Prof. Mills To Tour Some States in US

The Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills leaves for the United States of America on Tuesday for a two-week tour.He is expected to meet with some Congressional representatives and honour public speaking invitations.A statement by Mr. Koku Anyidoho, who is in charge of communications at the Office of Prof. Mills, said the NDC candidate would meet Ghanaians across the political divide in the states he visits.He would also be part of the Ga Dangme Homowo celebrations in New York/New Jersey and have private meetings with NDC caucuses in selected states.

President to cut sod for Bui hydro

All is set for the sod cutting for work to commence on the construction of the 400-megawatt Bui Dam hydropower and the Bui City project on August 24.The 622 million-dollar project is to be funded with a 562 million dollars concessionary loan from the Government of China and a 60 million-dollars counterpart fund from the Government of Ghana. The project, the third hydro project after Akosombo and Kpong, is one of the measures of government for a solution of the perennial energy problem, which leads to load shedding.Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda, Minister of Energy, who announced this at the Meet-The-Press series in Accra on Tuesday, said President John Agyekum Kufuor would perform the sod cutting at the project site located close to the Bui National Park in the Brong Ahafo Region.Albert Kitson discovered the area as a potential site for hydroelectric power development in the 1920s when the British Government embarked on a campaign to support the social and economic development of the area.The Minister said several efforts were made in the past to develop the dam but these did not materialise adding that through sustained effort by the current Government, a lasting solution had been found. He explained that the project was a multi-purpose one, which besides the power generation also had other uses such as irrigation, fisheries and tourism."Current irrigation potential is estimated at about 30,000 hectares which should transform agricultural production in the area and also the region," Mr Adda said.He said it was also planned to develop a modern Bui City and added that the strategy was to use the Resettlement Housing Programme as the building block of the project.Mr Adda said out of an estimated projected construction workforce of 3,400 some 2,900 would be Ghanaians with the rest being Chinese expertise."Ghanaian companies will also benefit from the sub-constructional works and also supply of materials," he stated. Mr. Adda said the Environmental Impact Assessment had been carried out and the required mitigation and compensatory measures had been evaluated for necessary action.The project, he said, had been designed so as not to have any trans-boundary impacts, especially with C=F4te d'Ivoire. "No portion of C=F4te d'Ivoire will be inundated even at the full supply level."He noted that Parliament had already passed the Bui Power Authority Bill, which provided the legal basis for the institutional arrangements of the project."We intend to tap the expertise of Ghanaians who were involved in the earlier projects (Akosombo and Kpong) in order to ensure that the mistake of past are avoided," the Minister said.Answering questions, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said the programme had a power purchase agreement where proceeds from the project would be shared accordingly. He urged the business community to take advantage of the project saying, "Over 600 million dollars is being sunk into the project that businesses could move in for their benefits."
Source:GNA

NDC continuing with Nkrumah's good work - Sekou

Mr. Sekou Nkrumah, son of Ghana's first President, has said it was only the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration which had been able to continue with a sense of commitment to the good works that Dr Kwame Nkrumah left uncompleted.He said that the policies of NDC were in line with those of Dr. Nkrumah and urged the NDC supporters not to be detracted by the negative and unconstructive criticism of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) but continue the good work Former President Jerry John Rawlings was doing for the country.Mr. Sekou Nkrumah was speaking at the weekend at the inauguration of the Ablekuma Central Constituency Youth Working Committee of the NDC. He said the transformation process the NDC was undergoing would not only broaden and deepen and encourage grassroots participation but would also contribute to the emergence of a new Ghanaian who eschews corruption, greed and avarice.He said the nation, under the leadership of Professor Atta Mills would ensure that an enabling environment was created and sustained to allow all to achieve their fullest potentials.Mr. Haruna Iddrissu, National Youth Organiser of the NDC has warned the ruling NPP government and their supporters not to do anything that would inflame passions during and after the 2008 general elections. He cited an example where Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey usurped the work of the Electoral Commission (EC) by going on air to announce electoral results contrary to the laws of the land.He said; "I will also go on the air to announce a counter results, come 2008 if he made an attempt to repeat it," adding that the NDC was not going to tolerate any Jake Obetsebi Lamptey's declaration anymore, but would play according to the rules of the game to ensure genuine victory, come 2008.Mr. Iddrissu expressed the optimism that not a single vote in the Ablekuma Central Constituency would bypass NDC to any group, come 2008, stressing that this could only be possible if, "you assured me that you would be vigilant at your various polling stations," he told the supporters.Mr Courage Balon, Constituency Youth Organiser urged the supporters to be vigilant at all the 106 polling stations in the constituency.
Source:GNA

President Paa Kwesi Ndoum?

