Ho, Nov. 17, GNA - Mr Peter Amegashie, General Secretary of Volta Youth Network, a political pressure group, on Thursday implored people in the Volta Region to come out on Election Day and vote massively for President John Dramani Mahama, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).   He said the NDC needed a high turnout of people in the Region to secure a “one touch” victory in the December polls.   Mr Amegashie said this in an interaction with the media at Dzolopkuita in the Ho West District.   He said the network had declared “operation” one million votes in the Region, which it was hopeful of achieving.   “So far, the responses are good and we know we are heading towards one touch victory,” Mr Amegashie said.   He said though the Network was not “fully satisfied” with the level of development in the region, it was convinced that the NDC government was on track and remained the only government committed to the development of the Region.   Mr Kafui Mensah, Public Relations Officer of the Network, called on people in the Region not to be deceived by the free Senior High School (SHS) campaign promise of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).   He said the problem of education in the Region was not cost but accessibility, and was hopeful that President Mahama’s promise of building 200 new SHSs across the country would improve access and quality of education in the country at large.   Mr Mensah described as “untrue”, claims by a youth group that youth of the Region endorsed NPP’s free SHS.   GNA...

Peki Blengo (V/R), Nov. 17, GNA – Mr Alikem Tamakloe, Acting Volta Regional Librarian, Friday attributed the poor academic performance in both first and second cycle schools in the country to the poor reading culture among pupils and students.     “To curb, if not eradicate completely this canker, pupils and students should be impressed upon to use their leisure time in reading,” he said.      Mr Tamakloe said this at an awards ceremony to crown this year’s celebration of the International Children’s Book Day at Peki-Blengo in the South-Dayi District of the Volta Region.       It was on theme: “Once Upon A Time, There Was a Story that the Whole World Told”.       Mr Tamakloe said: “The public library today has become a platform that is at the forefront of engendering education and development and therefore the country cannot afford to lose the potential of public libraries.”      He, therefore, appealed to institutions whose corporate social responsibilities include the promotion of education to extend such facilities to the Ghana Library Authority  to enable it to bring effective and efficient services to the citizenry.      Mr John Yao Agbai, Headmaster of Peki Senior High School, lamented the poor spoken and written English among students and called on educational authorities to step up their supervision of teachers to enable them to impact positively on their students.      Ms Esther Akyea, Deputy Director in charge of Supervision and Monitoring at the South-Dayi District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service, reminded the pupils that knowledge was acquired through reading and advised them to use time used in playing video games and watching films to read so as to improve on their knowledge.      Ms Elizabeth Akyea of Government College of Education (GOVCO), Demonstration Junior High School, won a reading competition organized by the Ghana Library Authority for selected schools in the district, and was presented with a school bag, story books, exercise books, pens and pencils.      Mr Frank T.K. Dei, Director, Policy Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, who chaired the function, donated 1,000 Ghana cedis to GOVCO Demonstration JHS for placing first in the reading competition.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has expressed condolence to the entire nation on the sudden demise of Alhaji Aliu Mahama, former Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.   A statement issued in Accra by Arnold Boateng, General Secretary of AFAG said as Vice President, he served his nation with distinction, a feat which endeared him to all including his political opponents.   It said in his capacity as Vice President, he inspired a generation of Ghanaians across ethnic boundaries.   “He was a benevolent man who cared and extended a generous hand to the poor and needy,” it noted.   The statement said the country has indeed lost a giant but his good deeds would far outlive him.   AFAG, it said, was inspired by the hope that the late former Vice President’s exemplary life would inspire the youth and the nation to greater deeds.   AFAG is a pro democracy group in Ghana with an objective of making sure governments is accountable to the citizenry.   GNA...

