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Vice President advises the military to behave professionally during polls

Accra, Jan 28, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Friday appealed to the Military and other security agencies to conduct themselves professionally devoid of violence and acrimony during the general election in December this year.     He also advised them to become advocates of activities that would unite and educate the civilian public against misconduct and other forms of misbehaviour before, during and after the elections.   Vice President Mahama made this appeal, when he addressed the annual West African Soldiers Social Activity (WASSA) of the Ghana Armed Forces in Accra.    WASSA is a socialization programme among the military to relax, enjoy together and to take stock of the past years and re-strategize for the current year.    It gives the Royal West African Frontier Force some respite from their exertions at the warfront and to renew their commitment and loyalty to their profession.    Vice President Mahama commended them for their efforts at keeping peace and venturing into farming, with particular mention of the Takoradi and Tamale Camps that won national farmers’ awards during the last programme in Agona Nsaba in the central Region, in spite of their numerous challenges.   He announced that government had contracted two companies to construct about 10,000 housing units for the Military and the Police in the coming years as a replacement to the aborted STX housing project.   The Vice President gave the assurance that government had embarked on a re-equipping project, where all the units would be provided with adequate equipment and logistics to enhance the performance of the Ghana Armed Forces.   He said under the re-equipping programme, government had provided more aircraft to the air force, patrol boats to the Navy, while more equipment would be received before the end of this year.    Commodore Geoffrey Bilkro, Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces said their engagement in farming activities was their contribution towards achieving food sufficiency to further achieve the Millennium Development Goal aimed at eradicating hunger and poverty by 2015.   He commended government for the provision of ships for the Navy and some aircraft for the Air force and hoped that most of the promises government made towards their welfare and development would be fulfilled to enhance their confidence levels to step up their performance. Awards were given out to officers and men who excelled in their areas of operations, while selected ex-servicemen were also honoured for their contribution towards the growth and development of the forces. GNA

Vice President advises the military to behave professionally during polls

Ghana Police Service announces recruitment examination

Accra, Jan. 28, GNA -The Human Resource Directorate of the Ghana Police Service has announced that artisan applicants in the current recruitment exercise will be undertaking their physical body screening, practical and written examinations between Monday, 30th January to Friday 17th February, 2012.      A statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service on Saturday, gave the details as follows: the Northern sector comprising Kumasi, Tamale and Wa will have their examinations between 30th January and 3rd February, 2012 at the Regional Police Training School in Kumasi.    The Eastern sector comprising Central, Eastern and Volta Region will take their turn from 5th February to 10th February, 2012 at the Regional Police Headquarters in Koforidua, while the Southern Sector applicants, which is the Greater Accra region will have their exams from 13th February to 17th February, 2012 at the National Police Training School in Accra.   The statement explained that the short listing of applicants had been carried out within the strict requirements of the published advertisements and shortlisted applicants have been sent their letters of invitation.   The statement added that the police administration does not accept responsibility for non-delivery of letters due to wrong addresses as provided by applicants. GNA

Ghana Police Service announces recruitment examination

Ms Ghansah defeats Mr Tettey-Enyo for Ada NDC Constituency

Ada, Jan 28, GNA – Ms Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, has won the Ada Constituency primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) by defeating the incumbent and former Minister of Education, Mr Alexander Tettey-Enyo on Saturday.    She obtained 149 votes of the valid ballots cast as against 114 votes acquired by Mr Tettey-Enyo whilst Mr Moses MacCarthy had 64 votes, according to figures released by the Electoral Commission after the polls.    The NDC is holding Parliamentary primaries in 18 Constituencies in the Greater Accra region with sitting Members of Parliament. The process was postponed last weekend to pave way for the party to address operational challenges.    GNA electoral statistics indicates that in the 2008 Parliamentary Elections; Mr Alexander Narh Tettey-Enyo, who stood on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress won the Ada seat with 16,538 representing 79.55 per cent of the valid votes cast, whilst Mr Kofi Plahar of the New Patriotic Party had 3,843 representing 18.48 per cent and Mr Gordon Chiatey Amenya of the Convention People’s Party had 409 votes representing 1.97 per cent. GNA

