Accra, Nov. 26, GNA - Mrs Dede Bedu-Addo, gender and social development consultant, has challenge government and civil society to make monitoring and evaluation a priority in the implementation of projects.   She explained that it was an effective way of ensuring accountability and positive impact of programs on the lives of the people.   Mrs Bedu-Addo made the call at a ‘’Ghana Monitoring and Evaluation’’ forum held in Tamale.   The forum dubbed: “Impact Evaluation” was funded by Star-Ghana, UNICEF and USAID, brought together professional bodies, individuals, development partners and local as well as international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to learn and share ideas on how to effectively undertake monitoring and evaluation.   Mrs Bedu-Addo said monitoring and evaluation help implementers of programmes to know if a project should be expanded, modified, or stopped.   She said that Africa had a high average annual economic growth but had a lower real per capita income in the 21 century than in 1970.   Mrs Bedu-Addo   said more than 500 million people still live in poverty while dependency on external and food aid co-exists with growth in domestic revenues and food surpluses in many countries.   Seidu Alhassan, a Senior Lecture at the University of Development Studies, said the Upper West, Northern and Upper East Regions had benefited from many projects but the majority of the people in these areas were lingering in poverty and other challenges.   He said “the three regions have attracted funding from development partners and due to lack of strong monitoring and evolution systems, there is often double funds allocated for the same project being implemented by different NGOs”.    GNA...

Accra, Nov. 25, GNA – EKGS Culinary Institute, a catering School, held its 28th graduation ceremony in Accra at the weekend, with a call on the graduates to maintain high professional standards in their work.   The ceremony that was on the theme: “Peace and Tolerance in Election, Prerequisites for Development and Growth”, was held for 130 graduates, including international students   Mrs Efua Otuwaa Goode, Director of the institute, said the institution has brought hope and source of livelihood to the youth in the country   She said the Institute had introduced a new orientation programme to help the students to come out with their own creative designs, and to be recognised worldwide.   Mrs Goode said as from next year, the Institute would institute scholarship for brilliant but needy students to enable them to complete the courses.   She called on Ghanaians to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections on December 7.   Mr Alhaji Ibrahim Awal, Editor of the Finder, a private newspaper, said education formed the foundation for development and advised students to be serious with their studies and not to allow themselves to be used by politicians for their selfish interest.   He also asked them to make positive impact where ever they may find themselves, work hard, and be disciplined to achieve success.        The graduates undertook courses in Cake Making and Decorating, Sugar Art, Wilton {USA} and PME {UK} Pastry Making Art, Cookery, Balloon, Ribbon and Floral.   GNA...

Sunyani, Nov. 26, GNA - Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur at the weekend called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters to remain calm in the face of provocation, and convince Ghanaians to retain the party in power, on December 7.      He explained that voting for President John Dramani Mahama, who is the NDC presidential candidate for Election 2012 and the party’s parliamentary candidates, would be a better response to agents of provocation.     The Vice President was addressing a rally organised by Youth For Mahama in Sunyani, which begins a three-day campaign tour of the Brong Ahafo Region, in the final moments for the December 7 polls.      The tour is scheduled to take Vice President Amissah-Arthur, the running mate of President Mahama, to about 20 towns and communities in the Brong Ahafo Region, a notable cocoa growing and generally agricultural region of Ghana.      The Vice President reiterated the commitment of the party to development, and asked the electorate to keep in mind the track record of the NDC Government and renew its mandate for another four-year term.      The Vice President commended the group for working towards victory for the NDC in the forthcoming polls.     He stressed that more people would be attracted to the NDC if party members propagate NDC unprecedented record.        He asked the electorate to vote massively for President Mahama to actualize “one touch” victory for the party.         The Vice President asked the youth to be tolerant, law abiding and avoid reacting to any provocation.      Vice President Amissah-Arthur had earlier paid a courtesy call on Nana Asor Krawi, Omanhene of Sunyani.      Nana Krawi commended the NDC for supporting the region during hard times.   He said the late President John Evans Atta Mills lived to his 2008 promise to establish a university in the region, and said he believed that the NDC would fulfill others promises to the people.   GNA...