Sanga (N/R), Nov. 17, GNA – Vestergaard Frandsen, a Europe-based company, specialist in complex emergency control products, has distributed a total of 260 lifestraw filters to households in Sanga and Kpinjiga communities, suburbs of Tamale, as means of ensuring guinea worm free communities.       Vestergaard Frandsen, in partnership with Adonai Community, a Christian non-denominational NGO, provided the lifestraw filters that purify water for use, which would help the beneficiary communities to get clean water so that they are not infected with guinea worm and other water borne diseases.       Ms Araba Sam Annan, Area Manager of Vestergaard Frandsen, West Africa, briefing the Ghana News Agency after the distribution, said her outfit was in partnership with government and other partners to help meet the MDGs, especial goal 7, to ensure that guinea worm did not re-emerge.       She said apart from helping to prevent the re-emergence of guinea worm, her outfit was also helping to fight other water borne diseases in the country especially in communities of the north which were prone to guinea worm due to the absence of good drinking water.       Ms Annan said the weeklong programme in some deprived communities of the north was also to look at areas that needed the attention of Vestergaard Frandsen and gave the assurance that every effort would be put in place to ensure that support was given to deprived communities in need of clean water.       She said: “Our commitment to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) drives our business objectives and provides the impetus for our continued focus on saving lives,” adding that the NGO strived to develop disease prevention interventions by addressing goals 4, 5 and 6.       She expressed the hope that the lifestraw filters would help the households to continue to get quality drinking water, which would prevent them from  not only getting guinea worm but also other water borne diseases.       Mr Michael Anyenkanse, Field Technician of Water in Africa Through Everyday Responsiveness (WATER), a guinea worm surveillance network, lauded Vestergaard Frandsen for the initiative and expressed the hope that such interventions would help prevent the re-emergence of guinea worm.       He said currently there was no reported case of guinea worm in the country and that such interventions were welcomed since Ghana would not be complacent about that feat.      He said WATER would continue to be in partnership with all stakeholders to give quality water to communities prone to guinea worm.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 16, GNA - MTN Ghana has extended their heartfelt condolences to the former second lady Hajia Ramatu Mahama, children and the bereaved family as well as the Government and people of Ghana on the loss of Ghana’s former Vice President.   A statement issued and signed by Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, Corporate Service Executive of MTN said, “It is with great sadness that we heard of the untimely passing of the former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama.”   It said Ghana and Africa have lost a great man and one of Africa’s selfless leaders, who dedicated his life to the service of the people and his efforts at instilling discipline as a way of life into all Ghanaians.    Mr Michael Ikpoki, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, expressed his deepest and sincere condolence at this sudden loss.   “As an African multinational, MTN believes this is a sad moment for Ghanaians, having lost a President and a Former Vice President in the same year,” he added.   Mr Ahmad Farroukh, MTN Group Chief Operations Executive also said: “I received with shock and utmost grief the sad news of the passing of the former Vice President.”   He said he could only imagine the sense of loss all Ghanaians were feeling at this second loss of a leader, extending his condolences and commiseration with all Ghanaians at this trying time.   He urged all Ghanaians to keep faith and to continue to pray for the family of the late former Vice President and the entire nation.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA. – The Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS) has expressed their condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the collapsed Melcom Shopping Mall in Achimota, Accra.      Paa Kwecy Adu, National President, who made known in a statement he signed and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Saturday said the professional students’ body encourage all insurance companies and other bodies responsible for the payment of compensations to as a matter of urgency respond to the needs of the victims especially those alive.      “In consonance with this we at GUPs wish to state clearly that this incidence depicts the facts that our technical people and regulatory bodies of buildings, our surveyors and mapping officers’ need to be well equipped even as they also ensure effective implementation of the rules.”     GUPS called on government, the Department of Surveying and Mapping, the Lands Commission and  other stakeholders to as a matter of urgency and necessity come to the aid of the only Ghana School of Surveying and Mapping located adjacent the 37 Military Hospital- Accra.    “The School since its establishment in the 1920s has not seen any major infrastructure development,” the statement said.   GNA...

Tamale, Nov 17, GNA - The Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, Most Reverend Philip Naameh has challenged politicians to develop and implement policies that would lighten the burdens and challenges of the public.   “People who find themselves in the political circles should not focus on personal gains, but rather the betterment of the livelihood of the citizenry”, he said.   The Archbishop threw the challenge at a round-table meeting organized by the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS) of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) for 15 Star-Ghana Election Grant Partners on the 2013 Presidential Transition.   Funded by Star-Ghana, the meeting sought to provide an update on civil society efforts to ensure that the Presidential Transition Act (Act 845) was effectively implemented come 2013.   It also forms part NCS’s strategic partnership with the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) towards maximizing their efforts to achieve free, transparent and fair elections for a smooth political transition in 2013.   Most Rev. Naameh said every person deserved to enjoy equal right and have access to privileges and called on politicians to create a favorable environment for all.   A senior fellow of the IEA, Paa Kow Acquaye said presidential transition if not handled carefully could plunged a country in disruptions hence the urgent need for the implementation of the Presidential Transitional framework.   Citing an instance in Ghana, he said, the 2001 transition was marked with some level of misunderstanding which was not healthy for the development of the nation.     Paa Acquaye said the current framework, which started in 2007, was passed and received presidential assent in May, 2012.   He said the Presidential Transitional Act stipulates which government assets including lands, vehicles and buildings should be purchased and others that should be maintained.   Paa Acquaye said government had appointed Mr. Joseph Donkor Issachar, a renowned civil servant as the Administrator-General of the Presidential Estates Unit in accordance with Section 8(2) of the Presidential (Transition) Act 2012, ACT 845.   He would be the Head of the Unit, which under Section 8(1) of ACT 845 is to undertake, among other things, take and keep an inventory of the assets and properties of the Government, which are assets and properties not vested in the Lands Commission, established under article 258 of the Constitution.   GNA...

