Accra, Nov. 20, GNA – Liberty Professionals midfielder Kennedy Ashia leads the scorers chart of the 2012/2013 Premier League after seven weeks of matches with five goals.   Ashia, shifted to the offensive midfield this season scored his sixth goal as his side toppled leaders Medeama SC 2-1 two weeks at the Sly Tetteh Stadium, Dansoman.   He is closely trailed by the quintet of Mahatma Otoo (Hearts of Oak), Yakubu Mohamed (AshantiGold), Yahaya Mohamed (Amidaus Professionals), Latif Salifu (Berekum Chelsea) and Francis Narh (Tema Youth), all on four goals apiece.   Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that Abdul Aziz Yusif (Real Tamale United) and Kofi Nti Boakye (Asante Kotoko) have each hit the back of the net thrice.   As many as 50 players have each scored one goal each in the premiership which has recorded 102 goals so far.   Below is the scorers chart:   6 - Kennedy Ashia (Liberty Professionals)   4 - Mahatma Otoo (Hearts of Oak), Yakubu Mohamed (AshantiGold), Yahaya Mohamed (Amidaus Professionals), Latif Salifu (Berekum Chelsea), Francis Narh (Tema Youth)   3 - Abdul Aziz Yusif (Real Tamale United), Kofi Nti Boakye (Asante Kotoko)   2 - Bright Luqman (Dwarfs), Osei Bonsu, Nuru Sulley (Hearts of Oak), Louis Agyemang (AshantiGold), Samuel Azumah (All Stars), Theophilus Anobaah, Kabiru Moro (Medeama), Bernard Ofori (Edubiase), Salim Sakara (Real Tamale United), Benjamin Fadi (Heart of Lions)   1- Sulley Mohamed, Prince Boateng (King Faisal), Kwabena Twumasi, Francis Morton, Kwame Frimpong, John Arthur, Prince Appiah (Dwarfs), Ibrahim Dauda, Edmund Owusu Peprah (Berekum Arsenals), Alex Asamoah, Emmanuel Allan, Alex Aryee, Daniel Gozah, Godfred Saka, Emmanuel Akuoko, John Ashong (Aduana Stars), Francis Coffie, Didier Kore, Aaron Amoah, (AshantiGold), Hanan Giwah, Emmanuel Kwamena, (Real Tamale United), Otuo Acheampong, Daniel Larbi Koomson, Masawudu Suleiman (Medeama), Eric Bekoe, Ibrahim Issaka, Abdul Wahab (Berekum Chelsea), Michael Helegbe, Joseph Ochaya, Seidu Bancey (Asante Kotoko), Isaac Quansah, Franklin Osei, Daniel Acquaye, Prince Acquah, Nana Egyir (Heart of Lions), Seidu Salifu, Joshua Otoo, Hafiz Adams, Emmanuel Adu (All Stars), Basit Adam, Sakyi Quaye (Edubiase), Isaac Amoah, (Amidaus Professionals), Moro Iddrisu, Edward Affum, Prince Attakora Gyimah (Hearts of Oak), Derrick Mensah, Bright Adjei, Daniel Appiah (Tema Youth), Ebenezer Assifuah (Liberty Professionals), Selassi Adjei (Amidaus Professionals)   GNA...

Keta, Nov. 20, GNA – Teachers have been urged to sacrifice a lot more for their students by being caring and committed to the job as others before them did to educate them.      Mrs. Elizabeth Kudjawu, Volta Regional Guidance and Counselling and Special Education Unit Officer, Ghana Education Service (GES) was addressing a day’s workshop on guidance and counselling for basic school heads and school-based guidance and counselling coordinators in the Keta Municipality in Keta.     She said some teachers could be held responsible for poor student performance and the premature termination of education by some students.      “Commitment and the needed sacrifice in the job is becoming worrying on the part of some teachers ,who end up collecting salaries they do not deserve,”, Mrs Kudjawu stated.      She said distance education programmes had become excuses for some teachers to refuse to teach.     Mrs. Kudjawu urged teachers, parents and students to be show friendliness in their dealings with pupils.       She said bullying, insults, sexual harassment and stigmatization made the school environment unfriendly for the child.     Mrs Kudjawu advised teachers, especially female teachers to dress well and that parents should also show commitment to the welfare of their children.     The workshop also discussed drug abuse, examination malpractices, homosexuality and occultism among the children.   Mr. Nathaniel Ankutse, Regional Special Needs Child Officer, urged counsellors to always reflect high moral conduct during counselling.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 20, GNA – Dr Philomena Nyarko, Acting Government Statistician, on Tuesday said it was important for the country to draw on the assets and skills of women for socio-economic development.   “The true resilience, stability and economic development that we all hope for cannot be achieved if the potential of our country’s population is not fully utilized, especially given the inadequate economic opportunities for both men and women”, she said.   Dr Nyarko was speaking at a seminar on gender statistics organized by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to mark the African Statistical Day.   The Day, which is commemorated by statistical authorities in Africa, was adopted in May 1990 during the 25th Session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the Sixteenth Meeting of African Ministers responsible for Economic Planning and Development to be celebrated each year to increase public awareness about the important role which statistics play in all aspects of social and economic life on the continent.   The theme for the 2012 celebration is: Making every Woman and Man Count: Engendering Statistics for Better Development Outcome.   The theme highlights the importance of the production and use of Gender Statistics in the development of the nation and it underscores the significance of the contribution of women and men as one of the main pillars in the Strategy for Harmonization of Statistics in Africa.   Dr Nyarko expressed the hope that those working within the National Statistics System would find ways to join forces to promote the production and dissemination of gender-based statistics to guide decisions that enhanced women’s economic empowerment.   “I would like to mention the strong collaboration between the GSS and the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, the National Development Planning Commission, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, Canadian Development Agency and the United Nations Children’s Fund in the production and use of gender-based statistics in Ghana”, she said.   On the African Statistics Day, Dr Nyarko said it created the greater awareness about the role and importance of statistics in the lives of the citizenry.   She said accurate, reliable and timely gender-based statistics was crucial for effective planning if the citizenry could find themselves in an environment that supported the development of their capacity to access opportunities and resources as well as contribute towards the country’s decision-making process.   The African Statistics Day Celebration this year, aims to highlight the need for African countries including Ghana, to do more to improve the collection, management and use of Sex Disaggregated Data and gender disaggregated data for national development.   GNA...

