Vice President Mahama returns from S.A trip

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, returned home this evening from South Africa where he participated in his first ever Ghana-South Africa Business and Investment Forum held in Midrand, South Africa from April 19 through 20, 2007.

During the forum, the Vice President delivered the key-note address which was based on improving trade relation between Ghana and South Africa, and planned towards the growth in the Ghanaian economy.

The Vice President also touched on Ghana's Development Agenda and Investment Opportunities in the country. Alhaji Aliu Mahama paid a courtesy call on Phuzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Deputy President of South Africa, during which they discussed bilateral issues. The Vice President also met with a cross-section of the Ghanaian community in Pretoria during which he briefed them on measures taken by the government to tackle the energy situation in the country.

He was accompanied on trip by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Awash Osei Agyei, the Deputy Minister for Trade, Industries and Presidential Special Initiatives, Gifty Ohene-Konadu, and officials of the Vice President's Office, Also on the trip were the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana Investment promotion Centre, the Free Zone Board and the Ghana Promotion Council.GNA

BoG Staff on strike!

Staff of Bank of Ghana (BoG) on Monday deserted the cool ambience of the banking hall for the morning scorching sun as they demonstrate on the streets to register their disgust at delay in salary negotiations.The staff adorned their official uniform of navy blue colour with red ribbon either tied around the wrist, the head, or just across any part of the body to portray their frustrations amidst the singing of local war and patriotic songs.

Occasionally vociferous men among the crowd pick a megaphone and chant out their demand for a 40 per cent pay raise, whilst the rest respond with thunderous applause, and screaming as they parade the streets in front of the Bank.Scores of customers at the banking hall expressed their frustration to the Ghana News Agency as they said, strategically refusing to work at full strength on the first working day of the week amounts to stagnation of the economy.

"Whatever difficulties they have with their management, we should not be made to suffer unduly, we are being use as a bargaining instrument, which is very unfortunate," a distressed customer told the at 1000 hours, whiles management and senior staff association leaders were engaged in a marathon meeting.bank across the country in anticipation of a strike action, if management fails to meet them at the negotiating table.

hey said BoG Management have refused to negotiate with senior staff and the Union over the wage opener in spite of the issuance of a bargaining certificate by the Labour Commission.Management according to the source, reportedly sent a circular to the effect that, due to the magnitude of work regarding the re-denomination exercise, it will not be part of negotiations. It however indicated that it did not object to the senior staff and the union meeting coming out with terms of negotiations for consideration by management.

The senior staff is agitating for 40% pay rise in conformity with other institutions but management insists on only 10% against the endorsement of the Labour Commission.A Management source however, accused the Senior Staff Association of attempting to use their wage issues to sabotage the re-denomination exercise because Association will not agree to give the management the mandate to negotiate on their behalf.
Source:GNA

Face up to end corruption - Prof Mensah-Bonsu

Professor Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu of the University of Ghana on Friday, stated that corruption could only be eliminated if people faced up to it and stripped it of "the dignity conferred on it with fond names" for the society to see it for what it was.

She expressed regret that people approved of petty official corruption and had coined fond names for such acts on daily basis. Prof. Mensah-Bonsu was delivering a lecture at the Saint Peter's Regional Seminary of the Catholic Church at Cape Coast under the theme, "Priestly Formation and the Promotion of Justice and Reconciliation: Challenges and Prospects" as part of the activities making its 7th Theology Week celebration. Speaking on "Contemporary Societal Attitudes Towards the Promotion of Justice and Reconciliation: Prospects and Challenges", Prof. Mensah-Bonsu pointed out that corruption particularly in high places disadvantaged the poor and raised the cost of transaction. "We ourselves participate in such practices in order to secure advantages for ourselves or cause officials to short circuit systems for our benefits," she stated.

"How can we end corruption in our country if we ourselves are quick to pay bribe and lead delegations to influence our parishioners in positions of responsibilities from doing their duties or encourage them to bend the rules in favour of a friend or relation", she asked.
Prof. Mensah-Bonsu expressed dismay that the canker had become so accepted that even Prefects in secondary schools took bribes from students who broke school rules and called on Ghanaians to help wage a war against corruption. Access to legal justices was the right of every citizen, she said and described it as the most important right under a constitutional democracy.

Prof. Mensah-Bonsu, however, noted that the need to institutionalise measures of restorative justice had become prominent and said victims were not only demanding punishment for offenders but were also making claims for restitution. She stressed that attitudes that promoted justice and reconciliation do not develop on their own accord but must be inculcated in both the old and young. "Habits of tolerance, respect, care and consideration for people differently situated must be taught young people to enable them not only to empathize with such people but also learn to moderate their own conduct so as not to create offence", Prof. Mensah-Bonsu stated.

The process of national reconciliation has created awareness but it was a development imperative, she said and called on the people to ensure that it achieved the objectives why it was instituted.GNA

Ghana will win 2008 Nations Cup - Le Roy

Claude Le Roy, head coach of Ghana's senior national team, the Black Stars has reiterated his desire to lead the nation to her fifth continental glory in 2008, when Ghana host the rest of the continent in the Africa Cup of Nations soccer fiesta.

"I have a bunch of committed and dedicated players who are psychologically prepared for the challenges in 2008 and that is why I'm confident of winning the trophy".Addressing the second edition of his monthly Meet-the-Press series in Accra on Friday, Coach Le Roy said the current crop of players of the national team have demonstrated high level of tactical discipline and are very serious about the competition so "I don't see why we should not be the winners".

Coach Le Roy explained that 2008 would mark the maturity period for most his players and the Nation's Cup will be the crowning moment for them."The only thing needed from them is to put up a lot of personal sacrifices to realise this dream."We have to put in everything to win the trophy because Ghanaians won't accept anything less than the trophy."This is why the players will have to forget about going home to attend to personal issues during the preparations, since every concentration must be on football, the competition and the trophy", Le Roy stated.