Cape Coast, Nov 26, GNA – Parents gave a standing ovation when the Headmistress of Wesley Girls’ High School, Mrs Betty Dzokoto, told them at a Parents/Teachers’ Association meeting on Saturday that 96 students scored 8 A1 at the 2012 West African School Certificate Examination.   Last year the school emerged the best senior high school in the country with 18 candidates scoring 8 A1 and parents showed appreciation by buying a laptop each for the teachers.   The PTA on Saturday unanimously agreed that parents should contribute 50 Ghana cedis each to be shared among the teachers for their hard work and commitment that enabled the school to maintain its position as the best in the country.   A visibly elated Mrs Dzokoto told the excited parents that in the 2012 examination, 78 candidates scored 7 A1, 63 had 6 A1 and 48 made 5 A1 and thanked parents for their support and cooperation.   She appealed to parents and guardians to have confidence in the ability of the school to prepare their daughters adequately for final examinations and it has proved this consistently.   Mrs Dzokoto said Wey Gey Hey does not allow private extra classes for students whose parents can afford to pay for private tuition. “This is a Christian institution and we do not discriminate.   There is no rich student and there is no poor student. What we seek to do is to create the atmosphere for all students to achieve academic excellence. We believe in teamwork and it is working for us,” she said.   Mrs Dzokoto said parents do their best to motivate teachers and they respond by driving themselves hard to achieve results that are second to none. “We are not in competition with anybody.   We are in competition with ourselves.” Prof Joseph Kwarteng, Chairman of the PTA, appealed to parents to always approach the school’s administration whenever they have a problem and avoid resorting to other means. “The school’s administration is always available to listen to us.   Let us give our daughters the peace of mind to study,” he said. A parent, Mr Raphael Boadu, told the GNA “it seems it is only Wey Gey Hey that can break its own academic record” and praised structures that the school had put in place to enable students achieve academic excellence.   He appealed to the government to allow missions to play significant roles in schools they established because these schools are among the best in the country. Mr Boadu mentioned some of these schools as Wesley Girls, Holy Child, Mfantsipim, St Augustine, Pope John, St Roses, Adisadel, Presec, Aburi Girls, St Peters, St Mary’s, St Louis, Opoku Ware, Archbishop Porters, OLA and a host of others. “Let us give the mission schools more say in the running of their schools and they will deliver,” he said.   Three form two students who want to be known by their initials, B.E.K, H.M.G.A and P.O, said their seniors had given them a tall yardstick to measure up to. “Ninety-six out of 384 candidates scoring 8 A1 is like a dream. We shall do our best so that in 2014, when the saints go marching in we shall be in the number,” they said.   GNA...

Agona Swedru (C/R), Nov. 26, GNA -  PZ Cussions Ghana Limited in partnership with Ghana Medical Association and Goodluck Cleaning Services has organized a health education programme for the people of Agona Swedru in the Central Region.   The programme was to sensitize the community on the need to practice personal hygiene and the dangers associated with poor sanitation in the country.   Ms Gladys S.Azure, Brands Manager Surface Care of PZ Cussions Ghana Limited said the gesture was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to reach out to the community by offering free medical screening in the vicinity.   She said as part of the programme, it  also organized a clean up exercise in the main township with the help of other organisations and groups including Good luck Cleaning Services in Swedru,  Zoom Lion, students from some selected second cycle institutions and keep fit clubs.   Ms Azure said as the harmattan season approached, there was little that could  be done to change the phenomenon where germs, parasites, bacteria,and diseases carried by dust settled everywhere.   She said her outfit started the outreach programme in June 2012 and had been to communities in Dansoma, Darkuman and Aburi in the Eastern Region, hoping to cover the entire country as well as make it an annual programme.   She said Camel Antiseptic, a leading brand of PZ Cussions Ghana endorsed by the GMA, was committed to providing maximum protection from germs through its products and promoting quality preventive health care. "Camel antiseptic contains di-chloro-meta-xyleno which kills 99.9 per cent of germs and comes in the form of liquids and soaps", Ms Azure said.   Dr Paul Dsane of the  Department of Medicine at Korle-Bu Hospital said the World Health Organization estimated that there were between 350 and 500 million cases of acute malaria each year, causing at least one million deaths mainly of children under five years of age living in sub-Saharan Africa .   Dr Dsane said children who survived may have learning difficulties, while pregnant women were particularly vulnerable, and may develop maternal anemia and miscarry.   He said Malaria was a serious tropical disease affecting people in Africa, South and Central America, parts of the Middle East and Asia, and was transmitted by the bite of the female anopheles mosquito that had been infected with a malaria parasite.   Dr Dsane said Malaria was sometimes misdiagnosed as influenza because of the symptoms of fever, headache and generalized aches and pains, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.   He urge all to ensure personal hygiene and to use spray containing permethrin on clothing, which  should be sprayed both inside and outside for 30-60 seconds and allowed to dry for two to four hours before being worn.   They should also sleep under a net impregnated with permethrin and use coils and mats impregnated with insecticide in closed rooms to repel the mosquitoes.   GNA...

