Accra, Nov 07, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday said it attaches great importance to the work of polling agents in this year’s general elections because they did their work well, they could enhance the credibility of the elections. An EC document said the elections could be enhanced if polling agents help in detecting impersonation, multiple voting, persons who try to tamper with the contents of a ballot box as well as polling staff who misconduct themselves. According to the document, in order for polling agents to operate effectively on Election Day, they must have confidence and the trust of the candidate who appointed them. It said the polling agent must have a minimum level of education to be able to discern issues and sign documents at the station, be familiar with basic election rules and regulations relating to activities at the polling station and be knowledgeable about the duties of the election officials at the polling station. Also, the agent must be willing to collaborate with election officials to deliver transparent election as well as be a resident of the polling station area and be reasonably familiar with the people. The document said polling agents are expected, on election day, to arrive at their polling stations in time to observe the preparations before voting begins, adding, “Note that the presiding officer will go about his or her duties, whether you are present or not”. Besides, agents are to respect the rights of voters at all times and observe the rules and regulations of the election. It said polling agents must not take anything to the polling station that identifies their candidate or party. The document said polling agents are not to take part in the actual administration of the election, including the counting of the votes after close of polls. It is not the duty of any polling agent to inspect identity cards of persons and directly confront any person at the polling station. “If you have an objection to make against any person in relation to the election, tell the presiding officer”, the EC said. It called on stakeholders in the election to note that “the presiding officer is the person in charge of the polling station, and he or she has the final say on any matter concerning the poll, except where an appeal to a higher authority is permitted”. The EC reminded polling agents to protect the interest of candidates who appointed them, saying the candidate has put great trust in them, and they must not disappoint them. It urged polling agents, security personnel and election officials to work as a team, charged with the responsibility to ensure that the elections were run properly at the polling station, in accordance with the rules and regulations. “You must carry out your duties with absolute dedication, honesty and integrity”, the EC added. GNA...
Bolgatanga (UER), Nov. 7, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama, has suspended his campaign tour of the Upper East Region, and was returning to Accra, following the collapse of the Melcom building at Achimota-Neoplan, in Accra, on Wednesday morning. “The President was informed about the collapse of the building a short while ago and he is returning to Accra immediately,” a source close to the Presidency told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra. The source said the President’s convoy, which was close to Bawku, was returning to Bolgatanga. Mr John Jinapor, Spokesman for the President, told GNA that: “The President has suspended his campaign in the wake of trapped persons in the collapsed Achiomota Melcom building.” President Mahama, who is also the National Democratic Congress candidate for Election 2012, was expected to visit Bawku, Garu Tampe, Zebila and Binduri among others on Wednesday. Initial reports said several people were trapped in rubble after the Milcom build collapsed, and a number of people are feared to have been killed in the tragedy. Rescue teams are at the spot trying to reach survivors. There is no official figure of the dead as yet. GNA...
Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has directed key officials of the government and security services to coordinate rescue efforts at the collapsed building at Achimota that housed the Melcom Shopping Centre. An official statement signed by John Abdulai Jinapor, Presidential Spokesperson, said the President has directed the Vice President, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, the Chief of Staff, Mr John Martey Newman the Interior and Defence Ministers and the Security Chiefs to supervise and coordinate the rescue efforts. The statement said President Mahama had suspended his campaign tour of the Upper East Region and was heading to the site of the collapsed 5-storey building in Achimota. It said the President was minutes away from his first point of call, Bawku, when he received briefing from the Chief of Staff on the incident. “The President was informed about the collapse of the building a short while ago and he is returning to Accra immediately,” a source close to the president told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) earlier. The the president’s convoy, which was close to Bawku, turned around to return to Bolgatanga, the regional capital. A text message to Castle correspondents from Mr Jinapor read: “The President has suspended his campaign in the wake of trapped persons in the collapse of the Achiomota Melcom building.” The president was due to visit Bawku, Garu Tampe, Zebila and Binduri among others on Wednesday. Initial reports say several people are trapped in the rubble when the building collapsed. A number of people are feared to have been killed. Rescue teams are at the site trying to reach survivors. There is no official figure of the dead as yet. GNA...
