The following are the major events for 2011 compiled by the Ghana News Agency.
MAJOR EVENTS IN JANUARY
Accra, Jan. 1, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills broadcasts to the nation; calls for more commitment in his New Year Message.
Accra, Jan. 4, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills announces changes in some Ministerial appointments.
Accra, Jan. 4, GNA – The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) adjusts petroleum prices with effect from Tuesday January 4, citing the rise of crude oil prices on the world market.
Accra, Jan. 4, GNA – The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) extends daily trading hours from three hours to five hours effective January 4, 2011.
Accra, Jan. 7, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills expresses Ghana’s support for the decision of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a military intervention in the Ivorian crisis, but added that the country would not contribute troops because it is overstretched.
Accra, Jan. 10, GNA – Serb Goran Stevanovic confirmed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as the new coach of the Black Stars on a four-year contract.
Accra, Jan. 12, GNA – The rate of inflation fell to 8.58 per cent year-on-year in December, down from 9.08 per cent in November.
The rate is the lowest for 19 years since June 1992, when it stood at 8.4 per cent.
Accra, Jan 12, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama orders National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to publish the full Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) debts.
Accra, Jan. 13, GNA – The Government of Ghana and the European Union (EU) sign four financial agreements, totalling 26.0 million Euros to help reinforce the democratic environment for peaceful, transparent and credible elections in 2012.
Accra, Jan. 13, GNA – The National Lotteries Authority (NLA) is to create 10,000 jobs nationwide following the introduction of new Portable Automatic Data Processing Machines (PADPM) to boost their operations.
Accra, Jan. 13, GNA – Mr Peter Jones, a career diplomat, has been appointed British High Commissioner to Ghana and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Togolese Republic.
Accra, Jan. 13, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills relieves 13 Municipal and District Chief Executives of their posts with immediate effect.
Accra, Jan. 14, GNA – Dr Ahmed Mustapha, a Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, says the Ministry would soon undertake a comprehensive exercise to eject illegal occupants at the Kwame Nkrumah Flats at Lartebiokorshie in Accra.
Accra, Jan. 18, GNA – Cabinet has approved a financing agreement for the construction of 12 district hospitals and technical training institutions.
In addition, two air ambulances, 200 ambulance cars, 50 mobile clinics and 10 educative mobile units would be supplied under the agreement.
Accra, Jan. 18, GNA – Brigadier General John Aduley Kwasie of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has been appointed Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNAMIL).
He takes over from Major General Carl Modey, a Ghanaian Senior Officer, who has been appointed Acting Commissioner of Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Accra Jan. 18, GNA – Parliament reconvenes prematurely to approve a motion to constitute an ad-hoc committee to probe the just-ended District Level Elections organized by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Accra, Jan. 18, GNA – Ghana is to set up an ultra-modern Hospitality and Tourism University to develop her human resource to meet the global standards for the hospitality industry.
Accra, Jan. 19, GNA – Mr Raila Odinga, Kenya’s Prime Minister and African Union (AU) mediator on the Ivorian crisis, briefed President John Evans Atta Mills in Accra on the progress of the mediation efforts and seek his advice on the way forward to end the crisis.
Accra, Jan. 20, GNA – Delta Airlines would launch a new flight from Accra to Monrovia, Liberia, with effect from February 2, 2011.
The new Delta service would operate twice a week using its Boeing 767-300 aircraft, which is equipped with 34 Business Elite seats and 181 Economy Class seats.
Accra, Jan. 21, GNA – The World Bank (WB) Board has approved a $215 million Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC) to Ghana to help consolidate macro-economic stability, public financial management, public sector reform, energy and social protection.
Accra, Jan. 22, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills interacts with Diplomatic Community in Ghana.
Accra, Jan. 24, GNA – The UK Government is to give Ghana 36 million pounds of UK aid from the Department for International Development (DFID) to support the country’s budget.
Accra, Jan. 27, GNA – President John Atta Mills cuts sod for the commencement of the STX Housing Project.
MAJOR NEWS ITEMS FOR FEBRUARY 2011
Accra, Feb. 2, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama cuts sod for work to begin on Bus Rapid Transit project in Accra.
Accra, Feb. 3, GNA – Ghana’s population in 2010 is 24.23 million, according to provisional census figures released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Ho, Feb. 7, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills cuts sod for work to start on the University of Health and Allied Sciences.
Sunyani (B/A), Feb. 8, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills, cuts sod for work to begin on the University of Energy and Natural Resources.
Accra, Feb. 17, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills delivers Third State of the Nation Address at Parliament House.
Accra, Feb. 22, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills welcomes Former President John Agyekum Kufuor to the Castle for a meeting.
MAJOR NEWS ITEMS FOR MARCH 2011
Accra, March 2, GNA – Parliament passes Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
Accra, March 3, GNA – The World Bank has outdoored “Africa’s Future And The World Bank’s Support To It, February 2011, Africa Regional Strategy” that aims at facilitating the transformation of African economies to improve the lives of the people.
Accra, March 8, GNA – Ghana and China sign a 90 million-dollar concessionary agreement for the supply of electrical materials and equipment towards electricity projects in 400 selected communities in the Upper West Region.
Accra, March 12, GNA – President John Atta Mills cuts sod for the construction of a building to relocate the present University of Ghana Medical School from Korle Bu to Legon campus.
Accra, March 15, GNA – The Kpong Treatment Plant was shut down for 12 hours for maintenance works, a statement from the Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) said.
Accra, March 16, GNA – Ghana and four development partners sign Memorandum of Understanding to provide the nation’s public financial management system with a $60 million grant over the next four years towards improved management of public finances.
The four development partners – World Bank, United Kingdom Department for International Development, European Commission and Danish International Development Agency – have jointly pooled the funds to co-finance the implementation of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) project.
Accra, March 17, GNA – The Cuban Government has honoured Vice-President John Mahama with its Friendship Medal, in recognition of his firm stance against the economic blockade of Cuba and support for the release of the five Cubans in detention in the United States.
Accra, March 17, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills swears in Mrs Bridget Katsriku, immediate past Vice Chairperson of the Public Services Commission (PSC) as the substantive Chairperson.
Accra, March 22, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills cuts sod for work to commence on the 100-million-Euro Awoshie-Pokuase Road and the Urban Development Project in Accra.
The three-year project is being sponsored by the African Development Bank with 63 million euros. France, through the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), is giving 30 million Euros and the Government of Ghana is making seven million Euros available to compensate people who would be affected by the project.
Accra, March 22, GNA – Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, said about 16,822 Ghanaians had been evacuated from Libya in excess of the anticipated 10,000.
He said 1,455 evacuees from the Libyan-Egyptian border were airlifted through Cairo, 8,505 from the Libyan-Tunisian border through Djerba and 6,862 from Tripoli.
In addition, 129 returned to Ghana by road.
Accra, March 23, GNA – Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrives in Accra to begin a two-day official visit to Ghana.
Accra, March 23, GNA – A report funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) on remittances from UK to Ghana has revealed that despite the growth in payments, the system used to send the money is far from perfect.
Accra, March 23, GNA – The United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary General, Taleb Rifai has pledged technical and financial support for tourism development in Ghana.
The support will focus on gender empowerment in tourism and technical support for the management of tourism receptive facilities.
Accra, March 24, GNA – Parliament hosted the President of Turkey Abdullah Gul, who is on an official visit to Ghana.
Accra, March 24, GNA – Ghana and Turkey signed five agreements in areas of common interest to enhance bilateral ties.
The agreements, which were signed by sector ministers, cover bilateral air services; health and medical services; military training; technology and science; mutual abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic passports and a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of consultation of political mechanism.
The agreements were signed after a closed-door meeting between President John Evans Atta Mills and the visiting Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, at the Osu Castle.
The various sector ministers also held bilateral talks.
Accra, March 24, GNA – As part of preparations to compile the 2011 African Governance Report (AGR), a 12-member Steering Committee to be chaired by Dr Lloyd Amoah of Ashesi University has been inaugurated.
Tempane (UER), March 27, GNA – Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), said Ghana lost about 625 million dollars last year because the country’s cotton industry went dormant.
“The cotton sector is a major source of employment and income generation. It is estimated that Ghana has the potential to produce 250,000 tonnes of lint cotton in the medium term,” he said.
Accra, March 28, GNA – Mr Pryce Kojo Thompson, Board Chairman of Ghana Commercial Bank, has disclosed that Government has paid the remaining GH¢572 million owed to the bank by the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR)
Kumbungu (N/R), March 28, GNA – The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has invested over 5.3 million dollars in the Tamale Water Extension Project (TWEP) to improve water supply to the Tamale Metropolis and some districts that fall under MiDAs intervention zone in the Northern Region.
The 70.3 kilometre water extension project is expected to benefit 50,000 people.
