Published in the Daily Graphic on 2/08/2010, pg 38
Story: Matilda Attram
THE Asylum Down drain in Accra is receiving attention from the city authorities based on the complaints made by residents in the area.
During a visit to the site of the drain by the Daily Graphic last week-end, it was observed that reconstruction work on the drain had started, following complaints by residents.
On June 17 this year, the Daily Graphic reported of the worries of residents of the Asylum Down locality on the poor state of the main drainage system in the area.
Most residents and users of the area complained about the bad state of the drain and how it could affect the area during rainfall.
They also complained of the bad stench from the drain due to the negative attitudes of others who used the it as their refuse dumps.
The drain, which serves as the main drainage system in the area, is said to be a hydraulic structure constructed to take and discharge a volume of water and other liquid waste.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, the Head of Drainage for the Hydrological Services Department, under the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Wise AMETEK, explained that the drain was originally constructed in the 1960’s in a trapezoidal shape with a nominal re-inforcement designed not to take loads.
He said the drain was in a bad state and collapsing on account of the large amount of pressure it received from residents who had built structures very close to it.
“People building very close to the drain transfer a lot of pressure onto it and that makes it fail to function,” he said.
He further stated that the structure also got weaker as a result of the bad manner through which liquid waste were discharged into it.
He added that the volume of liquid waste that flowed in through the structure had increased, making it difficult for the structure to perform its functions.
Mr Ametefe pointed out that plans were initiated to expand the structure to reduce the volume of pressure on the drains to enable it carry more flow but could not be done because of the encroachment of the banks of the structure by residents.
“Contractors even find it difficult to work on the drain because there are no spaces between the houses and the structure to allow easy passage during the re-construction of some parts,” he stated.
Due to this, he said, the authorities had been compelled to change the triangular shape of the structure to a rectangular one that would help increase its carriage capacity.
He described work on the structure as an emergency one, mentioning the lack of income as the cause of the delay in the restructuring process of the structure.
“The stretch of work to be done on it is very big but cannot be consistent due to the little money available to us now. In view of that, a request has been filed to government to provide funds for the work,” he added.
Mr Ametefe, therefore, advised residents to properly channel liquid waste into drains, observe space between their homes and the drain, as well as avoid throwing solid waste into the drain.
WITH PIX :
Pix showing the present state of the Asylum Down Drain under reconstruction.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Economic stability not a fluke, says veep
Published in the Daily Graphic on 11/08/2010, Front pg
Story:Timothy Gobah & Matilda Attram
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, yesterday assured the business community that the macro-economic stability being witnessed in the country is a reality which has come to stay and not a fluke.
He, therefore, urged banks that were pursuing a wait-and-see attitude to wake up to the reality and take a cue from the positive economic performance to reduce their interest rates.
Mr Mahama gave the assurance when he launched 490 Yutong buses on the theme, “An efficient transport system for a better Ghana”, in Accra yesterday.
In 2010, the need to ensure an efficient transport system and augment the stock of buses that were imported arose.
Consequently, the 490 buses were imported in bits to operate as intercity buses to ferry workers and other travellers in the country.
J.A. Plant Pool Ghana Limited has been a major stakeholder in importing fresh buses to beef up the stock of commercial long-distance vehicles in the country.
The Vice-President said the unrestrained over expenditure of the 2006 to 2008 era had largely been contained, with the “runaway inflation, rising interest rates and sharply eroding currency that characterised the economy when we took power brought under control”.
He said the cedi had enjoyed the most stable 12-month period since foreign exchange deregulation was introduced in the country, stressing that that created a predictable environment for business planning.
Mr Mahama said inflation had dropped to a single digit and expressed strong optimism that it would reach the eight per cent mark by the end of December.
“Let me thank the banking sector for taking a cue from the positive economic performance to reduce interest rates. It is not possible to accelerate the growth of the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector in an environment of high credit costs,” he said.
The Vice-President said agricultural growth had been robust, attaining 6.1 per cent last year, and expected to exceed seven per cent growth this year.
He said that had stabilised food prices, particularly in the crop sub-sector, and gave positive indications for achieving food security for Ghana in the near future.
He said an important stabilising factor for the economy had been the increase in the country’s foreign reserves from $1.8 billion to $3.5 billion.
Mr Mahama said preliminary data from the Bank of Ghana indicated a half-year GDP growth rate of 7.2 per cent and an increase in government spending of almost 30 per cent above 2009 and noted that the government anticipated GDP growth above eight per cent and 10 per cent for 2011 and 2012, respectively.
He said the transport sub-sector was a crucial part of the SME sector and one that the government considered very strategic to the growth of the economy.
“This is why the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government promised in its manifesto to work with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and others, including the financial institutions, to build an adequate and affordable road transport sector,” he said.
The Vice-President announced that the government had received an offer for the supply of buses following his recent visit to Brazil early this year, saying that the offer would provide additional modern and comfortable buses for Intercity STC and other transport organisations.
He further said Yutong was working to establish its West African spare parts centre and assembling workshop in the country and gave the assurance that the government would provide the necessary support to enable the company to achieve its objective.
In a message, the Managing Director of Stanbic Bank, Mr Alhassan Andani, said the bank was proud to be part of the success story of bringing the buses into the country.
He said as a subsidiary of the largest bank in Africa, Stanbic Bank Ghana had made it a priority to engage in business that would ultimately better the lives of Ghanaians.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Aku Ativor, commended the Yutong Company for the initiative, saying it would enhance the road transport sector.
Story:Timothy Gobah & Matilda Attram
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, yesterday assured the business community that the macro-economic stability being witnessed in the country is a reality which has come to stay and not a fluke.
He, therefore, urged banks that were pursuing a wait-and-see attitude to wake up to the reality and take a cue from the positive economic performance to reduce their interest rates.
Mr Mahama gave the assurance when he launched 490 Yutong buses on the theme, “An efficient transport system for a better Ghana”, in Accra yesterday.
In 2010, the need to ensure an efficient transport system and augment the stock of buses that were imported arose.
Consequently, the 490 buses were imported in bits to operate as intercity buses to ferry workers and other travellers in the country.
J.A. Plant Pool Ghana Limited has been a major stakeholder in importing fresh buses to beef up the stock of commercial long-distance vehicles in the country.
The Vice-President said the unrestrained over expenditure of the 2006 to 2008 era had largely been contained, with the “runaway inflation, rising interest rates and sharply eroding currency that characterised the economy when we took power brought under control”.
He said the cedi had enjoyed the most stable 12-month period since foreign exchange deregulation was introduced in the country, stressing that that created a predictable environment for business planning.
Mr Mahama said inflation had dropped to a single digit and expressed strong optimism that it would reach the eight per cent mark by the end of December.
“Let me thank the banking sector for taking a cue from the positive economic performance to reduce interest rates. It is not possible to accelerate the growth of the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector in an environment of high credit costs,” he said.
The Vice-President said agricultural growth had been robust, attaining 6.1 per cent last year, and expected to exceed seven per cent growth this year.
