The Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations,Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, on Tuesday reiterated his call to Africans in the Diaspora to pool their resources to develop Africa.
He said the continent was stricken with immense poverty and governments alone could not marshal the huge resources required to bring about development.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey made the call when both Miss Caribbean Commonwealth 2005 and 2006 called on him in Accra.
The visit of the beauty queens formed part of the award package of the pageant, which provided air tickets to travel to any country of her choice.
The Minister noted that it was high time Africans living in the Diaspora reunited with their roots and contributed their quota to the development drive of the continent.
Mr Obtsetsebi-Lamptey explained the Joseph's Project to them saying it formed part of Ghana's 50th anniversary celebration where Africans abroad would be encouraged to come back home.
Miss Shaheroh Williams, Miss Caribbean Commonwealth 2006 expressed gratitude for the Ghanaian hospitability saying she was pleased to be visiting the country for the first time.
In another development, students from the Sunamis in the Netherlands paid a courtesy call on the Minister as part of their education tour to the country.
The students who are basically Ghanaians born abroad and Africans in the Diaspora would visit some the tourist sites in the country to acquaint themselves with the slave trade.
GNA
News from Ghana,the African Sub-Region and More!
31.10.06
Finance Minister to present 2007 budget on November 16
Finance Minister Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu will present the 2007 Budget Statement and Government financial policy statement to parliament on November 16, Members of parliament heard as they reconvened from recess on Tuesday.
According to the Business Agenda for the House, a backlog of bills, including the Domestic Violence Bill, are also expected to be considered during the meeting.
Welcoming members back from recess, the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, entreated them to lend support to the leadership of the House in order to deal with the workload ahead of the house.
He said they should put the national interest first and attend to the business of the house promptly. "This meeting would be active. You must show zeal. I shall commence proceeding on time. The time is 10 am," he added.
Earlier, the House observed a minute's silence for former Speaker Justice Daniel Francis Annan and the MP for Offinso-South, Mr Kwabena Sarfo, who both died this year.
The new member for Offinso-South, Dr Owusu Achaw Duah, also took his place in the chamber and swore the Oath of Secrecy and that of a Member of Parliament, administered by the Speaker Sekyi Hughes.
Mr Sekyi Hughes welcomed the new member and asked the house to support him in the discharge of his duties in the House. Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, Deputy Minority Leader, said the member for Offinso-South should see himself as a representative of every member of his constituency regardless of who voted or did not vote for him.
He drew attention to reports of a murder that occurred on the eve of the by-election in the Offinso-South constituency, and said the new MP should link up with the police and take up the responsibility of investigating the matter.
Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, also welcomed Dr Duah and said the police had already concluded that the murder was not politically motivated.
He expressed the hope that stories being bandied about by some senior politicians that the murder had some political links would be laid to rest and urged those making the allegation to check their facts before coming out with such reports.
GNA
According to the Business Agenda for the House, a backlog of bills, including the Domestic Violence Bill, are also expected to be considered during the meeting.
Welcoming members back from recess, the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, entreated them to lend support to the leadership of the House in order to deal with the workload ahead of the house.
He said they should put the national interest first and attend to the business of the house promptly. "This meeting would be active. You must show zeal. I shall commence proceeding on time. The time is 10 am," he added.
Earlier, the House observed a minute's silence for former Speaker Justice Daniel Francis Annan and the MP for Offinso-South, Mr Kwabena Sarfo, who both died this year.
The new member for Offinso-South, Dr Owusu Achaw Duah, also took his place in the chamber and swore the Oath of Secrecy and that of a Member of Parliament, administered by the Speaker Sekyi Hughes.
Mr Sekyi Hughes welcomed the new member and asked the house to support him in the discharge of his duties in the House. Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, Deputy Minority Leader, said the member for Offinso-South should see himself as a representative of every member of his constituency regardless of who voted or did not vote for him.
He drew attention to reports of a murder that occurred on the eve of the by-election in the Offinso-South constituency, and said the new MP should link up with the police and take up the responsibility of investigating the matter.
Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, also welcomed Dr Duah and said the police had already concluded that the murder was not politically motivated.
He expressed the hope that stories being bandied about by some senior politicians that the murder had some political links would be laid to rest and urged those making the allegation to check their facts before coming out with such reports.
GNA
30.10.06
Education Ministries urged to provide adequate teaching time in SSS
The International Final Awards and Examiners Appointments Committee of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has urged Ministries of Education to provide adequate teaching time in Senior Secondary Schools (SSS).
This is because the level at which the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination has been pitched is demanding and candidates need optimal contact time to be able to perform well in the examination.
A statement issued in Accra by WAEC the Appointments Committee made the recommendation at their 61st meeting in Lagos, Nigeria. It said the Committee reiterated the importance and need to improve access to quality education.
