Accra, Nov 12, GNA - The first in the series of Glo Golf Tour 2012 came to a thrilling end at the Ibori Golf and Country Club, Nigeria, last on Sunday, with Ghana’s Vincent Torgah emerging the winner of the competition.   Torgah signed for a closing 74 for 292, over four days, winning the glamorous tournament by two-shots.   Tournament favourite Emos Korblah also from Ghana, came second after grossing a four-day score of 292, losing the tournament’s top prize to Torgah.   Nigeria’s Andrew Oche Odoh also gave a good account of himself. Playing four-shots off the pace going to the final, Odoh fought back for a closing 74 to come third in the tournament.   Martin Odoh's picked the fourth position in the field of over 90-professional golfers drawn from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Senegal.   Martin, who started on day one with an opening 71, shot a Second Day score of 74, carded 79 on the third but recovered on the final day to come fourth.   Republic of Benin’s Francis Isuku proved he is still a force to reckon with in Golf as he placed fifth behind Martin Odoh.   Cameroonian top seed, Ebela Desire who could not challenge for the top prize, and only managed a sixth position at the end of the four day event.   The professional golfers played for a total purse of N15m in Asaba while the purse for the Glo Golf Tour West Africa 2012 was N62.5m, the biggest Pro-Am purse in Africa.   Speaking at the closing ceremony, Torgah described the competition as the beginning of great things to happen in the sub region.   Torgah, expressed appreciation to Globacom for supporting the event, adding the support will go a long way to develop the game in Africa.   The second leg of the Glo Tour series now moves to Sagamu, in Ogun from Wednesday, November 14.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has consoled the captain of the Senior National team, the Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan, on the tragic death of his mother, Mrs Cecilia Gyan.   A statement issued by the association, described Mrs Gyan’s passing as a heartbreaking event that was least expected and hoped  the family would find the fortitude  to cope with it.   The SWAG said it has noted with great admiration the composure of Asamoah Gyan in particular in the face of the heartbreaking news and expressed the hope that they would get over the trauma associated with it.   ‘’At this moment the whole country is with the family in prayers and will stand by them to see Mrs Gyan off in a befitting manner.   "In the case of Asamoah Gyan in particular, we pray that he comes through this quickly so that he can join his colleagues as they embark on the search for Ghana’s first Nations Cup triumph in 31 years in South Africa next January’’. The statement said.   GNA...

Tema, Nov. 12, GNA – Members of the Tema Methodist Day Senior High School Old Students Association (MEDASSOSA) has embarked on a walk dubbed: “Health Walk for Peace for Election 2012”.   The aim was to sensitize the public within the Tema Metropolis of the need to ensure peaceful election come December 7th 2012.   The walk, which took place at the weekend, formed part of activities lined-up to mark the school’s 30th anniversary celebration next year that would reach its climax in October in 2013.   After the walk, MEDASSOSANs converged at the school’s premises where they jointly organised a blood donation exercise with some members of the Community ‘6’ branch of the Church of Christ.   Speaking at the function, Mr John Asseph, National President of MEDASSOSA said members needed to be healthy before they could cast their votes on December 7, hence the walk.   Mr Aseeph said the blood donation exercise was the modest contribution to the National Blood Service to help save lives.   Mr Benny Ebo Koomson, Deacon of the Church of Christ, said Christians could succeed in evangelisation only if they paid special attention to the physical needs of those they intended to convert.   Mr Koomson, therefore, said it was for that reason that members of the congregation decided to take part in the blood donation exercise.   Mr John Atter Ahadjie, Deputy Chief Donor Recruitment Officer of the National Blood Service at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, who supervised the exercise, stressed the basic requirements of every donor as: He or she should be 17 years and above, must not be less than 50 kilogrammes in weight and above all the donor should donate the blood willingly or voluntarily.   At the end of the exercise, a total of 32 donors voluntarily donated to replenish the Korle Bu Blood Bank.   GNA...