The coach also reckoned that they will be playing under much pressure during the Nation's Cup but added that a mini tournament will be organised later in the year to make the players get used to the situation.

GNA

Ghana and China sign six economic co-operation agreements

Ghana and China amidst growing bilateral, technical and economic co-operation, on Thursday, signed six major agreements. These included the construction of the Bui Hydro-Electric Dam, a concessionary loan of 30 million dollars for the implementation of a dedicated communication system for the security agencies and the cancellation of 24 million dollars of debt owed China.

The others were an Economic and Technical Co-operation grant, Tourism promotion and a feasibility study on the construction of a new office building for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. President John Agyekum Kufuor and the visiting Chairman of the National Standing Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Congress, Mr Jia Quiglin, witnessed the signing of the agreements at the Castle, Osu.

Mr Jia was at the head of a large Chinese delegation on a three-day visit, at the invitation of Ghana’s Parliament, to help deepen the friendship and practical co-operation between the two countries. China, an emerging economic giant, is ranked third, in terms of investment inflows into Ghana. President Kufuor applauded the positive and friendly relations between the two nations, which had existed for almost 50 years and said Ghana was determined to build on this. “We are totally committed to developing the relations with your country for the mutual benefit of the peoples of Ghana and China and the peace of the world.”

He also re-affirmed Ghana’s adherence to the “One China policy”, with Beijing as its capital, something, Mr. Jia, described as “a core issue dear to China.” Ghana, President Kufuor said valued its relations with China and expressed joy at the agreements concluded between them. Mr Jia, who spoke of the need for the two countries to continue to maintain regular high level contacts said the Chinese Government would do everything possible to actively support the successful implementation of the Bui Hydro-electric Project. Additionally, it would work closely with Ghana, which is both a member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council and Chairman of African Union (AU) towards global peace and security.

He conveyed his country’s gratefulness to Ghana for its support for China’s unification with Taiwan, saying, “sovereignty and territorial integrity is a core issue, dear to China.” The six agreements reached between the countries followed discussions held between President Kufuor and the Chinese leaders on the sidelines of the China-Africa Forum held in Beijing in November, last year.GNAREA

Association calls for immediate rehabilitation of Tamale Teaching Hospital

The Concerned Citizens' Association of Tamale on Tuesday staged a three-hour peaceful demonstration in the Metropolis and called on the government to fulfil its constitutional mandate to rehabilitate the Tamale Teaching Hospital to befit its status.

The demonstration started from the Regional Police Park at about 9:05 hours through the principal streets of the Metropolis and ended at the Regional Coordinating Council, where the President of the Association, Mr Basharu Alhassan Daballi, presented a petition, which enumerated some of the problems the Hospital was facing. Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, received the seven-page petition on behalf of the Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris. The demonstrators numbered about 600 and clad in red with red armbands, to indicate their seriousness about the rehabilitation of the Hospital.

They carried placards, some of which read: "Ghana at 50, Tamale at zero, why", "Tamale Regional Hospital is a real disgrace", "Please remember the day of accountability", "We also pay tax", "We are part of Ghana." Mr Adam assured the Association of government's commitment to the development of the Northern Region, citing the on-going construction of hostels for the University for Development Studies (UDS) and the new Sports Stadium. "People did not stage a demonstration to compel the government to undertake these projects, which are currently at the point of completion," he said, adding that the government was equally responsive to the plight of the people.

The MCE commended the Association for ensuring a peaceful demonstration and urged the leaders to contribute meaningfully to the development of the Region. In an interview with the GNA, Mr Daballi said the Association would continue to embark on demonstrations until their demands were met. He said the Association would also consider the option of taking legal action against the government should the demonstrations fail to yield results. GNA

Illegal Gold Miners Trapped in Pit Collapse

Eighteen gold miners have been confirmed dead and another 30 are still trapped one day after an illegal mine collapsed in western Ghana, police said on Tuesday.
Attempts to rescue the 30 men still trapped in an abandoned mineshaft at Nsuapim, about 400km west of the capital, Accra, are being hampered by a lack of earth-moving equipment, they said.

Area police Commander Daniel Sampana said he has sought help from one of the big mining companies in the area, Bogoso Gold, which has offered excavators. Bogoso is a subsidiary of Canada's Golden Star Resources.
Illegal gold mining has been a source of concern for both the Ghanaian government and the big mining companies.

Illegal miners often take over abandoned mineshafts and galleries in order to dig for gold there on a small scale. Left without maintenance for years, these structures sometimes cave in on the miners.

Note:
These are analysis of the blogger---Isaac TETTEH
Pit Collapse: - This happens basically because the earth ideally should be in a state of equilibrium. Meaning, every excavation in an in-situ rock, will seek to adjust to keep the earth in its equilibrium state.
There are factors that make the acquisition of this perfect state faster, the major bring disturbance of either the wall or foot rock.
Factors that cause these disturbances include ground vibration from a neighboring pit, flooding among a host of others.
To prevent these from happening, Legal mining companies undertake proper stope support, professional de-watering, prevention of rock acid drainage etc.
Illegal mining is a crime under the current laws of Ghana. Laws have been put in place to integrate “Galamsay operators” into following “the rules of engagement”. Many of them have not heeded this call. The reasons are that they feel they will not make as much money as fast as they are making now when their operations are regulated.
This has exposed them to even greater risk since many Legal mining activities are ongoing in the Western region.
I hope the authorities at the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) will intensify its outreach programmes in these deprived districts so as to clear all doubts in the minds of these “wanna-be miners”.