Christians mark the birth of Jesus Christ

Thousands of Christians in the Cape Coast municipality on Monday attended church service and conventions to mark the birth of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago.

Many of the churches were filled to capacity and extra seating places were created outside the church halls to accommodate the congregation.In a sermon at the St Francis de Sales Cathedral, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson said the celebration of Christmas should not be used for only merry making, but rather should be used as a period for reconciliation and for people to change their ways to ensure peace and development.

He said people normally 93harden their hearts=94 to the word of God because of the fear of change, stressing that the time had come for Christians to use the word Christ brought to live decent lives and eschew all social vices to enable them enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Cardinal Turkson urged all to use the celebration to share their love, experience, blessing and joy with their neighbours, just as Christ shared the word of God with the world."Christmas is a gift from God and people should endeavour to share this gift with others"At the Varrick Memorial AME Zion church in Cape Coast, reverend Joseph Hammond, assistant pastor of the church, said the birth of Christ was a proclamation of Jesus as the Saviour.

He charged Christians to have faith in Jesus, love one another and follow his footsteps.He advised Christians to eschew hatred, envy and black mailing to promote peaceful co-existence.Rev. Hammond said when this is done, God the father would continue to bless the citizens of the country and 93we may continue to know peace in the country to ensure rapid developments in all spheres of our lives and blessings in all our endeavours=94. 25 Dec 06
Source:GNA

Public Alert From The CPP Patriots

It has come to the attention of the CPP-Patriots, a group of Nkrumaists solely dedicated to the rebuilding of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) into a formidable force in Ghanaian politics, that certain individuals claiming to be members of the CPP are going around various constituencies and asking party officials to complete a form simply titled “Political Movement” and asking these officials to forward the forms to Accra for action.

This group, which we have reliably learned is financed by a foreign government that fears the reincarnation of the CPP, is seeking to destroy the CPP in order to create a new party to serve the selfish interests of its leader, a prominent CPP member of hybrid political affiliation.

They typically send their agents to constituencies where the Patriots are in the process of opening offices (or have opened offices), thus creating the impression that somehow we are affiliated with them. We are not.

Indeed, we repudiate their nefarious activities and condemn them in the strongest possible terms.We use this opportunity, therefore, to call on all members of the Nkrumaist family, especially the CPP, to be on the alert and stand fast in this period of rejuvenation, transition and hope, and fend off these and other subversive forces that seek to pursue their narrow political interests at the expense of the nationalist and Pan-Africanist agenda of the CPP.

We should never entertain such traitors.Forward Ever, Backward Never!Issued by the:The Patriots (cpppatriots@yahoo.com) AccraDecember 23, 2006
Source:The Patriots (cpppatriots@yahoo.com)

"Afii Aya ni eba nina wo"

In Ghana, Christmas season runs from December 20th to the first week in January. This coincides with the end of the cocoa harvest, the most prosperous time of the year, which contributes to the festive atmosphere.

Ghanaians who labor far from home, in the cities, on cocoa farms, and in the mines, return home for the holiday to spend it with family and friends. Houses, schools, and vehicles are decorated with paper ornaments and crepe paper. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, families and friends gather to feast on rice, chicken, goat, lamb and "fufu" (a cassava-plaintain paste)

On Christmas Eve there's often an outdoor procession, perhaps led by local musicians. On Christmas Eve and Day people go caroling house-to-house, singing traditional carols in one of Ghana's 66 local languages. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services feature carols and retellings of the Christmas story.

After church, children get small gifts from "Father Christmas", perhaps sweets, new clothes or a diary. People say Afishapa to one another, using an Akan (a major Ghanaian language) word that translates to "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year".
Father ChristmasThe children of Ghana might find it difficult to relate to the harsh cold of the North Pole, so their "Father Christmas" arrives instead from the tropics to play his part in the Christmas festivals.

His gifts are simple - good things to eat mostly - but his outfit is very elegant. Sandals peek out from under his bright red robe trimmed in golden fabric.
A traditional African patterned sash unites the colors of his outfit, and he wears a pale-colored cloak with a hood over his red cap.

While "Father Christmas" is a holdover from Ghana's colonial days, this was the first Black African country to gain its independence. Thus the people there have chosen the traditions they wish to keep from among the European customs, and expanded to encompass their own.

In Ghana the Christmas festival includes a special, religious service after which young people are given imported chocolates, and cookies and crackers prepared especially for this event. These are said to come from "Father Christmas". Christmas also coincides with harvest time for cocoa, which also is generally known as a time of abundance and good cheer.

Friends and relations travel to visit each other, celebrate the Christmas story, and share a wonderful feast.
Source:GHP

Genetics of eye colour unlocked

Scientists have made a breakthrough in their understanding of the genetics behind human eye colour.
They found that just a few "letters" out of the six billion that make up the genetic code are responsible for most of the variation in human eye colour.



The research, by a team of scientists from Queensland, Australia, will appear in a forthcoming issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.



The findings are based on a genetic study of nearly 4,000 individuals.
One of the changes is like switching the light on and off, while the other is like changing the light bulb from brown to green Richard Sturm, University of QueenslandDifferences in eye colour are largely down to "single nucleotide polymorphisms" (SNPs - pronounced "snips"); variations in the sequence of letters that make up a single strand of human DNA.


SNPs represent a change of just one letter in the genetic sequence. These changes, or mutations, in our DNA can have important consequences for how the gene gets physically expressed.
All the SNPs are located near a gene called OCA2. This gene produces a protein that helps give hair, skin and eyes their colour. And mutations in OCA2 cause the most common type of albinism.

Brown and blue

The study, which focused on twins, their siblings and parents, shows - conclusively - that there is no "gene" for eye colour.
THE DNA MOLECULE




The double-stranded DNA molecule is held together by chemical components called bases
Adenine (A) bonds with thymine (T); cytosine(C) bonds with guanine (G)
Groupings of these "letters" form "code of life"; there are about 2.9 billion base-pairs in the human genome wound into 24 distinct bundles, or chromosomes


Written in the DNA are about 20-25,000 genes which human cells use as starting templates to make proteins; these sophisticated molecules build and maintain our bodiesEveryone has two copies of a SNP. So there are several possible combinations, some of which are more heavily associated with, for example, blue eyes, than with brown eyes.



In short, these combinations strongly influence the colour of a person's eyes, but they are not the final word.
Dr Richard Sturm and his colleagues found three SNPs near the start of the OCA2 gene that were linked to blue eye colour.



"The SNPs we've identified in themselves are not functionally causing the eye colour change, but they are linked very, very closely to something that is," Dr Sturm, from the University of Queensland, told BBC News.
"When OCA2 is knocked out, there is a loss of pigmentation. The position of these SNPs right at the start of the gene means it is possible we're looking at a change in the regulation of the gene in people with blue eye colour."
Functional change



So these SNPs, at the start of OCA2, probably regulate how much of the pigmentation protein is produced by the gene. People with brown eyes might have a lot of this protein, while people with blue eyes have less.
However, the single letter changes involved in green eyes may actually produce functional changes in the pigmentation protein.