Accra, March 28, GNA – Ms Benedicta N. Biney, Ghana’s Chief Government Nominee on the West African Examination Council (WAEC), has been elected Vice-Chairperson of the Council for a year’s tenure.
Ms Biney, who succeeds Dr Mator F. Kpangbai of Liberia, was elected at the just-ended four-day 59th Annual Meeting of WAEC, in Accra.
The prestigious award of Distinguished Friend of Council was conferred on Mrs Sabina Ofori-Boateng, also a Ghanaian, for her meritorious service to the Council.
Siiriyiri, UWR, March 30, GNA – President John Atta Mills has launched a GH¢90-million Rural Electrification Project for the people of the Upper West Region at Siiriyiri in the Wa West District.
About 400 communities and 300,000 people in the Region would benefit from the project, which would be implemented by a Chinese Electrical Corporation for the next four years.
Accra, March 31, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama said the Cuban Government had offered to train 250 students to become medical doctors for a five-year period.
Tarkwa (W/R), March 31, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has cut the sod for the reconstruction of the 94.4 kilometre Tarkwa-Bogoso-Ayamfuri road in the Western Region.
MAJOR NEWS ITEMS FOR APRIL 2011
Accra, April 13, GNA – Former President John Agyekum Kufuor heads a 40-member African Union (AU) Observer Mission for Nigeria’s elections.
Accra, April 14, GNA – Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, First Vice Chairperson of National Democratic Congress (NDC), resigns to contest the party’s presidential primary.
Abuja (Nigeria), April 15, GNA- Former President John Agyekum Kufuor meets Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
Accra, April 15, GNA – Prince Kofi Amoabeng, Chief Executive Officer of UT Bank, adjudged Overall Best Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 at the maiden Ghana Entrepreneur Awards in Accra.
Accra, April 18, GNA – The NDC National Executive Committee announces fees for candidates to contest its July election to choose a flag bearer saying men would pay GHC20,000 while women contestants pay GHC10,000
Accra, April 22, GNA – Former President John Agyekum Kufuor returns home from Abuja, Nigeria, after leading a 40-member African Union observer mission to witness the country’s presidential election held on Saturday, April 16.
Accra, April 27, GNA – Government to convert Colleges of Education into Tertiary Institutions.
Akosombo, April 27, GNA – Mr Kwaku A. Awortwi, Chief Executive Officer of Volta River Authority (VRA), assures Ghanaians of efforts to increase the current 60 per cent access of electricity to 90 per cent in the next five years.
Accra, April 27, GNA – Ten members of the national amateur boxing team, the Black Bombers, have qualified to participate in this year’s African Boxing Confederation Championship due in June in Cairo.
Kpakorili (N/R), April 29, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills launches a 120-million dollar Northern Region Rural Electrification Project at Kpakorili in the Yendi Municipality.
Yendi (N/R), April 29, GNA – The Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuyana Abdulai Yakubu Andani, has expressed confidence in the efforts of President John Atta Mills to find justice to the people of the Dagbon Kingdom at a durbar.
Sankpala (N/R), April 29, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills cuts sod for work to begin on the reconstruction of the 103-kilometre Buipe-Tamale Highway.
Accra, April 30, GNA – Primaries for New Patriotic Party (NPP) to choose parliamentary candidates for Election 2012 begin.
Accra, April 30, GNA – The National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has affirmed that nominations for the party’s Election 2012 flag bearer slot would open on May 3.
MAJOR NEWS ITEMS FOR MAY 2011
Accra, May 3, GNA – Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings picks the nomination form to contest the flag bearer position of National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Election 2012.
Accra, May 3, GNA – The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, has been honoured with the Centre for African Peace and Conflict Resolution (CAPCR) and Pan African Studies 2011 Peace Award.
Accra, May 5, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has picked nomination forms to contest the flag bearer slot of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with the message that “I know I am going to win.”
President Mills, who is being challenged by former First lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, said the campaign should be carried on in a clean manner.
Accra, May 6, GNA – Ghana News Agency (GNA) Board of Directors inaugurated.
Accra, May 20, GNA – Mrs Joyce Bamford Addo, Speaker of Parliament, walks out from the Chamber to register her displeasure for a comment that could dent her credibility as moderator of Ghana’s Parliament.
Her action was activated by Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Majority Leader, who was hesitant to withdraw and apologise for describing Ghana’s Parliament as chaotic.
Accra, May. 24, GNA – Ms Anna Bossman, Acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), announces voluntary retirement from her job.
Her letter of retirement was presented to President John Evans Atta Mills in Accra.
Addis Ababa, May 26, GNA – Officials of Ethiopian Customs and Revenue hold seven Ghanaian journalists hostage for three hours for what they described as “Lack of permit to carry professional Video Cameras” into their country.
The journalists, who are made up of staff of Ghana News Agency, Ghana Television, TV3 and Crystal Clear Lens Newspaper, were part of Vice President John Dramani Mahama’s press team covering the African Union Extraordinary Summit.
Accra, May 26, GNA – A 13-member National Advisory Council on Local Economic Development (LED) to provide overall guidance and policy direction for development in the local communities inaugurated in Accra.
Accra, May 27, GNA – The delegation of the European Union to Ghana announce the opening of the application procedure for the 2011 Lorenzo Natali Prize for Journalism.
Addis Ababa, May 28, GNA – Mr Kwesi Quartey, Ghana’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, to file an official protest to the Government of Ethiopia for the “detention” of Ghanaian journalists and the subsequent seizure of their television cameras at the Addis Ababa International Airport.
Accra, May 30, GNA – The campaign team of President John Evans Atta Mills, seeking a second term as flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), submits his nomination papers to officials at the party headquarters in Accra.
Accra, May 30, GNA – The Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG) has entered into a twining arrangement with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) to strengthen Ghana’s corporate financial reporting regime.
Accra, May 30, GNA – Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) announced that Ghana achieved a record harvest in the cocoa main crop season provisionally fixed at 903,646 metric tons.
Accra, May 31, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills announces that Ghana is in the process of acquiring two aircraft from Brazil.
MAJOR NEWS ITEMS IN JUNE 2011
Accra, June 1, GNA – The management of Tullow Oil Ghana Limited has announced plans to list its shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) with an offering of 4,000,000 shares in Ghana.
Accra, June 1, GNA – Trade and Industry Minister, Ms Hanna Tetteh launches Ghana’s Industrial Policy with a call on stakeholders to partner government for smooth implementation to enhance its success.
Accra, June 1, GNA – Parliament passes the Petroleum Commission Bill, which is to establish a Petroleum Commission to oversee the regulation and management of petroleum products and provide for related matters.
Accra, June 1, GNA – Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, files nomination forms to contest for the flag bearer slot of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Election 2012.
Accra, June 1, GNA – Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Former Vice Chairman of National Democratic Congress (NDC), withdraws from the Party’s flag bearer contest after failing to submit his nomination forms before the deadline on June 1.
Accra, June 1, GNA – The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Lieutenant General Peter Augustine Blay, has paid a five-day official visit to the headquarters of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Stuttgart, Germany.
Wa, June 2, GNA – Ms Amina Karim, a 19-year-old girl had her two ears chopped off without being conscious of when and how it happened.
Accra, June 22, GNA – The World Food Prize, an international organisation, has named former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil winners of the 2011 World Food Prize.
Accra, 26 July, GNA – The Ridge Hospital in Accra experiences a fire outbreak at the Emergency Staff Quarters.
Accra, June 29, GNA – The African University College of Communication (AUCC) Pensions Academy would from September, 2011 run training courses on pensions for trustees of the provident fund, occupational pension schemes and other stakeholders of the National Pension Scheme.
Kumasi, July 30, GNA – The defunct Kumasi Shoe Factory is being given a new lease of life as the Ghana Armed Forces takes over its operations under a partnership deal with a Czech Company, Knights.
MAJOR NEWS ITEMS IN JULY 2011
Accra, July 4, GNA – The State has filed an appeal against the ruling of an Accra Fast Track High Court which led to the discharge of Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby and Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, two former officials of the defunct Ghana@50 Secretariat.
Sunyani, July 9, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills is elected to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) into Election 2012.
Accra, July 14, GNA – Ghana’s total oil revenues, based on an average daily production of 84,737 barrels at an estimated price of 100 dollars a barrel, is forecast at GH¢1.25 billion for 2011, according to Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
Accra, July 19, GNA – The Judicial Service of Ghana (JSG) and Messrs China State Hualong Limited sign a contract for the construction of 34-courtroom complex in Accra.
Accra, July 21, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama pays an impromptu visit to Parliament to take part in the Supplementary Budget debates for the 2011 financial year.
It is his maiden visit since he became the Vice President of the land.
Accra, July 23, GNA – Mr Laary Bimi, Chairman of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), is dead, a family spokesperson told the Ghana News Agency.
Accra, July 25, GNA – The Visa Section of the British High Commission in Accra and their Commercial Partner, VFS, announce the introduction of an online appointment system for the submission of visa applications and biometrics with effect from August 1, 2011.
