President leaves Accra for four-nation tour

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday left Accra for a four-nation tour of Belgium, Ethiopia, Egypt and Nigeria. His first stop would be Brussels, Belgium where he would hold discussions with the EU Commission's President, Mr Baroso Jose Manuel, on the forthcoming African Union (AU)- European Union (EU) summit in November and the G8 Summit in June this year. President Kufuor would join his colleagues to celebrate the African Union Day in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and then go to Egypt for a three-day state visit.

He would then go to Nigeria to participate in the inauguration of President-elect Yar Ardua on 29th May 2007. President is expected back on 30th May 2007.GNA

Lecturer testifies in Tagor, Abass trial

A Senior Lecturer of the Department of Lingistics, University of Ghana, Dr Kofi Agyekum, on Tuesday told an Accra Fast Track High Court that the recorded conversation on the controversial ACP Kofi Boakye's tape was a natural one. "My Lord the tape recording had not been tempered with," Dr.Agyekum, the eleventh prosecution witness, told the court trying Kwabena Amaming aka Tagor and Alhaji Issa Abass, alleged self-confessed drug barons, held for drug-related offence.

Dr Agyekum, also a specialist in the Akan language, also said that his work was to find the authenticity of the recording, voice attribution, profile of the voices and transcription and translation from Twi to English. Led in evidence Mr Agyemang Duodu, Principal State Attorney, Dr Agyekum said he was approached by the Attorney General to work with J. P. French and Associates in York, London. He said he visited London on two occasions and worked with J. P. French and Associates and later communicated on e-mail with the firm.

Dr Agyekum said as an expert, he worked independently adding, "I worked without showing partially." Highlighting the report he produced, Dr Agyekum said Abass, whom he explained as non-Akan speaking person, was intermittently mixing Twi with Fanti, adding that the other four participants used the correct version of the Akan language. Answering questions under cross-examination by Mr Ellis Owusu-Forjour, counsel for Tagor, Dr Agyekum said before his appointment to work on the recorded conversation, he could not remember commenting on the case. Dr Agyekum, who is also a social commentator, admitted that he did a literal translation on the recorded conversation.

He said he only read about the arrest of the accused persons in the dailies. Answering questions by Mr Osafo Buabeng, counsel for Abbas, Dr Agyekum said he could not remember saying damaging things about the accused persons. He admitted that words like "goods" and "things" could be used interchangeably depending on the context. Dr Agyekum denied that his report was to suit the Attorney General adding, "As an independent expert I was very objective and impartial." Meanwhile, the court has warned two relations of Abass for harassing and verbally assaulting a policeman whom the court directed to take away newspaper, which they were reading in court.

The court asked persons to comport themselves and give respect to the Judiciary if they want to continue attending court proceedings. "Next time, I will deal ruthlessly if anyone who flouts the orders of the court," the court warned. The case of the prosecution is that the accused are self-confessed drug barons who since 2004 had been actively engaged in activities of promoting and establishing various enterprises relating to narcotic drugs.

Tagor has additionally been charged with carrying out prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs, buying and supplying of narcotic drugs, while Abass is being held for carrying out prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs and supplying narcotic drugs. They have pleaded not guilty before the court, presided over by Mr Justice Jones Dotse. They have been remanded in custody. Hearing continues on May 30.GNA

Bird Flu detected in Sunyani?

A suspected case of bird flu at a poultry farm at New Dormaa, a suburb of Sunyani has led to the destruction of a number of birds and poultry products by personnel of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

When newsmen got wind of the incident and went to the scene, some laboratory and surveillance personnel of the MOFA from Accra and Kumasi, as well as some officials of the regional veterinary office in Sunyani were seen bringing out "everything" from the farm, including the birds for destruction, while they also disinfected the place.Mr George Dosa, Acting Regional Director of the Veterinary Service Department, who led the exercise, however, told newsmen it was too early to announce to the public as samples of the birds had been taken to Accra for testing and were yet to receive the result.

He said there was no cause for alarm since the personnel monitored the situation at the farm for about a week before the officials were invited to assist in taking the precautionary measures.Mr Dosa decline to disclose the number of birds destroyed as he directed the newsmen to MOFA for further information.Mr Asante Krobea, Regional Director of MOFA, who was on his way to Accra told the Ghana News Agency on phone that the Ministry was waiting for the test result from Accra latest by Monday evening when he could let the public know about the outcome.

