Accra, Nov. 10, GNA – The Institute of Incorporated Engineers (IIE), at the weekend suggested the need for government to inaugurate the Board of the Engineering Council to enable members to implement all national engineering policies.   Mr Eric Ankrah, President of IIE made the suggestion when he led a team to visit the disaster hit Achimota Melcom Shopping Mall in Greater Accra at the weekend.   He told the Ghana News Agency that said the tragic incident as well as other disasters such as fire outbreaks could be minimise if the council is in place.   Mr Ankrah appealed to the public especially estate developers to engage the services of competent engineers.     GNA...

 Accra, Nov.10, GNA – The National Executives and members of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) on Saturday declared their support for Dr Abu Foster Sakara the Flag bearer of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP).   Addressing a press conference at the CPP flag bearer’s campaign office in Accra, Mr Randy Sarfo, Communications Director said: “As you all know by now, GFP was disqualified by the Electoral Commission… to contest this year’s Presidential election and subsequently our flag bearer, Madam Akua Donkor came out to announce that she had thrown her support for Progressive People’s Party (PPP) led by Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum.”   He said the National Executives would however give their support to CPP and Dr Sakara to ensure that the CPP wins this year’s presidential election, adding that members had nothing to do with the PPP and their flag bearer.   He said the vision of the GFP was to achieve economic independence in a decentralised national governance system that would give Ghanaians assurance of quality life, hope and economic freedom.   Mr Sarfo said the executives have not abandoned their mother party in the decision to support the CPP saying “we are only rallying behind Dr Sakara and the CPP to capture power from the National Democratic Congress.   He said Dr Sakara, who is a man of vision, integrity, and shares the same belief and ideology with the GFP, is a right choice to redeem Ghanaians from its incompetent leaders and bring prosperity to the people.   He said Nana Frimponmaa, and her running mate, had worked as a philanthropist to champion the cause of humanity by giving numerous scholarships to many children.   Mr Safo urged Ghanaians to vote for the CPP led by Dr Sakara and Nana Frimpomaa in the up-coming general election to salvage Ghana from the restraints of poverty and to promote development.   Dr Sakara thanked the executives for declaring their support for his candidature saying a united front is needed to achieve victory in the coming elections.   GNA...

Cape Coast, Nov. 10, GNA - Fifteen women from eleven of the 23 constituencies in the Central Region are contesting for this year’s parliamentary seats in the Central Region.   The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has the highest number of seven female aspirants, followed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with five and the New Patriotic Party having two whiles the National Democratic Party (NDP) has one contesting.   The Cape Coast North Constituency has Dr Mrs. Henrietta Abane, representing the NPP and Mrs Sarah Mary Bucknor for the PPP.   Mrs Doreen Thomas Manieson is representing the PPP in the Komenda-Edna-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Constituency with Mrs Veronica Esi Adu-Boateng vying on the ticket of the NDP in the Mfantseman Constituency.   For Gomoa West, Madam Leah Addison Simpson is standing for the PPP whilst another PPP candidate, Mrs Grace Ignophia Appiah is contesting the Gomoa Central seat with Ms Rachel Florence Appohof the NDC.   Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson is the NPP candidate forAwutu Senya East and Madam Hanna Serwaah Tetteh of the NDC for the Awutu Senya West constituency.   In the Agona East Constituency, Mrs Esther Aboagye is the face of PPP whilst the NDC is represented by Mrs Queenster Pokua Sawyer.   Mrs Georgina Nkrumah Aboa of the NDC is contesting with Mrs Comfort Wilson Aggrey of PPP for the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa (AOB) seat.   For Assin Central, Mrs Rosina AkuorkorTeye of PPP and Madam Sabina Appiah-Kubi, NDC are vying for the Assin South Constituency seat.     GNA...

