Tarkwa, Nov 15, GNA - The Tarkwa Government Hospital has recorded an increasing number of cholera cases from certain parts of the Tarkwa Nsueam Assembly.   No death has been recorded yet. Victims who normally visit the hospital for treatment on the outbreak come mainly from areas such as Akyempim, Old Town, Cyanide, Bankyim, Nkamponase and Esuoso.   Briefing the Ghana News Agency on the current situation of the epidemic on Wednesday, the Municipal Disease Control Officer, Mr. Ebenezer Tetteh said a total of 140 cases had been recorded since the disease was detected two weeks ago.   He said his outfit was putting up the necessary measures to contain the outbreak and cited poor sanitation in the constituency as the major contributory factor.   Mr. Tetteh said to curb the situation, which had become a yearly affair, the Assembly and the environmental department should create an appropriate dumping site for refuse to be properly disposed.   The Municipal Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Christiana Babbie Annan Nunoo, announced that to support the Municipal Health Directorate in fighting the menace, the Assembly had set up a task force to carry out inspections at public places in the Municipality.   The task force is made up of assembly members from the affected communities, municipal guards, representatives from the health directorate, environmental department and Tarkwa Nsueam assembly.   They will visit factories of water producers, food vendors and dumping sites to access the sanitation condition.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA - The winning numbers of the Mid-Week Lotto draw held in Accra were, 73-21-55-34 and 66, according to a bulletin of the National Lottery Authority.   GNA  ...

Takoradi, Nov 15, GNA - Takoradi Circuit Court “B” on Wednesday fined Stephen Ampong, a radio and television repairer and Samuel Sarpong, a mason, GHc300 each for conspiracy to commit crime, causing unlawful damage, unlawful entry and two counts of stealing.   In default, the accused persons would serve three years imprisonment in hard labour each. They pleaded guilty.   Isaac Ampong, an unemployed, who is jointly charged with them is on the run.   Prosecuting, Police Inspector Seth Ahelegbe, said all the accused persons reside at Adientem near Takoradi.   He said Grace Gawuga, the complainant engaged the services of some witnesses in the case to put up her building at Adientem.   Inspector Ahelegbe said while the building was under construction, series of theft of building materials and working tools took place.   He said on November 3rd this year after of close of work, the witnesses locked building materials in a store room and left for the house.       Inspector Ahelegbe said when the witnesses reported for work the following day, they detected the store room had been broken into and the building materials stolen.   He said the witnesses reported the theft to the complainant and started their own investigations.   Inspector Ahelegbe said in the course of the investigations, the witnesses came across one of their rubber buckets in the house of the accused persons.   He said the witnesses arrested Alex Andoh and Aminu Osumanu, who they thought were responsible for the theft in the house and took them to the Police Station.   Inspector Ahelegbe said during investigations, the suspects mentioned Stephen Ampong and Samuel Sarpong as the culprits and led the Police to arrest them at their hideouts at Assakae.   He said Ampong and Sarpong admitted the offence in their cautioned statements and mentioned Isaac Ampong as an accomplice.   Inspector Ahelegbe said the accused persons led the Police to retrieve all the stolen items with the exception of four plywoods and were charged after further investigations.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA – The first lady Mrs Lordina Mahama has assured market women of government’s commitment to improving conditions in the markets to facilitate trading activities.   She said President John Mahama had their welfare at heart and would do everything possible to improve facilities and movement of goods and services for market women.   Mrs Mahama noted: “the next NDC government under the leadership of President Mahama will facilitate the advancement of MASLOC loans to market women to support their businesses.”   The first Lady stated during a tour of markets in Accra including the Makola, Kaneshie and Adabraka to interact and explain NDC’s agenda for women empowerment to them and appeal to them to vote massively to retain the NDC in power.   Mrs Mahama used the occasion to explain the NDC’s manifesto on gender stressing that NDC had plans to enact legislation to cover women’s rights, including reproductive rights, and ensure that all public institutions adopt gender policies.   Under the next NDC government, policies of gender responsive budgeting will be adopted by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The government will also build on its record of women’s representation on all public Boards.   Her visit brought trading activities at these markets to a standstill as hundreds of excited traders left their stalls and stores to show their love to the first lady.   At Makola and Kaneshie, the crowd was overwhelming. The excitement reached fever pitch as the First Lady exhibited her dancing skills amidst cheers from the mammoth crowd.   Mrs Mahama appealed to the market women to vote massively to retain the NDC in power for the advancement of the better Ghana agenda.   The first lady was accompanied by Ms Sherry Ayitey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuiye, Mayor of Accra, Nii Afotey Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hajia Zeinab, Deputy National Women's Organiser of the NDC and regional executives of the NDC.   GNA...