The researchers found SNPs at another position in the OCA2 region - linked to green eyes - that resulted in changes to amino acids (the building blocks of a protein).
"To use an analogy, one of the changes is like switching the light on and off, while the other is like changing the light bulb from brown to green," said Dr Sturm.



Altogether, the single letter changes identified in the study accounted for 74% of total variation in eye colour, the researchers said. The study was a collaboration between researchers at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and the University of Queensland, both in Brisbane.
source bbc

iPhone surprises technology world

A net phone called the iPhone has been launched by Linksys just weeks before analysts were expecting Apple to release a similarly-named device.

The wireless iPhone allows users to make free or low-cost internet phone calls using the Skype service.
It joins a growing market of phones which use wi-fi to make telephone calls instead of traditional mobile networks.

There has been intense speculation about Apple entering the mobile market for the last few months. Wireless net telephones are growing in popularity because they offer a low-cost alternative to making mobile phone calls.

The phones can connect to wi-fi networks - which are often free or low-cost to access - and access the net to make telephone calls, using Voice over Internet Protocol (Voip).
Analysts predict Increasingly, mobile phone manufacturers and operators are incorporating Voip services into handsets.

Apple has neither confirmed nor denied that it is working on a mobile phone but speculation has continued for months with many analysts predicting it will be unveiled in January in San Francisco.

Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg said the speculation around the Apple product - which was expected to be called iPhone - showed there was "pent up demand for something from Apple".

Many analysts predict that Apple will launch a device which combines the features of a mobile phone with its popular iPod. But there is uncertainty over whether the device will simply be a Voip handset or will also connect to mobile networks.

Jupiter analyst Thomas Husson, told the BBC News website, that he did not expect any Apple phone, if one were launched, to have an immediate impact on the mobile market.
'Disruptive'
"It's a very competitive market. It will take time for Apple to be disruptive."
He said that any Apple phone would most likely be sold direct to consumers, rather than through a mobile operator.

That would mean customers would have to pay a premium for the phone, as it would not then be subsidised. "Apple would need to offer a compelling phone experience," he said.
The Linksys iPhone comes in two models - a $180 (£92) model which can make Skype phone calls and a $200 (£102) model which is a dual Skype and landline phone.

President Declares 2007 Year Of Action

President J.A. Kufuor has declared that 2007 will be a year of action.He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to change their attitudes and rise up to meet the challenges and the programmes lined up for the year.

The President was responding to remarks made by the Chairman of the Council of State, Professor Daniel Adzei-Bekoe, at the last quarterly meeting between him and the Council of State at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.

After the opening remarks by the President and Professor Adzei-Bekoe, the meeting retired into a closed-door session.The President said 2007 would begin with Ghana playing host to the President of Germany, other African leaders and representatives of youth groups from all over the world at a forum intended to discuss the vision and arrangements for the emerging global village.

The forum, he said, would be followed almost immediately with a lecture by the outgoing United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, to kick-start the country’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

He said Mr Annan, who had had a distinguished diplomatic career and also brought honour to the country, needed to be given a hero’s welcome to Ghana when he retired home next year.Besides the celebration of the country’s Golden Jubilee, the country would also be the venue for the African Union Summit and Conference on the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) to be attended by all beneficiary countries of the facility to map out strategies to maximise benefits under the facility.

The year 2007, he said, would be the period for the country to complete its preparations towards hosting the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in 2008.Again, he said, the year would witness the earnest implementation of the programme drawn up to utilise the $547 million facility given to the country under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) of the US.

The President said all those events, as well as other engagements, had been lined up at a time when the sanitation situation was not the best, while crimes such as cocaine trafficking posed a threat to the international image of the country.

He said such challenges could be best overcome with the active participation of all Ghanaians and, therefore, called for co-operation from all citizens to contribute their quota towards dealing with those difficulties for a successful year.As part of efforts to deal with the cocaine menace, the President said, the security agencies had busted another group of people suspected to be dealing in cocaine.

Reports submitted to his office, he said, indicated that some officials of a reputable company on the Spintex Road in Accra noted for rice importation had been busted for allegedly dealing in cocaine.Earlier, Professor Adzei-Bekoe commended the President for the progress that the country had made in the year 2006.

“We have maintained our economic stability, in spite of the frightening hike in oil prices and the impact that this has had on the cost of transportation and electric power for industrial and for domestic use,” he stated.“Fortunately, prices have come down significantly and the trend continues, though the downward trend has not been as dramatic as the increases months ago,” he added.

Professor Adzei-Bekoe said by the participation of the President in various forums and negotiations which had gone on with the host countries, he had secured for Ghana positive indications of support which could bring much needed relief in the short and medium terms.

He, however, expressed concern about some issues, including Dagbon and cocaine trafficking, and appealed to the parties involved in the Dagbon case to follow the road map which they had already signed for peace to prevail.
Source:Graphic

Police Probe Burning Of Currencies By A Chinese

The police are investigating a case in which a Chinese working in Ghana, Liu Jianpu, allegedly burnt a Ghanaian currency note, together with the Chinese yuan and the US dollar, for ritual purposes at Asokwa in Kumasi.

Jianpu, who works with the China Henan Guo Construction Company, which is drilling boreholes in the country, claimed that what he burnt were photocopies and not the original notes.

The police have consequently granted him bail while investigations continue. The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Frank Adu-Poku, told the Daily Graphic that at the moment the exhibits in the custody of the police were photocopies of a ¢20,000 note, a 100 Chinese yuan note and a $100 note.

He said on December 19, this year, three residents of Dadiesoaba, a suburb of Kumasi, reported to the police that they had seen some Chinese burning the currency notes at Asokwa.Policemen were, therefore, dispatched to the scene and they saw the ashes of burnt photocopies of a ¢20,000 note, a 100 yuan note, and $100.

When Jianpu, who was said to be the man at the centre of the act, was questioned, he explained that they had been performing some rituals to mark one week of the death of their colleague, Du Jia Quan, and to bid him farewell in line with Chinese custom and tradition.

ACP Adu-Poku stated that Jianpu further explained that what they had used were photocopies of the currency notes, as well as some favourite fruits of the deceased when he was alive.
Source:Graphic

Rawlings wishes Ghanaians Happy X’mas and Prosperous New Year

Former President John Jerry Rawlings on Friday wished Ghanaians Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year, asking them to consider unity as imperative for national development.

In a statement, Rawlings said, “We must all help build a national unity, which transcends ethnic, political, class and professional boundaries.”

He said that could only happen “when each and everyone of us demands that our political, religious, academic, industrial and traditional leaders pursue a bold and sincere course towards real good governance.

It must be one that eschews corruption, nepotism, tribalism, cronyism and political cynicism. Rawlings said, “as long as we maintain a passive or indifferent attitude towards the persistence of these socially divisive tendencies, we would have betrayed the developmental trust and aspirations that our people (from whom we derive our power and social influence) have reposed in us.”

