THE Ghana Air force has launched its golden jubilee celebrations with a call on all officers to be dedicated to their duties.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air-Vice Marshal M. Samson-Oje, who made the call, said the Ghana Air force had grown tremendously since its establishment as a flying training school, hence the need for the officers to be proactive in the discharge of their duties .
The GAF, he noted, could now boast three transport squadrons, a fighter ground attack squadron and a helicopter squadron located at the Accra, Takoradi and Tamale Air Force bases.
He said as the country joined the league of oil producing nations, the GAF had an important role to provide the capabilities needed to secure this very important national asset.
Air-Vice Marshal Samson-Oje announced that the Air Force would soon acquire new platforms, ground equipment, support infrastructure, as well as transport and rotary wing aircraft, and construct new hangers to enable it to discharge its duties effectively.
He said the Ministry of Defence was establishing a helicopter squadron at the Air Force Station in Takoradi to support national security priorities and oil exploration activities.
Despite its tremendous growth, the Chief of Air Staff said, the GAF was faced with numerous challenges, including operational infrastructure difficulties such as aged fleet and support facilities.
Air-Vice Marshal Samson-Oje enumerated other problems of the GAF as technical difficulty in meeting the demands of the United Nations operation in Cote d’Ivoire and the loss of officers to the public and private sectors of the economy.
The month-long celebrations, scheduled from October 29 to November 29, 2009, will be crowned with a raffle draw, with the winner taking home a KIA Picanto car.
In a related development the Minister of Defence, Lt-General J.H Smith (retd), has cut the sod for a 52-unit Air Force Golden Jubilee block to house 104 junior officers of the Ghana Air Force (GAF).
The building, which is expected to be completed in 18 months, is part of measures by the Ministry of Defence to tackle the accommodation problems facing service personnel as the GAF celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Lt-Gen. Smith said having been in the service before, he had foreknowledge of the precarious accommodation problem facing service personnel.
He explained that he made it a priority, on assumption of office as a Minister for Defence, to tackle the problem head-on.
He urged the Chief of Air Staff to forward any obstacle he might encounter concerning the building to the ministry for assistance to facilitate the early completion of the building.
Lt-General Smith paid glowing tribute to the first President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who officially opened the Flying Training School in Accra on September 11, 1959.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
SEVEN TO PROBE TEMA SHIPYARD (SPREAD, OCT 22)
THE Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, inaugurated a seven-member committee to ascertain the extent and scope of corporate malfeasance at the PSC Tema Shipyard and Drydock Company in Accra yesterday.
He said since the government divested 60 per cent of its shares in the company in 1997, the company had attracted a lot of public attention, more often in the bad light.
The minister explained that with a huge potential to maintain and improve on its viability, PSC Tema Shipyard had come under severe criticism, particularly from the media and workers who had accused the management of malfeasance and impropriety.
He said recent revelations from an internal audit report in the media left much to be desired and indicated that over the last two years, the Internal Audit Department had operated under a lot of constraints and frustrations and that in spite of persistent complaints about weak internal audit controls, management did not do anything about them.
He said another major concern of the government and Ghanaian taxpayers was the manner in which the original majority shareholders (Malaysians) transferred the shares to another company, after the divestiture, without recourse to the original divestiture agreement in 1998.
Mr Hammah said it was to bring about sanity in the operations of PSC Tema Shipyard and other related issues that the ministry had found it necessary and imperative to set up the imvestigative committee.
He spelt out the terms of reference of the committee to include assessing the commercial performance of the company since its inception in 1998, as well as its financial viability.
The minister said the committee, chaired by a legal practitioner, Mr Chris Ackummey, would also imvestigate the reasons underlying the incessant labour unrest and how it had affected operational performances.
He said the committee would establish whether there was any corporate malfeasance and if so, how it had negatively affected the company.
Mr Hammah stressed that the committee was not set up for any witch hunting purposes but to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the numerous allegations and allow for appropriate steps to be taken to safeguard the taxpayer's money and steer the company to contribute its expected quota towards the overall development of the country.
Other members of the committee are Mrs Ama Bamful of the Attorney-General's Department, Mr George Winful of the Auditor-General's Department, Mr A. A. Akanteyam of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Ansah of the Ministry of Transport, Mr Seth Kugblenu, a marine engineer, and Lt Commander Kpesse (retd).
He said since the government divested 60 per cent of its shares in the company in 1997, the company had attracted a lot of public attention, more often in the bad light.
The minister explained that with a huge potential to maintain and improve on its viability, PSC Tema Shipyard had come under severe criticism, particularly from the media and workers who had accused the management of malfeasance and impropriety.
He said recent revelations from an internal audit report in the media left much to be desired and indicated that over the last two years, the Internal Audit Department had operated under a lot of constraints and frustrations and that in spite of persistent complaints about weak internal audit controls, management did not do anything about them.
He said another major concern of the government and Ghanaian taxpayers was the manner in which the original majority shareholders (Malaysians) transferred the shares to another company, after the divestiture, without recourse to the original divestiture agreement in 1998.