Cape Coast, Nov. 10, GNA - A total of 107 candidates from the 23 constituencies in the Central Region will be contesting for parliamentary seats in the 2012 December general elections.   The candidates are from the various political parties including the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peoples’ National Convention (PNC) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP).   Of the number, fifteen of them are women from eleven constituencies.   Mr Serebour Quaicoe, Deputy Central Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, told the GNA on Wednesday in Cape Coast that seven of the total number are independent candidates.   Giving the breakdown, he said, Assin-South, Awutu-Senya-East, Effutu and Mfantseman have six candidates contesting in each of the constituencies, followed by five each for Komenda-Edna-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK), Gomoa-East, Awutu-Senya West, Agona-East, Agona-West, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Assin-North as well as Upper-Denkyira East and Upper-Denkyira-West.   Four candidates each would be vying for seats in Cape Coast South, Ekumfi, Gomoa Central, Assin Central and Twifo AttiMorkwa and three each for Cape Coast North and Gomoa West.   Hemang Lower Denkyira constituency has only two candidates contesting.     GNA...

Cape Coast, Nov.10, GNA - The Ghana Medical Association has cautioned that name calling and threats of withdrawal of the certificates of medical doctors will not solve the huge human resource deficit problem currently bedeviling the health sector.   What the country needed was to take measures to retain and manage the “little” health staff it had whilst pragmatic steps are put in place to address the issue once and for all to ensure uninterrupted and quality health care delivery in Ghana.   Dr Kwabena Poku-Adusei, who said this at the 54th Annual Conference of the GMA in Cape Coast on Friday added that the Association was non-partisan and will remain as such to continue to provide better health care for all Ghanaians and seek better conditions of service for its members.   The four-day conference on the theme: “Improving under five survival in Ghana: challenges and the way forward,” is being attended by about 500 medical doctors and other medical practitioners across the country.   He said statistics made available in the Ministry of Health’s draft document on Health policy and Strategy puts 1.14 nurses per 1,000 as compared to World Health Organization’s (WHO) standard of 2.20 per 1,000 population and 0.10 physicians per 1,000 population compared to WHO’s standards of 0.20 per 1,000.   He expressed the regret that despite all these problems identified by the document, it failed to suggest practical steps to address the issue of adequate remuneration to help retain staff.   Dr Edusei-Poku said the Association had exhausted all the laid down procedures to seek redress for its remuneration and in this regard appealed to the Ministry to promptly find lasting solution to the Single Spine Pay Policy for health workers.   He called for a national dialogue for certain aspects of the NHIS that were of no benefit to its clients be corrected adding that quack doctors who are on the increase be given stiffer punishment by the law enforcement agencies to serve as a deterrent.   In a speech read on his behalf, Dr Alban Bagbin expressed concern that three years to the deadline on the Millenium Development Goals on health, the health sector was far from attaining its tenets and urged the Association to double up efforts in order to meet the goals.   He said even though some successes have been chalked in the reduction of infant mortality, much more needed to be done to further bring it to the barest minimum adding that appropriate referral mechanism with the various hospitals must be put in place to save infants and children from deaths.   The Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, who was the guest of honour appealed to the government to address the salary issue of medical doctors to forestall misunderstandings between them.     GNA...

Ho, Nov. 10, GNA - Mr Simon Dornoo, Managing Director of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), has said the Bank would adopt a sharper performance management system in order to meet the challenge ahead.   He said the process would separate result-orientated workers from those not inclined to contribute their expected quota.   Mr Dornoo was Addressing the 24th Biennial Delegates Conference of the Employees Union (UNICOF) of the Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd in Ho on Saturday.   The theme for the occasion was: “The Role of GCB Service Culture Plan in Ensuring Quality Customer Service Delivery, Union’s Contribution”.   Mr Dornoo said attitudes must change, especially customer relations, so that the Bank would not only hold on to its clients, but also secure more business through their testimonials.   He said the Bank’s performance this year had been good but must be sustained and that the Bank would continue to go digital to reach clients.   Dr Fritz Gockel, Board Chairman, said remuneration was correlated with productivity, stressing the need for service culture to improve to bring in more business “as no one shares poverty”.   He urged the workers to ensure that the Bank’s slogan “We Serve You Better” would reflect in all their activities.   Mr Isaach Bondorin, Outgoing Chairman of the Employees Union, said the staff was the most important component of the change drive going on in the bank saying “our satisfaction will reflect on the agenda just as our dissatisfaction will do same”.   He called on politicians to allow the change process to continue unhindered adding that   “irrespective of which government is elected in December out management and board should remain intact for us to complete the change agenda”.   He called on his colleagues to contribute actively to the success of the change agenda.   “We have set our hand on this plough of change to drive our dear bank to a greater pedestal, may we not lose focus but remain positive and build that strong partnership with management to the attainment of this success,” Mr Bondorin said.   Mr Henry Ametefe, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, said certain mannerisms of some staff, especially tellers, often gave image problems to the bank saying “quality service and the lack of it had become a major issue in this country and its institutions”.   Mr Ametefe applauded the bank for refurbishing some of its branches, increasing access to ATMs and the introduction of other easy banking products through the internet and phones.   He said the change dubbed “Good to Great” was already being felt by the bank’s customers across the country.     GNA...

