Ashanti region recorded 220 fire outbreaks in two months

Kumasi, April 6, GNA- The Ashanti Regional Office of the Ghana
National Fire Service (GNFS) has recorded 220 fire outbreaks in the
region between January and February this year.The Service also
recorded 310 domestic fire cases, 45 industrial, 64 vehicular, 52
electrical, 52 institutional cases and one bushfire.Mr Franklin Philip
Masiku, the Public Relations Officer for the Ashanti Region GNFS, who
disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi,
said last year the Service also recorded one death and several
casualties in the region.

He noted that even though the GNFS was intensifying its public
education on fire prevention, the region was recording more fire
outbreaks and attributed the incidence to ignorance on the part of
some people.Mr Masiku said the Service was overwhelmed with work as a
result of the creation of new districts in the region and appealed to
the Government to open more fire stations to help cope with fire
outbreaks.He also cautioned people who called the GNFS emergency
telephone numbers unnecessarily to desist from the practice.
06 April 07

Metro Mass Transport extends services to Akyem Aperade

Akyem Aperade (E/R), April 06 GNA - Akyem Aperade in the Birim South
District of the Eastern Region was on Friday set agog when Metro Mass
Transport Services extended its operations to the area.When a bus of
the company arrived in the town at about 0730 hours, both the young
and the elderly lined up the streets, cheered and sang praises of the
government for coming to their aid. They later boarded the bus for a
free ride through the streets of the town amidst singing.
At a meeting with staff of the company at the chief's palace,
Nana Twumwaa II, queen mother of Akyem Aperade said with the arrival
of the bus, transportation difficulties facing them would be a thing
of the past.She expressed her gratitude to the government on its
tireless efforts to make rural areas worthy places to live.
Nana Twumwaa commended Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong and Mr Yaw Osafo
Maafo, MPs' for Akyem Swedru and Akyem Oda respectively for the role
they played in making it possible for the company to extend its
operations to the town.Mr Frank Kwame Busumtwi, the District Chief
Executive urged the people to insist on collecting tickets when
boarding the bus.
He reminded them that the continuous operations of the bus
service in the area would depend to a large extent on good
patronage.He advised them to resist the temptation to connive with any
official to indulge in ticket racketeering to the detriment of the
company.Mr Busumtwi advised staff of the company to feel free to
report to the appropriate authorities the activities of any commercial
driver who would attempt to intimidate them to withdraw their services
in the area.Mr Johnson Obed Asamoah, the Akyem Oda Area Manager of the
company said basic school children in school uniforms would get free
ride to their destinations.He, however, said the services would not be
extended to schoolchildren at the weekends or after 1800 hours on
weekdays.

06 April 07

PTAs/SMSs urged to effectively monitor allocation of school resources

Tamale, April 6, GNA- Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and School
Management Committees (SMCs) in the country have been urged to closely
monitor resources distributed to educational institutions to ensure
that every school gets its fair share of the allocation.
They have also been asked to educate parents to take keen
interest in the education of their children and to constantly monitor
their academic performances. Mr. Abdul-Karim Ziblim, Programme Manager
of Wuni Zaligu Development Association, a local non-governmental
organisation (NGO), concerned with educational development, made the
call at a day's workshop for PTAs and SMCs members in the Tamale
Metropolis on Thursday.The workshop was organised by the NGO,
sponsored by the German Development Service.Mr. Ziblim asked PTAs to
sensitise members of their communities on the need to send their
children to school especially with the introduction of the Capitation
Grant by the government.
He further appealed to PTAs to assist parents to educate their
children on the effects of indiscipline on their development,
especially the dangers posed by teenage pregnancy.
Mr. Ziblim said if children were not protected and left loose
they would become a burden on their parents and the society.
He said urged the people to actively participate in the
management of schools, especially at the basic level, to facilitate
teaching and learning.
He said plans were underway to network all the PTAs/SMCs in the
Tamale Metropolis to enable members to share ideas and experiences and
also have a common voice that could assist in promoting education.
Topics for discussion included " The review of human resource
development under Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy One (GPRS 1). Other
topics treated were:" Improving the quality and efficiency in the
delivery of educational services, establishment of PTAs and SMCs,
tenure of office of PTA/SMC and SMC/PTA monitoring and
supervision.Issues concerning education, skill, manpower and sports
development for accelerated growth, increasing access to and
participation in education and training were also dealt with.