Mr Hammah said it was to bring about sanity in the operations of PSC Tema Shipyard and other related issues that the ministry had found it necessary and imperative to set up the imvestigative committee.
He spelt out the terms of reference of the committee to include assessing the commercial performance of the company since its inception in 1998, as well as its financial viability.
The minister said the committee, chaired by a legal practitioner, Mr Chris Ackummey, would also imvestigate the reasons underlying the incessant labour unrest and how it had affected operational performances.
He said the committee would establish whether there was any corporate malfeasance and if so, how it had negatively affected the company.
Mr Hammah stressed that the committee was not set up for any witch hunting purposes but to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the numerous allegations and allow for appropriate steps to be taken to safeguard the taxpayer's money and steer the company to contribute its expected quota towards the overall development of the country.
Other members of the committee are Mrs Ama Bamful of the Attorney-General's Department, Mr George Winful of the Auditor-General's Department, Mr A. A. Akanteyam of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Ansah of the Ministry of Transport, Mr Seth Kugblenu, a marine engineer, and Lt Commander Kpesse (retd).
Monday, October 19, 2009
MINISTER LAUNCHES 'GROW AND EAT GHANA' CAMPAIGN (PAGE 21, OCT 17)
THE Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has launched the ‘Grow and Eat Ghana’ campaign to rally Ghanaians in support of the production, distribution and consumption of food grown and processed in Ghana.
Launching the project in Accra yesterday, Mr Ahwoi called on corporate bodies, food importing companies and consumers to come on board and, in conjunction with local farmers, promote and support the campaign.
The durbar of chiefs and people at which the project was launched also marked World Food Day, which was celebrated this year on the theme, “Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis”.
The minister, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Livestock, Dr Alfred Tia, said it was regrettable that there had been a marked under-investment in African agriculture since the 1970s, leading to the importation of food into Africa to feed its people and refugees.
He expressed the hope that the World Food Summit scheduled for October 2009 would come up with key remedial actions to help move food security forward and eradicate hunger from the continent.
Mr Ahwoi appealed to the committee in charge of the TeleFood Project in Ghana to implement telefood activities to generate resources to assist local poor farmers and entrepreneurial youth.
The minister also appealed to corporate bodies and other institutions, both private and public, to freely go to the aid of the vulnerable in society to ensure that food security was achieved, especially in the rural areas.
He said the government had developed a medium term (2010 -2015) plan to implement a number of projects that would target a six per cent growth rate in the agricultural sector.
Mr Ahwoi said the target was informed by the need for an agricultural growth rate of about six per cent that ought to be sustained over a period of at least 10 years to ensure food security and rapid economic growth similar to that of middle-income countries.
The Officer in charge of the FAO sub-regional office for West Africa and FAO Representative in Ghana, Mr Musa Saibou Mbenga, who delivered a speech on behalf of the FAO Director-General, Dr Jacques Diouf, said the theme for this year’s celebration provided a clarion call to address the threat and challenges of food security.
He said it was time to invigorate all concerned and strengthen their resolve to dispense with complacency by putting together the right policies and programmes and move with a concerted effort to achieve the objectives of sustainable food security.
Dr Diouf said the FAO was ready to partner the government to consolidate both the short and medium-term measures put in place to mitigate the negative effects of the food crisis and those being established to ensure longer term sustainable food security and poverty reduction in the country.
Launching the project in Accra yesterday, Mr Ahwoi called on corporate bodies, food importing companies and consumers to come on board and, in conjunction with local farmers, promote and support the campaign.
The durbar of chiefs and people at which the project was launched also marked World Food Day, which was celebrated this year on the theme, “Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis”.
The minister, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Livestock, Dr Alfred Tia, said it was regrettable that there had been a marked under-investment in African agriculture since the 1970s, leading to the importation of food into Africa to feed its people and refugees.
He expressed the hope that the World Food Summit scheduled for October 2009 would come up with key remedial actions to help move food security forward and eradicate hunger from the continent.
Mr Ahwoi appealed to the committee in charge of the TeleFood Project in Ghana to implement telefood activities to generate resources to assist local poor farmers and entrepreneurial youth.
The minister also appealed to corporate bodies and other institutions, both private and public, to freely go to the aid of the vulnerable in society to ensure that food security was achieved, especially in the rural areas.
He said the government had developed a medium term (2010 -2015) plan to implement a number of projects that would target a six per cent growth rate in the agricultural sector.
Mr Ahwoi said the target was informed by the need for an agricultural growth rate of about six per cent that ought to be sustained over a period of at least 10 years to ensure food security and rapid economic growth similar to that of middle-income countries.
The Officer in charge of the FAO sub-regional office for West Africa and FAO Representative in Ghana, Mr Musa Saibou Mbenga, who delivered a speech on behalf of the FAO Director-General, Dr Jacques Diouf, said the theme for this year’s celebration provided a clarion call to address the threat and challenges of food security.
