Story: Francis Yaw Kyei & Jennifer Dornoo
THE Greater Accra Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for the Korley Klottey Constituency in Accra, Nii Armah Ashitey has reiterated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party’s commitment to honour people who fought hard for the party to win political power.
This, he said, was because a party which did not recognise its heroes was not worth fighting for.
Nii Ashitey was speaking at a ceremony to honour and award polling agents of his constituency at the Arts Centre at the weekend.
All polling agents of the constituency were given certificates for their hardwork and the bravery exhibited during the elections.
Nii Ashitey expressed his gratitude to his constituent for electing him into office and gave the assurance that he would work to deliver on his campaign promise.
The regional minister said the region could only develop if the people were willing to support its course and change their attitudes.
He said the expectations of Ghanaians were high despite the inadequate resources, adding that, the party had competent people who could turn all their promises into reality.
He said a project was in place to support needy but brilliant children in the constituency to enable them to have access to quality education to achieve their dreams.
He said measures were also in place to support traders with micro-finance loans while efforts were being made to rehabilitate roads, gutters, schools and others in the constituency.
He appealed to Ghanaians to cooperate with the authorities in the discharge of their duties to aid the development of the region.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Former Ambassadors’ Wives Association supports Children’s Hospital (30/7/09)
THE Former Ambassadors’ Wives Association (FAWA) has presented items worth GH¢1,500 to the Princess Marie Louis Children’s Hospital (PML) in Accra to enhance its health care delivery.
Items included a toddler’s scale, food items and drinks, as well as detergent and toiletries.
Presenting the items to the hospital, the Vice President of FAWA, Mrs Betty Sowah Allotey said the association’s co-operation with the hospital began 12 years ago.
She said the association had done its best to donate medical equipment, food items and detergents and other items every year to improve the operations of the hospital, encourage patients and help the staff to be more efficient in the discharge of their duties.
She said the gesture was also to encourage other benevolent organisations and individuals to offer similar support to the hospital.
Mrs Allotey expressed the hope that the cordial relations between the association and the hospital would be sustained.
The Senior Nursing Officer at PML, Ms Margaret Okai thanked FAWA for its support and appealed to other institutions and individuals to also contribute to the operations of the hospital to enhance quality healthcare to children.
Pix: Mrs Betty Sowa-Allotey (third left), Vice-President of the Former Ambassador Wives Association (FAWA) making the presentation to Ms Margaret Okai (third right), Senior Nursing Officer of the hospital.
Also in the picture are other executive members of the association and some hospital staff.
Picture: EMMANUEL ONOMA-BARNES
Items included a toddler’s scale, food items and drinks, as well as detergent and toiletries.
Presenting the items to the hospital, the Vice President of FAWA, Mrs Betty Sowah Allotey said the association’s co-operation with the hospital began 12 years ago.
She said the association had done its best to donate medical equipment, food items and detergents and other items every year to improve the operations of the hospital, encourage patients and help the staff to be more efficient in the discharge of their duties.
She said the gesture was also to encourage other benevolent organisations and individuals to offer similar support to the hospital.
Mrs Allotey expressed the hope that the cordial relations between the association and the hospital would be sustained.
The Senior Nursing Officer at PML, Ms Margaret Okai thanked FAWA for its support and appealed to other institutions and individuals to also contribute to the operations of the hospital to enhance quality healthcare to children.
Pix: Mrs Betty Sowa-Allotey (third left), Vice-President of the Former Ambassador Wives Association (FAWA) making the presentation to Ms Margaret Okai (third right), Senior Nursing Officer of the hospital.
Also in the picture are other executive members of the association and some hospital staff.
Picture: EMMANUEL ONOMA-BARNES
Lante Dzan We begin Homowo (31/7/09)
Story: Francis Yaw Kyei & Jennifer Dornoo
With bearly two weeks to the annual Homowo festival, the Lante Dzan We family in Accra Central, last Saturday, sprinkled marshed yam, otherwise known as “kpekple”, to signify the beginning of the event.
The Lante Dzan We family usually begins the festival ahead of the grand Homowo festival either late July or early August every year as demanded by the Ga tradition.
Homowo (hooting at hunger) is one of the colourful festivals celebrated by the people of Ga (Accra) Traditional Area.
It is characterised by rituals such as the sprinkling of "kpekple" (the festival dish) to the gods and ancestors for spiritual protection,procession of twins through the principal streets, traditional drumming and dancing and general merry-making.
A month before the celebration, there is a ban of noise making. A climax of the festival is that from 12 noon to 6:00pm any woman, no matter the status, should accept a hug from a man on the festival street.
Some members of the family, both home and abroad, gathered in their ancestral homes to share the ritual meal (marshed yam) with their dead and living family members.
They ate with friends and neighbours, and danced to traditional Ga tunes.
The Heads of the various houses, accompanied by other elders of their houses, went around the community and sprinkled the marshed yam for their ancestors.
The activity was also to show gratitude to the gods and ancestors for the bumper harvest and to ask for blessings in the years ahead.
Homowo, which literally means “hooting at hunger”, is the most widely observed traditional Ga harvest festival celebrated by every family in the Ga state.