Koforidua, Nov. 15 GNA - The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology on Wednesday launched the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS) Guidelines for Acquisition of Environmental Permits for Compost Projects Documents and Accessing the Global Carbon Credit Using Composting Guideline and Process in Koforidua.    The main objectives stated in the NCCAS document are to improve societal awareness and preparedness for climate change, enhance the mainstreaming of climate change into national development planning.   Ms Sherry Ayittey, the Sector Minister, in a speech read on her behalf, noted that climate change was a major developmental issue since it affected ecosystems and socio-economic well-being of people in the world over. “This is because climate change has resulted in increases temperature and changes of rainfall pattern”.   She said there was the need to respond with urgent action both at the national and international level-including helping the most vulnerable with the right and timely information that would assist them to adapt to the impact of climate change and making progress on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.   Ms Ayittey said to that effect Ghana in 2008 with financial support from the Climate Change and Development Programme-Adapting by Reducing Vulnerability (CC-DARE) Project, commenced the preparation of the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Document.   She indicated that the main goal of the document was to enhance Ghana’s current and future development by strengthening its adaptive capacity with regards to climate change impacts and building the resilience of the Society and Ecosystem.    Ms Ayittey noted that the need to utilize waste as a resource had been used by many countries and said based on that Ghana had initiated several interventions in that area.   “The Co-operative Housing Foundation of Ghana under the technical direction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed two publications.   “The first one is on accessing the global carbon credit using composting and the second one is guidelines for the acquisition of environmental permits for composting projects in Ghana”.   She said those publications provided very useful information that guides investors on how to access Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the permitting process of the Ghana Environmental Impact Assessment.   Ms Ayittey said more specifically those publications would provide a guide for operators in the waste sector to take advantage of the global emission trading system to earn carbon credits that could be sold at the international market.   She said the EPA under the auspices of the Ministry had undertaken various initiatives including the implementation of the African Adaptation Program which focuses primarily on early warning systems, climate change and human health with emphasis of improving adaptability climate-related diseases and make the health sector resilient to climate change.   Mr Daniel S. Amlalo, Executive Director of the EPA, said there was no doubt from research and careful observation that the impacts of climate change were having a toll on the entire globe and particularly on developing countries that are relatively vulnerable like Ghana.   He said global climate change was certainly one of the greatest environmental threats and the most devastating development challenge facing the world presently.   Mr Amlalo said Ghana had not been left out of the impacts and effects of climate change, adding that historical data for Ghana across the country from 1960 to 2000 clearly showed a progressive rise in temperature and decrease in mean annual rainfall in all agro-ecological zones in the country.   He noted that currently in Ghana there is an increasing variability of rainfall nationwide, extreme weather events and disaster; a widespread increase in the risk of flooding and erosion for many human settlements, which are impacting negatively on agriculture, water, physical infrastructure, health and the environment.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 15, GNA – Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture in collaboration with World Star Records has launched a peace concert campaign to promote peace before, during and after this year’s elections.   The initiative dubbed: “Avoiding Conflict and Mayhem in the upcoming Elections” would be used as a platform to sensitize Ghanaians about the importance of peace for national development.   The concert, which is a nationwide initiative aimed to champion peaceful election would be held in Accra, Kumasi, Ho, Tamale and some other parts of Europe.   Speaking at the Lunch on Wednesday in Accra, Amanzeba Nat Brew, a musician and peace ambassador said peace was vital to the development of every nation therefore the need for this peace campaign.   He urged all Ghanaians to be peace ambassadors and imbibe peace at all levels.   “Peace has to be comprehensive. We all need to join the crusade of preaching wherever we find ourselves”, he added.   Mr Ernest Djan, Chief Executive Officer of World Star Records, said the initiative would use songs, sermons and culture displays to promote peace for free and fair elections.      He advised the youth to lead the crusade for peaceful elections.      GNA...

