Justice D.F Annan goes home.

A state funureal is currently underway in Accra for the late , Justice D.F. Annan a former speaker of Ghana's parliament.

He was a prominent member of Ghana's Provitional National Defence Council (PNDC) and became speaker of Ghana's parliament when the country returned to constitutional rule in 1992.

He held that position for two terms (Eight years) untill the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lost power in the 2000 elections.

For me Isaac Tetteh being the last journalist to host such an important man on my programme 60 minutes in 2004, I can only say that may the good Lord Keep him till we meet again.

"Yaa wo jogbannnn" (Rest in perfect peace)

Another Nigerian Oil Worker Killed

A Nigerian oil worker was killed during an attack on ships belonging to the Italian oil company Agip in the Niger Delta, the company said Thursday.

Agip, a subsidiary of the Italian oil giant Eni, said in a statement that "armed men in five boats" Wednesday attacked a convoy of seven boats ferrying supplies and food from Nigeria's oil capital Port Harcourt to the southern city of Brass.

A Nigerian employee of Agip was "accidentally hit by the assailants, who were targeting the engines, and was killed during the attack," the statement said.

Some 40 other people on the Agip vessels -- workers, military escorts and crew members -- were unhurt. The attack was repelled by Nigerian troops patrolling the region's waterways to protect oil vessels and facilities amid a rise in militant attacks in recent months.

In one week alone, at least 23 Nigerian military personnel were killed while more than 30 foreign and local oil workers were kidnapped by separatists seeking a greater share of Nigeria's huge oil wealth.

Veep Appeals to Striking Teachers To resume work

Vice President Aliu Mahama has appealed to the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) to end their prolonged strike action and cooperate with the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to negotiate for better conditions of service.

He said There is strength in numbers and Larger Associations may enhance the bargaining power.

Vice President Aliu Mahama made the appeal when he addressed the 12th Best Teachers Awards Ceremony in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region on the theme: "Quality Teachers for Quality Education; Uniting to Deliver Quality Education".

He said although Government recognized the right of free association of workers and other professionals in striving to eliminate distortions in Public Sector pay system, it was ideal to deal with them in the context of associations identified by profession, rather than groups within the same profession based on special qualifications.

Vice President Mahama reiterated plans by the Government to establish an independent Inspectorate Division within the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to supervise the teaching and learning process as part of the Educational Reforms to be implemented in September 2007.

He spoke against teachers, who refused postings to some parts of the country and those who absented themselves from duty.

President Unhappy with Taysec Construction Company

President John Agyekum Kufuor has expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace TAYSEC construction company is executing the 190 billion-cedi 40 kilometre Offinso - Samproso section of the Kumasi-Techiman Road Project, describing it as unacceptable.

The Project is being funded through the European Development Fund and forms part of the Trans-ECOWAS road network linking Ghana to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

The contract was signed in November 2004 and work was scheduled to be completed within one year, however, after about two years not much has been done.

President Kufuor, who travelled on road YESTERDAY to acquaint himself with the progress of work, told an enthusiastic crowd that met him at Offinso that the Contractors would have to show seriousness or lose the contract.

He said the Government would hold a meeting with TAYSEC and that if it should emerge that they could not complete the work by December, the project would have to be re-awarded. The delay has led to fury and bitter complaints by motorists, travellers and the people in communities served by the road.

Ghananie.com

Ghananie.com

President Kufuor launches zonal MCA for Northern Ghana

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday launched the zonal Millennium Challenge Account Programme for Northern Ghana at Savelugu in the Savelugu/Nanton District and urged beneficiaries to use the fund for the development of their communities.

He said: "The fund is not a handout. The fund is for investment and must be used judiciously and with a high sense of responsibility.” President Kufuor urged the beneficiaries to endeavour to repay the credit extended to them to enable other regions and people to also benefit from the facility.

The MCA is a United States Government's reward to countries that rule justly, invest in their people and promote private sector development, he said. Ghana signed the MCA compact on August 1, 2006, paving the way for the country to access a US grant of 547 million dollars spread over a five-year period.

Some 23 districts, five from the Northern Region -- Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu/Nanton, Tolon/Kumbungu, Karaga and West Mamprusi, are to benefit from the facility.
President Kufuor urged people in the Northern Region to let the launch of the MCA galvanise and reinforce the efforts so far made to enable the Region to set the pace for the transformation of the country's agriculture and the quality of life.

He said farmers and citizens of the area should, therefore, accept it as a challenge to help the programme to succeed, adding: "The youth especially, must take advantage of the opportunities coming with the MCA.

"It is the only way to generate and spread wealth", he said, urging the youth for their active participation to enhance agriculture production.
President Kufuor said he was certain that the MCA would contribute to the rapid transformation of the country's economy, thereby helping to alleviate poverty and bringing hope to many individuals and their families.

He mentioned good governance; a general state of poverty, investment potentials and support for the private sector as some of the criteria used in identifying the beneficiary districts and so people should not read politics or ethnicity into the selection of those districts.

President Kufuor explained however that the selection of the 23 out of the 138 districts in the country was based solely on carefully done feasibility studies on the quick yield of specific crops and agro-business activity that would establish the account as a revolving fund.

He gave the assurance that those regions that had not benefited from the fund should not lose hope as much more concentrated support from the Budget and other traditional sources and available credit lines would be extended to them.

President Kufuor told the people that the Government had always recognised the agricultural potential of Northern Ghana. He said through measures such as micro-credit finance; provision of irrigation facilities and supply of tractors, the Government had been supporting the farmers to realise the area's full potential.

President Kufuor called on companies and individuals to seize the opportunities coming with the MCA.
He said: "When farmers produce, they should be able to sell. Storage, processing, transportation and marketing are among opportunities begging for entrepreneurship, so that the farmers' work would not be in vain.

"Buying agencies and other post-harvest entrepreneurs and our youth should see opportunities here and take full advantage of them. It is the only way to generate and spread wealth", he said.
GNA

ECOWAS warns N’guessan of Cote d’Ivoire

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS} on Wednesday condemned any intended acts of violence on any member of the Community in Cote d’Ivoire, a statement said here.

It said ECOWAS attention was drawn to media a statement attributed to Mr Afi N'guessan, President of the Popular Front of Cote d'Ivoire (FPI), threatening the lives of citizens of ECOWAS Member States resident in Cote d'Ivoire.

ECOWAS said the “statements are completely inconsistent with ECOWAS principles of free movement and the well-known traditional hospitality of the Ivorian people. “ECOWAS finds Mr N'guessan statements irresponsible, inflammatory and totally unacceptable.”

It said: “The statements are an affront to the entire ECOWAS Region and show complete disrespect to the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, especially as they were made just before their scheduled Summit meeting on Cote d'Ivoire on October 6, 2006.”

ECOWAS said it was “determined to work with the international community to end a creeping culture of impunity that has undermined its efforts to establish the rule of law, accountability and the enthronement of democracy in West Africa.

It reminded Mr N'guessan of his personal responsibility should there be any act of violence against ECOWAS citizens as a result of those threats.