Accra, July 27, GNA – The Ghana Trades Union Congress announces the death of Mr A.M. Issifu, former Secretary-General of the labour body.
Accra, July 27, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills swears in Ms. Laureta Vivian Lamptey as the new Commissioner for the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
MAJOR NEWS ITEMS FOR AUGUST 2011
Accra, Aug. 2, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills opens the first ever Ghana Science Congress in Accra, with a call on stakeholders to make the work of scientists easier by safeguarding the environment and being conscious of sanitation.
Accra, Aug. 2, GNA – Standard Chartered Plc has appointed Mr Nii Okai Nunoo, current Area Head of Corporate Affairs, West Africa, as its new Regional Head of Sustainability for Africa.
Accra, Aug. 2, GNA – Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteg, Executive Director of WACAM, has appealed to Government to resource the Ghana News Agency (GNA) adequately to enable it to discharge its mandate effectively.
Fievi (V/R), Aug. 3, GNA – Ghana is poised to increase rice production from 20,000 metric tonnes to 200,000 metric tonnes by 2015 to become the highest producer in West Africa.
Accra, Aug. 4, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has revoked the appointment of Mr S.W.K. Kofi Mensah, District Chief Executive for Sefwi Wiawso District Assembly, with immediate effect.
Accra, Aug. 4, GNA – The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has retained Vice President John Dramani Mahama as running mate to President John Evans Atta Mills for Election 2012.
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA – President John Atta Mills has urged the clergy not to be daunted by the task of maintaining the moral sanctity of the society despite negative behaviour by some of their members.
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has dispelled rumours that he was sick and about to die, and proclaimed that he would live to make sure the Better Ghana Agenda was achieved.
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has accepted the resignation of the Reverend Veronica Essuman Nelson as Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) Municipal Chief Executive.
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA – A two-day Africa Union Karate-Do (UFAK) Karate-Do Championship opened at the Sports Hall of the Accra Sports Stadium.
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA – The National Rugby team put up a poor show at the just ended West Africa Rugby Championship in Bamako, Mali.
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA – The National Netball Association of Ghana in conjunction with the National Sports Authority will host the Africa Cup of Nations Netball Championship in Accra from August 10–15 at the University of Ghana, Legon, Netball Courts.
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA – The newly elected Executive Committee Members of Ghana Football Association (GFA) was sworn into office for a four-year tenure.
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA – The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has cut the sod for the construction of a classroom unit and office complex at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, Prampram in the Dangme West District of the Greater Accra Region.
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA – Parliament is expected to approve the establishment of Ghana College of Pharmacy as a statutory institution to provide post-qualification training for Pharmacists.
The College, to be fully funded by Government, would provide professional post-qualification training in all aspects of pharmacy.
Accra, Aug. 6, GNA – The World Bank would provide a total of 17 million Ghana cedis for the development of the Sciences in Ghana, Vice President John Dramani Mahama has said.
Accra, Aug. 7, GNA – Former President and African Union (AU) High Representative for Somalia, Jerry John Rawlings, has called on the international community to urgently come to the aid of Somalia to help alleviate the agony of famine.
Accra, Aug. 7, GNA – A new fertilizer variety, Proterfert LN 6, 5 natural organic fertilizer based on amino acids and rich in yield increase, has been introduced in the country to help farmers increase their productivity.
Protifert LN 6, 5 is a liquid fertilizer ecologically produced from amino acids and peptides of natural origin, and gives plants the necessary ingredients needed while saving the biological energy required for their synthesis.
Ada, Aug. 7, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama has announced that government has secured a 68 million-Euro loan to construct 30-kilometre stretch of the Ada sea defence wall in the Dangbe East District of Greater Accra Region.
Accra, Aug. 8, GNA – A two-day Africa Regional forum on internet interconnectivity was opened in Accra to foster a discussion on cross-border interconnection approaches, economics and challenges among countries in the Sub-region.
Accra, Aug. 8, GNA – Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has returned home after delivering the key-note address at the triennial World Congress of the Society for International Development (SID) in Washington, DC, capital of the United States.
Kumasi, Aug. 8, GNA – The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is exploring the possibility of using district hospitals in Ashanti Region as training centres for its medical students.
Tamale, Aug. 9, GNA – A multi-purpose manufacturing company to produce zinc for the three Northern Regions to assemble motorbikes for sale has been inaugurated at Tamale.
Koforidua, Aug 9, GNA – Government has acquired funding to the tune of 175 million dollars, to embark on Capacity Development of Local Government and Support Programme(CDLGASP) for 46 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
Abetifi (E/R), Aug. 9, GNA – The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) is to establish therapy centres for homosexual victims for counselling and rehabilitation in the various communities.
Accra, Aug 9, GNA – The Graduate School of Governance and Leadership in Accra has conferred on Vice President John Dramani Mahama “The African Servant Leadership” award for his social and political contribution to governance in Ghana.
Accra, Aug. 9, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has assured Ivorian refugees in Ghana of his continued support as well as his Ivorian counterpart to bring peace in Ivory Coast and ensure their safe return home.
Accra, Aug 10, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama has called on media organisations to organise training programmes frequently for their reporters to avoid the recurrence of daily fundamental mistakes.
Sekondi, Aug. 10, GNA – Biometric registration of voters is expected to begin by the end of the year, Mr David Oppong Kyekyeiku, District Electoral Officer for the Essikadu-Ketan Sub-Metropolitan Area, has said.
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA – A nine-member implementation committee has been inaugurated to oversee to the construction of the proposed Anomabo Fisheries College which would be a satellite campus of the University of Cape Coast.
Koforidua, Aug. 10, GNA – President John Atta Mills has said the Government has started implementing the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS) to increase enrolment of students studying mathematics, science and technology.
Sorugu (N/R), Aug. 10, GNA – The United States Ambassador to the United Nations on Food and Agriculture Agencies, Madam Ertharin Cousin, has lauded the significant growth of Ghana’s agricultural sector saying that Ghana is a catalyst to the transformation of Africa.
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA – Former President John Rawlings has tasked Africa to rise up to the challenge at the August 25 Pledging Conference to raise emergency funds for relief in Somalia and other Horn of Africa countries severely affected by drought and famine.
Wa, August 10, GNA – Parliament would soon stop approving the budgetary allocations of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who fail to implement fully the recommendations of the Auditor-General’s report.
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA – The annual inflation rate dropped by 0.20 percentage points to close at 8.39 per cent in July 2011, down from 8.59 per cent recorded in June 2011, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has said.
This is the lowest in 19 years.
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA – A research conducted by the Danquah Institute (DI) in three European countries indicates that more than 60 per cent of the total remittances sent to Ghana in 2010 were through illegal money transfer routes.
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA – Third African Youth and Governance Conference opens in Accra.
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA – The Ghana Amputee Football Federation (GAFF) will soon roll out a National Football League in line with creating awareness and support for the sport.
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA – Jessica Cox, the world’s first licensed armless pilot, is expected in the country in September to support a fundraising exercise for the national amputee team, the Black Challenge.
Accra, Aug. 11, GNA – The United Kingdom has decided to increase her investment in Ghana’s development and to co-operate in the practical aspect of its development, Mr Peter Jones, British High Commissioner in Ghana, said in Accra.
Accra, Aug. 11, GNA – The Head of the European Delegation, Mr Claude Maerten, has described the economy of Ghana as a success story, considering the current global trends.
Accra, Aug. 11, GNA – Ghana and 10 other African countries are to benefit from the United Nations World Tourism (UNWTO) sponsored Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Cross Border Parks Project.
New Bakanta (W/R), Aug. 12, GNA — The French Government has provided 44,000 euros support for the Amansuri Estuary, Mangrove and Swamp Forest Conservation Project in the Ellembelle District.
Kumasi, Aug. 12, GNA – The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) would from the 2012/13 academic year institute a scholarship scheme for students with disability, who gain admission into the institution.
Accra, Aug. 12, GNA – Ghana’s telecom regulator, National Communication Authority (NCA), has received overwhelming commendations from local and international experts for effectively implementing the country’s Mobile Number Portability, which has been described as the best so far in the world.
Takoradi, Aug. 13, GNA — Dr Toni Aubynn, Head of Corporate Affairs Department of Tullow-Ghana, has stated that the company has expended $194 million dollars on local companies and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to improve their capacity and competitiveness.
Koforidua, Aug. 13, GNA – Mr Kyeremeh Atuahene of the Ghana AIDS Commission has said that Ghanaians are expected to use about 200 million condoms this year, five per cent of which would be female condoms.
Accra, Aug. 14, GNA – The Institute of Economic Affairs – Ghana (IEA), a public policy think-tank, has slammed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for abuse of incumbency in Elections 2008 as the then ruling party.
Aflao, Aug. 15, GNA – A joint operation by Ghanaian Police and Togolese Gendarme, on suspected criminal hideouts along the Ghana-Togo frontier at Aflao, has led to the arrest of 33 suspects, including three women.
