President Challenges the Youth

President John Agyekum Kufuor, has challenged the country's youth to set their sights on the attainment of excellence to raise the nation to a dignified place in the global village. "The world is acknowledging the great strides that Ghana is making and it is up to you to sustain them," he said at the celebration of the National Day of the Ghanaian Child in Accra, on Friday. President Kufuor, who expressed confidence in the youth, reminded them that as younger members of society, they must prepare themselves well to carry the nation forward in the near future as responsible adults.They have to work diligently at goals they set for themselves, must be disciplined, have fellow feeling and should be God-fearing. The Day, was on the theme: "Ghana @ 50, Children and the Future" and brought together children from all the 10 Regions of Ghana to interact with the President at the National Theatre.President Kufuor spoke of the need for the redoubling of efforts of society to rally to the protection and nurturing of the youth to give them a fair chance for an all round development.This responsibility, he said, must be undertaken as a critical investment in the sustenance and strengthening of the social fabric and generational chain without which, the country's future would be imperilled."This is the challenge to all the responsible adults of our society", he said, and pledged the government's determination to provide the necessary leadership.President Kufuor enumerated policies and measures that were being pursued to facilitate the development of the country's children through adolescence to adulthood, mentioning among these, the implementation of the new Educational Reform, establishment of the Women and Children's Ministry, immunization, de-worming of school children and vitamin A supplementations, distribution of treated bed nets and support for orphaned and the destitute.He said the government was giving due attention to the proper upbringing of the child and that this was evidenced from the vigorous building and rehabilitation of primary and junior secondary schools, including Kindergartens.More than 5,000 schools had been put up throughout the country within the past six years.President Kufuor observed that the child was being assailed by many different cultures through television, radio and the internet and called on society to continually devise social education mechanisms for the child's protection.Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, said Ghana had met the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on gender parity with regard to schools enrolment.Professor Jophus Anamua Mensah, Vice Chancellor, University of Education, Winneba, who chaired the function, said the Education Reform offered an opportunity for the youth to develop the right skills and attitudes to become productive.Master Emmanuel Donkor from the Central Region in a statement read on behalf of the country's children conveyed their appreciation to the government for the capitation grant and the school-feeding programme, which he said, had put more children in schools and pleaded that these should continue.The children also called for the establishment of Child Panels in all the districts as provided for by Act 650 of the Constitution to handle offences involving children in a friendly manner.
Source:GNA

Starlets Soar Higher after beating Brazil 1-0 in U:17

68 Police Officers Fired

Sixty eight police officers have been dismissed from the Police Service so far this year for gross misconduct. These include 10 dismissals in August alone. The acting Director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, Samuel Kwesi Ofori, disclosed this to the Times yesterday after the Inspector General of Police had held an emergency meeting with officers of the Police Motor Traffic Transport Unit.Gross misconduct is breaking the rules or not following the laid down regulations.The August dismissals include two senior officers, Superintendent Osei Assibey Ahenkan, Akropong, Divisional Commander and Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Anane Boye Tetteh, Akosombo District Commander. The two officers, as well as Constables Bright Odoi Nkansah and Raphael Batsa, were alleged to have intercepted two cars loaded with contraband cigarettes at the Atimpoku Toll Bridge but failed to forward the car carrying the goods to the Police Headquarters.The six others alleged to have deserted their post and gone to Axim to escort cocaine allegedly dumped there by dealers. They are: General Constables Dennis Agyemang, Mensah Gray, Gideon Sakabitu George Obuobi and Lance Corporals Daniel Kagya and Ebenezer Quao Afachao. General Constable Daniel Mensah who was alleged to be part of the team that went to Axim was acquitted and discharged because it was found that he was genuinely on leave and also, no weapon was found on him whereas his colleges went there with weapons. Quoting the IGP, he said that the Police Administration will not shelve or compromise on any personnel or officer who will fall foul against the regulations of the Service.In recent times, the Police Service has come under serious criticism from the public over the misconduct of some officers and he said if not checked such actions will dent the image and reputation of the service. He said last year, a total of 66 Police officers as against 49 in 2005 and 12 in 2004, respectively were dismissed from the service for gross misconduct which included extortion, bribery and abuse of human rights including assault. DSP Ofori noted that the Police Administration has taken a serious look at the behaviours, operations and activities of personnel of the service saying that “the Police Administration will leave no stone unturned in the discharge of its duties.”Touching on the IGP’s meetings with the personnel of the Police MTTU, he said the Police administration will deal ruthlessly with any personnel of that unit who engages in unlawful practices. He spoke about complaints from drivers about tactics used by some policemen to force them to offer them bribes. These include the removal or collection of roadworthy stickers’ vehicle licences and insurance stickers. DSP Ofori said the IGP has charged officers to relay messages to their subordinates to desist from such acts and warned drivers to also desist from giving money to policemen when they are arrested.
Source:Ghanaian Times

Akuffo-Addo spends $4000 on live broadcast

Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, is spending US $4000 on his live broadcast on the networks of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).In an unprecedented media blitz by a flagbearership aspirant in the history of party politics in Ghana, Nana Akuffo-Addo will be doing a live broadcast to the whole country on all the about 10 radio stations of the national broadcaster.

Even though his campaign team have refused to say how much the broadcast would cost the former Foreign Minister, Joy News has learnt that the cost is to the tune of some US $4000.He is expected to tell Ghanaians why he wants to be president.The event will be broadcast later on television.Three other candidates, Alan Kyeremanteng, Dr. Addo Kufuor and Prof. Mike Ocquaye are also expected to hold media events to publicize their presidential plans.