DSP Tehoda files application for bail pending trial

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DSP Tehoda files application for bail pending trial Accra, Jan. 25, GNA – Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mrs Gifty Mawuenyegah Tehoda, the Senior Police Officer at the centre of the alleged swapping of cocaine exhibit has filed a fresh application for bail pending trial at the Human Rights Court.

The application was to be heard on Wednesday, but it witnessed a technical error and therefore, could not be heard.

Mr Oliver Dzebel, her counsel, is expected to correct the error.

DSP Tehoda, who is the Deputy Head of Commercial Crimes Unit, Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), was put before an Accra Circuit Court for “abetting to stealing of cocaine.”

However, she was remanded into custody after pleading not guilty before the Court presided over by Mrs Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, and adjourned the case to February 6.

The facts necessitating her arrest indicated that following a directive by Vice President John Dramani Mahama on December 14, 2011, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) begun investigations into the loss of 1,020 grammes of cocaine which was tendered in evidence in court on September 27, 2011.

On September 28, 2011, the defence counsel in the matter stated that the substance found was not cocaine and subsequently prayed the Court to order for a re-testing which the judge upheld the submission.

During the investigations, it was revealed that DSP Tehoda who knew about the swapping of the cocaine knew Nana Ama Martins, the alleged trafficker.

The accused was alleged to have assisted in selling a house belonging to Nana Ama Martins to facilitate swapping of the cocaine and investigations into the matter were still ongoing.

The Human Rights Court presided over by Mr Justice Kofi Essel-Mensah, had granted DSP Tehoda bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 with two sureties after it upheld an ex-parte motion filed by her counsel that her continued detention constituted an infringement on her human rights as guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution.

She was released on bail but re-arrested.

A Circuit Court trying the accused, Nana Ama Martins, for possession of 1.029 kilogrames of cocaine realised that the substance had turned into baking soda when it was retested at the Ghana Standards Authority.

President John Evans Atta Mills asked the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to investigate the case while the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, also set up a fact-finding committee on the matter.

The Mrs Justice Agnes Dordzie Committee found that the cocaine was swapped before it was tendered in evidence.

The report of the BNI said investigation established strong circumstantial evidence that the cocaine was swapped with the active assistance and facilitation of DSP Tehoda.

The BNI recommended that DSP Kofi Adzei-Tuadzra, in-charge of Police Narcotics Unit, who had responsibility for the security of the cocaine and DSP Tehoda be held responsible for their roles in the disappearance of the exhibit which was kept for three years at the Police Headquarters.

GNA

Sakumono Police arrest self-styled soldier

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Sakumono Police arrest self-styled soldier Sakumono, Jan 25, GNA – The Sakumono District Police have arrested a 39-year-old self-styled soldier, Alphonse Adzato Mensah, for intimidating and harassing people around Sakumono.

Briefing the Press at his office at Sakumono on Tuesday Assistant Superintendent of Police Michael Addae, the District Crime Officer, said on January 20 he received a call from a taxi driver that someone in military uniform was harassing him for money and his driving license.

He said a patrol team arrested the suspect and a search in his house revealed a military uniform that he claimed belonged to his brother.

ASP Addae said while Mensah was in custody, a lady came to the station and identified him as having introduced himself to her in December 2011 as a soldier preparing for peace-keeping duties in Congo.

He said the suspect convinced the lady, took her to a hotel near Kantamanto in Nungua, and had an affair with her.

ASP Addae said the lady woke up the following morning to detect that Mensah had removed money from her purse and had bolted.

He said investigations into the conduct of the suspect were on-going to find out whether the uniform was stolen, acquired or belonged his brother as he claimed.

GNA

Ghanaian fans savour victory without jubilation

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Ghanaian fans savour victory without jubilation Accra, Jan. 25, GNA – Most Ghanaian football fans on Wednesday evening silently relished the Black Stars lone goal victory over debutants Botswana with the absence of the usual euphoria over the exploits of the national team in international feats.

Hitherto, anytime the Stars chalked a win either in qualifiers to the Africa Nations Cup or the FIFA Word Cup, there have been spontaneous jubilation deep into the night with various forms of celebrations across the breadth and width of the country.

In their mood of jubilation, fans and supporters often engage in all manner of enjoyment to savour the occasion by singing and dancing, especially at drinking spots, partying deep into the night amidst tooting of car and lorry horns but this time round there were none of such scenes throughout the major streets and in the various communities.

There have, however, been various heated forms of debate about the performance of the players and the outcome of the match with some putting the under-par performance of the match on the shoulders of the referee and coach.

Mr Divine Koblah, Senior Editor with the Ghana News Agency, said the performance of the players made him feel sick with a suspected high blood pressure after the match. He was surprised about the way the boys approached the game as if they were not ready to win the match.

He was amazed that even though the Stars had no serious marksman besides Asamaoh Gyan, the coach still left out some of the experienced players when the team really needed somebody who could hold onto the ball from the midfield up to the lone striker.

A student at Madina Zongo, Gariba Sadat Weidaga, told GNA Sports that the Stars could have won the match in the first half if they had put their acts together instead of always sending diagonal passes and making back passes which were detrimental to their game plan.

He said the Stars and Ghanaians should however not be disappointed with the red card handed the captain of the side, John Mensah since he sacrificed to save the team from conceding a goal which could have cost the Stars in the on-going Africa Cup of Nations.

Kalifa Musah, a trader at Makola market in Accra central, blamed Coach Goran Stevanovic for letting down the high spirits of the Ghanaian fans and wondered why he left some experienced players like Derek Boateng who is a combative midfielder on the bench as well as Kwadwo Asamoah and Jonathan Mensah.

He said now that “we have been given the baptism of fire, there is the need for us to re-strategise and meet the rest of the matches by adopting an all-attacking game instead of defending and being on the back foot”.

Ollabode Williams, East Ayawaso Constituency Secretary of the NDC told the GNA Sports that even though the Stars did not put up a vintage performance, there is the hope that they can improve with the acts as the competition progresses since the country has always been later starters with their games. 

He urged the players to put in extra effort and dedication as well as the zeal to succeed in an effort to annex the Cup since the whole country is behind them with dedicated prayers and good will.

It would be recalled that at the week-end the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, on a visit to the camp of the Stars in Franceville, Gabon, advised the players not be complacent in their approach to the games and to meet each challenge with dedication and the zeal to achieve success for the country.

GNA

Dr Sakara joins CPP flagbearership race

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Dr Sakara joins CPP flagbearership race Accra, Jan 25, GNA – Dr. Foster Abu Sakara, the running mate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in the 2008 elections on Wednesday picked up a nomination form at the Party’s headquarters to contest the flagbearership slot of the CPP.

A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra by him said the decision was to contest for the privilege to lead the CPP into the 2012 general election campaign as its candidate to become the President of the Republic of Ghana.

Dr Abu Sakara, an Independent Consultant, is a specialist in Agriculture and Rural Development with a stellar career in international agricultural development.

It explained that Dr. Abu Sakara’s political affiliation with the Party dated from his late father Mr. S. S. Sakara, who served as a CPP Regional Party Secretary.

It also noted that his father served in Ghana’s first republic as a District Commissioner and Member of Parliament for Damongo-Daboya, West Gonja.