Kumasi, Aug. 15, GNA – Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has appealed to the World Bank to be more supportive of Ghana’s fight to reduce poverty and create wealth for its people.
Accra, Aug. 15, GNA – Mr Javed Talat, Executive Director of the World Bank, has called on the Government to fashion out mechanisms that would help check the ever-growing population to solve development challenges.
Accra, Aug. 16, GNA – The Editorial Conference, the highest authority on editorial matters in Ghana News Agency (GNA), stands by its story: “IEA slams NPP for abuse of incumbency in Election 2008” filed on Sunday, August 14, 2011.
Accra, Aug. 16, GNA – Mrs Regina Botchwey, Co-director of Regimanuel Gray Estates Limited, the private residence of President John Evans Atta Mills, has said the company had not given any “mansion” as a gift to the President as reported by sections of the media.
Accra, Aug. 17, GNA – Ghana News Agency (GNA) has won the credibility battle waged against it by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a public policy institute, over the existence of IEA’s report titled: “Report on the 2008 General Elections in Ghana.”
Accra, Aug. 17, GNA – Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of Botswana, arrived in Accra for a day’s official visit.
Accra, Aug. 17, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has urged fellow African leaders to respect the constitutions of their countries and not to overstay their terms of office.
Hohoe, Aug 17, GNA – The Government is working out modalities to implement a composite budget system for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) before the end of the year, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has said.
Accra, Aug. 17, GNA – The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) is to set up an oil and gas centre in Takoradi to assist in strengthening the capacity of small and medium-scale enterprises to take advantage of the new business opportunities.
Aburi (E/R), Aug. 20, GNA – The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on Saturday pitched camp in the Eastern Region to review the Political Parties Code to tame the effects of intemperate language use in political discourse.
Accra, Aug. 20, GNA – A new milestone would be reached when the world’s population reaches seven billion by October 31 this year.
Swedru (C/R), Aug. 21, GNA – Opanyin Kweku Essel, 2009 Central Regional Best Farmer, has said cocoa farmers in the Central Region are unhappy with government’s delay in releasing the second portion of the 2009/10 bonuses to them.
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA – The Government says that the declaration by President John Evans Atta Mills of 2011 as an “Action Year” would receive a historic impetus as Parliament meets to approve a $3 billion facility from the China Development Bank.
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA – Andrew Adansi-Bonnah, the 11-year-old pupil who has embarked on a project to raise GH¢20 million to help victims of the raging famine in Somalia, is to address the African Union, which would hold a Pledging Conference on August 25 in Addis Ababa.
Accra, Aug. 23, GNA -The Ghana e-Government (GeGov) Project, which would deliver a new electronic system designed to automate Business Registration and Tax Administrations at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) and other revenue agencies, is to be launched in Accra.
Accra, Aug. 23, GNA – Vodafone Ghana’s first ever live interactive display retail shop at Osu, in the heart of Accra, is said to deliver by far the fastest Internet speed in Africa with a minimum of 40MB per second.
Accra, Aug. 23, GNA – The Registrar-General’s Department (RGD) will embark on a new registration of all businesses and tax payers in September this year under the Government’s eRegistration (GeReg) system.
Akwatia (E/R), Aug. 23, GNA – The Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana Limited (GCDGL), a Ghanaian owned company, has taken over the operations of the erstwhile Ghana Diamond Company (GDC) which was closed down in August 2007.
Accra, Aug. 23, GNA – Government is considering introducing composite budget procedures for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the 2012 Financial Year to deepen decentralisation in the country.
Accra, Aug. 23, GNA – Minority in Parliament has registered reluctance over 70 million Euro loan facility that is meant to finance the e-zwich rural branchless banking.
Accra, Aug. 25, GNA – Parliament amended the $3 billion loan report and deferred debate on it after adjourning temporarily for about three hours.
Accra, Aug. 25, GNA – Ghana and the US have expanded ties in the field of educational exchange partnership aimed at offering students and lecturers the opportunity to deepen their cross-culture knowledge.
Accra, Aug. 26, GNA – Parliament withdraws the three- billion dollar Masters Facility Agreement report which was laid before the House to iron out some disagreement the Minority has raised about the loan.
Accra, Aug. 26, GNA – Parliament amended the 3 billion dollar loan report, moved the motion and deferred debate after adjourning temporarily for about three hours.
Accra, Aug. 26, GNA – The on-going 2010/11 cocoa season attained an unprecedented level of 1,004,194 metric tonnes on August 18, representing the 10th week of the Light Crop season.
Kumasi, Aug 26, GNA – Women in 57 districts would benefit from a $14.63 million credit facility to expand their economic activities.
Tema, Aug. 26, GNA- Vice President John Dramani Mahama has given the assurance that Government would work round the clock for ALUWORKS Company Limited to survive in the ever growing competitive market.
Accra, Aug. 26, GNA – Parliament has endorsed the $3 billion Masters Facility Agreement between the government of Ghana and the Republic of China Development Bank (CDB), but with members of the Minority abstaining.
Accra, Aug. 26, GNA – Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Head of Cardio-thoracic Centre, at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra has been sacked.
Accra, Aug. 29, GNA – Staff of the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital suspend all elective operations and clinics following the termination of appointment of its founder, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.
Accra, Aug. 29, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills is asking for restraint in the agitation at the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital following the termination of the appointment its founder, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.
Fomena (Ash), Aug. 29, GNA – The total assets of the 135 Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) hit GH¢875.82 million, in December last year, Mr Boyd Donkor, an Assistant Director, Banking Supervision Department of the Bank of Ghana (BOG), has announced.
Accra, Aug. 30, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has directed proper handing over of the administrative functions of the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCC) by its out of favour director within a month from August 29, and expects normalcy to return at the Centre.
Saltpond (C/R), Aug. 29, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has stated that the Government would not legalize the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism in the country.
Gomoa Sampa (C/R), Aug. 29, GNA – The Government is restructuring the Ghana School Feeding Programme and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to make them operate more effectively.
Accra, Aug. 29, GNA – The Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced increases in electricity and water tariffs with effect from September 1, this year.
Accra, Aug. 29, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated government’s commitment to re-open the defunct Kumasi Shoe Factory before the end of this year.
Accra, Aug. 29, GNA – The Judiciary has said it is ready to handle all cases emanating from Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.
Accra, Aug. 30, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills paid a surprise visit to the Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra and appealed to striking doctors and workers to resume work.
Peki, Aug. 30, GNA – The Colleges of Education Law would be ready by December 2011 to give legal backing to the upgrading of Teacher Training Colleges in the Country into tertiary institutions.
Accra, Aug. 31, GNA – Doctors and staff at the Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital call off their two-day strike.
MAJOR NEWS ITEMS FOR SEPTEMBER 2011
Accra, Sept. 1, GNA – Government is committed towards improving huge losses in energy distribution network and would increase and strengthen installed generation capacity to meet the country’s projected energy growth rate of 14 per cent for 2011.
Accra, Sept. 1, GNA – Coalition for the Protection of Individual Liberties and Constitutional Rights (COPCOR) has expressed concern about the alleged sale of Social Security and National Insurance Trust’s (SSNIT) 61 per cent shares in The Trust Bank (TTB) to Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI).
Accra, Sept. 1, GNA – The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) keeps policy rate unchanged at 12.5 per cent, citing a positive outlook to inflation and improved macroeconomic conditions.
Accra, Sept. 1, GNA – The European Commission has decided to replenish the African Peace Facility (APF) with 300 million euros to support African peace and security actions both at the regional and continental levels.
Accra, Sept. 1, GNA – A British national has been arrested in a SIM-Box fraud by a combined team of the CID and the anti Fraud Task Force of the National Communication Authority.
Mr Mike Andrew Hayward, 64, a Computer Programmer and Analyst, was arrested along with Innocent Kojo Amenz, 28, a Ghanaian counterpart, at their hideout around Sakumono Community Hospital in Accra.
Accra, Sept. 1, GNA – A footballer, Hayford Acquah, arrested at the Passport Office in Accra for endorsing passport forms with seven forged stamps of institutions has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Kumasi, Sept. 1, GNA – A Kumasi High Court has upheld the seven year-jail sentence with hard labour, imposed on three people, who fraudulently sold plots of land for which they had no title to some unsuspecting developers.
Cape Coast, Sept. 1, GNA – The Central Regional Police has arrested a Nigerian couple suspected of dealing in human parts.
They are Alhaji Alfa Rasheed Bello and Fauzatu Bello, residents of Amosima in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese district of the Central Region.
Accra, Sept. 1, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama has given the assurance that government has got the capacity to absorb more credit facilities to undertake development projects throughout the country.
Accra, Sept. 1, GNA – Work at the Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle-Bu teaching Hospital (KBTH) has started in earnest as many patients thronged its Out Patient Department to seek treatment two days after doctors called off their partial strike.