Sunyani, Nov 15, GNA - A task force to safeguard the Ghanaian market from invasion by foreigners in retail business would soon be in the Brong Ahafo Region to ensure enforcement of the Ghana Instrument Protection Council (GPMC) Law.   Dr John–Hawkins Asiedu, an Economist and Evaluation Consultant at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) announced on Wednesday at a day’s regional outreach programme organised by the Ministry in Sunyani.   He said the task force working for sanity to prevail in the Ghanaian market was formed by the Ministry, following complaints by local traders against foreigners in the retailing business in the country.      The programme attended by more than 200 people comprising importers, exporters farmers , tertiary  students , agro-processors, representatives of trade associations  and the general public aimed at promoting a vibrant trade and industry sector.   It was also designed to foster the growth and development of a strong economy to give opportunity for job creation, revenue generation and improved sustainable livelihoods.   Dr Asiedu stated that the GMPC Act 478 stipulated that retail trading in Ghana was preserved for only Ghanaians, adding that any foreigner who wanted to engage in such activities had to pay US$300,000, register with all institutions concerned in addition to employing about 10 Ghanaians.   He said foreigners were supposed to stay in the country for only 90 days and return to their countries of origin but those who wanted to live and work must obtain work permit to regularize their stay, affirming that majority of foreigners were illegally trading in the country because they had not gone through the process.   Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, in a speech read for her stated that the Ministry was using the occasion to increase awareness and knowledge of stakeholders about its activities.   She said it was also to canvas support and commitment for the Ministry and to forge a strong bond and good working relationship to attain collective vision of goals detailed in the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda.    Ms Tetteh indicated stakeholders would be educated on their specific roles in the effective implementation of the country’s trade and industrial policy to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation to enhance inter ministerial and public-private sector collaboration and coordination.   Mr Kwabena Acheampong of the Ghana Standard Authority advised the general public to be wary of products sold on promotional prices and conditions since such products usually had short term period to expire.   Mr Acheampong stated that Consumer Protection Law would soon be promulgated to check the influx of shoddy products into the Ghanaian market.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA - Ghana on Wednesday joined the rest of the world to launch the 2012 State of the world Population Report with a pledge from the Ministry of Health to ensure the availability of contraceptives and commodities.   “We will also ensure that family planning services are made available, accessible and products affordable,” Deputy Minister of Health Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo made the pledge when he launched the report in Accra.       He said family planning was a human right issue and required the commitment of individuals and couples.   He noted whilst government was struggling to deal with its economic challenges, the rising population and its associated complex inter-relationship with development contributed to the visible slow progress in sustainable socio-developmental goals set by government.   “Practicing family planning is an opportunity for individuals and couples to give birth to the number of children they want to have and care for. Give them the quality of life they need and contribute to national development. This is what is known as having children by choice and not by chance”.   The theme for the global launch was “By Choice Not by Chance: Family Planning Human Rights and Development” which seeks to underscore FP as a human right and a development issue aimed towards having children by choice and not by chance.   Deputy Minister of Health, said often times family planning was seen as a birth control method and that was met with resistance from the general public and advised the public to see family planning as a human right issue for a better understanding and acceptance of the concept.   “This way we are likely to improve the contraceptive prevalence rate from the current 23 per cent to an appreciable value that can positively impact the anticipated accelerated reduction of Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio and maternal morbidity,” he said.   He noted that the shortage of contraceptives world-wide were said to be the one reason why millions of people were still unable to exercise their right to family planning and access to family planning was restricted by factors such as poverty, negative social pressures and gender inequality and discrimination.   It is estimated that 222 million women lack access to reliable, high quality family planning services, information and supplies putting them at risk of unintended pregnancies.   The huge unmet needs for family planning persist despite all the international agreements and human rights treaties that promote individual’s rights to make their own decisions about when and how often to have children.   He explained that ensuring access to all men and women, women and young people required a multipronged effort, enforcement of the laws, reducing poverty, strengthening health systems, removing logistical impediments and ensuring a wide range of supplies.   He called for the need to offer the needed guidance for the youth to help them to count the cost of not practicing family planning, to ensure that maternal mortality and morbidity was curbed.   According to the report, research conducted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) showed that of the 80 million unintended pregnancies that are projected to occur in 2012, an estimated 40 million will likely end in abortion and that where FP supplies, information and services were are available, abortion rates are low.   The UNFPA Country Representative, Dr Bernard Coquelin, called for the urgent need for Ghana to put measures in place to ensure that the needs of the thousands of women, who could not access family planning services, were met.   He called on the development partners to sustain the their efforts in advocating family planning and enhance their collective actions and resources in support of the Ghana government in achieving access to quality family planning services.   Ms Marian Kpakpah, Technical Director at the National Population Council, expressed concern about the growing population in developing countries without a corresponding rapid infrastructural development and urged government to make greater investment in family planning programmes.   The UNFPA handed-over contraceptives to the Ghana Health Service in support of Ghana’s reproductive health programmes.   GNA...

