Oguaa Chief Summons Residents Over Venomous Vipers

Published on Tuesday, 28 May 2013 12:48       Written by Desmond K. Dapaah, Cape Coast

http://independentgh.com/sportsnews/oguaa-chief-summons-residents-over-venomous-vipers

Chief of Oguaa the Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II (R)

The paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, has summoned residents of Cape Coast home and abroad to a crisis meeting scheduled for June 1, 2013.

The crisis meeting, which will be held at the Ato Austin Gardens, comes in the wake of canvassing support to revamp its ancient traditional football club, ‘Venomous Vipers.’

Venomous Vipers were relegated from Ghana’s Glo Premier League many years back and were now struggling for survival with teams in the division two due to financial and material constraints which has caused the club to collapse.

The gathering will also be used to outdoor new board members and other management officials to steer the affairs of Vipers.

In a release issued by Osabarima, who doubles as the Chief patron for the club, he  expressed worry  over how a club with a credible history from Gold Coast through to independence has suffered to the extent that they have  be relegated to  division two.

According to him, selfless dedication, financial and material constraints have resulted in the struggle for the team to gain its glory - a situation which has led him to summon all residents and natives from Cape Coast to come to the aid of Vipers.

Osabarima, however, lauded the Interim Management Committee (IMC) for standing behind the club even in times that they faced difficulties and urged them to continue soliciting for little funds to sustain the club.

“We cannot fail and we need not fail. We need to do all that we can to bring back Vipers to its glory” Osabarima stated.

He was optimistic that when Vipers were given the needed financial backing, the club would bounce back to compete with the bigger teams in the premiership.

Fishermen Vow To Reject Government Tax Hikes

Published on Friday, 12 July 2013 07:42 | Written by Desmond K. Dapaah, Central Region |

A Ghanaian fisherman

Fishermen along the coastal belt of the Central Region have raised serious concerns about government’s decision to increase taxes imposed on the importation of some agricultural and fishing equipment including outboard motors.

The fishermen have vowed to resist such taxes from government since they would quickly collapse the fishing industry.

"When the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party was campaigning in 2012, they told us they would revive and restore the fishing industry to its former glory. Is this the glory that they talked of? If this is the glory they would give us after we voted for them then we would advice ourselves," they said.

These fisher folks within the region, who spoke to The Independent in separate interviews, hinted that they were preparing grounds to stage the biggest of all demonstration to register their displeasure to government.

They added that should government fail to hear them, they would match themselves to the seat of government in Accra.

"We will not accept any increase in taxes. Never! The fishing industry is collapsing and instead of massing up strategies to regain its glory you rather want to destroy it totally. Why?’’ They quizzed.

“Currently, an outboard motor is sold between GH¢ 7,000 and 9,000 yet we cannot even get some to buy. Instead of importing more at a reduced price for us, you rather want to impose more taxes on them. So how can we buy them?" they asked.

The aggrieved fisher folks however noted that they would not have any problem with government should there be more of their fishing equipment on the market and also know what those huge taxes accrued from such equipment were used for in the country.

"If there were to be outboard motors and fishing materials in abundance on the market, we would not have had any problem but since there were none and we could not buy even the few on the market, yet more taxes were to be placed on them then we would not agree with government. Never!" they stated.

In an interview over the weekend with the Chief Fisherman of Elmina, Nana Akonu, he expressed worry about government’s intention to increase the said taxes. He stated that even though government has supported them over the years with fishing materials, fisher folks were in real danger since they could no longer have enough equipment to improve their work.

Nana Akonu noted that the current hardships in the industry have caused some of their wards to be expelled from their school since their parents could not afford to pay their tuition fees. The chief fisherman however appealed to government to increase the supply of such fishing and agricultural inputs rather than increasing the prices.

He was quick to add that they had no problem with government wanting to impose taxes, but that central government should ensure that their inputs were in abundance for them to get anytime they needed.