With bearly two weeks to the annual Homowo festival, the Lante Dzan We family in Accra Central, last Saturday, sprinkled marshed yam, otherwise known as “kpekple”, to signify the beginning of the event.
The Lante Dzan We family usually begins the festival ahead of the grand Homowo festival either late July or early August every year as demanded by the Ga tradition.
Homowo (hooting at hunger) is one of the colourful festivals celebrated by the people of Ga (Accra) Traditional Area.
It is characterised by rituals such as the sprinkling of "kpekple" (the festival dish) to the gods and ancestors for spiritual protection,procession of twins through the principal streets, traditional drumming and dancing and general merry-making.
A month before the celebration, there is a ban of noise making. A climax of the festival is that from 12 noon to 6:00pm any woman, no matter the status, should accept a hug from a man on the festival street.
Some members of the family, both home and abroad, gathered in their ancestral homes to share the ritual meal (marshed yam) with their dead and living family members.
They ate with friends and neighbours, and danced to traditional Ga tunes.
The Heads of the various houses, accompanied by other elders of their houses, went around the community and sprinkled the marshed yam for their ancestors.
The activity was also to show gratitude to the gods and ancestors for the bumper harvest and to ask for blessings in the years ahead.
Homowo, which literally means “hooting at hunger”, is the most widely observed traditional Ga harvest festival celebrated by every family in the Ga state.
CISP grants to promote culture (31/7/09)
THE Cultural Initiative Support Programme (CISP), under the auspices of the National Commission on Culture (NCC), has launched a project to offer maximum grants of GH¢10,000 to groups and individuals engaged in the promotion of Ghanaian culture.
Dubbed “3rd Call Proposals”, the project, which is in collaboration with the European Commission, is intended to fund initiatives in human resource development, employment and income generation, research and support for non-state actors in the cultural sector.
At the launch of the project, the third of its kind in Accra, the Programme Officer on Culture at the Delegation of the European Commission in Ghana, Ms Sara Piccoli, said one of the main results expected to be achieved under the programme was the development of Ghanaian culture.
She said in that regard, the CISP project had already signed a total portfolio of GH¢450,000 as grants for 107 recipients through the first and second ‘calls for proposals’ to support cultural activities across the country.
She stated that under the same financial instrument, the CISP project was able to finance four major projects with a substantial grant of GH¢200,000.
She said the NCC had received a contribution of £2 million over a period of three and a half years under the ninth European Development Fund.
Ms Piccoli said individual artists, cultural associations and institutions were invited to submit their proposals for funding.
She said Ghana had a lot to offer in terms of cultural wealth and diversity, adding that “with the support given through theses initiatives, we hope that avenues for the promotion of diversity, mutual understanding and respect for shared values will be opened, helping to promote an inclusive society and preventing and reducing poverty and social exclusion”.
The Programme Co-ordinator of CISP, Mr Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, said several individuals and groups were working on different kinds of cultural and artistic activities as a result of the project.
He said recipients from the third call for proposals would bring the number of recipients of CISP grants to more than 150 by the end of the programme in December 2010.
He noted that the application process involved filling a form, which is provided on request to all who wanted to apply.
He said after the expiry of the call deadline on August 26, 2009, received applications would be opened, while administrative checks would be carried out to evaluate the applications and select recipients.
Dubbed “3rd Call Proposals”, the project, which is in collaboration with the European Commission, is intended to fund initiatives in human resource development, employment and income generation, research and support for non-state actors in the cultural sector.
At the launch of the project, the third of its kind in Accra, the Programme Officer on Culture at the Delegation of the European Commission in Ghana, Ms Sara Piccoli, said one of the main results expected to be achieved under the programme was the development of Ghanaian culture.
She said in that regard, the CISP project had already signed a total portfolio of GH¢450,000 as grants for 107 recipients through the first and second ‘calls for proposals’ to support cultural activities across the country.
She stated that under the same financial instrument, the CISP project was able to finance four major projects with a substantial grant of GH¢200,000.
She said the NCC had received a contribution of £2 million over a period of three and a half years under the ninth European Development Fund.
Ms Piccoli said individual artists, cultural associations and institutions were invited to submit their proposals for funding.
She said Ghana had a lot to offer in terms of cultural wealth and diversity, adding that “with the support given through theses initiatives, we hope that avenues for the promotion of diversity, mutual understanding and respect for shared values will be opened, helping to promote an inclusive society and preventing and reducing poverty and social exclusion”.
The Programme Co-ordinator of CISP, Mr Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, said several individuals and groups were working on different kinds of cultural and artistic activities as a result of the project.
He said recipients from the third call for proposals would bring the number of recipients of CISP grants to more than 150 by the end of the programme in December 2010.
He noted that the application process involved filling a form, which is provided on request to all who wanted to apply.
He said after the expiry of the call deadline on August 26, 2009, received applications would be opened, while administrative checks would be carried out to evaluate the applications and select recipients.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Give technical, vocational education more attention (22/7/09)
THE Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, has stated that in spite of the various educational reforms introduced over the years, technical and vocational education has not received the needed support and attention to meet the challenges that confront the country. He said the training facilities of the institutions remained outdated and inadequate to meet modern-day requirements.
The regional minister said this in a speech read on his behalf at the 26th Speech and Prize-giving Day and Graduation Ceremony of the Catholic Social Advance Institute (CSAI) in Accra on Friday.