He reminded Ghanaians that as they celebrated the Yuletide the good Lord would give them wisdom and courage to demand from their leaders that Ghana deserved real equality of opportunity for progress.

Former President Rawlings said, “In this season of peace and goodwill we are also reminded of our obligations to one another and to our nation.

“The joy of sharing a time of celebration cannot be meaningful unless we are mindful of the disadvantaged, the weak and the distressed and unless we are committed to the work of establishing a country in which social justice prevails.”GNA

Methodist Church congratulates Mills

The Methodist Church, Ghana on Friday congratulated Professor Atta Mills on receiving an overwhelming acknowledgement from the National Democratic Party (NDC) to continue to lead the Party for Election 2008.

A statement signed by the Presiding Bishop the Reverend Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah in Accra said: "We thank God for a peaceful congress...Polling 81.4 per cent of the votes from the delegates indicates strong confidence that your Party has in your leadership."

The Methodist Church wished Prof Mills and the NDC a Merry Christmas and fruitful New Year.

Mills thanks all

Professor John Evans Atta Mills, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer and Leader on Friday extended thanks to all those who made the party's congress at Legon on Thursday a successful and a momentous one.

He said in a statement: "As Flagbearer and Leader of the Great NDC family, I take this opportunity to thank the delegates and the teeming supporters who made yesterday's congress a momentous one".Prof. Mills said, he was grateful to the delegates for once again reposing their trust and confidence in him, confident of the fact that, "I would lead you to victory in 2008.

" He wished delegates, who travelled from their home regions would reach home safely.Prof. Mills also extended thanks to the executives of the party for the innovative and professional manner in which the congress was conducted which brought glory and good name to the NDC.

"To Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah and Mr. Eddie Annan, I say a special thank you for being part of the process that has deepened internal democracy within the party and also for pledging your total and unalloyed support to the process that would lead the NDC to victory in 2008."He commended the media "for the very professional manner in which they reported proceedings."

Prof. Mills said, "For those media houses that covered the event live and thus allowed a larger audience to be part of the congress, a special thanks to them for doing the NDC the honours."He said he was grateful to 93all the invited guests from within and outside the country as well as our friends in the other political parties, who added their presence to make the congress what it was."

"In this festive time, I hope that as a country, we would all take time to reflect on the year which is passing us by and resolve to enter the coming year with a renewed sense of purpose. "I assure the rank and file of the party that once the calendar reads 2nd January, 2007, the walk to the Castle begins in earnest and there would be no turning back", he added.

Prof Mills said, "Victory beckons for the NDC and I pledge that John Evans Atta Mills would not deny the NDC that victory." He wished all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Source:GNA

Stranded Hajj pilgrims protest

Hundreds of pilgrims attending this year's Hajj as well as their relatives on Friday besieged the main road of the Aviance Cargo Village near the Kotoka International Airport in Accra in protest against the delayed departure of pilgrims to Mecca. On two separate occasions they blocked the road with sticks, boulders and other objects.

The police cleared the obstacles almost immediately after which the crowd blocked another part of the road. The action resulted in traffic jam and the police presence was reinforced.

None of the Hajj Board members was available to clarify the situation.Ghana News Agency (GNA) investigations revealed that most Hajj members as well as their relatives grew impatient and blamed the Hajj Board for their continued delayed flights.

They said after paying 20 million cedis per a person for the trip they had ended up being given excuses that flight to send them on the pilgrimage was not available. The pilgrims, who were being housed at the premises of the Aviance Cargo Village complained that the conditions they found themselves in was horrible.

A man, who gave his name as Salia said he has been waiting for almost a week, during which he took his bath only once. All efforts to contact the members of the Hajj Board proved futile, as their mobile phones would not ring.

Meanwhile the pilgrims have threatened to hold a protest march to the offices of the Hajj Board if flight was not made available for them on Saturday to embark on the journey to Mecca.
Source:GNA

Foreign Affairs alerts public about Omni Canada

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD on Friday urged the public to disregard adverts by a Canadian firm known as Canada Hotel Omni or Omni Canada, on internet seeking to employ workers to be employed in Hotels in Quebec and Montreal.

"The Ministry wishes to state that it cannot confirm the veracity of this information provided by the above named company and will accordingly advise the general public to disregard the advertisement,"These were contained in a statement issued and signed by Mr Sayuti Yahaya-Iddi, Acting Director, Information and Linguistic Bureau of the Ministry in Accra.

The Ministry noted that in the said advertisement, Canada Hotel Omni or Omni Hotel Canada had indicated that it would be responsible for accommodation and airfare of suitable candidates with salaries ranging from 2,800- 7,500 dollars.

Iraq war is my worst moment - Annan

At his farewell news conference as the world's top diplomat, United Secretary-General Busumuru Kofi Annan cited the failure to stop the Iraq war as the worst moment of his 10 years in office and made a fervent appeal that the Organization should not be judged by the Iraqi Oil-for-Food Scandal but by its myriad humanitarian and development actions."




I think the worst moment was the Iraq war, which as an Organization we couldn't stop and I really did everything I can to try to see if we could stop it," he replied when asked what he considered the top achievements and three worst moments of his tenure.




A statement issued by the UN Information Centre in Accra on Thursday said Busumuru Annan cited among the achievements the UN's human rights efforts; the war against inequality both between and within States and the battle for development as epitomized by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that sought to slash a host of social ills, such as extreme hunger and poverty; infant and maternal mortality and lack of access to education and health care, all by 2015.



But he devoted his most fervent appeal to a plea that the UN should not be judged by the Iraq Oil-for-Food Scandal after which an Independent Inquiry Committee found mismanagement on the part of Busumuru Annan's administration and corruption largely on the part of private companies in connection with the scheme to allow the sanctions-bound regime of Saddam Hussein to sell oil and use a portion of the revenues to purchase food and humanitarian supplies.


"I think that when historians look at the records they will draw the conclusion that, yes, there was mismanagement and there may have been several UN staff members engaged but the scandal, if any, was in the capitals and with the 2,200 companies that made a deal with Saddam behind our backs and of course I hope the historians will realize that the UN is more than oil-for-food," he said.




"That was a very special programme, the oil-for-food we were asked to implement. So please don't generalize from the particular."Beyond the Iraq War and oil-for-food, Busumuru Annan mentioned the bombing of the UN's Baghdad Headquarters in 2003 that killed 22 people, including the top Envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.





"They were not just colleagues, they were true friends and I think nothing had hit me as much as almost the loss of my twin sister," he said.Among the achievements he cited first the adoption by the UN World Summit last year of the principle that Members States had the responsibility to protect their citizens. Secondly he mentioned the determination to cut inequality among and within States. "






A world where you have extreme poverty and immense wealth side by side is not sustainable,=94 he said, noting the UN's work on diseases from HIV/AIDS to bird flu. Thirdly, he said he had made the UN 93a truly partnership organization=85 realizing from the beginning that we couldn't do everything and we had to know what we can do, what others do better and what we have to do with others."
Source:GNA

Cocaine Bust At Tema

A joint team of security agencies from Accra and Tema yesterday arrested three persons over their alleged role in the importation of over 15 slabs of a substance which tested positive for cocaine. The slabs of cocaine were found in a traveling duffel bag on top of 4000 boxes of yoghurt.