There Will Be Bloodshed In Ghana – Owusu Bempah Predicts

Published on Friday, 28 June 2013 09:42 | Written by Desmond K. Dapaah 
http://independentgh.com/home/top-story/there-will-be-bloodshed-in-ghana-owusu-bempah-predicts

Prophet Owusu Bempah

Leader and founder of Glorious Word Ministry International in Accra, Owusu Bempah, has appealed to the nine Supreme Court justices presiding over the 2012 election petition to be firm - without fear or favour - in making clear judgment.

According to him, any decision - being favourable or not - would have serious effects on the nation hence the need for the justices to be bold and place where the truth belonged.

He however warned that there would be a blood spill in the country should the judges fail to make the right declaration.

"Now, the whole blood of Ghanaians are vested in the hands of the nine justices, therefore, I warn them to critically examine and scrutinise the case before them to make a decision favourable to  all or else blood will spill after the verdict.’’

Prophet Owusu Bempah disclosed this on "Pampaso", an educative program aired on Adom TV on MultiTv channel last Friday, answering questions to his numerous prophecies declared to happen in Ghana.

Rev. Bempah hinted that he smelt death around the nine justices, saying that some politicians have gone to seek spiritual support to kill and turn the minds of the judges to rule in their favour.

"Do you remember the accident of Dr Bawumia when he was returning from his hometown? It was masterminded by the some elements in the ruling government’s party,” he said.

He categorically stated that so far as he lived as a man of God, he would not allow such bad things to happen.

He warned those perpetrators within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to do away with such evil acts or else they would face severe punishment from God.

He indicated that the NDC have planned to kill the first petitioner and flag bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo Addo, the party's Chairman, Jake O. Obetsebi, and star witness of NPP in the ongoing trail.

According to him, these elements in the NDC have pulled the spirit of Nana Addo into some buried cows - he refused to name the place, though.

"Some NDC politician have gone to Benin and secured spiritual powers to turn the Supreme Court judges minds on the truth but it will not work," he said.

The vociferous Bempah further revealed that about two weeks ago, while he was preparing for church service, a guy who claimed to be an NDC guru spoke to him on phone saying he could not sleep and felt no happiness in his life any longer since he was part of those elements that hid the spirit of Nana Addo in the cows just to ensure that he lost the elections.

He noted that after he spoke with the unknown caller who failed to disclose his name, he again received a text message from a Takoradi-based nationally recognised prophetess which topped the dream he had had and what the NDC guru had told him on phone that some big wigs had buried the spirit of Nana Addo in cows.

Rev. Bempah therefore assured Ghanaians that no president would die as prophesied since he believed God has answered his prayers.

“Leaders, friends and family members of those that I prophesied about have approached me. I urged them to pray since I and my other pastors were already fasting over it. Therefore I do hope and believe that God has accepted our prayers,” he noted.

He was quick to add that should they go back to their bad deeds the curse would bounce back on them.

Kotokuraba Market Sits On Time Bomb

Published on Friday, 17 May 2013 14:40 | Written by Desmond K. Dapaah, Cape Coast
http://independentgh.com/local-news/kotokuraba-market-sits-on-time-bomb

Kotokoraba Market women selling in the sun

The Kotokuraba market in the Cape Coast Metropolis of the Central Region now sits on a time bomb as traders have begun to ask questions on the danger the market poses to them should there be a fire outbreak.

Like the Kantamanto market in the Greater Accra region, the Kotokuraba market serves as the main market center for all kinds of trade activities for people within the region.

Kotokuraba market is so crowded that, there is little space left between two stores used as a pathway for purchasers to walk through while the stores itself are mainly attached to each other without any space.

This will make it very difficult for fire service personal to enter and rescue traders in any unforeseen disaster.

A visit to the market on Monday by The Independent observed that, anytime a bargain hunter tries to move from one shop to the other, one usually hit the shoulder of a fellow which makes it difficult for smooth movement.

The paper also observed that, some shop owners continue to cook in the market even though they have been advised by the Cape Coast Metro Fire command to be extra vigilant with the use of fire in the market.

The Independent further observed that, the market becomes much more crowded on Sundays where all the roads were blocked and used for trading activities.

