Govt is on top of the situation – Prez Mills

Dormaa Ahenkro (B/A), July 31, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday reiterated the government’s determination to resuscitate the nation’s economy and move it in a direction that would justify the people’s confidence and trust.

He explained that the NDC government inherited a colossal debt, half of which the national budget could not even match but that the government was working steadily to put things in good shape so that the vision of making Ghana better would be achieved.

President Mills was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people at Dormaa Ahenkro on the second of his three-day tour of Brong Ahafo, which will also take him to Nsawkaw and Techiman. He had earlier in the day addressed a similar durbar and met with Zongo chiefs in Sunyani. Professor Mills said the government acknowledged complaints by some Ghanaians that they had not “seen anything” since the NDC assumed power in January and had failed to fulfil its campaign promises to the people. He further explained that half of the arrears bequeathed to the NDC government was more than its budget for the provision for water, electricity and other essential amenities for the people, but stressed that the government was more than determined to reverse the situation and put things in order.
He emphasised that the oil find in the country was not due to the good deeds of any body but rather the Creator’s magnanimity, and thus no government could pride itself with the find, adding that the government was working to ensure that every Ghanaian enjoyed part of the national cake. Read more

UN collaborates with Upper West Regional Security Council

Wa, July 31, GNA – United Nations is collaborating with the Upper West Regional Security Council to find alternative ways of preventing conflicts and enhancing livelihoods of the people under its Human Security Programme.

Mr. Shigeki Komatsubara, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP, said the UN had developed the programme taken into consideration that stable and secured environment are important conditions needed by countries to tackle their development challenges. He said for Ghana to make a difference in its development agenda, the development of the Upper West, Upper East and Northern regions is a necessary and a determinant factor. Mr. Komatsubara said this during a meeting with the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. Mahmud Khalid and members of the Regional Security Council with some officials of agencies under the UN in Wa on Thursday. Read more

1,841 pupil teachers in the Tamale Metropolis

Tamale, July 31, GNA – Out of a teacher population of 4,540 in the Tamale Metropolitan Directorate of Education, 1,841 are pupil teachers who mostly teach at the Kindergarten level. Mr. Edward Gayoni, the Metropolitan Director of Education who said this at a two-day training workshop for Kindergarten teachers in the Metropolis said: “Because a good number of these teachers are untrained, they lack the basic pedagogical skills to handle young innocent minds”. The workshop, which was funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), seeks to equip the teachers with the basic skills to be able to handle their lessons well and also improve upon the performance of their pupils.

Mr. Gayoni said the best solution to addressing the shortcomings of the pupil teachers is in-service training and workshops to build their competencies and confidence. Read more

School of Allied Science, University of Energy to be established

Kumasi, July 31, GNA – Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister, on Wednesday said government has planned to establish a School of Allied Science and a University of Energy, to help improve the manpower needs of the country.

He said it was the wish of government to absorb greater percentage of the funding tertiary education to enable more students to pursue higher courses at that level. Mr. Manu said these in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of the Seventh Annual Congress of the University Student’s Association (USAG), at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in Kumasi. The three-day event is on the theme: “Funding University Education in Ghana-Obligation of State, Corporate Institutions and Students.” Mr. Manu said government has intended to review the Social Security and National Insurance (SSNIT), students’ loan scheme to meet the needs of beneficiaries. Read more

Government blows GH¢1m on Obama – AFAG

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has been accused of spending over ¢10 billion on the 24 hour visit of the United State of America (USA) President, Barack Obama.

According to a pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) the misuse of the scarce State resources on the visit could have provided three (3) square meals for some families in the country.

“This is a defeat of government’s commitment to its austerity measures and an enormous rip-off of the tax payer’s money,” the group claimed.

Speaking on behalf of the group at a media briefing in Accra to announce AFAG’s intended August 4, 2009 “Atta Adaadaa Yen Demo”, Mr Kwabena Bomfeh “a leading member of the group said the ruling government’s acceptance of International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) loan facility with such killer conditionalities was a deadly deal for the citizenry.

He indicated that the freeze on public sector employment for 2 years and full cost recovery at all tertiary level of education, had led to an increase in academic user facility fee which he said was a clear demonstration of government’s insensitivity to the suffering of parents and a betrayal of the President’s promise to create jobs for the people. Read more

Supply of 60,000 barrels of oil to Ghana MILLS, YAR’ADUA DEAL IN LIMBO … But Minister says negotiations still on-going

Despite the noise made by the government that President Mills has struck a deal with his Nigerian counterpart, President Musa Yar’Adua, for the supply of 60,000 barrels of crude oil to Ghana on daily basis, The Chronicle can report that no deal has yet been sealed.

Information gathered by The Chronicle indicates that the Nigerian government is dilly-dallying with the government of Ghana over no clear reasons.

Shortly after the arrival of President Mills and his entourage from a recent state visit to Nigeria, the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Mahama Ayariga, in counting the benefits of the trip said on Joy FM that a deal had been struck with the Nigerian government for the supply of 60 barrels of oil to Ghana daily.