The statement said members called on the governments of member countries of WAEC to support to Council in its fight against examination malpractices. WAEC members are The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
“Members noted that even though there were no reported cases of leakages in the November/December 2005 private candidate and the May/June SSS certificate examinations, there were many irregularities, with a high incidence of collusion cases detected from the scripts of candidates.”
The statement said the Committee drew attention to the importance of the Chief Examiners’ Reports published by WAEC at the end of each examination and which showed the strengths and weaknesses of candidates in general as well as their specific performance in each subject.
It said the Committee stressed the importance of such reports since they also made recommendations on teaching and learning on how to enhance the performance of candidates.
The Committee advised students to access these reports with the assistance of their school authorities and parents because such reports would help prospective candidates to understand what was required of them during examinations.
GNA
This is because the level at which the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination has been pitched is demanding and candidates need optimal contact time to be able to perform well in the examination.
A statement issued in Accra by WAEC the Appointments Committee made the recommendation at their 61st meeting in Lagos, Nigeria. It said the Committee reiterated the importance and need to improve access to quality education.
The statement said members called on the governments of member countries of WAEC to support to Council in its fight against examination malpractices. WAEC members are The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
“Members noted that even though there were no reported cases of leakages in the November/December 2005 private candidate and the May/June SSS certificate examinations, there were many irregularities, with a high incidence of collusion cases detected from the scripts of candidates.”
The statement said the Committee drew attention to the importance of the Chief Examiners’ Reports published by WAEC at the end of each examination and which showed the strengths and weaknesses of candidates in general as well as their specific performance in each subject.
It said the Committee stressed the importance of such reports since they also made recommendations on teaching and learning on how to enhance the performance of candidates.
The Committee advised students to access these reports with the assistance of their school authorities and parents because such reports would help prospective candidates to understand what was required of them during examinations.
GNA
ECOWAS Executive Secretary Consoles Nigeria over ADC plane Disaster
The Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has expressed his condolences to the Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, the Government and people of Nigeria over Sunday’s plane crash in Abuja in which some 100 persons, including eminent personalities, lost their lives.
An ECOWAS statement to the Ghana NEWS Agency said the plane, operated by the Aviation Development Company (ADC) Airlines, was on a scheduled domestic flight to Sokoto in northern Nigeria when it crashed soon after take-off, killing almost everyone on board.
Among the dead are the Sultan of Sokoto and leader of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Maccido, his son, who was a senator and a grandson.
Dr. Ibn Chambas also expressed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families, and prayed God to grant them the strength to bear the sad and irreparable loss.
An ECOWAS statement to the Ghana NEWS Agency said the plane, operated by the Aviation Development Company (ADC) Airlines, was on a scheduled domestic flight to Sokoto in northern Nigeria when it crashed soon after take-off, killing almost everyone on board.
Among the dead are the Sultan of Sokoto and leader of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Maccido, his son, who was a senator and a grandson.
Dr. Ibn Chambas also expressed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families, and prayed God to grant them the strength to bear the sad and irreparable loss.
Court again denies Tsibu-Darko bail
An Accra High Courtnow hearing the case of one of the suspected drug barons, Prince Tsibu-Darko on Monday rejected an application for bail for him. Mr Gabriel Pwamang, Defence Counsel for Tibu-Darko, filed a motion for bail but this was rejected by the court.
The case, which was initially being tried at the Circuit Court, was moved to the High Court.The case has been adjourned to November 20. The case of the prosecution is that investigations are still underway.
The plea of Tsibu-Darko, 49, owner of Koreana Hotel, who was picked by the security for allegedly dealing in narcotic drugs, is yet to be taken by the court.
He also owns Kamoney Forex Bureau in Tema. Tsibu-Darko who first appeared before an Accra Circuit Court is facing a charge of doing prohibited business relating narcotic drugs.
Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Abavelim reminded the courtof the fact that the Police had not completed investigations.The facts of the case are that the Police after receiving intelligence reports mounted surveillance, which revealed that the accused
was doing business relating to narcotics.
GNA
The case, which was initially being tried at the Circuit Court, was moved to the High Court.The case has been adjourned to November 20. The case of the prosecution is that investigations are still underway.
The plea of Tsibu-Darko, 49, owner of Koreana Hotel, who was picked by the security for allegedly dealing in narcotic drugs, is yet to be taken by the court.
He also owns Kamoney Forex Bureau in Tema. Tsibu-Darko who first appeared before an Accra Circuit Court is facing a charge of doing prohibited business relating narcotic drugs.
Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Abavelim reminded the courtof the fact that the Police had not completed investigations.The facts of the case are that the Police after receiving intelligence reports mounted surveillance, which revealed that the accused
was doing business relating to narcotics.
