Two officials of the United Front Party (UFP) are contradicting each other over the purported dismissal and suspension of two other activists of the party.

Winneba, July 11, GNA - Residents of Low Cost in Winneba have commended the Minister of Health, Mr Alban Bagbin, for his prompt response to their call for help to solve flooding in the area.       The Assemblywoman for the Area, Madam Elizabeth Senah, told the GNA that following the construction of a big drainage system at the new trauma hospital on the orders of Minister after his inspection tour sometime last year, flooding at the the Low Cost flooded during this rainy season.     The Assemblywoman said the flooding problem rather shifted to the Ntakorfa and Saint Paul’s JSS areas and appealed to the Minister to continue the drainage to the Muni Lagoonl.     The Assemblywoman appealed to the Minister of Roads and Highways to install a traffic light at the junction of the new hospital.     GNA...

Government has spent a total GH¢121,000.00 on the refurbishment of the Flagstaff House.

Abesim (B/A), July 11, GNA – Dr Mrs. Paulina Appiah, Sunyani Municipal Director of Health Services at the weekend disclosed that 46 cases of Tuberculosis (TB) were detected in the Municipality in 2011.      She made this known at the launching of the Municipal celebration of the World TB Day at Abesim, near Sunyani.      The theme for this year’s TB Day is “Call for a World Free of TB” with the slogan “Stop TB in my Lifetime”.      Dr. Appiah explained that the commemoration of the TB day held in March 24 every year was to create awareness on the prevention, detection and curability of the disease”.      She was not happy about the few cases detected during the year under review, saying the National TB Control Programme expected the Municipality to detect 152 cases.      Dr. Appiah expressed worry about the municipality’s TB treatment success rate of 82 percent last year, as compared to the national target of 85 percent and the death rate of eight percent, as against the national target of five percent.      She noted that the TB related death rate in the municipality “is unacceptable because TB is curable”.      The Municipal Health Director stated that Ghana recorded 15,842 TB cases, representing 4.6 percent last year, stressing that, women accounted for 5,778 of notified TB as against 64 percent of their male counterparts of 10,064      Dr. Appiah said treatment success in the country was 85.3 percent while patients defaulting from treatment were three percent with death rate at 7.6 percent.      “We have not fared well this year either, after having gone half year we have detected only 15 new cases, with two deaths” she said adding that, five new cases had been detected at Abesim.      She emphasized the importance to intensify education on the causes and symptoms of the disease saying “TB is curable and the full cost of the treatment is free”      Mr Kwasi Oppong Ababio, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive advised the youth to shun unhealthy practices and channel their exuberance into productive ventures.      He said smoking of cigarette and excessive intake of alcohol were major causes of TB and entreated the general public to help in earlier detection as TB was an airborne disease.      Earlier some selected school children held placards with the inscriptions “get a free TB test service at your nearest Government hospital”, “Fight TB”, “Talk TB”, “TB is curable”, and “Let us get rid of the stigma” and paraded through the main street of the town, to create public awareness about the disease.      Nana Kumi Acheaw, chief of Abesim, who presided, expressed concern about moral decadence among the youth in the area.            GNA...

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Benjamin Kunbuor has told the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament that he can foresee more judgment debts but is unable to do anything about it.

Tinkaya (N/R), July 11, GNA - Tinkaya, a predominantly farming community in the West Mamprusi District, has no social amenities and its only borehole is 50 years old.      The borehole has never been maintained and serves neighbouring communities including Dimia, Diyani, Tinguri, Gbeduri and Yawoku communities.      The water from the 50 year- old borehole is not good enough even though it is their only source of water.   There is no basic school in the community and children have to walk long distances to attend school in Diyani about 10 kilometres away.      Mr Jonathan Yahaya, a sub chief of Tinkaya, told the GNA in an interview that  the community is putting up a two-classroom block and appealed to the Ghana Education Service to help them complete the school, provide furniture, reading and writing materials, as well as trained teachers to help check the falling standards of education in that area.      Mr Yahaya said past governments had made several promises of providing them with basic social amenities like clinics, quality drinking water and school amongst others but have failed them.      The Chief therefore called on government to come to their aid.     GNA...

A resigned branch executive member of the National Democratic Congress has described the ruling party as unattractive and an embarrassment to many.

