NPP's Presidential Hopefulls Replaced

The Group of 8 cabinet ministers - a.k.a the G8 - in the Kufuor Administration, who have been pushed out of office to pursue their presidential aspirations/ambitions have finally been replaced.
The Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Kwadwo Mpianim, presented a list of the first batch of their replacements to the Speaker of Parliament on Wednesday. They are:
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Akwasi Osei-Agyei (now Deputy)
Minister of Information and National Orientation: Ms Oboshie Sai-Coffie (pictured; now Deputy)
Minister of Communications: Dr Aggrey-Ntim
Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment: Nana Akomea (ex-minister)
Minister of Public Sector Reforms: Samuel Owusu-Adjei (former deputy Minister of Health)
Minister of Trade, Industries and President’s Special Initiatives: Mr Joe Baidoo-Ansah (now Deputy Minister of Tourism)
Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance: Dr Akoto Osei
Minister of State at the Attorney Generals Dept.: Ambrose Dery (now Upper West Regional Minister)
Minister of State at the at the ministry of interior: Nana Obiri-Boahen
Minister for Housing & Water Resources: Madam Cecilia Dapaah
Upper West Regional Minister: Joe Benson
Eastern Regional Minister: Kwadwo Affram-Asiedu (now Deputy Minister of Trade)
Upper East Regional Minister: Alhassah Sumari Kwamena Bartels, current minister of information, is not on the list
Speculation (Yet to be CONFIRMED)
Parliamentary Affairs: Abraham Ossei Aidoo (MP for Tema West and deputy Majority Leader)
Interior: Hon. Kwamena Bartels
Information and National Orientation(Deputy): Frank Agyekum (now Spokesperson on Governance)
Tourism and Diasporan Relations: Hon. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng
Defence: Albert Kan-Dapaah
Education, Science and Sports: Prof Dominic Fobih
Source:GHP

Failure to convict Ghanaian "suicide bomber"

The jury in a major terrorism trial in Britain Tuesday failed to convict two men charged with an attempted bomb plot on London's transport network on July 21, 2005. The jury was discharged after members remained deadlocked over whether to convict Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, from Ghana, and Adel Yahya, originally from Ethiopia, who are now facing a re-trial.

On Monday, Woolwich Crown Court found four co-defendants guilty of having planned the attack, which would have come exactly two weeks after the suicide bombings on London's transport network that killed 52 passengers and injured more than 700.
Muktar Said Ibrahim, 29, Yassin Omar, 26, Ramzi Mohammed, 25, and Hussain Osman, 28, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder. They will be sentenced Wednesday, the court announced.

Asiedu, 32, had been accused of being the "fifth" bomber who lost his nerve and dumped his device. He has said he was "duped" into getting involved.
Yahya, 23, who is from Ethiopia but had British citizenship, had always denied any knowledge of the conspiracy.
The prosecution alleged he was part of the "inner circle" of the group who planned the attacks.
Source:GHP

Italian President to visit Ghana

The President of the Republic of Italy , His Excellency Giorgio Napolitano, will arrive in Ghana on Sunday, July 8, 2007 to begin a three-day official visit.Whilst in Ghana , President Napolitano and his delegation will hold bilateral talks with President Kufuor at the Castle, and later address the Ghanaian Parliament on Monday, July 9, 2007.

He will also visit the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and tour the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium to interact with the Italian workers at the construction site. On Tuesday, July 10, Mr. Napolitano will visit the Kofi AnnanInternational Peace-keeping Training Centre and interact with staff of the Centre before departing for his home country. On the heels of the Italian President's departure will be the arrival of the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mrs.

Micheline Calmey-Rey for a two-day official visit.She will also hold bilateral talks with President Kufuor and members of his government at the Castle, Osu. She returns on Wednesday, July 11, 2007. 07 July 07

Gahna---78 Receive State Honours

Solar energy project takes off

Government has put together a team of local solar energy experts to help kick-start the implementation of the development of solar energy systems in the country.Dubbed: the Joint Coordinating Committee for human resource development towards the dissemination of solar Photo Voltaic (PV) system, the team would implement government's programme of action for the establishment of two solar testing and training centres soon. The Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Science and Sports are spearheading the project under a grant sponsorship from the Japanese's government through its International Cooperation Assistance (JICA).

Launching the project and inaugurating the Committee in Accra on Thursday, Mr. Joseph Adda the Energy Minister in a statement read for him by the Chief Director, Mrs Dina Hammond said Ghana was endowed with solar energy resources but its sector had benefited marginally. He said, "in 2003, government came out with a Master Plan to promote the development of solar for off-grid rural electrification using renewable energy in the northern part of the country.

"JICA's support is therefore to help advance the use of solar system in the country," he said.Mr. Adda said solar PV could be sustainable if properly planned and the adequate human resource for its management and operation was developed.The implementation of the project that spanned between 2007 and 2010 was expected to substantially address the country's future energy challenges.Key institutions involved in this project are the Ghana Standard Board, the Association of Ghana Solar Industries, the KNUST, and the Tamale Polytechnic.

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the Tamale Polytechnic would house the two training centres where Japanese technical experts would provide support in the training of Ghanaian technicians in solar system PV installation and maintenance.Arrangements are also far advanced for the establishment of the testing centres where all solar equipment and materials to be imported into the country would be tested and certified for better performance of the project.
Source:GNA

Mbeki receives law doctorate from 'CapeVars'

President Thabo Mbeki received a long-awaited honorary doctorate in law from Ghana's Cape Coast University on Wednesday, according to his office.

The university had decided to offer it to him back in 2002 but he had not had the chance the visit the country to receive it, said spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga.He therefore made use of his current visit to the African Union summit, hosted in Ghana, to do so

Seychelles vice president calls on Asatehene

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has accepted an invitation to pay a visit to the Island of Seychelles at an appropriate date to be announced soon.The Seychelles Vice President, Joseph Belmont, who attended the African Union Summit which ended in Accra on Tuesday, announced this when he paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene on Sunday.He said: "My President has asked me to extend an invitation to you to visit his country at an appropriate date.

I have deep feeling to be here even though the moment for me to be here is short."A statement from the Manhyia Palace said Mr Belmont was met by the sons of the Asantehene (Ahenema) led by Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyempimhene of Kumasi and ushered in to meet Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Mr Belmont said some of Asantehene's descendants were still in Seychelles. He was introduced to Mr. Lewis Prempeh aged 65 and Ms. Molly Prempeh, 55, both surviving descendants.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said the visit of the Vice President reminded him of his forefathers who were exiled to Seychelles by the British. He said in spite of the desire of the Ashantis for an honourable settlement, the British made impossible demands and in the end Nana Prempeh was taken away to Elmina.The Asantehene recalled that when the British saw that the Ashantis were making inroads to get their King back, they sent him to Sierra Leone and finally to Seychelles where he stayed for about 25 years.

He said when the Nana Prempeh returned from exile, Ashantis had profound memories of the Seychelles because he came back as a happy King.Otumfuo Osei Tutu said: "I keep on reminding the British that we still have bitter memories of the exile."The Asantehene said he had accepted to visit Seychelles, but this time not as an exile, adding that he would name where his forefathers stayed as Manhyia Palace.Mr. Belmont presented a book about the development of the Island of Seychelles to Otumfuo the Asantehene.

The Seychelles Vice President was accompanied to the Manhyia Palace by Mr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister.
Source:GNA