Krapa (Ash), Nov 12, GNA – Tragedy struck a family at Krapa in the Ejisu Municipality at the weekend when the room in which a two-year-old boy was sleeping caught fire and burnt him to death.   The incident happened at about 2000 hours.   Electricity supply to the area had been interrupted and the mother of little Adu Asem, had left a burning candle in the room as she went out to buy some items from a nearby shop.   An uncle to the deceased, Mr Isaac Prah told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that while the mother was returning, she saw their three-bedroom apartment engulfed in flames. She raised the alarm and fire fighters were called in.   It took the fire fighters about an hour to put it out and recover the charred body of little Asem.   The Ejisu Police confirmed the incident and said the body had been deposited at the Juaben Government Hospital for autopsy. The Police have launched investigations into the incident.   GNA...

Burkina Faso, Oct. 12, GNA - A two-day tripartite meeting of security personnel from Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana has ended in Kombissiri, Burkina Faso, with a call on countries to strengthen closer tides in dealing with trans-border crime.   It was to develop new perspectives and strategies for practical trans-border cooperation in the area of security, free movement of goods and people, child trafficking, drug smuggling and small arms proliferation.   The three regions, Savanna Region of Togo, Central East Region of Burkina Faso and the Upper East Region of Ghana, have since September 2009 been meeting annually to develop new approaches to effectively fight high banditry, trans-border crimes and ultimately promote cohesion and peaceful coexistence between the three countries.   Speaking at the opening of the meeting at the weekend, Burkinabe Minister of Territorial Administration and Security, Dr Jerome Bougma noted that trans-border crimes such as the proliferation of small arms and weapons in the West African sub-region stifled the socio-economic development of countries.   He said engagements like annual tripartite meetings, offered the three regions the opportunity to deliberate on the way forward in dealing with trans-border crimes such as the proliferation of small arms to further promote integration in the West Africa sub-region.   He said the dangers of illicit proliferation of small arms in the West-African sub-region were enormous and appealed to security agencies in the three countries to collaborate effectively in dealing with the menace.   “Most conflicts in West Africa are facilitated by the illegal importation and exportation of these illegal small arms” he added, and urged countries in West Africa to continue with the collaboration to curb the use of arms in society since it was alarming and posed serious threats to the security.   Mrs Lucy Awuni, Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, who led a delegation of security personnel including officials from the Ghana Police Service, Customs Exercise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Ghana Immigration Service and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), expressed optimism that collaboration among the three countries, would be fortified to check trans-boundary crimes and improve trade relations.   She recounted collaboration between security agencies that led to the arrest of criminals seeking refuge in other neighbouring countries, citing the arrest of Kombian, a notorious Ghanaian criminal, in neighbouring Togo.   Mr Allahidi Diallo, Governor of the Central East Region of Burkina Faso and the Governor of the South East Province of Burkina, Madam Tchombiano Maimouna, both expressed gratitude to Ghana and Togo for their concerted efforts and renewed commitment in ensuring that trans-border crimes were reduced to the barest minimum.   The Kassena Nankana Municipal Police Commander, ASP Abdul-Latif Nbonwura in an interview with the GNA said the meeting had enhanced his capacity in the fight against trans-border crimes.   He said the emerging trends of trans-border crimes called for serious attention, adding that the reinforcement of regulations by security agencies from the three countries was the way forward.   He further stated that the movement of livestock, especially cattle had become a threat in recent times, saying “the activities of some Fulani herdsmen pose a serious threat to the security of the country.   “Some of them have fomented trouble in parts of the country with many crop farms devastated by the cattle of these herdsmen”, he stressed.        Such collaboration, he said, would enable security personnel to deal ruthlessly with the complexities of their duties and stem security threats at various borders.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in collaboration with the Regional Centres for Learning on Evaluation Results (CLEAR), on Monday began a training programme on performance budgeting for the public and development sectors.   The five-day programme has brought together representatives from the various ministries and government agencies with the aim to improve a sound macro-fiscal outcome and maintains fiscal sustainability as far as government income and expenditure is concerned.   Dr Marc Robinson, facilitator for the programme, said government budget comprised the allocation and the use resources and associated decisions about how the resources used would be acquired.   He said the budget process include aggregate fiscal policy formulation which determined government overarching objective for the budget deficit, debt and other relevant fiscal aggregate, which should be translated into decision on the levels of revenue and expenditure.   Dr Robinson said budget preparation enactment was another process of budget where government decides how much funding it would provide to which agencies and for which purposes and the budget execution, which refers to the carrying out of the expenditure plan developed in the budget like contracts and expenditure funds.   Dr Robinson said the participants would undergo training courses like performance concepts and indicators in budgeting, performance budgeting, programme budgeting, programme costing, accounting and control and evaluation.   Dr Charles Amoatey, CLEAR Coordinator, said the initiative was spearheaded by the World Bank and development partners, adding that development should focus on results.   Dr Amoatey said over the past two years, the World Bank had identified institutions in to provide capacity building for countries and that GIMPA and Kenyan School of Governance were chosen to host the CLEAR to build its capacity.   He said GIMPA was hosting the training programme as first of its kind in Africa and after that it would be rolled out throughout the public sectors.   Professor Sam Adams, Acting Dean of Business School, GIMPA, said the initiative was welcoming since it would broaden the frontier of capacity building in the public sector development.   Prof Adams said GIMPA believed in excellence in leadership, management and administration and therefore it was their expectation that the participants would finish the programme with a well informed knowledge than they came.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 12, GNA – Rescue mission to save lives following the collapse of the six storey Achimota branch of Melcom shopping mall, came to an end today Monday November 12th.   In all 82 people were rescued from the rubble – 68 survived but with various degrees of injuries and 14 people lost their lives.   Addressing the media, Major Jonas Wiafe, Leader of the Rescue team, said 54 people have so far been discharged from the various hospitals while 13 were still on admission. Meanwhile, one Melcom staff is still missing.   Major Wiafe expressed his appreciation to the rescue team comprising the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation, the Ghana National Fire Service and others for their roles in the rescue mission.   He said the rescue mission had reached ground zero and had cleared 100 percent of the debris.   He said investigations were still on going into the causes of the sudden collapse of the structure and thanked the media for their dedication in reporting the incidence.   GNA...