New Abirem (E/R), Nov. 17 GNA - Newmont Golden Ridge Limited has since 2005 supported the planting of more than 24,000 trees in the Akyem Project, and continues to facilitate tree planting to demonstrate leadership in social and environmental responsibility.     To mark another milestone, Newmont in partnership with Conservation Alliance, an environmental organisation that seeks to build capacities to conserve biodiversity, has planted 1,200 trees of various medicinal species at its resettlement community to help improve the quality of life of the local people.    The initiative is in alignment with Newmont’s commitment to demonstrate leadership in environmental stewardship and social responsibility.      Mr Paul Dawson, Environment Manager of Newmont, speaking at a ceremony at New Abirem on Friday to climax the tree planting exercise, stated that development would see the resettlement community transformed into a state of the art community where there would be easy access to plants for medicine, food and shade after a hard day’s work.    “The trees are for the residents of this area; you actually own it and it is your responsibility to nurture them and ensure their growth and flourishing,” he said.    Mr Kwami Omani Opoku, Eastern Regional Principal Programme Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency, commended Newmont for the initiative.    He said the tree planting is a great initiative that must be supported by the communities.    Mr Opoku advised the communities to embrace the programme to serve the purpose for which it was designed.    Nana Dansowaa Abiam, the queen of Yayaaso-based group at the resettlement community, and Nana Adakwah Ayiadum, Regent, expressed their happiness about the initiative and pledged their commitment to do all they could to ensure that the trees are taken care of to achieve the purpose for which they were planted.    Mr Oduro-Kwarteng Marfo, Manager, External Relations, Newmont Golden Ridge Limited, Akyem Project told the Ghana News Agency that tree planting had become significant for Newmont since trees are vital to the existence and well-being of the environment.    He said Newmont recognise the importance of tree planting as both a practical means to conserve the environment and as its contribution towards the global campaign against forest depletion.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA – MTN Ghana has officially presented prizes to Naterial and Miriam, winners of the MTN Hit Maker music reality contest GH¢100,000 and GH¢50,000 respectively in Accra.   Their prizes included a year’s promotional package and other souvenirs.   Mrs Cynthia Lumor, Corporate Services Executive of MTN, speaking at the presentation ceremony on Friday said the career sustainability of the artists involved in the reality show was their concern.   She said event was part of the company’s economic empowerment programme to invest in talents.   Mrs Lumor said the money would be kept in an account and used it to promote the music careers of the two winners.   Mr Franklin Sowah, Representative from the Marketing Department of MTN, said 10 per cent of the cash value of the present would be given to the winners while the other 90 per cent would be given to their producers to produce their albums.   “The 10 per cent of the cash would be deposited in the MTN mobile money wallet of the winners,” he said.   Mr Sowah told the GNA that the money, which would be given to the producers, would be done in stages, as and when a stage was completed.   He said the sole aim was to promote quality of music produced in the country and improve the music career of the youth interested in becoming musicians.   Naterial, who emerged the overall winner, expressed gratitude on behalf of the other winner to the management of MTN for given them the platform to showcase their talents.   He promised to produce good and quality music to entertain the good people of Ghana.     GNA...

