that's home to the next generation of manufacturing and innovation. I'm not the candidate who said we should ‘let Detroit go bankrupt,’ I'm the president who bet on American workers and American ingenuity.”   “Now I want a tax code that stops rewarding companies that ship jobs overseas, and starts rewarding companies that create jobs here; one that stops subsidizing oil company profits, and keeps supporting clean energy jobs and technology that will cut our oil imports in half.”   Senator Herb Kohl, Wisconsin alluded to the achievements of Obama in terms of training and retraining of young men, employment, security, education, economic growth and education adding, “I know that you are going to do the right thing and get him re-elected on Tuesday”.   Ms. Tammy Baldwin a Congresswoman said, “Romney and Ryan have no plans to move the country forward, they will only turn the clock backward.”   Ms Felisia Martin, a Neigbhourhood team leader praised Obama for his strong and decisive leadership that had advanced the course of the American People.   The state of Wisconsin has been declared a battleground in the US election, hence critical importance to both candidates because it is a decider for who goes into the White House.   GNA...

Langa (N/R), Nov. 4, GNA – Some communities in the Savelugu District in the Northern Region have appealed to the government and development partners to assist them with educational infrastructure.   The Moglaa and Langa communities have expressed worry that educational facilities in their communities were few, sub-standard and therefore need rehabilitation. They said the few classrooms available were over-crowded and thus making teaching and learning difficult.   They also complained that most of the classrooms lacked adequate furniture compelling pupils to sit on the bare floor during lessons, stressing that the Langa community needed a Junior High School to absorb the increasing pupils from the lower level.   This came to light when the Regional Advisory and Information Systems (RAINS) interacted with the community members on Saturday as part of the implementation to improve educational governance and accountability project sponsored by Star-Ghana.   The three-year project aims at empowering the people, especially the School Management Committees and the Parent Teacher Associations to monitor and take charge of the responsibility in managing their schools.   Mr. Salifu Harruna, SMC Chairman of the Moglaa community, said the capacity building given to them by RAINS had enabled them challenged school authorities on developments in the school and share ideas of better ways in managing their schools.   He appealed to the government and the Savelugu District Assembly to expand infrastructure and provide computers to schools in the area to enhance pupil’s knowledge in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).   Mr. Harruna noted that the qualitative development of their children was very paramount to them and the need to be provided with the necessary conducive environment for learning.   GNA...

Sawla (N/R), Nov. 4, GNA – Mr. Abdus Sallam-Suali, Director of Agriculture for the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba district, has expressed concern about the increasing bush burning, felling of trees and the destruction of food crops by cattle in the area.   He said these activities were inimical to gains in agriculture and urged the people to stop such practices.   Mr Sallam-Suali said the country’s food basket could have been bigger to improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) situation if such negative practices were checked.   He was addressing the 28th Farmer’s Day celebration at Gindabour, a predominantly farming community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District last Friday.   The District Best Farmer Mr. Domopor Tachie took home a tricycle motor, a pair of Wellington boot, cutlasses and a certificate of honour. The first runner-up John Mulnye took home a motor bike, a pair of Wellington boot, cutlasses and a certificate.   Mr. Sallam-Suali appealed to stakeholders not to renege on their duties to protect the environment and agricultural lands for the growth of the sector.   Mr. Mumuni Isaac Dramani, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba underscored the need for farmers to see farming not only as a means of survival but also as a lucrative business where they could invest heavily to maximize returns.   Mr. Donald Dari, Member of Parliament for the area also urged the youth to see agriculture as a lucrative venture to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.   The Chief of Gindabour, Gindabourwura Adamu Siedu, noted that the farmers’ day award had helped in attracting the youth into farming.   GNA...

Agona Ninta, (C/R), Nov 4, GNA - A 58-year old Warrant Officer I Asare Mensah (retired) of the Ghana Arm Forces, has been adjudged the best Agona East district farmer in the 28th National Farmers Day celebration at Agona Ninta.   He took home, a bicycle, a mattress, three cutlasses, a pair of Wellington boot, tray, Wax print, knapsack spraying machine, a rechargeable lamp and a cassette tape radio.   Thirteen other outstanding farmers who were also rewarded for their hard work received a pair of Wellington boot each, agro-chemicals, half piece of Wax print, a radio set and a Knapsack spraying machine each.   Mr Martin Luther Obeng, District Chief Executive (DCE) in an address said the Italian Government had released US500,000 dollars to the Agona East District Assembly for the cultivation of palm fruit and establishment of a Palm oil processing plant at Agona Asafo.   Mr Obeng said about 200 hectares of land had been acquired by the District Assembly and appealed to the chiefs and land owners to release more lands for the project.   On the December 7th elections, the DCE urged the youth not to give themselves up to political party leaders to use to create violence.   He said election was not war but portrayal of ideas to govern the country to improve the lot of people.   Mr Marcus Odame, Agona East Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), announced that citrus processing plant would be installed at Nsaba early next year.   He said this was to enable government to buy citrus direct from farmers to avoid grout.     GNA...

