Bole district hospital selected as one of the stations of the national ambulance service - Veep

The Bole district hospital in the Northern region has been selected as one of the stations of the National Ambulance Service, to help lessen cases of maternal and child mortality in the district.

Vice-President John Mahama, who disclosed this, said the ambulance station would also evacuate accident casualties on the highways to the hospital.

He was presenting an ambulance and medical equipment worth GHC 50,000 to the hospital. The items included laboratory sets, suturing sets, ICU electric bed, hydraulic tables, paediatric and fowler beds.

In line with moves to make the hospital a major health care providing centre in the country, Vice-President Mahama said a midwifery and nursing training centre was to be established in the hospital.

He said the feeder roads in the district were to be upgraded to facilitate the transport of pregnant mothers to the hospital. He said the ambulance presented was one in a series to be sent to the hospital.

Touching on the inadequate number of health staff at the hospital, Vice-President Mahama said he would use his good offices to appeal to the Cuban Ambassador for some Cuban doctors to be posted to the district.

”Government would renegotiate with the Cuban government for the posting of the country's medical brigade to Ghana”

”The programme which was truncated a few years ago was placing heavy responsibilities on Ghanaian doctors”, he added.

The Vice-President stressed the need to streamline the way services were being offered under the National Health Insurance scheme to better take care of the health needs of the people.

He commended staff of the hospital for their sacrifices in the face of challenges facing the hospital and gave the assurance that the government would continue to motivate health professionals who accept postings to deprived areas of the country.

The Bole district director of health services Emmanuel Ewuntomah, earlier appealed to the government to review upwards the tariffs under the NHIS to prevent a collapse of the scheme.

He also appealed for assistance to enable the district to check environmental degradation as a result of the activities of galamsey operators.

He said their activities were making it difficult for access roads to be constructed to the hospital.

In another development, Vice-President Mahama commissioned a 40-seater modern ICT centre for the Bole Senior High School, to facilitate research and teaching and learning.

The centre was built under the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), which aims among other things, to provide ICT equipment and connectivity to selected educational, training and vocational institutions.

The occasion also witnessed the presentation of a 33-seater bus to the school.













Story: Office Of The Vice President
24/2/11

Veep urges traditional rulers not to rush to court to settle chieftaincy dispute

The Vice President John Mahama has advised traditional rulers against rushing to the law courts to settle chieftaincy disputes.

He said the ever increasing backlog of cases involving chieftaincy at the courts made it imperative for chiefs to employ the time tested traditional precepts of mediation and conciliation in resolving their differences.

Vice President Mahama was speaking at a grand durbar to climax the annual Damba festival of the chiefs and people of Gonja traditional area.

The durbar, which took place at the forecourt of the Jakpa Palace, also marked the first anniversary of the installation of the overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I.

It brought together ministers of state, parliamentarians and representatives of political parties. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who was the special guest, was represented by the Akyempimhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku.

Vice President Mahama stressed the need for traditional authorities to have confidence in traditional conflict and dispute resolution mechanisms, saying, “The courts are not the best place to test our traditions and customs that span decades and centuries.”

Noting a re-ignition of a long standing boundary dispute between the Gonjas and the Mamprusis, he informed the chiefs and people that a committee of the Stool Lands Commission had been tasked to find an amicable settlement once and for all.

Focusing on the government’s development programmes, he announced that a donors conference to enable the government and its development partners to make a definite financial commitment to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, would be held in May this year.

To enable the country to derive the maximum tourism potentials of the Mole National Park, the Vice-President said talks were underway with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, owners of the park, to upgrade it.

The sod would soon be cut for the commencement of work on the much anticipated ‘development corridor’ Sawla/Fufulso road with a 100 milllion dollar facility secured from the African Development Bank, Mr Mahama said, adding, funds had also been secured for the Tamale/Salaga/Mankago road.

“The Damango Water Treatment Project will begin this year in addition to three mechanized bore holes in Bole,” he said, drawing wild applause from the gathering. “A new nurses, teacher training college at Bole and two teacher training colleges project at Gonja will soon begin,” he added.

Vice-President Mahama also informed the chiefs and people that the Ministry of Health had already acquired sites for the construction of new district hospitals in Bole, Buipe and Salaga. Government, through the GETfund, would also continue to build school blocks and rehabilitate existing ones in the Gonja area.

According to him, the Damba festival was celebrated by the people not only in connection with the birth of Prophet Mohammed but manifested the peace and unity of the people. It was also a time for the sub chiefs in Gonjaland to pay homage to their overlord the Yagbonwura.

Vice-President Mahama commended the Yagbonwura Boresa for his foresight and leadership which had ensured peace and stability in the Gonja traditional area. He prayed that festivals such as the Damba would continue to unite the people to facilitate development of the area.