Accra, Nov 07, GNA -The world would on Sunday, November 11 mark the 67th anniversary of the end of the First World War with the signing of the armistice. The day would also be used to remember all those who died during the First and the Second World Wars. A message copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday and signed by Lieutenant Commander V.A. Arhin, Public Relations officer, Ghana Armed Forces, said the day would be commemorated in Accra with a Remembrance Day Service at the Christiansburg Commonwealth War cemetery Accra and in and the Garrisons. The statement appealed to all Ghanaians to observe a one minute silence at 1100 hours (1100am) on Sunday and also where there are sirens, it is expected that they should be sounded in honour of the war dead. “It is expected that at the appointed time all people cease whatever they might be doing and stand still for one minute of silence when they hear the siren,” the statement said. GNA...
From: Albert Oppong -Ansah, GNA Special Correspondent, Atlanta, US (Courtesy, US Embassy, USAPEEC) Atlanta, Nov. 7, GNA-The streets of Atlanta, Georgia, remained calm after the declaration of the victory of President Barack Obama in the United States elections. Reports made available by the Cable Network said the total registered Voters in the State was 5,428,980 and out of this number the total ballots cast was about 3,865,464 representing a turnout 71.20 % It also said Mr Mitt Romney won about 53.43 % while Mr Barack Obama secured 45 % of the votes in that state. Observation by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) indicates that most people did not jubilates as is often done in Ghana where party supports troop to the streets to celebrate but were found glued to their television sets. Nana Adu, a Ghana resident in Atlanta in an interview with the Ghana News Agency expressed satisfaction at the results adding the victory would help secure the future of Africans under US foreign Policy. “I am happy Obama has finally won at least we the African-Americans will feel safe because we have contributed to the development of this country,” he said. In his victory speech before supporters in Chicago, President Obama said he would talk to Mr Romney about "where we can work together to move this country forward". The Democratic Party retained their majority in the Senate, which they have held since 2007, while Republicans kept control of the House of Representatives. Mr Obama greeted jubilant supporters and congratulated Mr Romney and Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan on their hard-fought campaign. "We have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back and we know in our hearts that for the United States of GNA...
Apam (C/R) Nov. 7, GNA -The new Queen mother of the Anona Odum Effisah Royal Family of Apam and other three communities, Nana Adjoah Mbrekuwa II, has said she would promote girl-child education in the Gomoa West District, particularly at Apam. The other communities are Ajumako Ochiso, Gomoa Ojobi and Winneba. Nana Adjoa Mbrekuwa said this when she swore the oath of allegiance to the chief of Apam, Nana Effrim X at a colourful ceremony. She said she would financially assist all girls who have dropped out of school and all girls whose parents could not support them to complete their basic education. After basic education, she would assist those who would like to technical and vocational skills. Nana Effrim to settle family disputes in her area to ensure peace in her area. GNA...
(From Mildred Siabi-mensah, GNA Special Correspondent, Chicago, USA: Courtesy US Embassy in Accra), Chicago, Nov. 7, GNA - President Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 4th, 1961, to a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas. Growing up, he was also raised by his grandfather, who served in Patton’s army, and his grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to become vice president at a local bank. After working his way through school with the help of scholarship money and student loans, President Obama moved to Chicago, where he worked as an organizer to help rebuild communities devastated by the closure of local steel plants. He went on to Harvard Law School, where he was elected the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. After graduation, President Obama went on to lead one of the most successful voter registration drives in state history, and continued his legal work as a civil rights lawyer and a professor teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago. Barack Obama was first elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996. During his time in Springfield, he passed the first major ethics reform in 25 years, cut taxes for working families, and expanded health care for children and their parents. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, he reached across the aisle to pass the farthest-reaching lobbyist reform in a generation, locked up the world’s most dangerous weapons, and bring transparency to governance by tracking federal spending online. Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States of America on January 20, 2009. He took office in the middle of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, at a time when the economy was losing 800,000 jobs a month. He acted immediately to get the economy back on track. Today, the private sector has added back more than 5 million jobs. In his first term, the President passed the landmark Affordable Care Act, helping to put quality health care within reach for more Americans. He ended the war in Iraq and is working to responsibly end the war in Afghanistan, passed historic Wall Street reform to make sure taxpayers never again have to bail out big banks, and cut taxes for every American worker, thus putting 3,600 dollars back in the pockets of the average family. He’s fought for equal rights and a women’s right to make their own health decisions. And he’s made college education more affordable for millions of students and their families. President Obama believes an economy built to last starts with a strong and growing middle class—that’s why he has a plan to create jobs and restore economic security to working families. He’s been driven by the basic values that make the country great: America prospers when all Americans are in it together, when hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded, and when everyone—from Main Street to Wall Street—does their fair share and plays by the same rules. (credit: www.obarackoabam.com) GNA...
