Tamale, Nov 20, GNA -Four junior High Schools in the Tamale Metropolis have received hand washing facilities worth GHs 12,000 to help improve hygiene in their schools.   The recipient schools are Kunyerule Primary School, Lahda Junior High School, Nyohini Presbyterian ‘A’ and ‘B’.   The donation forms part of activities marking the World Toilet Day which seeks to create awareness and alter people’s behavior towards environmental sanitation.   Speaking at the day’s event Mr Amin Yahaya of the Integrated Action for Community Development, (INTAGRAD) an NGO who presented the facilities, appealed to the beneficiary schools to make use of the machines.   He said the machines were procured through the kind curtsey of Water Aid, Icco and Simavi who are members of the Dutch WASH Alliance.   Hajia Ramatu Mahama, the Head Teacher of the Nyohini Presbyterian Junior High School ‘A’ and ‘B,’ said the facility would fill the sanitation gap in the school.   GNA...

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  Accra, Nov. 20, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Monday organized a seminar for political party activists in the Ga South municipality of the Greater Accra Region as part of its sensitization programme towards peaceful elections in the  December polls.     The seminar was also to bring the party activists abreast with the dos and don’ts concerning the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections.   The seminar attracted party activists from Ngleshie-Amanfrom, Weija- Gbawe, Bortianor and Obuom- Domeabra constituencies, all in Ga South municiplality.    Addressing the participants, Mrs Joyce Afutu, Greater Accra Regional Director of NCCE, appealed to the activists to study the Political Parties Code of Conduct and abide by it as all political parties were signatory to it.   “By signing the code, it means that the political parties are ready to adhere to processes that could ensure peaceful elections”, she said.   She added that signing the code meant that the parties would condemn violence of all kind, avoid intimidating opponents, avoid destroying or defacing posters and paraphernalia of opponents, avoid electoral fraud, and the use of inflammatory statements as  stated in the code”, she said.   She urged the participants not to allow themselves to be used by the politicians to achieve their selfish gains as they alone would be held accountable for crimes they commit.   Mr Kofi Frimpong, Ga South Municipal Electoral Officer, advised the electoral officials to desist from preventing people from voting because they did not have voters’ Identity cards.   “With this new biometric system, it is not the person with identity card who votes, but the one whose name is found on the register and has had his or her finger prints verified by the verification machine”, he said.   He advised people to desist from multiple registrations as the new machine would easily detect it when someone tried to engage in multiple registration or impersonation.   He said every ballot paper had a unique serial number which could not be duplicated, adding that the Electoral Commission had put in place measures which could help eliminate foreign and illegal ballot papers.   Mr Frimpong advised political parties to select people who could read and write as polling agents in order to avoid misunderstanding, and to help make the work of the presiding officers easier by cooperating with them.   Superintendent Shaibu Osei, Ga South Municipal Police Commander, advised political party leaders to study the Public Order Act which enjoins them to inform the police before organizing any outdoor event, and abide by it.   In a communiqué issued at the end of the programme, the participants called for an end to insults during rallies, and urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage.   They also called on the police to be alert and urged party agents to refrain from interfering with the electoral process.   GNA...