He said it was dangerous to put fear in the public without knowing the result of the samples, as it could greatly affect the business of poultry farmers as well as the price of maize. The owner of the farm, an ex-soldier, could not be talked to as he was busily assisting the officials to bring the situation under control.
Source:GNA

AMA postpones arrest of recalcitrant taxi drivers

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Monday postponed the arrest of taxi drivers who have failed to wear the prescribed uniforms and those without the embossment on their vehicles. According to the AMA, this is because of submissions made by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council to be given some time to educate its members on the need to comply with the directives.

The AMA assured the public that it would deal with recalcitrant taxi drivers who fail to wear the prescribed sea blue shirt and blue-black pair of trousers and for non-embossment of their cabs when the grace period elapses. A statement issued by the Public Relations Department of the AMA on Monday warned butchers to desist from singeing animal carcasses with vehicle tyres, since the act is harmful to human health. The AMA said its attention had also been drawn to brisk trading activities being carried out within residential premises and backyard of some of residents in the Central Business District.

The statement said majority of these traders who had been relocated to the Odawna Pedestrian Shopping Mall had neglected their malls to trade elsewhere. "Property owners are hereby advised to immediately put an end to all trading activities by petty traders within their premises. Offenders would be prosecuted when arrested," AMA said.GNA

Ghana to host first international management congress

Human resource management practitioners from Africa, the Middle East and Asia will meet in Accra from July 8-13, 2007 for a conference dubbed: "The International Human Resource Congress." The congress, the first of its kind in Ghana, is being organized by the Management School, London, in collaboration with Business Education Examination Council International, Ghana.

A statement signed by Alberta Akosa, an official of Global Media Alliance, said the congress promises to be the largest human resource event of its kind in Africa and would attract directors of personnel of government ministries, leading human resource practitioners, personnel managers and human resource managers from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Mr. Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment would deliver the keynote address of the Congress to be organised on the theme: "Organizational Performance, Talent Management and Human Resource Strategy".

Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Finance Minister, would be the special guest. The statement said the congress would offer exceptional value and give participants an opportunity to reap professional and business benefits from a rewarding and enjoyable congress "It is an opportunity to update and sharpen the human resource thinking in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The Congress will be an inspirational learning experience with world class speakers," it saidGNA

Justice Amua Sekyi is Dead

Mr Justice Kwaku Etrue Amua-Sekyi, Chairman of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) has been reported dead. He was 74.A family source disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Friday.

The late Justice died at home around 0920 hours on Thursday at Takoradi. The source described Justice Amua-Sekyi who was also a Supreme Court judge as a noble man."He has done what everybody would wish in life and served Ghana with integrity", the source said A wife and three children survive him.Funeral arrangements would be announced later.

Ghana Addo Kufuor---not ready to deploy troops in Somalia

Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Minister of Defence, has stated that the country is not ready to deploy troops to Somalia. Speaking during his recent visit to the Third Battalion of Infantry of the Ghana Army in Sunyani, the Minister, however, commended the battalion's role in internal security, as well as maintaining law and order in the sub-region, particularly along the border with la Cote d'Ivoire.

Dr Addo Kufuor urged the troops to be extra vigilant at the border due to the current situation in that neighbouring country. He said Ghanaians appreciated the support the Garrison had given to the Police in several operations, including "Operation Calm Life", to the Forestry Commission. The Defence Minister appealed to the armed forces to remain loyal to the government and the people in maintaining a political order that would continue to protect the constitution and maintain peace and security. Dr Addo Kufuor noted that the most difficult problem that had confronted service personnel over the years was the lack of adequate accommodation and announced that the Ministry was expending 20 million dollars on an urgent housing scheme for the troops.

Under the scheme, he said, the construction of 18 four-storey blocks, each expected to house 16 families, had already begun in Accra, Takoradi, Tema, Ho and Tamale. The Minister said the Ministry would use 10.5 billion cedis on the renovation and construction of living quarters and other facilities for the Three Garrison in Sunyani. He added that the projects were expected to be completed before the end of the year.

Dr Addo Kufuor noted that the retention of over-aged service personnel due to the lack of funds for their release had been the major cause of the accommodation problem, but announced that the Ministry was seeking 67 billion cedis for the purpose.GNA