Cancer cases on the rise - GAEC

Professor Edward H.K. Akaho, Director General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) on Friday said within the next 20 years there could be 200 million cancer cases worldwide with 75 per cent coming from developing countries. He said realising the upsurge of cancer in the country the Commission had requested the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for assistance to upgrade and expand the Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine at the Korle-bu and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals and to establish a new one at Tamale to provide care for the patients. Speaking at the 40th anniversary celebration of the GAEC in Accra, he said these two centres had witnessed an increase in the number of new patients of which experts claimed that 70 per cent of the reported cases had reached advanced state. He said nuclear medicine in synergy with radiotherapy services had proved important since it provided tumour marker services for various cancers f the prostrate, liver and the colon. He said the IAEA had assisted Ghana to prepare a proposal to put in place a Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) and that the programme being an initiative of Professor Mohammed Elbaradei, IAEA's Director General would enable early detection through screening including curative and palliative treatments. Professor Akaho said GAEC had realised the need for human resource development to manage and utilise its nuclear facilities of the radiotherapy and nuclear medicine centres, adding that there was presently a wide gap between the older generation of experienced nuclear and younger inexperienced staff. He said the GAEC was established by an Act of Parliament Act 204, now superseded by Act 588 of 2000 with vested responsibility for all matters related to the peaceful uses of atomic energy. He said though scientific research started far back in 1952 at the Physics Department of the then University of Gold Coast, (now University of Ghana) work in radioisotope application gained ground in 1959 with Ghana signing the Non Proliferation Treaty in 1970 after she had joined the IAEA in 1970. He said the main function of the Commission included peaceful application of nuclear techniques and biotechnology for the sustainable development of Ghana ensuing that nuclear safety and security were not compromised. Professor Akaho said the Research Reactor commissioned in 1995 and other nuclear analytical facilities had been used for analysis in geological, medical, biological and industrial materials for various sectors of the economy. He said the agriculture sector had benefited a lot from the commission in the area of gamma mutation breeding and use of tissue culture technique for cocoa, plantain, banana, pineapples, yams, sugar cane coconut and cassava.GNA

UK-based Tourism operators expressed interest to establish in Ghana

A delegation of “Madam Tussauds Group”, a United Kingdom (UK) based tourist centre operators, on Friday paid a courtesy call on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu to express interest in operating business in Ghana. It plans working together with the Ghana Hall of Fame on three identified potential sites at Kpone, Kawukudi and the Motorway. Mr Glenn Earlam, the Managing Director, who led the delegation said they were keen to have a presence in the country, making Ghana, its first point of call in Africa. The Group specialises in the making of statues of prominent personalities. In the UK, about 2,500 tourists daily visit its centre. It also has other centres in China and the United States. President Kufuor said the Government would co-operate with the Group but noted that Parliamentary approval would be necessary. Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of State of Culture and Chieftaincy, accompanied the delegation.GNA

NDC seeks accountability on presidential mansion

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged Parliament, especially its Minority Caucus to demand full disclosure of all the necessary financial information about the Flagstaff Presidential mansion. It laid special emphasis on what happened to the 30 million dollars loan approved for the project; how come the project was only 14 per cent complete and additional funds were being requested; has the 30 million dollars been exhausted already or it has not been released?" Again: "If the 30 million dollars has not been released where did the Government take the money from to start the project up to the 14 per cent state of completion?" The NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketia said it was shocked and dismayed at the response of the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani to Parliament on Thursday November 16, when he was asked to disclose the contract sum (estimated cost) of the Presidential Mansion, which was currently under construction. In response to the question filed by the NDC MP for Tamale South, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister said he would know the estimated cost only after the construction of the project was completed. The statement said, "This answer, in our view, can mean one of two things, that no proper procedures were followed in the award of the contract and therefore no documentation exists on the tendering process, contract sum; or that this information exists but the Minister has something to hide, which makes the disclosure to Parliament injurious to his personal interest or the interest of his government. "Whichever way one looks at this, the Minister's actions and inactions on that fateful day have been prejudicial to the national interest." It said, "What makes the Minister's attitude even more difficult to understand is the fact that currently before the same Parliament is a request for approval of a loan facility of five million US dollars from STANBIC Bank Ghana Limited to be used as additional funds for the project. The statement said, "In the absence of satisfactory answers to these and the many other questions being asked by Ghanaians, no further disbursements of the national resources should be approved for the project."GNA

Three Areeba Sub-Contractors Killed By Falling Mast

Three workers of Reime Ghana Limited, a sub-contractor of Areeba Network, were killed and three others injured here on Wednesday when an iron mast they were erecting fell with them hooked to it.They were erecting a 130-metre mast at Asufufuo in Sunyani, but after mounting up to the 24-metre mark, one of the four ropes being pulled by the other workers to support it, tore and they lost their balance.The dead were identified as Thomas Devor, from Mankranso, Bismark Kofi and the third, only known as Captain, both from Sunyani. Those injured are Godson Ackuah, Michael Kumi and Christopher Koblah who are said to be responding to treatment.Sunyani Municipal police commander, C.T. Yohonu, who confirmed the story to the Times wondered why ropes, instead of a crane were used to erect such a mast.The site engineer, Nicholas Amematey said the project was the third of its kind after two at Kukuom and Sankore.According to him, Reime Ghana Limited has worked with Areeba since 1997 and has never experienced such a tragedy.

