Senin, 31 Desember 2012

NEXANS KABLEMETAL HONOURS DISTRIBUTORS

 Nexans Kablemental Ghana Limited, a Tema- based company that manufactures electrical cables, has honoured their distributors for promoting and marketing the company’s product over the past years.

Six of the distributors, who performed exceptionally well in 2012, were given cash prizes worth GHC 26,500 to help support and grow their businesses.

The distributors included; Zion Electricals, GHC12,000, Cable Link Limited, GHC5,000, Serboat Electricals GHC4,000, Beckland Ventures GHC2,500, Lawdan Enterprise GHC1,500 and Lydlyn Enterprise GHC 1,500.

Other distributors which include Tip Top Electricals, Aggressu Electricals, Buela Ventures, Modisco, Irafa, Classic Rahna, Clipsel, Bruruku and Fiesta Royal each received gift packages for their efforts.

Speaking at the thanksgiving ceremony in Accra, the Commercial Manager of the company, Mr Aaron Segoe, said the company was appreciative of the contributions of the distributors.

He said the ceremony was also intended to provide a platform for the distributors to interact with management of the company and discuss how best they could move the company forward.

 He observed that the distributors were the backbone of the company’s success adding that,”We at Nexans are committed to ensuring that our distributors are given the best of service,”

He further called on them to put in their best at all times in order to be able to deliver the company’s product to the door steps of the final consumer.

The Assistant Marketing Manager of the company, Mr Mahama Dollah, also reaffirmed their commitment to providing quality products and services to the people.

He said the company was a responsible industrial company that regarded sustainable development as integral to its global and operational strategy.

“Continuous innovation in products, solutions and services, employee development and commitment, customer orientation and the introduction of safe industrial processes with limited environmental impact are among the key initiatives that place Nexans at the core of a future,” he said.

He, however, urged the distributors to continue to work with the company for the benefit of all.
Speaking on behalf of the distributors, Mr Ebenezer Amanor Dautey of Zion Electricals, thanked the company for recognising their efforts over the past years.

He advised the other distributors to work hard and show commitment in everything they do for the benefit of the company and themselves.

WORK RESUMES ON ABANDONED NATIONAL MOSQUE

Work is to resume on the abandoned national mosque in Accra to cater for the spiritual development of the Muslim community in the country.

The 10,000 capacity mosque is expected to be completed in September 2013 at a cost of $6 million.

The mosque, which will be funded by a Turkish philanthropic group, the Hudai Foundation, will have facilities such as a library, an Islamic school, a clinic, an administration block, an auditorium and a conference centre.

The Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Aydin Nurhan, made this known when he paid a courtesy call on the National Chief Imam to seek the support of the Muslim community towards the construction of the mosque.
“This is your right and we need your support to execute it,” he added.

In line with the reactivation of the project, 20 engineers have been tasked to survey the existing work and come up with strategies on how to complete the project by September 2013.

Apart from the construction of the mosque, the Hudai Foundation is planning to construct a nursing school to provide education for young women interested in pursuing a career in nursing.

Mr Nurhan said 100 students would then be sent to Turkey to further enhance their studies for three months before returning to Ghana to contribute their quota to the development of society.

He, however, called on the government and the Muslim community to provide support in order to complete the project on time.

The National Chief  Imam, Sheikh Dr Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, in his remarks, lauded the effort of the foundation to provide support for the completion of the mosque.

He recalled that the mosque was to have been constructed to replace the central mosque which was pulled down at Makola in Accra following a demolition exercise in the central business district.

Sheikh Dr Sharubutu said the government then allocated a piece of land at Kawukudi for the construction of a national mosque but the project suffered setbacks after the foundation stone had been laid in 2006 by former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

He pledged his full support for the project, adding that all Muslims should provide support to finally complete the national mosque to serve all Muslims in the country.

The Project Facilitator, Mr Adam Abdul Nasser, in his remarks, said the old foundation would not be demolished but reconstructed to support the new model of the mosque.

CHIEF IMAM CONGRATULATES MUSLIMS

National Chief Imam.
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osumanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has expressed his profound gratitude to Muslim communities in the country for keeping calm and maintaining law and order during the elections.

He said their attitude was proof to the entire nation that Islam was a peaceful religion with peace-loving people who were committed to the development of the nation.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Sheikh Sharubutu lauded Ghanaians for successfully going through the polls which served to prove that Ghana was indeed a pacesetter and beacon of democracy in Africa. 

He further praised the efforts of chiefs and local and district Imams for their tireless efforts at preaching peace in their various communities.

He, however, appealed to the general public to keep calm pending and after the declaration of the winner of the presidential polls.

Sheikh Sharubutu also reminded leaders of the political parties to accept the final declaration of results and work together for the benefit of the nation.

NATIONAL CHIEF IMAM PRAYS FOR PEACE AFTER ELECTIONS

The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Imam Nuhu Sharubutu, has advised Ghanaians not to engage in anything form of activity that may destroy the peace of the country.

He has also reminded them of the need to be united as one people for the continuous development of the nation.

