Accra, Nov. 2, GNA - The Local Government Workers Union (LGWU) has appealed for a special allowance for public sector workers in view of the delay in developing guidelines for the payment of premium under the Single Spine Pay Policy.   A statement signed by Mr Joe Boahen, General Secretary of the Union on Friday said: “It is the view of the LGWU that payment of what it terms the ‘special allowance’ will prevent sections of public sector workers wanting to embark on strike, which does not augur well for the country, especially at this critical time the country is preparing to go to the polls in December.”   It said such agitations if care was not taken could be seen as trying to bully the government to accede to their demands.   The decision was taken at the Management and Finance Committee meeting of the LGWU on October, 31st 2012 in Accra. The meeting was in response to reports that members of the Union were being forced to go on strike by some leaders who were not part of the LGWU.   The LGWU leadership and other leaders at the Public Service Joint Standing Negotiating Committee at its meeting in August 2010 agreed on some modalities with regard to the payment of the premium. “In the view of the LGWU it is just fair that all parties wait for the outcome on how it will be operationalised.”   “The LGWU acknowledges the delay in the payment of premium under the SSPP. The LGWU is requesting its members with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, MMDAs not to join any group of workers in demonstration or strike until the guidelines on the payment of the premium are out.”   The Union, therefore, urged the government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to expedite action on the guidelines to prevent any future industrial unrest.   “This is because it can undermine the new pay policy which is being implemented in phases. The leadership of the LGWU assures the rank and file that when the guidelines for the premium are finalized it will go all length to ensure that those who are qualified will be fully paid.   “We the LGWU believe that any rush to pay any category of workers market premium has the potential to cause industrial unrest and especially coming at a time the nation is preparing for general election. What government and other stakeholders should do is to meet as a matter of urgency and deliberate on what could be done in the interim to cushion public sector workers against hardship confronting them.”   The Union, however, thinks the interim measure under which some public sector workers are receiving lump sum following the delay of paying the premium could fuel agitation among some workers and the earlier the guidelines are put in place the better.   The LGWU also appealed to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to step up its public education of the document on the market premium so that it would clear the doubts about its payment.   Market Premium according to the Government White Paper on the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) is a "monetary incentive paid to attract and retain critical skills in short supply within the economy.   The premium is to bring the salaries of skills in short supply to be close or equal to the actual market value of such skills. The rationale is to enable the public services compete favourably for such skills with the private sector.    To avoid abuse of this facility, clear guidelines for identifying jobs which qualify for market premiums is expected to be developed and reviewed periodically by the Fair wages and Salaries Commission.     GNA...

Accra, Nov. 2, GNA - Vlisco, otherwise known as the Real Dutch Wax, has leap another step forward to give to the African its unique fabric and designs with the opening of its seventh flagship store in Accra, Ghana.   The store located within the Accra Mall, was officially opened on Thursday night, which coincided with the launch of Vlisco’s fourth quarter collection that were showcased by glamorous models on a runway fashion show.   In West Africa, Vlisco’s boutiques can also be found in Togo, Benin, and Cote d’Ivoire. Vlisco aims to be visible in all capital cities in West Africa.   Dr Joyce Aryee, former Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, cut the tape to open the magnificent store for the many local and international fashion lovers who came to be part of the historic event.   Six Ghanaian young fashion designers – three male and three females were selected to stage the fashion show christened “Parade of Charm”.   The Parade of Charm fashion collection features fabric with geometric designs inspired by the sleek silhouettes of modern metropolitan architecture.   Sculptural shapes set the tone for the collection that featured outfits with feminine Vlisco twist, making every women feel utterly chic, irresistibly elegant and charming.   The collection featured a coordinated mix of Wax, java and luxury editions, combined in creative ways to accentuate the female form.   “This is a historic event in Africa. The store to be opened at this Accra Mall is the first of its kind in Africa which will showcase the collection of Vlisco’s fabric and designs in Ghana.   “We want to create a store where Ghanaian fashion lovers will go and have access to any Vlisco fabric and designs that meet their tastes,” Vlisco’s Chief Executive Officer Erik Van Der Staaij said.   He noted that the choice of Accra, Ghana, was informed by the country’s long years of stability and democratic advancement, which has created a conducive for businesses to grow and thrive.   Roderick Vinkesteijn, Vlisco’s Retail Operations Manager said with long history of 165 years, Vlisco had traditional designs and yet make new ones every day. “We like to bring extra inspiration into our world. Every single design we make is a piece of art.”   Cecil Evans Chinery, Vlisco’s National Sales Manager launching the collection, said four major collections take place each year – The Valentine Collection in February; the Mothers’ Day Collection in May; the Ramadan Collection in August and the Christmas Collection in November.   The designers were Amayo Designs; Ajeponmaa Design Gallery, Pistis Designs and Royal Denis Designs and House of Eccentric.     GNA...

