Lufthansa Profits Rise

Despite the high oil prices, Lufthansa, the German International Airlines, says its operating profits in the first nine months of the year has gone up by 46.7 per cent to 691 million Euros. Mr Silvio Uhlfelder, General Manager Lufthansa, told journalists in Accra that while all the group's business segments had a hand in the company's success, the passenger business made a substantial contribution towards the improved results. "Based on current trends in the present business environment, the Executive Board has raised its forecast and is now expecting a full year operating profit of around 750 million Euros," he said. Mr Uhlfelder was speaking at reception for the media to enable them to see and taste the food that is provided to passengers on board the airline in the three classes by First Catering Limited, its catering services provider. First Catering Limited is a free zone company established some seven years ago and operates in the airline catering industry. Mr Uhlfelder said the growth strategy had reflected in recent orders for 35 new aircrafts. He said the company's cost savings programme was on track and would improve results by 1.2 billion euros by the end of the year. "These savings will be reinvested in profitable growth in new products and also in perspectives for the staff." Lufthansa hopes to employ 2,500 new staff in 2006. Briefing the journalist on the preparation of the dishes for the various classes, Mr John Ansah, Assistant Quality Assurance Manager, said rigorous processes were followed to prevent microbiogical growth. He said meals were presented cold to prevent microbiological growth. Mr Ansah said about 70 per cent of supplies for the meals were imported, explaining that most local suppliers were unable to meet requirements because of the high standards required. Mrs Maud Lindsay-Gamrat, Head of Finance and Administration said although a young company, First Catering had employed the best professionals in the industry and currently has a staff level of 170, made up of both expatriates and Ghanaians. The company serves seven major airlines, including Lufthansa, Emirates, KLM, South African Airlines and soon to be added Delta, which begins operation on December 12 this year.GNA

I am not happy with Ghana Bar Association - Mills

Former Vice President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills on Friday said he was not happy with the Ghana Bar Association's (GBA) undue silence on the abuses of incumbency by the ruling NPP government. He said the GBA came out in 2000 to blame and accuse the then ruling NDC of abuse of incumbency but had now become silent over the incessant abuses of the same status by the NPP. Prof. Mills, one of the Presidential Candidates of the NDC who raised this concern in Tamale, during an interaction with the media said even though incumbency was not a trump card to winning elections, its practice should be discouraged because it does not create equal opportunities. Prof. Mills was in the Northern Region to solicit votes from delegates for the impending national delegates' congress of the NDC to choose a presidential candidate to lead the party in the 2008 general elections. He mentioned that President Kufuor went to campaign in the recent Offinso by-elections with a convoy of 70 official vehicles but some analysts defended him by saying that some of the vehicles were privately owed. "I had wished that the GBA used the same yard-stick it used to measure the NDC when it was in power to assess the NPP to ensure fairness in this democratic dispensation", he said. Prof. Mills gave the assurance that he would be the last person to create factions in the NDC or betray its course if delegates failed to give him their mandate. He said what was happening in NDC was an example of internal democracy and wished other contestants in the presidential race well in their endeavours. He indicated that at the end of the day, one candidate would be selected to lead the party and that the losers should still consider themselves as victors and rally behind the NDC to win power in 2008. He said the party would not be coerced to choose a candidate because one has money, pointing out that money was not the main determinant for the selection of a candidate for the party. Prof. Mills urged other Presidential Aspirants to be decent in their language and to avoid indecent behaviour at the congress. Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, a leading member of the NDC said Prof. Mills was a solid electoral asset and urged the delegates to give him their mandate to ensure total victory in 2008.GNA

