THE Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has called for the prosecution of traditional rulers found guilty of promoting female genital mutilation (FGM).
At a durbar at Kyebi over the weekend organised in honour of 50 beautiful women selected for the Exquisite Face of the Universe beauty pageant, the Okyenhene described FGM as outmoded, inhuman and a brutal criminal act against womanhood.
The beauties were at the Ofori Panin Fie to pay a courtesy call on the Okyenhene and other traditional leaders of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area who organised a dinner for them.
The occasion also marked the ninth anniversary of the enstoolment of the Okyenhene.
The IBF World Welterweight Boxing Champion, Joshua Clottey, was also present to show his title belt to the Okyenhene.
According to the Okyenhene, for the country to keep pace with modernity, progressive cultural practices should be kept and enhanced, while those found to be detrimental to the people, especially women and children, be abolished.
“It is for this reason that I call for a strong will and courage to drop outmoded cultural practices which should be completely outlawed,” he stated.
In his opinion, it was also time the world changed its perception of women to enable them to effectively and efficiently play the role expected of them in society.
On education, the Okyenhene said since the world had become a knowledge-driven one, it was important to ensure that every Ghanaian child had access to education to develop his or her potential.
“We believe that for our nation to keep pace with the rest of the world, every child, regardless of his or her geographical location and parental status, should have access to education to enrich his or her mind and enhance his or her God-given potential,” the Okyenhene stated, adding, “No country can fully make use of its resources and wealth without applying the knowledge and ideas of its people.”
On poverty, he said there were too many resources in the country and that Ghanaians should work hard to ensure that their children were provided with the necessary support, just like others in other parts of the world.
He was of the opinion that if the nation was to witness any meaningful development, the country must have a crop of leaders who would be committed to the welfare of the people.
“If we are to ensure the rapid development of our country, we must have selfless leaders who are committed not only to ensuring financial stability for themselves but also the development of their people and country,” Osagyefo Ofori Panin emphasised.
The Okyenhene also bemoaned the practice of polygamy, which he said had contributed to high population growth, with a negative impact on the environment, and appealed to men to develop a preference for monogamy.
He appealed to the beauty queens to be gender ambassadors and help address various issues affecting women and children in their respective countries.
In his welcoming address, the Apagyahene of Akyem Abuakwa, Nana Asante Bediatuo, recounted the achievements of the Okyenhene since he ascended the throne nine years ago.
These, he stated, included the establishment of the Okyeman Environmental Foundation to address environmental issues such as forest reserves and a scholarship scheme to support brilliant, needy children.
Others, he said, included the Okyeman AIDS Foundation to promote safe sex, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), the institution of an annual Christmas party for children across the country to enable them to learn about their culture, as well packages for children who excelled academically.
Miss Lebanon and Miss Tanzania, on behalf of their colleagues, thanked the Okyenhene and his sub-chiefs for the hospitality and for offering them the opportunity to learn about the rich culture of the Akyems.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
EASTERN REGIONAL MINISTER COMMENDED FOR GOOD WORK (PAGE 23)
THE President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Ologo Darwutey IV, has commended the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, for helping to resolve some of the protracted chieftaincy disputes in the region.
He noted that his intervention had brought some of the feuding factions together to dialogue and find amicable solutions to their differences.
Ologo Darwutey made the commendation when he held a durbar in honour of the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Sampson Boafo at his palace in Somanya.
Mr Boafo was on a four-day working visit to the region to acquaint himself with the various challenges facing traditional authorities and to also solicit their support towards the conduct of peaceful elections in December, this year.
Ologo Darwutey said “Mr Asiedu’s commitment towards the progress of the area since his appointment as the regional minister, had ensured greater unity and peace among the people”.
Ologo Darwutey, who is the Konor of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, mentioned the efforts being made by the regional minister, in collaboration with chiefs and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, which had helped to resolve some of the protracted disputes hindering the rapid development of the affected area.
“Fortunately for us, our joint commitment in resolving chieftaincy disputes in this part of the country, including Yilo Krobo, has fostered greater unity and peaceful co-existence among the people,” Ologo Darwutey stated.
