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EgyptAir hijacked, lands at Cyprus airport

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March 29, 2016

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EgyptAir

An airliner has been hijacked and forced to divert to Larnaca airport on the south coast of Cyprus.

Flight MS181, an Airbus A320 carrying 81 passengers from Alexandria to Cairo, was taken over after a passenger said he was wearing an explosives belt.

Negotiations are under way but no demands have been made by those in control of the plane, reports say.

A local journalist has told the BBC that some passengers had been seen leaving the plane.

Larnaca airport has been closed and scheduled flights diverted elsewhere.

Live updates

“The pilot said that a passenger told him he had an explosives vest and forced the plane to land in Larnaca,” the Egyptian civil aviation ministry said in a statement.

Source BBC

Fake suicide belt used in Egypt Air hijack

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March 29, 2016

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Fake suicide belt used in Egypt Air hijack

An Egyptian hijacker who forced a domestic flight to land in Cyprus used a fake suicide belt, officials said.

His motives remain unclear but the Cypriot president said the incident was not terrorism-related.

Footage released by Egypt’s interior ministry shows the man passing through several security checks at Alexandria’s Borg El Arab airport.

The drama ended with all passengers released unhurt at Larnaca airport and the man giving himself up.

Cypriot officials named the hijacker as Seif Eldin Mustafa and said he was “psychologically unstable”.

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said Mustafa had initially asked to speak with his Cypriot ex-wife, who police brought to the airport, before making a series of “incoherent” demands.

Police in Cairo were questioning Mustafa’s relatives, AP news agency reported.

Questions over security

Egypt’s tourism ministry insisted all airport security measures had been “fully implemented” before EgyptAir Flight MS181 to Cairo took off.

CCTV footage released by the interior ministry shows Mustafa being frisked at two security checks and passing a slim bag through x-ray machines.

The BBC’s Youssef Taha says Egypt has taken steps to improve airport security after Russian Metrojet Flight 9268 was blown up over Sinai last October.

They include an extra $1bn a year and a deal with British consultancy Control Risks to review procedures at Cairo, Sharm El-Sheikh and Marsa Alam airports.

Despite this, our correspondent says checks remain inconsistent, with many VIPs and MPs refusing to be searched and airport and airline staff routinely bypassing full security screening.

‘Always a woman involved’

After a standoff lasting several hours, the hijacker walked down aircraft steps and surrendered to Cypriot security forces.

Shortly before that, several people were seen fleeing the aircraft, including one person, apparently a crew member, who climbed out of a cockpit window.

Other passengers had left the plane after appearing to have been released.

Earlier, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades had responded to a reporter’s question about whether the hijacker was motivated by romance, by laughing and saying: “Always there is a woman involved.”

EgyptAir said the Airbus A320 was carrying 56 passengers from Alexandria to Cairo, along with six crew and a security official.

A statement from Egypt’s civil aviation ministry said 26 foreign passengers were on board, including eight Americans, four Britons, four Dutch citizens, two Belgians, two Greeks, a French national, an Italian and a Syrian.

Larnaca airport, on the south coast of Cyprus, has been closed and scheduled flights diverted elsewhere.

Source: BBC

Voting begins in Abuakwa North by-election

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March 29, 2016

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Voting begins in Abuakwa North by-election

Three political parties – the New Patriotic Party, Ghana Freedom Party and and the United Front Party- are contesting in today’s election that is being conducted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana. Contesting are the NPP’s Gifty Twum-Ampofo, Frempong Samuel of the GFP and Isaac Kwarteng of UFP.

The National Democratic Congress, the Convention People’s Party and the Progressive People’s Party have pulled out of the by-election which was necessitated by the murder of the MP for the area, J.B Danquah Adu in February 2016 at his residence in Accra.

More than 40,000 people are expected to cast their votes at the 69 polling stations under the constituency.

As at 6:00am, all electoral materials had been distributed to the various voting centres, and the Police were also at hand to ensure a peaceful by-election.

