Amoateng Resigns!

Speaker declares seat vacant after 14 months

Accra, Feb. 9, GNA - The Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, on Friday declared the Nkronzah North seat vacant and accordingly, directed the Clerk of Parliament to inform the Electoral Commission of the vacancy.

Before the commencement of Public Business, the Speaker informed the House of a communication received from Mr Eric Amoateng, (NPP-Nkronzah North), informing the Speaker of his resignation in accordance with provisions of the constitution and article 17 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.

Article 17 of the Standing Orders states that: " A member who desires to resign his seat in the House shall notify Mr Speaker in writing under his hand of his intention to resign his seat and Mr Speaker shall inform the House as soon as practicable."

The Speaker read out all the contents of Mr Amoateng's letter on the floor of the House.

The member, in his letter addressed to the Speaker, said: "I have come to the realization that my people would be better served in my crises by relinquishing my position."

He said his resignation was voluntary and expressed appreciation to the Speaker, the Majority and Minority leaders and the Privileges Committee for the time given him during his long absence from the house. Mr Amoateng is facing legal charges in the United States following his arrest late 2005 for his alleged involvement in narcotic drugs.

Mr Sekyi Hughes, after reading out the communication, said Mr Amoateng had complied with "Standing Order 17 in all material respect."

He said: "In accordance with Standing Order 18, I herby declare the seat of Nkoranzah North vacant on this 9th day of February, 2007."

Standing Order 18 states that: " The seat of a member shall be declared vacant by Mr Speaker under clause (1) (b) to (h) of Article 97 of the Constitution."

The Speaker then quoted Standing Order 19, and directed the Clerk of Parliament to inform the Electoral Commission of the vacancy in accordance with that provision.

Mr Sekyi Hughes told the House that his earlier ruling on January 30, to the Privileges Committee to re-visit the position taken by the House to give Mr Amoateng time, had been overtaken by the communication received from the member.

He, accordingly, ruled that the matter before the committee had no effect in the light of the resignation of Mr Amoateng.


Source:
GHP

State of the Nation Address - Full text

Mr. Speaker, the Constitution of the Fourth Republic prescribes that the President of the Republic delivers to Parliament a message on the state of the nation at the beginning of each session.

This is what I have come to do.Mr. Speaker, as I look around the House, I see empty seats on he Minority’s side.It is a sad day that members of that side have chosen to absent themselves. It is sad again that they have resorted to this course of action, apparently in reaction to the judgement of a duly constituted court of law.

It is even sadder that they seem to ignore the fact that the due process of going through appeals, as provided for by the Constitution, is yet to be exhausted, in this particular case.Mr. Speaker, I want to use this occasion to ask them to reconsider their withdrawal from the House and come back to play their part to uphold the integrity of the House. I make this appeal in the light of the sincerity with which government is committed to the reconciliation process it has initiated for healing the wounds of the nation and to make for a fresh start.

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Ghana to double its energy generation capacity

Ghana is to double its energy capacity to about 4,000 megawatts within the next five years as part of the Government's vision to speed up the country's industrialization, President John Agyekum Kufuor, has announced.The present generation mix of about 1,300 megawatts would go up by an additional 1,000 megawatts by the close of the year.President Kufuor, who dropped the hint during a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, by the National Executive Council of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) on Wednesday said the new generation system would not be dependent on the weather.

The AGI Executive Council members were there to share their views with the President on ways of enhancing the country's manufacturing sector.President Kufuor gave the assurance that the current energy crisis that has resulted in load shedding would be over in the next two to three months.He said realizing that without affordable, reliable and efficient energy supply system, there could not be effective industrialization, the Government, since its inception in 2001 made energy a priority agenda.

He said, it was for this reason that it raised 40 million dollars as Ghana's equity in the West African Gas Pipeline Project, which should have come on stream last December but for the problems in the Niger Delta region.The contractors on the project were now on course to deliver the gas to the shores of Ghana by May, this year.President Kufuor said alongside this project, the Government has concluded arrangement with some companies to build Thermal Plants and was also on the verge of signing an agreement with China to begin the construction of the Bui Hydro-electric dam.The Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning, Energy and the Attorney General are presently in China for this.

President Kufuor told the AGI National Executive Council members that the Government was doing everything within the ECOWAS to help to remove impediments to free trade within the sub-region. "This is a friendly Government. Your success reflects well on the success of the Government."Mr Tony Oteng Gyasi, President of the Association, said the right policies and incentives put in place by the Government have put the manufacturing sector on the path of growth.

He said they would however, want to see the strengthening of the regulatory and inspection agencies like the Ghana Standards Board (GSB), Food and Drugs Board (FDB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) so that they would apply equal checks and scrutiny on imported goods as they do to the made-in-Ghana goods."They should be strengthened to be effective to give us a level playing field." 07 Feb. 2007
Source:GNA

The Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously acquitted and discharged two out of six persons who were convicted to 20 years' imprisonment each for smuggling 588.33 kilograms of cocaine into the country.They are John David Logan, 43 and Frank Lavelrick, 43, both British nationals.The two were convicted on October 27, 2004 together with Kevin Gorman, 59, an American, Mohammed Ibrahim Kamil, a Ghanaian, Alan Hodson 45, a British national and 45-year-old Sven Herb, a German.They faced charges for conspiracy and possessing 588.33 kilograms of cocaine without lawful authority.Gorman, Lavelrick and Hodson were additionally charged with importing narcotic drugs without licence from the Ministry of Health. Gorman was further charged with using his property for narcotic offence.They pleaded not guilty before Mr Justice F. Kusi Appiah, a Court of Appeal Judge sitting as additional High Court Judge, who found them guilty and convicted them accordingly.On November 4 2005, the Court of Appeal in a 2-1 decisions upheld the decision of the Fast Track Court.In June 2006, Mr Addo Atuah, appellants' Counsel, filed another appeal at the Supreme Court which on Wednesday quashed the decision of the Court of Appeal and the High Court ruling that a prima facie case had been made against Logan and Levelrick.According to the Supreme Court, Logan and Lavelrick should not have been called to open their defence since they had produced credible evidence to make their case during the trial.The panel were Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo, Mr. Justice S. A. Brobbey, Mr Justice Julius Ansah, Mr Justice R. T. Aninakwa and Mrs Justice Sophia Adinyira.Speaking to journalists later, Mr Atuah described the decision as "major victory in the country's rule of law and good governance". He was happy that a right environment had been created to embolden judges to dispense justice fearlessly.Gorman is a Director/Shareholder and Operations Manager of a shipping company - Tuna To-Go Limited based in Tema.On January 7, 2004, the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of the Police Service raided the residence of Gorman and discovered bales and parcels of whitish substances suspected to be cocaine.The parcels were concealed in a specially constructed hole or compartment in a wall behind a large dressing mirror.The prosecution said Gorman with Logan, Lavelrick and Hodgson, who were living in the house at the time, were confronted with the substance.Gorman said the bales and parcels were brought there for safe keeping by one Yakuba for a fee of 50,000 dollars.The rest of the suspects, including Herb, who arrived later, denied knowledge of the substance.
Source:GNA

Ghana Black Stars beat Nigeria's Super Eagles 4-1 in an international friendly match at Griffin Park in London on Tiesday.
All five goals come in the second half. Laryea Kingston 50min, Sulley Muntari 53min, Junior Agogo 60min made it 3-0 for the stars. Taiwo Taye pulled one back for Nigeria in the 65 minute through a penalty kick, before substitute, JoeTex Frimpong, put the result beyond doubt with a fouth goal in the 74min.
This is the first time Ghana has beaten Nigeria since 1992 .... More details laterGhana lineup: Richard Kingston, Hans Adu Sarpei, Habib Mohammed(46' John Paintsil), John Mensah, Shilla Illiasu, Michael Essien(D. Asamoah), Laryea Kingson, Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan(Joe Tex Frimpong) and Junior Agogo(Eric Addo).
Substitutes not used: Sammy Adjei, Francis Dickoh
Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama, George Abbey, Taye Taiwo, Seyi Olofinjana, Obinna Nwaneri, Joseph Yobo, John Utaka, Mikel Obi, Christian Obodo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni Aghahowa
Source:GHP

Australia to assist Africa's mining sector

Australia miners are to assist Africa to exploit its mineral resources, a statement from the Australian High Commission on Monday said. It said Australia's role in Africa's mining sector would be showcased at the premier mining conference in Cape Town, South Africa, next week, on the theme: "Mining Indaba 2007" to support the Australian Government’s promotion in the sector in Africa. Mr Jonathan Richardson, Australian High Commissioner in Ghana, together with other Australian heads of mission in Africa would attend Indaba to support the Australian Government’s promotion, backed by major mining companies led by BHP Billiton. He said the event would afford an opportunity for the Ghanaian delegation and other representatives from West Africa to get acquainted with Australian companies active in the sector. Mr Philip Green, Australian High Commissioner to South Africa, said Australian mining companies were making a substantial contribution to the development of Africa's resource sector. "Australia mining and resource investment in Africa is in order of 15 billion dollars and a large proportion of new ventures on the African Continent have an Australian involvement. "The resource industry is pivotal for Africa's future - how well it is managed will largely determine whether the prosperity sought in Africa over decades can be achieved.” Mr Green said the Australian mining industry was bringing to Africa not only high standards in mining itself and in advanced mining technologies, but also the delivery of environmental protection, corporate social responsibility and community development. Currently, major Australian mining projects are underway in countries such as South Africa; Ghana; Guinea; Senegal; Mali; Mozambique; Zambia and Tanzania. Gold, copper, nickel, coal, iron ore, mineral sands and uranium are among the resources being mined. GNA

NIIT announces scholarship package of 50,000 dollars for students

The National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) is to offer a scholarship package of 50,000 dollars to Ghana as the nation turns 50, Mr Kapil Gupta, Managing Director of NIIT Ghana, has announced. He said the money would be spent to train 50 students to become the best application developers and programmers in the country adding that the modalities of those who qualify for the package were being worked out and would be out soon to synchronise with Ghana at 50 celebrations. Mr Gupta was speaking at the NIIT Class of 70 Information Technology (IT) Exposition and the third graduation ceremony of the Kumasi Centre of the Institute in Kumasi on Friday. The ceremony was on the theme: “Developing Ghana@50 with NIIT”. He emphasised that this was the Institute’s gift to Ghana on its remarkable landmark and also a means to express felicitations to the nation. Mr Gupta said Information Communication Technology (ICT) presented a unique opportunity as the key driver in the socio-economic transformation in the areas of wealth creation, eradication of poverty and improved quality of life of people. The MD stressed that its impact on employment creation in both IT and non IT related verticals like health, insurance and banking was very compelling. He called on the graduates to work assiduously not for themselves but for the nation at large, not just to maximise their personal wealth but the national income all as a way to bridge the digital divide and to create an enabling environment for better future. Mr Brandy Mensah, Kumasi Centre Manager, urged the graduates to try to be excellent pace-setters and demonstrate that the destiny and success of the nation lied in the hands of Ghanaians and not outsiders. He said graduation was a change of era and advised them to forget all the conflicts and negative experiences during the course because the future was about what they would do and not what they should have done. One hundred and fifty graduates were honoured with certificates in Software, Hardware, Networking as well as IT in business skills.GNA