06 April 07

Ghana expects more tourists

Accra, April 6, GNA - Ghana expects some one million tourist visitors
in 2007 with an expected income of two billion dollars, an official of
the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations said on Thursday.
Mr Abeeku Dickson, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism
and Diasporan Relations, said 428,533 tourists were recorded to have
visited Ghana in 2005 giving the nation about 836 million dollars. The
number of arrivals increased by 16 per cent in 2006.
He said the expected increase in 2007 was as a result of "The
Joseph Project", which would come to a climax between July and August
this year.Mr Dickson said the increase in inflows showed that the
ministry had more room to improve when given the needed assistance.
The Joseph Project is aimed at reconciling and uniting Africans
who had lost contact with their roots back home to contribute to the
realization of African goals.
The celebration, which has a major theme: "Re-uniting the African
Family" would also revolve around sub-themes such as "Honouring our
African," "Pan-Africanism", "Emancipation, our Heritage our Strength".
Mr Dickson noted that the number of forts and castles along
Ghana's coastline showed that most slaves passed through its shores
and it was significant that these shores again became their first
point of their entry."Like the Biblical Joseph, some have risen above
their captivity and are shining examples of the best of human spirit."
Mr Dickson said the government intended to convert James Fort in
Accra, which kept the first slaves and prisoners, into a home of
"African Excellence Experience" for all Africans from all walks of
life who triumphed over slavery. Mr Dickson noted that the slave trade
was not accepted by some Africans and Ghanaians in particular saying
"Gwollu, in the North West of Ghana, put up protective wall against
slave raiders and the Kyebis in the Eastern Region never traded in
slaves".He said the Ministry would, in future form a Committee of
Africans in the Homeland and in the Diaspora to select men and women
who qualify to be the "Josephs" of today.

Social Service Friday Datelined Sunyani

At Sunyani, The Very Reverend Samuel Adu-Boateng, Superintendent
Minister of the Sunyani Circuit of the Methodist Church on Good Friday
urged Christians to ensure that the celebration of Easter changed
their lifestyles.He said: "The celebration of the death of Our Lord
Jesus Christ on the Cross should be the end of our commitment of
sins."

"It should not only be the ritual of cladding in mourning clothes and
confessing to our sins only to go wayward again after the
festivities", the Reverend Minister stressed in a sermon at a Good
Friday service at the Wesley Cathedral in Sunyani.Rev Adu-Boateng
expressed regret that Christians had limited the celebration of the
death of the Saviour to the festivities, stressing: "The significance
of the Cross on which the Saviour died should be central to our
Christian faith".The Methodist priest noted that the celebration of
the death of Christ demanded attitudinal change among Christians since
it bridged the vacuum created between God and man by sin.
"Christians must give meaning to the passion and death of Christ
who showed a high and unparalleled level of love for humankind", Rev
Adu-Boateng added.

Prophet Osei Amaniampong, Sunyani Area head of the Church of Pentecost
preaching at a convention of the church at Bechem called on Ghanaians
to beware of so-called "prophets of doom" who peddle lies to cause
fear and anxiety among the populace.He urged Ghanaians, especially
Christians, to have faith in God and to avoid "short-cut" means of
receiving blessings from God to escape damnation unto themselves.The
church leader advised Ghanaians to eschew excessive quest for wealth
and power, explaining that "greed kills a nation and this social
canker must not be allowed to control us to ruin us and the national
economy".Mr Osei Sekyere Bota, Tano South District Chief Executive,
debunked allegations that Bechem "is the witchcraft centre of
Ghana".He advised detractors of the town to spare it the agony of
being abused with such derogatory titles as many churches operate in
and around the town.The DCE called on religious bodies to be more
socially responsible and to partner the government in the
implementation of its policies.