Ms Ghansah defeats Mr Tettey-Enyo for Ada NDC Constituency

Government committed to Gas project in Jomoro

Beyin (W/R), Jan. 28, GNA - Dr. George Sipa Yankey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gas Project (GGP), on Friday called on the chiefs and people of the Jomoro District to support the Government to establish a gas processing plant at Atuabo.      He made the call at an extraordinary general meeting of the Chiefs and people of the Western Nzema Traditional Area, at Beyin.       Dr. Yankey expressed worry that though the gas project would bring enormous benefits to the country, some people were politicizing it.      He said the site for the project was changed from Domunlinu in the Jomoro District to Atuabo in the Ellembele District because of feasibility studies carried out at the two sites.      Dr. Yankey said the studies revealed that gas could be obtained, processed and supplied at lower cost at Atuabo.      He said petro-chemical industries and other auxiliary businesses would be established at Domunlinu.      Dr. Yankey said he had ordered further feasibility studies for the final determination of the site of the project because of the misunderstanding that had arisen over its relocation.      He said the final decision would be communicated to the chiefs and people of the Western Nzema Traditional Area.      In a statement read on her behalf, Ms. Somia Yaaba Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Jomoro, said the relocation of the project was of particular concern to the people of Bonyere, Egbazo, Ndumsuazo and Kabenlasuazo.      She hoped the change of site for the project was not due to a court action taken by five persons against the Ghana National Petroleum Company for cutting down trees without their concern.      Ms. Nkurmah expressed worry that investment in land demarcation and project evaluation at Domunlinu had gone waste.      She appealed to the people to exercise restraint and wait for clarification from Government regarding the project. GNA

Government committed to Gas project in Jomoro

NDC MP for Adenta Constituency out

Accra, Jan 28, GNA – Mr Kwadwo Adu Asare, National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Adentan Constituency on Saturday lost the seat to Mr Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore.   At the end of voting, Mr Asare obtained 17 votes of the valid ballot cast, whilst Mr Moore obtained 78 votes to win the seat.    Dr Desmond Aryee-Boi, Presiding Member of the Adentan Municipal Assembly obtained 25 votes; Pualina Delali Adinyirah 38 votes; Alhaji Adam Mahama six votes; Herty laura Ken one vote and Mr Samuel Anum Adjei zero.    The poll was conducted by the Electoral Commission. GNA

NDC MP for Adenta Constituency out

Fritz Baffour wins NDC Ablekuma South primaries

Accra, Jan 28, GNA - Mr Fritz Fredric Baffour on Saturday won the National Democratic Congress parliamentary primaries of the Ablekuma South constituency.       Nii Dodoo and Mr Otukunor, who also contested the polls, obtained 230 votes and 78 votes respectively.     Mr Baffour, incumbent Member of Parliament for the constituency, thanked the NDC delegates for electing him to contest for the Ablekuma South seat in 2012.    He dedicated his victory to the party and called on the contestants to support him to retain the Ablekuma South seat.       He appealed to the supporters to assist the party leadership to deliver on the promise of ensuring a Better Ghana and development at the grassroots. GNA

Fritz Baffour wins NDC Ablekuma South primaries
  • Vice President advises the military to behave professionally during polls
  • Ghana Police Service announces recruitment examination
  • Ms Ghansah defeats Mr Tettey-Enyo for Ada NDC Constituency
  • Government committed to Gas project in Jomoro
  • NDC MP for Adenta Constituency out
  • Fritz Baffour wins NDC Ablekuma South primaries

Economics

CLOGSAG threatens nation-wide sit down strike over single spine implementation

 CLOGSAG threatens nation-wide sit down strike over single spine implementation

Accra , Jan 27, GNA -  The National Executive Committee of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana(CLOGSAG), has threatened a nation-wide sit-down strike, if “anomalies” in the migration of CLOGSAG members onto the Single Spine Salary Structure(SSSS),  are not addressed by February 9, 2012.   In accordance with the decision, all CLOGSAG members would with immediate effect, wear red bands and CLOGSAG offices would hoist red flags.   At a press briefing in Accra on Friday, Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, said CLOGSAG had come to the conclusion that there had been incomplete migration of Civil and Local Government Staff onto the SSSS, even though it had been “repeatedly announced by the Government that all public sector workers would be placed on the SSSS by December, 2011”.   He said the Accounting Class and the Internal Auditors within the Civil and local Government Services, the Non-Formal Division of the Ministry of Education and “some of our members within the Lands Commission have not been migrated”.   Mr. Addo said the top up allowance which was introduced to mitigate the  ”negative and insignificant changes, as was done for other public service institutions as a result of the hype of expectations among public officers, has not been applied to CLOGSAG members”.   He said since September 2011, all efforts by CLOGSAG to get the Accounting Class, Internal Auditors, and some members within the Lands Commission to be migrated unto the SSSS had proved futile.   “We have held meetings with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare and the Minister of Finance and Economic planning without any result. Appeals through the Civil Service Council, Office of the Head of Civil Service and the Local Government Service Secretariat, have also not yielded the desired results,” he said.   Mr. Addo said with the mounting pressures being put on CLOGSAG by its constituents and the “deafening silence from the authorities”, the Executive Committee of CLOGSAG wished that government took steps to address “these concerns” to ensure equity and fairness in the application of the principles underlying the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP), to engender peace during this election year”.   He said there was no consistency in the application of the principles underlying the structure.   “Whilst there are overlaps with respect to levels below 21, the higher levels have no overlaps. This implies that the structure has been massaged to the disadvantage of our members,” said Mr. Addo.   “We are not operating a Single Spine Salary Structure. In fact, a non-overlapping salary structure has been applied to sections of the Public Service, where as others are on a salary structure which combines overlapping and non-overlapping levels,” he said.   Mr. Addo said the concerns raised by CLOGSAG  “should not continue, and we call on government to ensure as a matter of urgency, that equity and fairness prevails in salaries and conditions of service for all Public Sector workers”.   He said the National Executive Committee of CLOGSAG would have no other option than to declare a nation-wide sit-down strike, if by February 9, 2012, the  “anomalies” had not been addressed.   “Meanwhile CLOGSAG members should, with immediate effect, wear red bands and CLOGSAG offices should hoist red flags,” Mr. Addo  said. GNA