He said it was time to invigorate all concerned and strengthen their resolve to dispense with complacency by putting together the right policies and programmes and move with a concerted effort to achieve the objectives of sustainable food security.
Dr Diouf said the FAO was ready to partner the government to consolidate both the short and medium-term measures put in place to mitigate the negative effects of the food crisis and those being established to ensure longer term sustainable food security and poverty reduction in the country.
Friday, October 16, 2009
STUDENTS ARE AGENTS OF CHANGE — OKYENHENE (PAGE 17, OCT 16)
The Okyehene, Osagyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin, has advised students of the country’s universities to see themselves as agents of change in the social economic development of the country.
He has therefore urged students to disabuse the notion that education is meant solely to prepare them as tools for hiring.
Osagyefo Amotia made the remarks at a symposium organised at the University of Ghana to launch the 10th anniversary celebrations of his ascendncy to the Ofori Panin Stool and activities to herald the establishment of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies at Bunso in the Eastern Region.
He said even though prospective students of the university could match any student elsewhere in the developed countries, their first aim would be to turn out students that were self-reliant and could depend on their skills to generate employment for themselves.
He called on the students not to be afraid of changing the old ways of doing things since without risks, they could not start their own businesses and create jobs for the less fortunate ones.
He explained that the focus of the university was to empower Ghanaians to create wealth and use their capital to create jobs.
The Okyenhene urged students to stop having doubts in themselves, study hard and venture into the field of computer engineering and environmental science, which were capturing centre stage in the information age the global village.
The Okyenhene said the University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies was a purely private initiative spearheaded by the Abuakwa Traditional Area to supplement effort of the government in the area of science.
He explained that the university, which would focus on science, would provide timely research findings for farmers to crop their lands in the era of climate change, which could have profound implications for agriculture world-wide.
Professor Yaa Ntiamoah-Badu of the School of Research and Graduate Studies of the University of Ghana, who delivered a paper at the symposium on theme: “Sustainable Environment for Quality Life” called on the university to cut a notch for itself in agricultural and environmental studies and not toe the line of the old universities in the country.
She urged the university to explore potential areas such as the oil and gas industries by coming up with up-to-date research work to aid the development of the industry, especially its environmental impact on the country.
She said even though Ghana was an agricultural country, it was a net importer of various food items because the sector had been neglected by the universities and previous governments.
She said the new university had the opportunity to change the mindset of Ghanaians and the government that they were capable of achieving food security for themselves.
Prof. Ntiamoah-Badu noted that farmers could be empowered by research from the new university to change their old agricultural practice and adopt new sustainable ways to help increase food production for both domestic consumption, as well as for export, to earn foreign exchange for the country.
He has therefore urged students to disabuse the notion that education is meant solely to prepare them as tools for hiring.
Osagyefo Amotia made the remarks at a symposium organised at the University of Ghana to launch the 10th anniversary celebrations of his ascendncy to the Ofori Panin Stool and activities to herald the establishment of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies at Bunso in the Eastern Region.
He said even though prospective students of the university could match any student elsewhere in the developed countries, their first aim would be to turn out students that were self-reliant and could depend on their skills to generate employment for themselves.
He called on the students not to be afraid of changing the old ways of doing things since without risks, they could not start their own businesses and create jobs for the less fortunate ones.
He explained that the focus of the university was to empower Ghanaians to create wealth and use their capital to create jobs.
The Okyenhene urged students to stop having doubts in themselves, study hard and venture into the field of computer engineering and environmental science, which were capturing centre stage in the information age the global village.
The Okyenhene said the University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies was a purely private initiative spearheaded by the Abuakwa Traditional Area to supplement effort of the government in the area of science.
He explained that the university, which would focus on science, would provide timely research findings for farmers to crop their lands in the era of climate change, which could have profound implications for agriculture world-wide.
Professor Yaa Ntiamoah-Badu of the School of Research and Graduate Studies of the University of Ghana, who delivered a paper at the symposium on theme: “Sustainable Environment for Quality Life” called on the university to cut a notch for itself in agricultural and environmental studies and not toe the line of the old universities in the country.
She urged the university to explore potential areas such as the oil and gas industries by coming up with up-to-date research work to aid the development of the industry, especially its environmental impact on the country.
She said even though Ghana was an agricultural country, it was a net importer of various food items because the sector had been neglected by the universities and previous governments.
She said the new university had the opportunity to change the mindset of Ghanaians and the government that they were capable of achieving food security for themselves.
Prof. Ntiamoah-Badu noted that farmers could be empowered by research from the new university to change their old agricultural practice and adopt new sustainable ways to help increase food production for both domestic consumption, as well as for export, to earn foreign exchange for the country.
INFORMATION SHARING AMONG MARITIME STAKEHOLDERS IMPORTANT (PAGE 25, OCT 16)
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Mathew Quashie, has called for a framework that will ensure free flow of information between the navy and other maritime stakeholders to combat illegal fishing and drug trafficking in the country’s territorial waters.