To sustain peace and address other unresolved disputes in the region, he sought the support of other stakeholders from Mr Asiedu and Mr Boafo to handle sensitive issues affecting the chieftaincy institution in the area.
Mr Asiedu expressed his gratitude to Mr Boafo, the chiefs and the Eastern Regional Security Committee (REGSEC) for helping to find solutions to the numerous disputes in the region.
“Our efforts have yielded enormous positive results as some of the feuding factions have compromised their entrenched positions and are prepared to dialogue with each other, a sign of resolving their differences,” Mr Asiedu stated.
He specifically made mention of the disputes between the people of Asamankese and Anum, Kwahu Obomeng, Akwamuwufie and Akyem Oda as some of the disputes being addressed.
Mr Boafo said since the chieftaincy institution played a complementary role of good governance and the promotion of development, the government would continue to lend its support to enable traditional rulers to play their expected roles in society.
He noted that his intervention had brought some of the feuding factions together to dialogue and find amicable solutions to their differences.
Ologo Darwutey made the commendation when he held a durbar in honour of the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Sampson Boafo at his palace in Somanya.
Mr Boafo was on a four-day working visit to the region to acquaint himself with the various challenges facing traditional authorities and to also solicit their support towards the conduct of peaceful elections in December, this year.
Ologo Darwutey said “Mr Asiedu’s commitment towards the progress of the area since his appointment as the regional minister, had ensured greater unity and peace among the people”.
Ologo Darwutey, who is the Konor of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, mentioned the efforts being made by the regional minister, in collaboration with chiefs and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, which had helped to resolve some of the protracted disputes hindering the rapid development of the affected area.
“Fortunately for us, our joint commitment in resolving chieftaincy disputes in this part of the country, including Yilo Krobo, has fostered greater unity and peaceful co-existence among the people,” Ologo Darwutey stated.
To sustain peace and address other unresolved disputes in the region, he sought the support of other stakeholders from Mr Asiedu and Mr Boafo to handle sensitive issues affecting the chieftaincy institution in the area.
Mr Asiedu expressed his gratitude to Mr Boafo, the chiefs and the Eastern Regional Security Committee (REGSEC) for helping to find solutions to the numerous disputes in the region.
“Our efforts have yielded enormous positive results as some of the feuding factions have compromised their entrenched positions and are prepared to dialogue with each other, a sign of resolving their differences,” Mr Asiedu stated.
He specifically made mention of the disputes between the people of Asamankese and Anum, Kwahu Obomeng, Akwamuwufie and Akyem Oda as some of the disputes being addressed.
Mr Boafo said since the chieftaincy institution played a complementary role of good governance and the promotion of development, the government would continue to lend its support to enable traditional rulers to play their expected roles in society.
Friday, October 10, 2008
ER POLICE DESTROY 'WEE' FARMS (BACK PAGE)
The Eastern Regional Police Command has so far destroyed 25 acres of Indian hemp farms in some communities in the Yilo Krobo District. The communities include Huhunya, Boti, Nkurakan, Bosomtwi and Sikaben.
In most places marijuana plants and seedlings were intercropped with plantain, maize and cassava.
The destruction was carried out by a team of policemen from the Eastern Regional Command, led by Superintendent John A. Naami.
In addition to the destruction of farms, 48 maxi bags of leaves suspected to be Indian hemp have been seized from various places where they had been hid and warehouses most of them in the mountainous parts of Huhunya.
Briefing the press after a media tour of some of the farms at Huhunya on Wednesday, Superintendent Naami said the operation, which coincided with the wee-growing season, would be intensified to discourage other potential growers from cultivating the plant. He said some of the farmers even destroyed the crop before the special team arrived.
Superintendent Naami said those who were arrested during the operation had been put before court.
Meanwhile, a 25-year-old farmer, Abraham Narh, who allegedly shot and killed his colleague, Stephen Tetteh, 30, on September 24, this year for allegedly refusing to be part of a robbery gang, is in police custody assisting in investigations.
The suspect, who claimed to be working for some of the Indian hemp growers at Huhunya, is currently assisting the police to identify the various Indian hemp farms in the area.
In most places marijuana plants and seedlings were intercropped with plantain, maize and cassava.
The destruction was carried out by a team of policemen from the Eastern Regional Command, led by Superintendent John A. Naami.