“Dr. Abu Sakara following the tradition of his father has also served the CPP as its Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2008 General elections, first National Vice Chairman and chairman of Organizational Committee from 2007 to 2011,” it added.

The statement said Dr Abu Sakara was passionate about the renewal of the CPP to its restoration to government to transform the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.

It said the vision of Dr. Abu Sakara for Ghana was for it to be “the jewel in Africa’s crown of achievement” giving inspiration to all Africans everywhere to reach their full potential.

This, he claimed could be achieved in the lifetime of his generation if Ghanaians commit themselves to pragmatic choices for good governance, economic growth and social development based on sound time tested principles of freedom, justice for all, equal opportunity and right to work.

According to the contender of the CPP flagbearership the country needed fundamental changes to some systems of governance to empower ordinary people to effectively hold politicians accountable at every level of government in real time and not after the fact.

The 54 years old, said the mistakes of economic policies that lead to unacceptable gaps between rich and poor with all of the attendant social vices must be avoided now.

Dr. Abu Sakara, is married to Mary-Lily Kafela Tigenoah, an Economist and Business Administrator with four children.

GNA

NRSC urges soccer fans to be moderate in their celebrations

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NRSC urges soccer fans to be moderate in their celebrations Accra , Jan 25, GNA -The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) has urged soccer fans throughout the country to be moderate in their support and celebrations for the Black Stars during the ongoing football tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

It said supporters should shy away from acts, such as drink driving, speeding and spontaneous jubilation of goals, especially on busy roads, which would endanger their lives and that of other road users.

Mr Noble John Appiah, Executive Director of the NRSC in a press statement issued in Accra on Wednesday stated that excessive speed had been the cause of sixty percent of all road crashes in the country.

 “Alcohol slows down your reaction time, increases risk and gives a false sense of confidence” he added.

He expressed the commission’s best wishes to the Stars in the ongoing tournament and hoped they win the trophy for the nation this year.

“It takes dedication and team work to deliver trophies and safer roads. These virtues, known to the Black Stars, who have since 2011 become a global and national ambassadors for road safety will be worthy a motivation to deliver to our expectation of a trophy this year. I wish them a good run matches” he said.   

GNA

Court fines Galamsey operator for stealing

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Court fines Galamsey operator for stealing Tarkwa (W/R), Jan. 25, GNA – A 20 year-old Small Scale Miner (Galamsey) , Richard Osei has been fined GH¢420 by a Tarkwa Circuit Court for stealing GH¢6900 and 0.

Osei who was convicted on his own plea would serve three months imprisonment in hard labour.

Prosecuting Police Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court presided over by Mr Samuel Obeng Diawuo that the complainant Victor Gadri, a businessman on December 11 visited his family in Prestea and lodged in a hotel.

He said the convict broke into the vehicle of the convict and made away with the money and an instrument panel.

He said around 0820 hours on December 12 the next day, the complainant detected that his money had been stolen and reported the matter to the police.

Inspector Amponsah said at the course of investigation, the accused was apprehended.

The Prosecutor said when Osei was questioned he admitted the offence and a sum of GH¢6,100 and the 0 was retrieved from him.

GNA

Brong Ahafo Second Division League commences

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Brong Ahafo Second Division League commences Seikwa (B/A) Jan. 25, GNA – Seikwa Nkoraman Football Club (F/C) at the weekend thrashed Fetentaa All Stars 4-2 in the first round of Brong-Ahafo Second Division Zone 2B League at Seikwa in the Tain District.Nkoraman led 2-1 at first half with Eric Arhin netting both goals.After a hectic 30-minute stiff opposition by the Fetentaa boys right from the beginning of the match, it as apparent that the energy of the visitors had waned and this gave the Seikwa boys more room to operate.However the seemingly fading Fetentaa boys who sprung a surprise just a minute to end the first half when Alieu Beneto managed to pull a goal back for his team.On resumption of the second half, Arhin and his colleagues, backed by a pep talk by Nana Kobire, Nkosoohene of Seikwa who is Director of the Club, played with all purposefulness and it came as no surprise when Arhin scored his third goal in the 63rd minute while Michael Owusu added another in the 69th minute to seal the doom of the Fetentaa boys.In the “Zone 1A” encounter, Atuahene F/C playing at home defeated Abesim Stars 2-1. Mike Owusu and Emmanuel Boakye scored for the homesters in the first half with Eric Ansu pulling a goal back for Abesim in the 85th minute.Tano F/C of Tanoso who on January 15 traveled to Chiraa to split points with local Gyako Stars stayed at home to spank Sunyani Soccer Stars 3-0 in their “Zone 1B” match.In the same zone Sunyani Aston Villa, who played a goalless drawn game with Soccer Stars in the maiden fixture of the league, once again shared the points with Sunyani Liberty Youth when their match ended goalless, while Suncity of Sunyani thrashed Gyako Stars 3-0 in Sunyani.In the “Zone 1C” pairings, Chiraaman of Chiraa who played a goalless drawn game with Sunyani Hamburg last week, beat Nom F/C of Sunyani 3-1, while the match between D.C. United and Hamburg, played in Sunyani ended with no goal to either side.Results of other matches played at the weekend were in “Zone 2A”, Senase Adwinpa F/C won 2-0 over Seikwa Soccer Professionals at Senase, while Biadan Barcelona F/C traveled to Berekum to split the points with Jah Warriors in a goalless game.In “Zone 3” Japekrom Mpuasuman, one of the strongest contestants in the zone white washed Adamsu Manchester United 2-0 at Japekrom. A week ago Mpuasuaman traveled to Konsia to play 2-2 with the local Aston Villa.In “Zone 4”, Kenyasi Hoffenham F/C thrashed Ntotrosoman of Ntotroso 3-1 at Kenyasi, while Goaso Nananom F/C, despite their home support, could only score a narrow 1-0 win against Kenyasi Angel F/C.Kintampo Top Talent narrowly beat local rivals, Destroyers 1-0 in their “Zone 5A” derby, while Buipe Rover Pool also whipped Kintampo Marcus 2-0 in the latter’s own background, with Krabonso New Castle playing a one-one drawn game with  Krotakyi Obooba F/C at Krabonso in “Zone 5B”.In the “Zone 6A”, Dormaa Future Stars who started the league with a goalless result with local rivals Golden Academy at Dormaa-Ahenkro, last Sunday remained at home for their second-week pairing with Royals and once again split points after playing nil-nil.In “Zone 6B” Wamfie Super Lions and Wamanafo Mighty Royals ended their encounter at Wamfie with no goal to either side, Kyeremasu Saviour Stars also had a nil-nil drawn game with Asuotiano F/C at Kyeremasu, while Asuowam F/C managed a 1-1 drawn match with Dormaa-Ahenkro Unity Sporting Club at Dormaa-Ahenkro.Bechem Youngsters thrashed Tepa Evergreen 2-0 at Bechem in the “Zone 7” pairings, as Bomaa A.C. Millan, playing at home, narrowly defeated Duayaw-Nkwanta Tano Ajax 3-2, with Banda Mountains playing 1-1 with Unity Sporting Club of Nwoase in their “Zone 8” match at Banda.In the same zone Wenchi United whacked Banda Youngsters 3-1 and Amponsakrom Black Stones drew 1-1 with Debibi Aku Stars at Amponsakrom.In “Zone 9”, Offuman Asukyiridi and Techiman Olympics ended in a 3-3 drawn encounter at Offuman, Tromeso Young Sparrows bowed 1-2 to Tuobodom Santos at Tromeso while in the “Zone 10” matches, Nyafumaman and Yeji Lazio F/C shared honours with a 0-0 result in their encounter at Nyafuma while Akuma Smiling Cosmos defeated Nkoranza Everton 1-0 at Akuma.GNA

Tullow Oil Launches Scholarship Scheme

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Tullow Oil Launches Scholarship Scheme Accra, Jan. 25, GNA -Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) on Wednesday launched the Tullow Group Scholarship Scheme (TGSS) in partnership with the British Council to help develop local skills and expertise in the oil industry.