Accra , Nov. 20, GNA - The maiden edition of the Ada Excellence Awards (AEA) which was slated for November 24,  2012 has been postponed, in an effort to bring more people on board and to make it more attractive.    A statement signed by Mr Ebenezer Bessey, Chief Executive Officer of  Eventcomm Ghana Limited, organisers of the event, and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday indicated that a new date would  be decided after the December 2012 general election.   The program was launched in June 2012 to honour deserving indigenes and non- indigenes alike of the Ada Traditional Area who have contributed towards the socio-economic development of the Ada community.   According to Mr. Abraham Shabon Tarzs-Tetteh, Marketing Director of Eventcomm Ghana Ltd, the Ada Excellence Awards was a community- based project seeking to award people who had contributed towards the socio-economic development of Ada.   “The postponement will allow us to improve on appropriate structures to ensure the sustainability and continuity of the program and also to bring more stakeholders on board”, he stated.   He said the programme was a non-political one and urged people not to associate it with politics, but to come on board to make the programme a success.   He noted that the programme had gone down well in the Ada community which was an indication of the importance the community attached to the programme.   Mr Tarzs-Tetteh said the programme which would be organized annually would serve as grounds to show gratitude to hardworking Adas and non-indigenes, and also to bring all Adas in and outside Ada together.   He called on all Ghanaians to ensure a peaceful 2012 election to attract potential investors for the socio-economic development of the country.   He appealed to organizations and individuals both home and abroad to support the awards ceremony scheduled for 2013 after a peaceful general election.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 20, GNA - Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur on Tuesday commissioned the Forces Pension Office at Burma Camp in Accra, and  expressed the hope that the facility would end the years of slow pace of payment of pension to retired personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).   He said the facility would provide respite for the Controller and Accountant General’s Department by reducing the number of people who otherwise would have to besieged its offices.   The construction of the office is as result of the recommendations of the Bediako Commission for the pension of the GAF to be migrated, and to be administered by the GAF.   The Pension Office will be jointly manned by the staff from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department and by military personnel.   Vice President Amissah-Arthur expressed the hope that personel and logistics would be provided to make the facility serve the purpose for which it had been created.   “The least we expect for those who have served this country with distinction in its Armed Forces is for them to be able to receive their pension in a congenial atmosphere,” the Vice President said.    He suggested the creation of additional facilities for the convenience of the retired  service personnel as they waited to collect their pensions from the office.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 20, GNA - The Government of Ghana on Tuesday assured the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) of continued logistical and material support.   This to enable the GAF to professionally discharge its duty of protecting the citizenry and to reduce casualties.   The GAF would also receive improved training programmes to make security personnel more combat ready.   Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur gave the promise when he inaugurated the Peace Cenotaph at the Burma Camp in Accra on Tuesday.   He together with Mr Ahmad Soueidan, the Labanon Ambassador to Ghana, unveiled the plaque.   The Peace Cenotaph, funded by the Government and people of Lebanon, was dedicated to the honour of Ghanaian soldiers, who died in the course of duty while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.   The Vice President said Ghana’s foreign policy is committed to world peace, security and stability in which all people are free to work towards economic development and human dignity.   “Ghana as a proud member of the United Nations will always be committed to this path. We will continue to support world peace by continuously providing both military and civilian personnel to the course of peace in the world,” Vice President Amissah-Arthur said.   He recalled with pride and gratitude that the GAF had been involved and contributed to peace in Southern Lebanon since 1978.   Vice President Amissah-Arthur said during the 34 years of Ghana’s participation in peace process in Lebanon, the GAF has built a reputation for professionalism, courage and commitment to duty, which Ghanaians are justifiably proud of.   He paid paid tribute to the soldiers who died in that arena and said: ”This monument will continue to be a reminder of the nation’s appreciation of the ultimate sacrifice in the service of humanity and in our quest for international peace and security.”   