Half Assini (W/R), Nov. 17, GNA -  A seventy-year-old mother from New Kabenlasuazo in the Jomoro District has appealed to the Attorney General, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and other Human Rights advocates to assist in the release of her only son currently languishing in prison custody.      Madam Nzemede Tayiba made the appeal through the Ghana News Agency at Half Assini when her son, Matthew Ackah made his fourth appearance at the Half Assini District magistrate’s court last week over the drowning of a fisherman, Nyakochie Nyarko.      According to Madam Tayeba, on the evening of April 1, this year, Sane Ackah was fishing with  Nyarkochie who is an epileptic on the Abbey Lagoon at Alokapkokete.        She said suddenly Nyarko suffered an attack of epilepsy and fell in the river and got drowned.       The woman said her son, Ackah, reported to the Police at Half Assini that he was the one fishing with the decease when the incident occurred.      Madam Tayeba said the police arrested her son to assist them investigate the matter.     The woman said the police established during their investigations that Matthew Ackah was not the person working with the decease when he got drowned, but rather Sane Ackah.        According to the woman, Sane Ackah, the main suspect had been arrested by the Police while her son, Matthew Ackah,  was fined 480 Ghana Cedis at the Half Assini district magistrate’s court on a charge of deceiving a public officer.     Madam Tayeba said the fine had been paid, but that the police had preferred another charge, conspiracy to commit murder, against her son who had since been reemanded in prison custody.        “I do not understand why my son who is the breadwinner of the family, continues to be in custody when all investigations have proved him innocent about the murder”, she said.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 16, GNA - Microsoft Ghana has unveiled Windows 8 to its customers and partners in Ghana.   This followed the global launch, which took place on Friday, October 26.      Since the launch, local consumers and businesses had been experiencing all that Windows 8 has to offer: a beautiful new UI, a wide range of apps with the grand opening of the Windows Store, on more than 1000 Windows 8 certified PCs and tablets.   Windows 8 was the main product exhibited during Microsoft’s Open Door events held in Accra, which was targeted at IT professionals, developers and partners.    Microsoft’s Open Door Events served as a platform to address the demand for more spaces in which African technology professionals are able to experience the latest-generation technologies first-hand, exchange ideas, build skills, and network with their local IT community and Microsoft technology experts.   Mr Emmanuel Onyeje, Country Manager, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, said with the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft had re-imagined Windows to the world.      “Whether you want a tablet or a PC, whether you want to consume or create, whether you want to work or play – Windows 8 delivers a personalized experience that fits your unique style and needs”, he said.   He said Windows 8 would be available in two versions at retail, which are Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, adding that for business customers, Windows 8 Enterprise offered new possibilities in mobile productivity with features like Windows ToGo, DirectAccess, and BranchCache, as well as enhanced end-to-end security with features including BitLocker and AppLocker.      The occasion was used to launch a new member of the Windows family designed for ARM-based tablets, Windows RT, which would be available pre-installed on new devices.   Mr Onyeje said Windows 8 featured the new fast and fluid Start screen that gives people one-click access to the apps and content they care most about, saying “the entirely new Internet Explorer 10 that is perfect for touch and built-in cloud capabilities with SkyDrive”.   He said in addition to the range of new devices available, consumers could also upgrade their existing Personal Computers (PC).   He explained that through the end of January, consumers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 were qualified to download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of 39.99 dollars.   He added that eligible Windows 7 PCs purchased between June 2, 2012, and January 31, 2013 in more than 140 countries could download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of 14.99 dollars.   Mr Olaide Akisanya, General Manager, Ha-Shem Network Service Limited said Windows 8 was an excellent product, which empowers customers work force by enhancing their business productivity and smarter and better.   “They can view the world at their palm once they have installed on their devices. It gives customers an eagle eye view of the world”, he said.   Microsoft's network of partners across Ghana include local developers who build software products for local businesses to deploy solutions based on Microsoft technology, further helping to drive local innovation, growth and competitiveness through continued investment in the local IT economy.   By equipping local businesses with the tools to develop local technology solutions, Microsoft is helping to give this vital growth engine vitality and long-term sustainability through valuable skills and new jobs.   Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA. – The Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS) on Saturday lauded the late former Vice President Aliu Mahama “as a great son of the soil” whose demise is a big loss to the nation.   “The Ghana Union of Professional Students express its heartfelt condolence to the Government of Ghana, the families of the late former Vice President of the Republic of Ghana… the New Patriotic Party and the good people of Ghana on the demise of the former Vice President,” the union said.   