Late Ghana's President Prof John Evans Atta Mills Remembered

A remembrance ceremony was held on Thursday, July 24 at the Asomdwee Park in Accra to mark the second anniversary of the death of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Ghana’s president between 2009 and 2012.

Prof. Mills died on July 24, 2012 at the 37 Military Hospital after a short illness and was buried on August 10, 2012.

The ceremony was attended by President John Mahama, Vice President Amissah-Arthur, former President Rawlings and
Speaker of Parliament, Doe Adjaho among other dignitaries. 

Family and friends gathered at the burial ground, Asomdwee Park, to lay wreaths in memory of the late academic, sports administrator and politician.

President John Dramani Mahama, who succeeded President Mills, led a strong government delegation to lay a wreath on behalf of government and the people of Ghana.

Other personalities including widow Dr Naadu Mills laid wreaths.

In his exhortation, Rev. Dr. Nii Amoo Darku, espoused the virtues of the
late President and asked the living to emulate him. 

He expressed the hope that, though dead, Prof. Mills is still living because he loved God. 

Government to Launch Road Initiative in Eastern Region

Government is to launch a road initiative that will see the construction of more roads and the rehabilitation of deplorable ones. Roads in the Eastern Region and Ashaiman particularly will receive special attention. President John Mahama, dropped the hint when he inspected the Awoshie Pokuase road in Accra. The project is being 










































funded by the Africa Development Bank and the Government of Ghana.

Government sets up Senchi Report Implementation Group

Government has set up the Senchi Economic Report Implementation Group, to ensure that the Report was effected to the benefit of all.

President John Dramani Mahama who announced this on Friday, said "I am chairing the strategic advisory committee which is to work on policy alternatives that Ghana needs in a short term to overcome the economic challenges."

President Mahama announced this when Mr Claude Maerten, European Union(EU) Head of Delegation, called on him at the Flagstaff House in Accra.

The head of delegation was at the Presidency to bid him farewell after his three-and-half years duty tour of Ghana.

President Mahama said there were mid-term prospects for the Ghanaian economy, despite the current economic challenges, and commended the EU for its contributions over the years, towards Ghana's economic growth.

He said Ghana's relations with the EU had hinged on the relations Africa has had with the institution, and he, as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, would forge ahead to strengthen that relations during his tenure of office.

The President said government was undertaking some reforms, such as the payroll audit that would subsequently help in the elimination of ghost names from the public service.

He said government was revamping the Fisheries sector, and would continue to seek the support of the EU and other partners to step up fish production for both domestic and external markets.

President Mahama commended the EU for the tremendous contribution towards the maintenance of peace and unity in Mali, Guinea Bissau, and currently the support for peace in Northern Nigeria.

Mr Maerten commended President Mahama for initiating measures to maintain peace among ECOWAS member-states, and urged him to pursue prudent ones that would enhance peace, unity and stability in the sub- region.

He said Ghana was recognized as a country with high democratic credentials, which was further deepened after the death of late President John Evans Atta Mills, and urged President Mahama to maintain that tempo for the benefit of Ghanaians.

The out-going Head of Delegation, said Ghana had economic prospects and government therefore needed a strong economic management to get out of the challenges, particularly with the pricing of cocoa and the acquisition of a gas plant.

GBC

20th Commonwealth Games to Raise Funds for Children in Need

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has joined forces with the UN Children's Fund UNICEF to raise money that will help change the lives of millions of children.

UNICEF says all the funds collected through the Opening Ceremony of the Games will help protect children from poverty, disease, exploitation and provide life-saving food and vaccines.
The funds will also give children the chance to take part in sport- many of them for the first time.

Cricket icon and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Sachin Tendulkar said he was proud to support the agency's global appeal for children.

Spectators, athletes and an expected one billion viewers from across the Commonwealth are invited to "Put Children First" by making a donation via a text number or web link.

At least 6,500 athletes from 71 countries and territories united by language, history, culture and shared values will compete in Gasglow, Scotland over 11 days.

The 53 Commonwealth Member States are very diverse with regards to their size and economic stature. They span from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific.

The Commonwealth Games or "Friendly Games" are held every four years.

SOURCE: Jocelyne Sambira, UNRadio.

Dumega Okudzeto To to pull out of Keta New Port development project with his investors from South Korea.

Dumega Raymond Okudzeto, an international businessman has declared his intentions to pull out of the Keta New Port development project with his investors from South Korea.

This, he said, had come about due to the unwillingness on the part of some government officials to help make the project a reality.

Addressing a media conference in Accra, Mr Okudzeto, who is also the Founder and President ofVolta Foundation, an NGO aimed at developing the Volta Region, appealed to government officials, especially those from the Region to desist from backbiting and thwarting effort to develop the area.

He said since 2009, he had tried to bring Government on board with DY Engineering-the South Korean investors, but the efforts had been thwarted, adding that the estimated cost for the project was $500 million and not $1.2 billion as some government officials had said.

Mr Okudzeto said the Keta Port project, would open up the entire Eastern Corridor from Keta to Nkwanta and beyond to the north and Sahel regions.

“It is estimated that more than 30, 000 jobs would be created with the building of the port, with an additional 100,000 jobs for hotels, rest stops, catering services among others,” he said.

He said: “Recently, I took some Indian investors to South Tougu and Akatsi to look at prospective sites for a multi- million dollar sugar plantation, and I was shocked to learn that the very people I was trying to help had gone behind me to tell the investors to be careful in dealing with me as I don’t belong to the ruling party,” he alleged.