By tv3network.com|Ghana

Distressed ex-GPHA workers urged to shun armed robbery

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March 29, 2016

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Robbery

Ex-workers of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) whose severance awards are yet to be paid, have been advised to shun armed robbery and other vices in their struggle to survive.

At a meeting in Tema, Mr Stephen Ashitey-Adjei, leader of the group, said although the temptation to steal to feed, clothe and console their wives and children was real, they should remember that crime only paid in the short term.

Only five of the workers, who were retrenched in 2002, he said, had received their benefits so far.

Mr Ashitey-Adjei, who is popularly known as Mo-shake, asked the ex-workers not to give up their fight for justice through legal means, which seemed to have eluded them since 2002, he said, because of political expediency.

He appealed to President John Mahama to treat the grievances of the ex-workers of GPHA with the dispatch and efficiency as he would have done with the affairs of Ministers, Members of Parliament and other Article 71 office holders.

“We always look up to the President to solve this nagging problem, which has destroyed many men, women and children; we hope that the President would ask the Ministry of Transport and GPHA to pay us what is due us,” he stated

About 500 out of the more than 3000 workers who were retrenched at GPHA in 2002 had lost their lives, he said.

Source: GNA | Ghana

Akufo-Addo’s security chief, Koda, is a ‘jail-breaker’ – Interior Ministry

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March 28, 2016

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ex SA police officers

It has emerged that the head of Nana Akufo-Addo’s security, Captain (rtd) Edmund Kojo Koda was a wanted person who once escaped from prison custody.

He has been profiled by the National Security after he was alleged to have again engaged in an unlawful act which was considered detrimental to the security of the state.

According to an Interior Ministry statement, “Captain Koda’s current arrest comes on the heels of a previous security alert in 2014, after his name popped up in a National Security investigation of the activities of some Serbian nationals who were brought into the country to train selected people drawn from across the country in the art of civil insurrection. A training dubbed ‘Assaulting the pillars of power’.”

The statement signed by the sector Minister, Prosper Bani and issued on Monday also recounted how Mr. Koda escaped from lawful custody into exile.

“As a young officer, Captain Koda had been involved in the AFRC regime. Following accusations of corruption he was convicted together with a colleague and incarcerated in the Ussher Fort Prison. They subsequently escaped during a jail break and went into exile outside Ghana.”

The statement follows the hullabaloo surrounding the arrest of three former South African police officers in Ghana by the Bureau of National Investigations for allegedly engaging in an unlawful act.

The three Ahmed Shaik Hazis, Denver Dwayne Naidu and Mlungiseleli Jokani have been charged for conspiracy to commit crime and unlawful training. They were granted bail in the sum of ¢20,000 with a surety each.

They have pleaded not guilty.

Captain (rtd) Koda who was also kept in BNI custody for over 48 hours was released on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has assured Ghanaians of the commitment of the security agencies and government to provide the required and utmost security to all.

“Should the need arise for any stakeholder to opt for private security as we have witnessed under this index case, we strongly advise that the mandatory legal processes are followed and exhausted. The peace, security and stability of our dear nation and its people shall always remain paramount to government,” the statement advised.

SA police court

BELOW IS THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR’s STATEMENT

PRESS RELEASE: ARREST OF THREE (3) SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONALS

1. Three (3) South-African Nationals namely, Ahmed Shaik HAZIS, Denver Dwayne NAIDU and Mlungiseleli JOKANI were arrested on 20/03/16 at EL CAPITANO Hotel at AGONA DUAKWA in the Central Region by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI). They were arrested while training fifteen (15) men in various security drills.

2. Two (2) of the suspects, JOKANI and NAIDU arrived in the country on 14/03/16 on South-African passport numbers A05213410 and M00096231 respectively. HAZIS arrived on 05/03/16 with Passport Number M00052092. HAZIS has visited Ghana several times between 2012 and 2016. They came into the country on B1 visas (temporary visas) for business.

3. The three (3) trainers revealed that they are retired police officers of the South-African Police Force. Mr. HAZIS is employed by iMvula Quality Protection as Director of Operations. NAIDU and JOKANI are employed by GLAEXEC Protection Services (GPS) (PTY Limited) of South-Africa as Directors.