“We have to be united as one and see any misunderstanding as a test to our peaceful co-existence,” he said.
The Chief Imam made these remarks after Jummah prayers in Accra today (Friday) following a directive by the President John Dramani Mahama, for all to pray for the peace of the nation.

He said the country had always been tagged as a peaceful country hence the responsibility of every Ghanaian to play the role of maintaining peace in the country even after the general elections.

He further explained that elections provided the means for Ghanaians to express their views about the government through the ballot and not start violence.

Sheikh Sharubutu, therefore, urged all to remain calm and advised that legal means should be used to address all issues in order to keep the country peaceful.

He congratulated Ghanaians, expecially the Muslim communities, for going through successful polls.
He also urged the youth to be disciplined at all times and not allow themselves to be used as tools for voilence.

“Choose the path of peace always and Allah would reward you abundantly,” he added.

NDC WON BECAUSE OF ACHIEVEMENTS-AFOTEY-AGBO

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, has attributed the victory of the National Democratic Congress in the recent elections to the numerous development projects undertaken in the last four years.

"It is not by chance that Ghanaians decided to vote our government back to power. It is a recognition and appreciation of the development that we have brought in the last four years, " he told a gathering at the end-of-year party of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council in Accra.

The occasion also brought together some heads of the security agencies, as well as staff and stakeholders of the council.

The minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) elect for the Kpone- Katamanso Constituency, said the NDC government for the past four years had managed to build a stable economy for the country.

"We adopted prudent and practical measures to ensure sustained reduction in inflation, currency stabilisation, encouraging  foreign direct investment, replacing schools under trees, increase in producer price of cocoa, increase in national minimum wage and massive provision of road and education infrastructure," he explained.

He further noted that despite the varied and dense nature of the region's population, there were no serious clashes recorded during the election period.

He has, therefore, commended the security agencies who were on hand to diffuse any tense situation that occurred and was likely to generate into violence.

Mr Afotey-Agbo, however, pledged the government's commitment to continue with the Better Ghana Agenda  by working even harder than before in order to bring meaningful  developments to Ghanaians.

He also called on the staff of the council to avoid laziness and apathy to work, saying" We must remain focused and committed to the cause of national development."

He urged them to continue to remain loyal to the government of the day and assist their various political heads to deliver.

"It should be noted that if your political head fails, you have failed. If they achieve success, the credit would be shared by all of us," he added.

FADAMA RESIDENTS DONATE BLOOD

THE RESIDENTS GOING THROUGH A MEDICAL SCREENING
A NUMBER of residents of Fadama, a suburb of Accra, on Saturday donated blood to the Korle Bu Blood Bank in response to an emergency call made by the hospital for more blood for patients in and outside the hospital.

Most of the residents who donated blood at the residence of the National Chief Imam expressed their commitment to give as much blood as they could to support the hospital.

DRAWING OF BLOOD FROM THE RESIDENTS
The exercise was organised by the Islamic Peace and Security Council (IPASEC) under the auspices of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osumanu Nuhu Sharubutu.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Head of the medical team of the Accra Area Blood Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Alhaji Gambo Iddris Wangabi, lauded the residents for their desire to support the hospital to save lives.

He said the hospital urgently needed more blood to be able to cater for emergency cases.
He further called on individuals and organisations to donate blood to the hospital in order for it to meet the demands of other hospitals in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the National Chief Imam, the Executive Secretary of IPASEC, Alhaji Khuzaima Osumanu Mohammed, said another blood donation exercise would be held in other Zongo communities to show the support of the Muslim communities to the hospital.

He, therefore, called on Muslims to be willing to give out to support the hospital in fulfillment of the five pillars of Islam.

Senin, 10 Desember 2012

NPP SUPPORTERS STORM COMPANY

STORY: ZAINABU ISSAH

HUNDREDS of supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) massed up at the premises of  the Superlock Technologies Limited (STL), a private company, at Dzorwulu in Accra on Saturday over claims that the company had facilities to doctor elections results.

The situation compelled security personnel to cordon off the building.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Observer Mission, went to the building where he was told that it provided back-up IT facilities for the Electoral Commission (EC) but the NPP supporters would not budge.

 Led by Mr Sammy Awuku, the NPP Deputy Director of Communications, the supporters said the alleged use of the IT company by the EC was not known to the leadership of the party.

 The NPP supporters insisted that the “doctoring” was being done with the connivance of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

 The NDC officials dismissed the allegation, saying the NPP had called its supporters to the building to foment trouble because of fears of losing the election.

The former Minister of State, Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, blamed the Electoral Commission (EC) for the suspicion of some NPP functionaries about the operations of STL located  in the Ayawaso West Wugon Constituency.

He said the EC did not do well by not informing the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) about its said arrangements with STL, to help put together a data for the election results.

That, he said, therefore, created suspicions among party members, a situation which was unhealthy for the country’s democracy.