In addition to the destruction of farms, 48 maxi bags of leaves suspected to be Indian hemp have been seized from various places where they had been hid and warehouses most of them in the mountainous parts of Huhunya.
Briefing the press after a media tour of some of the farms at Huhunya on Wednesday, Superintendent Naami said the operation, which coincided with the wee-growing season, would be intensified to discourage other potential growers from cultivating the plant. He said some of the farmers even destroyed the crop before the special team arrived.
Superintendent Naami said those who were arrested during the operation had been put before court.
Meanwhile, a 25-year-old farmer, Abraham Narh, who allegedly shot and killed his colleague, Stephen Tetteh, 30, on September 24, this year for allegedly refusing to be part of a robbery gang, is in police custody assisting in investigations.
The suspect, who claimed to be working for some of the Indian hemp growers at Huhunya, is currently assisting the police to identify the various Indian hemp farms in the area.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
PROTECT GAINS ACHIEVED UNDER NPP — BAWUMIA (PAGE 17)
THE Vice-Presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on Ghanaians to protect the gains so far achieved under the New Patriotic Party by retaining it in power.
He said the country was on the verge of economic breakthrough, which called for concerted efforts to resist any act of provocation and violence and contribute towards the conduct of an incident-free election in December.
“We must together say no to any violent act that could trigger bloodshed and destruction of property. We must rather choose peace and unity, which are what we need to ensure the total transformation of the economy,” he stated.
Dr Bawumia, who made the appeal during separate rallies on Saturday, said “we cannot afford to destroy the country that we are trying to build together for ourselves and our for children”.
Dr Bawumia was addressing rallies at various Zongo communities in Koforidua, New Tafo, Kwabeng, Kyebi and Asesewa, as part of his four-day tour of the Eastern Region.
“Our peaceful co-existence and unity, freedom of press, freedom of speech, association and movement as well as the massive infrastructural development and other social interventions such as free health care, free basic education, the School Feeding Programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme, and the free school bus ride are all achievements that we should not take for granted.” he said
The NPP running mate also used his tour to pay courtesy calls on various traditional leaders, including the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Kpetekple Narh Darwutey Ologo VI, who is also the Konor of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, and the surviving 81-year-old wife of the late Dr J. B. Danquah, Ms Elizabeth Pandikor Ologo. He was accompanied by some executives of the party.
Dr Bawumia mentioned the discovery of commercial quantity of oil, and the country earning the reputation as one of the most stable and peaceful countries in the sub-region, as making it a favourable destination for foreign investments.
According to him, although Ghana gained its political independence many years ago, its budget depended on conditionalities of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a situation that denied its “economic and mental freedom”.
However, he pointed out that seven years after the NPP had assumed the administration of the country, the economy had been able to disentangle itself from the IMF conditionalities, an enviable gain that must be consolidated to ensure the country’s total economic freedom.
“When our GDP, 43 years after independence, stood at $3 billion, seven years after the NPP took over, our GDP is now $16 billion,” he said, adding “this is not by chance but by the good economic policies and management of the NPP government”, he stated.
“The resilience of our economy in the past seven years makes one of the first HIPC African country to issue a sovereign bond of $700 million bond on the international market, an enviable record by any account,” Dr Bawumia stated.
According to him, to sustain such significant economic achievements, the government aimed at making education accessible to every Ghanaian to make the economy a knowledge-driven one.
This, he believed, could boost the country’s efforts at eradicating high rate of illiteracy, which had many years been the bane of the country’s slow development pace.
Mr Ampofo Twumasi, Ms Gloria Ofori Boadu, President of Women’s Assistance and Business Association (WABA) and Alhaji Karim Grunsa, Chief Executive Officer of the King Faisal Football Club, urged Ghanaians to critically examine the good works of the NPP government over the past seven years against that of the various previous governments, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
This, he said, would enable them to make an informed voting decision and vote back the NPP into power to manage the resources and affairs of the nation.
In a related development, Samuel Kyei-Boateng, reports from Akyem Swedru that four leading members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called on the Zongo communities to break their 16-year marriage with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and join the NPP in their own interest.