A total of 206 students graduated after completing different levels of education. Out of the number, 40 of them pursued vocational courses, 16 completed secretarial courses, while 150 of them graduated from senior high school (SHS).
One-hundred and twenty two students were presented with books and certificates for their academic excellence, discipline, hard work, neatness and participation in sporting activities.
The minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to modernise and expand technical and vocational schools.
Additionally, it would provide the necessary resources to boost technical and vocational education training (TVET) in the country.
To demonstrate its commitment to the development of education, he said the government was boldly addressing the deficiencies and weaknesses in the country’s educational system.
He said it had demonstrated a commitment to ensure a minimum of one SHS in every constituency, revamp the science resource centres in selected SHS in the country, among others.
The minister expressed the government’s commitment to make education affordable, accessible and relevant to the needs of the Ghanaian society through the expansion of infrastructure, materials and adequate training of teachers.
He added that the practice of occultism and other vices in institutions was worrying and appalling in recent times and
stressed the need for Ghanaians to wage a relentless war on occultism and cyber crime among the youth.
Those vices, he said, did not only divert the attention of the youth, especially students, from focusing on their studies but also destroyed the entire moral fibre of the society.
The Principal of the school, Ms Rosa Mamaa Sam, congratulated the graduates and advised them to desist from using the computer knowledge acquired in defrauding innocent citizens.
She said the school had equipped its students with the requisite moral values that would help them to compete with their colleagues wherever they found themselves.
The Chief of Adabraka Atukpai, Nii Tetteh Adjabeng I, advised the graduates to hold morals in high esteem and stand up to all challenges in the society.
The regional minister said this in a speech read on his behalf at the 26th Speech and Prize-giving Day and Graduation Ceremony of the Catholic Social Advance Institute (CSAI) in Accra on Friday.
A total of 206 students graduated after completing different levels of education. Out of the number, 40 of them pursued vocational courses, 16 completed secretarial courses, while 150 of them graduated from senior high school (SHS).
One-hundred and twenty two students were presented with books and certificates for their academic excellence, discipline, hard work, neatness and participation in sporting activities.
The minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to modernise and expand technical and vocational schools.
Additionally, it would provide the necessary resources to boost technical and vocational education training (TVET) in the country.
To demonstrate its commitment to the development of education, he said the government was boldly addressing the deficiencies and weaknesses in the country’s educational system.
He said it had demonstrated a commitment to ensure a minimum of one SHS in every constituency, revamp the science resource centres in selected SHS in the country, among others.
The minister expressed the government’s commitment to make education affordable, accessible and relevant to the needs of the Ghanaian society through the expansion of infrastructure, materials and adequate training of teachers.
He added that the practice of occultism and other vices in institutions was worrying and appalling in recent times and
stressed the need for Ghanaians to wage a relentless war on occultism and cyber crime among the youth.
Those vices, he said, did not only divert the attention of the youth, especially students, from focusing on their studies but also destroyed the entire moral fibre of the society.
The Principal of the school, Ms Rosa Mamaa Sam, congratulated the graduates and advised them to desist from using the computer knowledge acquired in defrauding innocent citizens.
She said the school had equipped its students with the requisite moral values that would help them to compete with their colleagues wherever they found themselves.
The Chief of Adabraka Atukpai, Nii Tetteh Adjabeng I, advised the graduates to hold morals in high esteem and stand up to all challenges in the society.
$49 million for census. (22/7/09)Front Page
Story:Gifty Bamfo & Jennifer Dornoo
A $49-million budget has been approved by the government for the execution of next year’s population and housing census.
Half of the amount will be provided by the government, while the other half will come from some of the country’s development partners.
The Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, gave the details at the inauguration of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Census Implementation Committee (AMACIC) in Accra yesterday.
Members of the AMACIC include Messrs J.A. Tuffuor, Moses Ansah, Timothy Omar, Frank Asante, Nii Okaija Dinsey, K.D. Osei and Richard K. Oduro.
The rest are Ms Lucile Annan and Ms Marian Mensah.
Dr Bediako said the 2010 census would provide updated data on demographic and socio-economic characteristics at all levels.
She added that it would also afford the country the opportunity to revise its electoral areas and constituencies, as well as enhance knowledge relating to housing for future planning.
She said the AMACIC would facilitate the recruitment and training of field personnel, supervision, as well as help in the execution of the pilot census project in the metropolis.
The project, which takes off in October, will be piloted in two districts in the Osu and the Ayawaso areas.
Dr Bediako said the committee would deliver reports and a feedback on the activities of the field personnel.
She noted that 92 out of the 170 districts had been zoned into smaller areas for the pilot project.
“The successful outcome of the pilot project will contribute to the success of the 2010 census,” she added.
The Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, said a better plan for the nation required available and reliable data, for which reason the census was laudable.
He encouraged the committee to be dedicated and committed to ensure a successful outcome for the pilot project.
A $49-million budget has been approved by the government for the execution of next year’s population and housing census.
Half of the amount will be provided by the government, while the other half will come from some of the country’s development partners.
The Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, gave the details at the inauguration of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Census Implementation Committee (AMACIC) in Accra yesterday.