Washington, Nov. 2, GNA - One recent phenomenon that is creeping through political campaigns in the United States of American is advertisement by individuals, organisations and societies to promote their candidates.   Unlike the 2008 presidential elections where social media such as “Facebook” was the main medium of campaign by political parties particularly the Democrats, this time round advertisement of all sorts dominate the contest for the presidential election on November 6.   This came out when the 11 West African and Ethiopian journalists toured federal agencies and some private organisations to acquit themselves with their functions and responsibilities.   Mr. William Buzenberg, Executive Director, Centre for Public Integrity, an investigative journalism body in the US capital, said he was not enthused about the development questioned the factuality of messages put across by these societies and individuals. He said though individual level of investment in this year’s elections was high, “It only goes to affirm their positions and beliefs and not exactly the realities on the ground. Some are indeed misleading”.   Dr. David Alexander, Assistant Director, Centre for Design, methods, and Analysis of the US Government of Accountability Office, said unlike other countries, the US election system was highly decentralized with authority being shared by federal, state and local officials.   The states are responsible for the administration of their own elections and federal elections as well as regulating the various aspects of the electoral process.   Dr. Alexander said the primary responsibility for managing, planning and conducting elections resided locally with about 10,500 jurisdictions nationwide adding that the Federal government has grants to aid local authorities in conducting their own elections.   He said about two million poll workers were needed nationwide for the federal elections  adding whiles some are paid by appointing political parties others are volunteers.   The US citizen could either vote through a paper ballots lever machines, punch cards, optical scan or direct recording elections machines. Early or absentee and provisional voting was also allowed under the system.   Dr. Alexander mentioned major issue regarding the 2012 elections as voter identification requirement adding whiles 31 states have requirement for all eligible voters to show identification card, 11 states specifies identification cards with the voter’s photograph.     From Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA special Correspondent in Washington DC, Courtesy of US Embassy...

Accra, Nov. 2, GNA – E+Co, a US based public purpose investments company operating in Ghana for the past 14 years, by providing social and environmental benefits to the communities, has restructured its operations and portfolio.       The company, which has been operating as a charity organisation, has now metamorphosed into full scale corporate body to be known as Persistent Energy Partners (PEP).       The move is to expand its mission of financing clean energy businesses in Africa as well as restructure E+Co’s global business.        Speaking at the launching of PEP, Mr Chris Aidun, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PEP, said the decision to create the organisation is to maximise its mission of focusing on Africa and concentrate on growing E+Co Investment business in Africa.        He said PEP is ready to promote the expansion of the LPG retail businesses in the rural areas, continue the replacement of wood fuels as a source of cooking,  adding that his outfit would continue to provide support to grow cook stove manufacturers like Toyola Ghana.        Mr Aidun said PEP would also invest and promote small grid and off grid connected solar plants.        Mr Albert O. Boateng, Regional Asset Manager of CEO of E+Co said the presence of the company has benefited thousands of people through investing in a number of clean energy companies like Wilkins Solar, Best Solar, and Toyola Solar in the solar industry, Lambark Gas, Anasset Company Limited and just recently Xpress Gas in the LPG sector.       The launch of PEP also saw the unveiling of the company’s logo by the Guest of Honor, Mr Otu Danquah, Head of Renewable Energy from the Ghana Energy Commission.   GNA...