Kwahu, Nov. 26, GNA -  The lack of classroom infrastructure has prevented the Atibie Midwifery/Health Assistant Training School from advertising for intake of students for the Health Assistant Course (HAC) programme for two years now.   Mrs Paulina Osabutey, Principal of the School, who announced this at the Matriculation ceremony of the Institute at the weekend, said several attempts and appeals to the various District and Municipal Assemblies, especially in the Kwahu Area, did not yield the desired result.   “As a result of the severe shortage of classroom infrastructure, five groups of students comprising three batches of Registered Midwifery students and two batches of the Post basic Midwifery students struggle continually in an uncomfortable rotational arrangement to use the limited classrooms available for teaching and learning”.   She indicated that another academic year, 2013/2014, loomed ahead and there were no indications that classroom blocks would be available for use by students.   Mrs Osabutey said the implications of that would be the school’s inability to reopen admissions for the HAC programme and also to limit intake of students for existing programmes.   She, therefore, appealed to the Kwahu East, West and North assemblies to pool resources together to build at least a three-unit classroom facility that could accommodate up to 300 students in total.   “By so doing, these assemblies would not only be helping the school to enhance its infrastructure base for improved academic work, but would more importantly be creating opportunities for the youth in the Kwahu Area and Ghana at large to acquire professional employable skills that would enable them contribute their quota more meaningfully towards the development of the country”.   Mrs Osabutey also expressed worry about the complete lack of backup power plant for use in the school when power from the main National Grid goes off. She said the school currently did not have any source of power anytime power went off, especially in the nights.    Mrs Osabutey noted that apart from the serious inconvenience the situation posed to staff and students, it also had severe security implications for a predominantly female school. She therefore challenged the Government, through the Eastern Regional Director of Health Services and the Ministry of Health, the Municipal and District assemblies, especially those of Kwahu origin, Kwahu philanthropists and businessmen to support the school.   “We cannot be seeking academic excellence if teaching and learning has to be interrupted anytime the National Grid goes off, as it is presently the case with the ongoing load shedding exercise”.   The Principal also lamented over the lack of decent accommodation units to house both the teaching and the non-teaching staff of the school. She noted that the quality of a school’s curriculum and its academic worth depended largely on the availability of the required numbers of qualified tutors to mentor students and take them through the prescribed syllabus and training regimen.   “The lack of decent accommodation units, in our particular circumstances, serves as disincentive to productivity, as the few teachers we have, are compelled to make do with all kinds of accommodation units which largely do not befit their status.   “Moreover the school is unable to attract other qualified tutors, especially the young graduates because it does not have enough decent accommodation facilities to use as bait for them to accept postings to the school”, she added.   Mrs Osabutey charged the matriculants to be of good character, avoid bad behaviour and habits and to be associated with only what was good.   She challenged them to pay particular attention to their studies and take it seriously in order to make the grades, reminding them that they would be withdrawn from the school if they failed to make the required grades.   In all, the school admitted 130 students made up of 59 for Registered Midwifery and 71 for post basic Midwifery.   GNA...

Agona Swedru, Nov. 26, GNA - Mr Lessily Adjei, Central Regional Human Resource Director of Zoom Alliance has called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enforce their sanitation bye-laws to ensure the success of the National Sanitation Taskforce programme.   He said President John Mahama’s vision to rid urban areas and cities of filth would be meaningless if the Assemblies failed to apply their laws on sanitation in their respective areas.    Mr Adjei made the call when he addressed workers of Zoom Alliance in the  Agona West Municipal after four hours clean up exercise at Agona Swedru.   Students from Swedru School of Business, Swedru Senior High School and Nyakrom Secondary/Technical School participated in the exercise.    Areas cleaned included PROTOA Station, main lorry park, principal streets and Salvation Army School for the Deaf.   He said it was important for District Assemblies to push the Environmental Health department to ensure that sanitation laws which had become dormant are revived.   Mr Adjei said the Central region would include Military and Police personnel in the National sanitation taskforce to ensure that people who littered the streets indiscriminately are stopped.    He appealed to the District Chief executives of the Assemblies to also fashion out plans that could help Zoom Alliance to ensure environmental cleanliness.     The Regional Human Resource Director said education was also on-going to sensitize the people on the need to keep their environment clean.     He urged drivers to sensitize their passengers to refrain from throwing rubbish from moving vehicles into the streets and advised them to place dust bins in their cars to collect rubbish.     Mr Christian Ocran, Acting Agona West Municipal Director of Zoom Alliance said his outfit would organize weekly clean-up exercises to improve sanitation in the area.      He said the clean up exercise would be extended to Agona Nyakrom, Agona Abodom, Lower and Upper Bobikuma in due course to enable them to benefit from the programme.   GNA...

