About 50% of university graduates in Ghana are not likely to find jobs after national services unless government policies are properly addressed, the vice chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey has said. He added Ghanaians continue to face unemployment problems because government policies over the years, have not properly addressed the issues. - He said for twenty years, governments have always said that unemployment deserves greater attention in policy and that policies are also not likely to lead to any major job creation simply because those policies are designed for a free market economy whereas, the market is not really free and that there are too many structur…

Nigerian authorities have deported Ghanaians from that country. Following the arrest and deportation of 24 Ghanaians last week, 21 more Ghanaians have been deported from Nigeria, bringing the number so far deported on the orders of Nigerian two state governors to 45. - The deportation were at the order of the state governors of Ondo State and Kwara State in Nigeria which run a federal system thus making foreign affairs, defence and internal affairs the preserve of the federal government in Abuja. The deportees were taken to Nigeria/Benin border by road and handed over to authorities in that country and later transported to the Togo/Ghana border at Aflao and handed over to Ghanaian authori…

The 2010 Report on Human Rights in Ghana by the U.S State Department has cited the Ghana Police Service for using brutal force on suspected criminals as well as prolonged detention of suspects. It also cited the service for corruption by setting up barriers to extort money from motorists. - DSP Cephas Arthur, acting Public Affairs Director of the Ghana Police Service has admitted that the Police administration is plagued with personnel who extort monies from the citizenry but insisted the situation could not be generalized to mean the entire administration is corrupt. DSP Arthur was reacting to the human rights abuses and corruption allegations on a private radio station in Accra and stat…

- HEALTH ALERT- As Untreated Medical Waste Flows into Accra drains It has been discovered that for more than a year now, highly infectious medical waste from the 37 Military Hospital near the Flagstaff House in Accra has been flowing into Accra main gutters endangering public health. Residents living in around the immediate surroundings of the hospital say, they have been getting ill often and are quick to blame “the hazardous medical waste from the hospital”. According to experts, improper disposal of medical waste may result in the transmission of deadly diseases to humans by infectious agents and contamination of the environment by venomous and dangerous chemicals. I…

- As the Electoral Commission prepare for elections 2012, Ghanaians both home and abroad have been called upon corporate and support the commission. The President of the republic of Ghana made this call when he addressed the Ghanaian community in Canada during his visit. He said with the Electoral Commission’s track record he is convinced it will do a good job. “What we can do is to cooperate with the Electoral Commission to ensure that at the end of the day, we can be said to have defended very stoutly, our already enviable democratic credentials,” President Mills said. He said the government will make all resources available for successful elections in 2012. …

- Farmers in the northern regions of the Republic of Ghana risk losing their livelihoods as climatic change has resulted in changes in the rainfall pattern. Speaking to a private radio station in Accra, Ghana, the Senior Programmes Officer at the climate change unit of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Emmanuel Takyi-Obeng, says the farmers are finding it difficult to plant their crops due to the uncertainty in the rainfall pattern. Most of the farmers have suffered crop failure as a result of severe drought. According to Dr. Takyi-Obeng, studies conducted indicate that, most farms are likely to be washed away in an impending storm. He said it is imperative to have a new pl…

- The Media Development Fund promised in the 2012 budget cannot influence media reportage, Ghana Journalists Association has stated. Speaking on the fund, Mr. Ransford Tetteh president of the association says, the media will always perform its watch dog role. Mr. Tetteh says the fund is never to bribe or influence the media but to improve professionalism and that the media will continue to be critical on the government to put the government on its toes. Though questions are being raised on the timing and implementation of the Media Development Fund by some senior journalist, managing editor of the Daily Search Light, Mr. Ken Korankye says the idea is very good but the implementation might…

- The government of Ghana has defended its decision to purchase four more helicopters for the Ghana Armed Forces. According to the Defence Minister, Lt. General Joseph Henry Smith, the country is in dire need of the choppers, especially as election approaches. This is the second request from government this year for Parliament to support its quest to equip the military but both have not been without controversy. it will be recalled early this year, that Parliament approved the purchase of five aircraft at a total cost of over 100 million dollars. But the Minority in Parliament refused to be part of the approval of only the airbus, accusing government of corruption and subsequently walking…