Veep calls on Universities to undergo critical re-orientation

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend tasked the country's tertiary institutions to undergo a critical re-orientation to shift their focus from their core mandate and concentrate more on human capacity development. He called on the Universities to play a leading role in the development of the human resources of Ghana to facilitate an effective adjustment of the citizenry in the social, industrial and global market of the 21st century. Alhaji Mahama made the call during the maiden congregation of the Catholic University College of Ghana, at Fiapre in the Brong Ahafo Region, where 44 graduates dressed in academic gowns, received degrees in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science amidst cheers from friends and relatives. He commended the University authorities for incorporating Information Communication and Technology into the curriculum, which combines practical education with rigorous academic study and research. "I highly commend the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference for the courage, foresight, tenacity of purpose and commitment it has shown in the establishment of the University," he said. Alhaji Mahama said the active involvement of the Churches in the establishment of Universities was a happy and welcome development as it marked a continuation in the history of the role of the Churches in the educational development of the country. Shifting his attention to the graduates, he asked them to be shining examples and good ambassadors of the school through their conduct and performance in the wider society.
Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Archbishop of Cape Coast and Chancellor of the University, said the academic institution, which started in March 2003, registered the pioneer students to study Economics and Business Administration, Information and Communication Sciences and Technology and Religious Studies and Education. "They have spent four years of serious and assiduous study, research, writing and numeration in partial and total fulfillment of the requirements pertaining to Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees." Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University said products of the school were trained to understand the social and cultural problems of Ghana, lead a life that expresses Christian ethical and moral values and with a commitment to serve God and country and meet the challenges of an increasingly complex national and global society. Professor Ebow Mensah, Acting President of the University College, commended the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for providing 1.5 billion cedis for the construction of a library facility. "Trustees of the GETFund have just approved an amount of 400 million cedis for the purchase of computers and printers for the University," he said. Prof. Mensah suggested the need for the managers of the fund to spend between 40 and 50 per cent of the money spent on the support and maintenance of the public Universities on private Universities as way of acknowledging the contribution of parents of students in the private tertiary schools. Prof. Ben Ahunu, from the University of Ghana, Legon, observed in a goodwill message that the current global economy was dominated by knowledge based industries in which Universities have a major role to play in producing human resource and in undertaking the necessary research for development.GNA

Government is committed to Polytechnic education - Amoah

Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports has observed that Government was committed to Polytechnic education in the country. "In line with Government's policy of re-positioning Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) in Ghana, it would continue to equip and strengthen polytechnics to enable them offer technical and practical oriented programmes to meet the demands of industry and national economy," he said. Mr Amoah made the observation when launching the 29th Annual National Delegates Congress of Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) in Ho. It was under the theme, "The Achievements of Polytechnic Education - Need for Government's Greater Commitment". Mr Amoah said with regard to the commitment, polytechnics were being provided with enough funding and encouraged to offer degree programmes in science and technology. He said competency-based training was also being emphasized and attachments to industries regularized and strengthen for students to meet the demands of the job market. Mr Amoah said infrastructure facilities such as lecture halls, accommodation for lecturers, halls of residence, teaching and learning materials would continue to be provided for polytechnics to offer tertiary education in their own right with emphasis on practical skills needed to run a productive economy. He said provision of such infrastructure had demonstrated Government's response to the rapidly changing labour economy and the invaluable role of polytechnics in producing the needed human resource base for the country. Mr Amoah said it was therefore, necessary for polytechnics to recognize their unique position in the country's economy and function as such devoid of "ritual strike actions". "It is important that you demand what is yours, but it must be done legitimately and properly not to disrupt academic work," he added. Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, in a speech read for him, said Government was aware of the current graduate unemployment situation in the country. He said though the phenomenon had given a new twist to the problem of youth unemployment facing the country, pragmatic and far reaching programmes had been initiated to improve on the situation. Alhaji Boniface said On-the-Job Training Programme (OJP) and facilitating of meetings between employers, managers and educational institutions to forge partnerships to discuss issues relating relevant skills required for the job market were some of the practical efforts being made by Government. Mr Victor Amponsah, Officer-In-Charge of Training at Ghana Employers Association (GEA), expressed appreciation for Government's interventions in polytechnic education but called for greater commitment to give meaning to Government's agenda on human resource development, private sector growth and industrialization. "Polytechnics are perhaps what we need today. Therefore every effort must be made by Government to re-focus objectives of Polytechnics to provide graduates with employable skills that could feed our growing industries," he said. Mr Martin Kwame Sedem, National President of GNUPS said it was important that Polytechnics, as tertiary institutions were resourced to move away from the "shadows" of universities to have the confidence to concentrate on their objectives. He said this would enable Polytechnics take their role in tertiary education and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the country.GNA