At Ho, Reverend Innocent D Kofi Aflakpui, a retired Priest of the
Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Ghana has expressed concern
about the urge among Ghanaian workers to resort to occultism to settle
disputes at workplaces.He said while some workers kept certain objects
as protection others are virtually on their marks to run to
spiritualists on account of petty workplace jealousies.Rev. Aflakpui
who was preaching the sermon at the SSNIT EP Church on Good Friday
said Jesus' suffering and death on the cross should instil in every
Christian the spirit of perseverance and the will to suffer a little
for others.He condemned backbiting and exhorted Christians not allow
spite and hatred to govern their relations with others.Rev Aflakpui
also expressed disgust at the rush for money and other material
things, which he said had led many to death and incarceration.In her
sermon at the Elorm E P Church, Ho Bankoe, Mrs Esther Malwine Edu-Yao
Catechist, said Jesus Christ's readiness to forgive his crucifiers in
his moment of pain on the cross showed the power of forgiveness to
disarm one's bitterest enemies and to win their love and admiration.

She said for that Centurion, who stood guard over Jesus Christ on the
cross to realize that Jesus Christ was indeed the Son of God, was an
eloquent testimony of the power of forgiveness to bring people away
from the path of destruction into eternal life.Mrs Adu-Yao said by
that example, Jesus Christ was telling Christians that there was no
wrong that they could not forgive and that forgiveness; the true mark
of a Christian was the most potent weapon of disarming one's enemies.

In Kumasi, Rev. Dr. Kojo Osei-Wusu, Senior Pastor of the Grace Baptist
Church in Kumasi has urged Christians to witness to the world through
their works and deeds.He urged them to reflect on their lives to see
whether the death of their Saviour Jesus Christ had been of any value
to them.Rev. Osei-Wusu emphasized that the crucifixion of Jesus, which
was the foundation of their faith must keep their lives on check.Rev
Osei-Wusu, who is also the immediate past president of the Ghana
Baptist Convention (GBC), was preaching the sermon at a joint service
on Good Friday of the Kumasi Southeast Baptist Association (KUSEBYA)
held at the Grace Baptist Church, Amakom, Kumasi.Also in attendance of
the service were, the First Baptist at Akwatialine and Mpraeso and
Nkwatia Baptist churches from the Eastern Region. He spoke on the
theme: "STOP CRUCIFYING JESUS AGAIN"

Cape Coast, April 6, GNA - Churches in the Cape Coast municipality
were filled to capacity as Christians attended church services to
commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ on the cross at
Calvary more than 2,000 years ago.The Orthodox churches sketched
events, which led to the crucifixion and death of Jesus.Most of the
worshipers wore black and red clothing to signify the solemnity of the
day and prayed for the development and growth of the church, President
John Agyekum Kufuor, Ministers and Council of State members, as well
as war torn countries.In a sermon at the St Joseph Catholic Church,
the Reverend Father Samuel Asantey, said the death of Jesus was
significant and prayed that the day should be used for true
reconciliation and forgiveness just as Christ forgave those who
persecuted and crucified him.He pointed out that it was not only the
boisterous crowd on Calvary, which needed God's forgiveness but
everyone and stressed the need for all to take advantage of the death
of Jesus to change their attitude and endeavour to grasp the real
meanings of to be "forgiven" and "saved".
Fr Asantey described Good Friday as a "perfect day" for the
"healing of spiritual wounds".He urged Christians to use the day to
heal their wounds and truly forgive their neighbours from their hearts
and transform all their hurts, bitterness and unfaithfulness to God,
into prayer.This he stressed would be the only way they would be
acting as true followers of Christ.
He urged Christians to be committed to the truth and to profess
their faith in Christ by upholding the Gospel and its value.At the
Wesley Methodist Cathedral, the Superintendent Minister in-charge, the
Very Reverend Theophilus Anderson noted that the crucifixion of Jesus
Christ on that fateful Friday, reconciled two bitterest enemies,
Pilate and Herod and expressed the hope that former President Rawlings
and President Kufuor, as Catholics would become friends.He said apart
from reconciliation, Christ's death was also designed to save and set
mankind free from all kinds of bondage including sin, hatred, acrimony
and discrimination. Rev. Anderson urged Christians to use the occasion
to transform their characters and attitudes as true followers of
Christ to show the world that his death could really bring relief to
the captive and reconciliation to enemies.
06 April 07