They stressed that the “marriage of convenience” between the Zongo people and the NDC since 1992 had not benefited them in terms of development.
Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP vice-presidential aspirant; Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Oda; Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Minister of Works and Housing, and Alhaji Karim Grunsah, the football administrator-turned politician, made the call when they addressed a rally at Akyem Swedru Zongo last week Thursday.
They noted with concern that although the Zongo communities had been loyal and committed to the cause of the NDC, they had never received any reward for their commitment as the party had done nothing to improve their lot.
According to Alhaji Grunsah, considering the kind of work the Zongo people had done for the NDC for quite a long time, that party should have reciprocated their gesture by transforming their communities into “paradise”.
“As an opinion leader in the Zongo community in Kumasi, I know what the NPP government has done during its eight-year rule and the other good things it intends to do if the party is retained in power come December 7, 2008. I urge my brothers and sisters to vote for the NPP in order to enjoy the fruits of your labour,” Alhaji Grunsah stressed.
“I have seen the light, so I don’t want my brothers and sisters to remain in darkness,” he added.
For his part, Mr Osafo-Maafo expressed optimism that the outstanding performance of the NPP government would convince Ghanaians to retain it in power by voting massively for the party.
He noted that the people of Akyem Swedru Zongo had never voted for the NPP since 1992, lamenting, “In 1996, only six people in the area voted for the NPP, while the NDC had more than 600 votes.”
Mr Osafo-Maafo, therefore, advised them to change their voting pattern and endorse the NPP in the December 7 general election.
He stressed that Alhaji Bawumia possessed all the qualities of a vice-president as he was a genius, very competent, a young man, affable, respectful and assiduous.
According to Mr Osafo-Maafo, being a Muslim, Dr Bawumia’s choice is a good balance since the NPP presidential aspirant, Nana Akufo-Addo is a Christian.
Mr Osafo-Maafo, a former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, stressed that Dr Bawumia, who was 42, was the youngest person to be appointed the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana as all his predecessors were around 60 years of age.
Dr Buwumia enumerated such interventions made by the NPP government as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme and the free medical care for pregnant women, in addition to provision of potable water, electricity, school blocks, roads and other development projects.
He, therefore, enjoined the people to retain the NPP in power in order to benefit from more quality projects.
Alhaji Saddique, for his part, stated emphatically that no government since independence, could surpass the NPP as far as the development of the nation and good governance were concerned.
He, therefore, urged all Ghanaians to vote massively for the NPP in order to enjoy development in freedom.
The other members of the campaign team included Mr John Boadu, the National Youth Organiser of the NPP; Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, the Deputy Minister of Energy; Mr Yaw Gyekye-Amoabeng, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP, and Mr Osei-Frimpong, the Special Assistant to Mr Osafo-Maafo.
He said the country was on the verge of economic breakthrough, which called for concerted efforts to resist any act of provocation and violence and contribute towards the conduct of an incident-free election in December.
“We must together say no to any violent act that could trigger bloodshed and destruction of property. We must rather choose peace and unity, which are what we need to ensure the total transformation of the economy,” he stated.
Dr Bawumia, who made the appeal during separate rallies on Saturday, said “we cannot afford to destroy the country that we are trying to build together for ourselves and our for children”.
Dr Bawumia was addressing rallies at various Zongo communities in Koforidua, New Tafo, Kwabeng, Kyebi and Asesewa, as part of his four-day tour of the Eastern Region.
“Our peaceful co-existence and unity, freedom of press, freedom of speech, association and movement as well as the massive infrastructural development and other social interventions such as free health care, free basic education, the School Feeding Programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme, and the free school bus ride are all achievements that we should not take for granted.” he said
The NPP running mate also used his tour to pay courtesy calls on various traditional leaders, including the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Kpetekple Narh Darwutey Ologo VI, who is also the Konor of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, and the surviving 81-year-old wife of the late Dr J. B. Danquah, Ms Elizabeth Pandikor Ologo. He was accompanied by some executives of the party.
Dr Bawumia mentioned the discovery of commercial quantity of oil, and the country earning the reputation as one of the most stable and peaceful countries in the sub-region, as making it a favourable destination for foreign investments.