This was contained in a statement signed by Paa Kwecy Adu, National President of GUPS and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.   “We at GUPS say the late Vice President was a gentleman and a peace loving man, hence the need for all Ghanaians to demonstrate a high sense of peace before, during and after election 2012,” the statement said.   According to the Union Alhaji Mahama’s desired and advocated discipline while his buoyant contribution to Ghana’s democratic development can never be over emphasized.   The statement said his efforts would forever remain a hallmark in the hearts of Ghanaians especially the youth.   “May your good deeds serve as good seeds that will be nurtured and developed to promote and advance disciplined and peaceful society especially at the time that our democracy is deepening and gaining relatively greater height and also at this moment that we are preparing for general election,” the statement said.   “May Allah the Almighty keep you and preserve you in His Perfect Bosom of Peace,” the GUPS said. concluded.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - A large number of Ghanaians thronged the Statehouse on Saturday to witness the funearal and burial ceremony of the former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama only to learn that the programme had been rescheduled for tomorrow, Sunday November 18.   A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the Statehouse and the Military Cemetery, Osu at 0900 hours on Saturday showed that despite the new arrangement,  people were patiently waiting to see the body of their former Vice President while others were busily arriving for the ceremony.   Alhaji Mahama died yesterday at age 66 after a short illness. He was receiving treatment at the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle  Bu Teaching Hospital where he had been on admission for a Cardiac problem.   Some òf the people who interacted with the GNA said they had come from Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, Ashaiman, Accra New Town, Nsawam and Madina to witness the burial ceremony and pay their last respects to the good, loving and caring leader and statesman.    Speaking on behalf of one of the groups, Madam Comfort Kweiba Arthur described the former vice-president as affable, peace-loving, generous, and a father for the poor.   Some of the people told the GNA they would wait till tomorrow for the funeral and burial ceremony before leaving.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA – The Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) on Saturday joined millions of Ghanaians to mourn the death of former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama.   Alhaji  Aliu Mahama, who was 66 years, died on Friday, November 16, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.   Dr Henry Lartey, Presidential Candidate of the GCPP and the entire membership of the party expressed their condolences to the bereaved family and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).   The death of Alhaji Aliu Mahama represents the loss of yet another huge illustrious son of the land,   Mr John Amekah, Vice Presidential Candidate of the GCPP, said in a statement to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.   Indeed the Vice President had contributed towards the sustenance and deepening of democracy by his unwavering support to his party, the NPP, and the government of which he was Vice President of Ghana from 2001–2009, the statement said.   “Whilst we mourn the passing away of Alhaji Aliu Mahama, we need to celebrate his life because he was an affable and principled person who expressed his views without fear or favour,” it said.   The GCPP said: "One lesson politicians could learn from his life is the modest, respect for everyone young or old, in spite of his huge stature. May his soul rest in perfect peace”.   The GCPP has therefore suspended its campaign and directed all members to participate fully in the funeral arrangement for Alhaji Aliu Mahama.   Alhaji Aliu Mahama was Vice-President of Ghana from January 7, 2001 to January 7, 2009.   The former Vice President was a quantity surveyor by occupation, born in Yendi and was married to Hajia Ramatu Aliu Mahama.   As a young man, Aliu Mahama studied at the Government Secondary School, Tamale from 1960-1967 for his Ordinary and Advanced Level Certificates.   He proceeded to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, from 1967-71 where he obtained the BSc Degree in Building Technology.   Alhaji Aliu Mahama started his working career at the Bolgatanga Regional Office of the State Construction Corporation as an Engineer (Construction) from 1972-75.   He was promoted to Assistant Regional Manager and posted to the Koforidua Regional Office of the corporation from 1975-76.   He held the position of Regional Manager in charge of the Northern Region, Tamale, from June 1976 – August 1982. In 1982 he successfully established his own Civil Engineering and General Construction Firm – LIDRA Limited- and became its Managing Director.   Alhaji Aliu Mahama became the Chairman of the Northern Regional Contractors Association in 1996 until the December 2000 elections.   Alhaji Aliu Mahama is also an alumnus of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).   In order to sharpen and deepen his management and leadership skills, he obtained two certificates from the Institute in Project Planning and Management, and in Leadership.   He had exceptional interest in Local Governance and Community Development. Accordingly, he was Councilor for the Yendi District Council in 1978 and Assemblyman, Tamale Municipal Assembly in 1990.   He was the Chairman of the Economic Development Committee of the Tamale-Louisville Sister State Committee.   He had been a board member of several secondary schools in the Northern Region as well as the Tamale Polytechnic.   In his leisure time, he loved reading, watching football and badminton.   He was a founding member of the Real Tamale United Football Club.   GNA...