That, he said, had become necessary because of the limited resources at the disposal of the Ghana Navy and the national furore that greeted the news of illegal fishing by big-time foreign companies as well as illegal drug trafficking on the country's seas.
The Chief of Naval Staff who said that at a symposium to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Navy, explained that natural resources such as fish and oil abounded in the territorial waters of the country.
He noted that the present state of the navy did not allow for the effective and efficient performance of its roles and responsibilities.
He explained that no ship had been acquired since 2000 and the country could pay huge penalties for failing to protect and preserve the fishing industry.
He explained that with the limited fleet of vessels, the navy alone could not deal with the country’s maritime security challenges posed by the oil find and other natural resources.
He hailed the acquisition of two new 46-metre patrol boats by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to beef up the navy’s operations and protect the fishery resources of the country.
The Chief of Naval Staff said the influx of foreign companies, illegal bunkering and stealing of oil and other negative activities was bound to be on the ascendancy.
He said the collaboration between the navy and other maritime stakeholders could create a secure environment at sea for the unimpeded exploration of the country's natural resources.
He said until recently many people took the maritime resources of the country for granted until Kosmos Energy and Tullow P/C discovered oil in commercial quantities.
Real Admiral Quashie said the government had shown commitment to revamping the navy through the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Sekondi slipway project, which would allow the docking of ships at Sekondi for repair works.
He said the docking of the navy's ships at Tema Drydock was very expensive since it was a private enterprise.
That, he said, had become necessary because of the limited resources at the disposal of the Ghana Navy and the national furore that greeted the news of illegal fishing by big-time foreign companies as well as illegal drug trafficking on the country's seas.
The Chief of Naval Staff who said that at a symposium to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Navy, explained that natural resources such as fish and oil abounded in the territorial waters of the country.
He noted that the present state of the navy did not allow for the effective and efficient performance of its roles and responsibilities.
He explained that no ship had been acquired since 2000 and the country could pay huge penalties for failing to protect and preserve the fishing industry.
He explained that with the limited fleet of vessels, the navy alone could not deal with the country’s maritime security challenges posed by the oil find and other natural resources.
He hailed the acquisition of two new 46-metre patrol boats by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to beef up the navy’s operations and protect the fishery resources of the country.
The Chief of Naval Staff said the influx of foreign companies, illegal bunkering and stealing of oil and other negative activities was bound to be on the ascendancy.
He said the collaboration between the navy and other maritime stakeholders could create a secure environment at sea for the unimpeded exploration of the country's natural resources.
He said until recently many people took the maritime resources of the country for granted until Kosmos Energy and Tullow P/C discovered oil in commercial quantities.
Real Admiral Quashie said the government had shown commitment to revamping the navy through the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Sekondi slipway project, which would allow the docking of ships at Sekondi for repair works.
He said the docking of the navy's ships at Tema Drydock was very expensive since it was a private enterprise.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
HEALTH INSTITUTIONS NEED INCUBATORS (SEPT 26, PAGE 17)
A Director of the Ghana Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Campaign Coalition Secretariat, Rev. Albert Kwabi, has stated that lack of incubators in most health institutions in the country posed a great challenge to the attainment of MDG 4, which relates to the reduction of child mortality.
Speaking at the launch of the 2009 Stand- up, End Poverty Now Campaign, he said a visit by the coalition to the two regions last year, as a follow-up to the release of United Nations and Christian Council Report on infant and maternal mortality situations in the country, indicated the non-availability of incubators.
He said for example all health institutions in the Volta Region had no incubators, while the situation was no different from those pertaining in the Dangbe West and East districts in the Greater Accra Region.
The coalition launched this year’s campaign to review the national processes towards the attainment of the MDGs and develop new strategies towards the attainment of the goals.
The campaign is also to remind the government and leaders of the country and development partners of their commitment to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
The initiative is being undertaken by Ghana’s MDGs Campaign Coalition aimed at supplementing the government’s efforts with the help of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in achieving the goals. It seeks to mobilise about 8 million people through a series of planned activities to be organised nation-wide to offer citizens the opportunity to engage in creative modules, which appeal to both the young and old.
The Secretary- General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr Kofi Asamoah, said that despite the economic growth being recorded in the country, poverty persisted in the country.
Mr Asamoah whose speech was read on his behalf by Mr Seth Abloso, Head of Organisation of the TUC, said for growth to make a meaningful impact on poverty reduction, it ought directly to involve the poor by providing them with jobs.
The Secretary General of the TUC said the country’s growth process was unplanned based on the resources of the few rich, and relied heavily on the devices of free markets to distribute the benefits of growth.
The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Fred Degbe, and one of the six ambassadors of the Stand-Up Take Action Against Poverty Campaign, said it was wrong for people to assume that they were born to wallow in poverty.
He explained that the Bible commanded people to share freely, and to hold leaders and churches accountable for their actions towards the vulnerable in the world.