- In a telephone interview on a private TV station in Accra, the Managing Director for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Anthony Gyampo has stated that his outfit is not responsible for recent frequent power outages. Mr. Gyampo expressed concern that the activities of some individuals were hampering efforts by ECG to provide constant supply of electricity to various parts of the country. he cited instances where contractors tamper with underground cables that serve certain areas. He also mentioned stealing of cables that belong to the company and illegal connections by unscrupulous persons as other factors for the power outages. Though he conceded that the Volta River Authority (V…

- Call for extra vigilance in eradication of guinea worm in Ghana- H.E John Dramani Mahama. Volunteers and coordinators of the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme have been called upon to be extra vigilant in ensuring that the guinea worm does not resurface as Ghana enters the final phase of the eradication programme. Making the call, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, Vice President of Ghana says guinea worm is not only a health problem but an economic one as well. This was made at a durbar at Diare in the Savalugu/Nanton District of the Northern Region of Ghana as part of activities to mark the end of the eradication of the disease in Ghana. Speaking at a durbar, he called on volunteers and the…

- They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out so we can have sex with them.” Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him. “Please, my brothers,” he begged, “don’t do such a wicked thing (Genesis 19:5-7).” One day, Lot had male visitors when he was living in Sodom. The men of the city went to his house and demanded to have sex with the visitors. He tried to prevent them, but they pushed him aside and God struck them with blindness. If same-sex practice was a wicked thing in Lot’s day what makes it good now? It has been argued by a school of thought that some people were born…

- Muslims begin Ramadan on August 2 In a six point communiqué issued at the just ended 17th National Conference on Ramadan in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana and made up of participants of all regional Imams and other representatives by consensus has resolved that Muslims all over Ghana should begin this year’s fast from Tuesday, August 2, 2011. Secretary to the conference Alhaji Mohammed Ghazali Yakubu who read the communiqué which described homosexuality as “Filth” and called for concerted efforts to stop its development in Ghana. The conference also expressed worry about the spate of road accidents in the country which required all road users to be ca…

- ATTITUDE OF MOTORIST TOWARDS ZEBRA CROSSING Zebra crossings are supposed to give right of way to pedestrian and to serve as a guide to road users. Formally, pedestrians used the routine of looking left, right, and left again, before crossing a road, but what if there are a lot of cars going past? In this case it will be pointless if the passenger go through the routine, since the vehicles will be in no position to stop for the pedestrian to cross. How often do motorist stop for pedestrians to cross the street on a high way with zebra crossings? A zebra crossing is a type of pedestrian crossing used in many places around the world. In developed countries, motorists stop as soon as they…

- GETTING READY FOR RETIREMENT Retirement planning can be a daunting, frustrating experience for many people and that is why people tend to put it off when they hear it. Some authorities have even questioned whether it is better to retire or merely slow down. In recent times, countries all over the world are trying to find ways of making their pension schemes more attractive and rewarding and also make employees better-off at retirement. One critical area that countries are considering is the issue of increasing the age at which one will retire. In Ghana, the statutory retirement age is 60 years however, most people do not prepare towards the retiring age until they are nearing it. It i…

- Government of Ghana gives National Fire Service 54 fire fighting engines After fire devastating the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in October 2009, the Ghana National Fire Service has taken delivery of 54 fire engines valued at $49 million from the government of Ghana at a ceremony in Accra. This forms part of procurement arrangement under a loan facility granted by the US Exim Bank and in fulfillment of a promise the president gave the service to enhance and augment their capacity to enable them fight fire efficiently. The 54 engines and other accessories constitute the first consignment of 90 fire engines, 10 water tenders, four arrival turn-table ladders, 1,000 protective cl…

- GHANA’S OIL FIND SHOULD WEAN IT FROM DEPENDENCY ON DONOR SUPPORT – EU The European Union Delegation in Ghana say if Ghana’s oil find is well developed, the country would be able to wean itself from its dependency on donor funding by 2020. These observations were made at a press conference to announce the EU week in Accra by the ambassador and head of the EU delegation Mr Claude Maerten. He added that if the current political and economic stability is maintained the country would develop and become a hub for investment. In his statement he said EU is convinced that with its past experience and record, Ghana will continue on its path towards sustainable economic and so…