While former Minister of Public Sector Reforms, Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum, keeps on denying that he has put in any bid to contest the flagbeareship race of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), a leading member of CPP, Comrade Felix Amoah, has appealed to the rank and file, especially delegates for their up-coming National Delegates Congress to endorse Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom as the CPP-flagbearer for the December 2008 Presidential election.“In same vein I am taking this golden opportunity to appeal to all Ghanaians to consider electing this affable man and astute politician as the next President of the Republic of Ghana come December 2008”, noted Comrade Amoah, who served as a Minister of State under the Limann administration in the Third Republic at a press conference Thursday.Sharing with the media Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum’s credentials, he said he Dr Ndoum was born into the CPP tradition with his father, Master Yorke, an educationist, serving as the director of the young pioneers in the Central Region in Kwame Nkrumah’s time.He noted that while studying in the USA, Dr Ndoum wrote several articles in the West African Magazine depicting the Nkrumaist ideas/ideals and that in 1995, he adopted and sponsored five regions with cash, bicycles, t-shirts and other logistics to assist the growth of CPP.Again, Dr Ndoum also selected and sponsored over 10 parliamentary candidates to contest the 1996 elections, naming the beneficially regions as Western, Eastern Volta, Upper East and Central.“The National Delegates Congress of 1999 was funded by Kwesi Ndoum to the tune of ¢45 million and this was when he was not contesting any position and was actually out of the county”, Comrade Amoah noted.He said in the 2004 elections, Dr Ndoum supported, campaigned for and sponsored several contestants with cash, posters, billboards and other logistics.According to Limann’s Minister of State, Dr Ndoum has also shown exemplary qualities as a Minister in various ministerial positions in the Kufuor administration, including Economic Planning, Energy and Public Sector Reform.“He led the Ghana team in delivering the unprecedented sum of $547 million from the United States of America’s Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)”, he stated, adding that he (Ndoum) “led the team to prepare Ghana’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy that has brought many benefits to the economy; and was the chairman of the National Development Planning Commission”.To Comrade Amoah, Paa Kwesi Ndoum has therefore gained unequalled experience in leadership and governance and acquired tremendous experience and strategy on how to win elections, making him the No.1 choice to lead CPP to victory in 2008.“Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom won the December Parliamentary election on the ticket of the Convection People’s Party (CPP) to become the MP for Komenda-Edina-Egguafo-Abrem (KEEA).He won the election convincingly with 30,981votes against the 15,427 votes for his opponent from the NDC.His 66.8% win compares to the 52.8% of the presidential votes won by President John A Kufuor in the same KEEA constituency to gain a second term”, he added.Comrade Amoah mentioned that Dr Nduom would be long remembered as the MP who happened to be a Minister of State who questioned the Ghana@50 Secretariat and the nation’s preparedness for the historic Jubilee year of Independence celebrations.In his constituency, he said Dr Nduom has been an MP with a difference - accountable, transparent and visible in the community and that through him, the name KEEA is recognised in many places nationally.Touching on some of the projects Dr Ndoum has undertaken in his constituency, Comrade Amoah mentioned building of community libraries and community centres in Elmina and Brenu Akyunim for the Edina Traditional area.He also mentioned a community library in Agona and a community centre in the Berase Town for The Abrem traditional area as well as a community library in Komenda for the Komenda traditional area and a community library in Abreshia and a community centre at Eguafo in the Eguafo traditional area.He said Dr Ndoum has made it a policy that any student in his constituency who qualifies and gains admission to a university but has financial difficulties will be given assistance and that through this he has made it possible for a number of students to go to the university.According to him, Dr Nduom has been instrumental in forging good relationships between Elmina and Netherlands, France and the United States, saying that the town of a province in France is cooperating with Elmina to improve tourism potential, particularly through strengthening the planning and organisation of the annual Bakatue and Edina Bronya festivals.“As the Member of Parliament and Minister of State, Dr Nduom lobbied successfully to ensure the dredging of the Elmina-Benya Lagoon to improve the fishing industry and the improvement of important roads such as the Ankaful- Amisano-Elmina road, the Agona-Essiam Effutu road, the Komenda junction-Komenda road, the Edinaman Secondary School access road and others”, he pointed out, adding that Dr Ndoum has also seen to the reconstruction of the Elmina bridge.
Source:GYENAYAME CONCORD