Accra, Sept. 1, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills expressed the nation’s appreciation to volunteers of US Peace Corps for their invaluable contribution to national development.
Accra, Sept. 2, GNA – President John Atta Mills has advised officers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to treat their subordinates with a human face.
He said they should ensure personnel who worked under them felt comfortable.
Accra, Sept. 2, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama cut the sod for the construction of an office complex for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration during which he commended the Chinese Government for its tremendous support.
The 15-million-dollar project, which is located at the site of the former International Students’ Hostel, is scheduled to be completed within 18 months.
Accra, Sept. 5, GNA – TV3 Network Limited on Monday announced the appointment of Mr Santokh Singh as Chief Executive Officer of the company, effective September, 1, 2011.
Accra, Sept. 5, GNA – The 11-member Awards Committee for the 16th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards has proposed 31 nominees for the various categories of awards.
The nominees would be finally approved by the Executive of the Association.
Accra, Sept. 5, GNA – Former President John Agyekum Kufuor will launch the John A. Kufuor Foundation at a lecture and dinner to be attended by two former Heads of State from September 19-22.
The Foundation, his initiative, consists of the John A. Kufuor Centre for Leadership, Governance and Development, to be based at the University of Ghana, Legon, and the John A. Kufuor Presidential Library and Museum at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
Accra, Sept. 5, GNA – The Government has expressed its intention to take over Tema Shipyard and Dry-Dock Corporation (TSDC) as the strategic investor failed to achieve the vision and goals enshrined in the Joint Venture Agreement.
Accra, Sept. 5, GNA – Busy Internet has been adjudged the nation’s Best Internet Service Provider (ISP) for 2010 at the 22nd annual Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) held in Accra.
This is the third consecutive time that the company has won top honours in that category.
Kumasi, Sept 5, GNA – The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, has indicated that it would collaborate with research institutions, academia and corporate bodies to develop and promote alternative energy sources for industrial and commercial use.
Accra, Sept. 6, GNA – A Police officer who allegedly conspired with an armed robber to rob a businessman at a hotel in Tantra Hill, Accra appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
The accused, Police Inspector Isaac Agbenyega Luguh is with the Monitoring Unit, Greater Accra Regional Directorate while his accomplice Osei Tutu, aka Osei Wayo, is at large.
The accused pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to rob and robbery.
Accra, Sept. 6 GNA – Nine Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) operatives and a football administrator arrested for assisting drug couriers in the narcotic drug trade appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
The accused persons are Fatimatu Abdulai, Dennis Adutwum Gyimah, Yakubu Issaka, Timothy Aboloimpo and Abubakar Nallah, Chief Executive Officer of Tudu Mighty Jets, a football club.
The rest of the accused persons are Peter Ansong, Mutawa Kilu Yahaya Iddi, Jerry John Kwesi Abbiw, Eric Darko Akuffo and Nana Zamsah Evrah.
Accra, Sept. 7, GNA – Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture launches five-year strategic plan to review institutional, legislative and regulatory framework guiding culture and chieftaincy in the country.
The plan estimated at GHC23.5 million will in addition, strengthen and promote the Museums and Heritage industry.
Accra, Sept. 7, GNA – The Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) has called on government to develop a spending policy with emphasis on investment of the oil revenue in infrastructure development especially roads, water, education, energy and health.
Accra, Sept. 7, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has stressed the need for Ghanaians to avoid practices that lead to disasters, because they set back the clock of progress.
Accra, Sept. 7, GNA – Former President Jerry John Rawlings has commended the Government and people of Egypt for the manner in which they are managing the political transition in their country.
He, however, noted that more work needed to be done to keep the wheels of the revolution oiled in order to satisfy the people’s expectations.
Bole (N/R), Sept. 8, GNA – The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) has opened new branches in the Bole and Tamale in the Northern Region and Tumu in the Sissala District of the Upper West Region.
The Bank now has 64 branches nationwide and hopes to open more as part of its network expansion programme.
Accra, Sept. 8, GNA – A 64-year-old British national, Michael Andre Hayward, whose illegal call trafficking activities caused the nation 9.2 million dollars, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Hayward, charged with providing electronic communication service without license, pleaded not guilty.
Accra, Sept. 8, GNA – The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has inaugurated a 64-Slice CT Scan for the Cocoa Clinic in Accra, to help improve quality services and enhance the health status of Ghanaians.
The one-million-dollar CT Scan was acquired for the clinic as part of efforts to expand and modernise health facilities in all its clinics in Accra, Kumasi and Akim Tafo in the Eastern Region.
Accra, Sept. 9, GNA – The Government has decided to extend diplomatic recognition to the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya as the legitimate ruling authority of that country.
Accra, Sept. 9, GNA – US President Barack Obama has called for partnership among nations to resist terrorism.
The call was made in a statement to mark the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
Accra, Sept. 11, GNA – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), at a mini-summit, has decided to call on the United Nations to extend its security operations to the border between Liberia and La Cote d’Ivoire.
This decision was the outcome of discussions between five member states of ECOWAS – Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, Nigeria and La Cote d’Ivoire – on the security situation in Liberia and La Cote d’Ivoire with emphasis on the proliferation of arms in the sub-region.
Accra, Sept. 11, GNA – Ms Yaba Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Ghana’s First President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, won the Convention People’s Party (CPP) Chairmanship slot overwhelmingly with 1,151 of valid votes cast as she swept aside other three contenders including incumbent chairman, Mr Ladi Nylander.
Professor Edmund N. Delle, former National Chairman, obtained 382 votes; Mr Nylander had 353 votes and Madam Araba Bentsi-Enchill, polled 10 votes.
Winneba (C/R), Sept. 12, GNA – Mr Samuel Afari Dartey, Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, has said the Commission intends to establish a 10,000-hectare forest plantation this year.
Accra, Sept. 12, GNA – The Ninth International Building Construction and Property Exhibition has opened in Accra to showcase the various products, services and technology in the building and property industry.
Accra, Sept. 13, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has appointed Alhaji Gilbert Seidu Iddi as the Chief Executive Officer of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).
Accra, Sept. 13, GNA – The United States has expressed concern about reports of arbitrary detention and abuse of Sub-Saharan African migrants and refugees in Libya.
Accra, Sept. 13, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills leaves Accra for New York to attend the 66th Session of General Assembly of the United Nations.
Accra, Sept. 13, GNA – Mr Duke G. Lefhoko, Botswana High Commissioner for Namibia, Angola and Ghana, has commended Ghana for deepening her democratic system, one of the foremost on the African continent.
He said even though the size of Botswana’s economy compared to Ghana was small, both countries could learn from each other to strengthen trade ties for the benefit of their people.
Accra, Sept. 14, GNA – Mr Martin Parfaint Aime Coussoud-Mavoungou, Minister for Maritime Transport in Congo Brazzaville had visited Ghana to familiarise himself with the operations of Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA).
Accra, Sept. 15, GNA – Toyota Company Ghana Limited has opened a new Vehicle Delivery Centre for its customers at the Accra Industrial Area to provide more convenience space and access for vehicle owners.
Accra, Sept. 15, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaian commercial banks to reduce their interest rates for trade to flourish and reflect the current economic trends in the country.
The reduction, he explained, would also facilitate rapid economic growth and provide conducive atmosphere for trade, commerce and employment.
Accra, Sept. 15, GNA – The Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG), has called for a review of the registration process of contractors to reflect global best practices and weed out non-performing contractors.
Accra, Sept. 15, GNA – A two-day capacity building workshop on participatory monitoring and evaluation for 28 members of the Governance Issues Forum(GIFNet) to enable them to monitor the implementation of government policies and budget policies of the District Assemblies has ended in Accra.
The GIFNet is a structure promoted by the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) to enhance civic participation in local governance and to enhance the capacity of marginalized people including women, elderly, persons with disabilities and indigenous communities to demand their rights.
Accra, Sept. 15, GNA – Ghana joined the global community to observe International Democracy Day with the launch of Accra Principles for Electoral Justice.
The principles acknowledge that things can sometimes go wrong in electoral process, and that the manner in which these wrongs are redressed can determine the overall legitimacy of electoral outcome and the level of trust in the electoral process.
Accra, Sept. 15, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has approved a pre-funding arrangement with some syndicated local banks for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA) to ensure smooth operations and implementation of policies and programmes.
The pre-funding being spearheaded by National Investment Bank (NIB) would be in the form of a soft loan.
Accra, Sept. 15, GNA – Dr Aliou Sow, Minister of Decentralisation and Local Development in Senegal, has commended Ghana for giving special attention to local development to strengthen communities at the grassroots.
Accra, Sept. 15, GNA – The authorities of Ghana Telecom University College (GTUC) and the management of Huawei Technologies S.A. Ghana have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish formal relationship between them to promote capacity building and exchange of best practices.
It is to enhance professional skills of GTUC and Huawei staff through training, staff interactions and exchange of experiences and information.