NGO donates to district hospital

Hohoe, April 6, GNA - The Pan African Development Foundation (PADF) a
New York based development oriented NGO on Thursday presented assorted health
items to the Hohoe District Hospital at a brief ceremony.The items
include syringes, cutlasses, textbooks, calculators, cotton bags, and
surgical sponges worth millions of cedis.

Dr Aubrey Heath-Retemyer, Executive Director of PADF head of a
five-member delegation who made the donation said the Foundation's
gesture was in responses to an appeal by Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount
Chief of Gbi Traditional Area in America.He said PADF sought to build,
develop and provide the networking channels necessary for African
communities as well as Africans in the Diaspora to advance
spiritually, physically and economically because, "we do not believe
in the superiority of one race over the other".

Dr Edwin Kobla Danoo, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital thanked
the Foundation for their benevolence and looked forward to forging a
mutual collaboration with PADF to solve some of the hospital's
problems.Togbega Gabusu appealed to PADF to explore the possibility of
wholly or partially assisting in the rehabilitation of the hospital,
which, he said, had not been rehabilitated in the past 50 years.

06 April 07

Social Services Friday Datelined Hohoe (V/R)

At Hohoe, Reverend David Delali, Resident Pastor of Top Charismatic
Ministry at Hohoe on Good Friday exhorted Christians to take courage
from Christ's death and resurrection to differentiate between right
and wrong, good from evil and not to be swayed by the loudness and
materialism of the world.
" The period should renew our faith and devotion to God and
humanity". In another sermon at the Jubilee Christian Centre in Ho,
Reverend James Noble Tulasi, Head Pastor called on Christians to use
the Easter festivities to renew their covenant with God to be able to
withstand the tribulations of the world.He asked Christians to focus
on and apply the lessons of Christ's death to get closer to the
"Saviour" through the renewal of faith and good works.

06 April 07

African offered Jesus Christ assistance when he was denied by his own people

Accra, April 6, GNA – Africa offered Jesus Christ assistance when the
people of Asia and Europe denied him during his earthly ministry about
2,000 years ago, the Very Reverend J.M.Y. Edusa-Eyison of the Ghana
Police Church said on Friday.Very Rev. Edusa-Eyison, who was preaching
the Good Friday sermon, said when the people of Asia and Europe
represented by the Jews and the Roman soldiers, denied and tortured
Jesus, respectively, Simon a Cyrenian, representing Africans, offered
him assistance by carrying his cross for him.

He said that was not the first time Africans assisted Jesus Christ
citing the time when Joseph was directed to send the baby Jesus to
Egypt because the powers that be wanted to kill him. Very Rev.
Edusa-Eyison said despite the scorn and torture meted out to Jesus he
still loved the perpetrators and asked God to forgive them adding that
God through Christ offered men reprieve from sin.He said it was
through the suffering of Jesus that humanity had its being and hope
adding that the love one had for him drew one to Jesus, who conducted
a peaceful campaign by enduring suffering.Very Rev Edusa-Eyison asked
Christians not to be afraid of the forces of darkness because Jesus
had made them more than conquerors.Short sermons were delivered on the
seven statements Jesus made while on the cross.