Metsio (GAR), Nov. 12, GNA – Professor Stephen Adei, Former Reactor of the Ghana Institute of Management Public Administration (GIMPA), has called on universities to collaborate with industry to enhance graduate employability.   He said it would also ensure that graduates have the skills and technology to effectively contribute to the workforce with shorter learning aim on the job.   Prof Adei made the call at the African University Day celebration on the theme: “Promoting University-Industry Linkages for Graduate Employability” at Metsio on Monday.   The African University Day was instituted and given international backing as a result of the close links between the African Union and the Association of African Universities (AAU).   Prof Adei said successful university-industry linkage collaboration brought many advantages including provision of new sources of funding with less red-tape than government ones and promotion of innovation and technology transfer.   “Sponsored industrial research provides students and faculty with exposure to real world problems and opportunity to work on intellectually challenging and relevant problem,” he added.   He noted that these types of linkages were often conceived as a three way interaction between universities, government and firms.   The former GIMPA Rector said the universities must go beyond big centres of knowledge and leaning to develop research capacity and become national innovation centres.   He said the government had a role in creating the legislative and enabling climate for patenting, licensing and university-industry technology transfer including giving tax incentives to industry to support such collaboration.   Prof Adei further said the linkages were important but not a panacea to graduate employability.   He said Ghanaian universities had become mainly teaching universities and urgent action was needed to improve on research, adding “l hold the government and public universities more accountable.”      He indicated that a change of mindset in academia was needed to create an atmosphere where both faculty and students would actively see to prepare graduates for the job market   Prof Etienne Ehouan Ehile, Secretary-General of AAU, said the Association was accepted as part of the evolving Pan-African organisations under the general umbrella of the African Union.   He said AAU was the designated lead implementing agency on higher education in the African Union’s Second Decade of Education for Africa from 2006 – 2015.   Through its Quality Assurance Programme, the Association is collaborating with the African Union Commission to promote quality development and assurance in African higher education in all its dimensions.   “The AAU has also been instrumental in building the capacity of member universities through its programmes, notable of which are the Leadership Development Programme,” he noted.   He announced that AAU was in discussion with the World Bank to implement a project on African Centres of Excellence.   Prof Kwesi Yankah, who chaired the function, said private universities played pivotal role in university education and pledged the commitment of private tertiary institutions to improve on the quality of the academic excellence for national development.   GNA...