4. A comprehensive report on the operations of Superlock Technologies Limited (STL) and an assessment of some key staff’s vulnerability for possible compromise was retrieved from HAZIS’S room. STL is the company contracted by the Electoral Commission to transmit tallied election results.

5. HAZIS denied authoring the document but indicated that it was given to him by DANI ISAACA, an Israeli based in South- Africa. HAZIS claimed he had not read the document which had been in his possession for about three (3) weeks. During interrogation it was evident that he was conversant with the content of the document.

6. The suspects denied that they were invited by Captain Kwesi ACQUAH, owner of Delta Force Security. However, all items for the training were shipped in the name of Delta Force Security and his hotel, El Capitano was used for the training. Captain Acquah was released from the Ghana Army in 1980.

7. HAZIS, the leader of the team, revealed that Captain Edmund Kojo KODA, Head of Nana Akufo ADDO’s Personal Security, who was in the Ghana Army at the same time as Captain Acquah, contracted him to train the Flagbearer’s Security detail and he in turn engaged the other two (2). He also disclosed that he was in the country in 2012 and worked closely with Captain KODA during the 2012 elections. As a young officer, Captain Koda had been involved in the AFRC regime. Following accusations of corruption he was convicted together with a colleague and incarcerated in the Ussher Fort Prison. They subsequently escaped during a jail break and went into exile outside Ghana.

8. Captain Koda’s current arrest comes on the heels of a previous security alert in 2014, after his name popped up in a National Security investigation of the activities of some Serbian nationals who were brought into the country to train selected people drawn from across the country in the art of civil insurrection. A training dubbed “Assaulting the pillars of power”.

9. During interrogation, Captain ACQUAH denied the claim that he invited the South Africans but indicated that Captain KODA requested to use his facility (EL CAPITANO Hotel) for the training of his personnel. He also indicated that it was purely a business arrangement with Captain KODA and nothing else. CAPTAIN KODA on his part confirmed that he invited the suspects to train his personnel. Captain KODA conceded that with hindsight he should have sought permission from the authorities before engaging in that exercise.

10. A review of the visa applications submitted by the three (3) South Africans revealed that two (2) of the suspects (JOKANI and NAIDU) were invited by Dr. Daniel MCKORLEY, Chairman, McDan Group of Companies while HAZIS was invited by Nana Attobrah QUAICOE, Director of Danquah Institute (DI). Efforts to reach the two gentlemen for questioning have so far not been successful.

11. Both Captains KODA and ACQUAH have been granted police inquiry bail pending further investigation.

12. On 23/03/16, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) started an investigation into the immigration status of the three (3) accused persons and requested the BNI to hand them over for further action. They were therefore released on 24/03/16 to the GIS as requested. Meanwhile, in line with regular practice the GIS requested that the BNI provide custody of the suspects. 13. During the course of investigation, the following places were searched: Captain KODA’s residence, Captain ACQUAH’s residence and Hotel El Capitano.

14. The security agencies of Ghana can assure the citizenry, political stakeholders and all who deem themselves to be high value targets to be assured of the commitment of the security agencies and government to provide the required and utmost security as has been exhibited since the commencement of our current democratic dispensation. Should the need arise for any stakeholder to opt for private security as we have witnessed under this index case, we strongly advise that the mandatory legal processes are followed and exhausted. The peace, security and stability of our dear nation and its people shall always remain paramount to government.

Signed:

PROSPER D.K. BANI

MINISTER FOR THE INTERIOR

By Isaac Essel | tv3network.com | Ghana

Security tightened at Kotoka Airport in wake of terror threat

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March 27, 2016

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The Ghana Airport Company has intensified its security checks and procedures with immediately effect following the countries decision to be alert in the wake of recent terror attacks in the sub region.

Passengers and the traveling public would have to comply with the new directives which are to be replicated in regional airports across the country.

The new measures include “Screening of passengers before entering the departure hall, Restricting entry into the Terminal to only the travelling public, Preventing all unauthorised persons from accessing restricted areas, Preventing parking of unauthorised vehicles in front of the terminal.”