Members of the AMACIC include Messrs J.A. Tuffuor, Moses Ansah, Timothy Omar, Frank Asante, Nii Okaija Dinsey, K.D. Osei and Richard K. Oduro.
The rest are Ms Lucile Annan and Ms Marian Mensah.
Dr Bediako said the 2010 census would provide updated data on demographic and socio-economic characteristics at all levels.
She added that it would also afford the country the opportunity to revise its electoral areas and constituencies, as well as enhance knowledge relating to housing for future planning.
She said the AMACIC would facilitate the recruitment and training of field personnel, supervision, as well as help in the execution of the pilot census project in the metropolis.
The project, which takes off in October, will be piloted in two districts in the Osu and the Ayawaso areas.
Dr Bediako said the committee would deliver reports and a feedback on the activities of the field personnel.
She noted that 92 out of the 170 districts had been zoned into smaller areas for the pilot project.
“The successful outcome of the pilot project will contribute to the success of the 2010 census,” she added.
The Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, said a better plan for the nation required available and reliable data, for which reason the census was laudable.
He encouraged the committee to be dedicated and committed to ensure a successful outcome for the pilot project.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
18/7/09 Graphic Middle page
Story: Gifty Bamfo, Jennifer Dornoo & MacLiberty Misrowoda
FISHERMEN at the Nungua and Teshie landing beaches are pessimistic about their fortunes in the current season.
While the Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture share the view that there is the likelihood of a bumper fish harvest this season, fishermen in Nungua and Teshie insist that they are doubtful of reaping the maximum benefit.
According to the Director of Fisheries, Mr Alfred Tetebo, a bumper harvest was possible due to the rains and change in the sea temperatures, which were good indications of better catch later in the season.
On the contrary, however, they attributed their uncertainty to the current prevailing conditions, such as the non-availability of pre-mix on the market and the high cost of other fishing inputs.
They explained that they were unable to go deep into sea where they were sure of making enough catch because of the high cost of improvised fuel they were using in the absence of the pre-mix.
According to the fishermen, while they bought a gallon of premix at GH¢2.60, “we are forced to mix super with engine oil which add up to about GH¢6 for the same quantity of the premix.”
This and other factors, they claimed, had increased their cost of production, hence the high cost of fish on the market in recent times.
They also said the increasing cost of the outboard motor which went for GH¢1,800 last year was now being sold for GH¢5,200, a situation they contended did not favour the business.
Another problem they said must be rectified was the high cost of fishing nets.
According to them, about a few months ago, the small size of the nets was sold at GH¢40, but was now sold for GH¢100, while the big size was sold for GH¢370 as against GH¢250 last year.
They, therefore, called on the relevant stakeholders to put in place measures, including the provision of credit facilities, that would help their business.
But speaking in a separate interview, Mr Tetebo expressed optimism about a bumper harvest and added that the fisher folks were disposed to generating more revenue as there was the possibility of selling and preserving more fish for consumption.
He stated that government was encouraging the private sector to venture into more cold storage business as it was the surest way of preserving abundant fish for future use.
He indicated that the government had waived taxes on cold storage equipment to enable more people venture into business.
“This move will preserve more of the excess fish to ensure they do not go bad,” he added.
He added that the ministry was encouraging fishing in cages as another method of fish farming instead of farming in only ponds.
FISHERMEN at the Nungua and Teshie landing beaches are pessimistic about their fortunes in the current season.
While the Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture share the view that there is the likelihood of a bumper fish harvest this season, fishermen in Nungua and Teshie insist that they are doubtful of reaping the maximum benefit.
According to the Director of Fisheries, Mr Alfred Tetebo, a bumper harvest was possible due to the rains and change in the sea temperatures, which were good indications of better catch later in the season.
On the contrary, however, they attributed their uncertainty to the current prevailing conditions, such as the non-availability of pre-mix on the market and the high cost of other fishing inputs.
They explained that they were unable to go deep into sea where they were sure of making enough catch because of the high cost of improvised fuel they were using in the absence of the pre-mix.
According to the fishermen, while they bought a gallon of premix at GH¢2.60, “we are forced to mix super with engine oil which add up to about GH¢6 for the same quantity of the premix.”
This and other factors, they claimed, had increased their cost of production, hence the high cost of fish on the market in recent times.
They also said the increasing cost of the outboard motor which went for GH¢1,800 last year was now being sold for GH¢5,200, a situation they contended did not favour the business.
Another problem they said must be rectified was the high cost of fishing nets.
According to them, about a few months ago, the small size of the nets was sold at GH¢40, but was now sold for GH¢100, while the big size was sold for GH¢370 as against GH¢250 last year.
They, therefore, called on the relevant stakeholders to put in place measures, including the provision of credit facilities, that would help their business.
But speaking in a separate interview, Mr Tetebo expressed optimism about a bumper harvest and added that the fisher folks were disposed to generating more revenue as there was the possibility of selling and preserving more fish for consumption.
He stated that government was encouraging the private sector to venture into more cold storage business as it was the surest way of preserving abundant fish for future use.
He indicated that the government had waived taxes on cold storage equipment to enable more people venture into business.
“This move will preserve more of the excess fish to ensure they do not go bad,” he added.
He added that the ministry was encouraging fishing in cages as another method of fish farming instead of farming in only ponds.
