Stars Triumph over S Korea

The senior national team, the Black Stars today continued their winning streak over the Asians by beating the Red Devils of South Korea 3-1 in Seoul on Sunday.

Striker Asamoah Gyan and Midfielder Michael Essien scored for the Black Stars in Ghana’s final Asia tour game. Both sides ended the first half goalless.

The second half produced a four-goal thriller with the Black Stars hitting the Koreans three times against one from the home team. Ghana opened the scoring in the 50th minute through Asamoah Gyan who connected with the head a Laryea Kingson cross from the right. Eight minutes later, Chelsea midfielder, Michael Essien scored the second.

South Korea rallied back to pull one back through D. Hyun in the 63rd minute. With three minutes to end regulation time, Asamoah Gyan hit a brace, scoring Ghana’s third goal to seal a 3-1 victory for the Black Stars.

The Black Stars first beat Japan 1-0 in Yokohama on Wednesday. Ghana, who scored all the goals in the second half looked the better side in both halves, with a team which also featured Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien. The game was the second for the Black Stars in four days.

NYP is not a Political Tool

Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment, on Sunday noted that the launch of the National Youth Employment Programme was not on political lines, but rather meant to support the youth, literate or illiterate.

He said the programme’s basic objective was to change the standard of living for the youth to ensure that they were gainfully employed. Mr Boniface was speaking at a joint launch of a programme dubbed: “Teens Forum and the inauguration of an advisory board for Youth for Christ (YUFRIST) a non-governmental organization committed to improving the lives of the youth.

The programme was on the theme: “50 Years of Political Independence, Morally upright, dedicated and informed youth – Ghana’s golden asset.” The Minister expressed the commitment of the
government through his Ministry to implement prudent policies that would promote morally upright and informed youth. He said: “My Ministry has realized that access to capital is one major problem facing the youth.

It is therefore heart warming that government has introduced the Venture apital Fund to help address the issue.” Mr Boniface urged adults, especially parents to guide the youth to be conscious about morality, uprightness and dedication to service to enable them to unearth their untapped potentials and skills.

On the HIV/AIDS menace, Mr Boniface encouraged young girls to avoid early marriages and rather stay in school to enable them to become role models.

“With the right tools of decency, morality and commitment to future prospects of our country we can stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in order to preserve our youth,” he said. Mr Jehoiada Godwin Amuzu, Executive Director of YUFRIST expressed concern about the lyrics of most hip-life Songs and urged musicians to inject sanity into their lyrics.

“I am not condemning hip-life music but it could be used to educate and caution the youth against social vices,” he said. He urged political leaders to demonstrate practical commitment to the fight against indecency, triviality and other social vices that draw the nation back. GNA

New Gbese Mantse installed

A UK-based Ghanaian judge was on Sunday dawn installed the new Gbese Mantse under the stool name Nii Okaidja III in Accra.

Nii Okaidja III from the Nii Teteh Ankamah family succeeds the late Gbese Mantse Nii Agbofu who died four years ago and was buried a week ago.

Known in private life as Mr Bill Annan, his installation meant that the overlord of the Ga State, King Tackie Tawiah III, now has an Adontehene, a right hand person who would act in Ga Mantse's absence.

Nii Adu, the Gzasetse of the Korle We, performed the traditional rites after which he swore-in Nii Okaidja III as the new Gbese Mantse. In brief statement, the new Chief said his major task would be the unification of all Gbese people and work with the Ga Mantse to achieve the same dream for the Ga people.

Nii Okaidja said development, both human and physical, would be his ultimate objective for the people of the Ga State and added that an educational scholarship scheme would soon be introduced for the youth.

After the installation he was taken to Gborbu Wolumo at Nungua for other traditional rites. Nii Okaidja III was appointed a Magistrate for the Inner London Circuit in 1987 and became a presiding justice in 1991 where he commenced sitting on appeals at the Crown Courts at Southwark and Middlesex Guildhall as a judge.

He has written several papers on comparative law with the latest being "The role of the British Court Clerk."