A statement from the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) further indicated that the “meeting and greeting area would be decongested in the Airport square and police and military presence has also been intensified”

The GACL is soliciting the co-operation of the public to ensure the airport area is secure.

These directives follow recent attacks in the Mali, Burkina Faso and for the fact that Ghana has been named by some security experts as a probable target.

The Brussels Airport in Belgium was attacked on Tuesday March 22, 2016 leaving about 34 people dead and several others wounded.

Ghana’s Interior Ministry and the security agencies have given indications that they are on the alert and on top of the situation across the country with the aim of preventing any untoward attacks on the country.

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|tv3network.com|Ghana
Twitter: @NewsyMartin

Rubber farmers protest against GREL over earnings

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March 27, 2016

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More than 1000 rubber farmers in the Western and Central regions have protested against the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) over what they term ‘the low market prices offered for their produce.’

The farmers staged a two-hour demonstration from Agona-Nkwanta to Apeminin in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region, and presented a petition to the Management of GREL and the Agriculture Development Bank (ADB).

Mr. John Cobbinah, the Chairman of the Western Rubber Farmers Association (WRUFA), told the media that GREL paid them GH¢ 1,400.00 per a tonne of rubber; instead of the world market price of GH¢ 4,000.00.

He said the monies paid to rubber tappers, agricultural extension officers and farm maintenance fees had drastically reduced their earnings with the farmers taking a paltry GH¢ 400.00 per tonne after these deductions.

He alleged that since GREL was the sole company mandated to purchase rubber produce in the country, it had taken advantage of its monopoly to cheat the farmers.

He, therefore, appealed to the Government to diversify the purchasing rights of rubber in the country so that other investors could offer competitive purchasing prices for the more than 8,000 rubber farmers in the country.

Mr. Cobbinah said that GREL contacted some farmers in 1995 and convinced them to destroy their cocoa, coconuts and palm tree plantations as well as food crops in order to grow rubber plantations and promised to offer them better market prices for their produce in order to alleviate poverty among them.

However, he said, the prices paid by GREL for the commodity over the years was not encouraging, which had plunged them into financial difficulties.

Moreover, he said, GREL also deducted the cost of shipping the commodity abroad from farmers’ earnings, while the cost of the farming inputs and equipment supplied to them were deducted in Euro values, which had made rubber farmers poorer than before.

He said the agricultural loans provided to the rubber farmers by the ADB Bank and the National Investment Bank were calculated on a Compound Interest rate of 25 per cent instead of at the 10 per cent Simple Interest Rate, as agreed upon with them initially.

“Therefore,” he said, “this situation has become a burden on the farmers and we feel cheated all these years by the banks and if nothing is done to reverse it, farmers cannot redeem the loan.”

Mr. Cobbinah explained that due to their financial constraints, the farmers currently could not pay their children’s school fees and many of their wives had threatened them with divorce.

Nana Kofi Akesse, the Kontehen of Supormu Dunkwa, who is also a rubber farmer, warned that if the prices of the commodity were not increased, the farmers would be forced to sell their produce in neighbouring Cote D’Ivoire, which offered better prices to farmers.

Mr. Perry Acheampong, the Corporate Affairs Manager of GREL, who received the petition on behalf of the Company, assured the farmers that the Company would act upon their concerns and grievances and entreated them to exercise patience.

Source: GNA | Ghana

US Election 2016: Sanders wins Washington, Alaska and Hawaii

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March 27, 2016

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Bernie Sanders has swept to victory over Hillary Clinton in all three states that voted for the Democratic presidential nominee on Saturday.

The biggest prize was Washington state, but Mr Sanders also won in Alaska and Hawaii, boosting his campaign.

He took at least 70% of the vote in all three states.

Mr Sanders thanked his supporters and said his “campaign has the momentum”, but he still faces a tough task to overhaul Mrs Clinton.

After Saturday’s caucuses, she leads Mr Sanders by 1,243 delegates to 975, the Associated Press count shows.