Takoradi, Nov 15, GNA - Joseph Obeng, a mechanic and Dennis Oduro, an actor, on Wednesday appeared before Takoradi Circuit Court “B” for allegedly conspiring to commit crime and 28 counts of defrauding by false pretences.   Obeng pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit crime while Oduro pleaded guilty to the charge.   They both pleaded not guilty to all the 28 counts of defrauding by false pretences.   The Court granted Obeng bail in the sum of GH¢5,000 with two sureties and Oduro was remanded.   They are to re-appear on November 19 this year.   Jointly charged with them was Anthony Obo, self-styled businessman, who is at large.   Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Felix Danku said in January last year, Oduro told Obeng that he is a nephew of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and asked him to recruit interested persons who wanted to travel abroad to work at military hospitals in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) on a three-year contract. Oduro said his parents, a medical officer and a nurse reside in America.   The prosecutor said Oduro noted that air tickets would be provided by his parents and on their arrival in the United Kingdom and the United States, the interested persons would work to pay his parents GH¢82,000 each over a period of three years.   Chief Inspector Danku said in February this year, Obeng informed the Chairman and Secretary of the Deep Seafarers Association about the trip abroad.   He said eleven interested members and 15 non-members of the Association were recruited by Obeng and each paid an amount of GH¢300 for processing of passport and visa.   Chief Inspector Danku said Oduro was informed of the recruitment and the money collected and he asked Obeng to pay GH¢3,800 of the total amount of GH¢7,700 collected into the Opportunity International Bank Saving account of Anthony Obo and give the rest to a Tarkwa bound car to be sent to him at Tarkwa.   He said Obeng followed the instructions of Oduro, who acknowledged receipt of the money.   Chief Inspector Danku said later Obeng took the people to Accra to meet Oduro and Obo but they could not meet them on arrival.   He said the people waited all evening and as they have no place to pass the night, they were compelled to sleep on benches at the Metro Mass Transport terminal at Tema Station.   Chief Inspector Danku said the people returned to Takoradi and made a report to the Police.   He said when Obeng was arrested he mentioned Oduro and Obo as those who asked him to make the recruitment for them.   Chief Inspector Danku said while the Police were looking for Oduro and Obo, on October 15 this year, Oduro went to Kwesimintsim and collected an amount of GH¢1,000 from John Ewuakye and GH¢900 from Simon Abillah Opoku to help them to travel to the UK to work in a military hospital.   He said Oduro took them to Accra to process documents for the trip but Ewuakye reported him to the Military Police and he was arrested and detained.   Chief Inspector Danku said Oduro was handed over to the Takoradi Police for investigations.   He said a search was conducted in his room at Old Daboase Junction and photographs, particulars of the accused, three Ghanaian passports, birth certificates, rubber stamps of St. Ernest Dickson Travel and Tours were found.   Chief Inspector Danku said on interrogation, Oduro denied asking Obeng to recruit people to work in the UK and the USA.   He said after further investigations, Obeng and Oduro were charged but Obo is still on the run.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings has commended the security services for the professional and swift manner they responded to the search and rescue mission after the collapse of the Achimota branch of Melcom store.   He said the efficient and effective mode with which they carried out that operation ensured that many of the victims survived the disaster, lauding the deep sense of patriotism that marked the rescue mission.   Former President Rawlings made the commendation on Wednesday when he presented an assortment of items valued at GH¢6000 to victims of the disaster at the 37 Milittary Hospital in Accra.   He noted that the expertise that characterized the mission was admirable that even the Isreali assistance team that came to Ghana left ahead of time because of the competence displayed by "our forces".   Flt Lt. Rawlings, who was accompanied by his daughter, Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings and Ms. Slyvia Ahorlu, General Secretary of the 31st December Women's Movement, who represented Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, also visited the Accident and Truama Unit of the Hospital, where eight of the victims are still on admission.   He wished the victims speedy recovery and expressed condolence to the families of those who lost thier lives in the disaster.   Brigadier General Paul Kponyoh, Commander of the Hospital thanked the former President for the gesture and said he was confident that the eight victims would recover soon.   The Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Joseph Smith and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Augustine Blay attended the event.   Items presented included bags of sugar, and rice, cartoons of Milo and Milo drink, gallons of cooking oil, boxes of mineral water, milk and biscuits.