Nakpanduri (NR), July 11, GNA- The Paramount Chief of the Bimoba Traditional area, Alhaji Abuba Nasimong and the Chiefs of Nakpanduri and Bimbagu, have debunked allegations of a planned attack on security agencies in Nakpanduri by the youth of the community      “We do not have any intent or the capacity to attack the security forces.”      This was contained in a statement read by Mr Konlan James, Chairman of the Nakpanduri Development Association (NADA) at a press conference, at the Bunkpurugu Chief’s palace to react to the allegations leveled against the Youth of Nakpanduri.      This follows a statement purported to have emanated from the Nakpanduri District Police Commander and the BNI official there during a District Security Committee (DISEC) meeting asserting that some of the youth from Nakpanduri were planning to attack security officials in the area.     The chiefs expressed regret at the claims made by the security agencies, adding that, there was no reason to attack the very institution that had been established to protect their lives at a time they needed them most.      “It is against this backdrop that we find the statement made by the BNI and the police commander, which was subsequently reported on 6th July 2012 by an Accra based radio station, to be most unfortunate”.      Mr Konlan further stated that Security personnel in 2000, during a conflict in Bimbagu, brutalized the people of Nakpanduri and remanded them in police custody, albeit their extrication with the incidence.      Similarly, he said a police swoop in Nakpanduri in search for Johnson Kombian, led to assault on several people, burning of houses, looting of stores amongst others. “Realizing the monumental injustices meted out to the people, government through the former Attorney General apologized and relief items subsequently sent as a way of placating the people”.      The people of Nakpanduri, he said in all these circumstances never resisted the unlawful conduct of the security forces even in the mist of extreme provocation.      “The people did not resist even when they suffered severe inhuman treatment and indignities from the security forces” he stressed.      He however stated that the people of Nakpanduri and Bimobas are peace loving people and would continue to abide by the laws of the land.      He said in their desire to find lasting peace to the problems that have bedeviled them, the security agents should desist from such statements that have the tendency to worsen the otherwise volatile situation.         Alhaji Abuba Nasimong, who expressed worry about the claims, said whereas attempts were being made in finding lasting solution to the insecurity in the area, some people have been trying to derail the peace in the area.      According to him, there has not been any attack on anyone by a Bimoba since 1985, adding that, without the security details in the area, there obviously would be no peace.      “When conflicts arise, it is the police and the military that salvage the situation; there was therefore no such intention whatsoever to attack any security official”.      He called on government to intervene and effectively investigate the issue to curtail any future problems.      He said plans were far advanced to lead a delegation of eminent chiefs to have talks with the Kokombas to find a lasting solution to their problems and live peacefully together.         It would be recalled that there was a communal clash between the Bimobas on one hand and the Kokombas on the other, at Kpemale, a farming community in Nakpanduri in the BunKprugu-Yunyo District over land, demarcation of boundaries and encroachment of lands allotted for the development of a school.        The community has since been calm and the people are going about their normal economic and farming activities in a serene atmosphere with the presence of security personnel.     GNA...

Eastern regional Minister Ambassador Victor Smith has cautioned chiefs to refrain from illegal allocation of concession for mining.

Fiapre (B/A), July 11, GNA – The Catholic University College of Ghana branch of the Student In Free Enterprise (Sife) on Tuesday presented its national SIFE championship trophy to the university’s Vice chancellor, Professor James Ephraim Hawkins at a short ceremony at Fiapre, near Sunyani.      The team also received other awards namely, the SIFE Spirit award, the best Faculty Advisor award, an amount of GH¢ 500.00, as well as the best Ecobank fellow award.      Presenting the trophy, Mrs. Vida Korang, Faculty Advisor for SIFE attributed the enterprise success to commitment, team work, determination and dedication, which had seen the university win its prestigious award for the first time.      She said the SIFE programme was meant to prepare students for the real world by challenging them to address real problems confronting society today by developing community outreach projects and participating in a series of competitive events, which builds them up to develop team work, leadership and communication skills to set them apart from the average university student.      She enumerated the benefits likely to accrue to the university following the winning of the award as, recognition in the international media, opportunity to interact with administrators of universities from other 39 countries across the world, opportunity to network and sell CUCG to business, charity organisation and donors, opportunity to develop exchange programmes, scholarships and business partnership for students and lecturers to the Sife world cup.      Nana Ofori Akoto, President Sife CUCG, said Sife is an international non-profit organisation that brings together diverse network of tertiary education students, academic professionals and industry leaders around the world to share the mission of creating a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business.      He said participating students formed teams on their campuses and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need, while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders.      “An annual series of regional and national competitions provide a forum for teams to present the results of their projects and the winner advances to the prestigious SIFE World Cup”, he stated.      He said the team presented three projects for this year’s competition namely; Beyond deliverance, See Fiapre and Bread for Better Life and managed to beat 15 other tertiary institutions participating in the competition.      Receiving the trophy, Prof. James Ephraim Hawkins, Vice – Chancellor of the University, on behalf of the bishops, students, staff and governing council of the university congratulated the team for raising high the image of the university.      The Vice - Chancellor pledged the unflinching support in material and financial terms towards the team’s activities, adding that, “their effort is an attestation that something good is happening at the private universities.”        The Sife team, by emerging as the national champions, would represent the country in Washington for the World Cup, at the Sife world Cup competition slated for September this year.     GNA...