(Gemany-based Ghanaian gives to NADMO)21/7/09
A Ghanaian based in Germany, Mr Kwasi Heiser, and his wife, Mrs Jessica Heiser, have presented items worth GH¢40,000 to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other organisations in Accra.
The items include items such as used computers, used clothes, footwear, toys, stationery, television sets and crutches.
There were also items meant for the physically challenged.
According to Mr Heiser, the items were made possible by his friends in Germany for distribution among victims of the recent floods in some parts of the country, the physically challenged, street children and other vulnerable people.
The National Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Kofi Portuphy, who received the items, expressed his deep appreciation to the couple and their friends for the kind gesture and gave the assurance that they would be used for the intended purpose.
He said recovery missions initiated by the government and other organisations were ongoing to improve the livelihoods of people who had been affected by the floods.
Mr Portuphy appealed to benevolent organisations and individuals to emulate the kind gesture of the couple to offer similar help to victims of the floods.
Other beneficiaries of the donation were Kinder Paradise, a foster home, the African Faith Tabernacle, as well as organisations of the physically challenged.
The items include items such as used computers, used clothes, footwear, toys, stationery, television sets and crutches.
There were also items meant for the physically challenged.
According to Mr Heiser, the items were made possible by his friends in Germany for distribution among victims of the recent floods in some parts of the country, the physically challenged, street children and other vulnerable people.
The National Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Kofi Portuphy, who received the items, expressed his deep appreciation to the couple and their friends for the kind gesture and gave the assurance that they would be used for the intended purpose.
He said recovery missions initiated by the government and other organisations were ongoing to improve the livelihoods of people who had been affected by the floods.
Mr Portuphy appealed to benevolent organisations and individuals to emulate the kind gesture of the couple to offer similar help to victims of the floods.
Other beneficiaries of the donation were Kinder Paradise, a foster home, the African Faith Tabernacle, as well as organisations of the physically challenged.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
VAT STORY (11/7/09)
THE Value Added Tax (VAT) Service has rolled out a comprehensive nationwide educational campaign to whip up compliance with the indirect tax system.
One of the difficulties facing the VAT regime is that most buyers do not insist on VAT receipts, leaving retailers to keep revenues otherwise meant for the state.
The increased VAT tax education would therefore sensitise the public to some of the simple things they need to do to help the service to meet its national revenue collection targets.
An Assistant Revenue Officer of VAT at the Okaishie VAT Sub Office (VSO), Mr Frank Appiah Boadi, said seminars and workshops for targeted groups would increase compliance necessary for generating adequate revenue to finance the national budget and reduce the over-reliance on donor funds.
He said this when the Okaishie VAT Sub Office organised a one-day seminar for students and staff of the Holy Trinity Cathedral Secondary School (HOTCASS) as part of the educational programme.
Topics discussed included the importance of paying taxes, its benefits, as well as the need to patronise shops that were registered under the VAT scheme.
Mr Boadi said increasing revenue generation was important for funding crucial projects such as the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the National Health Insurance Scheme.
“When we are able to generate internal revenue effectively, we can finance development projects such as roads, hospitals and schools,” he stated.
Consequently, the public had a civic and responsibility to patronise shops that were registered under the VAT scheme, Mr Boadi stated, and entreated the public to patronise such shops.
He also urged the public to demand their VAT invoice whenever they bought goods or patronised services from VAT-registered shops.
The VAT Service, he said, was aware of fraudsters who issued fake invoices to customers, saying “we have taken measures to arrest them”.
He called on the public to report any trader who issued fake invoices to customers to the VAT service for the necessary action to be taken.
The Assistant Revenue Officer of VAT also advised businesses to register with the VAT scheme and collect revenues on behalf of the government for national development.
One of the difficulties facing the VAT regime is that most buyers do not insist on VAT receipts, leaving retailers to keep revenues otherwise meant for the state.
The increased VAT tax education would therefore sensitise the public to some of the simple things they need to do to help the service to meet its national revenue collection targets.
An Assistant Revenue Officer of VAT at the Okaishie VAT Sub Office (VSO), Mr Frank Appiah Boadi, said seminars and workshops for targeted groups would increase compliance necessary for generating adequate revenue to finance the national budget and reduce the over-reliance on donor funds.
He said this when the Okaishie VAT Sub Office organised a one-day seminar for students and staff of the Holy Trinity Cathedral Secondary School (HOTCASS) as part of the educational programme.
Topics discussed included the importance of paying taxes, its benefits, as well as the need to patronise shops that were registered under the VAT scheme.
Mr Boadi said increasing revenue generation was important for funding crucial projects such as the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the National Health Insurance Scheme.
“When we are able to generate internal revenue effectively, we can finance development projects such as roads, hospitals and schools,” he stated.
Consequently, the public had a civic and responsibility to patronise shops that were registered under the VAT scheme, Mr Boadi stated, and entreated the public to patronise such shops.
He also urged the public to demand their VAT invoice whenever they bought goods or patronised services from VAT-registered shops.
The VAT Service, he said, was aware of fraudsters who issued fake invoices to customers, saying “we have taken measures to arrest them”.
He called on the public to report any trader who issued fake invoices to customers to the VAT service for the necessary action to be taken.