Cape Coast, Nov. 2, GNA -  Some  concerned members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the  Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Constituency have expressed worry over some alleged claims that Mr. Allotey Jacobs, Regional Communications Director of the NDC, was campaigning against the party’s parliamentary candidate for the area, Dr. Joseph Annan.   They said it was strange that Mr Jacobs was on the side of Dr. Ato Quarshie,  an independent candidate, whom Dr. Annan beat in the primaries and that this was contrary to the manifesto of the party.   This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Yakubu Enim, Constituency Secretary of the NDC, and issued to the Ghana News Agency.   The statement said Mr. Jacobs was reported  to have said that delegates who re-elected Dr. Annan at the primaries had committed a political blunder and that the Regional Executives of the Party were rather in favour of Dr. Ato Quarshie.   It said Mr. Jacobs claimed that Dr. Annan had lost popularity in the party to the extent that anyone who attempted to campaign for him would be beaten and those who voted for him had regretted doing so since he did not stand the chance of winning the KEEA constituency seat for the NDC in the December 7 polls.   The statement described the actions and statements of Mr. Jacobs as a political blunder and insult to the integrity of the NDC grassroots in the KEEA constituency who voted at the primaries.   “We find it extremely difficult to understand why Mr. Jacobs is aggressively campaigning for Dr. Ato Quarshie, an independent candidate, who is no more an NDC member”, it added.   The aggrieved members appealed to the NDC’s presidential candidate, his running mate and the national executives to, as a matter of urgency, to stop Mr. Jacobs from behaving contrary to the tenets of the party’s constitution and stop supporting illegality in the KEEA.   They reaffirmed their support for Dr. Annan and advised others who are peddling false propaganda about Dr. Annan for their personal aspirations and ambitions to put an immediate stop to it since they are doing serious disservice to the Party.   They called for peace and unity to prevail in the constituency and urged members to support Dr. Annan towards victory for the NDC in the December elections.     GNA...

Bolgatanga, Nov 2, GNA- Vegetable farmers in the Upper East Region are facing challenges that are affecting production and this is putting some of them out of business.     The Secretary of the Upper East Regional Vegetable Farmers Association, Mr Erick Dalaba, said this at a stakeholders’ workshop organized by the Association to see how they could help address some of the challenges.     In the Upper East Region vegetables including tomato, onions, cabbage, pepper, lettuce and fruit such as water melon are commonly grown by the farmers during the dry season.     Tomato farming used to be one of the major crops which many farmers engaged in and could make much profit but the challenges are making them give it up.     The Secretary of the Association mentioned some of the challenges facing the farmers as lack of capital and credit, pests and diseases, lack of market, input cost, lack of technical know-how and low yields.    Mr Dalaba appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to come to the aid of the farmers and said if the farmers were supported it would help them a lot since the Region had only one rainy season.   He said due to some of the challenges most of the farmers had abandoned their trade and that was seriously affecting their livelihoods.   He said since the formation of the Association in 2009 it had chalked a lot of success and that it was among the bodies that got the Northern Star Tomato Company (NSTC) established in Pwalugu.    He stated that the Association also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association (GNTTTA) to prevent, avoid and manage dumping and glut of tomatoes both in the market and at farm gates, reduce the incidence of fraud against farmers and traders by employing interpreters and agents and together fix the prices of tomatoes as and when necessary.     GNA...