Accra, Nov.10, GNA – Reverend Kofi Awadzi, Servant Leader of the Lone Voice Ministry, has noted that the church has been turned into “playing ground” rather than what it meant for.     “We see things that are not of Christ in the church,” he stressed.     Rev Awadzi made the observation when he launched his book titled “From Discipleship to Witnessing: How to win yourself to win other souls,” in Accra on Friday.     He said some Christians feel that the mere fact that they are in the four corners of the church meant they are saved.     The 90-page book expressed concern about the way Christian live their lives neglecting the duties of Christ.     He said Christians nowadays want to address their physical needs forgetting the spiritual aspect of their lives.     Rev Awadzi said: “Christians need to re-direct their lives to serving the almighty God.”     The author explained that the book seeks to address the issues of discipleship under Jesus Christ and not of pastors as most Christians thought.     He asked Christians to re-dedicate their lives to God since the end time is at hand.     Rev Dr Hilliard Dela Dogbe, who reviewed the book, commended the author for putting his thought together to impact on the lives of Christians.     He said Christians are now becoming interested in the cosmetics of worshipping God forgetting the bases, adding that witnessing is a Christian obligation every Christian must uphold.   He said being a disciple of God must be based on the knowledge of God and allowing oneself to be molded.   “Christian discipleship must have God as its foundation,” he added. GNA  ...

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA – Printing of ballot papers for the Presidential and Parliamentary polls started on November 7th amidst tight security as the Electoral Commission (EC) stepped up preparations for the December 7 elections, Ghana News Agency investigation established at the weekend. GNA information indicates the various Publishing Houses engaged for the printing have already completed printing the “Election 2012 Notice of Polls”. On security of the ballot papers and officials involved in the printing, EC Official told the GNA that the Publishing Houses are under strict orders to enforce all printing rules and regulations. According to GNA information representatives of the contesting parties have joined a team of security men from the Bureau of National Investigations, the Police Service, EC and security men from the various Publishing Houses for the exercise. The security team has mounted a 24-hour guard at all the Publishing Houses printing the ballot papers. The Parties have more than one representative at any given time, who is present inside the printing room. Once printing starts for the day no one is allowed in or out of the room. GNA information from the Publishing Houses also indicates that they have adopted a shift system for all personnel involved in the printing. The Officials told the GNA that at the end of every shift the number of ballot papers printed is recorded and endorsed by party representatives and officials. All spoilt ballot papers are burnt in their presence. GNA information indicates that agents of some of the seven political parties contesting Election 2012 have pitched camp at the premises of the printing houses to observe and check every process along the line of printing, checking, arrangement and packaging. The order of presidential candidates on the ballot papers will be what was arrived at following a ballot by the political parties. The presidential candidates will have their photographs and party symbols. The name, picture or symbol of vice presidential candidates will not appear on the presidential ballot paper. The order of the presidential candidates is the National Democratic Congress’ President John Dramani Mahama, will be number one; the second will be Dr Henry Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) whilst Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) occupies the third position. Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive Peoples’ Party (PPP) occupies the fourth position, the United Front Party’s (UFP) Mr Akwasi Adddai Odike, occupies the fifth position and Mr Hassan Ayariga of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) sixth, Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) seven and the Independent presidential candidate, Mr Jacob osei Yeboah, takes the eighth position. According to the EC the positions will be the same for parliamentary candidates, with independent candidates coming after candidates of the political parties in alphabetical order.   GNA ...

Accra , Nov 12, GNA -The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD), in collaboration with the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) and with support from Open Society Initiative West Africa, on Sunday held an open forum for aspiring Members of Parliament within the Adenta Constituency in Accra. The forum which was basically in the form of a debate, sought to offer voters the opportunity to interact with candidates and access their respective levels of confidence. The aspiring Parliamentarians for the constituency who attended the forum were 33-year-old Denis Ofosuapea for the Progressive People's Party(PPP), who is also a Legal Practitioner, Mr. Ashie Moore, 44 years for the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Mohammed Naabaale Iddrisu, a 42 -year- old independent candidate and Mamshie Omar Bawa, 32- year- old Convention People's Party(CPP) candidate. All four candidates were unanimous in promising that when voted as Members of Parliament, they would ensure that basic services such as water provision, sanitation and toilet facilities were made available to the constituents. Other issues they promised to tackle within the constituency were unemployment, education, and land documentation. They also pledged to ensure efficient health care delivery, fight crime such as armed robbery and prostitution, and also combat discrimination against victims of HIV/AIDS.     GNA ...