Yendi (N/R), Nov. 26, GNA - Traditional leaders in the three Northern Regions have met to strategies on how to effectively play their role to ensure peace before during and after the December 7 elections.   To this end the Chiefs, joined by religious leaders and  youth groups from the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions, participated in a day’s forum which was organized in Yendi by Global Youth Network (GYN).   Speaking at the forum the Catholic Bishop of Yendi, The Most Reverend  Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai, said Ghana deserved to have peace hence the need for all and sundry to effectively play their role to promote peace.   Various youth groups and political parties took turns to present solidarity messages as a sign of commitment towards peace building.   Sharing some negative effects of violence,  the Bishop said societies in the state of chaos were often thrown into despair while people no more cared about each.   He urged the chiefs to educate people in their communities about the various electoral regulations and draw their attention to the fact that unity and peace were the only tools to facilitate development.     Mr Jawol Bisunna Titus, Director of GYN said some politicians continued to mislead the youth in the region through the use of insults, tribalism and war mongering campaign strategies to score cheap political points.   “It is time we realize that these divisions among ourselves as people continue to cause harm and retrogression in our development as a region.   “Politicians should concentrate on how to promote agriculture and build industries to reduce poverty which is our common enemy,” he said.    Mr Titus called on traditional  leaders of the various ethnic groups in the three regions to review their objectives to match the current needs of their communities, especially in the areas of conflict resolution, women empowerment and alternative livelihood projects to help improve their livelihoods.   Nayire Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai, President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs,  said the council had finalized a code of conduct for chiefs as part of their efforts towards ensuring peace in the area.   He called on the public, especially the youth, to desist from violent activities such as fighting and snatching of ballot boxes and resort to dialogue in the event of any misunderstanding.   The Nayire Naa Abdulai advised the chiefs to campaign for peace in the forthcoming elections.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 26, GNA- Health authorities could soon be grappling with a grave public health concern as vegetables sold in Accra markets have been found to contain up to 5000 times the permissible levels of chemical residue.   A survey carried out between 2007 and 2008 revealed that vegetables consumed in Accra had more than a dozen chemicals all above tolerable percentages and this holds serious consequences for the health of consumers.   Mr George Ortsin, Country Programme Coordinator of the Small Grants Programme of the UNDP/ Global Environment facility (GEF), revealed this in an interview with the GNA at a media consultative workshop organized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the weekend in Accra.   He said the high rates of the chemical residue could be as result of some farmers resorting to the use of banned chemicals, including Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) to control pest and weeds to maximize yield.   He said samples collected from various markets across the capital found out that in most cases, the chemical residue in them exceeded 2000 percent and the least recorded was 500 percent.   Mr Ortsin said that the phenomenon spelt doom for both human health and the environment, because the cumulative effect of consuming the vegetables over a long period may soon manifest in diverse health problems.   He said even though there have been intensified educational campaigns on the need to minimize the use of pesticides in farming, some middle men and farmers still smuggle the banned chemicals through the country’s porous borders.   What compounded the situation, he said, was the lack of capacity of border control officials to detect the chemicals which have become sophisticated in nature as farmers were now mixing more than 20 substances for maximum effect.   He said the report was made available to government and that the survey would be repeated in 2013.   The source of the vegetables he revealed came from Weija, Ada and Kawukudi in the Greater Accra Region, Keta in the Volta Region and Akomadan in the Ashanti region.   Mr Ortsin said in order to safeguard the health of Ghanaians and the environment, emphasis should be placed on the promotion of organic farming and that the programme (GEF) was intending to introduce organic certification of vegetables in the country and make it available at supermarkets and various outlets across the country.   To counter the problem, he revealed that an Indian company is to set up an organic fertilizer plant in the country soon, and by December negotiations would be completed for the pilot phase of the programme to begin in early 2013.   He said the Indians company would make available the technology and samples of organic produce and when that proves satisfactory, a cooperation agreement would be signed for the full scale operation of the organic plant.   Mr Ortsin said five farmer groups in the Ashanti and Volta regions have been identified for the pilot phase of that arrangement.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 26, GNA - The Southern Sector Youth and Women’s Empowerment Network (SOSYWEN) has called on government to increase attention on the enforcement of laws that eliminate all forms of abuse against women in the country.   It has thus urged that the Judiciary and the police be adequately resourced to enable them carry out their mandate of preventing the “flagrant” disregard of the rights of women and girls.   In a statement to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women that is observed on November 25 worldwide, Zenabu Sakiba, Coordinator of SOSYWEN, said  the relevant laws that protect the vulnerable in society have not been adequately upheld, giving impetus to more acts of abuse because perpetrators of crimes against women are not held accountable for their crimes.   She said it was of utmost importance that all legislations protecting women and are vigorously enforced to eliminate all forms of discrimination and cultural practices that dehumanizes women and girls.   SOSYWEN, a non-governmental organization, has for the past eight years campaigned for youth and women empowerment.   It has been recently focusing its efforts on the rights of women and girls accused, abused and banished from their societies for witchcraft.   Ms Sakiba used the occasion to call for a stakeholder approach to find a lasting solution to age old cultural practices, particularly the “witches’ camp” that infringed on the rights of women and society at large.   She appealed to Parliament to lead that charge against the abolition of social practices that discriminated against women and children, urging it (legislature) to take firm action on legal reforms on violence against women and to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of such laws.   GNA...