Bolgatanga, Nov.2, GNA-The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Friday appealed to voters to study the manifestoes of political parties to enable them make informed choices.      Mr Cletus Abang, the Upper East Regional Director of the NCCE, said this in a speech read for him at a forum on “Civilian –Military Relationship in an election year,” organized by the Commission in  Bolgatanga.    He said it was important voters make informed decisions since the election bordered on the socio-economic development of the Country.    Mr Abang appealed to leaders of political parties to educate their members and supporters on the Political code of conduct to prevent violence before, during and after the election.         The Regional Staff Officer of the Upper East Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police Charles Obiri, said plans were being put in place by the Police and other security agencies to contain any disturbances that might occur before, during and after the election.     Participants expressed worry about the way and manner some supporters of political parties were defacing their opponents’ posters and said if the situation was not checked it could create a problem.    They appealed to the Police to check the menace and political parties to also advise their supporters to desist from such negative practices.   Participants said they were worried about the closeness of party structures to each other and whilst some said it might lead to clashes, others were of the opinion that it would promote peace and unity among the parties.     GNA...

Old Ningo (G/A), Nov. 2, GNA – Two non-governmental organizations, Apple and R-NET with support from international donor agencies, has held a training workshop for some rural health volunteers and health professionals to create awareness of pneumonia at Old Ningo.   Madam Elizabeth Dawson, a facilitator, said pneumonia prevalence is higher in children especially those in rural areas and also do not get treatment which often result in infant mortality.   Participants were taken through causes, signs and systems, prevention methodologies among others and were told to encourage parents to allow their new born babies to be immunised against pneumonia.   The workshop was also used to high light some survey finding in 2006 about pneumonia prevalence in the country.   According to the survey report in 2006, 33.6 per cent children affected by pneumonia were taken to health professionals or clinic, while 33 per cent children suspected to be effected with pneumonia were given antibiotics.     GNA...

Accra, Nov. 2, GNA  – Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) based in West Africa have called on governments in the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) zone to be more democratic and transparent in energy governance in the sub-region.   They also stressed the need for genuine citizen participation and public-private partnership (PPP) at all levels in all countries since the sub-region had embarked on an ambitious process to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency policies.   Mr Sena Alouka, Executive Director of Youth Volunteer for the Environment International (YVE) based in Togo made this known to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at a high level ECOWAS Energy Minister forum held in Accra under the theme “Towards sustainable energy for all in West Africa: Paving the way through renewable energy and energy efficiency”.   He said in spite of an enormous potential in fossil and renewable fuels, Africa presents unacceptable energy deficits. “How is it that the access rate in electricity is around six per cent in DR Congo nevertheless renowned for its unequalled hydro-electric potential and home to the biggest dam of the continent?” he asked.   Sena Alouka expressed regret that the resources of the continent were under exploited, or excessively turned to the market; "Either still wasted during the extraction or during the transportation process".   “As a result, the available supply for the populations is widely insufficient and the energy consumption articulates essentially around the biomass”, he emphasised.   Miss Ines Ahoue, Programme Co-ordinator of YVE in Cote d’Ivoire, said the access rate and availability of energy services in rural and semi-urban areas of the ECOWAS member states was alarmingly very how, adding that, ”This situation cannot help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015".   She emphasised the need for an ambitious action plan built on existing diversity of new renewable energy potential with a dedicated attention to decentralised solutions, “if we are to reach the plus 80 per cent mostly in the rural setting”.   Mr Prince Olawuyi, Executive Director of YVE in Nigeria said, “Not only do big infrastructure not satisfy the need of the majority of the citizens but they also constitute a source of conflict, and poverty for our countries",  adding that, “It is scandalous to see Nigerian citizens flooded under the waves of breaking waters resulting from a dam constructed in another country”.   Mr Lovans Owusu-Takyi, Executive Director of YVE, Ghana, expressed gratitude to the various institutions including ECOWAS  Commission (EC), Global Forum on Sustainable Energy (GFSE), United Nations Industrial and Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Ghana Energy Commission (GEO) and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) which graced the occasion with insightful presentations, and expressed their support to the initiatives of the civil societies.   He said the rich presentations enabled all the participants to confirm that access to energy was very expedient for economic development and social justice, adding that &ld...