Takoradi, Sept. 15, GNA – Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, has launched the Region’s Human Development Report that was produced by the Regional Coordinating Council and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Bolgatanga (UE), Sept. 16, GNA – Stakeholders at an advocacy workshop in Bolgatanga noted that implementation of Ghana’s decentralization policy had fallen short of stimulating mass participation in governance at the grassroots.
Accra, Sept. 16, GNA – Government is to establish a commodity exchange and a regulated warehouse receipt system to ensure price stability and affordable financing scheme, especially to farmers who could use their produce as collateral.
Cape Coast, Sept. 16, GNA – Participants at a Tax Education Seminar have called on the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to grant tax holidays to small-scale businesses which are operating on bank loans.
This, they said, would enable them to service the loans half way before they honour their tax obligations and promote rather than kill their businesses.
Tamale, Sept. 16, GNA – British Department for International Development (DFID) in collaboration with Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) is to establish an £18-million SADA Millennium Village Project (MVP) in operational areas in the north.
The project, which would begin on pilot basis, would cover portions of West Mamprusi District in Northern Region and Builsa District in Upper East Region and benefitting 30,000 people.
Accra, Sept. 16, GNA – Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor has inaugurated a 13-member Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) to provide an independent assessment of how petroleum revenues are managed and used.
Accra, Sept. 16, GNA – Produce Buying Company Limited (PBC), a licensed cocoa beans trader, has been adjudged the overall best company for the 2010 Edition of the Ghana Club 100 Awards.
Accra, Sept. 16, GNA – Mr Robert Zoellick, World Bank Group President has observed that the time for muddling through was over and developing countries need to be responsible stakeholders in the world economy.
“They need to act on current problems while building for future challenges. They need to solve national issues towards shaping a healthy international system,” he added.
Agogo (Ash), Sept. 17, GNA – Residents of Agogo in the Asante-Akim North Municipality took to the streets to protest the criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen in the area.
The residents clad in red warned that they could no longer tolerate the atrocities of the herdsmen.
There has been rising tension in the town and its surrounding communities in recent weeks following the alleged killing of one Kwame Awuah, a retired Pharmacist, by unidentified Fulani herdsmen.
Accra, Sept. 17, GNA – Pan-African Child Project, a Christ influenced NGO to help raise funds to cater for orphans and under-privileged children in the country, has been launched in Accra.
Kumasi, Sept. 17, GNA – A $60,000-Centre for Business Development has been inaugurated at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), to source funding for entrepreneurial skills training and capacity building.
The Centre seeks to forge collaboration with industrial, commercial and governmental entities to produce high calibre graduates with the expertise to support Ghana’s industrial and socio-economic endeavours through quality management and customer care.
Accra, Sept. 18, GNA – Mr Dumega Raymond Okudzeto, President of Volta Foundation, a developmental Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has said government had reaffirmed its commitment towards the construction of the proposed harbour at Keta in the Volta Region.
He said government had given the contract to a South Korean Engineering Company to undertake a feasibility study for the proposed harbour, taking into consideration the discovery of oil and gas in the entire Region Basin, which stretched from Keta to the northern part of Ghana.
Aburi (E/R), Sept. 19, GNA – The Energy Commission has drafted a Renewable Energy Bill awaiting the approval of Parliament to ensure the integration of renewable energy into the national energy mix.
The bill seeks to enhance energy security and provide a regulatory framework that would enable investors in the industry to ply their trade devoid of barriers.
Accra, Sept. 19, GNA – Former South African President Thabo Mbeki arrived in Accra to participate in the launching of the John A. Kufuor Foundation.
Cape Coast, Sept. 20, GNA – The Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, has inaugurated the nation’s third Court of Appeal in Cape Coast.
The newly inaugurated court which would sit once a week every month, would serve both the Central and Western Regions.
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA – Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has said there is a glimmer of hope for African States to make economic and political progress to better the lives of their people.
He said the old age erroneous assertion that African leaders detested to relinquish power after their tenure of office were over and that past leaders were rather putting their brains together to seek the welfare of the Continent.
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA -Professor Akua Kuenyehia, Judge of the Appeals Division at the International Criminal Court (ICC), has said the principle of rule of law must be the bedrock of all democratic governance systems to ensure criminal accountability.
She said adherence to the rule of law would promote social order, ensures transparency and guaranteed democratic development.
Mole (N/R), Sept. 21, GNA – Government has finally secured a grant of 166 million dollars from the African Development Bank for work to begin on the Fulfulso-Damongo road in October.
The contract has been awarded to two Chinese construction companies namely, China Habour Engineering Corporation and China Waters Engineering Corporation.
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA – The Council for Afrika International, a UK-based think-tank has renewed its call on the UN General Assembly to declare the 21st Century an Ethical Contract with Africa to promote peace and stability on the Continent.
Accra, Sept. 21 GNA – Professor Agyeman Badu Akosah, a leading member of the Convection People’s Party (CPP), has stated that Ghana needs a selfless leader whose commitment to the total development of the country was unquestionable.
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA – Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning is leading a Government delegation to the 2011 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings to be held in Washington from September 20 – 26.
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA – African leaders have been advised to adopt pragmatic strategies in the utilisation of the continent’s natural resources to improve the living standards of the people.
Former German President Horst Kohler, who gave the advice in Accra, said Africa had huge potentials to grow with existence of its numerous natural resources, and increasingly needed on international markets and would provide great source of economic prosperity for Africans.
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA – Mr Gabriel M. Obiang Lima, Equatorial Guinea’s Minister for Mines, Industry and Energy, has commended the Government of Ghana for embarking on a massive human resource development before commencing with the oil and gas exploitation.
He also expressed the willingness of his country to support Ghana to avoid some of the fundamental problems other countries encountered when they embarked on the drilling of oil and gas.
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA – The Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare has formed a task force to develop a National Policy Framework on Decent Work for Domestic Workers to protect the rights of people employed to work in people’s homes.
Kumasi, Sept. 21, GNA – The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has commended former President John Agyekum Kufuor for his admirable leadership qualities.
Accra, Sept. 22, GNA – The Ghana Shippers’ Authority is to established the fourth Shipper Complaints and Support Unit at the Aviance Cargo Village at Kotoka International Airport(KIA) in Accra.
The other three located at Elubo and Aflao borders and Takoradi Port have been in operation for the past two years.
Accra, Sept. 22, GNA – The seasonally adjusted real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2011 closed at 34 per cent up compared to 31.5 per cent recorded in the same quarter in 2010.
This indicates a remarkable increase in business activity in the country, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) announced in Accra.
Takoradi, Sept. 22, GNA – The West Africa Network for Peace building, Ghana (WANEP-Ghana), has described the country’s borders as too porous, posing major security threats.
Kumasi, Sept. 22, GNA – The John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to establish a framework to coordinate activities of the two institutions in the areas of research, information sharing and consultancy services.
Accra, Sept. 23, GNA – Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has arrived in Monrovia for a four-day pre-election mission as the Special Envoy of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS).
He is partnered by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar as joint Special Envoy.
Accra, Sept. 23, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has said Government’s relentless fight against drugs was to protect Ghanaian youths and future leaders.
He reiterated Government’s belief in the youth to pursue the mantle of leadership with an assurance that Government would continue to invest in the youth to take their rightful place in national development.
Accra, Sept. 23, GNA – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to convene IPAC Meeting immediately to help restore credibility and ensure that all the “Accra Principles of Electoral Justice” are implemented for Election 2012.
Tamale, Sept. 24, GNA – A four-member medical team at the Tamale Teaching Hospital has successfully removed a 12-centimetre safety-pin from the penis of a 32-year old man.
The team, comprising two doctors, an anaesthetist and a nurse, used a surgical procedure called “open ureterolithotomy,” which lasted for about 30 minutes.
Accra, Sept. 24, GNA – Ghana Urban Water Limited (GUWL) has appointed Mr Senyo Theodore Amengor as the new Managing Director.
GUWL is a subsidiary Company established by Government to manage the operations of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) after the exit of Aqua Vitens Rand Limited in June this year.
Accra, Sept. 26, GNA – The management of Bank of Africa (BOA) Group, an international financial company renowned for its commitment to community banking across Africa, would establish a branch in Ghana soon.
BOA West Africa SA has entered into an agreement with Amalgamated bank and acquired majority of its shareholdings.
Accra, Sept. 26, GNA – Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health, a non-profit organization, has called on world leaders to double investments on health to accelerate progress in achieving universal access to reproductive health care by 2015.
The current annual financial contribution to Millennium Development Goal 5 amounts to $3.1 billion and to achieve universal access by 2015 funding for reproductive health must be increased to $6.7 billion.
Tamale, Sept. 26, GNA – The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called for the immediate rectification of what it regards as distortions created by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC)in the process leading to the migration of its members onto the Single Spine Salary Structure.