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA – The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Wednesday denied that former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama was dead although it cautioned that his condition was critical.   “He (the former vice president) is not dead, he has not passed away,” the Chief Executive of the Hospital, Professor. Otu Nartey said.   Some radio stations and the social media were awash with claims that Alhaji A|liu Mahama, who is on admission at the Cardio Centre at Korle Bu, passed away on Wednesday.   Professor Nartey said the former Vice-President was in on life support in Intensive Care with doctors working around the clock to save his life.   He asked for prayers for the recovery of the vice president.   Prof. Nartey said hospitals in the United Kingdom and Germany had been contacted as arrangements were being made to fly him out for treatment after his condition stabilised.   Alhaji Mahama, 66, was Vice-President from January 7, 2001 to 6 January 2009.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA – Mr Iddrisu Sow of the World Health Organisation, on Wednesday said the current trend of diabetes in the sub region could only be reversed if Ministries of Health, Civil Societies and communities work together to reduce diabetes risk factors.   He said in recognition of the challenges posed by diabetes and other non communicable diseases, countries in the sub region must look for measures to reduce risk factors such as overweight, obesity, physical inactivity, tobacco use and consumption of food with high content of fat and energy.   He said there was the need to accelerate efforts by creating local and regional awareness of diabetes and empower individuals and societies to prevent it and its many life threatening implications.      Mr Sow made this observation at symposium to mark the 2012 World Diabetes Day celebration on the theme: “diabetes: protect our future”, in Accra.   He said the Day was to remind all of the absolute need to change unhealthy life styles, and promote physical activities and healthy diet as an effective and low cost means to prevent diabetes and thereby protect the future.    He said it is estimated that some 230 million people worldwide currently suffer the disease and this number was likely to be more than double by 2030, if effective interventions were not undertaken, adding that Sub Saharan Africa would witness 98 per cent increase from 12.1 million cases in 2010 to 23.9 million cases in 20230 if the current trend remains.   Mr Sow said “death due to diabetes is common today among people aged 20 to 39 years, the most economically productive segment of the population and survey carried out recently by the WHO indicates that 15 per cent of adults aged 25 to 69 years have diabetes”.   He however noted that the overwhelming majority of affected persons were unaware that they had the disease due to which many cases were diagnosed late usually after complications have become so evident, adding that most of them also lacked access to proper treatment and medicines.   Mr sow called on all member states of the WHO to scale up the development and implementation of comprehensive and integrated diabetes prevention control programmes, reiterating the WHO’s commitment to continue to support them to address the burden of the disease in the region.   Mr Lee Ocran, Minister of Education in a speech read on his behalf said diabetes specific education was important for health care personnel’s and people living with diabetes. He said the day was also to educate the public to be aware of how to recognize the disease early as well as how to access educational and clinical resources for its management.         He said investing in diabetes education and prevention programmes would save the nation money in the long term and also deliver significant returns in the quality of life for people living with the condition as well as those at risk.   Mr Ocran said “the importance of diabetes prevention however cannot be underestimated, hence unless significant efforts are made to curb the rise in diabetes, health care service across the world would soon be crippled by the high cost of treating the disease and its complications”.    Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, said it was important for the disease to be accorded equal national concern as other life threatening diseases including tuberculoses HIV/AIDS among others.   She said the day is for all to pause and reflect critically about the measures to be taken and pursued to prevent the occurrence of the disease especially among young people, adding that the youth must live conscious lives by avoiding deliberate and inadvertent behavioural pattern that could increase their chances of developing the disease.   She noted that government had also rolled out interventions to promote safe public health, especially among the youth, saying as the future human capital of the nation the requisite interventions must be provided to enable them develop.   The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahowi also said facilitating food production was a core mandate and plays a key role in the management of diabetes because food comes first before any intervention.   