The operation led by ASP Adamu Seidu was undertaken by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Ministry of National Security, the Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).The three suspects are Michael Ayacht, a Greek national who is Managing Director of Market Direct, the company which imported the container, Mohammed Salami, a Lebanese and a certain Isaac Quansah, a clearing agent.

Market Direct, is an affiliated company to CCTC, a rice-importing conglomerate off Spintex Road in Accra.The substance, weighing 19.9 kilos with a street value of $17,000, was concealed in a 40-footer container with registration number 6646380 belonging to the shipping magnate, Mersk Line.

According to a security source, the substance was tested in the presence of the suspects and found to be narcotic drugs, after which the substance and the suspects were transferred to the Police Headquarters where they are being held.Daily Guide learnt yesterday that the security agencies had been on heightened alert after a tip-off that a vessel was approaching Ghana from Peru in Central America with illicit substance on board.

A source close to Market Direct has however denied that the substance found in the container belonged to the company.Speaking exclusively to the paper yesterday on the breaking news, the source said the allegations were part of attempts to tarnish the hard-won reputation of the company. He noted that the Group had been under attack for the last quarter of this year and they were even currently in court with a media house that had published a false story about them.

He clarified further that Market Direct Ltd most often imported all its goods through the internet, and the managing director under investigations does not even go to the port for clearance. As a matter of fact, yesterday was the first time the Managing Director went to the port when he was invited by the security agencies. As company policy, he defended, all goods were handled solely by the clearing agent and if Michael wanted to import an illicit item alongside the company's goods, he would likely have gone to the port himself.“The Managing Director does not even know the supplier, Messrs Trading Company in person because all transactions have been via the internet.

Details of all his transactions and communications with the supplier in question are available for all to see on his PC.”Narrating the sequence of events, the sources said yesterday, Michael was invited to the port by the security officers and Customs.

He went there boldly and willingly. Had he known about this item in the container, Michael would have run away immediately he heard that he was wanted at the port. He would not have gone there.Accompanied by other officials of the company to Tema, they were shown a container loaded with their legitimate goods, but seated on the top of a stack of yoghourt was a traveling bag.

The bag was the first thing one saw immediately one opened the container, he said, challenging, why was it not hidden but rather exposed like that? This is a complete frame-up, he concluded.The customs officials alleged however that the bag contained an illicit product and upon examination, was found to be cocaine.

The defender of Market Direct said they were shocked because ever since they’d been doing business in Ghana over for 10 years now, distributing their products throughout Africa, they had never been confronted with such a problem.“The value of the cocaine they said was $17,000 in Ghana, while Finatrade Foundation, a charitable wing of the company, had over ¢3 billion provided annually for charitable services.

Out of this it doles out scholarships to about 66 University students in Ghana,” he disclosed.

ECOWAS Summit postponed

The annual ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit that was scheduled for Friday December 22nd 2006 in Ougadougu Borkina Faso has been postponed for security reasons.

This followed a gun battle between some police and military personnel in that country during the greater part of yesterday, Wednesday December 20 2006.Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had earlier attended the Ministerial Session of the Summit told newsmen on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport that details of the conflict were not immediately available.

He said by his knowledge news of a soldier, who allegedly died after being arrested by police personnel sparked the violence.The Foreign Minister said the Summit, which would have been the last to be held under the old ECOWAS organization, was expected to come off early next year. ECOWAS has now been transformed from an Executive Secretariat to a Commission.

Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botwe, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and some officials of the Foreign Ministry accompanied Nana Akuffo Addo.

NDC emerge united after congress

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday ended its National Delegates' Congress, celebrating the unity of the party and not Professor John Evans Atta Mills' victory as the party's presidential candidate for Election 2008.

Prior to the official announcement of the results by the Electoral Commission and the subsequent declaration of Prof. Mills as the winner, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, National Youth Organiser of the party, said there was an instruction from the Founder of the party, former President Jerry John Rawlings and Prof.

Mills that delegates should minimise their celebration. At the time, it was obvious that Prof. Mills was about to win but he preferred a celebration of the party's victory to a celebration of his victory. It was all hugs and handshakes among the four contestants when Prof. Mills was finally declared the flagbearer of the party for Election 2008.Indeed, when he took his turn after the other three losing contestants, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah and Mr. Eddie Anang, he was flanked by all three of them. He declared "this is a victory for all the four of us and for the NDC."

As leader of the party, he declared all campaign teams of the losing contestants dissolved and converted them into one campaign team with all the four of them as campaign managers. They all held their hands and raised them up amidst cheers by the party supporters, a gesture that perfectly depicted the theme for the congress - Unity for Victory 2008.

During the speeches by the three losing candidates, Flt. Lt. Rawlings, who took a seat at the front row among the delegates, kept nodding in approval of the display of maturity and unity. The General Secretary of the party, Mr. Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, a.k.a. General Mosquito, was also spotted sitting among that delegates, sweating profusely when the votes were being counted.

In what analysts have described as vigilant self-monitoring, the party employed not just the police but also several party members to maintain security at the congress premises. They did that effectively as they ensured that anyone who did not have accreditation to be at the congress premises was kept at bay.

There was absolute peace and stability at the congress grounds with pockets of arguments about who was a preferred candidate and who was not.Delegates and members of the party left the congress ground amidst dancing and singing to the tune of the party's anthem "Arise NDC".
Source:GNA

Prof Mills wins NDC presidential slot hands down

Professor John Evans Atta Mills, former Vice President, on Thursday polled 1,362 votes, representing 81.4 percent of the total vote caste, to win the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential slot for Elections 2008.

Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah, a former Minister of Education, polled 146 votes representing 8.7 percent, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, a former Minister of Defence, had 137 votes representing 8.2 percent and Mr Eddie Annan, a businessman, got 28 votes representing 1.7 percent. Prof Mills contested Elections 2000 and 2004 on the ticket of the NDC as its presidential candidate and lost to the New Patriot Party's then candidate John Agyekum Kufuor.

Declaring the results at the end of four hours of voting and counting the Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Mr Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka, said with the result, Prof Mills stood dully elected as NDC Presidential Candidates for Elections 2008.

Amidst drumming and dancing, the four aspirants embraced each other and this drew deafening applause and shouts of NDC slogans. Prof Mills declared that the victory was for the party and the other candidates and assured them that they would form the core of his campaign team.

"The victory is the fulfillment of our quest to win back power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2008 general elections." Prof Mills said his victory was a manifestation of the people's choice, a success for the party and not a personal achievement. He said the successful election of a flag-bearer for the NDC was just the first phase of the struggle to win back power.

"The party needs unity, truth and dedication to increase its strength for the Elections 2008. Members of the NDC have spoken. They have sent a message to the NPP that we are ready to engage in a serious battle. Everybody must get on board. Let's forgive and forget and build the party."