Takoradi, Nov. 17, GNA — The Minister for Defence, Lieutenant-General Joseph Henry Smith, on Friday urged the Ghana Armed Forces to collaborate with other security agencies in the country to ensure successful and peaceful elections in December.   He said Ghana had gone through successful elections five times since the Fourth Republican began and the Military and that Police Service in particular had enjoyed cordial collaboration. Therefore this year’s elections should not be an exception.   Lt. Gen. Smith made these remarks during a working visit to the Second Garrison Command in Takoradi in the Western Region, to acquaint himself with the preparedness of the Military towards the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.   He said Ghana’s democratic credentials had been acknowledged worldwide and had become a benchmark for most African countries. "Therefore it is time for us to consolidate the gains made so far and demonstrate to the international community that we have come of age."   Lt-Gen. Smith assured the men in uniform that government would not renege on its pledge of ensuring free, fair and transparent elections so that the outcome of the polls would be acceptable to all the stakeholders involved.    He said government for the past four years had shown commitment towards the Military’s needs by equipping them with all the necessary logistics to enable them to execute their mandate effectively and efficiently.   For  instance, the Navy had benefitted from six speed vessels purchased from the People’s Republic of China for effective surveillance of the country’s maritime domain, as well as protecting the territorial jurisdiction from piracy, poaching, trafficking of narcotics, smuggling, bunkering and other illegal activities that could threaten the peace and stability of the nation.   The Minister  added that government had ordered more military accoutrements such as metal helmets, parachutes and other mechanized equipment to safeguard the safety of the personnel during operations.   He announced that government had acquired 295 new vehicles for the military that would be distributed to all the garrisons across the country to improve their operations, adding that all the reception medical stations of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) would be refurbished to improve service delivery.   He said government had also secured funding for the expansion of the 37 Military Hospital in Accra whilst a new Military hospital would soon be constructed in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to serve the military garrisons in the northern sector of the country.   On  welfare, the Minister assured them that the ongoing construction of buildings with a 50-million-dollar Chinese loan facility would soon be completed to provide comfortable accommodation for the Military.   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, 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 locally to generate employment opportunities in the country.   The Defence Minster used his vist to inspect some ongoing military projects in the Region.   GNA...

Takoradi, Nov.17, GNA - Many people from all sides of the political divide in Sekondi-Takoradi have expressed shock and dismay at the death of Former Vice President Alhaji  Aliu Mahama.   “The death of the former Vice President is untimely and has added to the grief of Ghanaians”,  Madam Ama Baidoo, a tomato seller at the Takoradi Central Market, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Friday at Takoradi.   She said Ghanaians had hardly overcome their grief over the death President John Evans Atta Mills when death laid its icy hands on Alhaji Aliu Mahama too.   Mr. John Essoun, a tailor and supporter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said all Ghanaians must mourn the late Vice President irrespective of their political affiliation.   He spoke highly of the late Vice President’s leadership qualities, adding his passing away will create a vacuum that will be difficult to fill in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and in the country’s body politic.   A cross-section of Muslims expressed similar sentiments and prayed that Allah will give him peaceful rest.   GNA...

Tamale, Nov. 17, GNA – The death toll of the car crash  that occurred at Kogni, close to Tamale on Friday night  has risen to 31,   Dr Ken Sagoe,  Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH)  has said.           He said 29 of the victims lost their lives on the spot  while two died later at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The dead  included the drivers of both buses.              Dr Sagoe made these known when he briefed the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba on Saturday morning  during the Minister's visit to the facility to console the victims and to mourn with the families of the departed souls.                 Dr. Sagoe said the hospital had called all the doctors and nurses of the hospital  in an emergency  to take care of the victims and that they had been able to sustain the lives of many of the injured.                 He announced that as at that time one person was in Intensive Care Unit,   nine of the victims at the surgical ward, 7 at the casualty unit, while 17 others were in stable condition, adding that ‘among the accident victims  was a couple working in the hospital who recently wedded and a nurse.                 Mr. Mabengba who was visibly traumatized by the incident called on stakeholders such as the National Road Safety Commission and the Police Motor Transport and Traffick Unit (MTTU)  to step up measures to curb the spate of car crashes that had been occurring in the country because they were becoming too much.                 He also encouraged passengers not to allow careless drivers to kill them but to tell the driver to do the right thing during journeys in order to save their own lives.                 At the time of filing this report, many families were gathered at the morgues of the TTH to identify their dead relatives.   It wIt will be recalled that a fatal car crash occurred on Friday night at Kogni on the Tamale - Bolgatanga highway involving a Metro Mass Transit bus with registration number AW238Z and a Benz bus with registration number WR2712C.   The Metro Mass Transit (MMT) was travelling towards Bolgatanga direction from Kumasi while the Benz bus was travelling from Bolgatanga to Tamale.   GNA...