He said agriculture had so much to offer as production activities include physical exercise which was an integral part of managing diabetes, adding that the consumption of imported processed foods with lots of sugar and fat with minimal fibre, must be reduced.   Mr Ahowi cautioned all to take agriculture seriously whatever the size or type. He said people should eat diverse foods which are low in facts and sugar, eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise and seek timely health advice.   He urged the youth to take greater interest in agriculture as a profession for food production which was the backbone of good health and income generation.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA – The Civil and Local Government Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), on Wednesday called-off its nationwide industrial strike that started on October 31st 2012.   In a statement signed by Mr. Isaac Bampoe-Addo, CLOGSAG Executive Secretary to the Ghana News Agency said, “Having noted the interventions of Civil Service Council (CSC) and progress made so far, the National Executive Council (NEC) has ratified its earlier decision and call off the strike action.   “The decision to end the strike action followed a meeting involving NEC, CSC and CLOGSAG the nationwide strike,” it said.   CLOGSAG commended its members for their patience, support, courage and steadfastness and understanding during the period of the strike.   Meanwhile, GNA information indicates that the National Labour Commission (NLC) is mediating between CLOGSAG and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission for amicable settlement of the impasse.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA – A trader, who poured hot soup on her colleague tenant during verbal exchanges appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday and was charged for causing harm.   Grace Antwi pleaded not guilty to the charge and she was admitted to a bail in the sum of GH¢5,000.00 with one surety to reappear on December 4, 2012.   The verbal exchange came as a result of Grace Antwi beating Madam Felicia Mensah, the complainant’s 12-year old son without any recourse.   Prosecuting Inspector Ivy Dedoo told the court presided over by Mrs Patience Mills Tetteh that both Grace and Felicia are traders residing at Aboom Junction in Kwabenyah, near Accra.   On October 14 this year, the complainant returned from her errands around 1000 hours and was informed that the accused for some unknown reasons had assaulted her 12-year old son.   The complainant, therefore, approached Grace to ascertain what necessitated the assault, she got offended and started insulting the complainant and that resulted in heated verbal exchanges.   Inspector Dedoo said during the verbal exchange, Grace poured hot soup on the complainant as a result she sustained burns all over her body.   The Madam Felicia Mensah therefore lodged a complaint with the Police.   Prosecution said the Police issued the complainant with a medical form to enable her go to the hospital to seek medical attention.   The accused person also followed up to the Police and she was also offered a medical form for medical examination.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 15, GNA - Renaissance Credit, an international leading emerging markets consumer lender, has launched operations in Nigeria, heralding a new era for the country’s consumers and bringing accessible financial products to its rapidly growing middle class.   A statement in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday said Renaissance Credit had started issuing cash loans to qualified applicants and accepting retail deposits at its Lagos branch at 89 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.   The lender plans to expand its product range to point-of-sale (PoS) loans at Nigerian retail outlets.   “With its impressively expanding middle class, Nigeria is the natural location to launch Renaissance Credit in Africa,” said Stephen Jennings, founder and CEO of Renaissance Group.   “Renaissance has been investing in Nigeria since 2006, and the entry of our consumer finance business is an exciting moment: not only will it bring financial freedom to Nigerian consumers, it will also create employment opportunities as we build the Renaissance Credit team in Nigeria.”   The middle class makes up about 23% of the Nigerian population, according to African Development Bank data, and Nigerian consumers carry low consumer debt compared with their peers in developed countries.   According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Nigeria has one of the 10 highest real income-per-capita growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, implying that the average purchasing power of its 160 million-strong population is increasing rapidly.   “The Nigerian middle class is no different to any other in the world,” said Segun Akintemi, CEO of Renaissance Credit Nigeria.   “People want access to loans and credit in order to realize their dreams. This aspirational trend is positive for consumers, and for the Nigerian economy,” he said.   Akintemi notes that Renaissance Credit’s entry into the Nigerian market would help to professionalise the consumer finance sector, and speed the country’s evolution from a cash-based economy to a transaction-based economy.   Renaissance Group is the beneficial owner of Renaissance Credit RenCredit MFB Limited.   GNA...