Tamale, Nov. 25, GNA - Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur on Sunday led the Government delegation to join the family of the former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama to perform the seventh day Adua in Tamale.   Also present at the “Adua”was the New Patriotic Party delegation led by its Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.   Vice President Amissah-Arthur said Alhaji Mahama had served Ghana well and contributed significantly to the success of the country and called for a special prayer for him.   “We join the bereaved family and the people of Dagbon to mourn with you as you have lost a dear son of the Region.   He said Ghana would go to the polls in two weeks time and that Government has renewed its commitment to maintain peace in the country.   He asked the people of Tamale and Dagbon to emulate the life of the former Vice President by ensuring that the prevailing peace is maintained in the coming election to promote unity and development.   Muslim Clergy from around the country who participate in the Adua recited the Holy Quran in honour of the former Vice President.   The seventh day Adua will be replicated in Yendi, Alhaji Aliu Mahama’s home town on Thursday.   The former Vice President, passed away at the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Friday November 1 2012 at the age of 66, and was buried at his private residence in Kalpohin, Tamale.   GNA...

Cape Coast, Nov.26, GNA- Very Reverend Father Joseph Ernest Arthur, the St Francis de Sales Cathedral Administrator on Sunday called on  Ghanaians  to vote for  a leader with the right qualities to rule the country.   He said the time had come for Ghanaians to allow God who is the maker of heaven and earth to select the right leader to rule the country, stressing that “it is the Lord who make rulers and leaders”.   Fr Arthur was delivering a sermon at the Solemnity of Christ the King and the Feast of Corpus Christi, which was jointly celebrated by the St Francis de Sale cathedral, Our Lady of Apostle’s (OLA) and Amanful St Joseph parishes at the Holy Child school park.   The feast of Christ the King is celebrated a week before Advent which signifies the kingship and kingdom of Christ Jesus on earth and it also allow Catholics to renew their faith in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.   Fr Arthur said the difference between  the  Kingship of Jesus and that of  earthly kingship is that Jesus’ leadership was predicted, presented, proclaimed and universal   whiles earthly  kingship  is  restricted to a particular jurisdiction and called on political leaders to always endeavour to  be truthful and faithful to their followers.   He said in this crucial time of the elections, political party leaders should be mindful of what they tell the electorate, stressing that if their campaigns were not properly conducted it  could spark trouble.   Fr Arthur urged all to continue to pray for the nation and all political leaders to ensure that the December polls were conducted in a peaceful and incident free atmosphere and that all should also accept the leader that God would select for the Country.   Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, Presidential Candidate of the Progressive people’s party (PPP) who joined in the celebration called on the people of Cape Coast to massively vote for him in the December polls.   He also used the occasion to donate GH¢10, 000 to the St Peter’s major Seminary to assist the school buy a bus.   GNA...