Mr Soueidan said the contribution of Ghana was felt at the humanitarian, civil and peacemaking level.   He said Lebanon is indebted to Ghana, which he described as inspiring and prayed for communal relationship between Accra and Beirut to continue.     Wreaths were laid in honour of the fallen soldiers, and Madam Doreen Amenyaglo laid one on behalf of the families of the fallen soldiers.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 20, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled its policy for agricultural modernization, as a bait to attract the electorates to renew its mandate for the next four years in the December 7, general election.   In its Election 2012 Manifesto, entitled: “Advancing the Better Ghana Agenda,” NDC said under the next term of President John Dramani Mahama, the party would intensify efforts to continue to make agriculture play its key role in the Ghanaian economy.   “The accelerated modernisation of the agriculture sector is one of the major pillars in our economic transformation agenda, propelled by two main strategies - Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy and the corresponding investment plan as detailed in the Medium-Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan,” the NDC stated.   According to the NDC the key elements of its agricultural strategy include transformation of the sector from a resource-based to a technology-based industry and the provision of subsidies for improved seeds, grade breeders and stocks, pesticides, fertiliser, machinery and other inputs.   The party will promote selected crops for food security and exports to enhance returns, particularly for small scale farmers through equitable access to resources and services.   The NDC will facilitate high-value crops, value-added processing and agro-industrialisation and encourage and support farmers’ groups such as co-operatives, Farmer Based Organisations, nucleus-out grower schemes, block and contract farmers.   “We will promote rural industrialisation through the provision of incentives for the establishment of industries that have backward linkages to our agriculture resource base.   “We will construct storage facilities including silos and cold storage units at strategic locations to minimise post-harvest losses (and) implement the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project particularly as it relates to strengthening investment promotion infrastructure, facilitating secure access to land, and securing public-private-partnerships and smallholder linkages in the Accra Plains and the savannah zone.   “We will also expand the role of the National Service Scheme (NSS) in food production programme to cover the establishment of demonstration farms across the various ecological zones.”   The NDC said the NSS demonstration farms would operate out-grower schemes under which local farmers would be taught the application of modern methods in food production.   In addition, the farms will constitute open junior farm schools for the training of school leavers in agriculture in the long-term, dormitories will be built on the farms to provide accommodation for personnel.   National Service personnel who opt to go into commercial agriculture will be provided with start-up facilities that will include land acquisition, preparation, planting material, chemicals and fertiliser.   On fisheries the party said it would introduce a Fishermen’s Life Insurance Scheme (FLIS) to cover the loss of lives of marine and inland fishermen.   The NDC explained that contributions of Government, fishermen, boat owners, fish importers and exporters would serve as premium for the FLIS.   The next NDC government will invest in sanitation and other community enhancing projects of the Landing Beach Committees and the enhancement of the operations of the Marine Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service and recruitment of 2,000 young men and women into the unit over a four- year period.   Government will provide eco-sounders to fishermen at affordable prices, construct two fishing harbours at Elmina and James Town and landing sites at Axim, Dixcove, Moree, Fete, Mumford, Winneba, Senya Beraku, Teshie, Ada, Keta, Abotoase and Dzemeni using part of the Chinese Development Bank loan.   The next Mahama Administration will complete the University of Cape Coast Fisheries College at Anomabo and introduce alternative livelihood programmes for coastal communities.   In the area of Aquaculture, the party’s track record of facilitating more than 240 per cent increase in production over the past four years, from 5,600 tons in 2008 to 19,000 tons in 2011, the next NDC Government will continue to ensure the accelerated growth of the sub-sector through the development of aquaculture infrastructure including hatcheries.   The NDC will support the expansion of cage fish farming from the Volta Lake to the Bui Lake and to other major rivers including Oti, Pra, Ankobra and Tano, and the harnessing of the fish production potential at Pwalugu.   The party will continue to provide warehousing facilities, crop financing scheme, and process at least 60 per cent of cocoa beans.   Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the National Commission for Civic Education titled: “Election 2012: matters of concern to the Ghanaian voter,” said 48.2 per cent of respondents suggested that the government should subsidise agriculture inputs.   Twenty-one per cent said government must give financial support to farmers in a form of loans and scholarships for children of farmers to continue their education to the highest level while 8.1 per cent called on government to provide market for farmers and also fix prices of agriculture crops.   Others called for called for mechanised farming, provision of irrigation facilities and access roads.   The survey appealed to government to make farming attractive to the youth and provide storage facilities for agricultural products, and reintroduce state farms.