NDC MP arrested for alleged fake gold deal

The Greater Accra Regional Police have arrested the National Democratic Congress MP for Sene in the Brong Ahafo Region, Twumasi Appiah, for his alleged involvement in a fake gold deal.Assistant Commissioner of Police, Akrofi Asiedu who confirmed the arrest to Joy News said the MP was picked up with others in the process of selling the fake gold to a businessman.Akrofi Asiedu, who is the Regional Police Commander, said the complainant, a Ghanaian businessman based in Amsterdam, alerted the police about his suspicion of the authenticity of 50 kilogrammes of gold the MP and his alleged accomplices were attempting to sell to him.The businessman is alleged to have told the police that he received a call from the MP from Amsterdam inviting him to come over to purchase the gold.He also told the police he had earlier been duped by the same group, alleged to include the MP.On the first occasion when he was sold the fake precious metals, he only realised he had been duped after he attempted to resell the commodity.He then called the police to lodge a complaint.According to ACP Akrofi Asiedu, the businessman said after that ill-fated deal, he said he received a recent call from the MP inviting him over for another transaction so he decided to follow up.He told the police that upon meeting the MP with his accomplices, they allegedly told him they had 50 kilogrammes of gold for sale and showed him only a kilo.He showed interest in the commodity and asked the group to produce the whole lot, which they did but when he insisted they should open them up from some boxes they were contained to be tested at the Survey Department in Accra, they were reluctant to do so, raising his suspicion.He then called the police who managed to arrest the MP and a few of his alleged accomplices. The police say they are investigating the alleged scam.
Joy news

Spio Says "He is the Man"

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, one of the aspiring candidates for the flagbearership for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday, appealed to party delegates to vote him as the Presidential Candidate to enable the NDC win the 2008 election.He made the appeal when interacting with some constituency executives, ward chairmen, supporters of the party and the media in Bolgatanga.Dr. Spio-Garbrah said he had all what it takes to make the party come back to power come 2008 if given the nod.He explained that, based on his domestic and international assignments and his persuasiveness and innovativeness, he stood the best chance of raising major funds as a flagbearer to strengthen the party structures at the ward, branch constituency, regional and the national levels.He intimated that he was the only aspiring flagbearer candidate who had combined experience of working at the Party Headquarters and member of the Functional Executive (2000-2), Member, Re-organization Committee (2001-2), as a Constituency Organizer (2003), as a Minister and Ambassador (1994-2000), as a chairman of the party's publicity committee (1996), Director of Communication of Presidential Campaign (2000) among others.Dr. Spio-Garbrah stressed that being a Communication and Marketing Professional, he knows exactly what was needed to revamp the NDC's image and make it more popular in order for it to win the 2008.He said he would work hard to unify all factions and interest groups within the party under the NDC umbrella, especially, those who have decided to sit on the fence because they felt aggrieved by the negative attitudes of some party executives.Asked on how he was relating with his other contestants, he said they were in good relationship and would give the necessary support to anybody who wins the slot.He explained that if he happens to be given the nod and subsequently becomes the President of Ghana his administration would help transform the Ghanaian economy to improve the livelihood of Ghanaians.He said having stayed within the Diaspora for a number of years he would lobby Ghanaians expertise there to contribute to the development of the nation and noted that this could be done through the down-loading of rich knowledge in the area of development.The Media, he said, was very crucial in building the nation's democracy and his administration would give the media all the necessary backing, be it the private or the state media to enable them to dispense their duties effectively as the fourth realm of the state.
Source:GNA

Ministry expands new communication strategy

The Deputy Minister of Information and National orientation (MINO), Mrs. Oboshie Sai Cofie has underlined the ministry's commitment to ensure that the positive achievements of government are explained to the people thoroughly. This, she said, was in line with the Ministry's clear-cut and unambiguous mandate "to ensure that the success story of this government's achievements gets told, gets told right and gets told to every single Ghanaian, in such a way that each will truly understand". Mrs. Sai Cofie was briefing High Commissioners and Ambassadors of Ghana's Missions on Government's new Communication Strategy and MINO's role in information management as part of a 4-day conference organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra. The conference, attended by 45 Ambassadors and High Commissioners, was to examine critically Ghana's domestic and foreign policies to enable the diplomats to rationalize the performance of their missions to ensure maximum contributions to the national development effort. It was also targeted at familiarizing the Diplomats with developments on the socio-economic scene at home in Ghana. Mrs Sai Cofie said Ghana, under President John Agyekum Kufuor, was firmly set out in a well thought out path of growth and stability, and all information must be constantly and consistently shared with the people of Ghana. She explained that although the mandate given her ministry appeared easy, it was a complex task, since it required proper management and dissemination of information for the understanding of the people. On the media landscape, Mrs Sai Cofie noted that the freedom enjoyed by the media had not only resulted in a growth of positive media practice, but had also led to a fall of professional standards among sections of media practitioners. This had led to the use of unacceptable language both in print, and on the airwaves, she said, adding that this had become a source of some concern for many well-meaning Ghanaians. "To help address this situation, this government on coming to power introduced the spokespersons concept to address various issues in the country," she said. Apart from the Minister of Information and National Orientation and his deputy, the new government communications strategy organizational chart has four government spokespersons, dealing with vital areas such as social services, governance, finance and economy as well as infrastructure. "These persons form part of government's information and strategic team to manage information in a manner that will get down horizontally and vertically to all sections of the public."