He said that had stabilised food prices, particularly in the crop sub-sector, and gave positive indications for achieving food security for Ghana in the near future.
He said an important stabilising factor for the economy had been the increase in the country’s foreign reserves from $1.8 billion to $3.5 billion.
Mr Mahama said preliminary data from the Bank of Ghana indicated a half-year GDP growth rate of 7.2 per cent and an increase in government spending of almost 30 per cent above 2009 and noted that the government anticipated GDP growth above eight per cent and 10 per cent for 2011 and 2012, respectively.
He said the transport sub-sector was a crucial part of the SME sector and one that the government considered very strategic to the growth of the economy.
“This is why the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government promised in its manifesto to work with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and others, including the financial institutions, to build an adequate and affordable road transport sector,” he said.
The Vice-President announced that the government had received an offer for the supply of buses following his recent visit to Brazil early this year, saying that the offer would provide additional modern and comfortable buses for Intercity STC and other transport organisations.
He further said Yutong was working to establish its West African spare parts centre and assembling workshop in the country and gave the assurance that the government would provide the necessary support to enable the company to achieve its objective.
In a message, the Managing Director of Stanbic Bank, Mr Alhassan Andani, said the bank was proud to be part of the success story of bringing the buses into the country.
He said as a subsidiary of the largest bank in Africa, Stanbic Bank Ghana had made it a priority to engage in business that would ultimately better the lives of Ghanaians.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Aku Ativor, commended the Yutong Company for the initiative, saying it would enhance the road transport sector.
Give more time for climate change
Published in the Daily Graphic on 12/08/2010, pg 46
Story: Matilda Attram
THREE speakers at an environmental symposium on climate change have underscored the need for the media to devote more airtime and editorial pages to issues related to global warming and climate change.
That, they said, was important to create awareness of the phenomena and promote behavioural change.
The speakers were Mr Samuel Anku, the Director for Intersectoral Networks of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Tsetseku Yaw Oppong-Boadi, the Principal Programmes Officer of the Energy Resource Climate Change Unit of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) and Dr Nicholas Iddi, the National Project Co-ordinator of the Ghana Environmental Conventions Co-ordinating Authority under the MEST.
It was a collaboration between MEST and the EPA and sponsored by Nokia, a mobile phone manufacturing company.
The one-day event was to build the capacity of journalists on issues related to climate change.
In a presentation, Mr Oppong-Boadi pointed out that Ghana, among other developing countries, was affected by the impact of climate change due to some negative human activities in communities.
He stressed that farmers and rural communities required access to information to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.
He mentioned the felling of trees without replanting them and water and industrial pollution as some of the activities that contributed to climate change and called on the media to educate the public on the effects of those conducts.
For his part, Mr Anku stated that although scientific evidence proved that climate change was taking place and that human action was responsible for the speed of the changes, there was still a perceived lack of information and data available to journalists.
He said climate change was a relatively new concept within the Ghanaian media and that only few journalists and editors had a good appreciation of the issues involved.
He indicated that due to that, efforts were being made by organisations to promote closer collaboration between researchers and journalists to make existing information available to the media.
In his remarks, Dr Iddi described climate change as a developmental and governance issue which had implications for all sectors of the economy.
He stated that the issue continued to receive and retain the attention of policy makers, since it was recognised as one of the key drivers of development.
According to him, the impact of the phenomenon was projected to be most severe for developing nations, including Ghana, and, therefore, needed careful attention by all.
“The socio-economic implications of climate change are real and conscious efforts should be made to manage them,” Dr Iddi added.
In a statement, the Communications Manager of Nokia, West Africa, Mr Osagie Ogunbor, said the company embarked on a recycling exercise on electronic waste as its contribution to sustain the environment.
Story: Matilda Attram
THREE speakers at an environmental symposium on climate change have underscored the need for the media to devote more airtime and editorial pages to issues related to global warming and climate change.
That, they said, was important to create awareness of the phenomena and promote behavioural change.
The speakers were Mr Samuel Anku, the Director for Intersectoral Networks of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Tsetseku Yaw Oppong-Boadi, the Principal Programmes Officer of the Energy Resource Climate Change Unit of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) and Dr Nicholas Iddi, the National Project Co-ordinator of the Ghana Environmental Conventions Co-ordinating Authority under the MEST.
It was a collaboration between MEST and the EPA and sponsored by Nokia, a mobile phone manufacturing company.
The one-day event was to build the capacity of journalists on issues related to climate change.
In a presentation, Mr Oppong-Boadi pointed out that Ghana, among other developing countries, was affected by the impact of climate change due to some negative human activities in communities.
He stressed that farmers and rural communities required access to information to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.
He mentioned the felling of trees without replanting them and water and industrial pollution as some of the activities that contributed to climate change and called on the media to educate the public on the effects of those conducts.
For his part, Mr Anku stated that although scientific evidence proved that climate change was taking place and that human action was responsible for the speed of the changes, there was still a perceived lack of information and data available to journalists.
He said climate change was a relatively new concept within the Ghanaian media and that only few journalists and editors had a good appreciation of the issues involved.
He indicated that due to that, efforts were being made by organisations to promote closer collaboration between researchers and journalists to make existing information available to the media.
In his remarks, Dr Iddi described climate change as a developmental and governance issue which had implications for all sectors of the economy.
He stated that the issue continued to receive and retain the attention of policy makers, since it was recognised as one of the key drivers of development.
According to him, the impact of the phenomenon was projected to be most severe for developing nations, including Ghana, and, therefore, needed careful attention by all.
“The socio-economic implications of climate change are real and conscious efforts should be made to manage them,” Dr Iddi added.
In a statement, the Communications Manager of Nokia, West Africa, Mr Osagie Ogunbor, said the company embarked on a recycling exercise on electronic waste as its contribution to sustain the environment.
Audit Service donates to orphanage
Published in the Daily Graphic on 17/08/2010, pg 19
Story: Matilda Attram, Bawjiase
The Countryside Orphanage at Bawjiase in the Central Region has received a donation of assorted items worth GH¢3,000 from the Ghana Audit Service.
The items are toilet rolls, gallons of cooking oil, bags of sugar and rice, cartons of Cowbell powered milk, bags of used clothing and cash of GH¢2,500.
The donation, made by the management and staff of the Ghana Audit Service, is to assist with the upkeep of the inmates.
It also forms part of activities slated for the centenary celebration of the service.
According to the Assistant Auditor-General in charge of Public Accounts, Mr George Winful, who presented the items, the decision to assist the orphanage was meant to express love to the inmates of the orphanage and share with others in society, especially the less privileged.
He said apart from visiting the Countryside Orphanage, the service had also made presentations to other institutions, such as the Akropong School for the Blind in the Eastern Region.
He expressed satisfaction with the operations of the orphanage and assured its management of the service’s support.
Receiving the items, the Founder and Mother of the orphanage, Mrs Emma Boafo, said since its establishment in 1983, it had depended on the support of benevolent organisations for its smooth operations.