Information gathered proved that, about two years ago, the Kotokuraba market got burnt due to illegal power connection and use of fire within the market.

A staff (name withheld) of the Cape Coast Metro Fire Command who spoke to the paper on Monday revealed that, her outfit has formed a prevention team that normally visit the Kotokuraba market to educate the traders on fire preventions.

According to her, the traders have turned a deaf ear to what they educate them on adding, traders only dance to the tune of music played at the grounds and not the message from the fire service officials.

“It’s sad to organize such educative program  on fire and the market women come to dance only to the music without even having time to listen to what we have for them”  she said.

She further stated that, her office has written to the Cape Coast Metropolitan Chief Executive officer on what ought to be done to prevent any unforeseen occurrence a situation she said, have since not received any response from the assembly.

She however urged Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to tighten and enforce their bylaws  to prevent any fire outbreak.

The Independent can state on authority that, should the Kotokuraba market be on fire, about thousands of Ghana cedis would be lost if the necessary mechanisms are not put in place to stop the illegal power connections and use of fire for cooking in the market, it will be a major disaster to the nation.     

Although there is a new market under construction, the pace at which construction works were undertaken is slow that, the market seems not to be built anytime soon.

Find Alternative To Aboakyer Festival

Published on Tuesday, 14 May 2013 10:43 | Written by Desmond K. Dapaah, Winneba
(http://independentgh.com/local-news/find-alternative-to-aboakyer-festival)

A deer on the shoulders of one Asafo mmember

Barely a week into the celebration of the Aboakyer festival by the chiefs and people of Winneba in the Central Region, some natives have expressed discomfort about the way the two major traditional warriors in the area could not catch a deer to climax the occasion.

According to them, this was the first time they have heard and seen the Tuafo and Dentsefo    warriors not having any catch for the Paramount Chief to step on to signify it acceptance by the gods.

The Independent gathered that even though there was no clasp of deer from the Winneba forest this year, the chiefs quickly slaughtered a brown sheep to replace the deer which, according to sources, has been accepted by the gods of Winneba.

Although the deer has been the pivot around which the Aboakyer festival was celebrated, residents thought it was time for traditional rulers in the area to rescind their decision since the forest was fast
depleting.

A resident of Winneba who spoke to the paper on condition of anonymity said it was so disturbing and disgracing for no catch this year, adding that the cause would be the entrance of hunters who hunt for live animals in the thick forest daily. 

He added that the unfortunate happened because people have began building closer and closer to the forest; an unfortunate situation.

He therefore appealed to the chiefs to either consult their gods earlier to know whether there would be a catch or find an alternative to prevent any embarrassment in subsequent years.

 In an exclusive interview with the head of Otuano Royal Family of Winneba, Neenyi Bondzie, who seemed unhappy, revealed that since there was no deer catch on the festival day, the leaders quickly consulted their god, ‘Denkyi Otu,’ who gave them the alternative to replace the deer with the sheep which was slaughtered on Sunday.

“The Otuano Royal house is the most affected in this situation and we have no option than to consult our god for an alternative to appease him - which it did. Therefore we slaughtered the alternative to settle him on Sunday.” he said.

Neenyi Bondzie categorically stated that the only alternative for a successful catch was to settle any disputes among them. 

He stated that a major factor which contributed to the no clasp was due to the encroachments of people to the forest, adding that since these animals hated the presence of humans closer to them they have no option than to move away from the forest. 

Neenyi Bondzie noted that spiritual factors also contributed to the unfortunate which characterised the festival, stating that, it became very difficult to allow the respective leader to step on the deer as done years back since all heads wanted to step on it.

“I don’t know whether it was power that they wanted or something else. Those difficulties led to the dismay this year. This Paramount Chief steps on the deer and not anyone else. If any chief wants to step on it, it must be in consultation with the royal family and not by the use of force” he added.

Neenyi Bondzie further revealed that to resolve the issues surrounding the Aboakyer festival for a perfect one next year, there was the need for settlement of internal and external issues with the
traditional area. 

Internally, Neenyi Bondzie noted that there were serious tides within the family and needed urgent remedies to resolve them.