Nyanyanu (C/R), Nov. 12, GNA – Christians have been advised to rest their hope and confidence in God and not to be overwhelmed and be despaired in the wake of global economic crisis, climate change, personal loss, suffering and sickness. Mr Paul Crudass, a representative from the Ghana Branch Office of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who gave the advice at the weekend at the just-ended three-day annual convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses held at Nyanyanu in the Central Region, said that Almighty God had the power to save Christians from their personal afflictions and persecutions. He called on Christians to constantly remember God’s saving acts in the past and in the present and to fix firmly in their mind, His assurance of saving his people in the “not too distant future.” Mr Crudass said God would soon bring to an end mankind’s suffering and usher his servants into a new system of “world government” ruled by Jesus Christ. The three-day convention was on the theme: “Safeguard Your Heart” and was based on Proverbs 4:23. Activities for the convention included a drama, soliloquies, interviews, demonstrations and symposia designed to help the Witnesses conduct a regular spiritual medical check-up on their figurative heart. Mr Stephen McIntyre, Chairman for the 2012 District Convention and Circuit 53 Circuit Overseer for the Witnesses said there were five reasons the delegates needed to safeguard their figurative heart. He stressed that it was urgent for Christians to safeguard their heart because the imperfect heart was inclined to do what was wrong. Mr McIntyre  added that the heart was treacherous therefore safeguarding it was critical for a better and improved life now and for everlasting life in the future. He said most importantly, safeguarding the heart would be pleasing to Jehovah God. Mr McIntyre explained that the figurative heart referred the “whole inner person, his thinking, inclination, qualities, feelings and deepest innermost emotions of an individual”. A Play entitled “What is True Love?” was staged to enable young ones contemplating marriage to consider seriously the vital steps that would make them consider God first in their choice of marriage mate. It was also to teach the convention delegates successful ways of building a happy family life. Two newly-published brochures: “Good News From God,” and “Who are Doing Jehovah’s Will Today?” were outdoored at the convention. They were produced with the aim of helping the Witnesses to be effective in evangelizing and to help others to love God. Various DVDs for children and others to help the Witnesses to fortify their faith in God were released while 46 new members symbolized their dedication to God through water baptism.     Caption:  Picture 2560: Mr Stephen McIntyre, Chairman for the 2012 District Convention and Circuit 53 Circuit Overseer for the Witnesses speaking at the convention.   GNA ...

Accra, Nov 12, GNA –The Anglican Diocese of Accra, Church of the Province of West Africa, on Sunday inaugurated the Episcopal Ministry of Right Reverend Dr Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto, as the ninth Diocesan Bishop of Accra. Dr Mensah Torto succeeded the Most Reverend Justice Ofei Akrofi as Archbishop and Primate of the Church of the Province of West Africa, following his retirement on October 29, after serving for 16 years. Most Reverend Ofei Akrofi, in his message, advised the new bishop to use spirituality as the tool to do the work that God had entrusted into his hands. He called on other bishops in the Church to welcome him and create space for him to be God’s agent and instrument in building God’s household. Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Presiding bishop of Methodist Ghana, said there was the need to re-imagine the future based on hope in God who in Christ came to rescue us from sin and restored us to a new relationship with him. “This means we have to rediscover the mission of Jesus Christ, for we don’t really know Christ till we participate in and live out his mission”. Most Reverend Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Accra, assured the new bishop of God’s continuous presence in the task assigned him. Most Reverend Torto was confirmed as the New Anglican Bishop-Elect   few months ago, who until his election was serving as the Archdeacon of the Accra-East Archdeaconry and the Diocesan Director of Programmes.     GNA   ...