Weija (GAR), Nov 26, GNA- Pastor Furgesson Kwoffie, Head Pastor of the Dansoman based Truth Missionary Baptist Church, has called on pastors to allow the love of Christ to reign supreme in their lives shun all forms of wealth and fame.   He expressed disappointment at the rate at which the true message of Christ’s salvation and love had been relegated to the background while allowing the message of wealth and fame to take the fore.   Speaking during an induction service organized for Pastor Seth Agyekum, who is now in charge of the Weija branch of the Baptist Church, Pastor Kwoffie appealed to pastors to condemn all that go contrary to the Gospel.   In his acceptance speech, Pastor Agyekum, expressed his appreciation for the new appointment saying “I accept this offer whole heartedly and I urge all to support me as I seek to do the will of the Father by spreading His message of salvation to all.”   He also expressed his gratitude to the Berean Baptist Church of Laterbiokoshie, for their decision, six years ago, to plant a church at Weija in order to win more souls for Christ.   The church which started as a fellowship had been without a substantive pastor until the induction of Pastor Seth Agyekum.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 26, GNA - The Anglican Diocese of Accra has announced a monthly choral music programme, beginning next year as a way to boost the use of Ghanaian musical chorus in the church.   The choral music programme will be held on the 1st Saturday and 1st Sunday of each month and opened to the general public.   Rev Canon Anthony Eiwuley told the media that the introduction of Ghanaian choral music in the church was being appreciated by members and provided another reason for members not to miss Sunday service.   “The Anglican Diocese of Accra is therefore taking the initiative to create this platform in 2013 and beyond, making it possible for the general public to attend performances by choral groups and gospel singers,” he said.   Rev Canon Eiwuley said various groups had been lined up for performances next year and these include, a performance by the Saint Anthony Choral Group, Becky Bonney, Accra Youth Choir, Tema Youth Choir and Superintendent Kofi Sarpong, among other artistes and groups.   He said the calendar for performances will be published and also made available to most churches in Accra.   In a related development, the Saint Anthony Choral Group launched its 2012 Christmas album.   The Anglican Church in Ghana is made up parishes and congregations, which comes together to form Diocese. There are currently 10 Anglican Dioceses in Ghana. The Accra Diocese is made up of 65 parishes and congregations.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 25, GNA-Members of the Ayawaso North and East branches of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Sunday boycotted a peace walk organized by the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) and the Office of the National Chief Imam (ONCI).   The walk which was to enable political parties in those areas unite as the general election approaches was sponsored by STAR-Ghana.   In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Alhaji Yussif Fofana, NPP Parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso North constituency, said members of the NPP decided to boycott the peace walk for fear of possible clashes with members of the NDC.   He said the NPP members also boycotted the peace walk in retaliation against the NDC members’ decision to boycott one previously organized by an NGO to bring the two parties together.   He expressed concern about the mounting tension between members of the two parties adding that terrible things might have occurred if NPP members had taken part in the walk.   “I believe this peace walk should have been organised long time ago and not at this moment”, he said.   Addressing the media, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, General Secretary, GPCC, urged the political parties to learn from the collaboration between the two religious organizations.   “We might only might only differ in ideologies and beliefs, but we are all Ghanaians with a common agenda of pursuing peace.”   “As faith-based organizations, we have a God given duty to lead our members and communities to prevent incidences of violence, mitigate the physical impact of violence on individuals and communities”, he added.   He said it was the hope of the GPC that the Electoral Commission would be provided with all it needs for it to function effectively and also called on the judiciary to expeditiously settle political disputes.   He appealed to Ghanaians to cultivate the culture of tolerance in our homes and communities, neighborhoods and constituencies saying, “This is the only way to ensure and guarantee peaceful co-existence between feuding families and parties, ethnic and tribal groups, political parties and religious sects”, he added.   Alhaji Ahmed Nii Nortey, Public Relations Officer, ONCI, said the peace walk was to spread the message of peace within the two constituencies and to create awareness to the people of Nima-Maamobi and its environs on the urgent need for political tolerance and peaceful co-existence for all Ghanaians before, during and after the elections.    A football match which took place at the Kawukudi Park between NDC members from Ayawaso North and Ayawaso East constituencies was won by Ayawaso East members by three goals to two.   A goat each was presented to each constituency for their participation in the event organized by the GPCC and the ONCI.   The walk which started at the Nima Roundabout ended at the Kawukudi Park.   GNA...