Prof Mills called on the NDC to be more committed and vibrant and thanked the founding fathers, the Council of Elders and his wife Naadu for assisting in ensuring a successful congress.All the defeated aspirants pledged their total support for the cause of the NDC.

"We will not leave the NDC, we will not form a new party, we have no other party other than the NDC," they said. Dr Spio-Garbrah, Alhaji Iddrisu and Mr Annan congratulated Prof Mills for the victory that they described as free, fair, transparent and representing the wishes of the party and Ghanaians.
Source:GNA

Another Kofi Annan Witch Hunt?

He not only lives rent-free on one of New York's swankiest blocks, but outgoing UN head Kofi Annan also got a subsidized apartment after first arriving in the city, it was revealed yesterday. Annan, then a Ghanaian official with the United Nations, moved into the Roosevelt Island flat in 1978 under the state's Mitchell-Lama program, which helps low- and moderate-income New Yorkers find housing.


And in a twist most New Yorkers would envy, the three-bedroom unit passed to his brother's family when Annan became UN secretary general in 1997 and moved to a brownstone on Sutton Place.



"I think you know that my brother lived there, so I don't think I can say any more about that," Annan said yesterday.
The apartment is now a home to Kobina Annan, who is Ghana's ambassador to Morocco, and Kobina Annan's wife and son.



Over the past 10 years, the subsidy could total well over $100,000, according to a tally in The New York Sun, which disclosed the Annans' sweet deal in yesterday's edition.
Peter Moses, a spokesman for the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal, which administers the Mitchell-Lama program, said it's agency policy not to comment on tenants.
But, he said, "In order for someone to initially occupy a Mitchell-Lama apartment, they have to fall within Mitchell-Lama guidelines."



Moses added that in 1997, regulations would have allowed Annan's brother to claim succession rights if they had jointly occupied the apartment, which they say they did.
Kofi Annan held onto the apartment even after marrying Nane Lagergren, who comes from a wealthy Swedish family, in 1984.



A UN spokesman said, "During his many years in New York he has always been a law-abiding resident." Kofi Annan Sidesteps Questions About Roosevelt Island ApartmentUNITED NATIONS (The SUN) — In his last U.N. press conference, Secretary-General Annan yesterday sidestepped a question about how the lease of a sought-after low-income residence he once lived in came to be held by a member of his family. State and city legislators have expressed outrage over the Annan family's use of the Roosevelt Island apartment — which Mr. Annan lived in before becoming U.N. secretary-general 10 years ago — calling it "corrupt" and "unreal."




Although much of Roosevelt Island is dedicated to low- and middle-income housing, many of its current residents are U.N. employees or foreign diplomats. Among them is a recent influx of North Korean diplomats, who have been seen on the island in cars bearing official emblems of the communist state.




Mr. Annan indicated yesterday that since he no longer lives in the Roosevelt Island apartment, he has nothing to do with it. He did, however, confirm that his brother lives there. The brother, Kobina Annan, is Ghana's ambassador to Morocco.



"I know that my spokesman answered the thing," Mr. Annan told The New York Sun at his press conference yesterday. "I do not hold the lease on an apartment or own an apartment on the island, and I think you know that my brother lives there."Mayor Bloomberg, who has had friendly relations with the secretary-general, said yesterday that he had "no idea whether Kofi Annan's brother is living there or what the terms of him living there are, if he's living there. So I really just don't know."



As Claudia Rosett reported in the Sun yesterday, Mr. Annan moved out of the apartment in the federally subsidized building in the mid-1990s, but his brother's wife, Ekua Annan, says she now holds the lease.



The Sun sent a list of detailed questions about the apartment for yesterday's article, but Mr. Annan's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, limited his response to two blanket statements.The outgoing secretary-general "has always lived within his means,"Mr. Dujarric said, and during his many years in New York, Mr. Annan "has always been a law-abiding resident."
The explanation was not sufficient for some New York legislators.



"You figure with all the illegal oil deals, you think the Annan family would have the courtesy of paying for market rate housing," City Council Member James Oddo, a Republican of Staten Island, said."It is unreal.Just put it on New York's tab, with unpaid diplomatic parking tickets," he added, saying the affair involving Mr. Annan is "just another reason to bid him a fond adieu."
State Senator Martin Golden, a Republican of Brooklyn, compared the Annans' Roosevelt Island residence to the oil-for-food scandal, saying the continued use of the apartment is typical of Mr. Annan's "fiefdom"and "the culture that has been accepted within his family for years."



"I have never seen anything as corrupt as this," Mr. Golden said. "If this was an American corporation, these people would be taken off in cuffs."Mr. Annan and his family have been embroiled in several scandals during his tenure as secretary-general; at the press conference yesterday, Mr. Dujarric also shielded him from a reporter who was planning to ask about the use of Mr. Annan's name to purchase a Mercedes-Benz, reportedly for his son Kojo.



Yesterday's snub of the reporter, James Bone of the London Times, attracted some attention, as Mr. Annan's tongue lashing of Mr. Bone at a previous press conference made international headlines and was included in a recent biography of the secretary-general."I am flattered," Mr. Bone said later. "He obviously doesn't want to take my still-unanswered questions about the Mercedes."



Asked yesterday if he had any personal regrets about his 10-year tenure, Mr. Annan said, "I think I'll pass on that one."
Source:The Sun

NDC Holds Congress On Thursday

Ghana’s main opposition national Democratic Congress (NDC) will tomorrow Thursday hold its delegate congress to elect a presidential candidate for next year’s general elections. About three hundred and fifty international and local observers have been invited to monitor the elections at the congress. The party said the presence of the observers would give credence to its promise to adhere to international democratic values.Kwabena Adjei is the chairman of the (NDC). He said the party is growing stronger, especially with multiple presidential aspirants.“This year we have four candidates and we’ve given them guidelines as to how to go about their various campaigns prior to the congress on Thursday…. We have established an inter-aspirants committee to try to ensure that internally the NDC has as little problem as possible,” he said.Adjei said the party recently brought the four presidential hopefuls together to talk to members of the party; something he said was unheard of in the party.“We held a family meeting last Tuesday where we introduced our candidate to the electorate. They came and talked to the people not in a debate form but each one of them tried to state clearly what their visions and missions are as they relate to the party’s vision and political philosophy. After that there was a rally and everything went well,” Adjei noted.He said though the party has had a checkered past, plans are afoot to change the negative perception of the party.“We are a growing organization and initially we had to manage the party and our membership. So we are gradually democratizing. So we have taken advantage of various criticisms from other political parties, from the media and so on. But in doing that, we have not allowed ourselves to be dictated to until the time has come when we think that we must do the right thing and that is what we are doing,” he said.Adjei said any of the presidential hopefuls are capable of wrestling power from the ruling New Patriotic party (NPP).“Sure, who ever emerges, we the NDC and the structure that we have put in place would be mobilized fully for that person to wrestle power from the NPP. Resource or no resource we will wrestle that power,” he said.Adjei accused the ruling party of trying to create a bad image for the NDC. But he said the party has taken precaution to prevent that.“We have put our security on the ground based on the intelligence we have gathered from the grounds about what the NPP wants to do again in order to consolidate the labeling that we are a violent and an eternally undemocratic party. It won’t happen this time,” Adjei said.
Source:VOA

