Review Committee to Deliberate On Utility Tariffs

A six member Committee made up of representatives from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) has been formed with the aim of reviewing utility tariffs.
The decision was arrived at after a two-hour meeting between the AGI, TUC, PURC and the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama.
The meeting was held to find long-lasting solutions to the disagreement that came up as a result of the new tariffs that were announced in June this year.
During the meeting, there were a lot of deliberations some of which include whether the government should use added taxes to subsidies increased tariffs or try to convince the PURC to reduce the prices
John Dramani Mahama disclosed today that he has already met the utility companies twice and also met the PURC once to find an amicable solution after being given the mandate by President Mills to help resolve the issue.
After a the meeting, the Vice President noted that based on new proposals that came up during the meeting, there was the need for stakeholders to further deliberate on the issue to come out with a negotiation for mutual benefit.
He asked all stakeholders to be patient and hoped that the committee would come out with productive solutions to the stalemate that exists among the concerning parties.
The membership of the committee was made up of two individuals from PURC, TUC and AGI.
They are expected to, within a week come out with recommendations in which the government would be the mediator.
Ghananewslink.com

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Prez Mills Goes On Leave

The Communication Director at the presidency Kofi Anyidoho, during an interaction with the Press over the weekend confirmed that the President, John Evans Atta Mills is preparing to go on leave.
He said that the date for the commencement of the two weeks leave would be announced anytime soon.
While on leave, Mr. Anyidoho noted that President Mills plans to spend part of his leave in Ghana and the other part in the United States of America.

He also emphasized that President’s leave was not going to affect government affairs in anyway. “Though President Mills will be away from office for a while, he would constantly be in touch to give instructions on issues concerning the country” he said.
In an attempt to explain why the President needs to take a break, Mr. Anyidoho explained that the Judiciary takes its legal vacation whiles Parliament also goes on recess annually and therefore it is right for President to also to take a break once in a while. “After using the time to cool off, President Mills will come back refreshed and fully energized to continue running the affairs of the country” he said.
About a year and a half ago since President Evans Atta Mills resumed office, his upcoming leave would be his first and he looks forward to spend each day trying to think about his Better Ghana Agenda.
Ghananewslink.com

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Journalist Under Attack By Police.

The Enchi District Police Commander, DSP Isaac Akligbe is preparing to charge Nana Yaw Asaasewura, a radio presenter at Trikie FM in Enchi for spreading false information against NADMO officials.
DSP Isaac Akligbe said that the presenter failed to provide evidence to back his claim that these NADMO officials have diverted relieve items to their girlfriends.
He went ahead to caution broadcasters against such unguarded statements, adding that “the police has great respect for the media and would not want to enforce the long arm of the law on media personnel.”
He advised presenters and broadcasters to cross check their facts before putting it across to listeners.
Nana Yaw was arrested last week following his comments against the NADMO officials after rumors emerged that some people did not receive some of the relieve items.
The regional minister confirmed the fact that some people did not receive the relieve items because items was not enough after touring the flood areas.
However Nana Yaw Asaasewura, the presenter thinks his human right is being trampled upon.

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Akpeteshi Can Cause Epilepsy : Chief Psychiatrist

The Chief Psychiatrist at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Akwasi Osei has disclosed that excessive consumption of strong alcoholic drinks like Akpeteshi, Gin and Whiskey causes epilepsy.

He made this known in an interview on Adom FM, explaining that heavy drinking is the major contributing factor leading to epilepsy in the Ghana.
Dr. Akwasi Osei further explained that when people get drunk and fell, they normally hit their head on the ground and this could damage their brain.
He therefore cautioned the entire public to take alcoholic drinks that have nutritional value and are good for the body. “You can drink palm wine or red wine once in a while because it is good for the body”, he said.
In another development, a consulting Naturopath at the Good Life Natural Health Clinic, David Nii Amankwa Addo admitted to a Ghananewslink.com reporter that strong alcoholic drinks such as ‘Akpeteshi’, Gin, Whiskey and other highly spirited drinks causes severe damage to the human body, blood and brain.
He also cautioned that these strong alcoholic drinks can cause brain damage, which can lead to epilepsy and madness .He therefore advised that people should not be habitual drinkers because it can affect their brains and their body as a whole.

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Court Sets Asabe's Wife Free

Zuleika Lorwia, the former Information Minister’s wife has won a case against the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) in which she was accused of assault and forceful retrieval of items from a public officer.

However, she was found liable for verbal assault.

The charges were leveled against her after she allegedly fought officers of the BNI when they attempted to prevent her husband, Asamoah-Boateng and the family from leaving the country.

The Asamoah-Boateng’s were being investigated for causing financial loss to the state in the award of an 86,000 Ghana cedi refurbishment contract to Plexicom, a company belonging to Zuleika’s sister.

Judge Adwoa Coleman acquitted and discharged Zuleika of the first two charges but cautioned her on the last charged.

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Bawku Curfew Hours Reviewed

A statement signed by the Interior Minister, Martin Amidu said the Curfew hours imposed on the Bawku Municipality and its surroundings have been reviewed and renewed.
The statement also said with effect from Monday July 19th, the curfew hours has been changed from 6:00pm - 5:00pm to 10:00pm - 5:00am each day.
It further said that government continues to be encouraged by the sustained peace in Bawku and appealed to the Chiefs, Elders, Opinion leaders, youth and people of the area to be tolerant of each other to ensure Bawku regains its status as a commercial centre in the region.

Government repeated that there was a ban on all people in the Bawku Municipality and its immediate environs; Zabzugu, Binduri, Pusiga and Zoasi from carrying arms or any offensive weapons. Any person found violating the directive would be arrested and prosecuted.