Akim Oda, Nov. 2, GNA - Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur has asked Ghanaians to come out in their numbers and vote massively and peacefully for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on December 7.   He noted that elections were neither about conflicts nor insults, but a process to select leaders and groups to execute the development aspirations of the people.   The electorate, he said, should come out and cast their votes on time on the day, without resorting to any violence as they awaited the results to be declared.   Vice President Amissah-Arthur made the appeal on Thursday when he paid courtesy calls on some Chiefs and at separate rallies during a tour of the Eastern Region.   At a meeting with Obirempong  Gyamfi  Safokyere II, Krontihene of Akyem Kotoko at Akyem Oda,  Vice President Amissah-Arthur appealed to the chiefs for their prayers  to make the elections and the governance process successful.   He commended the Oda community, in which he lived during his school days for  the upbringing he received that contributed to his academic and political success, recalling that they had also been good to his father who was then a member of staff of Oda Senior High School.   Obirempong Safokyere paid tribute to the NDC for being development oriented, and thanked the late President Mills for granting their request for the renovation of the main Oda Lorry Station.   He appealed for Government's assistance for the renovation of the Oda Government Hospital, and a bus for  the  Oda Senior High School.   Vice President Amissah-Arthur interacted also with Okutwerso Kantamanto Oworae Agyekum, Chief of Akim Swedru, where the chief appealed to Government to improve the road network in the area.   He introduced Mr Robert Ansah, the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for the area, to the people.     GNA...

Winneba, Nov. 2, GNA - Challenging Heights, a child-centered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has since its establishment in 2003 supported nearly 10,000 boys, girls, women and families to access various support services.      The supports include educational, rehabilitation, scholarships, training, micro-finance and micro-business management and rescue programmes.     The President of the NGO, Mr James Kofi Annan made this known at the 5th Anniversary Celebration of the Challenging Heights Schools at Sankor near Winneba on Thursday.      The celebration was under the theme “To whom much is given, much is expected”.      Mr Annan said the school which started in 2007 with 8 children now has a student population of over 700 between the ages of four and seventeen from Nurseries- One to JHS Two.     According to him the NGO currently paid nearly 70 per cent of the cost of educating children in Challenging Heights School, while their parents paid the remaining 30 per cent.      "Challenging Heights has managed to secure donor funding to pay 100 per cent of the cost for over 150 of the students", he said.     Mr Annan said one of the aims of establishing the school was to support government's effort at increasing access to basic education, and preventing vulnerability of children excluded from classroom education.      The President said the NGO had established an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre equipped with 30 brand new computers and accessories, a modern instruction big screen television monitor and appropriate instructional software connected to the internet for the school.       "This has been done to bridge the ICT gap between the urban and the rural areas and also to demonstrate that quality education is possible even in fishing and farming communities".     He said through partnership with 'Hand in Hand for Literacy' of USA, the NGO was constructing a 50-seater capacity modern library in the school, adding that the project was expected to be completed by August, 2013.     Mr Annan said Challenging Heights aimed at providing support for the education of children in underserved coastal and farming communities along the coastal regions of Ghana.      "The Organization also provides support for families whose children are at risk of losing parental care due to poverty, and also work actively to prevent children from being exploited in child labour situations", Mr Annan said.      He added that Challenging Heights ran eight different projects and also operated in 40 different communities across the country.      The Rev. Dr Emmanuel Anim, Dean of Mission of Pentecost University College, appealed to parents to invest in their children's education to enable them to develop their God-given talents.    Prizes comprising books were given to hardworking pupils, teachers and staff.     GNA...