According to him, although Ghana gained its political independence many years ago, its budget depended on conditionalities of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a situation that denied its “economic and mental freedom”.
However, he pointed out that seven years after the NPP had assumed the administration of the country, the economy had been able to disentangle itself from the IMF conditionalities, an enviable gain that must be consolidated to ensure the country’s total economic freedom.
“When our GDP, 43 years after independence, stood at $3 billion, seven years after the NPP took over, our GDP is now $16 billion,” he said, adding “this is not by chance but by the good economic policies and management of the NPP government”, he stated.
“The resilience of our economy in the past seven years makes one of the first HIPC African country to issue a sovereign bond of $700 million bond on the international market, an enviable record by any account,” Dr Bawumia stated.
According to him, to sustain such significant economic achievements, the government aimed at making education accessible to every Ghanaian to make the economy a knowledge-driven one.
This, he believed, could boost the country’s efforts at eradicating high rate of illiteracy, which had many years been the bane of the country’s slow development pace.
Mr Ampofo Twumasi, Ms Gloria Ofori Boadu, President of Women’s Assistance and Business Association (WABA) and Alhaji Karim Grunsa, Chief Executive Officer of the King Faisal Football Club, urged Ghanaians to critically examine the good works of the NPP government over the past seven years against that of the various previous governments, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
This, he said, would enable them to make an informed voting decision and vote back the NPP into power to manage the resources and affairs of the nation.
In a related development, Samuel Kyei-Boateng, reports from Akyem Swedru that four leading members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called on the Zongo communities to break their 16-year marriage with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and join the NPP in their own interest.
They stressed that the “marriage of convenience” between the Zongo people and the NDC since 1992 had not benefited them in terms of development.
Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP vice-presidential aspirant; Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Oda; Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Minister of Works and Housing, and Alhaji Karim Grunsah, the football administrator-turned politician, made the call when they addressed a rally at Akyem Swedru Zongo last week Thursday.
They noted with concern that although the Zongo communities had been loyal and committed to the cause of the NDC, they had never received any reward for their commitment as the party had done nothing to improve their lot.
According to Alhaji Grunsah, considering the kind of work the Zongo people had done for the NDC for quite a long time, that party should have reciprocated their gesture by transforming their communities into “paradise”.
“As an opinion leader in the Zongo community in Kumasi, I know what the NPP government has done during its eight-year rule and the other good things it intends to do if the party is retained in power come December 7, 2008. I urge my brothers and sisters to vote for the NPP in order to enjoy the fruits of your labour,” Alhaji Grunsah stressed.
“I have seen the light, so I don’t want my brothers and sisters to remain in darkness,” he added.
For his part, Mr Osafo-Maafo expressed optimism that the outstanding performance of the NPP government would convince Ghanaians to retain it in power by voting massively for the party.
He noted that the people of Akyem Swedru Zongo had never voted for the NPP since 1992, lamenting, “In 1996, only six people in the area voted for the NPP, while the NDC had more than 600 votes.”
Mr Osafo-Maafo, therefore, advised them to change their voting pattern and endorse the NPP in the December 7 general election.
He stressed that Alhaji Bawumia possessed all the qualities of a vice-president as he was a genius, very competent, a young man, affable, respectful and assiduous.
According to Mr Osafo-Maafo, being a Muslim, Dr Bawumia’s choice is a good balance since the NPP presidential aspirant, Nana Akufo-Addo is a Christian.
Mr Osafo-Maafo, a former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, stressed that Dr Bawumia, who was 42, was the youngest person to be appointed the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana as all his predecessors were around 60 years of age.
Dr Buwumia enumerated such interventions made by the NPP government as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme and the free medical care for pregnant women, in addition to provision of potable water, electricity, school blocks, roads and other development projects.
He, therefore, enjoined the people to retain the NPP in power in order to benefit from more quality projects.
Alhaji Saddique, for his part, stated emphatically that no government since independence, could surpass the NPP as far as the development of the nation and good governance were concerned.
He, therefore, urged all Ghanaians to vote massively for the NPP in order to enjoy development in freedom.
The other members of the campaign team included Mr John Boadu, the National Youth Organiser of the NPP; Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, the Deputy Minister of Energy; Mr Yaw Gyekye-Amoabeng, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP, and Mr Osei-Frimpong, the Special Assistant to Mr Osafo-Maafo.
