Australia to assist Africa's mining sector

Australia miners are to assist Africa to exploit its mineral resources, a statement from the Australian High Commission on Monday said. It said Australia's role in Africa's mining sector would be showcased at the premier mining conference in Cape Town, South Africa, next week, on the theme: "Mining Indaba 2007" to support the Australian Government’s promotion in the sector in Africa. Mr Jonathan Richardson, Australian High Commissioner in Ghana, together with other Australian heads of mission in Africa would attend Indaba to support the Australian Government’s promotion, backed by major mining companies led by BHP Billiton. He said the event would afford an opportunity for the Ghanaian delegation and other representatives from West Africa to get acquainted with Australian companies active in the sector. Mr Philip Green, Australian High Commissioner to South Africa, said Australian mining companies were making a substantial contribution to the development of Africa's resource sector. "Australia mining and resource investment in Africa is in order of 15 billion dollars and a large proportion of new ventures on the African Continent have an Australian involvement. "The resource industry is pivotal for Africa's future - how well it is managed will largely determine whether the prosperity sought in Africa over decades can be achieved.” Mr Green said the Australian mining industry was bringing to Africa not only high standards in mining itself and in advanced mining technologies, but also the delivery of environmental protection, corporate social responsibility and community development. Currently, major Australian mining projects are underway in countries such as South Africa; Ghana; Guinea; Senegal; Mali; Mozambique; Zambia and Tanzania. Gold, copper, nickel, coal, iron ore, mineral sands and uranium are among the resources being mined. GNA

NIIT announces scholarship package of 50,000 dollars for students

The National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) is to offer a scholarship package of 50,000 dollars to Ghana as the nation turns 50, Mr Kapil Gupta, Managing Director of NIIT Ghana, has announced. He said the money would be spent to train 50 students to become the best application developers and programmers in the country adding that the modalities of those who qualify for the package were being worked out and would be out soon to synchronise with Ghana at 50 celebrations. Mr Gupta was speaking at the NIIT Class of 70 Information Technology (IT) Exposition and the third graduation ceremony of the Kumasi Centre of the Institute in Kumasi on Friday. The ceremony was on the theme: “Developing Ghana@50 with NIIT”. He emphasised that this was the Institute’s gift to Ghana on its remarkable landmark and also a means to express felicitations to the nation. Mr Gupta said Information Communication Technology (ICT) presented a unique opportunity as the key driver in the socio-economic transformation in the areas of wealth creation, eradication of poverty and improved quality of life of people. The MD stressed that its impact on employment creation in both IT and non IT related verticals like health, insurance and banking was very compelling. He called on the graduates to work assiduously not for themselves but for the nation at large, not just to maximise their personal wealth but the national income all as a way to bridge the digital divide and to create an enabling environment for better future. Mr Brandy Mensah, Kumasi Centre Manager, urged the graduates to try to be excellent pace-setters and demonstrate that the destiny and success of the nation lied in the hands of Ghanaians and not outsiders. He said graduation was a change of era and advised them to forget all the conflicts and negative experiences during the course because the future was about what they would do and not what they should have done. One hundred and fifty graduates were honoured with certificates in Software, Hardware, Networking as well as IT in business skills.GNA

First national mock parliament calls for implementation of policies

As Ghana moves to celebrate its 50 years of independence, a representative of the youth has appealed to the nation's leaders to move from mere drafting of policy documents to their implementation. At the first National Mock Parliament held in Accra on Monday, the youth representing 250 constituencies, stated that, "our parliament will not rest at ensuring that the wishes of our young ones are respected and considered in policy formulation." Members of the Mock Parliament were drawn from the University of Ghana, Legon; University of Cape Coast; Accra Polytechnic and some selected second cycle institutions. Former Speaker of the Parliament of the University of Ghana, Mr Mohammed Nasir Alfa, who acted as Speaker, said the sad story of the youth's influence in policy formulation, was about to end by the establishment of the Youth Parliament. "Through this Parliament, the Youth shall embark on a hasty return to the tested truths of the founding fathers", Mr Alfa said. He paid tribute to the founders of the nation and noted the role of the youth in the struggle for independence. In a statement, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Mock Legislature from the University of Cape Coast, paid tribute to Thomas Hughes; Hutton Brew and S. C. Grant, noting their contributions in the formation of the Fante Confederation; Aborigines Right Protection Society and the struggle for independence. He also recalled the uprising of Nii Kwabena Bonney, Chief of Osu Alata, and the sacrifice of Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey, all Ex-Servicemen, killed on February 28. 1948. Mr Akandoh extolled the role of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, First President of Ghana; Former President Jerry John Rawlings and President John Agyekum Kufuor who is also the Chairman of the African Union and President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in the development of post-independent Ghana. Mr Akandoh also paid tribute to Lawyers, Teachers, Doctors, Farmers, Fishermen, Bankers, Market Women and every Ghanaian, who had contributed to the nation's progress. He, however, called on the citizenry to double their efforts to catch up with her peers, adding; "the educational system must be able to absorb all of Ghana's youth at least to the college level. "Our economy must be made stronger and we must bring to a halt the brain drain of professionals and learn to be patriotic", Mr Akandon said. Ministers in the mock House took turns to answer questions on the protection of the girls against sexual abuse and domestic violence. The Mock Parliament adopted a motion: "Ghana has not failed the Youth after 50 years of independence." Among the observers of the Mock Parliament, held in Parliament House, were Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Hughes, the Speaker of Parliament; Mr Alhassan Malik Yakubu, Second Deputy Speaker; Mr Alban Bagbin, The Minority Leader; Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, MP for Ada and Mr Jimmy Aggrey-Orleans, Former Ghana's High Commissioner in London.GNABDB