Tamale, Nov. 20, GNA – Government has procured four (4WD vehicles), 200 motorcycles, and computers for distribution to Regional and District Environmental Health Officers to effectively perform their duties. This initiative formed part of efforts by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) to build the capacity of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies particularly the Environmental Health and Sanitation Departments (EHSD) with the required logistics and resources to position them to facilitate the implementation of sanitation programmes at the local levels. Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Minister of MLGRD, announced this during this year’s World Toilet Day commemoration held in Tamale on Monday. The Tamale event was the national commemoration and attended by organizations working in the Water, Sanitation and Health sector including school pupils. World Toilet Day, which is an annual event commemorated on November 19, is set aside by the global community to draw attention to the fact that an estimated 2.5 billion people in the world are currently without access to improved clean and safe toilets or latrines. In Ghana, the latest statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2012 shows that only 15 per cent (3.7 million) Ghanaians have access to clean, safe improved toilets in their homes, 58 per cent of the population share toilets with their neighbours or use public toilets and another 4.6 million Ghanaians defecate in the open daily. This year’s commemoration was under the theme: “Achieving Open Defecation Free Ghana”. Mr Ofosu Ampofo said the MLGRD with support from development partners and other key stakeholders had put in place the required institutional, policy and legal/investment framework “to address this developmental setback”. He said “I must indicate that the required enabling environment now exists and therefore we must make the desired effort to increase the current low access on sanitation.” He said tackling issues of sanitation should not be the responsibility of government alone instead “it must be seen as a collective responsibility and all hands must be on deck to ensure descent working and living environment for sustainable development”.   He called for a change of attitude and ways of doing things if the country was to achieve the 54 per cent target of access to improved toilets by 2015. Mr Ofosu Ampofo said to move the sanitation agenda forward, the MLGRD had adopted the Community Led Total Sanitation Programme which was being implemented currently in five regions adding the next government would scale it up to all the 10 regions to ensure that the required impact was achieved in all communities. He expressed the gratitude of government to its development partners, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, civil society and community based organizations for their contribution towards improved sanitation and making Ghana free of open defecation. Naa Demedeme, Acting Director of EHSD appealed to chiefs and custodians of land to impress on land lords, tenants, prospective developers and subjects to provide toilets in their homes. Madam Clara Dube, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Tamale, said sanitation was the most cost-effective of any health intervention and called for a stronger commitment on parts of all to make Ghana Open Defecation Free (ODF). Awards were presented to schools for emerging tops in quiz competitions on sanitation as well as for 2012 ODF communities.   GNA ...

Ho, Nov. 20, GNA - Ms Darling Norgbey, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) has appealed to women across the country to use their endearing attributes to help diffuse simmering political tensions that could develop into full blown conflicts. Ms Norgbey, who is President of Police Ladies Association (POLAS), Volta Region, was addressing members of the Association and other security services ladies after a march on Saturday through the Ho Township to herald peaceful elections in the region. She said the peace message should be taken home, shared and propagated, among family and friends adding that POLAS was adding its voice to the call for peaceful elections coming from across the country. Ms Norgbey said POLAS was throwing its support behind “police and other sister security agencies to put in place elaborate plans to ensure the integrity of the electioneering process”.  “As women, the call for peace is very relevant because should the peace and tranquillity that we enjoy be curtailed as a result of any unfortunate disturbances, we and our dear children would be the ones to bear the full brunt,” Ms Norgbey stated.   GNA ...

Accra, Nov 20, GNA - Mr Joe Costello, Irish Trade Minister, has called on the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana on the anniversary of the tenure of Dr Conor Cruise O' Brien, a former Vice Chancellor of the university.     Mr Costello on Monday met Prof Ernest Aryitey, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana on account of the 50th anniversary of the commencement of the tenure of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana.      Dr O’Brien, an Irish, was Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana-Legon, from 1962 to 1965, after which he took up a position at the New York University.      Mr Costello said Dr O' Brien was someone who challenged conventional wisdom during a long and cherished career in government, at the United Nations, in academia and in media.   "He believed that true scholarship is not only worth pursuing for itself, but also, one of our best defenses against political oppression and violence."      Mr Costello said Dr O' Brien's lifetime of writing and research, debate and public service, had a deep impact on Irish life and beyond.      "I understand that his time in Ghana likewise, left a legacy that is acknowledged with great warmth and respect to this day."      He said Dr O' Brien, "if he were with us today", would have taken pride in acknowledging the role the University of Ghana had played in the education of some of Ghana's leaders.      "We are conscious of the loss of the late President, John Atta Mills, who died suddenly earlier this year Former President Mills was himself a graduate of this University and spoke warmly of Dr O' Brien, when our Ambassador presented his credentials to him last year."     Mr Costello, presented a copy of a book by Dr O' Brien entitled, "Memoir, My Life and Themes", to Prof Ernest Aryitey, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, as a future resource for academic study in the University.       He also, together with Prof Aryitey, agreed to hold an annual "Conor Cruise O' Brien Memorial Lecture in the University of Ghana, beginning from 2013.     "I know that in a few weeks, Ghana will elect a new President, and that you will continue to set the bar by which democratic governance across Africa is measured," he said.     Prof Aryitey said "we are elated by the visit of this delegation."     He said Dr O' Brien, apart from being an academic, stood for strong principles such as integrity, honesty with one's convictions among others.     Prof Aryitey said whilst the university was fulfilling its duty to feed young people with knowledge, "the integrity need is almost forgotten".     He said the lectures would rekindle the need for certain values, such as integrity, accountability, to be made a part of the process of grooming young people into future leaders of the country.     Referring to Dr O' Brien, he said  "It is befitting for a man who did so much within a short time, to have annual lectures held in his memory,"     Dr Cruise O' Brien, 1917 to 2008, was an Irish politician, and academic.     GNA ...