Ho, Nov. 10, GNA - US FM, a Ho-based Frequency Modulation (FM) Radio Station on Saturday officially shifted frequency from 94.7 to 100.3, with a promise to provide the most interactive media forum across its coverage area.   Chief Godfred Medicine, President of the US Group of Companies, owners of the station told a short frequency inaugural ceremony in Ho that US FM was striving to remain a proven source of credible information.   He said the station would create platforms for the discussion of all issues affecting the area and would combine its service and market ethics expertly to become the most preferred conduit of commercial messages.   He urged the media to open up their platforms for discussions on development and not for politicians to hurl insults at each other.   Mr Harrison Belle, Head of Communications of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), applauded US FM for connecting with all segments of its coverage area and reflecting their concerns.   Togbui Ahorgoh, General Manager of US FM, said the switch was to extend the station’s reach to bring more audiences into discussing development of their areas.   He said it would also make radio frequency engineering and management less cumbersome.   Togbui Ahorgah said the station was poised to cover the coming elections professionally.     Mr Victor Kwawukume, President of the Volta Regional Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), said the media must play its role well or lose and become puppets of self seeking individuals or interests.     GNA...

Kumasi, Nov. 10, GNA – Workers at the Oforikrom office of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in Kumasi escaped unhurt when their office was hit by a stray bullet on Friday.   The bullet, fired by an unknown suspect at about 2200 hours, penetrated the roof of the office and landed on the floor, creating pandemonium as the workers ran for their lives.   Mr Maclean Kusodzi, Secretary of the Office, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), that the incident had since created fear amongst the workers as they could still not comprehend the motive for the shooting.   “We have for now closed the office to allow the police to conduct thorough investigations into the incident”, he said.   When contacted, the Oforikrom Police Station confirmed the incident and said it had commenced investigations into it.     GNA...

Bolgatanga, Nov. 10, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday resumed his campaign tour of the Upper East Region after a four-day break to attend to the Achimota Melcom wreckage that claimed a number of lives and injured many others.   Apart from addressing rallies at Tong, Zuarungu, Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga, Yagba Kabore, Bawku, Garu, Tempane, Pusiga, Zebilla and Binduri, President Mahama would also pay coutesy calls on Bolga Naba, Bo-Naba,Tindongosombligo, interact with tertiary students in the region, meet with chiefs and lay a wreath at the tomb of Sandema Nab.   President Mahama before the suspension of the campaign had told the people at Navrongo, Paga and Chiana in similar rallies that the performance of the National Democratic Congress in the last four years was enough to return the party to power.   He also advised party members to resist any attempts and negative tendencies that could undermine the orderly progress and also eschew violence and confusion, which were inimical to the growth and development of the country.   President Mahama also told the people at the Bolga Naba’s palace to avoid attacking political opponents as politics was not about insults and destruction, but the trading of ideas and issues to influence the electorate.   The President also pleaded with party foot soldiers to denounce verbal and physical attacks on their opponents as that was not developmental, but retrogressive.   Naba Martin Abilba, Bolga Naba appealed to President Mahama and other Presidential candidates to educate their members against the use of insults and violence to achieve their political ambitions.     GNA...