He, therefore, called on the EC to take responsibility for its actions and correct the misunderstanding that it had created.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Marfo  gave the assurance that the premises of STL had been checked, adding that polling station agents could always refer to their results in order to make sure that the final  results were authentic

Mr Nii Quaynor, Board Chairman at  the National Information Technology (NITA), who was brought in to inspect the facility,said  the organisation was using its satellite information systems to provide information to the EC.

Some supporters of the NPP, however, told the Daily Graphic that they could not confirm the allegations because they received the information from a radio station.

CHINA SUPPORTS GHANA'S SECURITY

Story: Zainabu Issah & Salomey Appiah

THE Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has received 41 vehicles worth #$ 3.2 million dollars from the Chinese Government to compliment its fleet of vehicles and enhance its operational capacity.

The vehicles comprise 15 Yutong buses and 26 Steyr Troop carrying trucks with accompanying spare parts.

The presentation was intended to ensure that the GFA undertook what was most relevant during peacetime and also improve on the combat readiness of the GAF.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Accra, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Gong Jianzhong, said the donation was in fulfilment of an agreement signed between Ghana and China to provide the military with equipment.

He said Ghana was one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to establish diplomatic relations with China and the friendship had lasted for over 52 years.

Mr Jianzshong said that the two countries had forged a deep relationship by supporting and helping each other in their respective pursuits of national independence and development. 

He said China was committed to building a stronger bilateral relationship with Ghana and other developing countries as well as work with them to uphold their legitimate rights and interests.

 “We will continue to support efforts to increase their representation and choice in international affairs and will remain a reliable friend and sincere partner of other developing countries,” he said.

Receiving the donation, the Minister of Defence, Lt General Joseph Henry Smith, said the vehicles would help reinforce the second line transport resources which had drastically diminished due to wear and tear over the years.

He said the vehicles would also enhance training programmes which were relevant during peacetime.
Lt Gen Smith said the arrival of the vehicles was significant to the military since  they were preparing for today’s general election.

“It is significant to note that these vehicles are coming at a time the GAF is gearing itself to support the Electoral Commission in organising the December 7 elections” he said.

He lauded the Chinese Government for fulfilling its promise, and encouraged the staff of the GAF to judiciously use the vehicles to further enhance their capacity to perform their roles in national development.

CHIEF IMAM COMMENDS MUSLIM COMMUNITES

Story: Zainabu Issah

The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osumanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has expressed his profound gratitude to Muslim communities in the country for keeping calm and maintaining law and order during the elections.

He said their attitude was proof to the entire nation that Islam was a peaceful religion with peace-loving people who were committed to the development of the nation.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Sheikh Sharubutu lauded Ghanaians for successfully going through the polls which served to prove that Ghana was indeed a pacesetter and beacon of democracy in Africa. 

He further praised the efforts of chiefs and local and district Imams for their tireless efforts at preaching peace in their various communities.

He, however, appealed to the general public to keep calm pending and after the declaration of the winner of the presidential polls.

Sheikh Sharubutu also reminded leaders of the political parties to accept the final declaration of results and work together for the benefit of the nation.

FARMERS IN DOMEABRA APPEAL TO MP's

STORY: ZAINABU ISSAH

Small holder women farmers in the Domeabra Obom Constituency have called on the aspiring Members of Parliament (MP) in the constituency to improve farming activities in the area when voted into power.

They said even though the community had fertile lands for sustained agricultural development, certain activities such as sand winning which led to the removal of the topmost and fertile layer of the soil, was slowly affecting farming activities in the area.

They also spoke about bad roads, lack of modern farming equipment and loans to farmers, as some of the challenges hindering farming activities in the area.
A member of the women farmers groups in the Domeabra Obom Constituency putting forward her concerns to the aspiring parliamentarians.

The farmers made the call during an interaction with parliamentary aspirants in the area to make their concerns known and also get to know what the aspirants have planned for the constituency if voted into power.

It was organised by Green Earth Organisation (GEO, in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana as part of its advocacy programme to increase food production.

The interaction was on the theme; “Smallholder Agriculture Sensitive Manifestos and Party Pledges to Reduce Poverty.”

Those who attended the gathering were the National Democratic Congress Parliamentary aspirant and incumbent MP, Mr Daoud Anum Yemoah, Mr Sylvanus Tettey Martey, New Patriotic Party (NPP), parliamentary candidate for the area, Mr Issac Awuku Libor, an Independent candidate, chiefs, farmers and the people of the constituency.
Add caThe aspiring members of Parliament from left, Mr Issac Awuku Libor (Independent), Mr Sylvanus Tettey Martey (NPP) and Mr Daoud Anum Yemoah (NDC) listening to the concerns of the people of Domeabra during the interactions.ption

Each of the aspirants spoke on five key issues they intended to tackle when voted into power. These were youth employment, education, agriculture, local governance, and health.

On the issue of agriculture, the Mr Yemoah of the NDC expressed concern about the increasing sand winning activities in the area and said even though sand was needed for construction works in the area there was the need to have a rapid intervention to stop it.

He, therefore, pledged to put up measures that would reduce the sand winning activities in the area in order to save the lands for agricultural use and also improve upon the roads in the area.