Asutsuare (GAR), Nov 25, GNA- Mrs Daniela Kuzu, Country Director for Friedrich –Egbert-Stiftung (FES), has appealed to the traditional rulers in the Osu Doku Traditional Area to put aside their political differences for the development of the area.   She made this appeal during a seminar organized by the Centre for Development Research and Advocacy (CeDRA), an NGO, in collaboration with FES for the traditional leaders in Osu Doku Traditional area.   Prior to the 2000 general election, a political disturbances which had chieftaincy disputes undertones erupted at Asutsuare located within the Osu Doku District which led to the loss of lives and has since created insecurity in the area.   This led to many native of Asutsuare going into exile in other neighboring towns such as Akuse, and even after 13 years of the conflict, many of the natives are unable to return to their homes.   Mrs Kuzu said, “In conflict resolutions, we should all see the solution(s) as a win-win game as everyone should be satisfied with the result, because a person who see him or herself as a loser would be discontent and might even go ahead to plan more evil”.   She said poverty, migration, destruction of infrastructure, shortages of food, water and electricity amongst others were some of the challenges associated with conflicts.   Mr George Dzeto, Programmes Cordinator, CeDRA, said although the Kuffour administration in April 2004 established a commission to investigate the conflict and come out with recommendations, the report of the Commission which was presented to the then Eastern Regional Minister in October 2004 has still not been made public.   He cited lack of jobs for the youth in Osu Doku as some of the challenges faced by the people due to the conflict in the traditional area.   “It is sad that the land for the famous Akuse Dam and the land for the famous Kpong Canal which is the biggest canal in the country are all on Osu Doku land yet there is no single person from Osu Doku is on the boards of these two organizations, so how do we lobby for jobs for our youth”, he said.   He said the centre had undertaken a research to ascertain the situation in the area and had mapped out strategies for addressing the conflict in the area so that it did not reoccur.   “For peace to reign in this area, we have facilitated a training workshop for 134 youth leaders and opinion leaders drawn from all the major communities within Osu Doku area, we also intend to carry out a community dialogue and peace games so as to promote peace and tolerance among the natives of Osu Doku”, he said.   Mr Dzeto, who is also a research fellow at CeDRA, appealed to the chiefs and opinion leaders to be very careful of those who bring them information since the research undertaken by CeDRA revealed that most of the information which fuelled conflicts in the area were false, perceptions, unnecessary myths and even superstitions.   Ms Betty Akumatey, Lecturer at the University of Ghana, appealed to the traditional leaders not to allow themselves to be by selfish people in order to denigrate the chieftaincy institution which is the embodiment of our culture.   GNA...

Dormaa Ahenkro (B/A) Nov. 26,  GNA – A fatal motor accident which involved three vehicles near Dormaa Ahenkro last Saturday has claimed eleven lives and injured sixteen others.   Drivers of two of the vehicles and eight other passengers on board their cars died on the spot while another passenger was pronounced dead by doctors at the Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital after strenuous efforts to save her have proved futile.   The sixteen wounded passengers, two of them critical, have been admitted to the Emergency Unit of the Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital at Dormaa Ahenkro for intensive care.    Ten out of the eleven deceased passengers whose mutilated bodies have since been deposited at the Dormaa mortuary have been identified by their families.   The Dormaa District Police Commander, DSP Mahmud Yussif told the GNA that he received information about the road crash on Saturday whiles in the office.   He said he led a team of police officers to the scene where eye-witness accounts revealed that the gory accident took place when an articulated truck driver attempted to avoid a stationary water tanker and in the process veered into the lane of the on-coming traffic and collided head-on with a TOYOTA Hiace which was heading towards Dormaa Ahenkro with some Pentecost Church mourners who had gone to bury their deceased colleague earlier in the morning.   He said the eye-witness said that soon after the collision, a FORD Transit bus which followed the TOYOTA at top speed also crushed into the collided vehicles killing the driver instantly and injuring passengers on board.   The Police Commander however said soon after the gruesome incidence the water tanker which caused the articulated truck to veer off its lane as well as the articulated truck driver and his mate have disappeared from the accident scene and are being sought by the police to assist in their investigations.   Meanwhile the Dormaa Central Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Gordon Kwaku Asubonteng and his Dormaa-West counterpart, MrVincent Oppong Asamoah have visited the sixteen injured victims at the hospital to wish them speedy recovery while expressing their condolences to the bereaved families.   The Dormaa Central MCE has also presented assorted provision worth GHȼ 2,000 to the hospitalized victims and pledged to work hand in hand with the hospital’s management to ensure their speedy recovery.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 26, GNA – The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church has unveiled a five-major point vision for the next four to eight years aim at transforming the organization into a more vibrant body ready to contribute meaningfully to national development efforts.   The vision, being spearheaded by Bishop Seth Lartey, who was recently appointed as the 100th Bishop for the Western West African District Office of the church, focuses on education, health, evangelism, expansion and economic empowerment.   