She said the aim of the institution was to nurture and train needy children to become responsible adults in future.
Mrs Boafo thanked the management and staff of the Ghana Audit Service for their gesture and appealed to other organisations to donate towards the operations of the orphanage.
The Countryside Orphanage, which started with six needy children, now houses 78, including babies, toddlers and physically challenged children.
Story: Matilda Attram, Bawjiase
The Countryside Orphanage at Bawjiase in the Central Region has received a donation of assorted items worth GH¢3,000 from the Ghana Audit Service.
The items are toilet rolls, gallons of cooking oil, bags of sugar and rice, cartons of Cowbell powered milk, bags of used clothing and cash of GH¢2,500.
The donation, made by the management and staff of the Ghana Audit Service, is to assist with the upkeep of the inmates.
It also forms part of activities slated for the centenary celebration of the service.
According to the Assistant Auditor-General in charge of Public Accounts, Mr George Winful, who presented the items, the decision to assist the orphanage was meant to express love to the inmates of the orphanage and share with others in society, especially the less privileged.
He said apart from visiting the Countryside Orphanage, the service had also made presentations to other institutions, such as the Akropong School for the Blind in the Eastern Region.
He expressed satisfaction with the operations of the orphanage and assured its management of the service’s support.
Receiving the items, the Founder and Mother of the orphanage, Mrs Emma Boafo, said since its establishment in 1983, it had depended on the support of benevolent organisations for its smooth operations.
She said the aim of the institution was to nurture and train needy children to become responsible adults in future.
Mrs Boafo thanked the management and staff of the Ghana Audit Service for their gesture and appealed to other organisations to donate towards the operations of the orphanage.
The Countryside Orphanage, which started with six needy children, now houses 78, including babies, toddlers and physically challenged children.
Ama Dela survivors ask for compensation
Published in the Daily Graphic on 17/08/2010, pg 19
Story: Matilda Attram
Exactly 25 years ago today, when more than 30 lives were claimed at the Tema Harbour during the launch of ‘Amma Dela’, a fishing vessel, no compensation has been paid to survivors and families of those who perished in that tragedy.
Consequently a survivor of the accident, Mr Chris Ackummey, has called on the National Insurance Commission and the government to come up with compensation packages for survivors and families of those who perished in that tragedy.
He said the accident was believed to have been caused by a faulty keel of the boat, which claimed more than 30 lives on board, living just few who could survive.
On August, 17, 1985, a tragedy hit the Tema Fishing Harbour when a newly launched fishing vessel capsized and drowned 50 people who had gone on board for a cruise shortly after the unveiling of the vessel.
The 35-footer motor trawler, constructed by KOFIFO Boat Yard Company Limited and owned by Somen Fisheries Limited, keeled over about 15 metres from the wharf after negotiating a curve to return to the quay.
Some victims survived with the help of fishermen who swam towards the vessel to rescue people on board.
Mr Ackummey yesterday told the Daily Graphic in Accra that “according to reports, the boat had not been insured, hence no compensation was paid to survivors and families of those who perished”.
Mr Ackummey claimed his appeal to the National Insurance Company and the government to compensate survivors and families of those who perished lives was in line with the practice in other countries.
“In other countries, the National Insurance Company takes up compensation matters when there is no insurance cover for the deceased,” he stated.
Some survivors of the tragedy include Mr Joe Okyere of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) and Mr Gamel Nkum, formerly of GCGL.
Story: Matilda Attram
Exactly 25 years ago today, when more than 30 lives were claimed at the Tema Harbour during the launch of ‘Amma Dela’, a fishing vessel, no compensation has been paid to survivors and families of those who perished in that tragedy.
Consequently a survivor of the accident, Mr Chris Ackummey, has called on the National Insurance Commission and the government to come up with compensation packages for survivors and families of those who perished in that tragedy.
He said the accident was believed to have been caused by a faulty keel of the boat, which claimed more than 30 lives on board, living just few who could survive.
On August, 17, 1985, a tragedy hit the Tema Fishing Harbour when a newly launched fishing vessel capsized and drowned 50 people who had gone on board for a cruise shortly after the unveiling of the vessel.
The 35-footer motor trawler, constructed by KOFIFO Boat Yard Company Limited and owned by Somen Fisheries Limited, keeled over about 15 metres from the wharf after negotiating a curve to return to the quay.
Some victims survived with the help of fishermen who swam towards the vessel to rescue people on board.
Mr Ackummey yesterday told the Daily Graphic in Accra that “according to reports, the boat had not been insured, hence no compensation was paid to survivors and families of those who perished”.
Mr Ackummey claimed his appeal to the National Insurance Company and the government to compensate survivors and families of those who perished lives was in line with the practice in other countries.
“In other countries, the National Insurance Company takes up compensation matters when there is no insurance cover for the deceased,” he stated.
Some survivors of the tragedy include Mr Joe Okyere of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) and Mr Gamel Nkum, formerly of GCGL.
MOWAC to support female aspirants
Published in the Daily Graphic on 26/08/2010, pg 11
Story: Matilda Attram
The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) has relaunched a programme of activities to support women aspirants in the upcoming district assembly elections.
The support is in the form of jingles in six local languages, a cash of GH¢10,000 and the launch of a 96-page training manual on how to contest elections.
The programme is being undertaken by the ministry, in collaboration with its development partners and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Minister of MOWAC, Madam Hawawu Gariba Bouya, stated that women contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of every nation but lacked behind their male counterparts in key decision making processes.
She described development as total human centred entity which involved majority of the populace, especially women.
She stressed the need to recognise the role of women in society to move Ghana forward in the right direction.
“It is necessary that as a nation, we recognise the importance of this exercise which seeks to involve the critical mass of the people who happen to be women to be part of the decision-making process in the country”, she stated.
The Minister of MOWAC, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, said the government paid much attention to the participation of women in decision making, adding that women were significant, legitimate and competent actors in society which gave them enough ability to participate in both formal and informal sectors of decision making processes.
She said although the Affirmative Action Policy guidelines of 1998 granted 40 per cent quota to women’s representation on policy making bodies and councils, much had still not been achieved as women continued to remain underrepresented at all levels of development, adding “We are still far from even the target of 30 per cent of decision making positions”.
“Though minimal, our efforts will continue and be sustained until the number of women participating in district level elections increases, and subsequent to that, increase our numbers at the parliamentary level as well”, added Mrs Azumah-Mensah.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, added his voice to the importance of promoting women’s representation in local governance, saying “promoting women in district assembly elections is crucial due to the significant role they play at the grassroots”.
He said although women had little influence in the formal level of decision making processes, they played major roles in the informal sectors, especially in shaping the individual and society.
He further urged all to support women in taking leadership roles at the local levels to promote development.
The Member of Parliament for New Juabeng South Constituency, Madam Beatrice Boateng, who chaired the function, shared her experience in participating in local and national governance with the invited guests and encouraged prospective contestants to be focused in attaining their aims, as well as doing away with timidity and fear.
Story: Matilda Attram
The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) has relaunched a programme of activities to support women aspirants in the upcoming district assembly elections.