The scheme, which forms a key part of Tullow’s overall approach to education and capacity building, will support postgraduate degrees, technical training and vocational studies.

The scholarships aim to support local people to participate in the oil and gas industry, and in other sectors that promote economic diversification.

The scheme will address both existing industry skill gaps and national capacity development requirements and is aligned with Tullow’s aim of supporting long-term socio-economic growth in countries where it operates.

A pilot phase had already begun in September 2011 with 24 Ghanaians from the public sector pursuing Masters Level studies with leading universities in the United Kingdom.

Launching the scheme, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, Minister of Energy, said the scholarship scheme would give practical meaning to the country’s quest for indigenization of the work force in the oil and gas industry.

“The initiative is a welcomed bold step very much appreciated by government. There is no better way to develop Ghanaians to take over the commanding heights of the oil and gas sector than this approach which in the not too distant future will see our own people giving true meaning to local content in the industry,” he said.

The full Tullow Group Scholarship Scheme will have up to 110 scholarship awards this year allocated across the following countries Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Cote d’Ivoire, French Guiana and Bangladesh.

This year, fifty scholarship awards from the Tullow Group Scholarship Scheme are available to Ghanaians, who meet the set criteria through a competitive process.

Ten of the available scholarships would be set aside for scholars from the six coastal districts of the Western Region bordering the Jubilee Field.

 “This is a huge investment in capacity building by any estimation,” Dr Oteng-Adjei said and urged beneficiaries of the scheme to return home after their training so as to create the opportunity for others to also benefit.

The scheme will be run through a partnership between Tullow and the British Council – an internationally recognised service provider in the area of scholarship management and partnership brokerage in higher education around the world.

Mr Aidan Heavey, CEO of Tullow Oil Plc, said: “This whole scheme is about developing potential – the potential that Tullow sees around it in Africa every day.  Developing local talent for the oil industry makes good business sense for us, and it makes sense for oil producing countries to develop talent beyond oil. 

This is a great opportunity for anyone who has thought about this and wants to make a real contribution to the future of their country.”

GNA

Legon TESCON calls on the Police be professional

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Legon TESCON calls on the Police be professional Accra, Jan. 24, GNA – The Tertiary Education Students’ Confederation of the New Patriotic Party NPP, University of Ghana (TESCON-Legon), has called on the Ghana Police Service to show professionalism during the intended demonstration by the Alliance For Accountable Governance.

The demonstration of the pressure group will take place on Wednesday, January 25 in Accra.

A statement, signed by Mr McLaw Gyamfi Philip, Press Secretary, TESCON-Legon, and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday in Accra, noted that TESCON strongly believed that the demonstrators would receive the maximum cooperation from the Police and would not be intimidated.  

It said the demonstration is seen as a mass protest against a “gargantuan” crime committed against suffering taxpayers of the country by putting a whooping amount of money not less than GH¢ 58 million into a single person’s wallet for no work done.

 According to the statement the protest ahead of elections 2012 is one of the opportunities that citizens of the country could take to register displeasure against incompetency, hypocrisy “and most importantly, corruption”.

“It shall serve as a tool to tell the government how the people are poised to retrieve our money as Mr Martin Amidu was determined to do until he met his dismissal as Attorney General of the country”, it added.

The statement also appealed to President John Atta Mills to personally receive AFAG’s petition instead of delegating somebody to do so on his behalf.

It also called on all students who believed in their future to come out to support the demonstration.

GNA

Works start on Kintampo power sub-station

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Works start on Kintampo power sub-station Kintampo (B/A) Jan. 24, GNA – A total of 340 communities  in 22 districts and municipalities in Brong Ahafo Region started enjoying electricity power as at the end of December, last year.

Dr Joe Oteng Adjei, Minister of Energy who announced this at the sod cutting ceremony for the construction of a 29 million dollars sub-station in Kintampo on Monday said the facility was provided in 216 of the communities under the Self-Help Electricity Programme.

The Grid Company (GRIDCO) of Ghana provided for the remaining 124 communities, whilst government is working to extend the facility to 400 additional towns in the region.

Dr Adjei indicated that the substation on completion would generate 400 Megawatts power, after Akosombo and Kpong and would evacuate power from the Bui hydropower plant to Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Brong Ahafo regions.

The substation, otherwise known as Bui power substation for the 161 KV and 34.5 KV, is expected to provide a unique service for beneficiary communities in the sense that even during power failure from the national grid they would continue to enjoy power.

Dr Adjei expressed regret about the tendency among some construction workers to pilfer materials meant for national projects and called on the chiefs, assembly members and other stakeholders in the area to help check the activities of such nation wreckers.

Weldy Lamont Associates Incorporated of the United States is the main contractor for the project, with GRIDCO Limited, Volta River Authority (VRA) and The Chnology Material Group, as project partners.

Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Regional Minister, said the inauguration of numerous projects across the country was evident that President John Evans Atta Mills statement that the year 2011 was an action year was not a fluke.

“The provision of necessary infrastructure in all corners of the country explains how realistic the government means with the Better Ghana Agenda.

“It also portrays the seriousness of the government in ensuring that electricity power is provided in all communities, no matter the location, to reduce the rural-urban drift of especially the youth,” he said.

The Regional Minister said available records indicated that 22 district and municipal assemblies in the region spent a total of GH¢ 25,301 on electrification projects.

Mr Nyamekye Marfo suggested to the authorities of the VRA to award people who would help arrest people who would pilfer materials at the project site as well as saboteurs.

He urged the assemblies to set ‘eagle-eye’ measures to control such anti-social activities.

He asked the people to register during the bio-metric registration exercise to qualify them to exercise their franchise during the December presidential and parliamentary elections.

Alhaji Alhassan Seidu Harrison, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) said the sub-station would help irrigate about 30,000 hectares of land to enable farmers to undertake mechanised farming on commercial scale.

“This will increase agricultural productivity and… income levels of farmers, whilst employment opportunities would be created. This will also fulfill the promise of the government to ensure food security and put more money in the pockets of the people,” the MCE added.

Mr Charles Darku, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana GRIDCO said the company considered the sub-station project a key step in the realisation of its mandate to build a strong electric power grid that not only provided access to reliable electricity to consumers but also an open access to all electricity generators to dispatch energy onto the grid.

The capacity of the substation will also be high enough to supply power to various communities between Kintampo and Bamboi, which are not hooked to the National Electricity Grid.

GNA

Producer Price Inflation falls to 15.19 per cent in December

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Producer Price Inflation falls to 15.19 per cent in December Accra, Jan 25, GNA – The annual Producer Price Inflation (PPI) fell to 15.19 percent in December 2011 from a revised figure of 17.94 in November, the Ghana Statistical Service said on Wednesday.