The NPP Parliamentary aspirant, Mr  Martey said even though the major activities in the constituency was farming, there was no extension officers to help check what they produced.



He, therefore, pledged to introduce extension officers to the farmers, curb the sale of land in the constituency and also do all in his power to solve the problems of farmers when voted into power.

Mr Awuku Libor, the independent candidate for the constituency, said there was the need to have an association of the smallholder farmers so that resources would be shared amicably.

He also pledged to improve the transportation section of the area and also lobby for the construction of factories in the constituency to provide ready market for the fruits cultivated in the area.

The Chief Executive Officer of GEO, Mr George Ahadzie, in his remarks said even though agriculture was one of the major contributions to the nation’s economy, little investment was given to the sector.

He, therefore, urged the MP’s to heed to their pledge in order to make the agricultural sector better.
Picture: The aspiring members of Parliament from left, Mr Issac Awuku Libor (Independent), Mr Sylvanus Tettey Martey (NPP) and Mr Daoud Anum Yemoah (NDC) listening to the concerns of the people of Domeabra during the interactions.
 

MUSLIM WOMEN URGED TO BE ADVOCATES OF PEACE

Story &Picture: Zainabu Issah
AN Executive Member of the Islamic Peace and Security Council (IPASEC) Hajia Barikisu Shardow has advised Muslim women to be advocates of peace wherever they found themselves by starting with their children at home and instilling discipline in them.

She said the basic principle of Islam was about peace hence it was unfair for Muslim children to be perceived as violent.

She made the call during a sensitisation seminar for Muslim women in Accra on Friday. The seminar, organised in collaboration with the Danish Embassy formed part of IPASEC peace project dubbed, “Ensuring Violence Free 2012 Election in Zongo Communities in Greater Accra Region.”

 Hajia Shardow pointed out that elections were only conducted to choose a leader for the country but not to wage war, adding that everyone in the country was entitled to be affiliated to a political party of his or her choice and also agree and disagree on issues but that should not constitute the basis for election violence.

“It is time that we as Muslim women and mothers decide what our children would be used for rather than see them as tools for election violence,” she said.

The Executive Secretary of IPASEC, Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osaman also called on Muslim women to effectively play their role of ensuring a violent free election especially in the Zongo communities.
Participants at the seminar in a pose with the Executive Secretary of IPASEC, Alhaji Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osaman (In white hat), in Accra.

He recalled that in countries such as Liberia, Serra Leone, and Rwanda, women were raped, killed, and sometimes made cooks for soldiers because of the violence that erupted after election.

He said some women were left to cater for their children alone without the support of their husbands because they were either killed or forced to pick up arms to fight in civil wars.

Alhaji Osaman, therefore said it was important that women advised their children about the need to avoid being used as “weapons of mass destruction”, adding that women and children were the most vulnerable during violence hence the need to protect them in any way possible.

In attendance to were the Ansarudeen Tinjaniyya Muslim Women Movement, Imams, Chiefs and some leaders of youth groups.

Kamis, 01 November 2012

STERLING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED WINS GOLD AWARD



 
Sterling International Ltd was adjudged the best performer in exports of automotive refinish and industrial / marine coatings at the 22ndNational Awards for export achievement organized by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.

The company received a Gold Award at an impressive ceremony organized by the GEPA at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra on the 28thSept, 2012.

Through this annual awards scheme, the Ghana Exports Promotion Authority seeks to appreciate, encourage, reward and promote all categories of indigenous industries and companies whose export revenues are in excess of US$ 200,000.00 and repatriate their export revenues to Ghana.

In a citation, the company was given due recognition for pioneering the manufacturing of epoxy and polyurethane systems for automotive refinish, industrial and marine coatings category. The citation highly commended Sterling International ‘for its remarkable achievement in contributing to the growth of Ghana’s economy by repatriating into Ghana, 100% of its export revenue in the year ending 31st Dec. 2011’.

The company exports its products mostly to West African countries and is exploring markets in Central and East African countries.

Instituted by the GEPA some 22 years ago, the National Awards for Export Achievement recipients are selected purely on merit by an independent committee comprising representatives from Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Trade & Industries (MOTI), Ministry of Food & Agriculture (MOFA), Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF), GCNet, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and GEPA.

Mr. Arun Patil (left), Director of Sterling International Ltd receiving the award from Mr. Kumi Adjei – Sam, Corporate Affairs of Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority.  


Mr. Arun Patil on behalf of his Management & entire staff thanked GEPA for the honour done to the company and promised to sustain the export drive in the years ahead.

DAASEBRE LAUNCHED BOOK TO MARK 20TH ANNIVERSARY ON STOOL

Story: Zainabu Issah
Daasebre Oti Boateng, Paramount Chief of New Juabeng.

A book to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the enstoolment of Daasebre Prof (Emeritus) Oti Boateng as the Paramount Chief of the New Juaben Traditional Area has been launched in Accra.

The book, titled; “Development in Unity”, is the first of three volumes that cover his lifetime experiences reflected in research works, speeches, messages aired on radio and articles that have been published in various newspapers and journals worldwide.