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 20, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) said it will invest in research and extension support towards increased output of the Shea nut industry, under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.   The NDC in its manifesto 2012, made available to the Ghana News Agency, said with the establishment of the 40,000-ton capacity Shea nut processing plant at Buipe, the main focus of the next NDC Government would be on support services.   According to the manifesto, under the scheme, the Shea nut Development Board established in December 2011, would  formulate policies and initiate activities for the sustainable growth of the industry.   The party said it would promote research into cotton for Ghana to become a market leader, increase support for cotton farmers to produce adequate quantities for the underutilized capacities in the existing cotton ginneries and by extension for the revival of the textile factories.   The manifesto said it would establish a legal framework to support the restructuring of the industry and reviving the Cotton Board to co-ordinate activities in the industry and streamline the production and marketing of cotton.   It said besides the 11,000 hectares of land that is to be irrigated in the Accra Plains with part of the funds from the China Development Bank loan, policies have been also slated for implementation, promotion of the efficient utilization of existing irrigation facilities, especially in drought prone areas, and the rehabilitation of viable irrigation infrastructure.   The manifesto said the next NDC government would develop appropriate, affordable irrigation schemes, dams, boreholes and other water harvesting techniques for different categories of farmers and ecological zones and the irrigation of 150,000 hectares of land under the Pwalugu multi-purpose hydroelectric scheme.   It said in the field of agricultural mechanization, the NDC guaranteed a remarkable increase in equipment and machinery to support the agriculture sector through the import of combined harvesters, maize harvesters, tractors and grains-cotton storage facilities.   The NDC said the creation of 77 new Agricultural Mechanization Service Centres will constitute the foundation on which a next NDC Government would build the new initiatives in the sub-sector.   The manifesto said the initiatives include expansion of the Agricultural Mechanization Service Centres to cover the remaining old districts as well as the new districts, and collaboration with the private sector to build the capacity of individuals and companies to produce or assemble farm equipment.   The party said under the leadership of President Mahama, the NDC government would continue to promote the production and use of small multi-purpose machinery along the value chain.   Government would facilitate the provision of farm level storage facilities, appropriate agro-processing machinery, equipment and intermediate means of transport, establishment of hire purchase or lease schemes with backup spare parts for all machinery and equipment.   According to the NDC, its main policy focus would be on averting the frequent violent clashes between nomadic herdsmen and food crop peasant farmers through the creation of fodder banks.   The manifesto said an NDC-led government would replicate the 245 hectare fodder bank to be established at Wawase in the Kwahu North District in other parts of the country.   It explained that NDC-led government would also initiate a scheme for the importation of cattle from neighbouring countries, particularly those in the Sahel region, to support the sustainable development of the livestock sub-sector.   The manifesto outlined other targets, including support for the large scale breeding and production of guinea fowls to boost the poultry industry, the supply of improved goats, sheep and pigs to farmers as breeding stock and the launch of a national campaign on the production of grass cutters and rabbits.   The NDC would target increases of maize and soya beans over the next four years, which would substantially benefit poultry production as excess over human requirements will be used in poultry feed.   The Private sector would also be encouraged to invest in poultry to enable the leverage of funding for the procurement of poultry and piggery infrastructure, equipment and other facilities including slaughtering and packaging.   The next NDC government would also provide Veterinary Health Support and extension services to farmers, support for private sector enterprises in animal feed formulation as well as hatcheries and the sensitization of the various poultry and livestock associations to actively take advantage of the above programmes.   The next NDC would promulgate the Plants and Fertilizer Act, 2010, Act 803, which regulates, monitors and ensures the use of quality seeds.   The manifesto said: “Our policy actions would be to support the development and introduction of climate- change resilient, high-yielding, disease and pest-resistant and short duration seed varieties, taking into account consumer health and safety.   “The NDC plans to build the capacity to develop more breeders and support the production of certified seeds and improved planting materials for both staples and industrial crops.   “The NDC said following the amendment of the EDIF law and the passage of the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund Act, the tight spigot on the flow of funds to the agriculture sector has been loosened and with more resources available for channeling into agriculture financing, the NDC Government will provide the framework to ensure adequate flow of funds to the agriculture sector”.   The manifesto said the party would accelerate the provision of farming and fishing inputs, agriculture-related infrastructure services and provide incentives for the Youth-in-Agriculture programme to become more commercially oriented as agriculture would be made more profitable.   The next NDC government would provide selective subsidies for the procurement of improved technologies for poor farmers and women; initiate a pension scheme for farmers as well as an Agriculture Insurance Scheme to cover agriculture risks.   “We would target the implementation of the recommendation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) for a minimum of 10 per cent of discretionary budget to be committed to strategic areas to improve agriculture production and productivity.   “The NDC Government would improve the effectiveness of the Research-Extension to Farmer linkages and integrate the concept into the agricultural research system to increase participation of end-users in technology development.   “We will also put emphasis on the use of extension methods such as farmer field schools, nucleus-farmer-out-growers and extension fields in the districts through mass education. We will also formulate an agriculture education syllabus that promotes agriculture as a business,” the NDC stated.   The manifesto said this is to quicken the pace towards full domestic food security, increased agricultural exports, improvement in farm incomes, production of raw materials for value addition through processing, generation of employment and alleviation of poverty.   The NDC said its next agricultural policy directive is based on its achievement through deliberate programmes implemented during the first term of the NDC (2009-2012) consistent with the promises made in the 2008 Manifesto.   According to the NDC, some of the major successes achieved include Ghana becoming self-sufficient in food production in 2010 and 2011, as total food production exceeded national demand and the domestication of maize production recording surpluses in 2010 and 2011 in spite of adverse weather conditions in 2011;   It stated that rice output doubled from the 2008 level in 2011 resulting in a corresponding 50 per cent reduction in rice imports and cocoa production exceeded one million tons for the first time in 2010/2011.   According to the NDC cotton production, which had reduced substantially to less than 1000 tons in 2008, increased ten-fold.   The party claimed that total fish production, including marine fisheries saw substantial increases due to the NDC Government’s support to subsidized premix fuel, outboard motors and technical backstopping to artisanal fishermen and through deliberate policies to promote aquaculture.   The NDC noted that agricultural productivity generally increased through uptake of fertilizers by farmers, the use of agrochemicals, pesticides and improved planting materials, with Ghana achieving the lowest annual food price inflation over a twenty- year period in 2011.   Meanwhile, in a survey conducted by the National Commission for Civic Education titled “Election 2012: matters of concern to the Ghanaian voter” obtained by the GNA, revealed that 48.2 per cent of respondent suggested that the government should subsidize agriculture inputs.   Another 21.1 per cent said government must give financial support to farmers in a form of loans and scholarships for children of farmers to enable them to continue their education to the highest level whilst 8.1 per cent called on government to provide market for farmers and also fix prices of agriculture crops.   About 7.3 per cent respondent called for mechanized farming, 5.3 per cent appealed for the provision of the irrigation and access roads by government, 4.6 per cent wanted government to make farming attractive to the youth, 4.1 per cent called for the provision of storage facilities for agricultural products, whilst 1.3 per cent suggested the reintroduction of state farms by government.   GNA...

Dixcove (WR), Nov 20, GNA – The Nana Hemaa Dakyi Hospital at Dixcove in the Ahanta West District on Tuesday received equipment as gift worth 9,000 dollars from a citizen of the town based in the United States, Mr Augustine Arthur.   The items included wheel chairs, clutches, surgical materials, disposables and syringes. The Dixcove Hospital serving 5,000 people according to Mr. Habib Ganiyu, Hospital Administrator, lacks equipment and this hinders healthcare delivery.   He noted that since the establishment of the facility years ago, it had not seen any major renovation or improvement in existing facilities adding that the hospital lacked ambulance. Mr. Ganiyu expressed the hospital’s gratefulness to the donor and appealed to others to assist the hospital.    Nana Agyeman IX, Paramount Chief of Upper Dixcove, appealed to health care givers to woo their clients and give them the best of services.   GNA...

Sefwi-Wiawso (W/R), Nov 20, GNA – The Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) has embarked on a massive branch rehabilitation and refurbishment programme to make its banking halls serene and conducive to banking business.     It is part of efforts to provide convenience for customers and reposition the bank as one of the best performing financial institutions.     Mr Kojo Addae-Mensah, the Chief Operating Officer, who made this known, said 70 branches have been targeted.     He was speaking at a ceremony to relocate the Sefwi-Wiawso branch in the Western Region to a modern and spacious building in the town.     Mr Addae-Mensah said so far they are through with seven branches including Tarkwa, Dadieso, Ejisu, Sefwi-Wiawso, Samreboi and Abeka Lapaz.     In addition to improved environment, the bank was also providing a wide range of products and services such as the “GCB 24-hour personal loan”, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services, “SMS banking and internet banking.”      Mr Addae-Mensah said to complement the investments made by way of refurbishment and introduction of products and services, the bank was training its staff to provide excellent services to customers.   Mr Addae-Mensah commended the people in the Sefwi-Wiawso area for their continued loyalty to the bank for the past 50 years and said in addition to the relocation to provide a spacious hall it was also providing modern banking facilities at their door step.     He advised the people to make maximum use of the bank while urging the staff to improve on their relationship with customers to increase its savings mobilization.   GNA...