The all industry monthly inflation is negative 0.17 per cent.

On specific industry performance, mining and quarrying sector recorded the highest year-on-year rate of 18.23 percent while the manufacturing sector increased to 17.23 per cent.

Utilities recorded the lowest rate of 9.07 percent for the period.

Dr Philomena Nyarko, Acting Government Statistician, said the high contribution of the mining and quarrying sector was as a result of the high international gold prices.

Petroleum prices have been relatively stable since a sharp rise in January 2011, recording 25.82 per cent inflation rate for December 2011.

Dr Nyarko said the monthly change rate showed that manufacturing recorded the highest monthly change of 1.53 percent, followed by utilities at 1.41 percent.

Mining and quarrying recorded a negative monthly change rate of 8.37 percent.

Dr Nyarko said eight out of the 16 major groups in the manufacturing sector recorded inflation rates higher than the sector’s average of 17.23 per cent.

The manufacture of machinery and equipment recorded the highest inflation rate of 38.05 percent whilst manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers recorded the lowest rate of 2.33 percent.

GNA

ICONS audition train hits Takoradi on Friday, 27 Jan

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ICONS audition train hits Takoradi on Friday, 27 Jan Accra, Jan 25, GNA – The search for contestants for this year’s Vodafone Icons Mixed Edition continues as the audition train hits the Takoradi Metropolis on Friday, 27 January 2012.

The audition, which will take place at the Raybow Hotel, will give music lovers in the ‘Oil City’ and its surrounding communities the opportunity to be part of ICONS, as the judges select the best from the thousands of applicants who have pre-registered.

A statement issued and copied to Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday by Vodafone Ghana Limited said: “In order to audition, aspiring male and female singers aged between 18-30 need to pre-register by sending their name, age and preferred city to Vodafone short code 1738.”

It explained Contestants could also get more for their big day through special audition tips, which they could receive by texting ‘SUB ICONS’ to short code 1738.

The statement noted that over 6,000 people have registered for the online auditions which will be valid until the end of January, adding that online Contestants, who wished to audition online, could still do so by uploading a recorded two minute “acapella” video of themselves singing any of the latest music hits on YouTube and sharing the link on the Vodafone Facebook page.

According to Ms. Naa, one of the judges “we were very impressed with the Tamale audition; the contestants proved to us that they have got what it takes to participate in this life time opportunity and we look forward to an even more interesting audition at Takoradi.”

It said the judges expressed excitement about the talents being discovered and the amazing experience across country.

“Icons Mixed Edition has generated a lot of buzz and excitement amongst talented participants in the Western Region and it is expected that over hundreds of music acts will audition to test their musical abilities for an opportunity to represent the regions”.

Icons audition would hit the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi on Saturday, 4 February at the Miklin Hotel and finally in Accra on Saturday, 12 February at the La Palm Hotal.

Participants will be screened by the panel of renowned judges including Gena West, Appietus and Ms. Naa.

GNA

Giveaway: Win a free Portable DVD player and blockbuster movies from Universal Studios

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AmeyawDebrah.com and DStv have teamed up to bring readers an exciting competition that would see one lucky person win a Universal Studios branded LG- DP351 7’inch portable DVD player worth $149.99, with DVD copies of 2 blockbuster movies from the studio also up for grabs.

The competition is open from now till January 30 and a draw will be done of all correct answers. The main prize winner will the LG DVD player with slick features such as: LCD display, TFT active matrix, color, Height/width ratio 16:9, Audio output mode Stereo, Digital audio format Dolby Digital output, DTS digital output, and equipped with carrying pouch.

There will also be 3 other prizes of 2 films each. The films are ‘Sniper: 23 Days of Fear’ and ‘United 93’. ‘Sniper: 23 Days of Fear’ chronicles the period when John Allen Muhammad (played by Bobby Hosea) and Lee Boyd Malvo (played by Trent Cameron) went on a serial shooting spree in October 2002 in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland, all parts of the Washington Metropolitan Area, the entire area of which was held in a grip of terror. ‘United 93’ is a real time account of the events on United Flight 93, one of the planes hijacked on 9/11 that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania when passengers foiled the terrorist plot.

To win the DVD player and movies send your answer to the following question to [email protected]

QUESTION: ON WHAT DSTV CHANNEL CAN YOU FIND THE STUDIO UNIVERSAL CHANNEL?

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Menaye Donkor searches for Sulley Muntari’s biggest fan!

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Things are looking good for the Ghana Black Stars after winning their opening Group D match against Botswana in the ongoing African Cup of Nations on Tuesday. Menaye Donkor has put together a sweepstakes competition for fans of her football-star hubby and Ghanaian midfielder, Sulley Muntari.

To enter the competition, fans must submit a photo or video (uploaded to Youtube, Facebook or another video or photo sharing website) of themselves as fans celebrating a goal scored by Muntari. Entries must be posted in a link form  to Twitter and tagged with mention to @MenayeDonkor.Entries must also include the hash tag #GhanaToWin.

The competition will run throughout the group stages of the tournament, closing as the final whistle is blown in the last group game against Guinea on 1st February 2012. Muntari, who has officially stated on his website that he isn’t on Twitter, comments: “I will personally be choosing my 3 top goal celebration acts which will be announced on Twitter on 3rd February 2012!”

1st Prize include a trip for two to see the Black Stars play in their World Cup qualifying game against Lesotho in Accra, Ghana, on Friday 1st June 2012 and a chance to meet Sulley Muntari. Transport costs are included in the prize as well as two nights’ accommodation in a 4-star hotel and two match tickets plus a signed Black Stars kit. 2nd and 3rd Prizes include a Black Stars football kit signed by Sulley Muntari.

For term and conditions of the comeotition, visit http://www.sulleymuntari.com/competitions/

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GDP Growth falls to 12 percent Year-on-Year in Third Quarter 2011

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GDP Growth falls to 12 percent Year-on-Year in Third Quarter 2011 Accra, Jan. 25, GNA – The unadjusted GDP growth has dropped to 12 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2011, compared with a revised 17.6 percent figure in the second quarter of 2011, the Ghana Statistical Service said on Wednesday.

Dr Philomena Nyarko, Acting Government Statistician, said the industry sector recorded the highest growth of 32.7 percent, followed by the services sector with 5.8 percent and agriculture 5.2 percent.

“Within the Industry sector, the influence of crude oil pushed the growth of the mining and quarrying sub-sector to 263.1 percent,” she said.

She said growth in construction was also high at 25.9 percent whiles manufacturing recorded a negative growth of 15.4 percent.

Crops sub-sector (including cocoa) increased by 10.2 per cent while negative growths were registered in Forestry (-11.0%) and Fishing (29.9%).

Dr Nyarko said the main contributors to the increased economic activity in the Services sector were Transport and Storage, Information and Communication, Business and other service activities.

She said seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter estimates of the real Gross Domestic Product showed a decline of 0.2 percent in the third quarter of 2011 over the second quarter of 2011.

She said the Industry sector grew by 10.1 percent, Services by 3.1 percent and Agriculture declined by 6.8 percent during the third quarter.

GNA

YFM inspires youthful creativity with ‘Dust Lyve’!