Monday, October 6, 2008
SHUN SELF-SEEKING POLITICIANS — BAWUMIA
DR Mahamudu Bawumia, the running mate of the presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has appealed to Ghanaians to shun self-seeking politicians who preach tribalism and hatred as part of their political strategy to win the December elections.
That, he said, would prevent the destruction of the unity and peaceful co-existence that had been experienced in the country for many years.
“As Ghanaians, regardless of our political leanings, we must always guard against divisive politics that aims at destroying our common sense of one people with one country”, he stated.
Dr Bawumia, who made the appeal at separate campaign rallies, stated that “politics is all about the sharing of ideas and exercising of our free will and not about violence and tribal hatred”.
The running mate who is on a four-day tour of the Eastern Region, was speaking during separate rallies at Adeiso, Kade, Asamankese, Akwatia and Adoagyiri.
Dr Bawumia also visited the various Zongo communities and market women and was accompanied by other executive of the party including Mr Saddique Abubakar, Minister of Water Resource, Works and Housing; Mr John Boadu, National Youth Organiser; Mr Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng, Eastern Regional Chairman, and Alhaji Inussah Grusah, Chief Executive Officer of King Faisal Football Club.
In reference to the 2000 and 2004 elections, Dr Bawumia stated that some political parties strongly capitalised on people’s diverse tribal backgrounds to incite some people against other political parties.
That divisive political strategy, he noted, was used to negatively create the impression that on voting for the NPP, certain tribes would be “sacked and sent to their various places of origin since they are not regarded as Ghanaians.
“However, contrary to such negative tribalistic sentiments, when the NPP assumed the administration of the country, no group of people or tribe was ever sacked and sent to their supposed places of origin”, he emphasised.
“Ever since, we have all continued to live and be at peace with each other as Ghanaians”, he stated.
On the economy, the NPP running mate indicated that although the party inherited a weakened economy, good economic policies and management by the NPP had placed it on a robust foundation.
“While Ghana had a GDP of $3 billion after 47 years of independence, its current GDP is $16 billion. This achievement is not by chance but as an outcome of good economic management under President Kufuor’s administration”, he explained.
On education, he pointed out that high rate of illiteracy had remained the bane of the country’s rapid socio-economic development, contrary to the high literacy rate in other nations such as Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea, which were at par with Ghana after its independence.
“Since education remains indispensable to our development, the NPP government, under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would aim at making education at the second cycle also free as done at the basic level under President Kufuor’s administration.
He highlighted the various initiatives aimed at making education more accessible to every Ghanaian child, under President Kufuor’s administration, as including the Capitation Grant, free bus rides for schoolchildren, the School Feeding Programme being implemented on a pilot basis in two schools per district and added: “We will also extend this to all public schools under President Akufo-Addo”.
On health, Dr Bawumia mentioned the introduction of the National Health Insurance and free health care for pregnant women as replacement for the defunct cash-and-carry system, which made healthcare delivery inaccessible to the poor.
Other speakers, including Messrs Saddique and Boadu as well as Alhaji Grusah appealed to Ghanaians to assess the good works of the NPP government over the past seven-and-a-half years as against that of the National Democratic Congress, before casting their votes in December.
That, he said, would prevent the destruction of the unity and peaceful co-existence that had been experienced in the country for many years.
“As Ghanaians, regardless of our political leanings, we must always guard against divisive politics that aims at destroying our common sense of one people with one country”, he stated.
Dr Bawumia, who made the appeal at separate campaign rallies, stated that “politics is all about the sharing of ideas and exercising of our free will and not about violence and tribal hatred”.
The running mate who is on a four-day tour of the Eastern Region, was speaking during separate rallies at Adeiso, Kade, Asamankese, Akwatia and Adoagyiri.
Dr Bawumia also visited the various Zongo communities and market women and was accompanied by other executive of the party including Mr Saddique Abubakar, Minister of Water Resource, Works and Housing; Mr John Boadu, National Youth Organiser; Mr Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng, Eastern Regional Chairman, and Alhaji Inussah Grusah, Chief Executive Officer of King Faisal Football Club.