The support is in the form of jingles in six local languages, a cash of GH¢10,000 and the launch of a 96-page training manual on how to contest elections.
The programme is being undertaken by the ministry, in collaboration with its development partners and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Minister of MOWAC, Madam Hawawu Gariba Bouya, stated that women contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of every nation but lacked behind their male counterparts in key decision making processes.
She described development as total human centred entity which involved majority of the populace, especially women.
She stressed the need to recognise the role of women in society to move Ghana forward in the right direction.
“It is necessary that as a nation, we recognise the importance of this exercise which seeks to involve the critical mass of the people who happen to be women to be part of the decision-making process in the country”, she stated.
The Minister of MOWAC, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, said the government paid much attention to the participation of women in decision making, adding that women were significant, legitimate and competent actors in society which gave them enough ability to participate in both formal and informal sectors of decision making processes.
She said although the Affirmative Action Policy guidelines of 1998 granted 40 per cent quota to women’s representation on policy making bodies and councils, much had still not been achieved as women continued to remain underrepresented at all levels of development, adding “We are still far from even the target of 30 per cent of decision making positions”.
“Though minimal, our efforts will continue and be sustained until the number of women participating in district level elections increases, and subsequent to that, increase our numbers at the parliamentary level as well”, added Mrs Azumah-Mensah.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, added his voice to the importance of promoting women’s representation in local governance, saying “promoting women in district assembly elections is crucial due to the significant role they play at the grassroots”.
He said although women had little influence in the formal level of decision making processes, they played major roles in the informal sectors, especially in shaping the individual and society.
He further urged all to support women in taking leadership roles at the local levels to promote development.
The Member of Parliament for New Juabeng South Constituency, Madam Beatrice Boateng, who chaired the function, shared her experience in participating in local and national governance with the invited guests and encouraged prospective contestants to be focused in attaining their aims, as well as doing away with timidity and fear.
Two projects inaugurated at Akramaman
Published in the Daily Graphic on 27/08/2010, pg 18
Story: Matilda Attram
THE Anglican Archbishop of the Province of West Africa, Most Rev. Dr Justice Ofei Akrofi, has commissioned two development projects at Akramaman in the Ga West Municipality.
The projects, a six-classroom block and a clinic worth about GH¢102,000 is to serve the Akramaman community and its neighbouring communities with basic education and health services.
It was built by the Anglican Diocese of Accra, with support from the Ghana Mothers Hope Incorporated, an NGO in the United States of America (USA).
The classroom block which is to accommodate children from primary one to six adds up to the already built basic schools in the community, but the clinic is the first in the community.
A mini durbar of the chiefs and people of the of Akramaman and its neighbouring communities was held on the school compound to grace the occasion.
In his remarks, Rev. Dr Akrofi encouraged Ghanaians to help themselves to acquire the needed facilities in their communities.
He also entreated them to engage in activities that would enhance peace and development in the country.
For her part, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghanaian Mothers Hope Incorporated, Mrs Debie Frock, expressed appreciation to all who assisted in the development of the projects and assured the Anglican Church of her organisation’s continuous support in providing the needs of the less privileged in society.
She had earlier been installed as the queen of Akramaman with the stool name ‘Naa Shika’ due to her benevolent services towards the development of the community.
The District Chief Executive of Ga West, Nii Armah Tackie, in his address, observed that the completion of the projects were a blessing from God through the Anglican Church and the Mothers Hope Incorporated for the people of Akramaman.
According to him, the community was one of the most peaceful in the district.
Story: Matilda Attram
THE Anglican Archbishop of the Province of West Africa, Most Rev. Dr Justice Ofei Akrofi, has commissioned two development projects at Akramaman in the Ga West Municipality.
The projects, a six-classroom block and a clinic worth about GH¢102,000 is to serve the Akramaman community and its neighbouring communities with basic education and health services.
It was built by the Anglican Diocese of Accra, with support from the Ghana Mothers Hope Incorporated, an NGO in the United States of America (USA).
The classroom block which is to accommodate children from primary one to six adds up to the already built basic schools in the community, but the clinic is the first in the community.
A mini durbar of the chiefs and people of the of Akramaman and its neighbouring communities was held on the school compound to grace the occasion.
In his remarks, Rev. Dr Akrofi encouraged Ghanaians to help themselves to acquire the needed facilities in their communities.
He also entreated them to engage in activities that would enhance peace and development in the country.
For her part, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghanaian Mothers Hope Incorporated, Mrs Debie Frock, expressed appreciation to all who assisted in the development of the projects and assured the Anglican Church of her organisation’s continuous support in providing the needs of the less privileged in society.
She had earlier been installed as the queen of Akramaman with the stool name ‘Naa Shika’ due to her benevolent services towards the development of the community.
The District Chief Executive of Ga West, Nii Armah Tackie, in his address, observed that the completion of the projects were a blessing from God through the Anglican Church and the Mothers Hope Incorporated for the people of Akramaman.
According to him, the community was one of the most peaceful in the district.
PLACEMENTS FOR SHS OUT *178,529 miss the boat
Published in the Daily Graphic on 28/08/2010, pg 11
Article: Matilda Attram
ONE of the results of domestic violence is mental health problems, such as major depression, post traumatic stress disorder, among others.
According to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, domestic violence was not only a legal problem. It is a multifaceted problem and its solution demands a multidisciplinary approach.
One way Ghana has responded to domestic violence is through criminal prosecution, and this is a system which usually brings victims face-to-face with perpetrators in the court of law. After the system had run its course, a perpetrator is either convicted and jailed or discharged and acquitted.
Speaking at a dialogue session to engage clinical psychologists in the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (DV Act), 2007 (Act 732), in Accra, Mrs Mould-Iddrisu pointed out that most victims were often left embittered, emotionally distraught and unattended to after gruesome court battles.
The programme brought together clinical psychologists from various parts of the country to share their experiences in their fields of study. They were also expected to come up with measures that would earn them maximum recognition in the legal system of the country, especially in the implementation of the DV Act.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu declared that human behaviour was complex and cognisant of the fact that clinical psychologists, who were trained in the scientific study of human behaviour, had a major role to play in all sectors of the legal system of a country.
She said psychologists had a critical role to play to meet the mental health needs of victims of domestic violence and this role of clinical psychologists was duly recognised within the DV Act, which was the first legislation in Ghana to recognise clinical psychologists and assign them specific roles.
According to her, the disciplines of law and psychology worked together to produce results that could better situations in society, adding, "The forgoing makes the involvement of psychologists in the justice system very imperative as their services are being sought at different points in the criminal justice system.”
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu added that in other jurisdictions, psychologists assisted in the assessment of individuals to provide clinical judgement that informed the police, courts, the prison or probation services on the psychological functioning of an individual.
"This, in a way can influence the different processes of the criminal justice system. For example, a psychologist may be asked to assess individuals in order to determine whether they are fit to stand trial or whether they have a mental illness which means that they would not understand the proceedings", she added.