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Y107.9fm has introduced a new dimension to its programmes with the introduction of ‘Dust Lyve’. Based on the ‘Dust Magazine’, an urban Ghanaian youth-oriented publication, which focuses on creativity in Ghana and her diaspora, Dust Lyve presents an appealing blend of the various components of the entertainment landscape.

Airing each Sunday night from 9pm to midnight, the programme strikes a balance between cool and conscious as the magazine upon which it is based, shining a spotlight on music not heard anywhere else, on events around town, with a light dash of issues to keep listeners informed of important changes in the world around them.

Nana Kwame Sarpong, General Manager of Yfm notes that, “Yfm is ever-dynamic, and ‘Dust Lyve’ is a step in a new direction. It goes a step beyond the regular entertainment show and throws in some good education, well-researched exposition as well as nothing short of Yfm’s quality music. It is a must-listen, suited to every inquiring audience”.

The programme is hosted by Crystal Svaniker, and Kobby Graham.  Crystal is the founder and publisher of ‘DUST Magazine’. An alumnus of the Global Media Alliance, she has over five year’s experience writing for and co-editing various magazines and newspapers, including Sunday World (later known as Weekend World) where she was Assistant Editor. Currently working both at the magazine and at the Ministry of Trade, she brings to the table a combination of a love for life and knowledge of how things really work in Ghana.

Kobby is the editor of ‘Dust Magazine’. He has almost a decade of experience DJing both in the UK (Amplified: www.amplified-online.co.uk) and in Ghana (Joy FM, Vibe FM, Asabaako Music Festival, AccradotAlt Festival, Soul N Motion, etc). He is currently a lecturer at Ashesi University College, a popular blogger (www.kobigraham.wordpress.com), and is probably the only DJ in town with a law degree and an MA.

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Increase in fuel prices impacts negatively on OMCs

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Increase in fuel prices impacts negatively on OMCs Accra, Jan. 24, GNA – The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs) on Tuesday revealed that increases in fuel prices had impacted negatively on the operation of downstream oil marketing companies.

“The reality on the marketing field is OMCs make very low return on their investment, therefore when fuel prices are increased, what it means is that the OMCs require additional capital to lift the same quantity of fuel at the new price.   

“For example, for petrol, if an OMC lifts 1,000,000 litres in a month at GH¢ 1.0886 per litre, the total amount required to lift such quantity of fuel is GH¢ 1,088,600.

“If the price is increased to GH¢ 1.3127 per litre (15 per cent increase), an OMC requires GH¢ 1,317,700 to lift the same quantity of fuel which in effect requires additional capital of GH¢ 224,100,” Mr Kwaku Agyemang Duah, AOMC Industrial Coordinator told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.

He said: “Cost of sales increases by 20.59 per cent without a corresponding increase in margin. An added upshot of fuel price increase on OMCs is that cost of capital also increases”.

Mr Agyemang Duah explained that the OMCs’ had the option to decide whether to finance with debt or equity…”Financing the GH¢ 224,100 with equity would require payment of dividend annually – either preference or ordinary shareholders to shareholders.

“Moreover, in Ghana, most of the OMCs’ are not listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) so cost of marketing the shares of unlisted companies will also be high”.

The AOMCs Industrial Coordinator said, “If the OMCs’ decide to finance the extra capital requirement with debt, it has to pay monthly interest on the loan…we should not forget the fact that some loans come with restrictive covenants.

“With reference to our example, assuming an average interest rate of 25 per cent, the OMCs’ will pay GH¢ 56,025 as interest on the loan.

“It is pertinent to note that a significant number of OMCs’ cannot raise the GH¢224,100 additional capital to finance their operations looking at their financial position so they would like to trade with the available working capital.   

“An OMC which used to lift 1,000,000 litres at GH¢1.0886 will lift 829,283 litres at GH¢ 1.3127 per month”.

Mr Agyemang Duah said since the OMC did not get an increase in margin, it was expected that it sold more products to make up for the lost margin but in such a situation, the cost of sales went up while there was financial constraints on how much litres it could lift to sell at a reduced quantity of 829,283 litres.

He explained that when fuel prices were increased, the regulatory authority expected that products would be sold at the prevailing new prices which meant that the prices quoted on the dispensers had to be changed overnight and also billboards.

“It also cost OMCs GH¢200.00 per machine to contract expert to their various stations all over the country to replace the old prices with the new prices…not forgetting the distance and the time constraints.

“Increase in fuel prices results in general price increase of goods and services which in effect increases the general cost of operation by an OMC without a corresponding increase in margin.

“Increase in operating cost which is a recurrent expenditure would have to be financed with the existing margin including the fact that employees would expect an increase in salaries and wages since increase in fuel prices affect the standard of living of the ordinary Ghanaian, especially their colleagues in the public sector are enjoying the almighty single spine,” the Industrial Coordinator stated.

Mr Agyemang Duah said the imperative factor with the issue of fuel price increase was the fact that it did not make OMCs effective distributors.

He suggested that the way forward was for OMCs to obtain an increase in margins to be able to recover their cost and operate effectively by sending products to every part of the country.

GNA

Ayawaso East MP donates motor bikes to Nima Police Command

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Ayawaso East MP donates motor bikes to Nima Police Command Accra, Jan. 25, GNA – Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Member of Parliament (MP) of Ayawaso East in the Greater Accra Region on Wednesday donated two motor bikes to the Nima Divisional Police Command to help ease their transportation difficulties.

He said the licensed bikes are meant to support the Nima and Kotobabi stations to enhance their surveillance and policing activities.

Dr Ahmed also the out-going Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing said the partnership between the Police and the Ayawaso community has not only been harmonious but also beneficial in ensuring peaceful co-existence.

He said the donation is in recognition of the untiring efforts of the Police to protect lives and property.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Timothy Yoosa Bonga, Divisional Police Commander expressed appreciation for the continued support of the MP to facilitate security service in the area.

He said the major challenge facing the Command has been mobility and the donation of the bikes would aid the Police personnel undertake surveillance and other policing activities.

ACP Bonga recalled the two computers and accessories Dr Ahmed donated to the Command last month which he said, had gone a long way in supporting his outfit in secretariat works.

GNA

Check it Out: ‘Victory’ – Terry K featuring Gee2

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Check out this new single, ‘Victory’ from Nigerian up and coming rapper/singer, Terry K featuring Gee2. The single is taken off his upcoming mixtape set to drop later this year.  

Terry K describes himself simply as a young Nigerian with a passion for music. He is currently a student who combines his music with his studies. Follow @terryk92 on Twitter.  >>>DOWNLOAD Victory

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Ghana launches Fifth Ghana Higher Education fair

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Ghana launches Fifth Ghana Higher Education fair Accra, Jan 26, GNA-The Fifth Ghana Higher Education Fair was launched in Accra on Wednesday, to provide a forum for interaction between stakeholders to seek solution to problems encountered in the acquisition of tertiary education.

The fair to be held on the theme: “Securing Our Future Tomorrow” would expose the tertiary institutions as well as the programmes and courses they offer to parents, students and other stakeholders.

The Ministry of Education in collaboration with I-Texon Ghana, a non-governmental organisation  is organising the fair slated to be hosted in Tamale in the Northern Region and Takoradi in the Western Region.

Tamale would have its turn from February 6 to February 18 February, and Takoradi March 1 to  March 3.