Gomoa Dawurampong, Nov 4, GNA - The Akyempim Rural Bank at Gomoa Dawurampong has declared a pretax profit of GH¢155,157 in 2011 as against GH¢140,877 in 2010.   The bank’s deposit increased from GH¢4,852,258 in 2010 to GH¢6,883,802 in 2011 with total assets rising from GH¢550,179 in 2010 to GH¢8,597,757 in 2011.   Colonel Kingsley Kwame Nyame (retired), Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, made this known at the 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Gomoa Dawurampong in the Gomoa West District of the central Region on Saturday.   He said the bank’s total income also increased from GH¢1,426,811 in 2010 to GH¢1,689,198 in 2011.   He said the share capital of the bank also rose from GH¢350,000 in 2011 as against GH¢300,919 in 2010.   Col Nyame said the board recommended payment of GH¢45,410 as dividend to be distributed at 0.03 per share to the shareholders.   The bank granted loans and advances to totaling GH¢4,295,995 to GH¢3,520 applicants as against GH¢3,330,079 in 2010.   He appealed to the shareholders to buy more shares to increase the share capital of the bank.   The Acting Managing Director (MD) of the ARB Apex Bank, Mr K. A. Kusi in a speech read for him by Mr Enoch Richard Akaifi, head of Credit Unit commended the board, management and staff of the Akyempim Rural bank for their performance.   He also urged the management to develop more products to attract customers and other corporate bodies.   Mr Kusi also called on the bank to put in place effective loan strategies that could improve recovery of debts from defaulters.   The MD advised them not to be complacent about the performance that had placed the bank in a strategic position in the rural banking industry but should strive harder in the years ahead.   Mr Emmanuel Osei, a leading member of the Central Regional Chapter of Association of Rural Bank, called on the board and management to organize training workshops to sharpen skills of the staffs to increase their operations.   He urged staffs to improve upon their customer relations.   GNA...

Ojarde (E/R), Nov.  4, GNA – Twenty- two distinguished farmers in the Eastern Region were honoured at this year's Farmers' Day celebration held on Friday at Ojarde near Asamankese.     Fifty-six year old, Nana Yaw Amakye, won the regional best farmers award.      He has cultivated different types of crops, such as cocoa, a number of acres of teak plantation, maize, citrus, oil palm, vegetables, plantain and many more.      The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Victor Emmanuel Smith congratulated the farmers and assured that government had put in place some interventions to address the constraints that militate against efficient and effective performance of farmers.      The National Farmers’ Day, instituted 28 years ago, is celebrated on every first Friday in December and is aimed at appreciating the efforts of farmers in feeding the nation and playing major roles in the socio-economic development of the country.      “On a day like this, hard working farmers who distinguished themselves in the various segments in agriculture production, be it crop, animal, fisheries, non-traditional products or food processing are given national recognition with awards to encourage them to do more” he said.       Mr Smith said Government had resolved to modernize agriculture in the country in order to attract the youth to take agriculture as a full time business.      He said farmers across the country should be praised for their enormous contribution towards national development.      He said until 2010, when the service sector over-took agriculture as the major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country, displacing agriculture to the second position, agriculture had all these years been the sector that spearheaded the development of the country.      Mr Smith said, the sector still leads in employment generation and has enormous opportunities for it to move the nation forward.      He said has government introduced tractor services for mechanized agriculture, subsidy for fertilizers and block farming, among others.      “To avoid post harvest loses, as a result of lack of market in times of bumper harvest, a buffer-stock was introduced” he maintained.      He said records available indicate that in 2011, nearly 200,000 metric tons of fertilizers were subsidized to enable farmers to get access to these inputs and increase productivity.      Mr Smith also mentioned that, since 2009, over 800 farmers had benefited from the youth in agriculture programme, which aims at increasing the productivity of farmers, especially those in the area of grain production.      He said the Eastern Region had been a beneficiary of government’s tractor services package and that seventy tractors had been provided to ten centres and twenty one individuals to ensure that, farmers get easy access to machines for land preparation.   The Regional Minister said in Eastern Region, over 150 active and registered farmer-based organization had gone through series of training to build their capacities so that, they could be effective in their operations.       Similar awards were presented to farmers in the Lower West Akyem Municipality.   GNA...