It has threatened that it will embarked on a nationwide strike if the migration process was not completed by 7th October 2011, and therefore called on the FWSC, the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Presidency to take note.
Accra, Sept. 26, GNA – Dr (Mrs) Margaret Sackey, former ILO boss in Ghana, has been appointed the new Chairperson of the Challenging Heights Board of Directors effective September 1, 2011.
Accra, Sept. 26, GNA – The Association for the Development of Education in Africa, Working Group on Communication for Education and Development (WG COMED) kick-starts a three-day tool-kit pre-validation workshop in Accra, which aims at rolling out a development blue print for Africa .
The workshop being organised in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Institute of Continuing and Distance Education (ICDE) of the University of Ghana, Legon, has attracted about 20 participants from Anglophone, Francophone and North African countries.
Accra, Sept. 26, GNA – Mr Mohamed Elhaj Baballa Luaha, Mayor of Juba City Council in Southern Sudan, has called on Ghana’s Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo in Accra.
Hohoe, Sept. 27, GNA – A report from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) shows that women still face legal and regulatory hurdles to participate fully in the economy.
Accra, Sept. 27, GNA – The Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNet) and its partners implementing the government’s electronic project dubbed “GeGov” have completed some stakeholder interactions with staff of two public institutions.
Accra, Sept. 27, GNA – The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has called Parliament to enact the Right to Information Bill (RTI) without any further delay to enable the country be counted among the countries that have a Freedom to Information legislation.
Accra, Sept. 27, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has said the World Bank was supportive of Ghana’s initiative to access $3 billion Chinese assistance for the development of infrastructure.
The Bank, he said, in no way frowned on the assistance from the Asian nation, but was supportive of Ghana’s efforts to access and make funds available to boost its infrastructure development.
Accra, Sept 27, GNA – The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), has appealed to the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to rescind its decision to embark on a nation-wide strike over the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).
Accra, Sept. 27, GNA – The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called off its industrial action which members began on Monday, following the decision by the Labour Commission to intervene on behalf of the Union.
Accra, Sept. 27, GNA – The National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) would through its World Bank supported Youth Enterprise Development Project (YEDP) increase enrolment of beneficiaries to over 500,000 by the close of 2012.
Accra, Sept. 27, GNA – More than 3,000 Ghanaian headmasters and headmistresses are set to undergo training to bridge gaps among principals, who are sometimes appointed with little preparation for school leadership and in underprivileged areas though some lacked sufficient training.
Kumasi, Sept. 27, GNA – Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has set up a three member committee to investigate public complaints about the operations of his Lands Secretariat.
The Bantamahene, Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia V, is the Chairman.
Accra, Sept. 27, GNA – Government has accepted the recommendations of the Digital Broadcasting Migration Committee (DBMC) to adopt the second generation Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standard, ETSIEN 302 755, popularly called, DVB-T2 for digital terrestrial television in Ghana.
It offers the flexibility of transmitting high definition (HD), standard definition (SD) and mobile television channels on the same transmission network.
Accra, Sept. 28, GNA – Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) has announced that the Enyenra-3A appraisal well in the Deepwater Tano licence offshore Ghana has “successfully encountered” oil in high quality sandstone reservoirs.
Accra, Sept. 28, GNA – The Africa Union (AU) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) have jointly called on multiple stakeholders involved in the Scaling Up Food and Nutrition Security in Africa programme to help strengthen its management and implementation.
Accra, Sept. 28, GNA – A three-day workshop designed to pre-validate the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), Working Group on Communication for Education and Development (WG COMED) tool-kit is underway in Accra.
Accra, Sept. 28, GNA – Mr Damain Green, United Kingdom (UK) Minister for Immigration, has announced that his Government would transfer 80 Ghanaians who have finished serving their jail terms in that country to Ghana as part of a prisoner-swap arrangement.
Accra, Sept. 29, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has launched the Policy Performance Management System which is expected to monitor and evaluate government policies and programmes.
Accra, Sept. 29, GNA- Vice President John Dramani Mahama has called for the implementation of a Customs union which had been on the drawing board of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)for years now.
Accra, Sept. 29, GNA – The government has launched a comprehensive industrial policy and clear cut industrial support programmes to enhance economic development, Ms Hannah Tetteh, the Minister of Trade and Industry, said in Accra.
Accra, Sept. 29, GNA – A pressure group calling itself “Coalition for the Protection of Individual Liberties and Constitutional Rights (COPCOR)” has appealed to Ghanaians to resist attempts by the management of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), majority shareholders, to sell The Trust Bank (TTB) to a foreign institution.
Kumasi, Sept 29, GNA – The National House of Chiefs has set up an eight-member legal committee to make recommendations to Parliament for amendment of certain portions of the Chieftaincy Act.
Takoradi, Sept. 29, GNA — Concerned Riggers and Offshore Workers have called on the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Regional Coordinating Council, Ministry of Energy and other stakeholders in the petroleum industry to intervene to enforce the local content policy to avert any conflict.
Accra, Sept. 29, GNA – Amnesty International has called on the Guinean authorities to investigate the deaths of three protesters killed during clashes between police and demonstrators at a banned opposition rally in the capital Conakry.
Accra, Sept. 29, GNA – Board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation has ranked Ghana’s Judiciary seventh out of 53 countries and fourth in terms of rule of law in its 2010 performance index of African countries.
Accra, Sept. 30, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has lashed out at public institutions which have given virtually negative responses to the requisite monthly updates of data for effective monitoring and evaluation.
Accra, Sept. 30, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to banking institutions to extend their operations into rural areas as a way of complementing the government’s efforts in rural development.
Accra, Sept. 30, GNA – Dr Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of Chamber of Mines, is retiring to pursue mining and other related interests, after 10 years of distinguished service to the mining industry.
Accra, Sept. 30, GNA – The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is expected to add three more international airlines to Ghana’s airspace by the end of the year, Air Commodore Kwame Mamphey(Rtd), Director-General of GCAA has announced in Accra.
Accra, Sept. 30, GNA – Dr Lorna Awo Renner, Consulting Paediatrician at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has said about 1,000 cases of childhood cancer cases were recorded annually in Ghana.
Globally, 250,000 childhood cancers are recorded annually.
MAJOR NEWS ITEMS FOR OCTOBER 2011
Accra, Oct. 3, GNA – The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood has announced that the Judiciary is working assiduously to come out with a framework document towards ensuring the resolution of electoral disputes in the country.
Accra, Oct. 3, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama has bemoaned the perennial refusal of lawyers to take up positions in the offices of the Legal Aid Scheme in the Upper East and Upper West Regions.
Accra, Oct. 3, GNA – Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communication, has observed that government had made giant strides in transforming the country into a modern information-rich and knowledge based society in terms of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) development.
Kumasi, Oct 3, GNA – Mr Clement Kofi Humado, Minister of Youth and Sports, has asked Ghanaians to support government as it worked to strengthen and expand the National Youth Employment Programme.
Accra, Oct.3, GNA – Mr Martin Amidu, Attorney General and Minister of Justice has pledged government’s commitment to review the Legal Aid Scheme Act, to properly position it to meet the needs of the indigent and vulnerable in society.
Accra, Oct. 4, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has cut the sod for work to commence on a 34-Courtroom Court Complex in Accra, with the assurance that Government would continue to support the Judiciary to operate in peace.
Accra, Oct. 4, GNA – Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications has said government would continue to ensure that the frequency spectrum, which was a scarce national resource, is efficiently managed by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to ensure sanity.
Accra, Oct. 4, GNA – Government has approved the road map and standards for the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications announced in Accra.
Accra, Oct. 4, GNA – The National Communications Authority (NCA) has said a total of 105,678 mobile phone subscribers in Ghana took advantage of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) by the end of September, 12 weeks since the commencement of the system.
Kuntanase (Ash), Oct. 4, GNA – The Government has made available GH¢3.0 million under its National Apprentice Programme (NAP) to train 5,000 Junior High School (JHS) graduates, who could not gain admission to Senior High Schools (SHS) in employable skills, this year.
Takoradi, Oct. 4, GNA — The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has initiated the Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project (GUMPP) in four cities with a 40 million Euros concessionary loan, Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, has said.
This is to give a clearer focus on urban development and management with Sekondi-Takoradi, Kumasi, Tamale and Ho as initial beneficiaries.
Buipe (N/R), Oct. 4, GNA – Women from the two factions of the Jinapor and the Lebu Gates have embarked on a peace march through the principal streets of Buipe calling on their men counterparts to give peace a chance.
Wa, Oct. 4, GNA – The Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund has set aside 20 million dollars to carry out business advocacy activities.
It is aimed at removing the bottlenecks associated with the business environment for the growth of businesses.
Accra, Oct. 4, GNA – The United States of America, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed $127 million for the next 12 months to aid Ghana’s development
It is part of a continuing partnership with Ghana to achieve shared objectives in democracy and governance, education, health and economic growth.