The fair was first held in the country in 2008 and had become an annual event which was initiated by Captain Mrs Catherine Haziel Chief Executive officer, I-Texon Ghana and other partners.

Mrs Haziel explained that the fair was initiated to respond to the challenges many students face in assessing higher education and the difficulty in choosing the right courses relevant to their chosen careers or interest.

“Obviously, it can be seen that there is a missing link of much needed information for decision making.”

She said the fair thus, would expose the various educational options available in Ghana, the requirements for admission into the accredited institutions and what expert training they have to offer in select fields of education.

Mrs Haziel noted that the fair would feature exhibitions by various tertiary institutions both private and public as well as lectures on their various courses and programmes for senior high school (SHS) leavers, first and second cycle public funded and private schools and the public.

Mr Donnan Tey, Acting Director, in charge of Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education said the Ministry embraced the fair because it presented a channel for addressing problems students face when applying to enter higher institutions.

He lauded I-Texon Ghana for identifying the gap of inadequate information about the educational institutions and helping to fine-tune the educational system.

He said every year, an estimated 150,000 qualified students from more than 577 SHS  look for opportunities to enter tertiary institutions but only 35,000 students could be absorbed in the government sponsored institutions with the rest wallowing around while most private institutions with fine courses  have vacancies  due to lack of information about their operations.

 He therefore expressed the hope that students from the more than 250 higher education institutions of various descriptions in the country would well attend the fair that would provide the right links between school leavers, their preferred courses and corresponding institutions. 

GNA

Ahoney Man releases new single ‘Nkempu’

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Singer, Ahoney Man has opened another year with yet another new single, and this time he hits hard on the ‘loose ladies’.  ‘Nkempu’ featuring rapper Atinka and Meek is an up tempo song that features the ever popular azonto dance in its music video. It talks about girls that are ‘easy to lay’ and perhaps that’s what the term ‘Nkempu’ means.

After ending 2010 with the witty single ‘Car Korkor’ which was full of metaphors describing his desire to drive a red car at night especially due to the fact that there is no road traffic around at night-time, Ahoney Man opened 2011 with ‘Chop Better’, a fast-paced dancehall-influenced song with English/pidgin and Twi lyrics.

It seems that increasingly, Ahoney Man wants to prove to the young generation of musicians that he can fit into the evolving music culture. Born Godfrey Allotey-Mensah , Ahoney Man is a restaurant supervisor in his late thirties but he is determined to make a career out of his burning passion for music. In 2006, he tried his luck with hiplife on his album ‘Otofo’ after two unsuccessful highlife album. This time he found relative success, and a style that seemed to work for him. Check out ‘Nkempu’.

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East Ayawaso gets a SHS complex

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East Ayawaso gets a SHS complex Accra, Jan. 25, GNA – Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on Wednesday cut the sod for work to begin on a three-storey 12 classroom block and offices for the proposed Senior High and Technical School for East Ayawaso in the Greater Accra Region.

The first phase of the project sited on a piece of land behind Kanda Presbyterian Primary and Junior High School, is estimated at GHC230,000.

It is expected to be completed within six months for admissions by September 2012.

He commended executives of East Ayawaso Constituency of the NDC, Assembly members and other committee members for their hardwork and dedication towards the  realisation of the project. 

Dr Ahmed said the project was being executed in consultation with the chiefs, elders and other opinion leaders of the community to bring about progress in the lives of the people.

He explained that the project was being financed by the GETFund, portion of the MP’s Share of the Common Fund, but would appreciate donations from the public especially, the beneficiary community to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Dr Ahmed stated that as the Member of Parliament for East Ayawaso, he thought it best to initiate the project to help address the challenges posed by the Senior High School Placement system.

“Difficulties of the placement system often frustrate parents and their wards in attaining Senior High School education in the community,” he said.

Dr Ahmed pointed out that as a community project, it would be owned by the community and urged all the committees set up to ensure the successful completion of the project on schedule.

He expressed the hope that the project would be expanded in future to accommodate more students.

GNA

Boko Haram is a threat to ECOWAS sub-regional security – Security Expert

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Boko Haram is a threat to ECOWAS sub-regional security – Security Expert Accra, Jan 25, GNA – A security expert on Wednesday said the terror campaign of Boko Haram in Nigeria poses a major security threat to West Africa and called on ECOWAS to intervene to deal with the insurgency.

“The potential threat of Boko Haram is not only to Nigeria but to the whole of the West African sub-region,” he said.

“Sadly ECOWAS is a joke. Its response to political crisis in West Africa is awful, our sub-regional leaders are quick to sign conventions and pass resolution but inept in implementation,” Dr Emmanuel Kwesi Aning, Director of Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.  

He said the ECOWAS protocol relating to the mechanism for conflict prevention, management, resolution, peace-keeping and security’s objectives was among other things to prevent, manage and resolve internal and inter-state conflicts.

He said Article 25 clearly states that in cases of aggression or conflict in any member state or threat thereof, in case of internal conflict that threatens to trigger a humanitarian disaster or that poses a serious threat to peace and security in the sub-region the Mediation and Security Council shall intervene.

Dr Aning said in spite of these articles ECOWAS is still waiting at the fringes without any direction and mechanism to deal with the Boko Haram insurgency.

He ruled out military options to suppress the uprising and said “Boko Haram does not require military response, it should be the last recourse.  It immediately demands a swift socio-political response to deal with the growing social vices especially corruption which is deep rooted among Nigerian elite class”.

Dr Aning traced the genesis of Boko Haram to 1986 radical religious rebellion led by a fundamentalist preacher which exploited the Maitatsinb riots but was brutally surprised.

He said the group went underground growing steadily to emerge again in the last five years as a force to reckon with. It has a multifaceted approach joining forces with allied groups to peruse their objective.

Its hallmark is the ability to shift its operational movement and forming ad hock alliance to achieve its mission, he said.

He said: “Targets for bombing are carefully selected to achieve operational objective, as well as sending operational message to the rest of the world”.

Dr Aning suggested that the Nigerian government adopt combination of strategies of which the military option should be the very last and that there should be no short term solutions.

He said Nigeria should deal with issues of corruption, provision of the needs of the greater majority whilst the elite community must face the economic realities of their actions on the masses.

He also expressed reservation about the recent removal of oil subsidy in Nigeria and said it was an unfavourable economic policy which the Boko Haram and allied forces are exploiting to advance their cause.

More than 935 people have been killed in some 164 suspected attacks by the group during the period.

The group has claimed responsibility for bombing churches, police stations, military facilities, banks, and beer parlors, in northern Nigeria, as well as the United Nations building and police headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.   

Suspected Boko Haram members, often riding motorcycles and carrying Kalashnikov rifles under their robes, have gunned down numerous Christian worshipers, police officers, and soldiers, and assassinated local politicians, community leaders and Islamic clerics who oppose the group.

GNA

Supreme Court orders Registrar to serve hearing notices on two Deputy Ministers

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Supreme Court orders Registrar to serve hearing notices on two Deputy Ministers Accra, Jan. 24, GNA – The Supreme Court (SC) has directed its Registrar to serve hearing notices on Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information and Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Deputy Minister of Environment Science and Technology.

The court gave the directive on Tuesday in the case in which the two Deputy Ministers are challenging Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey’s right to purchase a Government bungalow he occupied as a Minister of State.