Takoradi, Nov. 2, GNA - Mr. Samuel Kwadwo Sarpong, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), has appealed to the public to bear with utility service providers while they are exploiting avenues of finding lasting solution to the energy crisis.   He made the appeal at a stakeholders’ meeting on the energy crisis organized by the PURC at Takoradi.   Representatives of the utility service providers, industry, business community, media and the general public attended the meeting.   Mr. Sarpong said the current crisis was temporary and could be overcome when the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company resumes supplying the country with gas to generate electricity.   Mr. Sarpong said the utility service providers are putting their facilities in good shape to provide quality services to consumers.   He said, “One of the key mandates of PURC is to ensure the delivery of the highest quality of service by the Utility Service Providers and we are committed to ensuring the achievement of this on a progressive basis”.   Mr. Sarpong said the meeting was aimed at bringing together all stakeholders to dialogue on ways to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis on consumers including industry and the general public.   He said the Commission was of the view that affording the same platform for stakeholders in the industry and other interested parties would lead to a “Convergence of solutions to minimize the debilitating effect of the crisis”.   Mr. Stephen Owusu, a Maintenance Engineer of the Volta River Authority, said a steam turbine at the Aboadze Thermal Plant shut down two years ago had been repaired. The turbine would generate additional 50 megawatts of electricity.   Mr. Owusu said about 132 megawatts of electricity would be produced for the national grid when expansion works at the thermal plant are completed.   He said staff at the thermal plant had to work round the clock to ensure that units start using crude oil when the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company Limited stopped supplying natural gas.   Mr. Godwin Yabamah, an electrical engineer of the Electricity Company of Ghana, said the company was building a 40 Mega Vault Ampere (MVA) capacity sub-station at the Takoradi Harbour to cater for the expansion of the harbor and the Ghana Cement Works Limited.   He said another 40 MVA capacity sub-station was been built at Mpintsin near Takoradi cater for the Free Zone area.   Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area and a former commissioner of PURC, presided.     GNA...

Accra, Nov 2, GNA - The Institute of Packaging Ghana, has held a workshop to sensitize owners of Small and Medium Enterprise on the benefit of packaging as part of its 9th anniversary celebrations.   It was also to create awareness for stakeholders in industries to know what specifications to look for as far as packaging is concerned and how to improve the quality and effectiveness of their packaging practices.   Mr Thomas Kwesi Abaidoo, President of Institute of Packing Ghana, said the institute in the last three years had produced 24 graduates under license with the Institute of Packaging South Africa.   Mr Abaidoo said the Institute was established in partnership with the World Packaging Organization and the India Institute of Packaging with support from the India government and has trained 16 people in India.   He said the institute had provided technical assistance for the establishment of similar bodies in Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria.   “It has played the leading role for the formation of the Regional Packaging Group-Africa in June this year,” he added.   He said the Institute intends to expand its packaging school and training programmes with objective of building capacity of more resource persons for the dissemination of packaging information.   He expressed that hope that this would strengthen the collaboration with the International Trade Centre, the University of Ghana and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.   Mrs Elizabeth Anane, Industrial Manufacturing and Promotion Officer of Ministry of Trade and Industry said government was committed to supporting the industry.   She said policies for the industry were well spelt out in the industrial policy and the Ministry would endeavor to implement these policies.     GNA...

Ho, Nov 2, GNA - A simulation exercise covering almost all processes on polling day was undertaken in Ho on Thursday under the auspices of the Volta Regional Security Task Force.   It involved the security agencies, polling station officers, officials of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) and the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE).   Ballot papers and other election materials were dispatched to six polling stations, Sokode-Lokoe, Stadium, Mawuli Estates, Royal Hospital, PWD and Hill View under police escort.   Joshua Wemegah was the Presiding Officer at the Sokode-Lokoe Polling Station where a simulated attempt to snatch a ballot box was foiled by the security and the attacker tactically demobilized and detained.   A contingent of the regional Rapid Deployment Force, in full gear, was on standby as part of the exercise.       GNA...