Madam Adwoa Kwateng Kluvitse, the Country Director of ActionAid, who launched the 2009 Stand-up Campaign read the Pledge of the Campaign which stated in part that “We are standing because we refuse to accept more excuses in a world where 50,000 people die every day as a result of extreme poverty and the gap between rich and poor is getting wider.’’
Other Ambassadors of the Coalition included the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Dauda Toure, United Nations Representative in Ghana, National Chief Imam, Mrs Esther Aboagye of the Local Government Institute and Rev. Yaw Frimpong Manso of the Presbyterian Church.
Speaking at the launch of the 2009 Stand- up, End Poverty Now Campaign, he said a visit by the coalition to the two regions last year, as a follow-up to the release of United Nations and Christian Council Report on infant and maternal mortality situations in the country, indicated the non-availability of incubators.
He said for example all health institutions in the Volta Region had no incubators, while the situation was no different from those pertaining in the Dangbe West and East districts in the Greater Accra Region.
The coalition launched this year’s campaign to review the national processes towards the attainment of the MDGs and develop new strategies towards the attainment of the goals.
The campaign is also to remind the government and leaders of the country and development partners of their commitment to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
The initiative is being undertaken by Ghana’s MDGs Campaign Coalition aimed at supplementing the government’s efforts with the help of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in achieving the goals. It seeks to mobilise about 8 million people through a series of planned activities to be organised nation-wide to offer citizens the opportunity to engage in creative modules, which appeal to both the young and old.
The Secretary- General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr Kofi Asamoah, said that despite the economic growth being recorded in the country, poverty persisted in the country.
Mr Asamoah whose speech was read on his behalf by Mr Seth Abloso, Head of Organisation of the TUC, said for growth to make a meaningful impact on poverty reduction, it ought directly to involve the poor by providing them with jobs.
The Secretary General of the TUC said the country’s growth process was unplanned based on the resources of the few rich, and relied heavily on the devices of free markets to distribute the benefits of growth.
The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Fred Degbe, and one of the six ambassadors of the Stand-Up Take Action Against Poverty Campaign, said it was wrong for people to assume that they were born to wallow in poverty.
He explained that the Bible commanded people to share freely, and to hold leaders and churches accountable for their actions towards the vulnerable in the world.
Madam Adwoa Kwateng Kluvitse, the Country Director of ActionAid, who launched the 2009 Stand-up Campaign read the Pledge of the Campaign which stated in part that “We are standing because we refuse to accept more excuses in a world where 50,000 people die every day as a result of extreme poverty and the gap between rich and poor is getting wider.’’
Other Ambassadors of the Coalition included the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Dauda Toure, United Nations Representative in Ghana, National Chief Imam, Mrs Esther Aboagye of the Local Government Institute and Rev. Yaw Frimpong Manso of the Presbyterian Church.
GHANA MARKS RABIES DAY (SEPT 22, PAGE 31)
Ghana yesterday joined the rest of the world to celebrate the World Rabies Day, rolling out a five-year anti-rabies campaign to achieve 70-per cent vaccination coverage of dog population.
The programme is to break the viral circle of rabid infection in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture in charge of Livestock, Dr Alfred Tia, who launched activities marking World Anti-Rabies day in Accra yesterday, said the five-year programme which would include surveillance was intended to reduce cases of dog bites from stray dogs.
Statistics available at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) indicate that dog bites registered in the country in 2008 stood at 673. Out of the figure, 24 positive cases were recorded in the Greater Accra Region alone.
The statistics further indicate that from January to August, 2009, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Veterinary Clinic recorded 16 positive cases of rabies out of 428 dog bites from stray dogs.
The Deputy Minister said the incidence of rabid bites and infection was an “alarming situation’’ and urged stakeholders and donors involved to go the extra mile with funding to assist in the preventive and control measures.
He noted that the statistics indicated that stray dogs posed a serious public health hazards for the control of rabies.
The Deputy Minister explained that under the five-year programme, the Veterinary Services Department would ensure the availability of various vaccines at all times and in all communities for mass vaccination.
He said MOFA was collaborating with the Ministry of Health to carry out census of dogs and cats in the course of their house-to-house child immunisation exercises.
He said the Department of Veterinary Services was in close collaboration with the School of Public Health to study the socio-economic impact of rabies on the country and to carry out surveillance of the disease to ensure effective control.
Dr K. B. Darkwa, President of Ghana Veterinary Medical Association, said the theme for this year’s celebration, “Rabies- A Neglected Public Health Menace”, was chosen to draw attention of the world to the fact that the disease was a major public health hazard.
He explained that in the past when MOFA carried out mass vaccination of dogs and cats free of charge, there was a reduction in the incidence of both animal and human rabies.
He said the Greater Accra Region recorded in 1990, 1992 and 1993 seven, eight and five cases respectively when there was mass vaccination in those years.
Dr Darkwa said, however, that in 1991 and 1994 when there was no mass vaccination, 40 and 52 cases were respectively recorded.