At its sitting presided over by Mr Justice William Atuguba, the court noted that hearing notices had not been served on the two Deputy Ministers of State.

He, therefore, directed the Registrar to ensure hearing notices were served on them for the substantive issue to be heard and adjourned the case sine die.

At its previous sitting, the court unanimously dismissed preliminary objections raised by Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey, National Chairman of New Patriotic Party (NPP), quizzing its jurisdiction to hear the case brought against him.

In the latter part of 2008 the two Deputy Ministers of State sued the Attorney-General, Chairman of Lands Commission and the Chief Registrar of Lands at the Lands Title Registry for allocating the property to Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey.

In a writ invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, the applicants prayed the court to declare that by virtue of Articles 20(5), 23, 257, 258, 265, 284 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing in the NPP Government, did not have the power to direct the sale, disposal or transfer of any Government or public land to Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey or any other person or body under any circumstances whatsoever.

The applicants also prayed the court to order that any such direction for the disposal, sale or outright transfer of the said property in dispute or any other public land to Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey was illegal and unconstitutional.

They were seeking a declaration that by virtue of Articles 20(5), 23, 257, 258, 265, 284 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution, the Government was obliged to retain and continue to use, in the public interest, the property in dispute.

The applicants were also seeking a further declaration that the purported sale of the said Government bungalow, located at St Mungo Street, Ridge, Accra, by the NPP Government to Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey was in utter contravention of Articles 20(5), 23, 257, 258, 265, 284 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution.

According to the plaintiffs, the Supreme Court should order that the purported direction by the then Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, for the disposal, sale or outright transfer of the said property in dispute to Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey smacked of cronyism, was arbitrary, capricious, discriminatory and a gross abuse of the discretionary power vested in a public officer under the 1992 Constitution.

They were praying the court to declare that a publication by the Chairman of Lands Commission and the Chief Registrar of Lands, which announced that the said property had been allocated to Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey was unconstitutional, void and must be struck out as such, since it was in contravention of Articles 20(5), 23, 257, 258, 265, 284 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution.

Furthermore, the plaintiffs were praying for an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the Chairman of Lands Commission and the Chief Registrar of Lands and their agents “From perfecting the registration of a parcel of land designated as Parcel No 29, Block 12, Section 019, in extent 1.04 acres more or less, as delineated on Registry Map No 003/019/1998, on which is situated in the Republic of Ghana Bungalow No 2, located at St Mungo Street, Ridge, Accra, in the name of Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey”.

A statement of case accompanying the writ said Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey allocated onto himself the Government bungalow in dispute as his duty post and resided at the said duty post at a huge cost to the State from 2001 to 2008, although he resigned from his public office sometime in 2007 to pursue his presidential ambition.

It said in 2001, when Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey was the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, the head office of Public Works Department carried out, at his behest, renovation to the tune of GH¢ 17,254 “Through Brockwell Construction & Engineering Limited, not to mention further additional refurbishment carried out at his instance to his taste at extraordinary expense to that State”.

According to the statement of case, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey subsequently applied to the Chairman of Lands Commission and the Chief Registrar of Lands for a land title certificate to effectuate what it termed “The illegal and unconstitutional transaction”.

It said the Chairman of Lands Commission and the Chief Registrar of Lands took the above steps to regularise the grant to Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey a land certificate in relation to the said property to effectuate the purported sale of the said government bungalow and plot to him.

The statement of case said, the applicants wrote to the then Attorney-General, protesting the sale of the said bungalow, but the Attorney-General replied and pointed out that the matter was a Constitutional issue.

They further argued that the then Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, did not have the power to “Direct the sale, disposal or transfer of any government or public land to Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey or any person or body under such circumstances and that any such direction for the disposal, sale or outright transfer of the said property in dispute or any other public land to Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey was illegal and unconstitutional”.

The SC panel included Mr Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey, Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo. Ms Justice Rose Owusu, Ms Justice Sophia Adiniyira, Mr Justice Julius Ansah,  Mr Justice Jones Victor Dotse,  Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonney and Mrs Justice Vida Akoto- Bamfo.

GNA

Amend the Rent Act-Rent Officer

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Amend the Rent Act-Rent Officer Accra, Jan.25, GNA-Government has been asked to amend the Rent Act of 1963 to address changing trends regarding housing and accommodation in the country.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday, Mr Fred Tawiah, Greater Accra Regional Principal Rent Officer, Rent Control Department, noted that the Department needed more power to adequately regularize the activities of landlords, accommodation agents and housing in general.

According to him, the high rate at which landlords in the Greater Accra Region had treated the Act with disdain and were charging rents without consulting the Department as stipulated in the Act.

 “It is pathetic to note that landlords have taken the law into their own hands and are charging rents as they pleased without consulting the Department.

Mr Tawaih said: “It is only the landlords who rent their office to corporate entities who often visit our office whenever they want to increase their rent, and we commend them for that”.

He charged tenants who feel cheated or not treated fairly by their landlords not to hesitate to contact the Rent Control Department for redress and asked accommodation agents to desist from charging 10 per cent on amount paid to landlords as that was against the law.

 “According to the law, accommodation agents are required to charge only five per cent on rent paid for only one year, and not the usual ten per cent on the total amount paid by tenants to landlords”.

He expressed regret that the current law did not give the Department  the mandate to regularize the activities of accommodation agents.

He admonished landlords to desist from collecting advance payment of two years and above as the law required of them to charge only up to six months.

Mr Tawiah cited non payment of rents and utility bills by tenants as some of the charges that landlords usually brought to the office.

 “Tenants on the other hand usually come to our office when landlords arbitrarily increase their rents”.    

 GNA

President Mills reshuffles Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State

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President Mills reshuffles Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State Accra, Jan. 25, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday made changes in Ministerial appointments.

A statement signed by Mr J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, Secretary to the President said, Mr Benjamin Kunbour is the new Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr Alban S.K.Bagbin currently Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing moves to the Ministry of Health. 

Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare replaces Mr Alban Bagbin as Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing.

It said new appointments made were, Mr William Kwasi Aboah – Minister designate for the Interior, Mr Lee Ocran, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa – Minister designate for Education; Mr Fritz Baffour, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South – Minister designate for Information; Mr Moses Asaga – Minister designate for Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah, Member of Parliament for Garu/ Tempane – Minister of State designate at the Presidency, and Mr Amin Amidu Sulemani, currently Ghana’s Ambassador to Egypt  – Minister designate for Upper West Region.

The statement said the President had in addition, made changes and appointments in some Deputy Ministers.

Mr Stephen Ackah, Member of Parliament for Suaman – Deputy Minister designate for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Developemt; Mr Isaac Vanderpuiye – Deputy Minister Designate for Greater Accra Region; Mr James Agyenim- Boateng, currently Deputy Minister of Tourism, moves to the Ministry of Information as Deputy Minister, while Mr Mohammed Baba Jamal becomes the Deputy Minister of Tourism;

Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology goes to the Ministry of Youth and Sports as Deputy Minister, while Mr Reuben Nii Nortey Dua, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports moves to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing as Deputy Minister;

The rest are, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, currently Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing is now Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology; Mr Henry Ametepey – Deputy Minister designate for the Volta Region to replace Colonel Cyril Neku ( Rtd.)

The statement said Alhaji Said Sinare had been appointed Ghana’s Ambassador designate to Egypt.

