Accra, Nov. 18, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday described late Former Vice President Aliu Mahama as a diligent and hardworking person who gave of himself to serve the nation.     In a tribute paid to his late deputy at a state funeral service at the Independence Square,   Former President Kufuor said the former Vice President was remarkably unassuming.   He described late Aliu Mahama as his friend and brother who was not drawn by ambition to seek his personal glory during the times he acted as  President of the Republic  when he (Mr Kufuor) had travelled outside the country.    “Aliu my brother and friend, 'Damirifa Due, Da Yie!' ” (or Rest in Peace), Mr Kufuor said.    Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), eulogized the late Aliu Mahama as corteous, generous and a good man whose calm demeanour drew many to him.   He said the late former Vice President  Aliu had an unfinished business which included working towards ending the Dagbon crisis and to win most people in the Zongo communities over to join the NPP.    Nana Addo pledged his commitment towards ensuring that  the dream and ambition came true, when he (Nana Addo) was elected as President. He pledged that the NPP would "keep the Aliu flame burning.”   Mr Farouk Mahama, son of the late Aliu Mahama in a tribute described his father as a disciplinarian who insisted on what was right. He added that he and his sibblings appreciated the moral upbringing and training his father bequeathed to them. “May Allah have mercy on his soul. May God give him eternal rest”, he said.   The ceremony attracted several digantaries including former presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor and their spouses. Also in attendance were Vice president Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Nana Akuffo Addo, Presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party, Paa Kwesi Nduom, Presidential Candidate for the Progressive People’s Party and Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice presidential candidate for the NPP and their spouses.   Leaders of various political parties, former and current Ministers of State, Muslim groups, Christian groups, professional bodies and Northern ethnic groups were all in attendance.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama intimated on Sunday that the late Aliu Mahama was a role model and an inspiration to him and other Northerners when he graduated as a young Engineer from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in the 1970s.   "He also served as a role model to most people from the northern sector who hitherto saw Engineering as a course for the affluent in society", President Mahama said  when he paid a glowing tribute to the former Vice President at a state funeral service at the Independence Square in Accra.   The funeral ceremony attracted many dignatories including former presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor and their spouses.   Also in attendance were Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Nana Akuffo Addo, Presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party, Paa Kwesi Nduom, Presidential Candidate for the Progressive People’s Party and Mahamadu Bawumia, vice presidential candidate for the NPP and their spouses.   Leaders of various political parties, former and current Ministers of State, Muslim groups, Christian groups, professional bodies and various ethnic groups from the North were all in attendance.   President Mahama said having served as the longest Vice President of Ghana, Former Vice President Aliu’s death was a loss to Ghana and the entire African continent, in view of the fact that Ghana’s democracy was an inspiration to other countries.   On behalf of the People of Ghana, President Mahama expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, Hajia Ramatu Mahama, former Second Lady and the NPP.   He described late Aliu Mahama as a calm gentleman who was decorous and cared for others in need, and said his death was a loss that was irreplaceable in his area of service.   Sheik Dr. Nuhu Sharubutu, National Chief Imam who gave the Muslim prayer, eulogized the former Vice President for his humanitarian activities within the Muslim community and beyond.   He called on both Muslims and Christians to pray for the soul of the former Vice President and the souls of other departed ones.     GNA...

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA – The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) in collaboration with the Ghana Football Association and the Premier League Board would on Sunday observe Remembrance Day with a minute's silence.   This would be done ahead of the today’s "titanic" football game clash between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.   This was contained in a release issued by Mr Kwame Koduah Atuahene, Head of Communications of the NRSC which was copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.  It said the third Sunday in November every year had been adopted by the United Nations to acknowledge victims of road traffic crashes and their families as the World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Crash Victims.   The release quoted Mr Noble John Appiah, Executive Director of the NRSC as saying: ‘This collaboration goes to emphasize the fact that road safety is a shared responsibility.”   “It is our expectation that this observation will renew the responsibility of football teams and their supporters to embrace the safety culture required to deliver road safety, especially before and after football matches”, he said.   Mr. Welbeck Abra Appiah, Chairman of the Premier League Board said: “Road safety affects everybody including football teams and fans. We are trusting that this gesture will revive our consciousness as football fans and road users generally for the public good.”    It is estimated that road traffic crashes account for an average of 2000 deaths and 14,000 injuries every year, with almost 60 per cent of crash victims falling within the productive age bracket of 18-55, leading to an economic loss of 1.6 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.    In 2009 alone, this translated into 418 million dollars.   GNA...

Takoradi, Nov.18, GNA —The Minister for Defence, Lieutenant-General Joseph Henry Smith, has announced that the government has acquired a site in the Western Region to establish a Military Forward Operation Base (FOB) that would deal swiftly with any external aggression.   He said this had become necessary following oil and gas exploration and influx of people from all walks of life in order to protect oil installations, mount surveillance and undertake aggressive patrols in the Region.             Lt.Gen. Smith made the disclosure during a working visit to the  2 Garrison Command in Takoradi at the weekend to acquaint himself with their challenges and state of  preparedness towards the upcoming elections.   He said the FOB would include airstrip and helipath that would ensure quick responses to emergencies, adding that as the country was chalking successes in its social, political and democratic dispensation there was the need to strengthen its combat readiness so that the country would not be taken unawares.   The Minister indicated that over the past four years the government had equipped the military to execute its mandate effectively and efficiently including the provision of six vessels to the Navy and other accoutrements.   .He said the government would continue to provide all the necessary logistics for the proper execution of its mandate.   Touching on their welfare, Lt. Gen. Smith said the government had acquired eight plots of land with 50 million dollar Chinese loan facility to construct residential accommodation for them and assured the Military of government's continuous support.   He assured the military that the Defence Industrial Holding Company (DIHOC) programme in Kumasi would provide the necessary expertise and skills to the Military personnel to manufacture leather wear, sew their own uniforms and rear livestock, which would be a source of employment for both the retired service men and civilians.   This, he said, would enable the GAF to produce most of their equipment internally to generate employment opportunities in the country.   He disclosed that the GAF had asked their suppliers to establish firms in the country to train the military personnel so that in the next five years the Ghanaian military could produce their own accoutrements locally.   The Defence Minster also toured some ongoing projects in the Region during the visit.   GNA ...