The vision was presented in Accra at the weekend at a special business forum, which brought together bishops, pastors, lay members and business men and women of the church within the Western West African District.   Explaining the purpose of the forum, Reverend Dr Hilliard Dela Dogbe, Chief of Staff/Protocol of the Church, said the idea was to create a business consultative group that would develop a business directory for the Church and promote networking among members.   “It will be like having a chamber of commerce for the church.” Presenting the details of the vision, he said, the Church would embark on an educational expansion within its institutions in the Western West African District in Togo, Ghana, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire to increase school enrollment by 100,000 in the next four to eight years.   He added that 10,000 persons would also be educated in adult literacy.   As a long term development strategy, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion, he said, would establish a teacher-training college and a University alongside introducing technical and education trainings.   In the area of evangelism, Rev Dr Dogbe said the Church aimed at reaching one million people with the gospel within the period.   In addition it would also “empower its evangelists at all our conferences in Ghana, Togo, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire and encourage congregation as well to embrace the ministry of evangelism and missions.”   He said it would expand its tentacles to open up new congregations – targeting 500 congregations by venturing into new territories where the gospel had not reached. “There are areas in Ghana today where the gospel has not been reach.   The gospel never runs dry and we will need to get to all the unreached areas,” Rev Dr Dogbe said. On health care, he said, Bishop Lartey’s vision aimed at establishing a major health facility in every Episcopal area and a clinic in each Presiding elder district.   Rev Dr Dogbe said the economic empowerment, which had begun with the business forum, would develop an economic plan that would make the church in Western West African District self-sufficient.   Economic activities that would be generated and promoted include fish farming, micro financing, revamping the shea butter factory business, expanding kente weaving venture in the north, poultry industry, fruit procession, gas station, bottled water production, power generation and radio and TV ministry.   “These have to be strategically placed and resourced in order to achieve them,” Rev Dr Dogbe said. In a speech read for her, Trade and Industry Minister Ms Hannah Tetteh lauded the initiative of the Church, especially in the area of economic empowerment and said the Church’s prerogative should not only be spiritual development.   She noted: “This is because there are several instances where the Bible talks about businesses and entrepreneurship development. Business people are found in almost every church.”   The Minister said because many people were ignorant of the many business opportunities, the local market had become saturated with the same or similar products, which created problems for patronage and profitability.   “It is good to pray for our business but there some basic principles to successful business, which entrepreneurs should know and apply,” she noted.   The Church will launch the construction of its state-of-art headquarters building project in March 2013.   GNA...

Cape Coast, Nov.25, GNA - The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe has said the numerous  development  project  executed  across the country were evidence that the  National democratic Congress (NDC)   had performed  extremely well in the past four years and deserve  another term.   She said the NDC promised to be truthful to Ghanaians and has fulfilled almost all its campaign promises and should be given another mandate to build on the foundation it has laid.   Mrs Benyiwa Doe said this when she opened a photographic Exhibition  dubbed the “Better Ghana  Thus Far” at the Jubilee park in Cape  Coast.   The exhibition mounted by Fynnexhibits in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development   (MOLGRD) and Ministry of Information (MOI) is on the theme, “Advancing the better Ghana Agenda, for the qualitative welfare of the people”   The  exhibition which would be replicated in all the 10 regional capitals  and districts in the country  showcase pictorial  presentation of the key pillars of the Better Ghana Agenda comprised of completed and on-going   projects in the sectors of Education, Health, Roads, Agriculture and Security.   The Regional  Minister said the Photo exhibition was timely because it has shows the  pictures of  the more than 2,800 completed projects  shot  from all  the regions to clear the doubts  lingering on the minds of people pertaining  to the massive development  projects rolled  out by the government.     Mrs Benyiwa Doe commended the District chief executives for the work over the past four years stressing that though it has not been easy to source funds to complete the projects, due to the hard work the various DCEs in collaboration with the GETFUND  they  have been able to manage with the little funds available.   She appealed to chiefs, opinion leaders, and the general public to find time to visit the exhibition centre to see things for themselves which would enable them to make informed decision on the choice of candidates to vote for in the upcoming elections.   Mr Thomas Fynn, Executive  Director of  Fynnexhibits,  said he decided to mount the exhibit because  since the assumption of the Mills/ Mahama  administration in 2009 and the launch of the Better Ghana Agenda, the country has  witnessed  unprecedented  development  in infrastructure, particularly  social intervention programmes to improve  upon  the socio- economic well being of the people  which unfortunately  has not been adequately publicized.   He said he has so far  spent more GH¢20,000 to have the photographs  printed and  mounted  and that it was a worthy venture that would help keep adequate records on the number of development project  being executed in the country.   GNA...