She further emphasised the need for psychologists to be involved in the prison system since they helped to transform inmates to enable them fit back into society after serving their jail term.
She assured participants of her support to engage clinical psychologists in the legal system of the country.
In his welcome address, the National Co-ordinator for Domestic Violence Coalition at the Methodist University College of Ghana, Mr Adolf Awuku Bekoe, indicated that the group stood to strengthen the implementation of the DV Act and its related issues.
He expressed optimism that the workshop would attract stakeholders to give clinical psychologists the opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of the country.
In a statement, the Chairman for the occasion, Professor Charles Mate-Korle of the Department of Psychology at the University of Ghana, called on the government to find ways of engaging psychologists in all aspects of the adjudication system.
The clinical psychologists in turn called on the government to give them maximum recognition in the legal system of the country, especially in the implementation of the DV Act.
The Coalition on Domestic Violence Legislation in Ghana consists of a group of organisations such as the Association of Women Lawyers, Action Aid and FIDA among others who work in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) to fight for the needs of the vulnerable in society.
Article: Matilda Attram
ONE of the results of domestic violence is mental health problems, such as major depression, post traumatic stress disorder, among others.
According to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, domestic violence was not only a legal problem. It is a multifaceted problem and its solution demands a multidisciplinary approach.
One way Ghana has responded to domestic violence is through criminal prosecution, and this is a system which usually brings victims face-to-face with perpetrators in the court of law. After the system had run its course, a perpetrator is either convicted and jailed or discharged and acquitted.
Speaking at a dialogue session to engage clinical psychologists in the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (DV Act), 2007 (Act 732), in Accra, Mrs Mould-Iddrisu pointed out that most victims were often left embittered, emotionally distraught and unattended to after gruesome court battles.
The programme brought together clinical psychologists from various parts of the country to share their experiences in their fields of study. They were also expected to come up with measures that would earn them maximum recognition in the legal system of the country, especially in the implementation of the DV Act.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu declared that human behaviour was complex and cognisant of the fact that clinical psychologists, who were trained in the scientific study of human behaviour, had a major role to play in all sectors of the legal system of a country.
She said psychologists had a critical role to play to meet the mental health needs of victims of domestic violence and this role of clinical psychologists was duly recognised within the DV Act, which was the first legislation in Ghana to recognise clinical psychologists and assign them specific roles.
According to her, the disciplines of law and psychology worked together to produce results that could better situations in society, adding, "The forgoing makes the involvement of psychologists in the justice system very imperative as their services are being sought at different points in the criminal justice system.”
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu added that in other jurisdictions, psychologists assisted in the assessment of individuals to provide clinical judgement that informed the police, courts, the prison or probation services on the psychological functioning of an individual.
"This, in a way can influence the different processes of the criminal justice system. For example, a psychologist may be asked to assess individuals in order to determine whether they are fit to stand trial or whether they have a mental illness which means that they would not understand the proceedings", she added.
She further emphasised the need for psychologists to be involved in the prison system since they helped to transform inmates to enable them fit back into society after serving their jail term.
She assured participants of her support to engage clinical psychologists in the legal system of the country.
In his welcome address, the National Co-ordinator for Domestic Violence Coalition at the Methodist University College of Ghana, Mr Adolf Awuku Bekoe, indicated that the group stood to strengthen the implementation of the DV Act and its related issues.
He expressed optimism that the workshop would attract stakeholders to give clinical psychologists the opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of the country.
In a statement, the Chairman for the occasion, Professor Charles Mate-Korle of the Department of Psychology at the University of Ghana, called on the government to find ways of engaging psychologists in all aspects of the adjudication system.
The clinical psychologists in turn called on the government to give them maximum recognition in the legal system of the country, especially in the implementation of the DV Act.
The Coalition on Domestic Violence Legislation in Ghana consists of a group of organisations such as the Association of Women Lawyers, Action Aid and FIDA among others who work in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) to fight for the needs of the vulnerable in society.
Position GTUC as leading ICT University-Haruna Iddrisu advices
Published in the Daily Graphic on 30/08/2010, pg 11
Story: Matilda Attram
(GTUC) has been inaugurated with a call on the members of the council to urgently position the college as a leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) university in the world.
The council has therefore, been urged to review the strategic plan of the GTUC and also make inputs into the proposed bill to support the legal set up of GTUC as a public tertiary institution.
“The decoupling of GTUC as a fully fledged autonomous ICT university of excellence is therefore an important strategic focus not only for the GTUC, but the government of Ghana,” the Minister for Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, stated as he inaugurated the nine-member council.
The council is expected to approve and support the mission and scope of the institution, set policy for its general operations, improve quality of learning, approve programmes, as well as make changes in existing ones and encourage the co-ordination of all elements of the institution, with focus on building skills and capacity in information technology.
Mr Haruna noted that the GTUC had a primary mission to extend education in engineering, ICT in innovative manner to students on its main campus in Tesano-Accra, as well as across the nation and throughout West Africa through virtual/distance learning.
Beyond this broad mission, the minister said it was important to define an expanded strategic focus for the GTUC, following the decision of the government of Ghana to ensure that GTUC was spun off from Ghana Telecom Company Limited/Vodafone to become a leading university of ICT excellence.
The minister explained that Article II of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) entered into by the government of Ghana and Vodafone International Holdings B.V., enjoins both parties, by mutual intention, to spun off the GTUC from the Ghana Telecom Company into an independent entity.
He said his ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the African Union (AU), had selected the GTUC to host this year’s African Institute of Information Technology, under an African Union - Government of India Partnership arrangement.
In a related development, the government had also concluded a partnership arrangement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Open Society Institute of West Africa (OSIWA) to open the Africa e-Governance Academy in Ghana, the minister announced.
It is expected to develop and transfer knowledge of expertise based on research, and help improve the public sector service delivery, citizen’s participation in decision making in a manner that would enhance accountability and transparency in governance across Africa, he added.
He commended the management of the university for its contribution to the country’s development.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the President of GTUC, Dr Osei Darkwa, said the university, which started its full operations in 2006, was built on three missions namely teaching, research and public service.
He said the university offered programmes in Telecom Engineering, Computer Engineering, Wireless Internet Communications and Information Technology.
Dr Darkwa pointed out that the university had upgraded its status of learning by introducing research skills that would enhance the capabilities of the students.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that the university would produce more professionals in the field of ICT to develop the country.
The council has Professor Walter Alhassan as its chairman. Other members include Dr Osei Darkwa, Rector of the GTUC and Mr Gideon Quarcoo, also representing the GTUC.
The rest are Professor F. A. Allotey, Professor Clement Dzidonu, Mrs Sylvia Asempa, Mr Nortey Yeboah, Dr Ben Adu and Mr Dick Otuteye.
On behalf of the members, the Council Chairman, Professor Alhassan, pledged to the management of the university, to, among other things work effectively to improve the culture of research among students in the school .
Story: Matilda Attram
(GTUC) has been inaugurated with a call on the members of the council to urgently position the college as a leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) university in the world.