Politics

Nii Armarh Ashietey retains Klore-Kloteey Seat

 Nii Armarh Ashietey retains Klore-Kloteey Seat

Accra, Jan. 28, GNA – Delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of the Korle-Klottey constituency, on Saturday overwhelmingly voted for the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Nii Armah Ashietey, in the party’s parliamentary primaries.    He had 277 votes and other aspirants, Mr. Frank Awuku polled 64 votes, Mr Wakefield W. Ackuaku, had 24 votes, and Mr Leeford Quashie polled 27 votes.     Three hundred and ninety-three of the 423 delegates cast their vote with one rejected ballot.     The almost four-hour voting was conducted peacefully amidst heavy security personnel to maintain peace and order.     Ms. Hagar Akenteng, official of the Electoral Commission, who supervised the polls, declared the final results.     Mr. Ashietey expressed his gratitude to the delegates for the confidence repose in him and assured them that he would work hard and retain the seat in the December elections.     He called on party members to work hard to enable the NDC to retain power in December and cautioned them that wining elections was not about mere rhetoric.    Mr. Ashietey appealed to members to propagate the good work of the NDC to win more votes for the party.     He asked other contestants to rally behind him and said “the victory is for NDC and you should come together for us to retain the seat’.     As soon as Mr. Ashietey was declared the winner, the delegates poured powder on him.       Mr Marcus Addy said the Regional Minister’s victory was gift since the polling day was his birthday, amidst jubilation clapping, shouting, jumping and dancing.       Mr. Ashietey, who was born on 28th January 1950 at Osu-Ashanti in the Greater Accra Region, attended the West Africa Secondary School and the Labone Secondary School, where he obtained the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary level and GCE Advance level respectively.    He also attended the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where he obtained a first degree and then proceeded to the University of Ghana Law School.    All the three aspirants conceded defeat and pledged their support for the victor to enable him to retain the December elections. GNA

Sports

Stars to receive physical cash reward

 Stars to receive physical cash reward

Franceville, Gabon, Jan. 27, GNA- Players of the Black Stars would receive physical cash reward as bonuses instead of the proposed electronic payment by the Bank of Ghana (BOG) and the Controller and Accountant General Department (CAGD).   Clement Kofi Humado, Minister of Youth and Sports told GNA Sports in Franceville that though there are talks involving his outfit and the players for future moneys to be paid through electronic facilities, there is an exemption for the tournament.   The players could be rewarded in excess of 100,000 dollars if they end Ghana's three decade wait for the trophy at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.   “Ideally the Bank of Ghana and the Controller General’s Department expects us to comply with the regulation which we will. But for this game, we will grant exemption and do that in future”.  He stated.    The Minister who is in Gabon to give the team both moral and material support, is confident the team can claim the ultimate that he hopes would grant a justifiable breather in the seeming rising political tension in the country's election year.   “Winning the trophy will not only enhance our chances as government, but also give the whole nation a breather from the political tension in the country presently.   “We have invested a lot of effort, energy, financial and other things in the hope of winning this trophy and it is fair to believe we have what it takes to deliver because the players are committed to it”. The Minister declared.   Government is spending five million dollars on the Black Stars campaign - an amount the Minister believes is reasonable for a cause that he said could ultimately inspire the youth to take to sports.   He, however, hopes that corporate Ghana in future would aid government in sponsoring national teams to bring laurels to the nation. By Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent, Franceville, Gabon, Courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports

Social

Bolgatanga –Bawku Road to be re-graveled and tarred

 Bolgatanga –Bawku Road to be re-graveled and tarred

Zebilla (UE), Jan 28, GNA - The Bolgatanga–Bawku road in the Upper East Region which has generated a lot of public outcry and demonstrations as result of its un-motorable nature is to be re-graveled and tarred.      Mr Cletus Avoka, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Zebilla Constituency announced this when he was endorsed by popular acclamation by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the Parliamentary Candidate for the area.    According to Mr Avoka, who is also the Majority Leader in Parliament,  the Northern caucus of MPs have already met the Minister of Road and Highways and President Mills and they  have all pledged to work on the road to ensure an easy transportation of goods and services.    “We the Northern caucus of MPs will continue to pursue the matter to ensure that the road is worked on", he stressed.   He said in terms of road developments, the NDC has a good track record and that it was the government which tarred the roads from Accra to as far as Paga in the Upper East Region.    The MP also announced that Parliament was working hard to pass bills to eradicate negative cultural practices that undermined the fundamental human rights of women, stressing that, Parliament would pass the "property rights of spouses bill" this year.   ”The NDC Government is also encouraging  and supporting the installation of Queen mothers in the three Northern Regions to ensure a balanced  development”    Mr Avoka thanked the delegates and the entire constituency members and assured them that he would bring more development projects to the area such as the upgrading of the Zebilla Market, an increase in the sponsorship package for students in tertiary institutions.   He stated that the  people of the three Northern Regions would have their share of the Rural Electricity Project this year as Parliament was about to pass a law to that effect.    He appealed to members of the NDC in the constituency to avail themselves of the biometric registration, scheduled to take place on 24th March this year, to enable them to get another constituency and a district.   The Bawku West District Chief Executive, Alhaji Anaba  Adam Moro said the NDC government has brought a lot development to the area and mentioned the construction of 132 classroom blocks and the provision of  9,500 dual desks to school in the districts as an example.      He said the construction of four Community Health Planning centre, a 40 bed multipurpose building for the Zebilla hospital, construction of 200 institutional and public latrines, drilling of 80 boreholes and the distribution of 18,753 free school uniforms to school children district wide as some of the projects. GNA

Health

K’Bu children’s emergency ward closed

 K’Bu children’s emergency ward closed

Accra, Jan. 28, GNA - Management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has closed down the Children’s Emergency ward indefinitely.      A statement signed by Mr Mustapha Salifu, Head of Public Relations at the hospital, copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Saturday, explained that the action was a result of the outbreak of bacterial infection known as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).      It said five children on admission at the ward were diagnosed with the MRSA, and the authorities were screening both patients and staff there to ensure that they were free of the infection.       The statement said the MRSA had not spread to other parts of the Hospital and that “The closure is to enable the hospital to clean and disinfect the ward to rid it of the bacteria. The re-opening of the ward will be announced as soon as the problem is solved”.     It asked people who would require paediatric emergency services to call at other hospitals centres within the Accra Metropolis.     The statement advised other health facilities to stop referring patients with MRSA to the ward.    It said: “Our Consultants would be available to provide telephonic consultations to colleagues in other hospitals, who may need their assistance on: 0307060114, 0307060177 or 0307060142.” GNA

Education

Stakeholders in education asked to do more develop the sector

 Stakeholders in education asked to do more develop the sector

Bolgatanga (U/E), Jan 27, GNA - Mrs Lucy Awuni, Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, on Friday urged stakeholders in education to take up the responsibility of developing the sector to the highest pedestal.     She said the nation could not make inroads in the sphere of development without well-informed and educated people and urged teachers and pupils to think of the sector as the means to develop their abilities.      “In each of us there is a private hope and dream, which if fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation”, she added.     Mrs Awuni was speaking at a ceremony to climax a week-long celebration of the Catholic Unit Teachers Association (CUTA) on the theme: “Safeguarding our Catholic and Northern Ghanaian values” which sought to draw the attention of society that education cannot be carried through without paying attention to religion.      She said the role of the teacher in the nation’s development was very crucial and commended teachers for the quality and meritorious services they rendered to the country.     She appealed to students to be disciplined and take their academic work seriously and urged teachers to play an effective pivotal role in the positive character shaping of pupils.     Mrs Awuni stated that the main focus of government this year would be the implementation of the Education Strategic Plan that identifies new areas for acceleration to enhance effective and efficient delivery of education.   That strategy among others, she noted, sought to address the challenges in the management structure and content of education to meet the man power requirement of the nation.   “In order to address the accommodation problems of teachers, Municipal and District assemblies have been tasked to channel most of their educational projects to teacher accommodation in deprived areas” she added.      Mr John Kubabom, Regional Manager of Catholic Schools, expressed worry about the downward trend of morality of catholic pupils in recent times and appealed to teachers and parents to imbibe accepted moral norms in children.     He further called for collective efforts in dealing with the fallen standards of performance at the basic level, and said strict supervision and dedication on the part of teachers was the way forward.     He commended government for its commitment to educational infrastructural development in the region.      Mr Kubabom entreated Catholic pupils to live disciplined and upright lives, adding that “the catholic faith and the word of God instruct us to be the light of life for the emulation of others”. GNA

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