When superdelegates – party officials who can support either candidate – who have so far declared their allegiance are included, Mrs Clinton is ahead by 1,712 to 1,004 in the race to reach 2,383 delegates.

Bigger battles ahead

Washington was the most significant of the three states voting on Saturday, with 101 delegates up for grabs. There were 16 delegates on offer in Alaska and 25 in Hawaii.

Mr Sanders won 73% of the vote in Washington against 27% for Mrs Clinton, AP reports.

He won a massive 82% of the vote in Alaska, against 18% for Mrs Clinton. In the Hawaii caucus, Mr Sanders won by 70% to 30%.

In total, Mr Sanders won 55 delegates and Mrs Clinton secured 20. More delegates from Washington will be allocated in coming weeks.

Celebrating via Twitter, Mr Sanders said: “Thank you, Alaska! Together we are sending a message that this government belongs to all of us… Washington, thank you for your huge support! It is hard for anybody to deny that our campaign has the momentum.”

Mr Sanders earlier told supporters in Wisconsin: “This is what momentum is about. Don’t let anybody tell you we can’t win the nomination or win the general election. We’re going to do both of those things.”

Mr Sanders had spent the week on the west coast, rallying support among liberals and the left-wing.

Mr Sanders was trying to build on overwhelming victories in last Tuesday’s caucuses in Idaho and Utah.

However, he suffered defeat in Arizona, and although his delegate haul from the three states was 20 higher than Mrs Clinton, he failed to make major inroads into her lead.

Mrs Clinton pointed out last week that she had “2.6 million more votes” than Mr Sanders.

She campaigned less in the three states that voted on Saturday, perhaps expecting the defeats, and spent Easter with her family.

Despite Saturday’s results, the battle will be won and lost in far bigger states still to come. In RealClearPolitics poll averages, Mrs Clinton has the lead over Mr Sanders by nine percentage points in California, 34 points in New York and 28 in Pennsylvania.

Calculations suggest Mr Sanders may need to win two-thirds of the remaining delegates – in primaries, caucuses and among so-far uncommitted super-delegates – the unelected officials who can vote for their candidate of choice at the party’s election convention.

‘Ripped off’

There was no voting in the Republican race on Saturday.

Donald Trump leads Ted Cruz by 739 delegates to 465, with a total of 1,237 needed to win the Republican nomination, according to AP.

Mr Trump has meanwhile given more details about his planned foreign policy.

He told the New York Times he was not an isolationist, but was concerned that America had been let down by its partners and allies.

He said: “We have been disrespected, mocked and ripped off for many, many years by people that were smarter, shrewder, tougher.

“So America first, yes, we will not be ripped off anymore. We’re going to be friendly with everybody, but we’re not going to be taken advantage of by anybody,” he said.

The delegate tracker

Winning delegates, the people who endorse a candidate at the party conventions in July, is key to securing the nomination.

The Democratic totals include the delegates won per state, as well as so-called “unpledged” or “super delegates”. Hillary Clinton has a huge lead among the party leaders and elected officials who each get a vote at the convention.

AP conducts surveys of these super delegates, and adds them to a candidate’s totals if they indicate their support. But super delegates can – and do – change their minds during the course of the campaign, so the figures may shift as the race unfolds.

Source: BBC

Manager at School Farms Program to speak at international conference

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March 27, 2016

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Manager at School Farms Program to speak at international conference

Mr. Alfred Godwin Adjabeng has been invited to speak at the 2016 Youth Agribusiness, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Summit on Innovation (YALESI) from March 29 – March 31, 2016 in Dakar, Senegal.

He will join 10 head of states, two international stars, 250 youth participants, 100 youth journalists, 100 youth bloggers, 100 youth twitter experts, 100 sponsor organizations to develop 10 research papers, 1 manual, 1 short documentary, 1 catalogue, 1 YALESI report, and 1 application at the summit.

The summit will prioritize young people’s needs, considering their developmental needs, and including underserved populations, such as girls, to an effective and inclusive employment strategy.