Ministry of Education to develop comprehensive policy on distance learning

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday said Ministry of Education, Science and Sports would soon set up a committee to develop a comprehensive policy on distance learning for the country. He said Government's determination to expand tertiary education and make it accessible to all Ghanaians was manifested in the President's Special Initiative on Open University and Distance Learning. "I have taken a keen interest in this programme because the nation’s wealth depends on skilled and developed human resources. It is in line with this objective that Government has negotiated a joint cooperation with the largest Open University in the world.” President Kufuor announced this in an address read on his behalf by Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister for Ports, Harbours and Railways at the 11th Congregation of University of Education (UEW) at Winneba. A total of 2,559 students were awarded with certificates, Diplomas and Masters Degrees. President Kufuor said Government had through GETFUND constructed; renovated and expanded infrastructure and some facilities at UEW to meet the increasing number of students admitted to the university. He said Government would not relent in its efforts to ensure challenges of the university were addressed to facilitate teaching, learning and research. President Kufuor noted that with the increasing number of student intake and ageing lecturers, it had become necessary to train young lecturers through Government Scholarships to continue developing the skills of future leaders for the country. "We would continue to build the capacity of this university by supporting young and talented staff and students to pursue higher degree required to augment the staff strength". President Kufuor however, urged authorities of UEW to manage the Distance Learning programme for teachers in such a manner as not to interfere with teaching during the periods when they ought to be teaching in the classroom. He said Government was making efforts to provide an attractive package for university lecturers and staff and urged them to ensure peace prevailed on campus. Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Vice Chancellor of UEW said 2,281 students passed the Bachelor of Education through its regular programmes and 234 received Diplomas and Certificates. He said 29 students including eight women had first class in the various disciplines, while 162 women and 258 men obtained Second Class Upper. Professor Anamuah-Mensah said UEW recognized the intrinsic role that the nation's teachers played in the development process and was therefore, committed to ensure that the best practices were obtained in their recruitment and training. Mr Jude Kofi Bucknor, Chairman of the University Council, said the quality of teachers determined a country's future success because teachers represented society's investment in the youth. He urged the graduates to translate the training and exposure they had received into meaningful and substantial contribution to educate the youth.GNA