European Union Commends President Mahama for his Commitment and Dexterity as ECOWAS Chair

President John Mahama has been commended by the European Union for his show of commitment and dexterity as ECOWAS Chair. The Head of the European Union in Ghana, Claude Maerten, gave the commendation when he called at the Flagstaff House to bid farewell to the President as he ends his duty tour. Ambassador Maerten said Europe is pleased with President Mahama's efforts to ensure that peace and stability returns to some troubled regions. The European Union has supportedGhana's economic development, in many sectors.

OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE REDUCED TO ASHES AFTER EARLY  MORNING FIRE.

The Old Parliament which houses the Commission of Inquiry into Judgement Debt, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) was gutted by fire in the early hours of this morning.

A statement issued and signed in Accra by George William Dove Public Relations Officer  says at about 4.00 am in the early hours of Thursday, December 19, 2013, there was a fire outbreak in the main chamber of the old Parliament House (opposite the Kwame Nkrumah Masoleum) which prompted fire control measures and the Ghana Fire Service was called.

According to the statement, the Commission wishes to assure the public, especially its stakeholders, that even though the fire incident was severe, it did not affect any life. Again, it would not seriously affect the Commission’s work. However, the Commission will relocate and the new location will be announced soon.

The statement further said the Commission expresses its gratitude to the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for their prompt response which ensured that the fire was put out.

It stated that the Commission awaits the Fire Report from the Fire Service to know the cause of the fire.

The Commission of Inquiry into Judgment Debt is also grateful to the general public for their concerns and unflinching support not only at this time but since the commencement of its work.

GHANA ADDS 400 MEGAWATTS TO ELECTRIC GENERATION WITH THE INAUGURATION OF  MULTI MILLION DOLLAR BUI DAM BY PRESIDENT MAHAMA. 

The final unit of the Bui Hydro electric Dam has been commissioned by President John Mahama at a ceremony in the Brong Ahafo region.

This bring's on board an additional four hundred megawatts of power to feed the national grid. President John Mahama, paid tribute to Ghana"s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who nurtured the vision of the dam.He also particularly mentioned former President John Agyekum Kufuor's initiative to seek funding for the project and ensuring its commencement.

President Mahama reiterated governments commitment to ensure the country is energy sufficient by 2016 and not only that but an energy exporter. Alternative power generating sources are also being explored.  President Mahama, said government is looking at making the proposed Bui City Project a reality through Public Private Partnership's.  He urged the Private Sector to come on board.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Bui Power Authority, Jabesh Amissah Arthur, acknowledged that all systems to ensure that the dam perform's at optimal level have been put in place.  He was grateful to the contractor and consultants for good collaboration. 

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor graced the ceremony.  About one thousand two hundred and 16 people who were affected by the project have been resettled.

Ghana sitting on time bomb-Geo Service switched off for US$ 36,000??? 

It appears Ghana would not be able to track looming tremors and earth quakes should any trigger. 

The Geological Service Department owes its satellite signal prompters based in the United States some US$36,000. 

The country has therefore been cut off any communication if such disasters are imminent. 

The concerns have surfaced in the wake of yesterday’s earth tremors in some seismic prone areas in the national capital Accra.

Weija and its environs experienced some tremors which frightened residents there.

Speaking to a local FM Radio, Director of the Geological Service Department Adjei Duodoo said they couldn’t detect it because the station is no longer receiving signals.

“Yesterday we had a tremor but we couldn’t pick it. We have six remote stations but such information is transmitted through a modern satellite provided by the Hunters Communications of USA. Unfortunately, the subscription fee has not been settled up till now so we have been switched off,” he bemoaned.

“It is about US$36,000 and it is a bulk fund for three years. We are a government subvented organization which prepares its budgets and must receive our monies from the Ministry of Finance.”

Mr. Duodoo was also worried the facility needed some fencing and a gate to secure the place from encroachment and unscrupulous elements who could sneak through the bushes to temper with their machines and even steal them.

He emphasized that the installation was a critical one which needs some amount of isolation from noise and satellite interruptions coming from telecoms and radio frequencies.

Another challenge he stated was to do with the power fluctuations which demands that they power a 250 KVA generator on an extra cost.

He outlined that several areas in the country fell on the fault lines where earth quakes could occur. “We have the coastal bandage fault, we have the Togo – Akuapim fault and they are intercepting around Weija and McCarthy Hill and we have been recording many Epic Centers around that place. In actual fact, the center of Accra is part. Ridge Hospital, TUC, former Mobil House, former Ambassador Hotel, the Castle, Osu and Makola are all on the fault areas.” He added that the “Flagstaff house, the CID Headquarters and the Regional Police Premises are earthquake prone areas.”

“Tema is also part, Akosombo is part, parts of Akuapim Ridge. Ho and Tito all in the Volta Region are all on the fault region.” When asked whether the country couldn’t be prompted to take any precautions for any imminent tremors or earthquakes coming in, he stated that the nation can only hope to predict right.

“We can have a tremor of about 3.3 magnitudes. It could increase to 3.5 then to four. Here, we can warn that there could be an imminent one and we need to get ourselves prepared,” he described."

The deadliest earthquake in Ghana occurred in 1939 specifically In Accra. 17 people died with 133 sustaining injuries. Several buildings were affected with the roofs of the Osu Castle, the then seat of government ripped off.