Since 1994 when the mass campaign was stopped, there has been an upsurge in outbreak of rabid cases in animals and this has manifested in the increase in human rabies.
The programme is to break the viral circle of rabid infection in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture in charge of Livestock, Dr Alfred Tia, who launched activities marking World Anti-Rabies day in Accra yesterday, said the five-year programme which would include surveillance was intended to reduce cases of dog bites from stray dogs.
Statistics available at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) indicate that dog bites registered in the country in 2008 stood at 673. Out of the figure, 24 positive cases were recorded in the Greater Accra Region alone.
The statistics further indicate that from January to August, 2009, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Veterinary Clinic recorded 16 positive cases of rabies out of 428 dog bites from stray dogs.
The Deputy Minister said the incidence of rabid bites and infection was an “alarming situation’’ and urged stakeholders and donors involved to go the extra mile with funding to assist in the preventive and control measures.
He noted that the statistics indicated that stray dogs posed a serious public health hazards for the control of rabies.
The Deputy Minister explained that under the five-year programme, the Veterinary Services Department would ensure the availability of various vaccines at all times and in all communities for mass vaccination.
He said MOFA was collaborating with the Ministry of Health to carry out census of dogs and cats in the course of their house-to-house child immunisation exercises.
He said the Department of Veterinary Services was in close collaboration with the School of Public Health to study the socio-economic impact of rabies on the country and to carry out surveillance of the disease to ensure effective control.
Dr K. B. Darkwa, President of Ghana Veterinary Medical Association, said the theme for this year’s celebration, “Rabies- A Neglected Public Health Menace”, was chosen to draw attention of the world to the fact that the disease was a major public health hazard.
He explained that in the past when MOFA carried out mass vaccination of dogs and cats free of charge, there was a reduction in the incidence of both animal and human rabies.
He said the Greater Accra Region recorded in 1990, 1992 and 1993 seven, eight and five cases respectively when there was mass vaccination in those years.
Dr Darkwa said, however, that in 1991 and 1994 when there was no mass vaccination, 40 and 52 cases were respectively recorded.
Since 1994 when the mass campaign was stopped, there has been an upsurge in outbreak of rabid cases in animals and this has manifested in the increase in human rabies.
VIGIL, CONCERT HEARLD NKRUMAH'S CENTENARY (SEPT 22, SPREAD)
A well-attended musical concert and poetry recital in Accra on Sunday night ushered in activities marking the centenary birthday of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The vigil, which was held at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, attracted people from all walks of life, prominent them being Rita Marley, the widow of the late Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley; Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr, chairman of the Centenary Planning Committee; Dr Efua Sutherland-Addy, Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Dr Nii Noi Dowuona, all of the Centenary Planning Committee; and Mr Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, a Deputy Minister of Information.
Rita Marley, who read a solidarity message from Jamaica, repeated what her late husband said about mental slavery and urged Africans to free themselves from mental slavery, since nobody would undertake that project except Africans themselves.
The artists who won the admiration of the crowd in poetry recital included Akora Yaw, a local poet, and Mr Lantey Lamptey, who did his poetry recital in Ga for Dr Nkrumah, as well as the Unity Brass Ensemble.
The widow of Salifu Dagarti, the security guard who laid his life in order for Dr Nkrumah to survive an attack at the Flagstaff House, also addressed the crowd.
She advised Ghanaians to learn to take good care of their leaders, saying that Kwame Nkrumah was a leader who, Ghanaians failed to take good care of and therefore lost him.
Mr Ablakwa said the Government was excited that the celebration of the birthday had involved people from all the political parties in a national manner.
He said Kwame Nkrumah stood for social justice and equity and urged Ghanaians to take a cue from the ideals of Dr Nkrumah to ensure development, peace and progress in the country.
Mr Ablakwa commended the Centenary Planning Committee, the youth and the media for patronising activities marking the centenary birthday and urged Ghanaians to recommit themselves to peace and progress, which had been the hallmark of Dr Nkrumah.
Dr Sutherland-Addy commended the groups who on their own volition, undertook the candle procession through the principal streets of Accra, culminating in the vigil, saying that the country had once mobilised itself for development and could repeat the feat this time around.
She said Ghanaians could learn from the path Dr Nkrumah carved for the country, adding that even though the path could be crooked, Ghanaians had the responsibility to straighten the crookedness and not neglect the path completely.
The vigil was climaxed by the lightening of candles and as the event came to an end the circle area was thrown into a carnival with people drumming and dancing while they dispersed to their various homes and other places of abode.
The vigil, which was held at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, attracted people from all walks of life, prominent them being Rita Marley, the widow of the late Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley; Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr, chairman of the Centenary Planning Committee; Dr Efua Sutherland-Addy, Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Dr Nii Noi Dowuona, all of the Centenary Planning Committee; and Mr Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, a Deputy Minister of Information.
Rita Marley, who read a solidarity message from Jamaica, repeated what her late husband said about mental slavery and urged Africans to free themselves from mental slavery, since nobody would undertake that project except Africans themselves.