The book is divided into 10 sections on the themes: Education, Government, Statistics, Population and Health and Natural Disasters.

Others are: Oil and Gas, Chieftaincy and Culture, Religion and Economy.

Speaking at the launch, Daasebre Oti Boateng said the book was dedicated to the people of New Juaben, Ghana and the developing world.

“Being the Omanhene and traditional leader of New Juaben is a selfless expression of love for my people and willingness to serve them to the best of my abilities,” he explained.

He said the book was also launched in honour of the chiefs and people of New Juaben for the opportunity given him to serve them for the past 20 years, adding that he recognised their support and prayers over the years.

He urged Ghanaians to own copies of the book as treasure and source of knowledge on chieftaincy and governance in the country.

Reviewing the book, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, described it as an immense contribution to knowledge in a wide variety of human endeavours and the depth of intellectual capacity.

He said young lecturers at the beginning of their careers, as well as practitioners of statistics in the field, would find the paper ‘Teaching survey sampling in Ghana’  extremely useful.

In his remarks, the Chairman for the occasion, the Omanhene of the Asante Asokore Traditional Area, Nana Susubiribi Krobea Asante, said Daasebre Oti Boateng is an excellent example of an erudite chief who made his contribution at the local, national and international levels.

He said chiefs were now an invaluable reservoir of experience and expertise to be tapped.
He also urged the public to purchase copies of the book to acquire knowledge.

TRANSPORT UNIONS TO BE GIVEN RENEWABLE LICENCE

Story: Zainabu Issah
Local transport unions and organisations will, from next year, be registered and given renewable licences to operate.

The measure is intended to ensure that the entities deliver quality assurance services to passengers.
Commercial drivers will also be required to provide proof of their training prior to the renewal or upgrading of their licences.

The move will provide drivers the opportunity to improve their safety culture and also help build their capacity to respond to the ever-changing risk profiles within the road environment.

In a speech read on his behalf at the Third National Road Safety Awards in Accra yesterday, the Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, expressed concern over the rate of road accidents in the country
The awards, organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport and the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), were on the theme; “Consolidating the Decade of Action for Road Safety Through Regional Integration”.

The event was also to mark the opening ceremony of the fourth Annual General Meeting of the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) in Accra.

 Mr Amissah-Arthur said every day road crashes accounted for about 3,200 lives globally and about 1.2 million deaths annually, leaving several millions others incapacitated.

He said in developing countries, road traffic crashes cost about $65 billion each year and in some countries that amount was more than what was received in international aid, thereby consuming as much as two per cent of their Gross National Product (GDP).

Additionally, road crashes at the national level were responsible for about 2,000 deaths annually, with about 60 per cent of the crash victims being between 18 and 55, while 23 per cent were passengers.

The Vice-President expressed the view that commercial drivers needed to improve their knowledge and perceptions about road safety.

He pledged the government’s commitment to reach the goals of the United Nations Decade of Action for road safety by the year 2020, adding that the government would continue to improve the road network in the country.

He also urged the winners to share some of their best practices, experiences and knowledge with their colleagues to collectively improve the general road safety situation in the West African sub-region.

The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Collins Dauda, in his address, said road traffic accidents were reversible if only  all and sundry were able to translate  the passion for road safety into practice.

The President of WARSO, Mr Osita Chidoka, in his remarks, said there was the need for urgent steps and actions within the sub-region to reduce road accidents drastically.

The Executive Director of the NRSC, Ing Noble John Appiah, said the awards this year focused on transport organisations as a demonstration of the need for operators to develop and implement policies which impacted positively on road safety.

“When transport operators institute safety-related operational standards, road users benefit and the image of the industry is enhanced,” he said.

Great Imperial Transport Limited was adjudged the Best Road Safety Commercial Passenger Transport Organisation, while the Progressive Transport Owners Association and Intercity STC Limited were the first and second runners-up, respectively.

Under the Best Road Safety Haulage Organisation Category (Solid Goods), Freight Links Logistics Limited and Global Haulage Company Limited came first and second, respectively.

J K Horgle Transport Limited and J K Ahiadorme Transport came first and second, respectively, in the Best Road Safety Haulage Organisation (Liquid Goods) Category.

Under the Media Category, Mr Geoffery Buta of the Ghanaian Times, Madam Francisca Kakra Forson of Joy Fm and Madam Mavis  Obeng Mensah of GTV won for Print, Radio and TV, respectively.

Certificates of recognition were presented to some print and electronic media houses, some organisations and individuals for their commitment to and promotion of road safety.

They included the Daily Graphic, Multimedia Group Company Limited, TV3,TV Africa,  the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Oman FM, Unique FM, Channel R, the Searchlight and the Daily Dispatch.
Others were Total Ghana Limited, Toyota Ghana Limited, the Finder newspaper, Shell Ghana, Daily Guide and Rev Amankwa Addo, the President of the Association of Driving Schools.