Some aggrieved contractors for the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) today the besieged the premises of GETFund to demand payment of monies due them.

Kenyasi (B/A),  July 11,  GNA – The mining industry paid GH¢ 645 million in corporate tax to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and this represents 36.26% of the total company tax collected in 2011.   As the number one tax payer and the highest contributor to the GRA in the country, the sector again contributed about GH¢ 1 billion to the GRA representing 27.61% of the total GRA collections in the same year.   Dr. Tony Aubyn, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, said this in a speech read on his behalf at the apprenticeship graduation, promotion and matriculation ceremony of Newmont’s apprenticeship programme at the company’s plant site at Kenyasi in the Asutifi District.   Forty-six new apprentices selected from the 10 mine-take communities were enrolled to pursue the four-year apprenticeship progrmme in mechanical engineering and 26 trainees graduated.   The mine-take communities are Kenyasi Number One, Kenyasi Number Two, Ntotroso, Gyedu, Wamahinso in Asutifi and Adrobaa, Techire, Afrisipakrom, Yamfo and Susuanso in the Tano North districts.   Dr. Aubyn said between 2003 and 2011 there had been a sharp increase in royalties mining companies had been paying to the government and that royalties had jumped from GH¢ 19, 054,625 to GH¢ 218, 922,903 during the period.   Notwithstanding these contributions to the sector, he said, the increasing activities of illegal mining operators continued to be a threat to the good image of the industry.   “Due to this menace, member companies continue to spend huge sums of money yearly to protect their concessions which have often been the targets of these illegal miners”, he said.   Dr. Aubyn gave the assurance that the chamber would persist in its advocacy to promote legal small scale mining and also engage policy makers and other stakeholders on the negative repercussions of this menace.   Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister,  appealed to the continuing trainees and the in-coming ones to remain focused and make the best use of the opportunity.   He appealed to management of Newmont and the employees to always resort to social engagement through dialogue for resolving grievances to promote a peaceful working environment to achieve increased productivity.   Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo also appealed to the traditional rulers and the communities in the operational area to cooperate with Newmont for peaceful co-existence.   The External Relations Manager on the mine, Mr. Kojo Bedu-Addo, said the apprenticeship programme was established during the construction phase of the mine in 2005.   He said 25,000 dollars was spent on each of the apprentices during the four-year training period.        GNA...

Health authorities in Kumasi say they are making little progress in efforts to use family planning as one of the measures to eliminate maternal mortality.

Sunyani, July 11, GNA – The Customs Division of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Command of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) last Friday seized uncustomed eight bails of imitated wax prints valued at GH¢ 4, 632.00.   The items were being moved from the Northern Region to the Ashanti Region by two women traders only known as Mariama and Janet.   Customs duty on the 600 yards factory packed cut pieces of the wax print concealed under maize, beans and rice in a KIA truck with registration number AS 9319P is GH¢ 2, 559.38.   The Command has imposed a GH¢ 10, 000 penalty on the items. The amount also covers carrier penalty.   Briefing newsmen in Sunyani on Tuesday Mr. Isaac Desmond Abbey, the Sector Commander, said the Division received a tip-off and impounded the vehicle in Techiman and brought it to the regional headquarters in Sunyani.   Mr. Abbey said when the traders were interrogated they admitted that they bought the items from the Techiman central market.   He said the Division had given the traders some time to pay the penalty and in default the items and the vehicle would be auctioned to defray the penalty.   Mr. Abbey commended the public for their support in fighting smuggling in the region and appealed to residents of border towns in the region to support the Division.       GNA...

DuPont, a developer of genetically altered crops, commissioned the Global Food Security Index as a means of identifying areas where reforms were most urgently needed and ranked Ghana 68th out of 105 other countries.

Employees at the Community Affairs Department at Gold Fields GhanaÂ’s Tarkwa Mine have taken a giant step to touch the lives of pupils in the companyÂ’s area of operations by instituting a Career Guidance and Mentoring Programme in selected schools.

The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Paul Victor Obeng has urged government to invest part of revenues generated from non-renewable natural resources into sectors such as agriculture to boost the economy.

The Ghana Chamber of Mines has been studying a report which proffers solutions to bridging the gap between indigenous enterprises and the countryÂ’s mining industry.

The police authorities, yesterday, disputed claims by Islamic sect, Boko Haram which claimed responsibility for weekend's massacre in some villages in Plateau State.

THE world football governing body, FIFA, will next week appoint the two figures who will play key roles in the efforts to banish corruption from the soccer governing body, a decision that was originally due to be taken in May.