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA – The body of the late former vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama has arrived at the Independence Square where a funeral service is being held.   The funeral cortege arrived at about 0905 escorted by the military. The body in coffin draped in national colours was then wheeled by military pallbearers to the canopy erected at the Square and bedecked with flowers.   President John Dramani Mahama is leading the country at the funeral service.   Other dignitaries include Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, former President Jerry John Rawlings, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, the Speaker of Parliament, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, ministers, senior government officials and many politicians from all political parties.   According to the funeral arrangements, the body would be flown to Tamale by noon for a State burial according to the wishes of his family.   “...All who wish to pay their last respects to Ghana’s longest serving Vice President at the Independence Square (on Sunday) morning are permitted to do so and should be seated by 8:30am,” a statement signed by Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information the statement said.   The former vice president passed away on the morning of Friday, November 16, 2012 at the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.   GNA...

  Accra, Nov. 18, GNA - Hundreds of mourners thronged the independence Square on Sunday morning to pay their last respects to late former Vice President Aliu Mahama who died last Friday at the Korle-Bu Hospital in Accra.   The mourners included politicians from all the political parties, Muslims, Christians, Traditional authorities, professional bodies, and some foreign dignitaries.   In attendance were President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, and Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).   Others included Former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor and their spouses, Paa Kwesi Nduom, Presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party, Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice Presidential candidate of the NPP and their spouses, former and current  Ministers of State, Party leaders,  parliamentarians and a cross-section of the public.   The security was tight as both the military and the police were deployed on the streets around the Independence Square and within the square where the funeral rites took place.   A makeshift police station and a clinic were also erected to take care of criminal activities and other medical emergencies at the funeral grounds.    GNA...

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA – Crowds are gathering at the Independence Square in Accra to attend the funeral service on Sunday morning of the late former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama.   According to the revised final funeral arrangements released by the Ministry of Information, the state funeral service would begin at 0900 hours.   The police are on hand directing traffic as crowds, some clad in the colours of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), arrive.    A statement signed by Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information, said the body would then be flown to Tamale by noon for a State burial according to the wishes of his family.   “...All who wish to pay their last respects to Ghana’s longest serving Vice President at the Independence Square (on Sunday) morning are permitted to do so and should be seated by 8:30am,” the statement said.   The former Vice President passed away on Friday morning at the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.   The body will be taken from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, driven through some principal streets in Accra. The funeral cortege will drive to his house before arriving at the Independence Square.   GNA...

Tamale, Nov. 18, GNA -Mr Eric Nawia Deputy Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education has entreated religious leaders to advice their congregation involved in political activities to avoid the use of inflammatory and foul language in all forms.    He said it was one of the major challenges which, if adhere to, would contribute significantly to a successful election.   Mr Nawia who was speaking at a festival of 12 melodies organized by the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Tamale, said the condition was part of the 2012 political parties code of conduct which enjoined the public, especially political parties and their candidates to respect.   The programme was themed, “Sing Ghana for Peace 2012: Promoting Peaceful Elections through Choral Music.”   Singing groups from the various churches took turns to sing patriotic songs to rekindle the spirit of peace and unity towards a peaceful election.   With regards to campaigning, Mr Nawia said the code provided that political parties, candidates, party members and agents shall desist from carrying of arms and the display of same, and shall extend co-operation to the law enforcement agencies, particularly for the purpose of recovery of illegal arms.     He exposed the congregation to some causes of electoral conflict saying that “Conflict does not discriminate”.   Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ebenezer Tetteh, Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer hinted that the Regional Command as part of efforts to maintain law and order during the electoral process had identified 1,000 flash points in Tamale which would be given special attention.   “We have set up a reserve force that will be patrolling these flash point areas to deal with any challenge,” he said.   ASP Tetteh said the command would stand by for five days after the elections and was also prepared to remain at post should there be a run off.   He urged electoral officials recruited to be truthful in discharging their duties and also called on the public to cooperate with the Police Service to ensure peaceful elections on December 7.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA  -  The mortal remains of Former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama was conveyed from the Korle-Bu Hospital mortuary on Sunday morning to the Independence Square in Accra.   Draped in national colours, the coffin containing the late Vice President's body was carried by uniformed pall-bearers from the mortuary onto a hearse ambulance car at about 0725, amid the sounding of trumpets.   The cortege then set off on the drive towards the Indepencence Square where a state funeral service would be held.   At the end of the service, the Former Vice President's remains would be flown to Tamale for burial later on Sunday.   Alhaji Aliu Mahama who served as Vice President to Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, passed away at the Korle-Bu Hospital on the morning of Friday, November 16, 2012, after a short illness.   GNA...