Court acquits eight executive members of CPP

An Accra Fast Track High Court has acquitted eight executive members of the Convention People's Party (CPP) of a charge of contempt filed by a group of seven people, a section within the party. The application is in respect of a court order to retrieve party vehicles in the possession of Mr. George Aggudey, the Flagbearer of the Party in 2004 elections and other persons, and thereafter brand them as custom demands, with party name, motto, colour and the party emblem of the red cockrel. It also sought the punishment of the court for the defendants for allegedly not reserving eight executive positions to be filled. The eight defendants are Dr Edmund Delle, Araba Bentsi Enchill, Johnny Hansen, Prof Nii Noi Dowuona, Martin Donkor, Riley Poku, B K Senkyirey and Kwasi Pratt Jnr. The plaintiffs are Nana Kwaku Dumfeh, Osei Tano, Kofi Aganu Luvo, Kwadwo Aduamoah, Amanka Appiah, Francis Opai Tetteh, and Atta Essiam. The Court, presided over by Mr Justice P K Gyaesayor ruled that the application was premature and absolved the defendants of the contempt application brought against them. The court in its ruling observed that the orders in a earlier settlement, under Mr K S P Jantuah were not implemented and the plaintiffs brought the application seeking the imprisonment of the defendants. The Court observed that the application was not seeking the enforcement of the judgement, but punishment of the defendants for disobeying the court and it was the duty of the plaintiffs to show beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants deliberately refused a court order. With regards to the eight places to which the plaintiffs were entitled to in the task force, the courts ruled that an affidavit indicated that eight places had been reserved for nominees of the plaintiffs' applicants. The court said this indicated the attempts to comply with the terms of settlement and it was now the duty of the plaintiffs to fill the eight places by submitting their names to the party. It therefore did not find the defendants disobedient and did not hold them liable. GNA

Large police presence marks Homowo festival

A large police presence marked the climax of the celebration of this year's Homowo festival of the chief's and people of Ga Mashie in the Greater Accra Region at the week-end. The police personnel from the Rapid Deployment Force, Mounted Squadron, Armoured Car, the Panthers and CID units, with another standby force, barricaded the streets to prevent a possible clash of supporters of different claimant clans to the Gbese stool.Despite the presence of the police to enforce an order to the various royal houses to restrict the sprinkling of the traditional food, kpokpoi, the Chief of the Ga State, Nii Tackie Tawiah II, and some other chiefs went ahead and publicly sprinkled the traditional food as symbol of the Homowo celebration.The celebration was also marked with the beating of drums and the chanting of war songs, as royal entourages and other people, mainly the youth clad in red tee shirts accompanied the chiefs. The regent of the Gbese Stool, Nii Tetteh Ahinakwa performed the sprinkling rite on behalf of Nii Ayibonte II in the Gbese Mantse Palace, as Niibi Ayitey Adjin Ayibonte, who identified himself as stool elder, said Nii Ayibonte was still undergoing the rites for full assumption onto the stool.However, a barricade mounted by the police prevented Nii Okaija III, also a claimant to the stool from going into one of the ruling clan houses, Nii Tetteh Ankamah We to perform the sprinkling rite. Nii Okaija III accused supporters of the Nii Ayibonte for using the police against him and infringing on his right of movement, but the Officer in-Charge of Police Public Relations, Mr Kwasi Ofori said the police had not taken sides and was only preventing a crisscross, which could spark confrontation among the various clans. The Chief of the Ga State, Nii Tackie Tawiah later told journalists that the celebration had been peaceful without violence or any feeling of malice.He said all the various claimants were still "brothers" and they would remain united despite their differences. Nii Tackie denied any order from any quarters to restrict the celebration to the various clan houses without going public. He outlined his vision for the Ga State as improvement of education, employment and skills training for the youth.
Source:GNA

Group pledges financial support for Osafo-Maafo

A group, calling itself Millennium Business Executives, has pledged 50,000 Ghana cedis to support the flagbearership campaign of Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, a New Patriotic Party presidential (NPP), aspirant for the 2008 General Elections. Part of the amount will be used to pay for his nomination fees and the rest for his campaign activities.A press release signed by Mr. Kwabena Acheampong, Executive Secretary of the Group, and issued in Kumasi, said the support was a demonstration of the firm believe of members of the group in the ability of Mr. Osafo-Maafo to lead the NPP to victory in the 2008 Elections and also consolidate the socio-economic gains achieved by the party in the last few years.According to the release, the members of the group, who are sympathizers of the NPP, recognized the immense achievements of Mr. Osafo-Maafo during his tenure as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Minister of Education, Science and Sports. It said his sterling performance had been recognized internationally, that was why he was voted as the best Finance Minister in Africa and the second best in the world.This, according to the statement, culminated in Mr Osafo-Marfo's appointment to oversee Liberia's post war economic recovery. It said Ghana needed a person of such calibre with natural leadership qualities to succeed President Kufuor to propel the country's economy to greater heights.The statement urged the party's delegates to analyse critically the contribution of each of the contestants and choose the one who had made significant impact in the government of President Kufuor to lead the party.
Source:GNA