The artists who won the admiration of the crowd in poetry recital included Akora Yaw, a local poet, and Mr Lantey Lamptey, who did his poetry recital in Ga for Dr Nkrumah, as well as the Unity Brass Ensemble.
The widow of Salifu Dagarti, the security guard who laid his life in order for Dr Nkrumah to survive an attack at the Flagstaff House, also addressed the crowd.
She advised Ghanaians to learn to take good care of their leaders, saying that Kwame Nkrumah was a leader who, Ghanaians failed to take good care of and therefore lost him.
Mr Ablakwa said the Government was excited that the celebration of the birthday had involved people from all the political parties in a national manner.
He said Kwame Nkrumah stood for social justice and equity and urged Ghanaians to take a cue from the ideals of Dr Nkrumah to ensure development, peace and progress in the country.
Mr Ablakwa commended the Centenary Planning Committee, the youth and the media for patronising activities marking the centenary birthday and urged Ghanaians to recommit themselves to peace and progress, which had been the hallmark of Dr Nkrumah.
Dr Sutherland-Addy commended the groups who on their own volition, undertook the candle procession through the principal streets of Accra, culminating in the vigil, saying that the country had once mobilised itself for development and could repeat the feat this time around.
She said Ghanaians could learn from the path Dr Nkrumah carved for the country, adding that even though the path could be crooked, Ghanaians had the responsibility to straighten the crookedness and not neglect the path completely.
The vigil was climaxed by the lightening of candles and as the event came to an end the circle area was thrown into a carnival with people drumming and dancing while they dispersed to their various homes and other places of abode.
MUSLIMS URGED TO PURSUE PATH OF UNITY (SEPT 22, BACK PAGE)
THE Ameer (Head) and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, Maulvi Wahab Adam, has called on Muslims to use the occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr festival to foster unity and peace among themselves and other religious organisations for national cohesion and development.
Maulvi Adam, who delivered a sermon on the occasion of the Eid-ul- Fitr in Accra yesterday, said unity and discipline were essential prerequisites for national cohesion and development.
He explained that the 30 days’ fasting and prayers had the primary objective of fostering unity and engendering discipline in Muslims and the society as a whole.
He stressed that having successfully gone through presidential and parliamentary elections that had won the country international approbation and goodwill, “all of us have a duty to ensure that the country stays together in unity’’.
The Ameer said Ghanaians should not allow their religious and ethnic diversity or political differences to divide the country and weaken the resolve to build for posterity a just, humane, caring and great nation.
He said that was possible only through tolerance, mutual respect and the realisation that all Ghanaians, as rightful citizens, had a stake in the country’s development.
He said in all relationships and dealings, it was essential that Ghanaians chose dialogue and not violence as the only guarantee for survival as one great people with a common destiny.
Maulvi Adam appealed to Ghanaians to hold fast to time-tested procedures and institutions and allow them to work without undue interference.
He advised Muslims to be wary of groups who called for the sanctioning of Muslims among them who did not partake in the fast.
He said in some countries, they even called for the closure of eating places such as restaurants and described that as unIslamic since Islam had exempted minors, pregnant women, the invalid and those travelling from fasting.
Maulvi Adam wondered where else those exempted from fasting could eat if all restaurants and other places for eating were closed.
He explained that according to the Islamic tradition, a fasting Muslim would be rewarded if he had the tolerance and patience to sit with those who could not fast and urged Muslims to be tolerant, a virtue required by Muslims during the Ramadan.
Maulvi Adam used the blessed and auspicious occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr to pray for the country's leaders, including traditional rulers, as well as others, for guidance and prosperity.
Maulvi Adam, who delivered a sermon on the occasion of the Eid-ul- Fitr in Accra yesterday, said unity and discipline were essential prerequisites for national cohesion and development.
He explained that the 30 days’ fasting and prayers had the primary objective of fostering unity and engendering discipline in Muslims and the society as a whole.
He stressed that having successfully gone through presidential and parliamentary elections that had won the country international approbation and goodwill, “all of us have a duty to ensure that the country stays together in unity’’.
The Ameer said Ghanaians should not allow their religious and ethnic diversity or political differences to divide the country and weaken the resolve to build for posterity a just, humane, caring and great nation.
He said that was possible only through tolerance, mutual respect and the realisation that all Ghanaians, as rightful citizens, had a stake in the country’s development.
He said in all relationships and dealings, it was essential that Ghanaians chose dialogue and not violence as the only guarantee for survival as one great people with a common destiny.
Maulvi Adam appealed to Ghanaians to hold fast to time-tested procedures and institutions and allow them to work without undue interference.
He advised Muslims to be wary of groups who called for the sanctioning of Muslims among them who did not partake in the fast.
He said in some countries, they even called for the closure of eating places such as restaurants and described that as unIslamic since Islam had exempted minors, pregnant women, the invalid and those travelling from fasting.
Maulvi Adam wondered where else those exempted from fasting could eat if all restaurants and other places for eating were closed.