Kumasi, Nov.10, GNA – The Kumasi Polytechnic (K-poly) has received accreditation from the National Accreditation Board (NAB) to commence a Bachelor of Technology (B-Tech) degree programme in Estate Management.     This brings to four the B-Tech top-up programmes being offered by the school. The others are B-Tech Civil Engineering, Building Technology and Accounting with Computing.     Professor Nicholas Necodamus Nana Nsowah-Nuamah, Rector of the Polytechnic, said by January 2013, the polytechnic would additionally introduce B-Tech top-up programmes in Chemical Engineering, Procurement, Entrepreneurship and Finance.     He was speaking at the 2012/2013 academic year matriculation ceremony in Kumasi on Saturday.     Three thousand six hundred and twelve (3,612) out of the 5,637 qualified applicants were admitted to pursue degree and diploma programmes in Medicine and Health Science, Applied Science, Creative Arts and Technology, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development, Engineering, Business and Management Studies among others.     The Rector said efforts were being made to introduce more B-Tech top-up programmes adding that it was the dream of management to receive accreditation to run full four-year B-Tech degree programmes in the near future.     Professor Nsowah-Nuamah advised the students to exhibit high sense of discipline, saying studying in the polytechnic called for a large measure of self-discipline, rigorous intellectual effort and moral self-mastery.     He said what the world would value most in them after completing their studies would be the success with which they had been able to develop enquiring, critical and keen minds as well as capacity to appraise and weigh facts with deep objectivity and understanding.     Professor Nsowah-Nuamah further advised them to desist from anti-social activities such as examination malpractices, drug abuse or becoming a victim of the dreaded HIV/AIDS pandemic.     GNA...

Accra, Nov. 10, GNA - The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the Political Risk Insurance arm of the World Bank Group, is building a plant that will supply 60,000 cubic meters of potable water per day to residents and businesses in Teshie–Nungua, a suburb of Accra.   According MIGA, the plant would be built on a 25-year build-own-operate-transfer basis and is expected to benefit approximately 500,000 people.   This was contained in a press release by the World Bank made available to the Ghana News Agency on Saturday.   Izumi Kobayashi, MIGA’s Executive Vice President said: “Increased water supply is urgently needed in the project area and many residents lack access to safe drinking water.  We’re very pleased to be supporting this investment that will supply water to Accra’s residents and provide technical know-how in seawater treatment to build capacity in the country.”   The release said MIGA’s investments guarantee of $179.2 million were covering an equity investment and shareholder loan by Abengoa Group; an equity investment and shareholder loan by Daye Water Investment (Ghana), BV of the Netherlands; and a non-shareholder loan and interest-rate swap by Standard Bank of South Africa, Ltd.   It said the coverage was against the risks of transfer restriction, expropriation, breach of contract, and war and civil disturbance.   The project is expected to help bring Ghana a step closer towards its Millennium Development Goal target for water.   The release said Ghana was only one of four countries in sub-Saharan Africa on track to meet the goal, but significant investment was required over the next 10 years to help her meet the rising demand for water.   It said Daye Water Investment (Ghana), BV., a subsidiary of the Japanese Trading House - Sojitz Corporation,  were pleased to invest in a project that would increase the water supply and help reduce the prevalence of water and sanitation-related diseases, including cholera, that are currently affecting the area.   It said the project would also eliminate the need to purchase water from water trucks, which is expensive and, moreover, the quality could not be assured.     GNA...

Accra, Nov. 10, GNA - Mr Eric Ankrah, President of the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE), on Saturday called on the government to pass the Engineering Council Bill to ensure that policies pertaining to the council were efficiently implemented.   He said the Engineering Council Bill would bring further education to the public and create the awareness on the need to consult for the right advice.   Mr Ankrah, who was addressing the 2012 Residential Ball and Silver Jubilee Celebration in Accra, said one of the objectives of IIE was to build a creativity and innovative training centre for the technical and vocational skills as well as those who wanted to determine their natural abilities.   The theme for the celebration was: “Ensuring the Best Practices: Application of Engineer and Technology for National Development”.   The IIE was established about 25 years ago as a professional body embracing all fields, navigation, aeronautic and site engineers, technician engineers, and master craftsmen in all the engineering disciplines and building industries.   The membership of the IIE is approximately 2000 men and women spread all over the country.   Mr Ankrah advised the leaders in the country to support the IIE institution with all the necessary logistics so they could help build a better nation and also provide good living conditions for the people.   “We therefore appeal to all stakeholders, banking and financial institutions, companies, organizations, international agencies, diplomatic corps and the government to assist us to bring these goals into reality."   Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, in a speech read for him, advised to the IIE to eliminate mediocrity and introduce world class standards in the developmental processes of the country.   “The people of Ghana will count on your expertise to ensure the best practices in the application of engineering and technology so that they are not short-changed, whether by foreign investors or their local counterparts,” he said.     GNA...