In his address, Tuntumba Boresa said democracy and party politics was good for the country but party politics should not be stretched to nauseating levels when we equate politics with enmity.

“Let us limit the struggle of politics to campaign times when parties of various persuasions do their best to market their manifestoes and achievements,” he said.

The Gonja King stated that he had taken a cue from the Asantehene by establishing the Yagbon Tuntumba Foundation to cater for youth education in general and for the girl child in particular. He urged all to support it.













Story: Office Of The Vice President
23/2/11

Government poised to promote teaching and learning in all schools - Veep

Vice President John Mahama has announced that government had awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of 110 science resources centres country -wide.

He said they have also instructed the ministry of education to allocate adequate funds to build 1,500 new classroom blocks to eliminate schools under trees.

Vice President Mahama announced this when he officially inaugurated and handed over 85 new buses to selected senior High schools and 50 pick-ups for heads of institutions throughout the country.

the buses which were acquired through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to facilitate the movement of staff and students of beneficiary schools in their various locations.

According to the vice president "the quality of education depends on quality infrastructure" and gave the assurance that government would also equip all the science Resource Centres with necessary and adequate knowledge .

He appealed to the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the buses to prolong their lifespan.

The minister of education Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu said her outfit with the assistance of the Africa Development Bank has retained over 4,000 teachers in four core subjects namely English language, mathematics, science and social studies.

She said the training was meant to meet the changing trends in the education delivery, adding, "it was also meant to make the teaching and learning of the subjects more interesting and meaningful to our students."

The sector minister said she was very much aware of the challenges facing education delivery in the country.

"It is however gratifying to note that under the 2011 budget, education has received a big boost and therefore more resources will be used to improve upon education delivery at all levels" she noted.













Story: Irene Ata-Donto
22/2/11

Vice President John Mahama has announced that government had awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of 110 science resources centres country -wide.

He said they have also instructed the ministry of education to allocate adequate funds to build 1,500 new classroom blocks to eliminate schools under trees.

Vice President Mahama announced this when he officially inaugurated and handed over 85 new buses to selected senior High schools and 50 pick-ups for heads of institutions throughout the country.

the buses which were acquired through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to facilitate the movement of staff and students of beneficiary schools in their various locations.

According to the vice president "the quality of education depends on quality infrastructure" and gave the assurance that government would also equip all the science Resource Centres with necessary and adequate knowledge .

He appealed to the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the buses to prolong their lifespan.

The minister of education Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu said her outfit with the assistance of the Africa Development Bank has retained over 4,000 teachers in four core subjects namely English language, mathematics, science and social studies.

She said the training was meant to meet the changing trends in the education delivery, adding, "it was also meant to make the teaching and learning of the subjects more interesting and meaningful to our students."

The sector minister said she was very much aware of the challenges facing education delivery in the country.

"It is however gratifying to note that under the 2011 budget, education has received a big boost and therefore more resources will be used to improve upon education delivery at all levels" she noted.













Story: Irene Ata-Donto
22/2/11

Focus more on manufacturing sector - Veep urges investors

Vice-President John Mahama has asked prospective investors in the country to focus their attention more on the manufacturing sector to help expand the economy and to create jobs for the teaming youth.

Conferring with a 24-member delegation from the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at the seat of government, he said "We are impressed about the ingenuity of the Indian manufacturing sector and are willing to partner with you to the mutual benefit of our peoples."

Vice-President Mahama, who recounted the good relations between Ghana and India in several fields of endeavour over the years, stressed that the spark that would create a real partnership between the two countries was investment by the Indian private sector in the productive and manufacturing sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

Vice-President Mahama informed the delegation that a recent report by the World Bank indicated that Ghana suffers infrastructural deficit to the tune of 1.6 billion dollars annually. There was therefore the need to bring the country up to scratch to merit its tag of a middle income country.

"There are so many investment opportunities in Ghana," Mr. Mahama said and mentioned the oil and gas industry, power generation, agriculture, roads and railways and health infrastructure.

The Vice-President emphasised that this was the time for interested investors to put a strong foothold in Ghana, citing the World Bank's prediction that the country was projected to grow at 13.5 per cent this year, the highest growth rate in the world.

This coupled with a stable and peaceful atmosphere, high rate of investment returns, he said, made Ghana the first point of call in terms of foreign direct investment opportunities in the sub-region. Ghana, he assured, would continue to be a model of democracy on the continent.

The FICCI delegation, who was in the country for a two-day visit to explore areas of investment, was led to the Presidency by Ruchi Ghanashyam, the Indian High Commissioner in Accra.

Madam Ghanashyam, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, said the FICCI, a non-profit organisation, was the voice of India's business and industry with a membership of about 400.