- The Accra Central Divisional Police Command says, it would not spare any effort to reduce the crime rate in its jurisdiction to the barest minimum. Speaking at a get-together for police personnel, the Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Joseph Oklu Gyamera say, his division recorded 11,206 cases in 2010 as against 11,781 recorded in 2009, a reduction of 575 cases of which 74% for the two years under review. Chief Supt. Oklu Gyamera further stated that in 2010 four robbery cases were recorded as against 16 in 2009, a reduction of 75%, adding that some of the criminals had been put before court and convicted. He said the division did not relent in its effort to clamp down on cr…

- GHANA: Perennial water problems of Kwahuman to be solved- Veep The government with its developing partners would embark on a 24.5 million dollar water project to provide water for the people of Kwahu in the Eastern Region. The government would construct a floating pontoon at the intake of the Volta Lake at Kotosu, rehabilitate and expand water treatment plants and construct a booster pump stations at Kwahu, Mpraeso and Nkwatia all in the Kwahu district in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Speaking to a durbar of chiefs at eh annual Easter celebrations on the above the vice President of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama he added that the water project would be completed at the end of 2012 an…

- GHANA: What is wrong with our Street lights? The alarming rate of accidents at night is very disheartening. To think that many cars hit street lights, shrubs, climb roundabouts, etc sets the mindboggling as to the essence of the scheme of road safety and security in urban areas. Street lighting contributes to improved road safety, both for drivers and pedestrians, and is an important element in reducing criminality. Moreover, street lighting contributes to the improvement of the general business and living climate in the regional capitals of Ghana, which are the main centres of economic activity in the country. Furthermore, it contributes to the economic development of the country…

- SEVEN WEEKS WATER RATIONING PROGRAMME FOR ACCRA RESIDENTS Certain parts of the capital will experience a water rationing programme due to a planned upgrading of the system that supplies electricity to the Weija Treatment Plant by the Electricity Company of Ghana. The rationing is necessary because electricity supply to the treatment plant will be disrupted at regular intervals to allow the Electricity Company of Ghana to upgrade its systems and this will be for at least for the next seven weeks, an official said. The Communications Manager for Aqua Vitens Rand Limited for Accra-Tema, Nana Yaw Barnie told news men that about 80 percent of consumers in Accra and Tema will be affect…

- Residents of Accra-Tema cry for water Residents of Accra-Tema metropolis and its environs are crying for water a very basic need of mankind. This is due to the temporary malfunctioning of the pumping machines at Weija and Kpong. According to Mr. Stanley Martey, communications manager for Aqua Vitens Rand, operators of the Ghana Water Company anytime power goes off the company loses not less than six hours of production. He further stated that in the last two months, the Electricity Company of Ghana has disrupted power every Thursday intermittently and unannounced due to the upgrading of its system in Weija and the western part of Accra thus affecting water production. When asked why A…

- 20 water producing companies blacklisted The Food and Drugs Board has blacklisted 20 companies for failing to meet the required standards under which they produce water for consumption. The blacklisting comes in the wake of a research report released by the Ghana Chemical Society (GCS) which revealed that 85% of the ‘pure’ water produced in the country does not meet required safety standards, in addition to the recent cholera outbreak. Some of the blacklisted companies include Evergreen Drinking Water, Virgin Fresh, Yes, 101, Fresh Drop Filtered Drinking Water, Potential Filtered Drinking Water, Bonjour Drinking Water, Flashy Cool, Acqua Chill and Advance Fresh. Head of…

- GOVERNMENT OF GHANA PUMPS GH¢2 MILLION INTO STORM DRAIN The Accra Metropolitan Assembly in collaboration with the department of urban roads is constructing a three point five meter storm drain between Darkuman and Bubuashie at the cost of two million Ghana cedi. The projects according to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly is to help reduce the persistent lose of lives and property during rains as a result in flooding in the area. Available information gathered by the national disaster management organisation indicates that a minimum of one life and several damage to property occur in some parts of the capital. These loses are usually attributed to the lack of proper drainage…