(From Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent in Chicago, USA: Courtesy US Embassy in Accra) Chicago, Nov. 7, GNA - Mr. Willard Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate in the 2012 US presidential race has conceded defeat and wished the second Obama administration well. In a live television broadcast on CNN, Mr Romney thanked his campaign team for a good work done and pledged his party's support for the successes of the new administration. He was particularly grateful to Paul Ryan, his Vice Presidential Candidate who also happens to be a Congressman, for his dedicated service to the party all this while. Mr. Romney born March 12, 1947, is an American businessman and was raised by his parents in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He spent two and a half years in France as a Mormon missionary. From 2003 to 2007, he served as the 70th Governor of Massachusetts. He married Ann Davies in 1969, with whom he has had five children. By 1971, Romney had participated in the political campaigns of both his parents. In that year, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young and in 1975 he received a master of Business Administration form Harvard. Elected Governonr of Massachusetts in 2002, Romney helped develop and enact into law the Health care reform legislation, the first of its kind in the nation, which provided near-universal health insurance access through state-level subsidies. He also presided over the elimination of a projected 1.2–1.5 billion dollar deficit through a combination of spending cuts, increased fees, and the closure of corporate tax pole. Mitt Romney did not seek re-election in 2006, focusing instead on his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2008 US presidential election but lost the nomination to John McCain. In 2011, he began campaigning for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, eventually winning enough caucuses and primaries to be nominated with his chosen running mate, Paul Ryan. He was however defeated by incumbent President Barack Obama in the November 6, 2012 general election. GNA...
(From Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent, Chicago, USA: Courtesy of the US Embassy in Accra) Chicago (USA), Nov. 7, GNA - President Barack Obama of the United States of America has got the nod to serve the people of America for a second four-year term. His victory comes amidst a rigorous campaign on the side of both the Republicans and Democrats even not withstanding the superstorm Sandy which nearly marred the political atmosphere and activities in that country some days ago. President Obama polled 274 of the electoral college votes as against Mr. Mitt Romney who had 201 votes. In the US electoral system, no matter how many popular votes a candidate gets, he or she must win at least 270 of the electoral college votes to be able to enter the White House. His re-election as President of the United States of America has received a large applause from thousands of enthusiastic voters who thronged the McCormick Place, Lakeside in Chicago, Illinois, to monitor results in what is termed Election Night Watch party in the US. President Obama has been touted as a man who has brought some economic relief to the American People, built on the nation's territorial security, given women's issues a priority and served the interests of the Middle Class and the aged among others. GNA...
Accra, Nov. 7, GNA – Mr Emmanuel A. Mensah, Vice President of International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), has called for a timely resolution of the stalemate leading to the seizure of an Argentina Naval Ship in Ghana. Mr Mensah, who is also the General Secretary of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union of the TUC said the seizure of the ship attracted the attention of ITF Executive Board meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, which took place from October 24 to October 26. The ITF is an umbrella Organisation of all Transport Mode made up of workers operating in railway, road transport, inland navigation, dockers, seafarers, fisheries, civil aviation and tourism services and globally affiliated members. A statement issued by Mr Mensah and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday said both Ghana and Argentina are affiliated to the ITF hence the need for speedy resolution of the legal impasse. “This will go a long way to deepen and strengthen the relations among our two countries at various levels. The Argentine frigate Libertad was sailing the seas of the world taking cadets in their graduation trip and was detained at the port of Tema, following a Ghanaian court ruling that gives US-based Vulture Funds NML Capital the right to sell the ship unless Argentina settles a debt of defaulted bonds. A crew of 281, mostly sailors and young cadets from Argentina and a number of guest countries like Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Suriname Venezuela and Uruguay have been repatriated, while negotiations between the governments of Ghana and Argentina are taking place in an attempt to free the Libertad. GNA...