The council has therefore, been urged to review the strategic plan of the GTUC and also make inputs into the proposed bill to support the legal set up of GTUC as a public tertiary institution.
“The decoupling of GTUC as a fully fledged autonomous ICT university of excellence is therefore an important strategic focus not only for the GTUC, but the government of Ghana,” the Minister for Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, stated as he inaugurated the nine-member council.
The council is expected to approve and support the mission and scope of the institution, set policy for its general operations, improve quality of learning, approve programmes, as well as make changes in existing ones and encourage the co-ordination of all elements of the institution, with focus on building skills and capacity in information technology.
Mr Haruna noted that the GTUC had a primary mission to extend education in engineering, ICT in innovative manner to students on its main campus in Tesano-Accra, as well as across the nation and throughout West Africa through virtual/distance learning.
Beyond this broad mission, the minister said it was important to define an expanded strategic focus for the GTUC, following the decision of the government of Ghana to ensure that GTUC was spun off from Ghana Telecom Company Limited/Vodafone to become a leading university of ICT excellence.
The minister explained that Article II of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) entered into by the government of Ghana and Vodafone International Holdings B.V., enjoins both parties, by mutual intention, to spun off the GTUC from the Ghana Telecom Company into an independent entity.
He said his ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the African Union (AU), had selected the GTUC to host this year’s African Institute of Information Technology, under an African Union - Government of India Partnership arrangement.
In a related development, the government had also concluded a partnership arrangement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Open Society Institute of West Africa (OSIWA) to open the Africa e-Governance Academy in Ghana, the minister announced.
It is expected to develop and transfer knowledge of expertise based on research, and help improve the public sector service delivery, citizen’s participation in decision making in a manner that would enhance accountability and transparency in governance across Africa, he added.
He commended the management of the university for its contribution to the country’s development.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the President of GTUC, Dr Osei Darkwa, said the university, which started its full operations in 2006, was built on three missions namely teaching, research and public service.
He said the university offered programmes in Telecom Engineering, Computer Engineering, Wireless Internet Communications and Information Technology.
Dr Darkwa pointed out that the university had upgraded its status of learning by introducing research skills that would enhance the capabilities of the students.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that the university would produce more professionals in the field of ICT to develop the country.
The council has Professor Walter Alhassan as its chairman. Other members include Dr Osei Darkwa, Rector of the GTUC and Mr Gideon Quarcoo, also representing the GTUC.
The rest are Professor F. A. Allotey, Professor Clement Dzidonu, Mrs Sylvia Asempa, Mr Nortey Yeboah, Dr Ben Adu and Mr Dick Otuteye.
On behalf of the members, the Council Chairman, Professor Alhassan, pledged to the management of the university, to, among other things work effectively to improve the culture of research among students in the school .
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Anglican Church holds seminar on breast cancer
Published in the Daily Graphic on 28/072010, pg 23
Story: Matilda Attram
ACCORDING to health experts women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and who required surgery to remove the affected breast (mastectomy) experienced fear, anger, depression, anxiety and a sense of helplessness.
Most of the patients who have difficulty bearing the cost of surgery and treatment become stressed up and, therefore, need a lot of counselling and other support.
The word ‘cancer’ conjures up deep fears of a silent killer that creeps up on a patient without warning. It evokes such desperation that it has become a metaphor for grief and pain, a scourge that strains intellectual, social and emotional resources.
Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that there are over 20 million people living with cancer in the world today, with the majority in the developing world.
According to medical experts, cancer, which was the term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divided without control and invaded other tissues, was one of the killer diseases among both men and women. Roughly 70 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer had no identifiable risk factors for the disease.
Doctors contend that irrespective of the type of cancer a patient develops, he or she may need one of the following processes — surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy — pointing out that usually patients who have prostrate and breast cancers go through hormonal therapy.
To raise awareness of the suffering caused by breast cancer and help survivors to access the best possible treatment and care, the Anglican Youth People’s Association (AYPA) of the All Saints Anglican Church last Saturday organised a women’s seminar to educate women on the need to prevent the disease.
The seminar which was based on the theme "The Total Woman for Christian Leadership" was also aimed at training women, both young and old in becoming responsible Christian wives.
Speaking at the seminar in Accra, the Director for PathoLab Medical Laboratory in Accra, Mrs Elizabeth Irene Baitie, described breast cancer as a leading disease that killed most women.
According to her, each cancer was perceived to first start from one abnormal cell. What seems to happen is that certain vital genes which control how cells divide and multiply are damaged or altered. This makes the cell abnormal. If the abnormal cell survives, it may multiply “out of control” into a malignant tumour, which consists of cancer cells that have the ability to spread beyond the original area.
She said cancer affected various parts of the body, which resulted in various types of cancers, "each with its own name and its treatment".
She mentioned others like the lung, stomach, skin, cervical, Ovarian and prostrate cancers.
She pointed out that cancer could be cured when it was detected early, stressing that cancers needed multi-disciplinary treatment with various specialists. However, if left untreated, it may spread and destroy surrounding tissues. Sometimes, cells do break away from the original cancer. They may spread to other organs in the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
She advised that about 40 per cent of breast cancer cases could be prevented if women catered for their diets, kept within healthy weight limits, limited the consumption of alcohol and exercised regularly.
Mrs Baitie also urged women to report to their health specialists anytime they encountered abnormalities in and around their breast tissues.
In a statement, the Archdeacon of the Accra North Anglican Arcdeacory, Ven Joseph Lankwei Lamptey, encouraged participants to be submissive to their partners as a means of building a Christian home.
Story: Matilda Attram
ACCORDING to health experts women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and who required surgery to remove the affected breast (mastectomy) experienced fear, anger, depression, anxiety and a sense of helplessness.
Most of the patients who have difficulty bearing the cost of surgery and treatment become stressed up and, therefore, need a lot of counselling and other support.
The word ‘cancer’ conjures up deep fears of a silent killer that creeps up on a patient without warning. It evokes such desperation that it has become a metaphor for grief and pain, a scourge that strains intellectual, social and emotional resources.
Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that there are over 20 million people living with cancer in the world today, with the majority in the developing world.
According to medical experts, cancer, which was the term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divided without control and invaded other tissues, was one of the killer diseases among both men and women. Roughly 70 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer had no identifiable risk factors for the disease.
Doctors contend that irrespective of the type of cancer a patient develops, he or she may need one of the following processes — surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy — pointing out that usually patients who have prostrate and breast cancers go through hormonal therapy.
To raise awareness of the suffering caused by breast cancer and help survivors to access the best possible treatment and care, the Anglican Youth People’s Association (AYPA) of the All Saints Anglican Church last Saturday organised a women’s seminar to educate women on the need to prevent the disease.
The seminar which was based on the theme "The Total Woman for Christian Leadership" was also aimed at training women, both young and old in becoming responsible Christian wives.
Speaking at the seminar in Accra, the Director for PathoLab Medical Laboratory in Accra, Mrs Elizabeth Irene Baitie, described breast cancer as a leading disease that killed most women.