The summit, representing over 100 countries, will give its participants the tools to learn and share how young women and men, especially in rural areas, are increasingly acquiring new capacities and developing innovative solutions to transform themselves as Hunger Fighters, Job Creators, Innovators, and Change Agents. Youth participants and partner organizations will present proven innovative agribusiness and entrepreneurship practices by sharing their knowledge, expertise, challenges and success stories.

Alfred Godwin Adjabeng will be speaking at the plenary session on the 31st of March, 2016 at 10:30am on – ‘Achieving #ZeroHunger in Schools: The School Farms Program’s Approach’.

Alfred Godwin Adjabeng is the Program Manager of School Farms Program, a rural community-based school feeding support program that empowers local community schools to grow their own food whilst creating a space to help students gain practical skills and explore opportunities in Agriculture.
Link to event speaker’s profile: http://yalesi.org/speaker/alfred-godwin-adjabeng/ Link to the event: http://yalesi.org

Source: tv3network.com

If I were violent, Ghana would’ve burnt in 2012 – Nana Addo

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March 27, 2016

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The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo has for the first time spoken on the raging discourse over the arrest and detention of 3 South African ex-cops who were brought into the country to train bodyguards of flagbearer.

Speaking to some chiefs in the Eastern region as part of his Easter visit to the region, Nana Addo indicated that the machinations against him will not succeed because he is “not a violent person.”

The chiefs had mentioned that Ghana is a peaceful country and as we head into the elections all political players should be law abiding and not lead the country into chaos.

It was on the back of this advice that Nana Addo said “I have heard your advice and thank you for it. It is obvious that I’m very patient person. Some people are trying to portray me as a violent individual but I’m not.”

The NPP flagbearer further indicated that “If I were violent I would have caused Ghana to burn in 2012 but that was not the case… If there would be any violence in Ghana, it will never come from the NPP.

The three time presidential hopeful added that “I love Ghana more than I love myself.”

The last week has been dominated by discussions of some three South Africans ex-police officers who were arrested for training some persons believed to be the bodyguards of the NPP flagbearer.

The three were granted bail in court but were whisked away by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and are still in custody following the inability of their lawyers for fulfill their bail bonds.

The BNI has been chastised for their conduct and the NPP says it will later in the week meet to decide on the way forward with regard to this development.

Nana Addo has however said “we want peace in Ghana and we love democracy. The founders of our party love democracy and hence sacrificed their lives for Ghana…”

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|tv3network.com|Ghana
Twitter: @NewsyMartin

Drug Administration Policy detrimental to rural dwellers – MP

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March 27, 2016

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The Member of Parliament for Banda, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, has stated that the review in the Drug Administration Policy of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) would not benefit people in the rural areas.

He said that Policy would render Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds ineffective and cut off most rural communities from accessing healthcare services.

Mr. Ibrahim made the statement at a durbar at Banda-Ahenkro in the Banda District of Brong-Ahafo Region in honour of Mrs. Lordina Mahama, the First Lady, who was in the area to donate medical suppliers from the Lordina Foundation to the Banda-Ahenkro Health Centre.

He said the CHPS compounds served as the immediate source of healthcare in rural and deprived communities, hence such a policy was inimical to their health and well-being.

“According to the new policy, which took effect in March 2016, deliveries are not even supposed to be done at the CHPS Zones, while certain basic drugs which hitherto were administered at the facilities have been removed,” the Banda MP explained.

Mr. Ibrahim, who is the Deputy Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, said the Government was using the CHPS system to enhance access to healthcare delivery in Ghana and most importantly reduce maternal mortality.

“Hence the implementation of that policy by the GHS is contrary to Government’s Health Policy”, and, therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Health to intervene for its review in the interest of the rural dwellers.

“If all the investments in the CHPS system, including the 10 per cent deductions from the salaries of Government Appointees were allowed to go to waste, Ghana would be the ultimate loser,” Mr. Ibrahim added.

Mrs. Mahama appealed to Ghanaians to go for regular medical check-ups for early detection of diseases for their efficient management to prevent untimely deaths.

On behalf of the Lordina Foundation, she donated medical suppliers including hospital beds valued at thousands of Ghana Cedis to the Banda-Ahenkro Health Centre.