Cape Coast Nov.7, GNA- The Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund has made available GH¢65,996.70 to the Central Region Lime Growers and Marketers Association (LGMA) for advocacy and training programmes. Mr Ato Van-Ess a trainer with BUSAC who announced this in Cape Coast on Tuesday said out of the amount LGMA contributed GH¢ 5,999.70 as commitment fee towards the programme which would last for nine months. Mr Van-Ess was speaking at a sensitisation workshop on “Advocacy for the Immediate Intervention by Government to Prevent the Extinction of Lime in Ghana”. The workshop attended by more than 70 lime growers is sponsored by the BUSAC Fund and is geared towards the creation of awareness on the importance of citrus and lime industry to the economy. It is also highlighted the plight of lime farmers, stimulate stakeholder interest in the citrus and lime sub sectors as well as push for a policy framework for the establishment of a citrus board. Mr Van-Ess said the fund would continue to give citrus and lime farmers the requisite advocacy training to enable them address gaps in accessing citrus markets. He called for the establishment of a processing plant, upgrading of farming practices and the need for farmers to deal directly with final users of the produce in order to eliminate middle men and market queens who exploit them. Mr Paul Ainoo, Chairman of the Cape Coast LGMA appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to put in place a policy framework for the establishment of an institution which would be responsible for the development and promotion and sale of lime to stem the extinction of the industry. He said due to the lack of a vibrant market and a body to manage the sector most lime growers have either cut down their trees or have deserted farming for other means of livelihood. Mr Ainoo said currently it is only Pinora a lime buying company that purchase the huge tonnes of lime produce in the region expressed worry that that most lime growers could be out of business. He appealed to the government and stakeholders in the industry for the creation of a Board to streamline all citrus farming activities. Mr Ainoo said the proposed board could improve upon the negotiation power of the lime and citrus farmers and have positive impact on the living standards Mr Samuel Abraham, Cape Coast Metropolitan Director of Food and Agriculture said the next farmer’s day celebration in the area would include an award for the best lime grower. GNA...
Tamale, Nov. 7, GNA - Four newly appointed District Chief Executives (DCEs) have been sworn-in to assume office in the Northern Region. They are Mr Dan Wudinayi Makandan for Mion, Mr Nicholas Waake for Tatale Sanguli, Mr Sorku Kassim Yahuza for North Gonja and Mr Maxwell Awuntor Mahama for Mamprugu-Moaduri. The other two districts are yet to receive their substantive Chief Executives. The four had received confirmation from their assemblies. Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, Regional Minister, on behalf of the President, administered the official oath, oath of allegiance and oath of secrecy to the officers at the Regional Coordinating Council in Tamale on Tuesday. Mr Mabengba also presented the new appointees with their instrument of appointment and appointment letters. The Minister charged them to work hard to ensure rapid development of their districts. He urged them to be guided by the rules of the assemblies in the discharge of their duties to ensure transparency. Mr Mahama, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, pledged their commitment to work for the development of their localities. He thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them and promised not to fail him. GNA...
Takoradi, Nov.7, GNA -Cross-section of Ghanaians have expressed their views on the performance of the four vice-presidential candidates with representation in parliament at the debate organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a think tank in Takoradi. Some residents who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in Takoradi said the candidates were not proposing pragmatic solutions to the questions posed to them by the moderators. Some were of the view that most of the answers provided by the candidates were theoretical and not in tune with the aspirations of the people. A lecturer at the Takoradi Polytechnic, Mr Winfred Adjardjah, said the four running-mates were just trying desperately to impress the audience and not necessarily providing practical solutions to socio-economic problems confronting the nation. He, however, commended Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party and Madam Helen Sanorita Matrevi of the Peoples National Convention for their calmness in answering the questions. Mr Adjardjah indicated that the debate would not change the minds of most voters since most of them had already made up their minds who they would vote for in the December 7 elections. He said most voters are core supporters of the various political parties and therefore they don’t care much about how a candidate answer questions. Mr Kofi Tawiah, a second-hand cloth dealer, suggested that the IEA should modify the debate so that local language would be used in future to explain issues since majority of Ghanaians understand issues better when spoken in vernacular. He suggested that the debate should be held in the afternoon so that people could listen to it on radio or watch proceedings on television instead of the evening. Mr Tawiah observed that some of the candidates were jittery at the initial stages of the debate and asked them to work on their confidence level whenever they are speaking in public since the position they require calls for such qualities. The debate afforded the candidates including Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur and Madam Cherita Sarpong Kumankuma of the Convention Peoples Party the avenue to express their knowledge on how their political parties would manage the economy as well as national resources when voted into power. GNA...