According to her, each cancer was perceived to first start from one abnormal cell. What seems to happen is that certain vital genes which control how cells divide and multiply are damaged or altered. This makes the cell abnormal. If the abnormal cell survives, it may multiply “out of control” into a malignant tumour, which consists of cancer cells that have the ability to spread beyond the original area.
She said cancer affected various parts of the body, which resulted in various types of cancers, "each with its own name and its treatment".
She mentioned others like the lung, stomach, skin, cervical, Ovarian and prostrate cancers.
She pointed out that cancer could be cured when it was detected early, stressing that cancers needed multi-disciplinary treatment with various specialists. However, if left untreated, it may spread and destroy surrounding tissues. Sometimes, cells do break away from the original cancer. They may spread to other organs in the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
She advised that about 40 per cent of breast cancer cases could be prevented if women catered for their diets, kept within healthy weight limits, limited the consumption of alcohol and exercised regularly.
Mrs Baitie also urged women to report to their health specialists anytime they encountered abnormalities in and around their breast tissues.
In a statement, the Archdeacon of the Accra North Anglican Arcdeacory, Ven Joseph Lankwei Lamptey, encouraged participants to be submissive to their partners as a means of building a Christian home.
Three organisations assist flood victims
Published in the Daily Graphic on 10/07/2010, pg 15
Story: Matilda Attram
THREE organisations have donated items worth GH¢13,200 towards mitigating the plight of victims of the recent floods that hit parts of the country.
Access Bank Limited donated 30 bags of rice, 30 boxes of cooking oil, blankets and some used clothes valued at GH¢5,000. In collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) the bank has opened a Disaster Relief Account with the number (0011620022561) to encourage the public to contribute to support recent flood victims as well as prepare towards future disasters.
Unique Star Foods, the producers of Vega Foods, for their part presented assorted products from the company worth GH¢2,500. The products include boxes of tomato paste, evaporated milk, cooking oil, mackerel and bags of rice.
Ashfoam Ghana Limited, on the other hand, contributed 150 pieces of students mattresses valued at GH¢5,700.
On June 20 this year, severe floods hit parts of the country, particularly the Western, Central, Volta, and Greater Accra regions, leading to the destruction of properties .
Presenting the items, the Country Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana Limited, Mr Yomi Akapo, said the presentation was part of the company’s social responsibility to give to society to support the lives of others.
According to him, although the company was young in the country, it contributed most of its efforts towards national development.
“This initiative is in line with the Access Bank’s corporate commitment to humanitarian assistance and social interventions in the country,” he stated.
The Head of Corporate Communications of Access Bank Ghana Limited, Mrs Matilda Asante-Asiedu, said the bank took its social responsibilities seriously since it had the welfare of the people as its top priority.
She said the company maintained its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy in line with the Access Bank Group’s corporate strategy, adding that “The bank’s initiatives cover five key areas: Education, Environment, Health, Arts and Sports.”
The Marketing Manager of Unique Star Foods, Mr Selassie Mawuenyega, and the Marketing Officer of Ashfoam Ghana Limited, Mr Emmanuel Dakey, also explained that their contributions towards the disaster was in fulfilment of their companies social responsibility.
Receiving the items, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, expressed the government’s appreciation to the three organisations, and called on other organisations to also support the efforts of the government and NADMO to assist the flood victims.
“Government is trying its best but also need your support to enable us to assist our brothers and sisters who have found themselves in this situation,” he added.
In a statement the National Co-ordinator for NADMO, Mr Kofi Portuphy, noted that the number of dead bodies retrieved nationwide as a result of the disaster had increased from 31 to 36, with over 10,000 flood victims at Ashaiman alone.
He assured donors that the items would be used for the purpose for which they were donated and appealed to other organisations to support the victims of the flood disaster.
Story: Matilda Attram
THREE organisations have donated items worth GH¢13,200 towards mitigating the plight of victims of the recent floods that hit parts of the country.
Access Bank Limited donated 30 bags of rice, 30 boxes of cooking oil, blankets and some used clothes valued at GH¢5,000. In collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) the bank has opened a Disaster Relief Account with the number (0011620022561) to encourage the public to contribute to support recent flood victims as well as prepare towards future disasters.
Unique Star Foods, the producers of Vega Foods, for their part presented assorted products from the company worth GH¢2,500. The products include boxes of tomato paste, evaporated milk, cooking oil, mackerel and bags of rice.
Ashfoam Ghana Limited, on the other hand, contributed 150 pieces of students mattresses valued at GH¢5,700.
On June 20 this year, severe floods hit parts of the country, particularly the Western, Central, Volta, and Greater Accra regions, leading to the destruction of properties .
Presenting the items, the Country Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana Limited, Mr Yomi Akapo, said the presentation was part of the company’s social responsibility to give to society to support the lives of others.
According to him, although the company was young in the country, it contributed most of its efforts towards national development.
“This initiative is in line with the Access Bank’s corporate commitment to humanitarian assistance and social interventions in the country,” he stated.
The Head of Corporate Communications of Access Bank Ghana Limited, Mrs Matilda Asante-Asiedu, said the bank took its social responsibilities seriously since it had the welfare of the people as its top priority.
She said the company maintained its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy in line with the Access Bank Group’s corporate strategy, adding that “The bank’s initiatives cover five key areas: Education, Environment, Health, Arts and Sports.”
The Marketing Manager of Unique Star Foods, Mr Selassie Mawuenyega, and the Marketing Officer of Ashfoam Ghana Limited, Mr Emmanuel Dakey, also explained that their contributions towards the disaster was in fulfilment of their companies social responsibility.
Receiving the items, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, expressed the government’s appreciation to the three organisations, and called on other organisations to also support the efforts of the government and NADMO to assist the flood victims.
“Government is trying its best but also need your support to enable us to assist our brothers and sisters who have found themselves in this situation,” he added.
In a statement the National Co-ordinator for NADMO, Mr Kofi Portuphy, noted that the number of dead bodies retrieved nationwide as a result of the disaster had increased from 31 to 36, with over 10,000 flood victims at Ashaiman alone.
He assured donors that the items would be used for the purpose for which they were donated and appealed to other organisations to support the victims of the flood disaster.
Gt Accra Police get tough on criminals
Published in the Daily Graphic on 7/07/2010, pg 51
Story: Matilda Attram & Gloria Kyeremeh
ELEVEN suspected armed robbers who are believed to have engaged in various operations at Adenta and the Teshie-Nungua area have been nabbed by the Greater Accra Regional Police.
Six of them were identified as Ablor Uman, 58; Nathaniel Addo Apan, 29; Lucas Anum, 27; Felix Sango, 25; Eric Baba, 21, and Bismark Addo, 20.
After the swoop on their Teshie-Nungua hideout by the Nungua District Police following a tip off, items including a laptop, a Dell computer, an LG DVD player, nine mobile phones, four pen drives, two ATM cards, a SSNIT ID card, one screw driver, two pairs of vehicle number plates and an instrument believed to be used for sniffing cocaine were recovered from the suspects.