Sandema, Nov. 12, GNA - Government would under the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) irrigate 100,000 hectares of land for all season farming in the Builsa North and Builsa South districts. President John Dramani Mahama, who announced this, said the programme would also benefit thousands of farmers along the Sisili and Kulkpong Rivers that flows through the Upper East and West Regions of the country. The President was addressing a rally at Sandema in the Builsa Southm District on Monday, as part of his three-day campaign tour of the Upper East Region. He visited Tongo, Bongo, Kongo, Zanlerigu, Zuarungu, Fumbisi, Navrongo, Chiana and Paga, where he outlined the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto and development plans to the electorate. President Mahama, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Election 2012, said the drifting of farmers and other youth to the southern part of Ghana during the dry season was due to lack of jobs, and hoped that the irrigation of the Sisili-Kulkpong areas would promote agricultural activities and prevent rural-urban migration. He said the irrigation projects would be replicated in the Northern and Upper West regions to stop the perennial North-south migration by the youth for non-existent jobs. At the Navrongo Campus of the University for Development Studies, President Mahama advised the students to ignore the vain promises by some political parties and vote for the NDC that has the potentials of solving their problems. President Mahama said the NDC had always been sensitive to the plight of students, and had established more Senior High Schools and tertiary institutions, and would not renege on that stance to provide quality education at all levels. “Others are going about promising free education, when in actual fact, there are no educational facilities to accommodate those students, but we shall continue to provide the infrastructure for them to enjoy quality education at all levels,” he added. Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Communication, said lies and promises were not enough to win any election, and appealed to NDC members to be truthful and credible in their campaign to attract more electorate. “This election is about credibility, truth and integrity, and I believe that with our performance in the past years, the people will return us into power.” Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the NDC, called on party supporters to remain resolute to enable the NDC to massively win Election 2012.   GNA...

Mildred Siabi-Mensah back from USA, Courtesy of US Embassy    Accra, Nov. 11, GNA – Prof John Nay, a Political Science Lecturer at the University of Illinois, Chicago in the United States, has said the country would continue to implement its existing foreign policy. He said there would not be any real change in foreign policy but the emphasis this time might differ from country to country. Prof Nay said this at a meeting with some African journalists at the University on the topic: “Foreign Policy of the US”.  The meeting was held days after the US election which saw the re-election of President Barack Obama for a second term. He said, “America’s allies will still remain allies” adding the composition of the US Foreign Relations Committee might see some changes and that a new Secretary of State would be appointed to replace Mrs. Hillary Clinton who is, source said, is eyeing the presidency. Mr. Walter Podrazik, a Visiting Professor at the University who spoke on elections and the media, said about 5.8 billion dollars were spent in the US elections with local advertisements accounting for 2.6 billion dollars.     GNA ...

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Wa, Nov. 12, GNA – The Upper West Regional office of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) at the weekend destroyed unregistered and unwholesome products worth 20,660.00 Ghana Cedis at a landfill site in Wa. The items, which were considered to be noxious and posed health risk to consumers, included 26 bags (50kg) of bread floor and assorted medicines, including herbal and aphrodisiac products The products were confiscated from 342 retail shops by the FDB during routine inspection and post-market surveillance in the region to prevent customers from buying unregistered, unwholesome and expired products. Briefing journalists before the exercise, Mr. Gordon Akrugu, Upper West Regional Manager of the Board, said the area had ceased to be a dumping ground for sub-standard products after the FDB opened an office in Wa in August last year. He cautioned the public against purchasing unwholesome food and counterfeit and substandard products that appear appetizing but had traces of high level contamination because of the unhygienic environment under which vendors operated. Mr. Akurugu pledged the Board’s commitment to ensuring safety and quality of food, drugs, cosmetics, household chemicals and medicines and medical devices. He said, consequently, the FDB was strengthening its regulatory systems by supporting manufacturing Industries to adopt good management practices.   GNA ...