Dabala (V/R), Nov. 7, GNA – The fate of 350 students posted to Dabala Senior High Technical School (DASTECH), at Dabala in the South Tongu District is in limbo as there are virtually no classrooms and dormitories for them. The school is unable to use a new 15-room Ghana Education Trust Fund project because Messrs Saba Construction Limited, which did the job, has refused to give up the keys to the facility. The construction firm alleged that government had not paid the project cost and therefore ignored the intervention of the District Assembly and the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Board to release the keys. In view of the dilemma, the school management is threatening to send the students home. Mr Simon Aklomasa Addae-Conutsey, Headmaster told the Ghana News Agency that “there is no alternative than sending the students home”, and appealed to government to intervene. Mr Martin Afianu Gatsola, PTA Chairman said an urgent solution is required to end the stalemate. Mr Fred Saba, Foreman of the construction firm said a certificate of work has been presented to government for payment GNA...
Ho, Nov.7, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday said his government would use a more integrative approach to raise agricultural production in the country. He said raising the stakes of agriculture in Ghana’s GDP would mean weaning more than half of the country’s population, who are farmers, out of poverty. Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing a huge crowd at Ho Polytechnic Auditorium on his agricultural programme. He said Agriculture’s current 2.8 per cent contribution to Ghana’s GDP hints of the possibility of the country lapsing into the state of neglect if its main economic activity is in favour of the oil find. Nana Akufo-Addo said the roots and tubers programme introduced during the Kufuor Administration, which put yam on the market throughout the year, was a good hint of what his government could do. He said the agricultural programmes under the Millennium Challenge Account were other indications of what linkages in the agricultural production chain could do to boost agricultural production. Nana Akufo-Addo also mentioned an example by Vegpro, a company at Torgorme in the North-Tongu District, where vast lands were watered from the lake to produce vegetables within six months for the export market. He said his government would make the vast savannahs across the country cultivable, strategically locate 250 plant pools, make access to credit fluid, improve research on agricultural issues and reduce post harvest losses to considerably increase agricultural production. Nana Akufo-Addo said many more simple irrigation projects would be introduced across the country and another 20 per cent of farmers added to the current 20 per cent with access to improved maize seeds, within four years, to push maize production up. He said post harvest infrastructure, warehousing, food marketing and both feeder roads and farm tracks would be actively tackled. Nana Akufo-Addo said his government would bring back the Ministry of Fisheries to put issues about fishing on the table of cabinet and also use tariff mechanisms and provision of cheaper inputs to redeem the poultry industry from the current hurting competition with imported poultry products. On cocoa, the NPP Presidential Candidate said his government would use mass spraying and provision of inputs and competitive producer prices to consolidate the one million-tonne production level. He said it is his conviction that Ghana could process 60 per cent of its cocoa by 2018. Nana Akufo-Addo said he would also raise the production of non-traditional exports. GNA...
Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - DHL, the global market leader in the international express delivery business has celebrated this year’s International Customer Service Week. International Customer Service Week is a global initiative which seeks to develop a culture of service excellence and superior customer satisfaction. Madam Gloria Torres, Head of Customer Service for DHL Sub-Saharan Africa said most companies have failed to prioritise the importance of customer experience which is one of the great frontiers for innovation. According to her, customer experience is very critical to determine the winners and losers in the years ahead. Madam Torres pointed out that the degree of choice in goods and services is bewildering saying: “A history of sustained positive customer experiences increases the chance that a new product gets chosen over its competitors.” She noted that companies that delivered exemplary customer experiences shared a set of integrated business disciplines that drive their success, adding that customer service is a crucial touch point between companies and customers. DHL Express celebrated Customer Service Week across more than 51 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including kick-off events, ‘thank you’ gifts for customers, and some community projects such as planting of trees in some government schools and donations of food items and clothing items to some charity organisations. “We take customer service very seriously and great customer experiences are full of surprising ‘wow’ moments” Madam Torres said. “In 2012 thus far we’ve already received 61 global awards for our service. As an example, earlier this year we implemented ‘Straight to the Top’ which allows any customer to bypass the call centre and go straight to the top of the organisation. Furthermore, there are no machines answering calls at DHL. You speak straight to a person at DHL,” she said. Mr Kader O. Coulibaly, General Manager, DHL Ghana said building great consumer experiences was a difficult one which involved complex enterprise, involving strategy, integration of technology, orchestrating business models, brand management, and CEO commitment. “But it starts with having a great team and this year’s Customer Service Week also provides us with an opportunity to reward our star advisors, and recognise their passion for our business and for our customers.” Customer Service Week was founded in 1991. The Logistics Company for the world, DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and “The Logistics Company for the world”. DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers. The global network composed more than 220 countries and territories and about 275,000 employees’ worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting climate protection, disaster management and education. DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of 53 billion Euros in 2011. GNA...
Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - International Air Transport Association (IATA) has commended the Africa continent for its impressive performance in the recent Cargo Market Analysis for the third quarter of the year. According to the analyses, African Airlines transporting freight in the region witnessed a 10.2 per cent increase in demand in August, continuing 2012’s positive growth trend. This was contained in a statement issued in Accra and copied to Ghana News Agency by DHL in Accra on Tuesday. Mr Charles Brewer, Managing Director of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, noted that the positive achievement made by the continent was a positive step to boost the business industry as it translates into economic growth for the continent. He said the increasing freight volumes in the region could be linked to improve business and consumer confidence as airline industry performance tracks developments in the global economy. “It is extremely positive that emerging markets such as those in Africa continue to outpace the Western economies and, set against a backdrop of continued global economic uncertainty, job stagnation, a very challenging European environment and a global debt crisis, this shows the continued and increasing importance of Africa,” he said. He said the growth in both cargo and freight volumes could be linked to the fact that many businesses, both local and foreign were looking to Africa for expansion and with the new discoveries of gas and oil fields in Southern and Central Africa, coupled with the technology and healthcare boom, “We expect regional trade expansion to continue to improve”. The IATA Cargo Market Analysis report pointed to an increase in the number of air freight routes between Africa and the Middle East, with the highest rate of 17.9 per cent recorded in February. In contrast, the route between Europe and the Middle East only showed 1.4 per cent growth over the same period. The report noted that during the first quarter of the year, the revenue earned from cargo leaving Africa was 45.8 million dollars, with inbound revenues totaling 333.7 million dollars. “While Africa only contributes three per cent of the global economy, it is growing the fastest. 28 of the 52 countries have five per cent average economic annual growth and countries like Ghana, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mozambique, Niger and Uganda could potentially grow up to 10 per cent”, Mr Brewer said. Brewer therefore cautioned the continent against complacency saying “Sub-Saharan Africa undoubtedly provides numerous opportunities for both SMEs (Small and Medium Scale Enterprises) looking to reach out globally, and international companies looking to expand”. “However, there are still numerous challenges around infrastructure, labour relations and the ease of trade within the region which need very urgent attention.” GNA...
Accra, Nov.7, GNA – Dr Joe Oteng, Minister of Energy on Wednesday said government would continue to resource the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GPNC) to play a catalyst role to enable it meet Ghana’s financial obligations in an efficient manner. He said it would also maintain and increase the level of participation in petroleum operations. Dr Oteng made this known in a speech read on his behalf at the inauguration of the GNPC-TECHNIP Engineering Company in Accra. The company was set up to provide service to the country’s oil and gas sector as well as boost local capacity in the industry. He said the joint venture is one of the many steps to ensure that GNPC is supported to be a “cash cow” that would support accelerated economic growth. He said following the new discoveries that have been announced there is the need to sustain investment to increase and maintain oil and gas production to add up to the petroleum reserves. “The needed capital for these projects cannot be wholly funded from internal sources,” Dr Oteng added. Mr Thierry Pilenko, Chairman of the company, said the corporate entity has the mandate to ensure training for Ghanaians through deep involvement of the nationals in all project activities. He said the company has already entered into partnership agreement with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to absorb final year mechanical engineering students for attachment programmes with the company. He said technip is a world leader in the field of project management, engineering and construction for the oil and gas industry offering a comprehensive portfolio of innovative solutions and technology. Nana Boakye Asafu Adjaye, Chief Executive Officer of GNPC said the joint venture came about from the dedication and commitment from the two institutions to development and sustainable growth of the oil and gas industry in Ghana. He said “this joint venture demonstrates our commitment to forming these alliances and we are confident that through this partnership we will be able to enhance the technical capacity of Ghana’s talented graduates”. Nana Adjaye noted that the venture would play its part in enabling the development of world class indigenous Ghanaian entities capable of supporting the local fledgling oil and gas sector. GNA...