The Assistant Revenue Officer of VAT also advised businesses to register with the VAT scheme and collect revenues on behalf of the government for national development.
SOEs to account for stewardship — Hayibor (15/7/09)
State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) will henceforth be made to account for their stewardship under a programme to be rolled out by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and SOEs.
The rationale behind the programme is to afford the Ghanaian taxpayer the opportunity to know whether or not their taxes are being used profitably.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Prince Jacob Hayibor, Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe North Constituency made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra.
He said SOEs would be made to account for what they used their funds for and whether or not they made profits and losses.
Mr Hayibor said the programme which was a collaborative effort between the Parliamentary Select Committee and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), would be broadcast live.
The programme which is an interactive one will also allow members of the public to make contributions and ask questions on the performance of SOEs.
Responding to the ineffectiveness of some SOE’s, Mr Hayibor said targets had to be set for Chief Executive Officer’s of the Various SOE’s in which failure to meet targets would result in dismissal of such officials.
He said public enterprises were being mismanaged and were not succeeding like private enterprises, an issue that had to be explained by officials in charge of the enterprises.
He added that measures had to be put in place to ensure that targets were met.
He said SOE’s had to be managed properly to prosper and make profits for the development of the country’s economy just like privately owned enterprises.
Mr Hayibor said the committee needed funds to run and sustain the programme to ensure accountability in SOE’s.
He, therefore, appealed to institution and benevolent organisations to support the programme.
The rationale behind the programme is to afford the Ghanaian taxpayer the opportunity to know whether or not their taxes are being used profitably.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Prince Jacob Hayibor, Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe North Constituency made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra.
He said SOEs would be made to account for what they used their funds for and whether or not they made profits and losses.
Mr Hayibor said the programme which was a collaborative effort between the Parliamentary Select Committee and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), would be broadcast live.
The programme which is an interactive one will also allow members of the public to make contributions and ask questions on the performance of SOEs.
Responding to the ineffectiveness of some SOE’s, Mr Hayibor said targets had to be set for Chief Executive Officer’s of the Various SOE’s in which failure to meet targets would result in dismissal of such officials.
He said public enterprises were being mismanaged and were not succeeding like private enterprises, an issue that had to be explained by officials in charge of the enterprises.
He added that measures had to be put in place to ensure that targets were met.
He said SOE’s had to be managed properly to prosper and make profits for the development of the country’s economy just like privately owned enterprises.
Mr Hayibor said the committee needed funds to run and sustain the programme to ensure accountability in SOE’s.
He, therefore, appealed to institution and benevolent organisations to support the programme.
Twin foundation to set up education fund (15/7/09)
THE Catholic Twins Society (CTS),a twin foundation within the Roman Catholic church is expected to institute an educational fund for needy brilliant twins in the country.
The fund is to afford needy twins the opportunity of accessing quality education to be able to achieve their ambitions in the future.
This was disclosed by the Spiritual Director of the society, Rev. Fr. Raphael Atta Donkor at the fifth anniversary and feast day celebration of the Patron Saint Thomas the Apostle, a twin, in Accra.
He said giving the needy brilliant twins the opportunity of accessing quality education,would also help them contribute their quota to the development of the country.
He charged twins in the Catholic Church to fully participate in voluntary and benevolent activities to aid social development.
He stress the need to foster corporation within the twin foundation to help them achieve targets they set for themselves.
Rev. Donkor encouraged twins to let society see their special potentials in order for them to be recognised as such.
He said it was the Society’s aim to stop all rites that were not in conformity with the principles of the church involving twins.
The Founder of CTS, Mrs Lucy Tawiah Peprah, called for the abolishment of some native rites, such as “Abbam” performed on twins in the country.
She said such rites performed on twins had psychological impacts on them and made the twins feel their lives were dependent on some gods.
She added that such rites should to be streamlined in order to maintain and inculcate the positive ones into Christian principles.
She said practices where twins were exploited and used as instruments for begging on the streets, a popular practice in the Moslem community, had to be discarded.
Mrs Peprah said as part of efforts to check the menace, the CTS had rehabilitated some parents and supported them to undertake various trades to help them cater for their children without having to beg.
She said twins were special and influential people, adding that, it was important for them to unite and fight for their rightful positions in society and fight for other twins in the society.
She said one of CTS's main aim was to get twins out of the streets and give them the needed attention they deserved.
The fund is to afford needy twins the opportunity of accessing quality education to be able to achieve their ambitions in the future.
This was disclosed by the Spiritual Director of the society, Rev. Fr. Raphael Atta Donkor at the fifth anniversary and feast day celebration of the Patron Saint Thomas the Apostle, a twin, in Accra.
He said giving the needy brilliant twins the opportunity of accessing quality education,would also help them contribute their quota to the development of the country.
He charged twins in the Catholic Church to fully participate in voluntary and benevolent activities to aid social development.
He stress the need to foster corporation within the twin foundation to help them achieve targets they set for themselves.
Rev. Donkor encouraged twins to let society see their special potentials in order for them to be recognised as such.
He said it was the Society’s aim to stop all rites that were not in conformity with the principles of the church involving twins.
The Founder of CTS, Mrs Lucy Tawiah Peprah, called for the abolishment of some native rites, such as “Abbam” performed on twins in the country.