Sunyani, Nov. 12, GNA – Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, the presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), has said voting on partisan lines had been the bane of accelerated national development. He therefore appealed to the electorate to vote for the PPP for the country to witness rapid transformation and national economic growth. Dr Nduom said this when addressing supporters of the PPP at separate rallies at Atronie lorry station and Victory Park in the Sunyani East Constituency on Sunday. He was from the Northern Region through Brong-Ahafo Region to Accra, and noted that the hope and aspirations of Ghanaians were still in ruins because “greedy and needy” politicians continued to form the executive arm of government. Dr Nduom said the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress  had done everything possible but unemployment and poverty were still high in the country. He said both political parties had failed Ghanaians in the national re-construction processes and had nothing new to offer and advised the electorate to be more discerning, vote and give the mandate to the PPP on December 7. Dr Nduom said free basic and Senior High School education had been on the drawing board of the PPP and it was left to Ghanaians to benefit from such policy in 2013 by voting for the party. He formally introduced Mrs Vivian Kakie Tetteh, PPP Parliamentary Candidate for Sunyani East Constituency and advised the electorate to vote for her. Mrs Tetteh appealed to women to support women parliamentary candidates to win their seats because that was the only way women participation in governance and decision making processes could be improved. Mrs Tetteh said her intention to contest was due to the fact that the constituency lacked basic necessities such as potable water,  classrooms and good roads.     GNA ...

Nkoranza (B/A), Nov. 12, GNA – Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Joseph  Owusu, Nkoranza South Municipal Police Commander, has advised Ghanaians, especially the youth, to be disciplined  and respect electoral laws as the country gears up for Election 2012.       He said the Ghana Police Service would deal ruthlessly with miscreants during the polls on December 7, to ensure, free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections.       DSP Owusu gave the advice at a debate organised for parliamentary candidates in Nkoranza South Constituency, at Nkoranza, to inform the electorate about their vision for the area if elected into Parliament.        It was organised by Ahenbronoso Care Foundation and Techiman Civic Union, both Techiman-based non-governmental organisations (NGO), and sponsored by STAR-Ghana and its partners.         The candidates,  Mr Kwame Amporfo-Twumasi, incumbent NPP Member of Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, the National Democratic Congress candidate , and Mr Isaac Asirifi Kodom, contesting on the ticket of the National Democratic Party, were asked to deliberate  on education, HIV and AIDS, health, water and sanitation, child labour and teenage pregnancy.        DSP Owusu warned that any person who would be caught destroying political party posters would be arrested and prosecuted.       Mr Davis Boamah Asumadu, Deputy Executive Director of Ahenbronoso Care Foundation, commended STAR-Ghana and its partners for their efforts to ensure peaceful elections on December 7.       He appealed to presidential and parliamentary candidates for Election 2012 to ensure that their supporters comport themselves during the polls.       Mr Mohammed Manu Busi, Principal Education Officer of National Commission for Civic Education in Sunyani, commended the NGOs for their initiative to enhance peace in the  Techiman and Nkoranza municipalities.           The parliamentary candidates pledged to promote peace during the polls, and to offer selfless and dedicated services to the people if elected.       Nana Okofo Agyapong III, Adontenhene of Nkoranza Traditional Area, appealed to the citizenry to eschew acts that could affect the polls.     GNA ...

Dzodze, Nov. 12, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP) has been asked to remain realistic and avoid unattainable promises merely intended to hoodwink the people to vote for him in December.     The “John Mahama 2012 Group” a pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) group in the Ketu-North District of the Volta Region, making the call, identified the NPP’s Free Senior High School concept as a deceit of the people to gain votes and turn round to give excuses.     In a statement signed by its president, Mr Armstrong Mensah, the group said what the nation required now was a massive investment in educational infrastructure and other resources to improve access and quality.     “The Free SHS promise by the NPP is misplaced for now since classes cannot be held under trees,” the statement said.     Praising the NDC’s promise of establishing more pre-schools and teacher training colleges among others, the statement said “the educational policy of the NPP is to promote their so-called private sector individualistic goals of destroying the public schools to establish expensive private ones “.     “We plead with Ghanaians to vote NDC to strengthen the public school system, enhance accessibility first towards a progressive removal of fees as enshrined in the constitution,” the statement said.     The statement accused Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Nana Akufo-Addo’s running mate of failing to educate Nana Akufo Addo on the theory of scarcity of resources and scale of preference and choice, saying with the current resource constraints all the educational cost cannot be taken away at a go.     It said the choice of President Mahama to increase subsidy to reduce cost to parents was the best choice to vote for.     The group finally demanded an apology from the NPP to all the people of the Volta Region for its lies about NPP agents being manhandled during in the region the 2008 elections and for describing the establishment of the University for Health and Allied Sciences in Ho as a waste of resources.     GNA ...