 He also called on stakeholders to come to their aid and support them in settling the problems at hand once and for all.

He added that without the truth and the truth being understood and told to the masses, the problems Winneba faced would persist for a long time. 

“People of Winneba are Guans and not Akan’s. We are different people altogether. We speak a different language. The Guans are the founders of Winneba and succeed the patrilineal lineage not the Akan’s matrilineal lineage” he stated.

“Once the truth is told to the younger generation, I tell you, the issues in Winneba would be settled and there will be no more issues in the years yet unborn” he added.

STRAIGHT TALK: Make Up your mind : FREE QUALITY EDUCATION OR JUST...

STRAIGHT TALK: Make Up your mind : FREE QUALITY EDUCATION OR JUST...: A Ghanaian casting his vote It just about two weeks for Ghanaians to go to the ballot box to elect a leader who is to take up the ne...

Make Up your mind : FREE QUALITY EDUCATION OR JUST QUALITY EDUCATION

A Ghanaian casting his vote

It just about two weeks for Ghanaians to go to the ballot box to elect a leader who is to take up the next administration for the next 4 years.

Some people including me have already made our minds already for the future while first time voters and others have not yet decided.

What have you decided and who will you votes for. Keep it secrete because its your power to do and undo your God given future.

Make the right decision to elect a visionary leader who can develop our MOTHER GHANA. GHANA needs a visionary leader and you count.

Make your future decision NOW

Vote WISELY!!!!!!

Do not KILL for power but PRAY and ask God's BLESSING for a massive win in the 2012 election

Pensioners threaten demo

Sam P. Yalley -Pensions Regulatory Boss

Pensioners who recently retired from active service from various departmental offices under the Controller and Accountant General Department (CAGD) of the Central Region have vowed to stage a massive demonstration should government fail to pay their pension claims.

According to them, CAGD and Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has for the past five months not paid their respective claims to enable them to cater for their families.

“We will not tolerate what the government and SSNIT are doing to us pensioners. This shows they do not respect us. Why should we suffer for Ghana’s development and later be treated as such” they said.

“We are in an election year and we need to make our concerns known so that, they will be addressed as quickly as possible because no one knows what will happen tomorrow” they added.

This, they said have created numerous problems for them, a situation the pensioners stated have led some financial institutions they lend monies from to run after them for their monies.

Dr. Frank Odoom- SSNIT Boss

The pensioners who stormed the office of Daily Guide in Cape Coast on Wednesday said, they have filed all the necessary documents required by the SSNIT yet they have not given their salaries.

A member of the group and former staff of CAGD in Cape Coast, who spoke on condition of anonymity lamented that, on July 20, 2012 he was directed by the Cape Coast office of SSNIT to fill some documents which he did but has since that time not received his claim.

He added that, he was also asked by the office to go to the headquarters of CAGD in Accra to push the documents, which he complied but he was asked to expect his claims in three weeks to no avail.

“I have walked in and out climbing this tall building several times just to take my pension claims and have still not received it. Why! Why! Is it a crime to go on pension? Look at an old man like me always climbing this building is this fair? he quizzed.

The former CAGD officer noted that, he returned to SSNIT office in Cape Coast early Tuesday morning to check for his claim only to be told his claim has not been released.  

From: Desmond K. Dapaah, Cape Coast.

Aboah Cautions Parties Against Machomen

C/R Police Commander(L) in a chat with the Interior Minister (R)

The Interior Minister, William K. Aboah has advised political parties to refrain from hiring the services of ‘macho’ men to create mayhem at the various polling centers on December 7.

According to him, such act is unconstitutional and goes contrary to the election laws.

He noted that security officers at the polling centers would deal drastically with persons who disturb the peace in the country since ‘macho’ men have no stake in the elections.

“Democracy involves cross fertilization of ideas but not exchange of hostilities because of divergent ideological standpoints. Political parties should refrain from acts which may have the propensity to drive the country into any form of communal violence,” he said

The Minister made this known on Thursday at Cape Coast when he interacted with security officers in the region to familiarize himself with strategies of the regional security command to enforce law and order.