She said such rites performed on twins had psychological impacts on them and made the twins feel their lives were dependent on some gods.
She added that such rites should to be streamlined in order to maintain and inculcate the positive ones into Christian principles.
She said practices where twins were exploited and used as instruments for begging on the streets, a popular practice in the Moslem community, had to be discarded.
Mrs Peprah said as part of efforts to check the menace, the CTS had rehabilitated some parents and supported them to undertake various trades to help them cater for their children without having to beg.
She said twins were special and influential people, adding that, it was important for them to unite and fight for their rightful positions in society and fight for other twins in the society.
She said one of CTS's main aim was to get twins out of the streets and give them the needed attention they deserved.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
(13/7/09) ICB launches funeral policy
THE International Commercial Bank (ICB) in partnership with Enterprise Life Assurance Company (ELAC) has launched its funeral insurance policy in Accra to provide decent burial for beneficiaries.
Named the ICB Bancassurance product, the policy is aimed at providing immediate cash within 48 hours to cater for funeral expenses of a policy holder or the family.
The Assistant General Manager of Sales and Marketing, ELAC, Mr Fiifi Simson, said funerals were important events in the society, adding that the ICB and ELAC came out with the product to provide large sum benefits in the event of death to provide decent burials for beneficiaries.
He said policy holders could be on the scheme by 55 years as well as make provisions to cover a spouse, six children, two parents and two in-laws.
He said claims could be made after six months of joining the scheme.
A Director of the Board of ICB, Mr Michael Ezan, said ICB was the first bank in its banking group to venture into the product, adding that it was the fourth bank in the country to launch the product.
He was confident that customers would find the product useful since death created an immediate need for cash.
The Chief Executive Officer of ICB, Mr L.K. Ganapathiramam, said his staff in all 12 branches nation-wide had been given the requisite skills to create awareness and sell the product to make it successful in the market.
He said the bank was going to ensure that customers really understood the product to help them make good use of it.
The Executive Director of ELAC, Mr Cleland Bruce, said his company was proud to be associated with ICB in the partnership, and believed that their passion and experience would enrich the partnership.
He said Bancassurance was one of many products to be rolled out from the partnership.
The Head of Banking Supervision of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Mr Dela Serlomey, said many households were not taking advantage of the protection that insurance provided against unforeseen difficulties that could disrupt their lives.
He said the partnership provided an immense opportunity to reach more households and businesses with suitably designed and priced products that could insulate patrons of the product from the financial difficulties associated with living in recent times.
He called on Ghanaians to take advantage of the product.
Named the ICB Bancassurance product, the policy is aimed at providing immediate cash within 48 hours to cater for funeral expenses of a policy holder or the family.
The Assistant General Manager of Sales and Marketing, ELAC, Mr Fiifi Simson, said funerals were important events in the society, adding that the ICB and ELAC came out with the product to provide large sum benefits in the event of death to provide decent burials for beneficiaries.
He said policy holders could be on the scheme by 55 years as well as make provisions to cover a spouse, six children, two parents and two in-laws.
He said claims could be made after six months of joining the scheme.
A Director of the Board of ICB, Mr Michael Ezan, said ICB was the first bank in its banking group to venture into the product, adding that it was the fourth bank in the country to launch the product.
He was confident that customers would find the product useful since death created an immediate need for cash.
The Chief Executive Officer of ICB, Mr L.K. Ganapathiramam, said his staff in all 12 branches nation-wide had been given the requisite skills to create awareness and sell the product to make it successful in the market.
He said the bank was going to ensure that customers really understood the product to help them make good use of it.
The Executive Director of ELAC, Mr Cleland Bruce, said his company was proud to be associated with ICB in the partnership, and believed that their passion and experience would enrich the partnership.
He said Bancassurance was one of many products to be rolled out from the partnership.
The Head of Banking Supervision of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Mr Dela Serlomey, said many households were not taking advantage of the protection that insurance provided against unforeseen difficulties that could disrupt their lives.
He said the partnership provided an immense opportunity to reach more households and businesses with suitably designed and priced products that could insulate patrons of the product from the financial difficulties associated with living in recent times.
He called on Ghanaians to take advantage of the product.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Obama look alike (9/7/09)mp
A 12-year-old boy from Kumasi, has been identified as an Obama look-alike in Ghana.
The boy, Felix Agyaba Afriyie, a pupil of Nagie’s Angels Educational Centre, Kumasi, is fair in complexion has big ears, thick eyebrows and is a left handed person just like the United States of America (USA) President.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, Felix said his schoolmates had nicknamed him Obama,due to his resemblance to the US President.
“They say I look, talk, walk and laugh like President Obama”, he stated, adding that, “I always feel excited when they call me Obama”.
Born to Mr Kwame Agyaba Afriyie and Mrs Evelyn Davis on March 15, 1997, Felix wants to be a pastor in future.
He said his passion was to spread the word of God and save souls for Christ.
He said he would like to become an inspirational person like President Obama someday, to also touch the lives of people and offer a helping hand to people in need.
He described the US President as an intelligent and kind person for deciding to visit Ghana, the first nation he would be visiting in sub-Saharan Africa since he assumed office at the White House.