Accra, Nov. 10, GNA - The African University College of Communication (AUCC) on Saturday held a matriculation ceremony for 375 new students admitted into the various programmes run by the institution.    The matriculants, who were made up of 207 females and 168 males, were led by Ms Rosemond Allotey, Registrar, to swear the Matriculation Oath, which bonds each student to abide by all rules and regulations, and also be of good behaviour while pursuing their study in order to promote a positive image of the university.   Mrs Emma Mitchell, Member of the Governing Council of AUCC, who chaired the function, congratulated the matriculants for successfully obtaining admission to pursue their dreams in the university.   She urged them to make good use of the golden opportunity offered them by the university by staying focused,  working hard and remaining conscious of the efforts and sacrifices of their parents and guardians towards their future job security through quality education.   Mrs Mitchell explained that the institution was affiliated to many international and local universities and institutions of repute.   “Apart from the high standards of faculty members the university enjoys the partnership of intellectuals and academics whose impute offers students quality education,“ she said.   She commended the staff for their relentless efforts in ensuring that quality was maintained at all levels in the university.   Professor Kofi Asare Opoku, Vice President, Institutional Vision Advancement, urged the matriculants to live by their words as contained in the Matriculation Oath.   He encouraged them to study diligently, maintain good manners and endeavour to seek the truth at all times.      GNA...

Accra, Nov. 10, GNA - The Ghana Labour College on Friday awarded Certificates in Labour Studies (CLS) to 12 students who successfully went through three months intensive course from March to May 2012.   The graduands went through courses such as Industrial Relations, Economy of Ghana, Basics Statistics, Computing, Labour Economics, Language and Communications, Research Methods, Trade Union Management, Gender and Labour Relations, Basic Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis as well as Industrial Research.   The Trades Union Congress (TUC) in collaboration with the University of Cape Coast, organised the CLS programme aimed at helping union activists to build their capacity and understanding of global issues relating to labour and economics to be able to adapt to the dynamics in the world of work.   In his welcome address, the Acting Principal of Ghana Labour College, Mr Isaac K. Yanney, indicated that the CLS programme offered admission to 24 students this year, made up of 14 males and 10 females.   However, only 14 of them reported for the programme comprising eight males and six females.   He said this development did not augur well for the college and attributed it to discontinuation of support it used to get from SASK Finland, misconception that the programme is designed for union members and failure of employers to release interested employees for the programme.   Mr Yanney said since the inception of the programme in 2001, the college had trained a total of 246 students made up of 154 males and 92 females who are doing exceptionally well in their fields of endeavour.   He appealed to organizations and individuals to come to the aid of the college to uplift it status to cope and meet global standards.   Mr Joshua Ansah, Acting Secretary General of the TUC, acknowledged that the college was facing enormous challenges that impede its progress, and hinted that the college had already began restructuring effort to address the problems.   He said the courses are under review to ensure it met global standards and urged the graduands not to be daunted by those challenges since challenges manifested in all human endeavours for which they had received the requisite skills and knowledge to successfully surmount.   Mr Justice Anoff, Coordinator of CLS and Director of the Institute for Development Studies, University of Cape Coast, suggested to the college to properly position graduates and the programme to include non-unionized members.   He hinted that the curriculum was under review to meet the needs of industry for them to benefit from the programme.   He urged employers to consider sponsoring permanent staff to pursue the programme since they stood to gain much from the knowledge and skills acquired for increased productivity and national development.   Mrs Martha Akorsah, Assistant Course Prefect, bemoaned the low student turnout this year and attributed it to lack of sponsorship and astronomical increase in fees which rose by 350% in 2012.   She appealed to the school authorities to consider reviewing the school fees downwards to attract more students.   The students made various presentations to lecturers and workers of the college as an appreciation for their support during their stay on campus.     GNA...