The minister, who was on a two-day working visit to the Central region, was accompanied by his deputy, Kobby Acheampong and other administrators from the interior ministry.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Aboah stated that the government would resource all security agencies to improve service delivery without fear or favour.

He stated that Ghanaians had entrusted their hopes in the security services to ensure incident-free elections, a situation he said  would help promote impartiality and integrity to consolidate the democratic gains Ghana had chalked.

Mr. Aboah therefore appealed to them to ensure that their services commensurate with those of government to justify the investment by the tax payer.

The Interior Minister further advised political parties to warn their followers not to stay at the polling centers after casting their ballot.

“Anyone who goes to the polling centers to vote should go back home peacefully since our security operatives will not allow people to stay in the perimeters of the voting premises,” he stated.

Mr. Aboah however assured the security personnel of their full allowances before being deployed to their respective centers to protect the ballot boxes.

He further assured Ghanaians of free, fair and transparent elections, adding that since Ghana is well noted for its democratic practices, his outfit would do every thing possible to maintain the reputation of the country.

From: Desmond K. Dapaah, Cape Coast

"Skirt And Blouse Hits KEEA NDC"

Dr. J.S.Annan (seated Left) and Dr. Ato Quashie (seated Right)

Some  electorate from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) constituency of the Central Region have vowed to vote ‘skirt and blouse’ in the upcoming December 7 general elections.

According to them, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Dr. Joseph S. Annan, was not a good candidate to contest the seat; therefore they would rather vote for President Mahama and Dr. Ato Quashie, an NDC bigwig in the area contesting as an independent candidate.

DAILY GUIDE observed, after going round the constituency, that posters of Dr. Annan were nowhere to be found, with that of Dr. Quashie and President Mahama splashed in all the communities.

Some electorate who spoke to DAILY GUIDE on condition of anonymity on Tuesday said since they gave the mandate to Dr. Annan in 2008, he had not initiated any developmental projects to transform and better the lives of the people and would therefore reject him in this year’s polls.

Dr. J.S. Annan-K.E.E.A MP

“What has Dr. J.S Annan done for us the people of K.E.E.A and even NDC supporters? He should come out and show us one single development he has embarked on since we voted for him,” they said.

“We rejected NPP for NDC because we thought they (NPP) deceived us especially the fishermen but with Dr. Annan as our MP, it is hell,” they lamented.

They further alleged that since Dr. Annan became MP, there hadn’t been peace amongst the constituency executives; a situation they stated had resulted in Dr. Quashie’s quest to contest as an independent candidate.

The electorates noted that Dr. Quarshie was the best candidate because he could face the NPP aspirant in order not to lose the seat.

Information gathered by DAILY GUIDE indicated that the actions of Dr. Annan had made some NDC gurus in the area to throw their weight behind Dr. Quashie to win the seat.

From: Desmond K. Dapaah, Elmina

Mad Rush For Elmina Gold

There are reports of a major discovery of gold at the Elmina beach.

Reports say scores of residents are scrambling for the so-called discovery while some are carting away sea sand to their homes to protect their expected booty.

Hundreds of people drawn from other regions across the country have trooped to Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of the Central Region to engage in illegal gold mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The people, between the ages of 10 and 50, according to DAILY GUIDE information, started their operations about a week ago when they discovered that the beach around the castle and Ayisa, near the CG Elmina Cold store, which was established to serve as a sardine processing factory, abounded in gold.

Sources revealed that the gold discovery was made when some galamsey operators who had come for a funeral in the area went to the castle and spotted that the sand around the castle had glitter in it.

Other sources hinted that the deposits could probably come from the dredging of the Benya Lagoon which was deposited there when the lagoon was dredged about four years ago.

DAILY GUIDE also gathered that Dredging International, the company that dredged the lagoon, kept a section of the workers from entering a particular area which they now suspected might have contained the gold.

When DAILY GUIDE visited the place, persons from other mining areas in the country were busily washing the sand for gold.