Kumasi (Ash), Nov. 20, GNA – The Ashanti Youth Business Executives (ASHYBEC), a business group, has described the New Patriotic Party (NPP) manifesto as very friendly to the business community in Ghana.     In a statement issued in Kumasi, Mr Theophilus Davis, Vice President of the group, said after taking much time to study the NPP manifesto, ASHYBEC is convinced that the manifesto of the NPP has something good for Ghanaian businessmen and women.     Mr Davis said after monitoring the IEA presidential and vice presidential debates held recently, the group was encouraged by the fact that the NPP had a very formidable team to handle the economy of Ghana.     He explained that the instability of the cedi is badly affecting business operations in the country adding that “the cost of doing business today in Ghana is so high due to erratic power supply coupled with high electricity tariffs and businessmen do not have access to loans due to high interest rate”.     The ASHYBEC Vice President said these factors and the love they have for mother Ghana have motivated the group to throw their support behind the formidable team of Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Mamudu Bawumia to ensure the growth of businesses in Ghana, with its attendant socio-economic development.     Mr Davis gave the assurance that ASHYBEC would do all in its power to rally solidly behind the NPP to make a huge difference in the December 2012 general election.   GNA ...

Accra, Nov. 19, GNA – Customers using Vodafone broadband mobile devices have the privilege of being first to experience the newly launched Microsoft Windows 8 Operating System in Ghana without the need to download or install new software or drivers.      This is because Vodafone Ghana, the CIMG Telecom Company of the year, has worked with Microsoft to allow the seamless integration of their mobile broadband devices in the Windows 8 Operating System.       “Vodafone installation software for our dongles and MiFi devices is now embedded in the Windows 8 Operating System so that when our customers plug in their devices, it automatically detects it and launches the Vodafone mobile broadband application,” Ebenezer Ampadu, Head of Terminals Vodafone Ghana said at an experiential session with journalists on Monday.         The Windows 8 Operating System is an all-new touch reinvented from the principles of the Windows 7 speed and reliability introducing significant changes to primarily focus on providing a seamless integration between mobile devices, tablets and laptops. “It does that by taking advantage of new or emerging technology called cloud computing,” Mr Ampadu said.       In order to allow customers to switch to the Windows 8, Mr Ampadu said “Vodafone, right from the beginning at the development stage, started working with Microsoft to allow its broadband devices, currently compatible with windows 7, to also be used on Windows 8 without the need to download or install new software or drivers.”       He said Vodafone Company had also developed a new web interface in Windows 8 that allows customers to monitor their data usage, top up and generally gives them better control of their browsing experience.         “With Windows 8 using SkyDrive, if you take pictures on your Windows 8 phone, they are automatically loaded onto your laptop. I can confidently say no one has this offer as we talk now in Ghana, except Vodafone Ghana. So we at Vodafone have our devices compatible with the Windows 8,” he said.       Antoinette Atuah, Corporate Communications Manager at Vodafone Ghana said in its commitment to lead in innovation and bring cutting edge technology to its customers, Vodafone would on Friday November 23rd introduce to its customers in Ghana the latest HTC Windows 8 mobile phone.        “When you think innovation, think Vodafone. Today all our broadband devices are compatible with the latest Microsoft Windows 8 Operating System. We are the first to introduce this in Ghana and to our cherish customers,” She said.        The HTC 8x phone gives a unique user experience because it is designed with people in mind and allows the user to personalize their device giving them better control.           Vodafone Ghana was also the first to bring the Sumsung Galaxy S II, and the Blackberry Torch mobile phones to Ghana.   GNA ...