MP denies defrauding gold dealer

Mr Twuamsi-Appiah MP for Asene on Saturday denied that he had attempted defrauding a businessman at 800,000 dollars in a gold deal. Speaking to the GNA at the Accra Regional Police Headquarters, Mr Twumasi-Appiah said earlier in the month, a friend called him to say that he had some people who had 50 kilograms of gold to sell and whether he- Twumasi-Appiah- could get a buyer for the precious metal. Mr Twumasi-Appiah, who is also an investment consultant, said he then got in touch with one Mr Charles Dejoe, a friend and a gold dealer, about the offer. Mr Dejoe, he said, then told him that he was out of the country but that, in view of the quantity of gold involved, he would personally come down to Ghana for the transaction. Mr Twumasi-Appiah said on Thursday, November 23, Mr Dejoe contacted him and he told him that the consignment was in. Dejoe then asked that they should meet at the Geological Survey Department (GSD) to test the quality, quantity and carat level of the gold. He said he got to the GSD on Friday after 1200 hours and met the said sellers of the gold numbering about six there. He said in view of where Dejoe's office was located at East Legon, and the fact that he Twumasi-Appiah did not have enough time to spend at the GSD he called Dejoe to ask that he name someone at the GSD who would witness the test. Dejoe gave him two names of the staff of GDS, but there were both not at work. He then proceeded for testing of the sample of gold brought by the sellers as a representative of the buyer. Mr Twumasi-Appiah said when Mr Dejoe finally arrived at the GSD premises he asked that the whole consignment be tested instead of just the sample at the expense of the sellers. Dejoe then requested that the 50 kilogram box which the sellers had brought to the GSD be opened, whilst he Twumasi_Appiah was in the laboratory. He said Dejoe then called him in the laboratory and said that the sellers were not genuine people because they had refused his request for the box to be opened. But to ensure that the sellers paid for the cost of testing the samples, and because both he and Dejoe had unspecified amounts of cash in their vehicles, he Twumasi-Appiah called the police to give them adequate protection, in case the sellers turned out to be fraudsters. He said Dejoe also called the police 20 minutes after he had placed his call. When the policemen he had called arrived, they were able to arrest and handcuff two of the sellers after four of them had bolted. He said they were in the process of conveying the two sellers to the police station when the other policemen Dejoe had called arrived and helped them to send them to the Accra Central Police Station. Mr Twumasi-Appiah said at the station, he was waiting for the statements of the two suspects to be taken when he was informed that the Regional Commander, ACP Asiedu Akrofi wanted to see him, only to be told by the Commander that there was order from above to detain him. He said he insisted to know by whose orders he was being detained but the police did not divulge that information to him. He was detained from 2100 hours to 2300 hours and later called from the back of the counter to go home and to report at the same police station today (Saturday) at 1400 hours but when the Regional Commander arrived at post he asked that he should report back on Monday, November 27. He expressed amazement on how he had become the accused when he had requested the people to arrest gold sellers. The GNA on Friday reported that Mr Felix Twumasi-Appiah, the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Sene, and three others for allegedly attempting to defraud a businessman by selling to him fake gold dust to the tune of 800,000 dollars. The suspects are Wallace Mensah, Kwantwi Barimah and Tony Delor Deputy Superintendent of Police Kwesi Ofori of the Police Public Relations Directorate told the Ghana News Agency that Mr Charles Dejoe, the complainant, said he was outside the country when the MP called him that he had 50 kilogrammes of gold to sell at 16,000 dollars per kilogramme. Mr Dejoe came to Ghana to buy the metal but suggested that the gold should be sent to the Geological Survey Department for testing. Mr Ofori said the suspects suggested that a sample should be tested and after the test Mr Dejoe requested that the whole quantity, packed in a metal box and sealed, should be tested as well but Twumasi-Appiah objected. Mr Ofori said the complainant became suspicious and informed the Police who stormed the Survey Department premises and arrested the suspects.GNA

Let us address the needs of NPP foot soldiers - Crabbe

Mr Samuel Crabbe, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday appealed to the National Executive Committee of the Party to put in place measures to address the needs of members who had become disillusioned for being neglected by the Party. "The greatest threat to this Party is not the National Democratic Congress (NDC), but apathy due to the fact that we have not done a good job at ensuring that our foot solders and in many cases the needs of the executive were met". Mr Crabbe made the appeal when addressing the opening session of the Greater Accra Annual Delegates Conference of the NPP in Accra. It was attended by more than 270 delegates from the 27 constituencies in the region who took stock of all Party activities for the year and how to strategize for the future. He stressed the need for the Party to identify the needs of Party members and sought permanent solutions by helping them to become self-reliant. Mr Crabbe called for re-engineering of the Party to be responsive to the needs of members and also become a centre of excellence for the development of people with good leadership qualities and knowledge. "There is no institution anywhere that could better groom future politicians than a political party," he added. Mr Crabbe said Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) facilities at the Greater Accra Regional Secretariat would be replicated in all the 27 constituencies in the region and to link other areas via Wide Area Network (WAN). He said the Greater Accra Regional Secretariat would organise leadership workshops and computer training skills for members to improve on their skills and knowledge in ICT. Mr Crabbe announced that a business advisory board set up by the Secretariat was working with consultants to help members present their ideas in the right format to enable them access funds from micro credit schemes. Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister asked members of the Party to be steadfast and not allow opponents of Government deceive them. "Government has delivered so well on its promises to the people, what is left is to make you fishers of men," he said. Sheikh Quaye called for unity among the rank and file of the Party to ensure that NPP increased its Parliamentary seats in the region to 20 during the 2008 general election. Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing said the Greater Accra branch of the NPP was a beacon for the other regions and urged the regional executives to close their ranks and forge ahead. He called on party members to take advantage of the numerous Government initiatives and financial arrangements to improve on their business activities.GNA