He explained that according to the Islamic tradition, a fasting Muslim would be rewarded if he had the tolerance and patience to sit with those who could not fast and urged Muslims to be tolerant, a virtue required by Muslims during the Ramadan.
Maulvi Adam used the blessed and auspicious occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr to pray for the country's leaders, including traditional rulers, as well as others, for guidance and prosperity.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
MOVES TO SUSTAIN HIV/AIDS AWARENESS — AIDS Commission, GJA launch project (SEPT 15, SPREAD)
THE Director-General of Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Angela El-Adas, has warned of possible increase in HIV and AIDS cases in the country because of pockets of high prevalence rate among certain sub-populations and geographical areas.
She said even though the current national adult prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS had dropped from 1.9 per cent in 2008 to 1.7 per cent in 2009, the HIV epidemic continued to challenge the socio-economic development of Ghana.
Dr EL-Adas, who launched Ghana AIDS Commission/Ghana Journalist Association (GJA ) project of “Using the media to create greater awareness on HIV and AIDS” in Accra yesterday, said the AIDS epidemic in the country was a generalised one with pockets of high prevalence rate.
She said those pockets had the capacity to flare and spread to the general population, if effective interventions were not put in place immediately to curb the spread.
She said currently about 240,000 Ghanaians were estimated to be living with the virus, with HIV prevalence among pregnant women rising to a peak of 3.6 per cent in 2003.
She, however, said Ghana Sentinel Survey Report for 2008 revealed that the number of cases among pregnant women declined to 2.2 per cent, with the major mode of transmission still being through heterosexual intercourse.
The Director-General said despite Ghana's prevalence rate being the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, the government would continue to give serious attention to the epidemic as a major public health challenge with multidimensional effects.
She noted that the disease contributed to household vulnerability and poverty and impeded the national development effort.
She said the AIDS Commission, in partnership with various stakeholders, had undertaken several strategic interventions in response to the epidemic.
Dr El-Adas explained that the strategic interventions included the creation of awareness, promoting abstinence among the youth, promoting safe sex, providing counselling and testing services, as well as offering care and support to people living with AIDS.
She said the AIDS Commission also provided support to orphans and vulnerable children, while intensifying anti-retroviral treatment for adults and children.
She said the critical issue of stigma and discrimination against people living with the disease had also been given a serious attention.
For his part, Mr Ransford Tetteh, the President of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), said through the project, journalists would be in a position to adequately inform the general public of the dangers of the HIV disease and impact of the disease on the economy.
He said indications were that social behavioural traits, especially among the youth, required that the media help to intensify the creation of a greater awareness, if the country was to make a constant and sustained progress in stemming the spread of the epidemic.
Mr Tetteh said apart from the training programme component of the project, it had an award scheme component to reward journalists who wrote and published exclusive stories on HIV and AIDS.
She said even though the current national adult prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS had dropped from 1.9 per cent in 2008 to 1.7 per cent in 2009, the HIV epidemic continued to challenge the socio-economic development of Ghana.
Dr EL-Adas, who launched Ghana AIDS Commission/Ghana Journalist Association (GJA ) project of “Using the media to create greater awareness on HIV and AIDS” in Accra yesterday, said the AIDS epidemic in the country was a generalised one with pockets of high prevalence rate.
She said those pockets had the capacity to flare and spread to the general population, if effective interventions were not put in place immediately to curb the spread.
She said currently about 240,000 Ghanaians were estimated to be living with the virus, with HIV prevalence among pregnant women rising to a peak of 3.6 per cent in 2003.
She, however, said Ghana Sentinel Survey Report for 2008 revealed that the number of cases among pregnant women declined to 2.2 per cent, with the major mode of transmission still being through heterosexual intercourse.
The Director-General said despite Ghana's prevalence rate being the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, the government would continue to give serious attention to the epidemic as a major public health challenge with multidimensional effects.
She noted that the disease contributed to household vulnerability and poverty and impeded the national development effort.
She said the AIDS Commission, in partnership with various stakeholders, had undertaken several strategic interventions in response to the epidemic.
Dr El-Adas explained that the strategic interventions included the creation of awareness, promoting abstinence among the youth, promoting safe sex, providing counselling and testing services, as well as offering care and support to people living with AIDS.
She said the AIDS Commission also provided support to orphans and vulnerable children, while intensifying anti-retroviral treatment for adults and children.
She said the critical issue of stigma and discrimination against people living with the disease had also been given a serious attention.
For his part, Mr Ransford Tetteh, the President of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), said through the project, journalists would be in a position to adequately inform the general public of the dangers of the HIV disease and impact of the disease on the economy.
He said indications were that social behavioural traits, especially among the youth, required that the media help to intensify the creation of a greater awareness, if the country was to make a constant and sustained progress in stemming the spread of the epidemic.
Mr Tetteh said apart from the training programme component of the project, it had an award scheme component to reward journalists who wrote and published exclusive stories on HIV and AIDS.
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