6 April 07

ADF gives $50 million to connect power grids between Ghana-Togo-Benin

Accra, April 6, GNA – The Board of Directors of the African
Development Fund (ADF) has approved a loan of US$ 22.4 million in
favour of Ghana and US$ 26.2 million in favour of Benin to connect the
power grids between Ghana-Togo-Benin.The project seeks to reduce
poverty in the ECOWAS region through increased access to modern energy
services, according to a statement by the African Development Bank
received in Accra on Friday.

The project also aims at increasing transmission capacity between
Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana for trading of electricity which will
improve reliability of supply, reduce production costs and, during
drought periods, meet shortfall in output of hydropower stations.Ghana
has a serious shortage of power and supplies from Nigeria through
Benin and Togo which was to have brought some relief failed because of
technical problems on interconnectivity.The statement said the project
would have the following outputs: 338 km of 330 kV single circuit line
from Ghana through Momé Hagou in Togo to Sakete in Benin.

The others are extension of 330 kV substation near Tema; a new 330 kV
substation at Momé Hagou and extension of Sakete 330 kV substation.The
statement said ADF had mobilised 45.10 per cent of the total cost,
which would finance the cost of the transmission lines in Ghana and
Benin, the substation in Benin and project audits in Ghana and
Benin.Studies have shown that a 330 kV transmission line
interconnecting the electricity grids of Nigeria, Benin, Togo and
Ghana would be technically feasible and would be a step towards the
creation of the West African Power Pool, a unified electricity market
covering the ECOWAS region.
The African Development Bank Group has been actively
participating in the regional integration of the energy sector in
ECOWAS member countries through the financing of nine multinational
operations.The operations include the 225 kV Ghana–Côte d'Ivoire
Transmission Line project completed in 1983 and the Dispatching Centre
project for the control and operation of the transmission system of
Togo and Benin completed in 1998.
06 April 07

Social Services Friday 12 datelined Accra

Delivering the sermon at the Kaneshie Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong –Manso, Moderator, called on Ghanaians to be united in all endeavours and stop betraying one another.He said the act of betrayal as committed by one of the disciple of Jesus, Judas Iscariot that led to the arrest, torture and eventual death of Jesus."It is therefore prudent for all Ghanaians to learn from the passion and death of Jesus to love one another, work in unity and stop all the backbiting and other acts of betrayal that did not help the nation to grow."No-one would come from outside to destroy Ghana, except Ghanaians themselves and no one would build the nation for us except ourselves," The Moderator said at a Good Friday Service in Accra.
      Rt Rev. Dr. Frimpong-Manso said Easter and the Passion celebration were to remind all especially Christians that there was a saviour, who died to reconcile all to himself and God.He called on Christians to reflect on the forgiveness pronounced by Jesus against his accusers and those who tortured him and also forgive one another, praying fervently for one another and the nation as a whole."While the leaders try to find solutions to the problems that are confronting the nation such as the energy crisis, it is important that Christians also prayed so that God would open the heavens and pour down rain to fill the dam.

"As we go through turbulent moments, we need not draw the dagger, because we should all know that those who draw the dagger die by the dagger," the Moderator said.He urged the leaders of the nation to be truthful to the people at all times, because leadership was an issue of sacrifice and truthfulness at all times.The church, he said, was to play the advocacy role in bringing joy, peace and love to the poor and needy in society.Rt. Rev. Dr Frimpong-Manson called on all to promote environmental cleanliness and ensure that the forest was preserved for the survival of man.At the Church of Pentecost, Madina Area Zonal Easter Convention under the theme, "This Same Jesus Will Come Back Again", the Reverend Jerry Paul Adzah, Madina North District Pastor said Christians should use the death of Christ to reflect on their lives and make the necessary transformation to fulfill the aim of His death.
     He explained that, "there was more to the death and resurrection of the Christ and that is what Christians should focus on".Rev. Adzah noted that on the last day when "the Book of Life is opened we will be judged according to what we did on earth and receive our rewards accordingly".He therefore urged Christians to use the occasion to prepare well so that they did not fall short of his glory.