The paper also spotted some gold dealers from Tarkwa, Prestea and other mining communities who had parked their cars to purchase gold from the galamsey operators.

DAILY GUIDE further gathered that the number of operators increased in the night as they used lantern and torch-light in search of gold.

This reporter also observed that fishermen had abandoned their fishing activities to join in the search for gold since they claimed the fishing business was collapsing gradually due to the ban on light fishing.

The operators threatened to clash with the police if they made any attempt to stop them from doing their lucrative business.

Some fishermen have virtually abandoned their canoes and spend the night, with their wives and children on the beach, digging and washing sand in expectation.

“We are not going to sleep,” a fisherman told a Joy FM reporter.

One of the operators who spoke to DAILY GUIDE on anonymity claimed they made close to GH¢15 million a day.

He further added that he sometimes took the gold to the Western Region to sell as other buyers also trooped to the area to buy them.

In an interview with the Omanhene of Edina Traditional Area, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, he cautioned the operators to put a stop to their activities since it was destroying the area.

He lamented that his summon for the operators to meet him at his palace to find out who gave them the permission to do so did not yield any result.

He therefore asked them to cease operations as soon as possible or face the consequences.

When contacted, the regional director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Owusu Sekyere, said he only had the information on Tuesday morning that illegal mining was going on at Elmina and sent some officers to go and investigate the issue.

Mr Sekyere said the officers had not reported at the office and could not comment on the issue as at the time of filing this report.

He added that the EPA was working in collaboration with many organisations such as the Minerals Commission and the district assemblies, so they could not comment on the issue until they got in touch with stakeholders.

From: Desmond K Dapaah, Elmina

Galamsey Operators To Build Kotokuraba Market – Says NPP

Gafaro Seidu

A member of the Communication team of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Cape Coast Constituency, Gafaro Seidu has alleged that the contentious Cape Coast Kotokuraba Market would be built by Chinese 'galamsey' operators.

According to him, the Chinese were among 'galamsey' operators who were arrested for engaging in illegal mining activities in the country.

He claimed the Chinese government lobbied the Ghana Government to build the Kotokuraba Market in order to pardon the operators who were engaged in illegal activities.

Mr Seidu challenged President Mahama to come out with the true identity of the company and the Chinese who were introduced to the people of Cape Coast during the Fetu Afahye celebration last Saturday.

He disclosed this at a press conference on Friday to register their displeasure at the diabolic tactics adopted by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to deceive the people of Cape Coast.

Addressing the press, Mr. Seidu observed that Cape Coasters would not vote for the corrupt NDC government and its Members of Parliament (MP) such as Ebow Barton Odro, MP for Cape Coast to continue the deceit.

According to him, the NDC administration had failed to fulfill its promises, as the late President John Evans Atta Mills pledged to build the Kotokuraba Market and Cape Coast Stadium during the 2011 Action Year.

He therefore charged President Mahama to produce documents and cost involved in the construction of the two projects.

'The constitution did not say President Mahama should travel for 'Thank You' tour but to administer the nation. This tour should have been done by his Vice President and not him.'

'He should have been accompanied by a member from the opposition, wife of the late president and some family members on the tour to other nations but what are we seeing? This is a total waste of our resources,' he stated.

He called on leaders of the Christian Council to encourage the Electoral Commission (EC) not to create the additional 45 constituencies since the move would create mayhem.

On his part, the spokesperson for concerned party activists, a pressure group of the NPP in Cape Coast, Papa Damtse Amoah said they had given the MP of the area a two-week ultimatum to abandon the Cape Coast parliamentary election due to his alleged involvement in the Woyomegate scandal.

He noted that lawyer Oduro is the worse MP the area has ever had since 1992, adding that he had brought shame and poverty to the area.

He added that the former MP for the area, Christine Churcher championed the development of the area and supported small-scale businesses through government interventions.

Once you mention the MP's name, people reply back with judgment debt, he claimed.

From: Desmond K. Dapaah, Cape Coast

Unite For Victory 2012 – Jake

NPP National Chairman- Jake O. Lamptey

NATIONAL CHAIRMAN of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey has appealed to regional and constituency executives of the party in the Central region to set aside their differences to allow the party win the December 7 general elections.