A citation of recognition was also presented to the President, John Dramani Mahama, the Minister of Transport, Mr Collins Dauda and some individuals who have distinquished themselves in promoting road safety in the country.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of J K Horgle and Company Limited,  lauded the initiative of the awards and called on the NRSC to set up rest stops on the major highways for drivers.

GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY OBSERVED IN GHANA-With Emphasis on Personal Hygiene

Story & Picture: Zainabu Issah

THE 2ND LADY MRS MATILDA ARTHUR ADDRESSING THE GATHERING

The Global Hand Washing Day (GHWD) was observed in Accra yesterday with a call by Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, wife of the Vice-President, on the public to cultivate the attitude of ensuring personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness for long and healthy life.

Launching the fifth anniversary of the annual event,  the Second Lady said hand washing with soap was a very simple act which could save many lives, especially of children.

The day is celebrated to create more awareness on hand washing with soap as an effective and affordable way of preventing diseases.

It  is estimated that about 3.5 million child deaths are recorded as a result of preventable diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia.

The event forms part of the Public Private Partnership for Hand Washing With Soap Programme (PPPHW), a joint effort of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), the World Bank, UNICEF, WaterAid, Plan Ghana, Unilever, World Vision, and other public, development and private partners.

Mrs Amissah-Arthur said globally, diarrhoeal diseases killed up to three million children every year while in Ghana, it was one of the major causes of death and illness among children under five years of age.

Additionally, she said, reducing the incidence of diarrhoea in the country could significantly reduce the burden of health care on families.

Also, hand washing, if effectively applied, would provide a key support to reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) on sanitation.

The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr E. T. Mensah, said that about 5,800 cases of cholera had been reported between January and September this year, resulting in 60 deaths.

He said even though the simple task of washing hands with soap was critical to avoiding the spread of diseases, it was also common to find people using their hands unhygienically.

“This goes to demonstrate that while the adoption of specific hygiene behaviour has proved useful in containing outbreaks of infectious diseases, it is true that the adoption of such behaviour could be difficult,” he explained.

Mr Mensah, therefore, appealed to stakeholders in the various sanitation sectors to put up strategies that would help in the promotion of hand washing with soap as a national programme.

He also called on the various health centres to promote the message of hand washing with soap as part of their daily talks with patients.

“Let us join hands in the global effort to enhance the awareness and practice of washing hands with soap at the critical times, especially after visiting the toilet and before we handle food,” he added.

Speaking on the theme, the Director of Family Health of the Ghana Health Service (GES), Dr Gloria Quansah-Asare, said more than half of under-five child deaths were due to diseases which were preventable and treatable through simple and affordable interventions like hand washing with soap.

She said hand washing with soap was the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrhoeal and acute respiratory infections.

Also, she said, studies conducted in some developing countries suggested that hand washing with soap could reduce the number of pneumonia-related infection in children under age five by more that 50 per cent.

Furthermore, the perennial outbreaks of cholera in the country could greatly be eradicated if people should adopt proper hygienic practices.

Dr Quansah-Asare, therefore, urged all and sundry to consider hand washing with soap as a priority in their everyday lives.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Chief Executive Officer of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), Mr Clement Bugase, said hand washing with soap was a key action in protecting public health.

 He, therefore, called on stakeholders to continue to support the noble cause to achieve the objectives of the GHWD.

CONSTRUCTION OF ANGLICAN TOWERS TO BEGIN SOON

 STORY: ZAINABU ISSAH

The Archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Accra, Most Reverend Dr Justice Yaw Ofei Akrofi , has cut the sod for the construction of a five story classroom building for the Bishop Girls High School in Accra.

The project forms part of a strategic measure to relocate the school in order to pave way for the construction of an eleven storey Anglican Bishop Towers expected to transform the skyline of the High Street central business district.

The project which would be in two phases is valued at a cost of $50,000 dollars and would begin next year.
Addressing the gathering, Most Reverend Akrofi , thanked the planning committee for their effort in securing the land for the project.

He said the school building when completed would provide among other things facilities needed for effective learning and recreational purposes.

He, however, urged them to continue to work hard and secure funding for the start of the project which would provide job opportunities during and after the construction.

The Architect for the project, Mr Prince Agbodjan told the Daily Graphic that the main specifications and features of the tower would include small meeting rooms for short term rentals, individually metered floors, and a reinforced concrete structure with glazed aluminium curtain walling among others.

He said the tower complex would also have a roof top restaurant which would face the west to the Gulf of Guinea, giving a breath taking panoramic view of the large parts of the city.

He expressed optimism that the facility when completed would add to the already existing facilities which were structured to make Accra a millennium city.

COPORATE BODIES, INDIVIDUALS SUPPORT UGBS

STORY: ZAINABU ISSAH

A number of corporate bodies and individuals have pledged to provide funding for the completion of an ongoing multi-purpose building complex at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS).

The building, which started in August last year, when completed, will accommodate the increasing number of students who seek admission to the school.

It will also provide teaching facilities with spacious and a conducive environment for learning.

It is also planned to be  a world-class facility that will sustain the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) programme.