He said the deal would commence as soon as the Government of Ghana translates the discussion onto paper. The Chronicle gathered that though the government of Ghana is ready to sign her side of the deal, her Nigerian counterpart is playing hard to find.

Responding to Chronicle’s letter of enquiry on the subject, the deputy Minister of Energy, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, said negotiations were still ongoing. According to him, the two Presidents had reached a consensus on the basic terms of the agreement, and what was left was for the technocrats to ‘flesh’ it up, which is now the subject for the ongoing negotiations. Experts who spoke to this reporter said the delay in the signing of the agreement could be an indication of bad omen, since under President Kufuor’s administration the signing of the oil deal was done a few days after the verbal discussions had ended. Read more

Asabee Beats BNI In Round One

The former Minister for Information and National Orientation, Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, and his wife Zuleika, yesterday heaved a sigh of relief following a court order releasing Zuleika’s passport to her in a legal battle with the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

An Accra Circuit Court presided over by Mrs. Adwoa Coleman, trying the former Minister’s wife for allegedly assaulting and using abusive language on a BNI officer, ordered the immediate release of the passport to Zuleika, a mother of two.

The court decision received tons of commendations from New Patriotic Party (NPP) operatives including National Chairman, Peter Mac Manu, who described it as victory for rule of law. Several NPP bigwigs and supporters attended the court hearing, with some activists carrying placards with various inscriptions.

Counsel for Zuleika, Nene Amegatcher and Patrick Okudzeto, from Sammy Okudzeto Chambers, had filed an application on the last hearing, asking for the return of her passport to enable her to travel, as she is a businesswoman, pending the final determination of the criminal charges levelled against her.

Mrs. Adwoa Coleman, in returning the passport to the accused person, said she had taken cognisance of the fact that Zuleika was a businesswoman and needed to travel from time to time; but added that she would need the permission of the court whenever she wanted to do so. Read more

Competing with Alan will not disunite NPP – Nana Akufo-Addo

The New Patriotic Party presidential candidate for 2008 elections, Nana Akufo-Addo says his contest for the flag-bearership of the party for elections 2012 will not create any problems for the party.

Political analysts have suggested the bitter contest between him and Mr Alan Kyerematen for NPP flag-bearer in December 2007 contributed to the party’s defeat at the 2008 elections.

The various groups belonging to the two leaders are said to have had irreconcilable differences and never closed their ranks.

The resultant cracks thereof cost the party the elections as it lacked the needed unity and cohesion to make a concerted effort during the campaigns.

Mr Kyerematen prior to the elections even resigned from the NPP citing intimidation of his supporters by supposed supporters of Nana Akufo-Addo. He however rescinded his decision and rejoined the party but only after interventions by the elders of the party. Read more

Hertha Berlin Rejects Ayew

The Black Satellites’ captain, has failed to impress officials of the German Bundesliga side, Hertha Berlin and has therefore been refused an offer, after playing in the club’s final pre-season friendly last night against FC Lubars.

The 19-year-old scored two goals in his 45 minutes stay on the pitch as the Hertha Berlin beat an amateur side 23-0.

Dede Ayew will have to revert to his French side, Olympique Marseille, to train with them till he gets another club.

He has also been told to look for opportunities elsewhere, after Coach Didier Deschamps declared him as a surplus to requirement.

Marseille are seeking an outright buyer for the player, even though Hertha wants to monitor him for another year.

Ayew currently has a contract with Marseille, which runs till 2011.

Source: Daily Guide

Snow Leopard Gets Ready For Olympics

Whistler, Canada – The Snow Leopard took a long look at Whistler last week, and his main feeling about the host mountain resort for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is that it’s “really big.”

Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, the first athlete from Ghana ever to qualify for a winter Olympics, spent five days in Whistler beginning last Wednesday (July 22), as he and his family visited the resort in a trip organized through the Canadian Tourism Commission’s (CTC) Connecting with Canadians program with Tourism Whistler and Tourism British Columbia.

Nkrumah-Acheampong has been gaining fame as the ski-racing “Snow Leopard,” a nickname given to him by the first journalist to write a story about him, since he made a bid to qualify for the 2006 Olympics in Turin. Having only started skiing one season before, he was unsuccessful that year, but his dedication to the slopes didn’t wane.

In March 2009, Nkrumah-Acheampong cemented his spot in the 2010 Olympics, earning a berth in the slalom and giant slalom races to take place in Whistler by fulfilling the requirements of the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) points system.

“I love sport. I love sport, and if I want something, I bring 150 per cent to get what I want,” the determined Nkrumah-Acheampong said on Saturday (July 25) in Wayside Park, before embarking on a canoe outing with his family.

Nkrumah-Acheampong and his wife, two children and niece sampled a variety of Whistler sights in their visit, including a round of glacier skiing, a tour of the Village and a Ziptrek excursion. Nkrumah-Acheampong also took a look at the Dave Murray Downhill, site of the men’s alpine events in the Olympics, and said the slope looks fun and fearsome. Read more

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