Fried rice and chicken is twelve-year-old Felix’s favourite food.
He said he would love to meet President Obama during his visit to Ghana and tell him to help Ghana develop to the standard of the USA.
The boy, Felix Agyaba Afriyie, a pupil of Nagie’s Angels Educational Centre, Kumasi, is fair in complexion has big ears, thick eyebrows and is a left handed person just like the United States of America (USA) President.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, Felix said his schoolmates had nicknamed him Obama,due to his resemblance to the US President.
“They say I look, talk, walk and laugh like President Obama”, he stated, adding that, “I always feel excited when they call me Obama”.
Born to Mr Kwame Agyaba Afriyie and Mrs Evelyn Davis on March 15, 1997, Felix wants to be a pastor in future.
He said his passion was to spread the word of God and save souls for Christ.
He said he would like to become an inspirational person like President Obama someday, to also touch the lives of people and offer a helping hand to people in need.
He described the US President as an intelligent and kind person for deciding to visit Ghana, the first nation he would be visiting in sub-Saharan Africa since he assumed office at the White House.
Fried rice and chicken is twelve-year-old Felix’s favourite food.
He said he would love to meet President Obama during his visit to Ghana and tell him to help Ghana develop to the standard of the USA.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Starwin sign MoU(1/7/09)MP
THE Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM) at Mampong Akuapem has secured a partnership with Starwin Products Limited (Starwin) to transform its herbal preparations into capsules and tablets.
The transformation of the herbal preparations into capsules and tablets would pave the way for the centre to conveniently dispense and market its products locally and internationally.
An agreement to give effect to the partnership between the centre and Starwin, an orthodox medicine producer, was signed in Accra yesterday.
The Board Chairman of Starwin, Rev Dr Mensa Otabil, and the Managing Director (MD) of Starwin, Mr Kwasi Yirenkyi, signed for Starwin while the Deputy Director of CSRPM, Dr Archibald Sittie, initialled for the centre.
In his remarks, Dr Otabil, who expressed optimism about the success of the collaboration, said the agreement signified the beginning of a major breakthrough in the health delivery system in Ghana.
He said the expression of eagerness and anxiety by the management of both institutions to get the project started, as well as the enormous potential those institutions possessed, made him optimistic about the success of the project.
He said Starwin could boast highly skilled and dedicated manpower and modern machinery and equipment that could meet the challenges of the project.
He said the selected malaria, typhoid, arthritis, diabetes and hypertension drugs were already in reasonable demand, even in their raw form, adding that there was no doubt that as the products got to their finished forms, demand for them would increase tremendously.
That, Dr Otabil said, would lead to increase in the operation capacity of Starwin and increase in turnover, adding, "In the end, our shareholders and indeed Ghana as a whole will benefit."
He expressed his desire for the management of the institutions to work hard to bring the project into fruition in the quickest possible time.
The MD of Starwin said the collaboration would be of enormous benefit to the whole country in the delivery of quality health care.
He said the agreement was an indication that Starwin was going to increase its line of products to increase revenue for its shareholders and the country as a whole.
The Deputy Director of CSRPM, Dr Archibald Sittie, said this was the opportunity for traditional medicine to break boundaries and gain recognition and market internationally.
He said revenue generated would help the centre widen its research agenda and produce more herbal medicines to be transformed into tablets and capsules to complement the health delivery system in the country.
The transformation of the herbal preparations into capsules and tablets would pave the way for the centre to conveniently dispense and market its products locally and internationally.
An agreement to give effect to the partnership between the centre and Starwin, an orthodox medicine producer, was signed in Accra yesterday.
The Board Chairman of Starwin, Rev Dr Mensa Otabil, and the Managing Director (MD) of Starwin, Mr Kwasi Yirenkyi, signed for Starwin while the Deputy Director of CSRPM, Dr Archibald Sittie, initialled for the centre.
In his remarks, Dr Otabil, who expressed optimism about the success of the collaboration, said the agreement signified the beginning of a major breakthrough in the health delivery system in Ghana.
He said the expression of eagerness and anxiety by the management of both institutions to get the project started, as well as the enormous potential those institutions possessed, made him optimistic about the success of the project.
He said Starwin could boast highly skilled and dedicated manpower and modern machinery and equipment that could meet the challenges of the project.
He said the selected malaria, typhoid, arthritis, diabetes and hypertension drugs were already in reasonable demand, even in their raw form, adding that there was no doubt that as the products got to their finished forms, demand for them would increase tremendously.
That, Dr Otabil said, would lead to increase in the operation capacity of Starwin and increase in turnover, adding, "In the end, our shareholders and indeed Ghana as a whole will benefit."
He expressed his desire for the management of the institutions to work hard to bring the project into fruition in the quickest possible time.
The MD of Starwin said the collaboration would be of enormous benefit to the whole country in the delivery of quality health care.
He said the agreement was an indication that Starwin was going to increase its line of products to increase revenue for its shareholders and the country as a whole.
The Deputy Director of CSRPM, Dr Archibald Sittie, said this was the opportunity for traditional medicine to break boundaries and gain recognition and market internationally.
He said revenue generated would help the centre widen its research agenda and produce more herbal medicines to be transformed into tablets and capsules to complement the health delivery system in the country.
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