GNA
Addo- Kufuor inaugurates assemblies in Upper West
Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence on Monday inaugurated a 27-member newly constituted Wa West District Assembly at Wechiau in the Upper West Region.
He read the President's inaugural speech in which he charged the Assembly members to serve their country at the decentralized level of governance in a way that would make their constituents feel they were also participating in the governance of their nation.
He advised the members not to seek their personal interest against the public good and warned that members who used their positions to gain contracts or undue favours from assemblies, would be committing a very serous offence and liable to sanctions.
Dr Addo-Kufuor urged District Chief Executives to discharge their responsibilities creditably in order to convince everybody that they were nominated with the people's interest as the paramount consideration.
Mr Daniel Kuusogno Dari, the district Chief Executive said the Assembly has been allocated a total of 25 billion cedis since 2004 out of which 13.8 billion cedis had been received and expended on programmes aimed at improving the living conditions of the people.
These funds, he said came from the District Assemblies' Common Fund, HIPC relief fund, District Wide Assistance Project and the Youth Employment Fund.
Dr Addo-Kufuor also inaugurated the 25-member Wa Municipal Assembly at a well-attended ceremony at Wa during which he read the President's inaugural speech.
GNA
He read the President's inaugural speech in which he charged the Assembly members to serve their country at the decentralized level of governance in a way that would make their constituents feel they were also participating in the governance of their nation.
He advised the members not to seek their personal interest against the public good and warned that members who used their positions to gain contracts or undue favours from assemblies, would be committing a very serous offence and liable to sanctions.
Dr Addo-Kufuor urged District Chief Executives to discharge their responsibilities creditably in order to convince everybody that they were nominated with the people's interest as the paramount consideration.
Mr Daniel Kuusogno Dari, the district Chief Executive said the Assembly has been allocated a total of 25 billion cedis since 2004 out of which 13.8 billion cedis had been received and expended on programmes aimed at improving the living conditions of the people.
These funds, he said came from the District Assemblies' Common Fund, HIPC relief fund, District Wide Assistance Project and the Youth Employment Fund.
Dr Addo-Kufuor also inaugurated the 25-member Wa Municipal Assembly at a well-attended ceremony at Wa during which he read the President's inaugural speech.
GNA
Elizabeth Ohene inaugurates Birim South District Assembly
Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State at the Office of the President on Monday inaugurated an 81-member Birim South District Assembly at Akyem Oda. The assembly is made up of 54 elected members, 24 Government appointees and three ex-officio members, including the District Chief Executive, Mr Frank Kwame Busumtwi, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo and Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Members of Parliament for Akyem Oda and Akyem Swedru, respectively.
The occasion coincided with the inauguration of three Metro Mass Transport buses for the area. Ms Ohene who read a speech on behalf of President John Agyekum Kufuor, urged the assembly members not to seek their personal interest against the public good.
He said any member who would use his or her positions to gain contracts or undue favours from the assembly would be committing a serious offence and conflict of interest and should be liable to sanction.
In a welcoming address, Mr Busumtwi cautioned the new assembly members that being assembly member was not an easy task. "It requires hard work, perseverance, dedication, humility and tolerance", he said.
Mr Busumtwi expressed worry that the assembly had not been able to achieve its revenue target for the past three years and expressed the hope that with the crop of new assembly members' things would change for the better.
He mentioned sanitation as a major problem facing the assembly, adding that it was faced with the problem of getting land for final disposal site for both solid and liquid waste.
The assembly later elected Mr Robert Amoah, a 44-year-old educationist, as the Presiding Member. Mr Amoah, who was the only contestant, polled 74 out of the total 76 votes cast.He thanked the assembly members for the confidence reposed in him and gave the assurance that he would live up to expectation.
The occasion coincided with the inauguration of three Metro Mass Transport buses for the area. Ms Ohene who read a speech on behalf of President John Agyekum Kufuor, urged the assembly members not to seek their personal interest against the public good.
He said any member who would use his or her positions to gain contracts or undue favours from the assembly would be committing a serious offence and conflict of interest and should be liable to sanction.
In a welcoming address, Mr Busumtwi cautioned the new assembly members that being assembly member was not an easy task. "It requires hard work, perseverance, dedication, humility and tolerance", he said.
Mr Busumtwi expressed worry that the assembly had not been able to achieve its revenue target for the past three years and expressed the hope that with the crop of new assembly members' things would change for the better.
He mentioned sanitation as a major problem facing the assembly, adding that it was faced with the problem of getting land for final disposal site for both solid and liquid waste.
The assembly later elected Mr Robert Amoah, a 44-year-old educationist, as the Presiding Member. Mr Amoah, who was the only contestant, polled 74 out of the total 76 votes cast.He thanked the assembly members for the confidence reposed in him and gave the assurance that he would live up to expectation.
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