Ivorian President arrives

President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d‘Ivoire arrived in the country this afternoon for a day's visit. During his visit the Ivorian President is expected to hold discussions with President John Agyekum Kufuor on political developments in Cote d'Ivoire.

President Gbagbo is expected to leave later in the day. At the airport to meet him was President Kufuor, Ministers of State, senior government officials and Service Commanders.GNA

President Kufuor returns from AU Summit

President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home this afternoon from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he was elected the AU Chairman at the Eight Ordinary Summit of African Leaders.

Nana Akufo Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrew Awuni, Presidential Spokesperson and other senior government officials accompanied him.On arrival at the Kotoka International Airport, President Kufuor was welcomed by hundreds of people who waved miniature flags of Ghana amidst drumming and traditional dancing.

During a press briefing Nana Akufo Addo said the decision to elect President Kufuor as the AU Chairman was unanimous and based on four main reasons.He said President Kufuor's exceptional performance as ECOWAS Chairman coupled with his rule in Ghana, which was characterized by such governance qualities as respect for the rule of law, democracy, accountability among others formed key reasons for his election.

The Foreign Minister said Ghana under Kufuor's governance had also contributed in many ways towards peace on the continent, adding that it was also generally felt that it was appropriate to honour Ghana on the occasion of her 50th anniversary.He said the occasion was quite reflective of the fact that Ghana was politically charting the right path.At a meeting with a delegation of Ga chiefs, President Kufuor expressed joy at the welcome he received on arrival.

He described his election as an acknowledgement of Ghana's role in the fight for independence in Africa and the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).He said it was also an honour to the entire nation and a reflection of the political progress that Ghana had made so far. President Kufuor's election marked the first of such continental role for a Ghanaian leader since President Kwame Nkrumah was elected Chairman of the OAU in 1965.

At the airport to meet the President was the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, members of the diplomatic corps, a delegation of Ga chiefs, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. J B Danquah and the Inspector General of Police Mr Patrick Acheampong.
Source:GNA

Prof Mills congratulates President Kufuor

Professor John Evans John Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Election 2008 on Monday congratulated President John Agyekum Kufuor on his election as African Union (AU) Chairman at the Eighth Ordinary Session of the continental body currently underway in Addis Ababa.

President Kufuor was elected by a unanimous decision of the 53-member body to succeed Congolese President Dennis Sassou Nguesso among half-a-dozen contenders including Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and host country Ethiopia.Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Prof Mills expressed the hope that President Kufuor would work towards the realisation of the objectives of the AU Charter

."I have no doubts President Kufuor is well aware of the challenges that come with this responsible and trusted position and I hope he will do his best in meeting the hopes and aspirations of our people and to advance the course of the Continent," he said. Prof Mills wished President Kufuor well and expressed the hope that he would execute the onerous task with the support of all.

Mills reacts to Kufuor statements

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administration left a lasting legacy for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to build on, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, NDC Presidential candidate for Election 2008 said on Monday.Prof. Mills was reacting to statements attributed to President John Agyekum Kufuor at the People's Assembly held recently at Sunyani.

He said the peaceful transfer of power from NDC to NPP was something that should be extolled and for which President Kufuor should be grateful.Prof Mills said the mere fact that the NPP Government found money to pay Public and Civil Servants at the end of the month in which it assumed power belied the often made assertion that the NPP Government inherited empty coffers.Prof Mills cited extracts from the NPP Government's 2001 Budget Statement in which the loans that the NDC Government contracted in 2000 were made available to the NPP Government to use saying, the NPP's 2004 Campaign Document: "So Far, so Very Good" showed the projects that the NPP Government executed with the NDC contracted loans.

He said the NDC made huge investments in road construction; in the extension of electricity to all district capitals; in upgrading and establishment of polytechnics in all the 10 regions and two new public universities; in the construction of modern hospitals at Cape Coast, Ho and Sunyani as well as the construction of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) estates all over the country.

Former Vice President Mills cited the establishment of District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF); Ghana Education Trust Fund and the Energy Fund among other funds, as concrete evidence of the huge legacy NDC left for the NPP Administration.

He called on President Kufuor to find a way of investigating and reprimanding his appointees, who were perceived to be corrupt, and to stop saying that people should rather provide him with evidence of corruption against them.
Source:GNA