Bomso (Ash), Nov. 15, GNA – M.Y. Ventures, a natural healthcare centre, has initiated a special health programme aimed at promoting good health as Ghanaians prepare for peaceful elections in December 2012.   Dubbed: “Wellness at Work: Ensuring a Happy, Healthy Workforce,” the programme seeks to initiate and incorporate small steps for healthy eating and physical activities into everyday live.   It was launched in Kumasi with a free health screening and talk on healthy living for staff of Multi-Media Group – Kumasi Division, who took the first stage in the series.   Mr Clement Des-Bordes, Operations Manager and Head of the Business Development Unit of M.Y. Ventures, said factors such as tight work schedules, production deadline, and other work related challenges had driven the country’s labour force to neglect matters of personal health.   He said it was high time people took their health needs seriously by embracing a behavioural change whilst desisting from attributing all ailments to witchcraft.   Mr Des-Bordes said the programme would be carried out in phases, to reach all parts of the country.   “We believe that healthy living is a right and not a privilege or luxury and we intend to spread the project to other workplaces, schools, churches, social clubs and the entire Ghanaian populace to ensure healthy and peaceful Ghana,” he stated.   In his presentation, Dr M.Y. Caesar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of M.Y. Ventures, said in an election year like this, Ghanaians needed to be in good health even as they prepare vigorously for the December 7 general election so that they could turn up in their numbers to vote massively for progress and development.   Dr Caesar said Ghana, a country blessed with numerous natural resources like gold, diamond, bauxite, cocoa and currently the “almighty oil”, is now striving to become a middle level income country and to achieve this economic goal, the human factor, and for that matter, a healthy workforce was very vital.   He said “this is where M.Y. Ventures come in to fill this crucial gap by providing efficacious health products and sensitising people on the need to lead healthy lifestyles.”   He said Ghanaians are engulfed with numerous ailments hence the over-crowded hospitals and stressed that the main solution is natural healthcare.   The CEO urged Ghanaians to develop proper eating, drinking and sleeping habits, in order to remain healthy and work hard for the good of mother Ghana.   He called on the general public to deal directly with the M.Y. Ventures for the best services and effective results adding that “we all need to be in good health so that we would turn up massively to exercise our franchise for the progress and development of our nation, so that we do not go deep into ‘adabrejo.’”   The wellness campaign has since been taken to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Adum Ramseyer Presbyterian Church.   GNA...

Begoro (E/R), Nov. 15, GNA - Mrs Lydia Azumah, one of Ghana’s HIV “Ambassadors” has appealed to health workers to stop disclosing the HIV status of their clients to others without their concern.      She described the act as unethical and unprofessional and against the laws of Ghana.      Mrs Azumah was speaking at a durbar of school children and workers of the Fanteakwa District Assembly at Begoro on Wednesday as part of the tour of the Eastern Region by a caravan of HIV experts and the “Heart to Heart Ambassadors”.      The Heart to Heart Ambassadors are a group of People living With HIV(PLHIV) who had volunteered to openly declare their HIV status to give a human face to HIV to help fight against discrimination and stigmatization of PLHIV which had been the main obstacle in people knowing their HIV status and seeking early treatment.      As part of the celebration of this year’s World AIDS Day, the HIV Ambassadors are touring the country to educate people against the spread of the disease.      Mrs Azumah has been living with HIV for the past 11 years and has delivered four children who are HIV negative.      She called on men to support their wives who have been diagnosed as HIV positive and not to throw them out of their matrimonial homes.      Mrs Azumah said presently with the use of the anti-retroviral therapy, HIV was no-longer a killer disease but rather discrimination by society turned to kill people living with the virus.      She appealed to husbands to take their pregnant wives to anti-natal clinics for both of them to know their HIV status and where necessary to seek early treatment to protect themselves and their unborn babies.      Ms Gifty Torkornu, a member of the HIV caravan, advised pregnant women who are diagnosed as HIV positive to take their medications and the advice of their doctors very seriously to help protect their babies from infection.     She said over 90 percent of HIV positive pregnant women who took their medical advice serious gave birth to babies who are HIV negative.     The Eastern Region Technical Coordinator of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Ms Golda Grace Asante, called on Ghanaians to buy and use condoms to protect their lives.     She explained that if people could spend one Ghana cedi on telephone units, then they should be willing to spend the same amount on condoms if they do treasure their lives.   GNA...