The various pledges were made during the first annual dinner-dance and fund-raising organised by the UGBS in aid of the completion of the building.

Among the organisations that pledged to support the school were the Manya Krobo Rural Bank, GH¢5,000, and Nexans Kabelmetal Ghana, GH¢5,000, while rlg Communications pledged to construct a lecture theatre for the school.

Others were the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof Ernest Aryeetey, GH¢5,000, and Prof Bill Puplampu, US$5,000.

The event was also to celebrate the past achievements of the school in excellence and leadership in business education and draw future plans and initiatives.

It brought together old students and stakeholders who have benefited, one way or another, from the school to join hands in making the vision of the school a reality.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Aryeetey said GH¢3 million had so far been spent on the construction of the first phase of the building.

He said an additional GH¢7 million was needed to complete the building, adding that all and sundry should contribute their quota to the development of the school.

He lauded the efforts of the past students in contributing their quota to the development of the business community and the country as a whole.

The Dean of Students of the UGBS, Prof Kwame Ameyaw Domfeh, in his address, said the current population of the school stood at about 3,000.

Out of that, he said, more than 50 per cent were graduate students housed in the graduate building which was too small to accommodate them comfortably.

He said the situation had affected the student intake and also hindered the introduction of new programmes to fully meet the demands of the business world.

He called on individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the school and to help complete the building for better learning facilities and environment.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor in charge of the Office of Research Innovations and Development (ORID), Prof John Gyapong, who was the guest speaker for the occasion, stressed the need to promote the school for a better business environment as far as corporate Ghana was concerned.

He said graduate students were always engaged in research and learning, saying the new facility, when completed, would provide an opportunity to facilitate a better teaching and learning environment.

POLICE INTENSIFIES INVESTIGATIONS ON DROWN CHILDREN

THE Adentan District Police have intensified investigations into the circumstances leading to the alleged drowning of four children at Ashaley Botwe Lakeside Estates, near Accra on Sunday.
No suspects have been arrested yet.

But the District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Stephen Kofi Ahiatafu, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the police were doing everything humanly possible to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of the four children.

The bodies of the four children, Angel Agbenya, nine, Kwabena Badu,10, Richmond Armah, 11, and Fredrick Aboagye, 10, were found floating in a gutter in the community on Sunday morning. The children were reported missing on Saturday afternoon after they failed to return home from playing in the vicinity.

Mr Ahiatafu said the police would do all that they could to unravel the mystery and gave an assurance that anyone found culpable would be brought to book.

He indicated that until investigations were completed, the bodies of the children would not be released to their families.

Following the disappearance of the children on Satuday, the police caused announcements to be made on a radio station soliciting public assistance.

The police also undertook a search within the vicinity but to no avail.

They visited the various playgrounds where the children were believed  to have gone to play on Saturday until their bodies were found floating in the gutter on Sunday morning.

The bodies of the four children have been deposited at the Police Hospital for postmortem.

GHANAIANS URGED TO GO INTO ELECTIONS WITH SENTIMENTS OF LOVE

 STORY: Zainabu Issah
HUNDREDS of Ahmadiyya Muslims yesterday gathered at Bustan-E-Ahmed, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Conference Centre at Ashongman, to mark the end of the Hajj, the sacred pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca.

Speaking at the event, the Ameer in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Dr Wahab Adam, said the Prophet Abraham who was used by Allah to build the Kaa’ba, a square stone building in the centre of the Great Mosque in Mecca, was accepted by both Christians and Muslims as the Father of Prophets.

He said that fact should help bind Muslims and non-Muslims into a strong bond of brotherhood for them to become responsible for one another.

“That should engender love and affection for one another and remove all traces of hatred and animosity for one another from our minds and hearts,” he said.

Maulvi Dr Adam said it was important that Ghanaians went into the forthcoming elections with sentiments of love and affection, as well as respect and consideration.

He urged Ghanaians not to consider one another as enemies but brothers who were prepared to pool ideas, talents and energies to build a united and peaceful country.

Additionally, he said, all stakeholders should collectively work towards free, fair and transparent elections, the result of which would compel acceptance by all.

He further urged Ghanaians to pray and resolve that the elections would be peaceful to prevent the unnecessary difficulties, anguish and pain that other countries had gone through as a result of bickering that surrounded their elections.

MADAM GRACE SHARES HER STORY

STORY: ZAINABU ISSAH

THE success of every business comes through hard work and dedication, but for Madam Grace Adjei, a 39-year-old widow, a covenant with God through ceaseless prayers played a critical role in the success of her business.

Madam Adjei, a mother of six, prayed to God and entered a covenant with her Maker three years ago to bless her business to enable her cater for her children.

Her doughnut business is now booming, making her earn more income and also offer employment opportunities to some young girls and women.

Following the death of her husband eight years ago, Madam Grace, as her colleagues affectionately call her, said she lost all hope of survival as she encountered numerous problems with some family members.

She was forced to move out of her matrimonial home and is currently staying with her aunt at La in Accra, with her children.