In reference to the 2000 and 2004 elections, Dr Bawumia stated that some political parties strongly capitalised on people’s diverse tribal backgrounds to incite some people against other political parties.
That divisive political strategy, he noted, was used to negatively create the impression that on voting for the NPP, certain tribes would be “sacked and sent to their various places of origin since they are not regarded as Ghanaians.
“However, contrary to such negative tribalistic sentiments, when the NPP assumed the administration of the country, no group of people or tribe was ever sacked and sent to their supposed places of origin”, he emphasised.
“Ever since, we have all continued to live and be at peace with each other as Ghanaians”, he stated.
On the economy, the NPP running mate indicated that although the party inherited a weakened economy, good economic policies and management by the NPP had placed it on a robust foundation.
“While Ghana had a GDP of $3 billion after 47 years of independence, its current GDP is $16 billion. This achievement is not by chance but as an outcome of good economic management under President Kufuor’s administration”, he explained.
On education, he pointed out that high rate of illiteracy had remained the bane of the country’s rapid socio-economic development, contrary to the high literacy rate in other nations such as Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea, which were at par with Ghana after its independence.
“Since education remains indispensable to our development, the NPP government, under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would aim at making education at the second cycle also free as done at the basic level under President Kufuor’s administration.
He highlighted the various initiatives aimed at making education more accessible to every Ghanaian child, under President Kufuor’s administration, as including the Capitation Grant, free bus rides for schoolchildren, the School Feeding Programme being implemented on a pilot basis in two schools per district and added: “We will also extend this to all public schools under President Akufo-Addo”.
On health, Dr Bawumia mentioned the introduction of the National Health Insurance and free health care for pregnant women as replacement for the defunct cash-and-carry system, which made healthcare delivery inaccessible to the poor.
Other speakers, including Messrs Saddique and Boadu as well as Alhaji Grusah appealed to Ghanaians to assess the good works of the NPP government over the past seven-and-a-half years as against that of the National Democratic Congress, before casting their votes in December.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL CALLS FOR SUPPORT (PAGE 59)
THE management of St Joseph Hospital in Koforidua has appealed to the government and other stakeholders to assist the facility to expand in order to provide essential services for its large number of clients.
The Director of the hospital, Rev Bro Johannes B. Torwoe, who made the appeal, stated that the hospital had specialised in orthopaedic and traumatology and could not afford to lose that prestigious position.
Rev Bro Torwoe was speaking at the launch of the hospital’s golden jubilee themed: “We remain your reliable partner in health delivery, today and beyond” at Koforidua on Saturday.
Rev Bro Torwoe said St Joseph Hospital, established 50 years ago to provide humanitarian services to the poor and the needy and had solely depended on foreign donor support in the past.
However, he said, currently most of the hospital’s funding partners had folded up, making the management to run it basically on internally-generated funds.
“In the midst of donor fatigue, which has plagued us for sometime now, we continue to run the hospital with our scarce resources, making it difficult to embark on major projects essential for its effective and efficient running”, Rev Bro Torwoe stated.
He mentioned some of the projects that needed to be undertaken as the training of more orthopaedic surgeons and other health professionals, the construction of more bungalows for doctors, nurses and other health workers, procurement of medical equipment and accessories, among others.
In its drive for excellence in spite of the myriad of problems, the director said, through foreign sponsorship, the management of the hospital was constructing a new Orthopaedic Hospital.
In a speech read on his behalf by Dr Ebenezer Appiah Denkyira, the Director of Human Resource of the Ghana Health Services, the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) commended the management and staff of the facility for being persistent in rendering quality services to Ghanaians over the years.
He particularly recalled that when personnel of the various health facilities across the country embarked on a national strike for better conditions of service, those of the St Joseph Hospital stayed at post to provide the needed services to the people, in spite of the challenges facing them.
He pledged the support of the government to provide the necessary assistance to the hospital to enable it to play the role for which it was established.
The Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben, Nana Adjei Boateng, commended the management and staff of the hospital, noting that its establishment had brought a lot of relief to both Ghanaians and foreigners alike.
He, however, appealed to the staff of the facility to work hard to turn the hospital into a centre for excellence in the future.