GNA

Police officers urged to take interest in road accident investigation

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Police officers urged to take interest in road accident investigation Accra, Jan 25, GNA – Assistant Commisioner of Police ACP Angwubutoge Awuni, Commanding Officer of the National Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), has tasked officers to make road accident investigation a major priority to avoid numerous petitions that were directed to the Headquarters for redress.

“I have observed with so much concern the laxity with which some of our accident investigators go about their duties. They either do not visit accident scenes or fail to take appropriate statements from relevant victims or witnesses”, he said.

ACP Awuni was speaking at the maiden meeting of all commanders of the Unit throughout the country in Accra on Tuesday.

He said it was important for officers to communicate directly with victims of road accidents and explain to them the status of cases to help address misunderstandings that erupt due to the absence of direct contact.

“We all know that some cases deserve to be forwarded to the Attorney –General’s Department for advice, there is no reason why victims should not be made aware of this action” he said.

The Commander entreated the officers to caution their subordinates to exercise restrain when dealing with motorists to prevent confrontations that sometimes occurred on the highways.

“Some of our men tend to be so impatient that they end up picking up quarrels or engage in physical confrontation with motorists. This kind of attitude is unacceptable as far as the ethics of the Police Service is concerned. It amounts to misconduct and therefore punishable” he stated.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCOP John Kudalor, and Director General of Police Operations, asked the commanders to constantly monitor the conduct of their officers and carefully educate them before they go out to their duties.

“We are much in the public view more than any other unit, you must try to carry yourselves like officers, and being in the police service is a calling so you must be ready to endure the challenges that come with it”, he said.

DCOP Kudalor assured the unit of the provision of vehicles and other logistics by the middle of the year to help in discharging their duties.

GNA

Odotobri Rural Bank donates to Otumfuo Educational Fund

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Odotobri Rural Bank donates to Otumfuo Educational Fund Kumasi, Jan 23, GNA-The Kumasi branch of the Odotobri Rural Bank has donated 5,000 exercise books worth GH¢ 3,500 to the Otumfuo Educational Fund in Kumasi.

Mr Jonny Owusu Boadi, Board Chairman of the Bank, said the donation formed part of the Bank’s corporate responsibility to boost academic work and ensure quality education delivery.

He said in view of the tremendous efforts by the Otumfuo Education Fund to raise the standard of education, it was imperative for stakeholders to contribute to the Fund to achieve its objectives.

He indicated that the Bank had over the years made various contributions in the form of sponsorship to students and also embarked on numerous development projects in the areas of educational facilities for deprived schools.

Mr Boadi said the Bank would continue to support educational development for the advancement of the country.

Nana Adu Mensah Asare, the Amakomhene, who received the books on behalf of the Fund, thanked the Bank for the gesture and called on other corporate entities to emulate them.

GNA

Chirano Trains drivers and traders on fire safety

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Chirano Trains drivers and traders on fire safety Ntrentreso (W/R), Jan 25, GNA- Commercial drivers have been advised to seek the assistance of the various Fire Service Offices before purchasing fire extinguishers for their vehicles and homes.

District Fire Service offices could be of immense help to safeguard the destruction of lives and property in case of fire outbreaks in vehicles and at home.

Mr Osman Agyeman, a Fire Officer at Chirano Gold Mines Limited (CGML) said this during an educational meeting with commercial drivers and traders at Ntrentreso.

He explained that there were several classes of fire and different types of fire extinguishers on the market and that most of the extinguishers may not be suitable for commercial vehicles.

“If an inappropriate one is used during a fire outbreak, it could lead to further destruction of a particular property”.

Mr Agyeman said while some fire extinguishers needs to be serviced regularly to make them potent for use during fires, its safety pin and seal should always be intact and should be inspected regularly to ensure that it was useable.

He cautioned commercial drivers not to attempt re-fixing electrical faults on their vehicles but should rather seek the assistance of qualified auto electricians and mechanics to prevent the increasing cases of fires among commercial vehicles.

Mr John Kennedy Anyanah, Senior Safety Officer of CGML, said he was not happy with the way most commercial drivers, especially taxis, which ply Bibiani, Wiawso, Bekwai, Ntrentreso, Akoti and Etwebo were mostly overloaded beyond the capacity of the vehicles.

He said such acts had contributed to several accidents, adding that, overloading also violates the insurance cover on the vehicle.

He therefore appealed to commercial drivers to stop over loading in order to prolong the lifespan of their vehicles as well as save lives.

Mr Anyanah said seat belts were meant to protect lives and urged all drivers and passengers to use seat belts whenever they board any commercial vehicle. 

Mr Anyanah reminded them that road signs and markings and are meant to guide drivers to prevent road accidents.

GNA

Health services in Bolgatanga Municipality improves

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Health services in Bolgatanga Municipality improves Bolgatanga Jan. 25, GNA The Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate says its programmes carried out in 2011 fared better than those in previous years.

Some of the programmes given special attention included detection and cure of Tuberculosis (TB), Expanded Programme of Immunization  (EPI) , Malaria Control, HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health and Nutrition.

Speaking at an annual review meeting organised to take stock of the performance of the Municipal Health Services against set targets on Wednesday, Ms Joyce K Bagina, Municipal Director of Health Services, said the detection rate of TB increased from 79.2 per cent in 2010 to 82.9 per cent in 2011, exceeding the national target of 70 per cent while the death rate reduced from 13.8 per cent in 2010 to 5.2 per cent in 2011.

She said apart from Measles and Yellow Fever, there has been significant increase in the coverage of all antigens from 2010 to 2011, as 95 per cent of all the vaccinations covered an excess of the target that was pegged at 95 per cent.

She noted that HIV control activities were intensified as incidence of the disease was rather high, rising from 2.6 per cent in 2009 to 3.8 per cent in 2010. All health facilities were then equipped and started offering Prevention of Mother to Child transmission treatment to pregnant women and 45 counsellors were trained to help with it while all second cycle schools in the area were visited and given education as well as counselling  on the disease.

Radio sensitization programmes were also carried out.

“At the Out Patients Departments (OPD) of health facilities in the Municipality, there was a decrease in the 2011 Malaria cases as compared to the figure in 2010, from 152,156 in 2010 to 129,645 in 2011.”

Ms Bagina explained that the improvement could have been due to the intensive education on malaria preventive measures and the use of insecticide treated bed nets.

Antenatal coverage was increased from 79.4 per cent in 2010 to 84.9 per cent in 2011 while supervised deliveries increased from 69.1 per cent to 76 per cent during the same period.

In the area of nutrition, 221 children were seen with acute malnutrition and 71.1 per cent cured.

Ms Bagina said the shortage of personnel which was a problem had improved as about five Diploma General Nurses and several enrolled nurses were posted to the Municipality while Health Extension Workers and Health Promotion Assistants were also assigned to the facilities to help.

She said Family Planning (FP) patronage was rather low and called on the personnel to work hard at educating the people on the need to plan their families.

 “Some reasons for the poor response to FP include traditional beliefs against the prevention of procreation, refusal of husbands to allow their wives, inconvenience of having to take pills everyday and misconception about side effects”, she said.

Dr James Akpable, Upper East Deputy Regional Director of Health Services, called on the health workers to make innovations in their usual duties and plan differently to enable them perform better.

He assured them that they would be getting more funds this year to carry out their duties.

GNA

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