Koforidua, Oct. 6, GNA – More than 1,000 orphans at Krobo in the Eastern Region whose parents died of HIV/AIDS, have been identified following a home visit program by the Manya Krobo Queen Mothers Association (MKQMA).
Accra, Oct 6, GNA – Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has left Accra for London on his way to the US to pick up his prize as joint winner of the 2011 World Food Programme Prize.
The other winner is former Brazilian President Lula da Silva who together with former President Kufuor will share the prize money of $250,000.00
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara arrived in Accra for a day’s visit during which he would have a closed-door meeting with President John Evans Atta Mills and meet a section of the Ivorian Community in Ghana.
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) have signed an agreement for the voluntary repatriation of Ivorian refugees in Ghana.
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – Ivorian President Alassane Dramane Ouattara has expressed appreciation to President John Evans Atta Mills and the people of Ghana for their role in bringing peace to Cote d’Ivoire after its post-election crisis.
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – Ghana and La Cote d’Ivoire are to engage the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) to vigorously repatriate from Ghana, all Ivorian refugees identified to be ex-combatants, to a third country which does not have a common border with Cote d’Ivoire.
The measure is to reinforce the security situation in both countries, and Ghana’s President John Evans Atta Mills, has stated that Ghana would not encourage, tolerate nor support any dissident activity by Ivorian refugees from its territory.
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – Dr Toni Aubynn has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Mines effective Saturday, October 1.
He takes over from Ms Joyce Rosalyn Aryee who retired from the Chamber after 10 years of illustrious service.
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – Members of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) has called on the Government and the mining companies to move beyond the demands of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) of revenue disclosures to engage in contract disclosures.
Hohoe, Oct 6, GNA – A billion people on earth still defecate in the open and another billion use unsafe holes in the ground, a generation after man walked on the moon.
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has signed a 3.6 million-dollar memorandum of understanding with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to kick-start the New Village Movement Project in Accra.
Accra, Oct. 7, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Police in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to strengthen their relations as a powerful tool to fight political and economic crimes in the sub-Region.
Accra, Oct.7, GNA – Nigerian President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has arrived in Accra for a two-day State visit to Ghana.
Accra, Oct. 7, GNA – Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has been adjudged the Best Regional Airport in the Africa Region at the World Routes Awards 2011 in Berlin, Germany.
Accra, Oct 8, GNA – Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has toured the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum as part of his three-day official visit to Ghana.
Accra, Oct. 8, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has said leaders of countries in the West African sub-region must team-up to flush out elements engaged in trans-border crimes.
Singling out Ghana and Nigeria, President Mills said leaders of the two sister nations could dwell on their affinities to address trans-border crimes especially by Fulani herdsmen.
Accra, Oct. 8, GNA – Nigerian President and ECOWAS Chairman Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, at the end of a two-day State visit to Ghana, has said his vision was to make the people of West Africa act as one family.
Accra, Oct. 9, GNA – A 100-page book which chronicles the life and the history of the people of Nungua Krowor, a suburb in Accra has been launched.
Accra, Oct. 11, GNA – The Minerals Commission would soon establish a Special Prosecuting Unit to take legal action against illegal small-scale mining operators, popularly known as “galamsey.”
Accra, Oct. 10, GNA – Government has announced a floor price for sheanut purchases at GH¢32.00 per bag of 80kgs.
Tamale, Oct. 10, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama, has challenged district assemblies to develop effective strategies to improve on their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) collection and ensure the viability of the decentralization system.
He said the increase of IGF could enhance the public financial management capacity of the assemblies and enable them embark on more developmental projects.
Accra, Oct, 10, GNA – The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and its partners under the West Africa Human Rights and Democratization (WARHD) Alliance are in Monrovia to observe Liberia’s general elections slated for October 11, 2011.
Accra, Oct. 10, GNA – Ghana joined other nations around the world to commemorate the World Mental Health Day.
Accra, Oct. 11, GNA – The Third National Food and Agricultural Show (FAGRO), an annual agri-business event bringing together stakeholders in the sector, has opened in Accra with this year’s event focusing on value addition to improve the sector.
Accra Oct. 11, GNA – The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has said it was temporally withdrawing the Mobi-Game jackpot and Mobi-game 2 sure products.
Accra, Oct. 11, GNA – The World Bank has allocated $2.8 million to the Business Development Service Fund (BDS) this year.
Out of the amount, $1.5 million would be released for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and $1.3 million for the Renewable Energy Sector under the Ghana Energy Development and Access Project (GEDAP).
Accra, Oct. 11, GNA – The Ministry of Health has asked the striking doctors to return to work as negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission is underway (FWSC).
Accra, Oct. 11, GNA – The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), have expressed dissatisfaction about the migration of pharmacists unto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).
Accra, Oct. 11, GNA – The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its worldwide opposition to the death penalty and expressed the commitment to advocate for the abolition of the practice.
Accra, Oct. 12, GNA – The strike action being embarked by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has taken a toll on the Police and 37 Military Hospitals with an influx of patients to the two hospitals.
Accra, Oct. 12, GNA – The Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) on Wednesday called on striking rotation nurses to resume their clinical internship with immediate effect since all their grievances were being addressed.
Ho, Oct. 12, GNA – The Ghana Tourist Authority (GTA) is to license commercial swimming pool facilities, Spa, theme parks, beaches and health and leisure tourism related facilities.
This is to inject professionalism in their operations and ensure that tourists have value for their money.
Ada-Foah (G/A), Oct. 12, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has cut the sod for work to commence on the Ada Sea Defence Project.
The project, which is in two phases, stretches a distance of 14 kilometres from Ada-Foah.
Accra, Oct. 12, GNA- Vice President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the Government would partner all anti-corruption agencies towards the fight to eliminate or reduce corruption in the country.
Accra, Oct. 12, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has assured Ghanaians that the next one-and-a-half years would see a great improvement in social infrastructure to better their lives.
Agogo (Ash), Oct. 13, GNA – The youth of Agogo in the Asante-Akim North Municipality have given Fulani herdsmen in the area 10 days to re-locate with their animals or face forceful eviction.
Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – Newmont Ghana Gold Limited has paid more than $47 million (GH¢71.44 million) to government for the third quarter of the year.
The amount comprises $39 million for Corporate Income Tax, $6 million for the National Fiscal Stabilisation Levy, and $2 million as Mineral Royalties for September.
Accra, Oct. 19, GNA – Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo has said retired doctors and doctors in managerial positions would be deployed in health facilities to protect lives while government found solutions to contain the fall outs of the ongoing strike by members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).
Accra, Oct. 19, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has expressed the nation’s commendation and appreciation to the management and staff of 37 Military Hospital in Accra for their quick response to emergency situations.
Accra, Oct. 19, GNA – Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, has said Ghana-Turkey relationship was well matched as partners to harness trade and infrastructure relations to boost the economies of the two countries.
Accra, Oct 19, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has inaugurated a pipe water project at Sangonaa, a fisher community at Teshie in the Greater Accra Region to put to rest the over one decade water problem in the community.
Accra, Oct. 19, GNA – Nii Ansah-Adjaye, Chief Director, Ministry of Trade and Industry has called for the establishment of a national body that would direct and control occupational health and safety issues, particularly among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
Accra, Oct 20, GNA – Ghana and Turkey signed a one-billion-dollar trade agreement to strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries in Accra.
Accra, Oct. 25, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday appealed to signatories of the Yamoussoukro Accord on the Liberalization of Air Transport Market in Africa to help ensure that the continent possessed an improved air transport system.
Accra Oct.25, GNA – An Appeal filed by the Attorney General’s Department to overturn a decision by an Accra Fast Track High Court not to prosecute Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby aka Tarzan and Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, for causing financial loss to the state in the matters of the Ghana@50 celebrations has been adjourned sine die (indefinitely).
Tema, Oct. 25, GNA – About GHC200,000 was realised towards the establishment of the Tema General Hospital Endowment Fund at Tema.
Accra, Oct. 25, GNA – Mr James Victor Gbeho, President of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, has said approximately only 20 per cent of the African population has access to electricity.
Sunyani (B/A), Oct. 26, GNA – The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is to spend 72 million dollars under the Land Administration Project (LAP) Phase Two, which spans from 2011 to 2015.
Perth, Australia, Oct. 26, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama is expected to arrive in Perth, Australia to attend this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) slated for October 28 – 30.
Accra, Oct. 26, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills toured areas in Accra affected by floods that caused havoc in the capital and Tema after a downpour and commiserated with the people who have lost loved ones and their property.
Accra, Oct. 26, GNA – Members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) call off their strike.
Accra, Oct. 28, GNA – The mortal remains of the distinctive playwright Efo Kodjo Mawugbe, was llaid to rest at the Osu cemetery.
Perth-Australia, Oct. 28, GNA – Vice President John Dramani Mahama, on Friday joined 23 other Heads of Governments in the official opening ceremony of the 21st biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), in Perth, Australia.