Accra, Nov. 10, GNA - Professor Stephen Adei, Former Reactor of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), on Friday said he was praying for a one touch victory for the winner of the December 7 elections, “so that we can celebrate our Christmas and forget of this NPP, NDC matters”.   Prof Adei made this known during a peace symposium in Accra, organised by the Ghana National Association of Adventists Students (GNAAS), as part of efforts to reinforce the campaign for peace in the December 7 general elections.   It was under the theme: “Ghana for Peace: The role of the Student”..   Prof. Addei said the December 7 elections would be one of the most peaceful elections in Ghana's democratic dispensation.    He said the electorates have the responsibility to exercise their franchise peacefully and urged the academia to help educate others on their civic responsibilities.   He enumerated the role of the Ghanaian student in peace building such as speaking on social and national issues and rendering services to the Electoral Commission and their political parties among others.   Prof. Adei bemoaned the springing up of tribal groupings on university campuses in the country, describing it as a very unfortunate situation.     “In our days there was nothing like that, what do you need such groupings for? We are all one people,” he said.   He advised the students to vote on issues and not tribal or party affiliations.   Prof. Daniel Buor, Chancellor of the Valley View University, who chaired the function, charged the electorates to emulate the Americans who recently went through peaceful and successful elections.   Mr Alex Osei-Kojo, GNAAS President, reiterated the need for all and sundry to endeavour to keep the peace of the nation before, during and after the elections.   The GNAAS was setup in the early 1990s to champion the cause of rising to the highest level, the spiritual, moral and intellectual standards of students for worthy emulation and for posterity in order to reach out and make disciples on campus forthe Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.     GNA...

Nyankumasi-Ahenkro (C/R), Nov. 9, GNA - Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central   Regional Minister, on Friday said the government would remain committed to the provision of infrastructure to enhance the development of the country especially the rural areas.   Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said this when she inaugurated  a number of projects including a district court at Nyankumasi-Ahenkro, six classroom block each at Nyankumasi-Ahenkro and Dankwaman Senior High schools and the Assin South District office complex as part of her working tour of the Assin South District.   The classroom blocks, valued at about GH¢ 260 million cedis each, are GETFund projects which are built to ease congestion in classrooms.        Mrs Benyiwa Doe said it was the aim of the government to ensure that all schools in the country were provided with the needed infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning.   Inaugurating the district court, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe commended the district assembly for making provisions for the construction of the court, stressing that this would bring justice to the doorsteps of the community and that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that the nation’s institutions were working effectively.   She urged the people to be law abiding and not to engage in acts that would send them to court and asked that they developed the culture of maintenance to prolong the life span of the block.   Justices Dennis Adjei, an Appeal Court Judge, who represented the Chief Justice, said as the nations prepares for the general elections the judicial service had put in place the necessary measures that would fast track all electoral disputes brought to the law courts.   He said it was the wish of the judicial service to bring justice very close to the grass roots to help the people to have confidence in the judicial service and that the Alternative Disputes  Resolution ( ADR) would soon be introduced in the area.   He urged them to take advantage of the ADR to resolve their disputes amicably to avoid the cost and time wasting that pertained in the law courts.   Nana Afua Gyenfua, Queenmother of Assin-Atandansu Traditional Area, commended the Judicial Service and district assembly for providing the area with a court and said this would help bring law and order in the area.   Mrs Paulina Yankah, Headmistress of Nyankumasi-Ahenkro SHS, thanked the government for the classroom block and the dormitory block which is under construction and said the classrooms would go a long way to ease congestion.   She urged the students to take their studies seriously adding that the only legacy their parents could leave for them is education and that they should strive to the highest level since education was the bedrock for development.   Nana Kweintwi Braimah II, Adontehene of Assin Atandansu area, commended the DCE for her efforts in developing the area and pledged to give her the needed support in her campaigns.   He urged her to entreat her supporters do their campaigns devoid of insults and ensure that the polls were incident free.     GNA...