Accra , Nov. 17, GNA - Mr Ben Nunoo-Mensah, Coordinator of Family and Friends of President Atta Mills, said an interdenominational service would be held in Accra in commemoration of the 100 days of the death of the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the former President of the Republic of Ghana.   A statement signed by Mr Nunoo-Mensah issued to the Ghana News Agency on Friday said: “ Details of the programme will be announced in due course”.   He said in line with the late President’s commitment to peace, the occasion would be used to offer prayers for peaceful elections.   The statement said a documentary on the funeral of late President Mills would be televised as part of the commemoration of the 100 days of his passing on.   President Mills died on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at the 37 Military Hospital while receiving medical attention after a short illness.   GNA...

 Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - Nii Amassah Namoale, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure that its officials were conversant with the electoral laws of the country to facilitate the smooth conduct of this year’s elections.   “This will enable them to know their roles and what is expected of them during the elections. We in La want peace and we have already embraced it,” he said.   Nii Namoale, also the Member of Parliament for Dade Kotopon Constituency and the National Democratic Congress  (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the December 7 elections, made the call on Saturday during a peace walk in La, organised by the Goodnews Microfinance Ltd in-collaboration with the La District Command of the Ghana Police Service.   It was aimed at educating the general public on the need for peace and stability before, during and after the elections.   The colourful peace walk, consisting of members of the security services namely the Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service and some civilians, started from the La Police Station through some principal streets and ended at the La Market.   The La District Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr William Kudze, said they were preaching peace and all and sundry should endeavour to preserve the peace of the nation.   “Every Ghanaian, whether a voter, an EC official, security personnel, or a politician should know their roles in the impending elections and abide by them so that no body does anything that will attract negative reactions from others,” he said.   DSP Kudze said he wanted La to be a model of peace to the rest of the nation and commended all those  who took part in the peace walk.   Nii Kpobi Tettey-Tsuru III, La Mantse, said La had embraced peace and adopted the slogan “PB and DA” meaning Peace Before, During and After the elections.   Nii Odotei Adjei, La Jasetse, said there was peace in La and called on all to preserve the peace of the nation.   Mr J.A. Nai, Managing Director of Goodnews Microfinance Ltd, urged Ghanaians to be mindful of their utternaces espacially during this election year.   “Respect your neighbour’s right, respect the Constitution and love your neighbour as yourself,” he said.   He advised voters to come out in their numbers on December 7 to exercise their franchise and leave the polling station after voting but could return after 1700 hours to witness the counting.   GNA...

Ahobre (W/R), Nov. 17, GNA - Mr Albert Awuah, Jomoro District Acting Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) , said political tolerance was virtue to peaceful elections.      He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to cherish the peaceful atmosphere of the country and maintain it.      Mr Awuah was addressing a public forum on peaceful elections organised by the Jomoro District Secretariat of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD).       It was under the theme: “Promoting Citizenship Education to Enhance Election Peace, Transparency and Credibility in Ghana”.      Mr Awuah said under the democratic dispensation of the country, it was incumbent on every eligible voter to exercise their franchise in every election.      Superintendent John Dzineku, Jomoro District Police Commander, in an address read for him, appealed to supporters whose party would win the December elections not to tease and provoke their colleagues of the losing parties to avoid trouble after the elections.      He said a district security taskforce, comprising representatives of political parties and security agencies  had been formed to ensure peace during the elections.     Opanyin Anthony Kofi, an elder of New Edobo, suggested that identification ink be applied on the thumb of voters during the last stage of voting to reduce the number of spoiled ballot papers.      He said if the ink was applied at the early stage of voting the ink on the voters thumb could soil the voting paper, adding that this had been noted to be contribute to the many rejected ballot papers.     The chief of Ahobre, Nana Erzoah Ebulley II, who chaired the function, called on Ghanaians to make sure that the December elections were peaceful to deepen the democracy of the country.   GNA...