Amanfrom Akuapem (E/R), Nov. 15, GNA - Mr Dan Botwe, Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere, on Thursday broke the grounds for the construction of a clinic for the people of Amanfro in the Akuapem North District.     The provision of the facility would help address challenges that the people face in accessing health facilities in the area.     Mr Botwe said the people of Amanfro deserved a modern clinic to help them have easy access to health care delivery and save them from travelling to Koforidua for care.     He reaffirmed his commitment to help address the development needs of the people and disclosed that the project would be financed through the Health Insurance Common Fund for MPs.     Mr Botwe disclosed that so far he had been able to put up a new clinic for the people of Apirede which was about 80 percent complete and also renovated the Adukrom Health Centre, Twuguaso Clinic, and Nanabanyin Clinic and assisted in the establishment of Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound, for the people of Abonse.     He urged the people to support the contractor through communal labour to be able to complete the project on time.     The Akuapem North District Director of Health Services, Dr Joseph Opare, commended the MP for the gesture and his total commitment towards health delivery in the area.     He said the Ghana Health Service (GHS), was ensuring that at least every community would have a small health facility to take care of the health needs of the people.     The Chief of Amanfrom, Nana Odwo Kwaw, commended the MP for redeeming his promise made to the people some time ago saying when completed, the clinic would help greatly in addressing the health challenges confronting the people.     The clinic, when completed, would include a recovery room, consulting room, dressing and injection room, dispensary, Out-Patient Department (OPD), female and male wards and a store.   GNA...

Koforidua, Nov. 15, GNA - Journalists in the Eastern Region have expressed disappointment in the new Electoral law that prevents them from taking part in the special voting that would enable them go about their duties on the election day.     A number of journalists who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in Koforidua following that announcement said the move if not reviewed, would disenfranchise many of them since they would be required to leave to the various constituencies across the region very early to begin their duties.     They contended that if the move was not reversed to allow a special dispensation for media personnel because of the nature of their work then they would have no alternative than choosing to go and cast their ballot and neglect their assignment or vice versa.     Most journalists in the region have to travel as early as 0400 hours or days before December 07 each election year to their assigned constituencies to cover the polls.     Since 1992 journalists were allowed to take part in the special voting alongside the security services and staff of the Electoral Commission (EC) who would be working on the polling day but this year the media had been taken out of that arrangement.     The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the EC, Mrs Sylvia Annor, said the situation was unfortunate but the law had been passed by Parliament and the only avenue that the media could use in the situation was to apply within 45 days to the election but that had even elapsed as at the time the information was made known.     Media practitioners have therefore called on political parties and all stakeholders of the election to critically consider the move which if not reviewed would prevent many of them from exercising their franchise this year.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA - Rite Multimedia, an Accra-based production firm and organizers of basketball competitions in Ghana, will from January 2013 introduce a brand new television quiz programme on basketball dubbed “The Basketball Show”.   The show designed to test people’s knowledge and understanding of basketball is to develop and promote the sport in Ghana.   According to Rite Multimedia, they have launched an SMS Platform as part of activities to herald the commencement of the show adding that, the platform will be activated on from Monday, November 19.   The SMS platform, which will require the public to text “BB” to “1907” on MTN, Airtel and Vodafone networks, is to provide daily news on basketball to the general public.   Updates from the SMS Platform will be on players, club news among others and will also form the basis for questions during the quiz competition.   Rite Multimedia, will through the platform provide information on some of its activities such as Milo Junior Ball, Sprite Ball, Community Dunks, Greater Accra Basketball League, the Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges (UPAC) games as well as regular updates from the NBA.   Basketball has over the past few years seen tremendous growth in popularity and patronage through the initiatives of Rite Multimedia.   GNA...