When contacted, Dr. Osei Kuffour Afreh, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Deputy Director, Public Health, however, explained to the Ghana News Agency that the GHS was not implementing any New Drug Administration Policy.

“Rather the new wave that the National Health Insurance Authority is towing in the removal of some commodities such as antibiotics and also essential services like emergency deliveries at the Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds,” he explained

This would greatly affect the achievement of universal health coverage at the lower level of the health services delivery in the country.”

Source: GNA | Ghana

Pope delivers Easter message of hope after grim week of terror

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March 27, 2016

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Pope Francis preached an Easter message of hope after a grim week in Europe, calling on Christians not to let fear and pessimism “imprison” them.

Speaking amid tight security at the Vatican, the Pope said: “Let us not allow darkness and fear to distract us and control our hearts.”

His message followed a condemnation on Friday of the Brussels terror attacks.

Islamist violence is expected to be a prominent theme of his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” Easter message.

Many pilgrims cancelled their planned trips to Rome in the wake of the violence in Brussels, but St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican was packed when Pope Francis celebrated mass on Saturday evening.

The Pontiff entered a darkened basilica with just a single candle guiding him. As he reached the altar, the basilica’s floodlights came on to symbolise the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Delivering his homily, Francis said: “Today is the celebration of our hope. It is so necessary today.”

The lengthy vigil service also included a papal baptism for 12 adults hailing from China, South Korea and other countries around the world.

On Sunday morning, Francis will preside over Easter Mass and offer his annual Easter blessing.

On Friday, he denounced the “terrorist acts committed by followers of some religions which profane the name of God and which use the holy name to justify their unprecedented violence”.

Meanwhile, Vatican officials distributed sleeping bags to 100 homeless people.

The police presence in the streets around the Vatican has been stepped up this year, as more pilgrims than usual are expected after Francis declared a jubilee year for the Catholic Church, calling it a “Holy Year of Mercy.”

Source: BBC

2016 Vegetable Sector Business Opportunities Report launched

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March 27, 2016

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2016 Vegetable Sector Business Opportunities Report launched

The 2016 Ghana Vegetable Sector Business Opportunities Report was launched at the GhanaVeg Business Platform Meeting on 22nd March.

The first copy of the report was handed over to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, by the Netherlands Acting Ambassador to Ghana, Ms. Caecilia Wijgers during a ceremony at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.

The report presents key business cases and strategies for increasing vegetable production and sales in the domestic and export markets.

The 2016 Vegetable Sector Business Opportunities report provides in-depth analyses of the domestic vegetable sector; an analysis for private extension services; as well as a business cases for a medium-sized, professional export farm. The report also sheds light on how to combat the current phytosanitary problems, especially related to the False Codling Moth (FCM) and White Fly which were, to a large extent, responsible for the export ban onchilies and gourds.

Also featured in the report is the emerging certification scheme, Ghana Green Label, which focuses on reducing food safety risks in the local market. The scheme ensures that the activities of vegetable producers are carried out in an environmentally responsive and sustainable manner. This certification is targeted at the local Ghanaian market, but also tries to provide a platform for producers to enroll in other global certifications schemes such as Global GAP.

Speaking at the 11th Business Platform Meeting themed Getting the Basics Right – Agronomic Practices and Private Extension, the Netherlands Acting Ambassador to Ghana, Ms. Caecilia Wijgers, emphasized that “with this new report we expect that all vegetable companies have the information required to expand and innovate their business”.

The report is the second in a series and focuses on key business opportunities in Ghana’s vegetables sector.

“While the first report focused more on the export vegetables sector, the current report pays much attention to post-harvest innovations; like simple solutions for cold storage and packaging”. Also, the report proposes options for fresh delivery systems that bring quality vegetables closer to the consumers.
Another significant activity that took place during the event was the introduction of the GhanaVeg E-Learning Portal. This portal hosts Agronomic Training Modules for vegetable farmers and agronomists. Currently, the portal hosts two units which provide comprehensive and practical information on crop protection and soil fertility management. The modules will further support the training of 60 GhanaVeg Super Trainers, who are receiving intensive agronomic courses. The GhanaVeg Super Trainers will in turn train at least 50 farmers, either through their involvement in outgrower schemes, vegetable associations, extension services or the input packages they supply.