Ho, Nov 2, GNA - Rev Benjamin Bankas, Director of the Life for the Living Medical and Humanitarian Centre, has said the number of Ghanaians living with serious eye afflictions was far more than could be imagined.   The centre is a Ho-based Charity with special interest in tracking and tackling eye afflictions among the disadvantaged.   Rev Bankas said cases detected at screenings during the charity’s outreaches over the years were progressively going up.   He said the situation of many of these people, could degenerate into blindness.   Rev Bankas was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday, on the third day of another five-day special eye screening exercise in Ho.   He said out of the 62 people screened on the first two-days, 18 people had eye problems.   He said four of the 18 had pterygium rpt pterygium, five suspected glaucoma and referred to the Volta Regional Hospital for further screening and rest either cataract or minor eye ailments.   Rev Bankas said the pterygium rpt pterygium and cataract cases have been transferred to the Save the Nation’s Sight Clinic in Accra for possible surgery.     He said the special exercise team would move to Katanga in northern Volta Region in the coming week.     GNA...

Sunyani, Nov. 2, GNA – The Ahafo Mine of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) at Kenyasi in Asutifi District has presented items and farming equipment worth GH¢ 24,000 to support this year’s Farmers’ Day celebration in Tano North District and Asutifi District.      Each district received bicycles, knapsack sprayers, weedicides, Wellington boots, machetes, GTP wax prints, LCD television sets, sound systems, boxes of key soap and T-shirts.      A statement signed by Mr Agbeko Azumah, Communications Manager of Ahafo Mine made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Thursday said the presentation formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.      Mr Kwasi Amponsah Boateng, Social Investment Manager of the Ahafo Mine, presented the items to Alhaji Haruna A. Salaam, Asutifi District Co-ordinating Director on behalf of the recipient districts at separate ceremonies at Kenyasi and Duayaw-Nkwanta.      The statement said the company had rolled out the Ahafo Agri-business Growth Initiative (AAGI), an integrated agricultural development programme aimed at stimulating long-term economic growth and improving livelihood of smallholder farmers, as well as increase market linkages and supply chain interventions.      It explained that the programme sought to mitigate the effects of mining on farmers in Asutifi District and ultimately ensure that impacted farmers remained in farming while ensuring food security in the district and the nation as a whole.      Since Newmont started its operations in Ahafo, it has invested more than 10 million dollars under its Agricultural Improvement and Land Access Programme and other Livelihood Re-establishment programmes such as Skills Development for Income Improvement Programme and Vulnerable Peoples’ Programme.     GNA...

Tamale, Nov.  2, GNA – Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, has appealed to religious leaders to pray to ensure peaceful elections in December.   He said peace, before, during and after the December polls was paramount and stressed the importance of prayer by religious leaders for the electorate to appreciate the importance of peace and avoid violence during the elections.   Nana Akuffo-Addo made the appeal in Tamale on Thursday when he met Arabic instructors and told them about the vision the NPP has for Arabic education.   “I wish to use this occasion to appeal to Imams and other Men of God to continue to offer prayers for the success of this election and you can do this by coming together to pray for the nation and those who will conduct the elections to come out of the December elections peacefully”, he said.   Nana Akufo-Addo said education would be his topmost if elected and that Arabic education would be given the attention it deserved and that he would  sit down with the Ghana Education Service (GES) to see how best Arabic could become an examinable subject.   He said the erstwhile Kufuor administration instituted an allowance scheme for Arabic instructors but alleged that the present government cancelled it on assumption of office and gave the assurance that the allowances would be restored if he gets the nod.   Nana Akuffo-Addo said if elected his government would amend the Constitution to make education free from kindergarten to the senior high school and appealed to Ghanaians to vote for him in December to give good governance to the people.   He said part of Ghana’s oil money would be used to fund education and assured teachers that those who had served for a long period would be given mortgaged houses while those who accept postings to the rural areas would be given special incentives.   Sheikh Issah Alhassan, an Islamic cleric, expressed regret that Arabic education over the years had been relegated to the background to the extent that Arabic schools do not benefit from GETFund projects.   He said Arabic instructors were lacking in the Islamic schools and that the GES was not making attempts to recruit more Arabic teachers to replace those who had retired and those who died while in active service and appealed to Presidential candidates to pay attention to Islamic education if they win power.   Sheikh Alhassan also appealed to the GES to make Arabic an examinable subject as it is with the French language since Arabic speakers in the country outnumber French speakers.     GNA...