The chamber works closely with the government on policy issues, enhancing efficiency, competitiveness and expanding business opportunities for industry through a range of specialised services and global linkages, Ghanashyam said.

She described their two-day stay in Ghana as "very fruitful", saying, the group held meetings with several stakeholders. The envoy expressed the hope that the delegation's visit would yield good results.













Story: Irene Ata-Donto
22/2/11

Ghana to receive 36 million pound sterling from the UK to facilitate MDGs - Veep

Vice President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the United Kingdom would support Ghana with 36 million pound sterling, through the Department for International Development (DFID) to facilitate the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The money would be co-ordinated through the multi-donor budget (MDBS) support to assist the health, education, water supply and other crucial services.

The Vice President announced this during an encounter with Mr Henry Bellingham, the UK Minister for Africa and Member of Parliamentfor Northwest Norfolk at the Institute of Economic Affairs in Accra.

The visiting Minister is in the country to interact with the country's political and economic think tanks to find solutions to democratic and governance challenges.

Mr. Mahama commended the UK for its tremendous support to Ghana and expressed government’s preparedness to team up with British firms for joint ventures to increase trade and investments.

"I want to express appreciation to the UK government for her support and assistance to Ghana through the DFID and other agencies which contributed to the reduction of poverty through improved health delivery, access to education, rural development, capacity building, trade and private sector development."

He said since 2003, Britain had contributed 25 million Euros representing 20 per cent of the MDBS to Ghana.

The Vice President said UK under the Global Fund had supported Ghana's HIV and AIDS, Malaria and tuberculosis programmes towards the achievement of the MDGs.

"With the assistance of the Global fund, Ghana has succeeded in scaling up interventions for the treatment and prevention of malaria, including the distribution of 2.7 million Euro insecticide-treated bed nets, which has contributed to the decline in child mortality between 2000 and 2008."

He appealed to civil society organisations to hold government accountable by denouncing issues that tend to undermine peace, unity, growth and development of the country.

Mr Bellingham who presented a paper on: "Shared prosperity, shared security and shared values, a solid foundation for the future," commended government for exhibiting democracy, good governance and the rule of law over the years.

"The democratic progress made by Ghana over the last 20 years is a lesson for us all. There may be 79 different languages in Ghana, but you speak with one voice for democracy," he added.

The Minister said the UK would learn from Ghana's ability to unite different ethnic groups, migration populations, traditional and modern leadership while promoting rapid development of modern technologies like mobile phones.

"Ghana's ability to build coalitions with society-chiefs, churches, politicians, businessmen and women-is indicative of the single-minded purpose shared by the nation."

He said the collaboration between the UK and Ghana in 'Operation Westbridge', a law enforcement programme had since 2006 succeeded in seizing close to 600 kilogram's of cocaine, 250 kilogram's of heroin and close to 2000 kilogram's of cannabis.

The exercise has been extended to Nigeria he concluded.

According to the foreign minister , Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni Ghana would use her experience in democracy, rule of law and good governance to educate her neighbours on the need for peace, unity and tolerance for development.

Ministers for the environment science and technology, Ms sherry Aryitey and employment and social welfare, Mr. E.T Mensah also made meaningful contributions.













Story: Irene Ata-Donto
18/2/11

World Bank predicts Ghana’s GDP to grow at 13.5 per cent in 2011

Vice President John Mahama has reiterated that Ghana still remains the best place in Africa to do business. He said Ghana was both safe and secured and democratically matured to visit, stay in and do good business. He said whiles Government was predicting a GDP growth rate of about 12 per cent the World Bankhas predicted a 13.5 per cent growth, which will account for the biggest to be registered in the world this year and this paves the way for investors to be optimistic.

Mr. Mahama said this when a five man investment team (The Sibo Sanlin New Materials Co Ltd.) from Chinese called on him at the Castle.

The Vice President said Ghana has become investor friendly so much so that investors who do not take advantage of the current prevailing conducive investment environment will live to struggle and queue for space.

Mr. Mahama explained that there was still space in the services sector particularly in the tourism area requiring more hotels to accommodate tourist and beat down high hotel charges.

He also said there was the need for an additional oil refinery to augment the Tema Oil Refinery because of the pressure the oil discovery could exert on the existing one. He urged the investors not to relent but enter into partnership to build another refinery.

Chairman of the delegation, Mr. Li Bo Lin stressed his companies willingness to invest hotels, oil refinery, mining and real estate because of the investment climate prevailing in Ghana.

Hon Afotey Agbo, Minister of State at the Presidency and Mr. Addey Coker, NDC Greater Accra Chairman accompanied the team.















Story: George Azirigo
16/2/11