Rest In Peace

The mortal remains of the late Speaker of Parliament, Mr Daniel Francis Kweipe Annan, were on Friday laid to rest at the Osu cemetery in Accra.

This was preceded by a pre-burial service at the forecourt of the State House which was attended by Ghanaians from all walks of life and across the political divide.

Among them were President John Agyekum Kufuor and the wife, Theresa; Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, his wife Rahamatu; Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Huges, the Speaker of Parliament; Former Speaker, Mr Peter Ala-Adjetey, some Ministers of State and Members of Parliament (MPs).

Also present were the Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2000 and 2004 Elections, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and other political party leaders including Dr Edmund Delle, Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP); Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, Founder of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and Dr Edward Mahama, Leader and Presidential Candidate of the People's National Convention (PNC) for 2000 and 2004 Elections.

President Kufuor in a tribute said the late Mr Justice Annan did serve Ghana and that his arrival on the political scene at the time he did was perhaps what the nation needed most.He noted; "in spite of being a founding member of the NDC, as Speaker, Mr Justice Annan was generally seen to be fair to all parties represented in Parliament. This was acknowledged across the political divide.

"President Kufuor said the late Speaker's training in law, his mature age and professional experience on the Bench equipped him to be even-handed.He recalled the various positions that the late Mr Justice Annan held and said what etched him in the public mind was the role he played in ushering the nation from the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era into the Fourth Republic.

There were also tributes by Former President Jerry John Rawlings, Mr Sekyi-Hughes, Former Speaker Ala-Adjetey; the Chief Justice, Ga Traditional Council; his children and Rosetta, the widow.GNA

Justice D.F Annan goes home.

A state funureal is currently underway in Accra for the late , Justice D.F. Annan a former speaker of Ghana's parliament.

He was a prominent member of Ghana's Provitional National Defence Council (PNDC) and became speaker of Ghana's parliament when the country returned to constitutional rule in 1992.

He held that position for two terms (Eight years) untill the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lost power in the 2000 elections.

For me Isaac Tetteh being the last journalist to host such an important man on my programme 60 minutes in 2004, I can only say that may the good Lord Keep him till we meet again.

"Yaa wo jogbannnn" (Rest in perfect peace)

Another Nigerian Oil Worker Killed

A Nigerian oil worker was killed during an attack on ships belonging to the Italian oil company Agip in the Niger Delta, the company said Thursday.

Agip, a subsidiary of the Italian oil giant Eni, said in a statement that "armed men in five boats" Wednesday attacked a convoy of seven boats ferrying supplies and food from Nigeria's oil capital Port Harcourt to the southern city of Brass.

A Nigerian employee of Agip was "accidentally hit by the assailants, who were targeting the engines, and was killed during the attack," the statement said.

Some 40 other people on the Agip vessels -- workers, military escorts and crew members -- were unhurt. The attack was repelled by Nigerian troops patrolling the region's waterways to protect oil vessels and facilities amid a rise in militant attacks in recent months.

In one week alone, at least 23 Nigerian military personnel were killed while more than 30 foreign and local oil workers were kidnapped by separatists seeking a greater share of Nigeria's huge oil wealth.

Veep Appeals to Striking Teachers To resume work

Vice President Aliu Mahama has appealed to the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) to end their prolonged strike action and cooperate with the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to negotiate for better conditions of service.

He said There is strength in numbers and Larger Associations may enhance the bargaining power.

Vice President Aliu Mahama made the appeal when he addressed the 12th Best Teachers Awards Ceremony in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region on the theme: "Quality Teachers for Quality Education; Uniting to Deliver Quality Education".

He said although Government recognized the right of free association of workers and other professionals in striving to eliminate distortions in Public Sector pay system, it was ideal to deal with them in the context of associations identified by profession, rather than groups within the same profession based on special qualifications.

Vice President Mahama reiterated plans by the Government to establish an independent Inspectorate Division within the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to supervise the teaching and learning process as part of the Educational Reforms to be implemented in September 2007.

He spoke against teachers, who refused postings to some parts of the country and those who absented themselves from duty.