Accra, Nov 02, GNA – An international seminar on the current challenges confronting sub-Sahara African countries in urban development such as population explosion, land planning and waste management has ended in Ghana.   The seminar, which focused on Urban Development in Asia and Africa, sought to explore the Asian experiences in dealing with urban developmental challenges.   Asian countries in 1980s and 1990s confronted the challenges and now have good urban planning systems, a statement issued by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday stated.   The seminar was organized by JICA in collaboration with the Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD) under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST).   It was attended by governmental delegates from Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Vietnam.   According to the statement JICA is supporting the Government of Ghana on a Comprehensive Urban Development project, which is being implemented in Kumasi.   JICA had already facilitated two similar international seminars in Dakar-Senegal in November 2011 and Hanoi- Vietnam in February 2012.   According to the statement the delegates from Senegal and Ivory Coast made presentations on future urban development projects while those from Vietnam made a presentation on their observation on Kumasi Township.   Mr. Asiedu Poku, National Director of TCPD, said it was very important to involve people in town and country planning.   Dr. Samba Diouf, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Town Planning and Housing in Senegal, advised the participants to include the informal sector in future urban planning.     GNA...

Aboadze (W/R), Nov. 02, GNA - The Chief fisherman for Aboadze, Nana Adam Eduafo and uncle to one of the victims of last Monday's accident at the West African Gas Pipeline Company(WAPCO), has accused the management of Aboadze VRA Hospital of negligence.     The accident claimed the lives of two engineers of the company who were working on the pipeline in readiness for fresh gas from Nigeria.      Nana Adam Eduafo told the Ghana News Agency that the death of his nephew, Dawood Ben Awortwe, 35, an engineer with the company, could have been avoided if there was a medical doctor at the facility at that time he arrived.     He said when the deceased was rushed to the health facility around 2130 hours last Monday, they waited for several hours without any medical doctor to attend to him hence his untimely death.     The chief fisherman said the deceased was the only native from Aboadze community who had been employed by WAPCO, adding that the family was devastated by the incident since he was the breadwinner of the family.     He said the deceased got married just last year and that his wife, Ajah, is pregnant with his baby. Nana Eduafo said since the deceased was a Muslim, he was buried on Wednesday as the Islamic tradition demands.     Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the other victim of the accident, Opare Addo Nketsia, 45, has been released to the family in Tema.      Nketsia was reported to have been sent from Tema to assist in preparation towards receiving fresh gas from Nigeria after the pipelines were damaged by a ship anchor in Togolese territory a few months ago.     The General Manager of Corporate Affairs of WAPCO, Mrs Harriet Wereko Brobby, said the cause of the accident is not known and that the company has instituted investigations to ascertain the cause.     When the GNA visited the regulatory and metering station at Aboadze, where the incident happened, the entire workers were in solemn mood with red arm-band hanged at the entrance of the company.   GNA ...

Tanokrom (W/R), Nov. 02,  GNA - Twenty-three people were rendered homeless when fire gutted their building at East Tanokrom in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of the Western Region on Thursday.     The Western Regional Manager for the National Disaster Management Organisation(NADMO), Mr Japheth Baidoo confirmed the tragic incident to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Takoradi.     He said the cause of the fire is not known sayingt the blazing fire started from a wooden structure near a storey building containing 13 rooms and 23 occupants around 1200 hours early Thursday morning     Mr Baidoo said by the time the fire was brought under control, all the property in the rooms were destroyed but no casualty was recorded..     He said the regional office of NADMO had found a temporary accommodation for the victims in a mosque in the vicinity and provided them with relief items.     The regional NADMO Boss said the victims were provided with polymers, blankets, mattresses, bags of rice and cooking oil.     He said the regional secretariat had petitioned the national headquarters of NADMO to support them with more relief items to support the victims.     Mr Baidoo appealed to the general public to be careful with how we handle fire since we are in a dry season and fire could quickly spread.   GNA ...