Accra, Nov. 10, GNA- KAAF University College, a private University affiliated with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Friday graduated 139 pioneering students who studied civil and Geomatic Engineering and Construction Technology.    Out of the 139 graduates, 26 earned first class degrees, 69 second class upper division while 44 clenched second class lower division.   Miss Ekua Ennua Ennim was adjudged the overall best student in Civil Engineering at the graduation ceremony held in Accra on the theme: “Building Human Capital through Private Initiative.   KAAF Collages, acclaimed as the first private University to offer engineering courses is cited at Gomoa Fetteh Kakraba in the Central Region.   Mr Michael Aidoo, Founder of the University noted that no nation could develop without the provision of a solid and strong science and engineering courses.   He therefore asked government to encourage the establishment of more private science and engineering based universities to train and the upgrade skills of Ghanaian students for the job market.    Mr Aidoo called for the abolition of the fee-paying system in the public universities which he said was making it difficult for most students to offer engineering programmes.   He suggested the need for government to extend the students loan scheme to private university students or offer financial assistance to Ghanaian students who want to read science and engineering programmes at private universities.   He urged government to provide central laboratories in Accra and other regional capitals for private universities running engineering programme to enable its students use them for practical works at a fee. .   Mr Lee Ocran, Minister of Education requested the students to study courses in the services and industries so that they could fit into the changing society which is moving from Agric based economy to industrialised economy such as mining and oil and gas.   Professor Yaw Aduborfour Tuffuor of the KNUST advised graduates to endeavour to live within the confines of the norms of society and to be shining stars as pioneers of the College.    Dr Dennis Mike Obeng, Rector, KAAF Collage, said is the academic facility is poised to train more engineering students as well as business administration students to help Ghana in her forward march process.   GNA...

 Ekumfi (C/R), Nov. 10, GNA- The Member of Parliament for Mfantseman East, Mr George Kuntu Blankson on Friday denied rumours that he is at loggerheads with Mr Abeiku Crentsil, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for the area.   He gave the assurance that he is ready to support Mr Crentsil to win the seat.   Mr Kuntu Blankson who lost to Mr Crentsil in the party’s parliamentary primaries debunked the speculations, when he donated items worth thousands of cedis to the newly created Ekumfi District in the Central Region to facilitate the development process of the area.   The items included 10 generators to be supplied to health centres, 20 desktop computers with its accessories to be distributed to schools as well as 10 motorbikes to be used by personnel of the Ghana Health Service.   Mr Kuntu Blankson also presented 500 pieces of NDC T-shirts to Mr Crentsil to support his campaign.   Commenting on NDC aspirants who have gone independent, he said it is not in the interest of the party and appealed to the candidates to rescind their decision.   He advised members of the party to do away with selfish interests, stay true to the party and live in harmony and unity with each other to ensure victory in the December polls.   Mr Emmanuel Baisie, District Coordinating Director of the Ekumfi District Assembly expressed gratitude to the MP for the items and added that it would go a long way to improve service delivery in the area.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 10, GNA– AngloGold Ashanti has signed a separation agreement with Mining and Building Contractors (MBC), its shareholders and the Ghana Mine Workers Union.   A release signed by Mr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Vice President, Corporate Affairs of AngloGold Ashanti and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the agreement was aimed at ushering in a new era for Obuasi mine.   Last month, AngloGold Ashanti terminated its underground development contract with MBC in order to secure the viability and long-term sustainability of the mine.   “AngloGold Ashanti has recruited approximately 700 new employees, most of them former MBC employees, and will assume full responsibility for underground development with immediate effect,” the release said.   It said AngloGold Ashanti has traditionally undertaken underground production using its own employees and equipment.   The company will continue as an owner operator in production and assume underground development.    Mr Kwesi Enyan, Managing Director of Obuasi mine, was delighted with the agreement saying it provides a great deal of certainty to affected workers as its assume full responsibility for its own underground development work.   “We believe that this is an important step in the transformation of Obuasi mine into a world class asset.   “In terms of the separation agreement, AngloGold Ashanti will fund the employee entitlements owed by MBC to … employees directly affected by the termination of the relationship between the two parties,” he added.   Mr Enyan said all MBC employees would be paid their outstanding benefits, leave pay, repatriation entitlements, a 13th month cheque and would receive a food parcel in December.   He added that MBC employees can verify their entitlements through the main MBC office, and expect their payments to their bank accounts as per usual.   “We have a responsibility, not only to the people employed by the mine but also to the broader Obuasi community, to ensure that the decisions we take are in the interests of Obuasi’ s long term viability.   GNA...

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