Assin Foso (C/R), Nov.19, GNA - Mr Alex Dewise Antwi-Boasiako, the Municipal Chief Executive of Assin North, has called on the youth to avoid being used by politicians to foment trouble in the coming December 7 elections.     He urged them to always consider the nation first in whatever action they undertake and endeavor to protect and defend it at all times.     Mr Antwi-Boasiako made the call when he addressed the youth of the District after a peace walk organized by the National Youth Authority (NYA) in Assin Foso.     The walk which took the participants through the principal streets of the Foso town, was under the theme: “Partnering Ghanaian Youth for peaceful election 2012”.     The walk was part of an initiative to involve  the youth in spreading the message of peace as the elections approches.     Mr Antwi-Boasiako, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary aspirant for the Assin Central Constituency, commended the NYA for organizing the walk  and expressed the hope that such walks would be organised regularly to ensure peace in the area.    He advised the youth to vote for someone who has their interest at heart and would do everything possible to improve upon their living conditions.    Mr Mensah Etsibah, the Programmes and Organization Director of NYA, appealed to those seeking public offices to pay attention to the needs of the youth and develop useful policies and projects that would be beneficial to the youth.    Dr Richard Asiedu, the Assin North Municipal Director of NYA, said the walk started  in Dunkwa-Offin (Upper Denkyira District) would gradually move to the rest of the country  adding that soccer matches would also be organised for all political parties and help unite them.    Dr Asiedu, who is also the proprietor of St. Andrews Senior High School a private SHS  in the district,  said  the walk was  also  aimed at seeking  views and opinions  from community members on how to proceed in managing the peace in the area.     GNA ...

Tarkwa (W/R), Nov. 19, GNA - Two illegal miners Yaw Patakron, 31, and Yaw Amo, 41, have been remanded in to prison custody by the Tarkwa Circuit Court for stabbing a man to death at Amoanda in the Pestea  Huni/Valley District.   Their plea was not taken and they will re-appear before court on December 3. Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court presided over by Mr Samuel Obeng Diawuo that the deceased, Kofi Asare, 28, and the accused persons are all residents of Amoanda near Huni/Valley. He said on Tuesday November 13 at about 12:30 am, the deceased together with the two accused persons were at a wake keeping when a quarrel ensued between the deceased and some other people who were at the funeral ground. Inspector Amponsah said a quarrel ensued between the first accused person Yaw Patakron and the deceased but were soon separated by those around and thus went home to change his attire and came back to the funeral grounds. He said as soon as Patakron sat down the deceased started insulting him without any provocation but he said nothing whiles the second accused Yaw Amo, who was with Patakron told the deceased that he would have shot him dead if he was the one he was troubling. Inspector Amponsah said the first accused person then slapped the deceased who in turn used a stick to hit his forehead which resulted in a cut. He said the fight was again separated and whiles the deceased was going home, Patakron followed and kicked him to the ground and stabbed him at the right rib and left the scene whiles the deceased tried to seek help from the village but unconscious on his way. He said the deceased was soon found and rushed to a nearby health center but was pronounced dead on arrival. Inspector Amponsah said the Huni/Valley police immediately arrested the accused persons and handed them over to the Tarkwa police as a mob in the community wanted to lynch them.          He said during investigation both accused persons admitted the offense.   GNA ...