According to the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, two employees of Romantic Furniture Company on the Kanda Highway were also arrested for alleged robbery.
The suspects, Daniel Agyare and David Ohene Painstil, were arrested after a complaint made by their employers, Louise Yuon and Xu Shun Lai, for allegedly stealing the company's laptop, two personal mobile phones and an amount of GH¢3,000.
DCOP Atinga indicated that two other men who allegedly snatched a Nissan Urvan bus, with registration number GR 645S, and a Nissan Almera taxi, with registration number GS 8646-09, in two different operations had been arrested by the police.
Rashim Mohammed, 23, suspected for stealing the Nissan Urvan from a house at Fadama on December 21, 2009, was arrested on June 27, 2010 while using the vehicle for commercial purposes.
Rashim was said to have been released from prison custody in June 2009 after serving a four-year jail term for a similar offence.
The other suspect, James Donkor, 22, was said to have hired the taxi about 10:30 p.m. on February 2, 2010 from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Dzorwulu and later snatched it from the driver midway through the journey and made away with it, as well as the driver's sales for the day and his mobile phone.
DCOP Atinga advised the public to help the police with information that would lead to the arrest of criminals and ultimately reduce crime in the country.
She also cautioned potential car buyers to conduct due diligence on the places and the people they are buying the cars from in order not to buy stolen cars.
"If we arrest anybody with stolen items, the law will take its course, irrespective of whether he or she bought it or not," she stressed.
Story: Matilda Attram & Gloria Kyeremeh
ELEVEN suspected armed robbers who are believed to have engaged in various operations at Adenta and the Teshie-Nungua area have been nabbed by the Greater Accra Regional Police.
Six of them were identified as Ablor Uman, 58; Nathaniel Addo Apan, 29; Lucas Anum, 27; Felix Sango, 25; Eric Baba, 21, and Bismark Addo, 20.
After the swoop on their Teshie-Nungua hideout by the Nungua District Police following a tip off, items including a laptop, a Dell computer, an LG DVD player, nine mobile phones, four pen drives, two ATM cards, a SSNIT ID card, one screw driver, two pairs of vehicle number plates and an instrument believed to be used for sniffing cocaine were recovered from the suspects.
According to the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, two employees of Romantic Furniture Company on the Kanda Highway were also arrested for alleged robbery.
The suspects, Daniel Agyare and David Ohene Painstil, were arrested after a complaint made by their employers, Louise Yuon and Xu Shun Lai, for allegedly stealing the company's laptop, two personal mobile phones and an amount of GH¢3,000.
DCOP Atinga indicated that two other men who allegedly snatched a Nissan Urvan bus, with registration number GR 645S, and a Nissan Almera taxi, with registration number GS 8646-09, in two different operations had been arrested by the police.
Rashim Mohammed, 23, suspected for stealing the Nissan Urvan from a house at Fadama on December 21, 2009, was arrested on June 27, 2010 while using the vehicle for commercial purposes.
Rashim was said to have been released from prison custody in June 2009 after serving a four-year jail term for a similar offence.
The other suspect, James Donkor, 22, was said to have hired the taxi about 10:30 p.m. on February 2, 2010 from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Dzorwulu and later snatched it from the driver midway through the journey and made away with it, as well as the driver's sales for the day and his mobile phone.
DCOP Atinga advised the public to help the police with information that would lead to the arrest of criminals and ultimately reduce crime in the country.
She also cautioned potential car buyers to conduct due diligence on the places and the people they are buying the cars from in order not to buy stolen cars.
"If we arrest anybody with stolen items, the law will take its course, irrespective of whether he or she bought it or not," she stressed.
Educational village under construction at Savelugu-Nanton
Published in the Daily Graphic on July 6, 2010, pg 11
Story: Matilda Attram
A sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a $20 million educational village has been performed at Savulugu-Nanton in the Northern Region.
When completed, the village is expected to house the youth of the three northern regions, especially young women, and provide them with vocational training to improve their lives.
The project is, therefore, aimed at reducing youth migration from the northern to the southern parts of the country.
The construction work is under the auspices of the Pamela Bridgewater Project, initiated by the former USA Ambassador, Pamela E. Bridgewater, to improve the lives of female porters (Kayayei) in Ghana.
The initiative is supported by Kunata Voluntary Organisation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
In his address, the Director of the project, Mr Yahaya Alhassan, indicated that the project will also offer them opportunities to enhance their farming activities.
He said the project was important to the country since it aimed at changing the lives of some of the youth who migrate to the south to make a living under trying conditions.
He attributed the migration of young girls from the northern part of the country to the south to the lack of training facilities and motivation in the three northern regions.
Mr Alhassan noted that as part of the organisation’s support to the project, executives of the project often visited some of the young women who had already migrated to the south, donated items to them and interacted with them.
He called on district chief executives (DCEs), chiefs and community leaders in the regions to engage the youth in communal activities that would enable them explore and develop their potential.
The District Chief Executive for Savulugu-Nanton, Alhaji Prince Askia Mohammed, expressed concern about the deplorable conditions the female porters operated in and stressed the need for an intervention to address the problem. He also commended the executives of the project for their efforts and pledged his support for it.
In a statement, the Northern Regional Director of Consar Ghana Limited, the construction firm undertaking the project, Mr Ramiz Hamdeh, assured those present that his company would support views to enhance the development of deprived areas in the country.
Story: Matilda Attram
A sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a $20 million educational village has been performed at Savulugu-Nanton in the Northern Region.
When completed, the village is expected to house the youth of the three northern regions, especially young women, and provide them with vocational training to improve their lives.
The project is, therefore, aimed at reducing youth migration from the northern to the southern parts of the country.
The construction work is under the auspices of the Pamela Bridgewater Project, initiated by the former USA Ambassador, Pamela E. Bridgewater, to improve the lives of female porters (Kayayei) in Ghana.
The initiative is supported by Kunata Voluntary Organisation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
In his address, the Director of the project, Mr Yahaya Alhassan, indicated that the project will also offer them opportunities to enhance their farming activities.
He said the project was important to the country since it aimed at changing the lives of some of the youth who migrate to the south to make a living under trying conditions.
He attributed the migration of young girls from the northern part of the country to the south to the lack of training facilities and motivation in the three northern regions.
Mr Alhassan noted that as part of the organisation’s support to the project, executives of the project often visited some of the young women who had already migrated to the south, donated items to them and interacted with them.
He called on district chief executives (DCEs), chiefs and community leaders in the regions to engage the youth in communal activities that would enable them explore and develop their potential.
The District Chief Executive for Savulugu-Nanton, Alhaji Prince Askia Mohammed, expressed concern about the deplorable conditions the female porters operated in and stressed the need for an intervention to address the problem. He also commended the executives of the project for their efforts and pledged his support for it.
In a statement, the Northern Regional Director of Consar Ghana Limited, the construction firm undertaking the project, Mr Ramiz Hamdeh, assured those present that his company would support views to enhance the development of deprived areas in the country.
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