Nyinahin (Ash), Nov 20, GNA – Teachers in the Atwima-Mponua District have complained about the nuisance caused by unscrupulous people, who take joy in defecating in classrooms.          They said nothing could be more demoralizing and nauseating than to see school children forced to routinely perform the unpleasant job of cleaning classrooms and school compound of faeces.         They therefore appealed to the district assembly, communities and the school management committees (SMCs) to do everything to wall the schools.         This comes as the nation joined in the celebration of this year’s “World Toilet Day”.         Mr Henry Osei, the District Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service (GES), said the school premises should become a “no-go area” to the community after school hours.         He said the school compound should be protected and must not be used as thoroughfare.       Miss Faustina Asamoah, a teacher at the Mpasatia Basic School, and her colleague, Miss Priscilla Owusu of the Kuffuor Basic School, appealed to community leaders to help address the unhealthy situation.       They said it was affecting academic work as greater part of the contact hours was spent on cleaning, washing and spraying the classrooms with disinfectants.   GNA    ...

Kumasi, Nov 20, GNA - The Most Reverend Dr Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, Archbishop-elect of the Anglican Province of Ghana, has reminded Christians to become the voice of moderation and do more to calm tension as the country edged closer to the December 7 general elections.     He said it was important for all to recognize that no nation had succeeded in the midst of confusion and conflict.     He was delivering the sermon at an interdenominational service held to pray for the smooth conduct of the upcoming polls.           The programme, put together by the Local Council of Christian Churches in the Ashanti Region was under the theme “Preparing Ghana for free, fair, transparent and peaceful 2012 elections”.          The Most Rev Dr Yinkah Sarfo said although election was not something new to Ghanaians, nothing should be taken for granted.          All must be on the alert and accept to work together to protect the peace, unity and stability of the country and have the courage to denounce irresponsible and reckless acts likely to stoke tension and trigger clashes.          Archbishop Yinkah Sarfo advised those out there to foment trouble to have a change of heart because God would not allow any such evil agenda to succeed and plunge the nation into chaos.     He called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to provide level playing field and ensure credible elections whose outcome would be accepted by the contestants and the security agencies should also be professional, firm and even-handed in the performance of their duties.     Nana Ampofo Kyei Baffour, the Chief of Asem in Kumasi, appealed to Christians to continue to pray for the peace of the nation.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 20, GNA - Ghana will engage the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in a build up game to fine-tune preparations for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.   The friendly, according to Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is billed for Sunday, January 13 in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).   He said "as part of our preparations for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, we have agreed to play Tunisia in a friendly in January in Abu Dhabi where Ghana will be camping for the tournament.   "We want to leave no stone unturned in our preparation so a match against one of the top sides in Africa like Tunisia will give the Black Stars the needed test for the Nations Cup."   Both countries are among the 15 joining hosts South Africa to see who dethrones the Chipolopolo of Zambia as the continental kings during the three-week gathering that starts on January 19 next year.   Information pieced together by the GNA Sports indicates that the North Africans are also billed to hold their pre-tournament camp in United Arab Emirates (UAE). The last meeting between the two sides was at the quarter final of the 2012 edition which the Stars won 2-1.   Ghana, pitted in Group B with DR Congo, Mali and Niger has hinted at playing two friendly games during the Abu Dhabi camping expected to last nine days.   The hint was contained in a pre-tournament and tournament proposed budget the GFA submitted to the Ministry of Youth and Sports a fortnight ago. In the budget, the latter allocated 100,000 dollars as appearance fee for their friendly opponents.   With the Tunisia game finalized, the GFA is expected to fashion out another opposition for their second friendly as specified in the budget.   Ghana, four-time champions will chase a fifth continental glory at the showpiece event after several failed attempts.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 20, GNA- Two Ghanaian assistant referees could be on duty when the next Africa Cup of Nations billed for South Africa, comes alive beginning Saturday, January, 19, 2013.   The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has extended an invitation to assistant referees; Alidu Salifu Malik and David Laryea for a prerequisite CAF Referees Elite Course designed for the biannual gathering.   The duo is among other selected official across the continent for the program from 21-29 November in Cairo, Egypt.   The officials are expected to undergo a fitness test and get abreast with refereeing related issues during the course.   The match officials for the January 19 to February 10 tournament will be drawn from the lot at the course.   There was no Ghanaian official at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations event held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.   GNA...