The Director of the hospital, Rev Bro Johannes B. Torwoe, who made the appeal, stated that the hospital had specialised in orthopaedic and traumatology and could not afford to lose that prestigious position.
Rev Bro Torwoe was speaking at the launch of the hospital’s golden jubilee themed: “We remain your reliable partner in health delivery, today and beyond” at Koforidua on Saturday.
Rev Bro Torwoe said St Joseph Hospital, established 50 years ago to provide humanitarian services to the poor and the needy and had solely depended on foreign donor support in the past.
However, he said, currently most of the hospital’s funding partners had folded up, making the management to run it basically on internally-generated funds.
“In the midst of donor fatigue, which has plagued us for sometime now, we continue to run the hospital with our scarce resources, making it difficult to embark on major projects essential for its effective and efficient running”, Rev Bro Torwoe stated.
He mentioned some of the projects that needed to be undertaken as the training of more orthopaedic surgeons and other health professionals, the construction of more bungalows for doctors, nurses and other health workers, procurement of medical equipment and accessories, among others.
In its drive for excellence in spite of the myriad of problems, the director said, through foreign sponsorship, the management of the hospital was constructing a new Orthopaedic Hospital.
In a speech read on his behalf by Dr Ebenezer Appiah Denkyira, the Director of Human Resource of the Ghana Health Services, the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) commended the management and staff of the facility for being persistent in rendering quality services to Ghanaians over the years.
He particularly recalled that when personnel of the various health facilities across the country embarked on a national strike for better conditions of service, those of the St Joseph Hospital stayed at post to provide the needed services to the people, in spite of the challenges facing them.
He pledged the support of the government to provide the necessary assistance to the hospital to enable it to play the role for which it was established.
The Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben, Nana Adjei Boateng, commended the management and staff of the hospital, noting that its establishment had brought a lot of relief to both Ghanaians and foreigners alike.
He, however, appealed to the staff of the facility to work hard to turn the hospital into a centre for excellence in the future.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
SEVEN HELD OVER INDIAN HEMP (PAGE 31)
SEVEN persons, who were found in possession of a quantity of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp at Akropong, Adukrom and Adawso, both in the Akuapem North District in the Eastern Region, have been arrested by the Akropong police.
The suspects, arrested in a dawn swoop, were found with three mini bags and several wrappers of the dry leaves at various hideouts harbouring criminals.
They are Samuel Okraku, 37; Yaw Ofosu, 42; Kwabena Ofei, 51; Kwame Yeboah, 56; Issifu Mohammed, 26; Mark Arday, 40 and Kwesi Werenkye, 37.
The suspects are currently in police custody assisting in investigations.
The Akropong Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mrs Mina Ayim, told the Daily Graphic that the dawn swoop formed part of efforts at curbing the rampant peddling of drugs in the communities.
This, she believed, would help to rid the area of criminal elements and people with deviant characters.
“In a political season like this, crime prevention remains our prime objective, hence the undertaking of pre-emptive measures to flush out criminals from society to ensure a violence-free elections”, ACP Ayim stated.
The Divisional Commander, who warned criminals of the preparedness of the police to pursue them all out, however appealed to members of the communities to always volunteer useful information that could lead to the arrest of such criminals.
The suspects, arrested in a dawn swoop, were found with three mini bags and several wrappers of the dry leaves at various hideouts harbouring criminals.
They are Samuel Okraku, 37; Yaw Ofosu, 42; Kwabena Ofei, 51; Kwame Yeboah, 56; Issifu Mohammed, 26; Mark Arday, 40 and Kwesi Werenkye, 37.
The suspects are currently in police custody assisting in investigations.
The Akropong Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mrs Mina Ayim, told the Daily Graphic that the dawn swoop formed part of efforts at curbing the rampant peddling of drugs in the communities.
This, she believed, would help to rid the area of criminal elements and people with deviant characters.
“In a political season like this, crime prevention remains our prime objective, hence the undertaking of pre-emptive measures to flush out criminals from society to ensure a violence-free elections”, ACP Ayim stated.
The Divisional Commander, who warned criminals of the preparedness of the police to pursue them all out, however appealed to members of the communities to always volunteer useful information that could lead to the arrest of such criminals.
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