The Ministry also on the advice of the Northern Regional Security Council and by an Executive Instrument renewed the curfew imposed on the Gushegu Township and its immediate environs for a week with effect from Monday, July 19.

The curfew hours for the Gushegu Township remain from 12 midnight to 4:00 am each day

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Floods Destroys Farmlands In Keta

Hundreds of hectares of farmlands have been submerged by the recent downpour destroying crops worth thousands of Ghana cedis in the Keta Municipality
Togbe Azadagli III, Keta Municipal Director of Agriculture told members of the National Task Force on Floods during a visit to the area on Saturday that about 100 acres of maize farms belonging to the Farmer Based Organizations that received support under the Millennium Challenge Authority (MCA) Project at Anloga were among the crops affected.
The Task Force,led by Mr. Joseph Yileh Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, toured flooded areas in the Keta Municipality and Ketu-South District,
Togbe Azadagli noted that the farmers received GH¢76,525 of MCA support in terms of fertilizers, seeds and land preparation.
Mr Kofi Portuphy, National Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) expressed the need for the development of appropriate infrastructure in support of projects.
He explained that the floods could have been prevented in the farms if drainage was considered at the planning stage of development.
Mr. Sylvester Tornyeava, Keta Municipal Chief Executive, called for the dredging of the Keta Lagoon to enable water to flow through it and also to minimize the extent of floods in the Keta area.
He called for more MCA support for the farmers to enable them to grow vegetables when the floods recede in August.
The team also visited Vodza, Kedzi and Anyanui areas in the Keta Municipality and Adina Denu and Agbozume in the Ketu-South District.
Mr Yileh Chireh noted that the devastation caused by floods in the area was extensive and had given new lessons in culvert designing and the height or thickness of roads.
He noted that there was the need to revive communal spirit, which had died down in communities.

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Sack Milovan Rajevac: Nana Akomea

Nana Akomea, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Okai-koi South said categorically that Black Star’s coach Milovan Rajevac should be sacked.
He made this known on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show hosted by Shamima Muslim when he was asked to comment on the performance of the Black Stars in the tournament.
Nana Akomeah explained that he felt Prince Tagoe was one lousy player who needed to be taken off the field. “Milovan’s timing for substitution is very poor. Why will you let a player who is not performing well play full time when you have other players on the bench? Of what use is a winger who can’t even cross the ball for strikers from the wings?” He said.
He further asked that why are we keeping the coach if the team is not playing well.
In another development coach Milovan Rajevac insisted that he will carry on with his traditional 4-3-2-1 formation in our pending matches.
He further defended his tactical formation, which the critics cited for Ghana’s inability to score more than one goal in a match.
Coach Milovan is more concerned about his team’s conversion rate; he does not only consider the 4-3-2-1 formation as the most progressive, especially, at such high levels, but rather blames the frontline players for not being able to utilize their chances created in matches.
Addressing the issue of Ghana’s poor conversion rate during matches, Milovan explained that the players sometimes hold on to the ball for too long. He noted that in our match against USA on Saturday it is very important that the Black Stars scored a ‘proper goal’.

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We Have Been Vindicated – AMA Boss

The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Alfred Vanderpuije says the AMA was not wrong in pulling down houses supposedly built on waterways in most parts of the capital.
Alfred Vanderpuije explained that the demolishing exercise carried out at Osu, Mataheko, Sakaman, Odorkor, Kaneshie, chorkor and other surrounding areas in the capital helped to prevent some of these areas from experiencing severe floods as compared to the previous years
He noted that the demolishing exercise was a move in the right direction, adding that AMA would continue to demolish houses built on waterways to prevent floods during severe rainfall.
“Ghanaians must thank the president and government for taking such a bold step to decongest the city,” the AMA Boss said, and advised all citizens to stay away from unhelpful politics.
17 people were reported dead at Ashaiman due to the torrential rains which led to severe flooding in most parts of Ashaiman and the Tema Municipalities.
A total of 35 bodies have so far been retrieved from floodwaters across the country by volunteers and rescue workers and hundreds of people are reported to have lost properties amounting to millions of Ghana Cedis in what Ghanaian media consider the nation’s worst flood disaster.

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The President Has Said It Well, But?

President Mills has cautioned that government would not hesitate to demolish structures that are situated on waterways in every part of the country.

His statement follows the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Alfred Vanderpuije’s position that the demolishing exercise that took place around some areas like Osu and Sakaman earlier this year prevented those areas from flooding.

On Tuesday, The AMA Boss said that more lives would have been lost had they not done that job.

A lot of lives are lost every year just because people continue to build on water ways, and also because of inadequate drainage facilities in most communities, and even in places where they exist people keep dumping refuse and other solid waste in them; this makes it difficult for water to flow to where it is supposed to when it rain.

There is a big argument surrounding the flooding issue. Every year when the rains come, parts of the country always get flooded.

Some parts of Abose Okai, Kaneshie and other part of Accra got flooded in 2009 as a result of choked gutters and poor drainage system in the area.

Ghana has been facing the issue of poor drainage for a very long time.

There are areas in Accra that do not have drains and as a result, these areas flood anytime the rains come.

As the issue of demolishing of structures, which have been built on water ways is being tackled, the districts, municipal and metropolitan assemblies and the government in collaborating with the Ministry of Roads and Transport should also try to identify ways of planning the drainage systems in the country and how to distil choked gutters in the country.

It is about time that horrible attitude of dumping refuse in the gutters by residents be stopped.
The masses also should be educated on the dangers involved in dumping them in the drain and how to properly dispose refuse in order to save us all and our properties.
Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh

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