Booduori (U/W), Nov. 20, GNA – N2 Africa Project has introduced a new farming technology known as nitrogen fixation for smallholder farmers in the Nadowli and Wa East districts of the Upper West Region.      The new technology seeks to improve soil fertility through the cultivation of leguminous crops such as soybean, cowpea and groundnut using new farming methods.      The N2 Africa Project is being financed by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Institute/Savannah Agricultural Research Institute and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.     Mr. Asieku Yahaya, Assistant Research Officer at SARI, said at a farmers’ field day in Booduori in the Nadowli District that the project taught farmers new methods of applying fertilizer such as phosphorous fertilizer, muriate of potash, compost manure and the rhyzobium inoculants appropriately to increase yield.      The new technology had the potential to improve soil nitrogen content, enhance soil productivity and eventually increase yields of beneficiary farmers.      The value addition component of the project uses Women in Agricultural Development (WIAD) to train women in soya processing.      He said there was also a human resource development aspect which sponsored agricultural officers to further their education in agriculture related courses.      Mr. Salifu Mahama, MoFA-Nadowli District N2 Africa Project Schedule Officer, said the project was meeting its technology outreach objectives through the empowerment of a network of lead farmers to serve as an example to group members, neighbours and the wider agricultural community.      He said the project started its dissemination and demonstration implementation in the Nadowli District in 2010 through the District Agricultural Extension Agents in Zambogu, Goriyiri, and Daffiama with farmer coverage of 810.      He said in the 2011 farming season, the project coverage in the district increased to 1,800 farmers while beneficiary communities also increased to five.   Mr. Mahama said the project was also carrying out agronomic trials in Dakyea (cowpea), Ombo (groundnuts) and Booduori (soybean) under the supervision of SARI.   GNA...

Sang (N/R), Nov 20, GNA - The District Chief Executive for Mion, Mr. Dan Makandan, has said the Assembly was aware that the expectations of their compatriots were high but they need to be patient.   Addressing the first general meeting of the Assembly, he said the Assembly was patiently waiting for its share of the seed money to be given to the 45 newly created district assemblies.   Mr Makandan said this would enable the assembly to start the construction of permanent structures like offices and residential accommodation.   He said the Assembly was faced with numerous challenges for instance, workers commute from Tamale and Yendi to Sang, the district capital,  for official duties due to unavailability of  residential facilities and the temporary office structure is unable to accommodate all the relevant departments due to lack of space.   Mr. Makandan said in spite of these challenges, officers are dedicated to their work and are sharing the little resources at their disposal to perform their duties.    He said a lot of schools under trees had been eliminated in the rural communities and many CHIPS compounds improved upon to provide quality Health Care to the people.   Touching on Internal Revenue Generation base, Mr. Makandan called on the Assembly members to show interest in revenue generation by coming out with ideas to enable the Assembly generate funds internally.   The Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr. Alhassan Adam, called for unity and team work to enable the new assembly to achieve set goals.    Touching on the Election 2012, he called the Assembly members to keep their ears on the ground and their eyes wide open so that any election related problems are promptly reported to the security agencies for prompt action to be taken.   The Mion Distrct Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Ibrahim Yussif, appealed to the Assembly members to sacrifice by using their motor bikes provided by the Assembly to carry out activities of the Assembly particularly revenue generation, and water and sanitation programmes.   He said in order to improve on sanitation the Assembly has placed an order refuse containers for the area.   GNA...

Gomoa Nyanyano (C/R), Nov 20, GNA - Mr Richmond Sam Quarm, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Gomoa East has said an NPP government would investigate how 400,000 Ghana cedis belonging to the District Assembly was withdrawn from the bank.     He said the missing of that huge amount meant for development denied the people of getting education, health, security and roads projects.       Mr Quarm, who is a former MP for the area, said this at a press conference at  Nyanyano Kakraba.     He said the government and other state institutions had been silent since the money got missing in March last year and nobody is being held responsible.       The money, donated by DANIDA for projects in the Gomoa East District, was mysteriously withdrawn by some unknown people from the Assembly’s account at the Agona Swedru branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank last year.       He said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government had failed Ghanaians and there was the need to reject it on December 7.     Mr Quarm said records from the Gomoa East District Ghana Education Service (GES) showed that pupils’ performance has been very poor over the past four year.   GNA...