International Reserves Crosses $2 Billion Mark

Ghana’s international reserves crossed the $2 billion mark for the first time in the economic history of the country at the end of October 2006.“These reserves are enough to cover 3.5 months of imports of goods and services,” the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Paul Acquah, has said.Dr Acquah, who was speaking at a press conference of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the BoG, said the external payments position was robust, with a reduced current account deficit in 2006 and a further build-up of gross international reserves.He said private inward transfers attributable to non-governmental organisations, embassies, service providers, individuals, among others, and channelled through the banks and finance companies from January to October 2006 amounted to $4.79 billion.He said that represented a 25.9 per cent increase over what was recorded for the corresponding period of 2005. Of the total transfers in the period, $1.22 billion (about 25 per cent) accrued to individuals, compared with 30.6 per cent over the same period in 2005.He said the foreign exchange market also saw an increased volume of activity during the year and reduced volatility in the market.He disclosed that the purchases and sale of foreign exchange by banks and forex bureaux in the 11-month period to November 2006 amounted to $6.01 billion, an increase of 13.9 per cent over the same period in 2005, and stated that the volume of dollar transactions dominated the market, accounting for some 80.4 per cent in the month of November, with the pound sterling at 7.3 per cent and the euro at 12.3 per cent.Measuring the cedi against international currencies, the governor said the cedi remained relatively stable against the US dollar during the year, explaining that cumulatively the cedi depreciated against the dollar by 1.1 per cent.He said the cedi depreciated much more against the euro by 12.2 per cent and the pound sterling by 14.2 per cent for the period January to November 2006.“This compares with a depreciation of 0.6 per cent against the US dollar and an appreciation of 14.3 per cent and 10.5 per cent respectively against the euro and the pound sterling in the same period a year earlier,” he said.He said in trade weighted terms, the cedi appreciated cumulatively by 1.1 per cent for the period January to October 2006 and by 5.2 per cent in foreign exchange weighted terms.On the issue of imports during the period under review, Dr Acquah said strong domestic demand reflected in a strong import growth and that amounted to $5,414.80 million in total imports for the period January to October 2006.That, he explained, represented an increase of 27.2 per cent, compared with a total import bill of $4,255.76 million for the same period in 2005.Non-oil imports amounted to $4,202.86 million, an increase of 23.0 per cent over the $3,416.30 million recorded for the same period in 2005.Consumption goods imported, he said, were estimated at $966.3 million, an increase of 17 per cent over the previous year’s level of $826.1 million.Capital goods imports, on the other hand, amounted to $873.5 million, representing a 22 per cent increase over the amount for the same period in 2005.Intermediate goods imports were estimated to be $3,213.0 million, compared with $2,404.0 million in 2005. Of these amounts, fuel and lubricants accounted for $1,164.47 million and $839.48 in 2006 and 2005 respectively, with the increase reflecting mostly in the rise in oil prices on the international market.These developments, Dr Acquah explained, resulted in a trade deficit of $1,871.56 million for the period up to October 2006 but stated that the current account turned in a reduced deficit of $45.6 million, compared with a deficit of $581.7 million recorded in 2005.He said the overall balance of payments recorded a deficit of $111.04 million, compared with a deficit of $195.29 million recorded for the corresponding period in 2005.He said provisional estimates indicated an overall surplus of $406.73 million for the year, bolstered by the seasonal inflows of cocoa proceeds.
Source:Graphic

350 observers to monitor NDC Special Congress

About 350 international and local electoral monitors would observe the Special National Delegates' Congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) slated for December 22 in Accra to elect the Party's presidential candidate for Election 2008.The observers include the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), local electoral monitors as well as representatives of all political parties in the country and other democratic stakeholders.Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on final preparations for the Congress, Mr Baba Jamal, NDC Deputy General Secretary, explained that the invitation of foreign and local observers to monitor the election of the potential next President of Ghana was to give credence to the Party's vow for democratic values."NDC is demonstrating and setting a new political agenda especially on the selection of a presidential candidate for other parties to emulate us. Therefore, throughout the process, the Party spelt out high standards for all the aspiring candidates; national and regional executives, Members of Parliament and the rank and file,=94 he said. "These standards, we believe, had enhanced internal politicking and projected the Party as a responsible democratic opposition waiting to annex the reins of governance of the country in 2009."Mr Jamal said 1,720 delegates would be attending the one purpose Congress to elect the presidential candidate.The delegates include national and regional executives as well as other special representatives from the constituencies and executives from six foreign branches, who had confirmed their participation. The four candidates contesting the election are Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Former Defence Minister; Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Former Minister of Education; Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, Former Vice President and Mr Edward Annan, a Businessman.On arrangements for security at the Congress, Mr Jamal said the Police Service and other national security agencies had been fully entrusted with the responsibility to ensure the safety of delegates. "The Party has discussed security arrangements with the Police High Command and we expect nothing else than the exhibition of professional standards by the men and women in uniform, who would be deployed on Congress grounds," he said.Mr Jamal said all logistics had been secured for the Congress, adding "we are surely ready for the Congress".He advised delegates, representatives of all the aspirants; the rank and file; local and international observers; representatives of political parties; media and cross-section of the public to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of the Congress to ensure a successful event.A congress a year ago to elect national executives experienced incidents of violence when some delegates were attacked. Some NDC members led by Dr Obed Asamoah, Former chairman, later broke away to form the Democratic Freedom Party.The NDC has taken a series of steps to ensure that it buries its tag of a party that does not have a democratic culture. Last Tuesday, it organised a ballot to determine the position of the four candidates on the ballot paper, as it took another step to democratise its activities and make its actions transparent. Alhaji Iddrisu would occupy the top of the ballot paper, according to the balloting conducted at the NDC Headquarters by the Electoral Commission.Dr Spio-Garbrah would be at the second spot; Professor Mills would be third while Mr Annan would be the fourth.The four candidates at a family meeting organised by the Party, stressed unity as the most important factor that would ensure victory for the Party in Election 2008.The four who took turns to address a national stakeholders' forum, indicated that upholding the Party's interest was paramount in consolidating intra-party democracy.The forum dubbed: "Family Meeting" was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Netherlands Institute of Multiparty Democracy as part of efforts to deepen intra-party democracy and to provide a platform to the candidates to sell their vision to the public. Alhaji Mahama said people must be allowed to freely make their choice of a flagbearer, adding that intolerance of other peoples' views would not promote unity in the Party.He said while it was natural for supporters of the various candidates to disagree on issues, they should, however, not fight each other.Dr Spio-Garbrah said there was the need for the Party to build alliances with others to ensure victory in 2008.He pledged his commitment to focus on re-branding and the marketing of the Party to make it attractive and appealing to Ghanaians. Prof. Mills said the success of the Party must be put above any individual interest, adding it was the duty of all to forge oneness before and after the National Delegates' Congress.Mr Annan said he would bring his business acumen to bear on the development and forward march of the Party.
Source:GNA