He said due to the conflict, disunity and numerous factions that emerged within the party during the run-up to the 2008 elections, the party lost 11 out of a total of 19 parliamentary seats in the region.

The national chairman disclosed this on Monday when he visited the region to interact with NPP constituency and regional regarding measures they had undertaken to ensure a first round victory for the party.

'If it had not been for the misunderstanding and certain conflicts that existed in the constituency and among some regional executives, the NPP would have won the 2008 general elections. But because we were our own enemies, we lost major seats to our opponents. This is unfortunate,' he told them.

'The NPP in 2008 needed more votes from the Central region because most of our governmental policies benefited and transformed the region. Therefore why should we have lost the seats? We need to unite as one family and work hard to bring NPP back to power in 2013,' he added.

Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey noted that although the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) used their diabolic tactics to describe the NPP as the most corrupt government in the country, Ghanaians had now realized which government was most corrupt in its administration.

He therefore charged the executives to map out strategies to change the perception of the electorate and disseminate the party's 2012 campaign message of providing free senior high school education to all Ghanaian children.

Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey was accompanied by NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John as well as some national executives.

For his part, Sir John said if the NPP can win the elections; it would depend on the outcome from the Central regional since the region was the route to the party's victory on its 2012 agenda.

He revealed that the NPP lost a considerable number of the votes from the region which gave it a massive victory in 2000 due to the loss of confidence voters had in the party executives.

The general secretary consequently urged the executives to forgive one another and fight for the party's victory since Ghanaians had now realized that the NPP was the only party that could save Ghana and transform their lives.

'If we do not work hard for the party to recapture power, Ghanaians will never forgive us. Everywhere you go you hear people are now yeaning for the NPP to come back. Therefore we need to bury our differences,' he said.

From: Desmond K. Dapaah, Cape Coast

Respect Patients – Nurses Told

Madam Cecilia Mensah addressing the graduants

PRINCIPAL OF the Cape Coast Nursing and Midwifery Training College (CCNTC), Cecilia Mensah has expressed worry over how some nurses in the country insulted and disrespected patients that visit various health care facilities.

She noted that their insolent attitude had contributed to the deaths of many patients and in her view, this had gradually tarnished the reputation of the nursing and midwifery profession.

Mrs. Mensah was speaking at a graduation and home coming ceremony in Cape Coast for student nurses who completed their certification programme at the CCNTC.

The occasion themed “The role of nurses and midwives in the promotion of quality health care in Ghana in the 21^st Century,”   formed part of the college’s silver jubilee anniversary.

The principal noted that although trained nurses were from diverse backgrounds, they tended to forget the oath they had sworn to render the best health care to patients no matter where they may find themselves.

“This is not what the founder of nursing did. She had time and patience to visit and serve all her patients. We need to emulate such behavior to recuperate the good lost image,” she said.

Mrs. Mensah further appealed to government and healthcare stakeholders to help the school expand in order to enroll more students.

She revealed that due to the lack of accommodation and unavailability of certain facilities to train students, the school now operated at two separate campuses, a situation she said had continuously increased their expenditure.

Addressing the gathering, a retired Deputy Director of Nursing Services, Sarah Nyampong said the practice of nursing and midwifery across the globe had undergone a drastic paradigm shift from using outmoded physical strategies of caring for the sick to the use of modern technology.

According to her, the 21^st century required nurses to embark on serious and thorough research to broaden their knowledge.

“Now that you have internet facilities at your work places, phones and homes, you need to deepen your knowledge by looking out for nursing books to increase your talent and know the new methods used in treating diseases at faster rates,” she said.

She noted that because nursing and midwifery constituted the largest work force in the health sector, there was the need for government to equip various health training colleges with sophisticated material to intensify teaching and learning in these areas.

The Central Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Samuel Quashie also called on government to support nursing training colleges with e-learning and exchange programs with foreign health institutions in order to increase the provision of quality health care.

 From: Desmond K. Dapaah, Cape Coast