  Accra , Nov. 20, GNA - Slice Biz Team wins this year’s startup weekend competition organized by Youth Enhancement International and Startup weekend International as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week activities.   Slice Biz Team, which came up with an investment platform to generate start-up capital for SMEs in Africa, was adjudged winner by the panel of judges.   StartupWeekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures.   It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world.   The event held at the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology in Accra, was led by the Regional Operations Manager at Startup weekend, Brett Nakatsu, Stephen Gyasi Kwaw, CEO Youth Enhancement International and Ernest Asiedu Caesar, Assistant Communications Manager, Local Enterprises and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP).   All Startup Weekend events allow anyone to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams build around the top ideas as determined by popular vote.   Start-up Weekend Accra brought together over 60 budding entrepreneurs including programmers, tech designers, and business developers to pitch a start-up idea, develop, test, and then launch their new business all in the space of just 54 hours.   The participants were given 54 hours for business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.   As inspiration to the 2012 participants, the event kicked off with a talk by David Osei whose company Dropifi not only won Start-up Weekend Accra 2011, but also went on to be named Start-up Weekend Global Winner, and number 3 ‘Top Tech Start-up in Africa’ by Forbes Magazine.   About 20 participants took to the stage to pitch their initial ideas, and the best 14 were selected to form teams. Teams brainstormed their initial ideas, refined strategies to target customer segments, problem solved, mapped out revenue streams, competitors, and marketing strategies, as well as beginning to build their websites, apps and online platforms to demonstrate on Sunday.   The teams were ably guided by input from several experienced mentors, including Regina Agyare, CEO of Soronko Solutions, Eric Crowther , Director of Operations, Lumana Credit, Kwame Osei Owusu, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, LESDEP, Ian Ziddan, Product Planning and Development Manager, MTN Ghana and Mr. Ernest Asiedu Caesar, LESDEP, who helped participants think about the ‘bigger picture’ of scalability and sustainability, avoiding the trap of over-focusing on product details or features at the expense of sound business strategy and appeal to investors.   The teams then validated their ideas, building a minimal viable product, and writing their final pitch presentations. Working up to the last minute, the 54-hour time limit was up, and the moment to present their hard work had arrived.   The panel of expert judges including Ian Ziddah, from MTN, Richard Tanksley from MEST, Sammie Rayner from Lumana Credit, Michael Obeng from LESDEP and Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah former CEO of Commonwealth Telecommunications Union, listened to the pitches and chose the winners based on their customer validation, their execution and their business model.   In second place was Picrazzi, who pitched their photo-sharing phone app that uploads photos instantly to online albums without the need for user uploading. In third place was Agripro who designed an online and phone-based investment platform that links agricultural investors with farmers in Africa.   The top three teams would get the chance to pitch their ideas at the “Outlook of the Ghana Economy” Conference to be attended by President John Mahama and 200 of Ghana’s top CEOs and win cash prizes as well as the opportunity to enter the global competition.   Some of the entries pitched for the competition included LetsTour, an online tourist information platform, with a focus on linking tourists in Africa to local tour guides, Waali Wireless: an ad-hoc wireless backbone to improve connectivity speed and access to online information in Ghana and ICT4C, a social enterprise that uses video tutorials to teach 8-18 year-olds about computer programming.   The participants interviewed said Start-up Weekend was undoubtedly a learning experience that all those who took part would hold on to and build upon in their future ventures.   GNA  ...

  Accra, Nov. 20, GNA - The Labour Rights Institute (LRI) has appealed to workers to exercise their rights under the Labour Acts to stop work and vacate their workplaces when they find themselves in conditions that threatened their health and safety.     The institute gave this advice on Tuesday in a statement signed by Mr. Mohammed Affum, Executive Coordinator, and issued in the aftermath of the Melcom Shopping Mall disaster.   The statement said workers should take this action after they had reported the life-threatening condition to their supervisor.   “This right of workers is derived from section 119 of the Labour Act which provides that when a worker finds himself/herself in a situation at the workplace which he/she has reasonable cause to believe presents an imminent and serious danger to his/her life, the worker shall immediately report this fact to his/her supervisor and remove himself/herself from the situation,” it said.   “If the workers of Melcom Shopping Centre were aware of their rights and had stopped working in the shop, after a report of cracks in the building was made to their supervisor, those who died would have been alive today,” said the statement.   It said the rights of workers provided for in the Labour Act included the right to work under satisfactory, safe and healthy conditions.   “That is why the Labour Act has, in addition to making employers largely responsible for ensuring a safe working environment, given workers the right to vacate health and life-threatening situations as protection from possible injuries or death from work place accidents,” the statement said.    The statement said  the Labour Act had made it unlawful for any employer to instruct workers who had vacated dangerous and life-threatening conditions to return to work.   “So where an employer orders workers, who have vacated dangerous working conditions at the work place to return to work, the workers should refuse such orders and such refusal will not amount to insubordination because the order itself will be against the Labour Act, and therefore, unlawful,” the statement said.   According to the statement, the Labour Act had also made it unlawful the dismissal, termination of employment or non-payment of wages of workers who had removed themselves from dangerous and serious situations at the work place.   The Institute advised workers who are threatened with sanctions for refusing to work in conditions that threatened their health to report to their trade unions, the Labour Department or the National Labour Commission for the employer to be called to order.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 20, GNA- The Black Satellites, would in three weeks learn who they would be housed with at the group stages of the 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC).   Ghana will answer the roll call at the Algeria competition after booking a place in the biannual competition they last won in 2009.   Information pieced together by GNA Sports from the secretariat of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), indicates that the balloting for the competition has been fixed for Sunday, December 9, in Cairo, Egypt.   Seven countries plus host Algeria will be balloted into two groups for the March 16-30 tourney. Ghana, Benin, Egypt, Gabon, Mali, Nigeria and DR Congo complete the list of qualified nations for the Championship.   The Satellites, winners of the 2009 AYC plus the World Youth Championship (WYC) qualified on a 5-4 aggregate after a two-leg meeting with Morocco.   The four semi finalists of the competition would automatically qualify to represent the continent at the FIFA (WYC) billed for Turkey late 2013. GNA  ...