Madam Grace who holds a Middle School Leaving Certificate learnt how to make doughnuts from a friend whom she worked with for some time. She later stopped and start her own business to enable her save enough money to fund her children’s education.

She then set up a small business venture at Adabraka on the Graphic Road, close to the Central Market, to attract customers.

She told the Daily Graphic that when she started, business was slow due to stiff competition and that made her lose hope.

“This was when I decided to enter into a covenant with God to help me succeed in my business so that I can cater for myself and my children,” she said.

In fulfilment of her sacred pact with God, Madam Grace attends church service every Sunday and pays her tithes and other offerings to God.

She now employees 18 young girls and women who sell her doughnuts at the market centres on commission basis.

She attributed the success of her business to God and urged all to do the same.

Meanwhile, Madam Grace has plans of relocating to a better place to expand her business. She said operating at a section along the Graphic Road, with the usual thick black exhaust fumes from moving vehicles which engulf the surrounding, was not the best.

She said the smoke from the fire used in frying the doughnuts and the exhaust fumes from moving vehicles made it difficult for her to breath, adding that it is also difficult for her to operate on rainy days.

She, however, advised young women and girls who experienced difficulties in their lives to always look up to God for the solutions to their problems,

One of her customers said the sale of the doughnuts had helped her to put her children through school.
Asked why she buys from Madam Grace, she explained that her attitude to her customers was great and was always very understanding with them.

“Anytime I don’t have money to pay for the doughnuts, she is ready to give it out for me to pay later. Others do not do that and she has a way of encouraging me to work hard to support myself and my family and this draws me closer to her every day,” she explained.

The life story of Madam Grace may not be different from other women who work hard to provide for their children, but this also means that women like Madam Grace should be provided with entrepreneurship training and support to enable them employ others and reduce the high rate of poverty among women in the country.

RURAL WOMEN CONTRIBUTE TO POVERTY REDUCTION

Story: Zainabu Issah

The 23rd special Session on the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 drew attention to the large number of rural women working in the informal sector with low levels of income, little job and social security, with low or no access to land or inheritance rights.

It emphasised the need for rural women’s equal access to productive resources such as land, capital, credit and technology, gainful employment and decision-making, as well as access to education and health services.
The Assembly’s resolution 64/140 recognised the crucial role of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty, as well as the vital contribution they make to the well being and development of the families and communities.

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) has consistently addressed issues related to the situation of rural women, and these were equally highlighted in the Commission’s 15-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The important role and contribution of rural women was again emphasised in the General Assembly Council’s 2010 Ministerial Declaration, which called for concerted action to support rural women’s economic empowerment.

To advance these objectives, this year’s Rural Women’s Day celebration was observed on the theme; “Empowerment and the Role of Rural Women in Poverty and Hunger Eradication”.

In Accra, the Farmers Organisation Network in Ghana (FONG) and the Development Action Association (DAA), in collaboration with the United Nations Women, organised a forum to mark the event at Amasaman in the Ga West Municipal Assembly to highlight the need to recognise and change the imbalance between rural and urban women.

Speaking at the celebrations, the Deputy Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia  Hawawu Boya Gariba, said despite the attention given to rural women in international frameworks, women in rural areas continued to face serious  challenges in carrying out their multiple roles within their families and communities.

She said their rights and priorities were often not sufficiently addressed by national development strategies adding that, “People’s awareness of women’s roles and gender equality is still limited.”

Furthermore, she said women and girls in rural, ethnic and remote areas were particularly disadvantaged compared to those in urban areas who had better access to education, job opportunities, information and good living standards.

Hajia Boya affirmed the government’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment through the implementation of  policies and programmes, and said one of the critical strategies that the government was pursuing to eradicate poverty and pave way for sustainable development was ensuring access to basic services for rural women.

She lauded the efforts of rural women and their contribution to local and national economies in the fields of agriculture, including farming, fishing and forestry in addition to household livelihoods.

She said investing in rural women and girls led to progress towards the eradication of poverty and hunger, improving health conditions and achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015.

The leader of FONG/DAA, Madam Lydia Sasu, in her remarks said women over the years have had to innovate to reduce hunger and poverty.

She called for support for rural women in the various regions and districts in the country for increased participation in decision-making.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Amasaman, Mr Ebenezer Nii Armah Tackie, said economically, women contributed immensely towards the country’s economic development hence the need to empower women and explore their role in poverty and hunger eradication as well as development challenges.

He said although the informal sector had been recognised as having the potential for providing alternative employment opportunities and providing social benefit towards the country’s developmental efforts, women’s participation in this area had not been satisfactory, adding that “We must go beyond looking at women as home keepers and child bearers, and totally appreciate their involvement in national development”.

The United States Agency for International Development (USIAD) Ghana Mission Director , Ms Cheryl Anderson, in her address said the USAID remained committed  to supporting the empowerment of women, especially rural women in Ghana.


She said the agency was currently supporting women’s involvement in the democratic process with the training of queens in advocacy, communications and in leadership to influence policy.