Inaccurate reportage unethical-Blewu

Mr. Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has said inaccurate reportage, disregard for societal norms and other unethical behaviour were having negative effects on journalism and the GJA as a whole. He said the criticisms and the frequent calls for a stiffer law to punish journalists should remind journalists that they are accountable. Mr. Blewu said these at a day's seminar organised jointly by the Western Regional branch of the GJA and the Ethics and Disciplinary Council (EDC) for journalists and selected radio presenters in the Shama Ahanta East Metropolis and sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It was on the theme: "The Role of Ethics in Journalism". He said journalists could improve their performance by abiding by the code of ethics of the profession and through further education. Mr. Blewu said media accountability formed part of the country's democratic governance and reminded the media to be fair, objective and neutral in the discharge of their duties. He said the media was vital and should continue to contribute towards the growth and sustenance of the country's democratic process. Mr. Blewu reminded radio presenters not to engage in provocative, tribal or ethnic programmes that could lead to conflicts and abuses. Dr. Anthony Bonnah Koomson, Chairman of the GJA EDC, speaking on the "GJA Code, and Common Ethical Violations said the code of ethics must be learnt by all journalists and they should abide by them. He said journalism forms part of good governance and there should be no attempt to license journalists before they practice. "Once journalists licensed, the freedom and independence of the media would be curtailed and manipulation of the media would be easier," he stressed. Dr. Bonnah Koomson reminded journalists to be professional by being thorough in their works to prevent the public from "unnecessarily criticising the journalist". He said journalists must have a value for themselves to enable them to court the respect of others. Dr. Bonnah-Koomson said the frequent display of partisan ideas and opinions by some journalist's exposes their neutrality. Journalism should be all-inclusive and must not ignore or deprive sections of the public access to the media. Dr. Bonnah-Koomson said, "under-cover" journalism must be in the national interest, should not endanger the life of another person and should be done if there is no other way. Mrs. Marian Kyei, a member of the EDC reminded journalists not to abuse or violate rules that could endanger them. She said advertisements placed in children's programmes should be carefully monitored to prevent the children from exploitation and deception. Mrs. Kyei said the content of some children's programmes needs special attention to safeguard the morality of children. She reminded journalists that the National Media Commission (NMC) exists to assist in the settlement of disputes but when journalists ignore them, they could be prosecuted in court.
Mrs Kyei urged all journalists to support the NMC and the GJA to achieve its respective goals of improving journalism standards and professional competencies. Mr. Emmanuel Dentu, Deputy Chairman of the EDC said good taste and decency should be the hallmark of every radio station presenter. He said presently, the use and promotion of obscene songs and language on some radio stations needs to be checked. Mr. Dentu said self-regulation and good sense was needed by all to check obscenity in whatever form. He reminded broadcast journalists to be sensitive to the audience, while monitoring and supervision should become part of every media organisation. Mr. Dentu suggested that private radio stations should dismiss its incompetent staff to avoid lawsuits.GNAGAN/REA18 Dec. 06

NDC Congress will be smooth and peaceful -

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday said intelligence information gathered suggested that some non-party elements were planning to foment trouble at its Delegates Congress to be held from December 20 to December 22. A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, General Secretary of NDC, said some people who did not belong to the Party had planned to "infiltrate the ranks of the Party members with the aim to create confusion at the Congress”. It is intended to drag the name of NDC into the mud and portray it as a violent party in the eyes of the electorate. It said the NDC was also aware that some journalists of some radio stations have been recruited to blow trivial issues out of proportions just to cause panic and instigate violent reactions from supporters of aspirants. "We appeal to these journalists not to engage in such diabolical act and hope that station managers and presenters will verify complaints and reports from their reporters and callers before broadcasting. "We hope that these efforts would not only ensure a successful NDC congress but also deepen the country's growing democracy," the statement said. It said the National Planning Committee of the Party wished to advise all such detractors, who have the intention of creating violence to disrupt the congress to stay away. The statement said the Party had informed the security agencies about the issue adding that adequate measures had been taken to guarantee the safety of all members. In another development following a meeting the NDC had with the Police Administration on Monday, the Police would be in full control of security at the Congress.GNA

Armed robbery rate drops

Crime statistics indicate that armed robberies have decreased dramatically in the last quarter of this year as compared to last year, the Police confirmed on Monday.The downward trend has been the result of a number of proactive measures put in place by the Police administration.Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister of the Interior, Minister for National Security, Mr Francis Poku and Mr Isaac Boafo, Deputy Minister of Defence confirmed this when they took turns to address an emergency National Police Commanders Conference in Accra.Mr. Patrick Acheampong, Inspector General of Police said the meeting was to review plans agreed upon in the year and exchange ideas on ways to make the fight against violent crimes more effective.He said, "It is now evident that, we now have a relatively calm nation where most regions experience little or no violent crimes for long periods, compared to the peak period between 1997 and 2001 when violent crimes particularly armed robberies were rampant and common throughout the country".He said, despite the relative calm, areas like Accra, Tema and Kumasi still experienced pockets of violent crimes, hence the meeting. Mr. Acheampong said both operational and administrative concerns would be considered to enablethe police to render greater service of satisfaction to Ghanaians. Giving the overview, Dr. Kofi Kesse Manfo, Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of Operations said in 2005, 1,399 robberies were recorded nationwide, of which Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions recorded over 77 percent, while the rest were recorded in the other eight regions."A comparison of monthly statistics for the years 2005 and 2006 shows a substantial reduction in cases recorded in the first two months and the last quarter of 2006."The first two months showed reduction of 13.3 per cent and 45.2 per cent respectively over those of 2005."Dr Manfo said between March and August this year, there were substantial increases over those of 2005, while the September to November figures for 2006 reduced to an aggregate of 37.4 per cent. He said the Police would not relax on its oars but institute measures like public education, intelligence gathering, cultivation of informants, neighbouring watch on criminals, and selective swoops, among others, to check crime.He said, apart from reinforcing those measures, Regional, Divisional and District Commanders were charged to put in place extra measures to check criminal activities. Dr Manfo said additionally, Police had set up some barriers to make them more operational, whilst patrols were mounted at sensitive installations.He said the Police would continue to seek public assistance in curbing robberies by offering reliable information about suspects and known criminals.In his remarks Mr. K an Dapaah said in spite of the cocaine saga and the shooting incidents at Dansoman and Kotobabi the Police had emerged strongly and commended the Inspector General of Police for his performances up to date.He said as the country approaches the New Year, new challenges might emerge and the Police should wake up to the occasion. Mr. Kan Dapaah said though robbery levels had come down there was the need to educate the public on perception crime in ccordance with the statistics. He said government acknowledged the difficulties the Police faced in terms of logistics and would work to resource the service.Mr. Poku said the challenges were prelude to success adding, "I believe the IGP is capable to handle the security of the state". He said National Security would continue to support the Police with all the intelligence, especially with the approach to the Golden Jubilee anniversary and other major conferences Ghana was to host next year. Mr. Boafo acknowledged the efforts of the Police to maintain law and order despite its logistical constraints, adding that the security agencies would continue to collaborate in the combat against crime.
Source:GNA