Accra, Nov. 7, GNA- Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur on Tuesday urged Ghanaians not to accept any rhetoric solutions to the challenges of the Ghanaian economy. He underlined discipline, hardwork and sacrifice, and an equitable distribution of national resources for a better life for all. He asked Ghanaians to retain the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in next month’s general election to build on the gains achieved in the last four years. Vice President Amissah-Arthur, who is the running mate of President John Dramani Mahama, Flag bearer of the NDC in Election 2012, made the call in a debate for running mates of political parties with representation in parliament in Takoradi. It was organised by Ghana Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a think-tank. A similar debate was held in Tamale by IEA for the flag bearers, aimed at deepening multi-party democracy and promotion of issue-based elections in Ghana. The running mates answered questions on the economy, social sector and national life, regional integration, housing and tourism. Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the NDC had built a solid foundation for the take-off of the economy, and praised President Mahama as a leader with the virtues of honesty, hardwork and humility. On the economy, the Vice President said the economy registered a low inflation for 28 months, and explained that the rather high interest rates were as a result of confusion created by skeptics that a single digit inflation could not be maintained, hence kept their rates high with business partners. Vice President Amissah-Arthur explained that other reasons that accounted for the high rates of interests came from the purchases of foreign currencies and the injection of money through better prices offered to cocoa farmers, payment of the Single Spine and the use of reserves, and the payment of debt owed by previous governments which were appreciating. He said the next NDC Government has an elaborate programme for sanitation across the country and would put in place measures to reduce hotel bills as a measure to make tourism more attractive. He promised that the NDC would revive the national airline to carry more people as a further step to promote tourism. The Vice President assured Ghanaians importers of reduction of doing business at the ports through an expansion programme as well as improved ICT. The Government, he said would also expand the care of the people with disabilities and encourage more women to take up responsible positions in politics. The Vice President who was the immediate past Governor of the Bank of Ghana before his selection as Vice President in August, was on the podium together with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Deputy Governor at the same institution before his selection to partner Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, the NPP flag bearer in 2008, and retained the position again for the December 2012 polls; Madam Cherita Sarpong Kumankuma, for the Convention People’s Party (CPP and Madam Helen Sanorita Dzatugbe Matrevi, for the People’s National Convention. Dr Bawumia accused the NDC Government of borrowing more in four years than all governments put together. “This puts a lot of pressure on our ability to service these debts. Because even though the numbers, statistically, may look ok as far as your thresholds are concerned, they only look okay because of the rebasing of the economy,” Dr Bawumia noted. He scathed the NDC’s handling of the economy saying: “Bank of Ghana’s monetary policy framework right now is in limbo. The Bank of Ghana’s monetary policy rate is out of sync with all the money market rates. The government is borrowing at 23 per cent… How then do you control interest rates?” Nana Kumankuma, advocated a return of the CPP to power based on the social policies the party had pursued during the era of Ghana’s first President; Dr Kwame Nkrumah. She said there is the need for reduction in hotel bills to make tourism more attractive. For her part Madam Matervi pledged that a PNC government would introduce the cleanest community awards as a measure to improve the sanitation conditions in Ghana. She said monetary and other rewards would be instituted for the cleanest community. According to her, for Ghana to experience improvement in sanitation, the PNC would embark on an effective sanitation education at the basic school level to curb the habits of poor sanitation practices. “A PNC government will apply the three Rs of sanitation - Recycle, Reuse and Refill - to help keep the environment clean and also create employment opportunities,” she explained. Regarding the housing deficit which the country is currently facing, Ms Matervi said available lands would be economised by “creating high buildings which will be affordable to the middle income earner”. “We will use local masons and other artisans to construct these affordable buildings to create employment opportunities for the youth and local building materials will also be used,” she added. GNA...
Accra, Nov. 7, GNA – A very reliable source close to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, have debunked rumours that former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama who is on admission at the health facility had passed on. The source said the former Vice President is alive and responding to treatment at the Cardiothoracic Centre. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Wednesday, the source explained that Alhaji Mahama was taken from his bed for investigations, and “I think someone might have come in to and saw an empty bed and concluded that he was dead”. “The former Vice President is alive and still on admission and that I can say for a fact.” Alhaji Mahama was rushed to the Hospital at the weekend for treatment of a condition that cannot be made public until doctors attending to him have the permission to allow disclosure. He is at the intensive care unit but reports say he is in a stable condition. This comes after President John Mahama took a lot of condemnation for asking Muslims at the Eid ul Adha celebration barely two weeks ago, to pray for the former Vice President, who could not attend the event because of ill health. GNA...
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