Touching on the essence of the Agronomic Modules, Mr. Joep van den Broek, the GhanaVeg Program Leader, said “we want to scale up our activities, so that most commercial vegetable farmers are reached by these modules. Already, we support a large number of agro-input companies and outgrower schemes to increase training to their farmers; and we believe that Ghana is ready for a demand driven commercial vegetable extension service. It is exactly through that approach of dedicated companies that go the extra mile, combined with backstopping from our e-learning modules, that scale and impact can be achieved”.

He used the opportunity to encourage all stakeholders to apply for the GhanaVeg funds in the areas of private extension, innovative irrigation, protected horticulture, chain integration and R&D for input supply, to enhance the growth in the sector.

The Business Platform was attended by around 150 vegetable sector professionals and is part of a quarterly series of meetings. The Platform Meetings discuss on innovative business opportunities, challenges in the business climate and they try to stimulate new business partnerships between companies.

About GhanaVeg
GhanaVeg is an initiative supported by the Netherlands Embassy. It is implemented by Wageningen UR, IFDC and NABC. The 3-monthly GhanaVeg Business Platform Meetings bring together the leading vegetable sector companies of Ghana and government representatives. The Platform meetings discuss on innovative business opportunities, challenges in the business climate and they try to stimulate new business partnerships between companies.

Public advised to assist security agencies to combat human trafficking

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March 27, 2016

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Public advised to assist security agencies to combat human trafficking

A Political Officer at the Embassy of the United States of America, Mr Fred F. Odisho, has called on Ghanaians to promptly report cases involving human and child trafficking to the security agencies in the country.

The move, according to him, would enable security personnel to swiftly apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of such crime.

His comments come on the back of reports that about 190,000 individuals are trafficked in Ghana to indulge in many obscure enterprises such as forced labour and commercial sex.

Mr Odisho, who was speaking at a ceremony organized in Accra by Engage Now Africa, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) committed to eradicating modern slavery in Ghana, described human trafficking as a grave concern in the country.

He intimated that the way to address the trend is to increase sensitization and education of the citizenry to keep them abreast with the hazards of human trafficking.

During a presentation session at the forum, participants appealed to the government to provide funds and incentives to support institutions and organizations aligned to the eradication of human trafficking in the country.

In an interview with Onua FM, the Assistant Director of End Modern Slavery at Engage Now Africa, Mr David Kofi Awusi, bemoaned that despite the legal framework in place, efforts at eradicating the menace has not been encouraging.

He attributed it to financial constraints faced by organizations such as DOVVSU and Social Welfares, and the lack of public education on the menace.

Emmanuel Tawiah Forson | Onua 95.1FM

Be ambassadors of road safety –NRSC urges media

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March 26, 2016

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The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) has appealed to the media to disseminate appropriate information that would keep the citizenry abreast with road safety measures.

According to Director of Planning and Programmes at the NRSC, Mr David Adonteng, the major contributory factor that has given rise to the spate of road accidents in the country is inadequate public education.

He also called on the various security forces as well as the DVLA, MTTD, MMDAs, and the GPRTU to support it to reduce the carnage on the road.

He made these remarks in Accra at a media briefing to launch the Easter road safety campaign organized by the Commission.

The project is intended to devise means to safeguard the citizenry from vehicular and motor accidents before, during and after the Easter festivity.

The yearlong initiative would see the NRSC organising sensitization programmes in Churches, mosques, shopping malls, and use of social media to educate the public on safety measures on the country’s roads.

The NRSC also made a passionate appeal to drivers in the country to be conscious of the safety of their passengers and pedestrians.

The Commission also warned drivers to eschew the habit of overspeeding, saying that only institutions such as Fire and Ambulance Services, Armed Forces and the Police, among other recognized entities are exempted from overspeeding due to the nature of their jobs.
Emmanuel Tawiah Forson | Onua FM