Ghana needs leaders with character capacities

The Chairman of Databank, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta on Saturday said Ghana needs leaders with character capacities to persevere and move the country forward.It is through character that enabling virtues and integrity, humility excellence and selfless service into our lives and community are engendered, he said.Mr. Ofori Atta was addressing the 2006 year graduates of Ashesi University College at the occasion in Accra.It was the second graduating class since the establishment of the University during which 31 students undertook courses in Computer Science and Business Administration He said character was crucial because "it empowers our capacities while keeping them in check. It differentiates those who abuse power and those who steward it."He said the leadership crisis in Africa and for that matter, Ghana remains quite grave and that this era requires inspired leadership to move the country forward.Mr. Ofori Atta urged the graduates to take advantage of the economic stability the country was enjoying and deploy the software of scholarship the university had given them "to engage our society in order to rebuild the economy, strengthen the moral character of our nation and to clearly define and establish a collectively owned vision of a good society." You are to think through your society's intractable problems and solve them as it is captured in Ashesi's crest: Scholarship, Leadership and Citizenship" he added.He said the graduates are to accelerate with boldness our journey to a middle-income country and are capable to straddle the complex demand of globalisation with the realization of the good society for Ghana @50 years.Dr. Patrick Awuah, founder and President of the University on the occasion said each of the graduates were product of a distinctive educational experience that compels them to be analytical, to be unafraid of ambiguity, and to hold firm to the highest standards of personal and academic conduct.Dr. Awuah said the process of learning about the universe and the human condition was the very foundation upon which truly inspired leadership was built, adding, "the search for new insights about our world is the basis for wisdom, and as such is a necessary condition for great leadership and meaningful citizenship." He said that the ability to be an effective leader would depend on personal attributes such as integrity, compassion and commitment. He therefore, urged the graduands to hold fast to the values they have learnt as they go out into the world of work and rise to the occasion when leadership was thrust upon them. 16 Dec. 06
Source:GNA

Amoateng’s Fate To Be "Finally" Decided…

The Speaker of Parliament, Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Hughes has directed that concerns on the prolonged absence of Eric Amoateng, NPP MP for Nkoranza North should be settled with the leadership of the House. The directive was in response to questions raised by Alfred Agbesi- NDC-Ashaiman and Haruna Iddrisu, NDC Tamale South, on what the House intended to do about the long absence of the member of the House.Eric Amoateng and another Ghanaian Nii Okai Adjei are facing charges of conspiracy to transport and distributing heroin in the United States contrary to Federal Law and have both pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile Parliament on Friday rose for the Christmas break and is expected to reconvene on January 30, 2007. Five outstanding Bills have been scheduled to be considered during the next Meeting of Parliament.The bills are the Criminal Code (Amendment), the Domestic Violence, the Transfer of Convicted Persons, the Data Processing Control Board Decree (Repeal), Central Securities Depositary and the Restriction on the Use of Military Uniforms and Equipment (Amendment) Bills.Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, listed the outstanding Bills when he presented the proposed business statement for the first week of the next meeting. The Minister said all outstanding business and referrals, which were not completed at the end of the Second Session, would be referred to the succeeding meeting. He said work would be carried out on the electrical system of the Chamber Block during the recess.Meanwhile, the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) on Friday presented to Parliament a copy each of the Hansard from January 1993 to December 1995, and proceedings of the Consultative Assembly, that drafted the 1992 Constitution, 40 pocket size copies of the 1992 Ghanaian Constitution and two reference copies of Erskine May on Parliamentary Practice.
Source:GHP

TANZANIA ENJOYS FRUITS OF CO-OPERATION

By Rebecca Wanjiku,

When Peter Ulanga was invited to visit Brazil, last year, he knew that something was going to change in the management of dot Tz country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).

Ulanga, and a colleague, Peter Shilla, benefited from training offered by the Brazilian government on management of domain name registries using open source software.

Within two years of the training, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority is ready to launch the dot Tz ccTLD registry. The domain has been administered by the University of Dar es Salaam and individuals.

`The training worked well, we have bought necessary equipment and we are ready to launch Tanzania Network Information Centre, TzNIC,` said Ulanga.

Ulanga says that the training was useful and the tests were successful. He added that it will now be easier to register domains and if there are any problems, then there is a central point to channel complaints.
Tanzania benefitted from the south/south solidarity spearheaded by the South American power house. Kenya was the first to train on how to use the software, Tanzania soon followed suit, while Mozambique and Sudan are lining up for the services.
The gesture by the Brazilian government was calculated to ensure that Africa can access the less costly open source software solutions and transform African registries from manual to automation.
At the on-going Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers(ICANN) conference, in Sao Paulo, renowned Brazilian Professor Hartmut Glaser could not hide his joy while confirming that he had been invited by the Tanzanian government to witness the fruits of his government´s generosity.
Apart from the training, Brazil offered technical assistance to the recipient countries in case of any problems with the software or even any technical hitches in their operations.
The drive to foster south/south cooperation started in 2002 when Brazil sent engineers to Togo to train local counterparts from more than 20 countries gathered in Lome.
Ends

Finding Unity in Diversity

By Rebecca Wanjiku
African participants at Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers(ICANN) meeting in Sao Paulo have formed a unified body that with articulate issues from participants drawn from various sectors.

Africa Regional At Large Organisation (AFRALO) will unite users wishing to articulate their issues to ICANN. AFRALO is expected to link Africa to the global At Large Organisation within ICANN.

Alice Munyua, a member of ICANN´s At Large Organisation says AFRALO will help Africa identify their peculiar issues and call attention to the global body.

¨Through the regional body, African users can identify their challenges and design ways to deal with them. For instance, if the fibre optic cable is laid, then more people can access the internet and then we can deal with other problems other than access,¨said Munyua.

With the growing mobile telephony and cutting edge technology that provides internet via mobile, Munyua says AFRALO will ensure that African voices are heard.

Though not officially launched, preparations of a Memorandum of Understanding are in top gear.

AFRALO is expected to face challenges of language and culture, multiplicity and diversity of digital challenges. Some countries are deemed to have developed ICT infrastructure while others have not.

Munyua expects all countries to meet and point out issues that affect all sectors and the changes they would like to see. The country representatives/ liasons will forward to AFRALO which will then link with the global body.

She recognises that it will be hard to reach consensus because of the diverse interests but she promises AFRALO will work hard to adequately represent african users.
Latin America and the Caribbean have already formed LAC-RALO ( Latin America and the Caribbean Regional At-Large Organisation) which is expected to maximize participation of user groups from the region
Paul Twomey ICANN president, told delegates during the opening ceremony that LAC-RALO will be the third Latin American organisation to help ICANN in its work. The other two are LACTLD (Regional ccTLD managers) and LACNIC (Regional Internet Registry for Latin America ).
Ends