Daily Graphic, Pg 11, Jan. 20/09
Story Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
Ghana’s high maternal mortality rate of 560 per every 100,000 live birth has attracted the attention of the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations in Health.
The coalition has called on the government to commit more resources into maternal health to reduce births that are undertaken without skilled care.
It attributes the problem mainly to poverty among women and has, therefore, called on the government to, “within a short-term, scale-up the deployment of skills and technology and comprehensively address the issue of poverty within the national development plan framework”.
The coalition made the call at a press conference in Accra where it presented a 20-point communiqué it adopted after a civil society organisation health forum it held last year on the theme, ‘Civil society organisations (CSO) in partnership to promote health’.
On neonatal mortality, the coalition called on the government to look beyond cases within health institutions, saying that “neonatal mortality should be the focus of government, as it has been identified as the driving force in increasing child mortality rates”.
According to the coalition, 53 per cent of births are being undertaken by unqualified birth attendants and so the government has to adopt a holistic approach in maternal and child health interventions in the country to address the situation.
It further said the health ministry should take a second look at the critical role family planning and adolescent sexual reproductive health played in reducing maternal mortality and ensuring child and maternal health.
Ms Cecilia Lodonu-Senoo, an Executive Member of the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA), Ghana, who read the communiqué, called on the government to allocate resources for purposes of monitoring and evaluation of health issues to ensure timely and accurate data for planning, forecasting and evaluating progress or otherwise in the health sector.
The communiqué called on the government to adopt a health system approach that recognised the participation and contribution of all non-state actors to address issues on maternal and child health care.
On HIV and AIDS, the coalition said access to and availability of services directed at HIV and AIDS should focus on addressing issues of stigma, cost and other socio-economic barriers which limited individual access service.
It also called for better supervision and enforcement of the guidelines on the code of conduct of health workers with respect to the rights of Persons Living with HIV (PLHIVs) to facilitate the protection of the rights of all PLHIVs accessing services from health facilities.
It further called for the involvement of CSOs to step up education and information on the nature and purpose of the NHIS to prevent or reduce abuse of the use of medical services, as well as increase the list of drugs under the scheme to include anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
The coalition also called for a more active and efficient pharmaco vigilance system and the engagement of all stakeholders, both private and public, in decision-making on the monitoring and evaluation of medicines.
It also called on CSOs to play active roles in ensuring occupational safety through advocacy and training, with the aim of developing the capacity of trade unions and their members to protect the lives and health of all workers.
It further called on the government to identify and harness existing capacities among qualified personnel in CSOs and partner them during the planning and implementation of health-related interventions.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Hairdressers, beauticians upgrade skills
Daily Graphic,Pg 11, Saturday Jan. 17/09
Story: Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
A number of women and few men have operated the hairdressing salon business in many parts of the country mainly as a small or medium-scale business for ages.
Apart from some major salons and beauty companies such as FC, Allure and First Choice, SoftSheen Carson all in Accra, most of the salons and companies are often managed by a small group of people, majority of whom are apprentices or workers.
The business appeared flourishing over the years as most women who want to follow the fashion trend go to the salon at least once a week to either perm or plait their hair or for facials, manicure and pedicure.
However, statistics available from the National Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers (NABH) show that only 20 per cent of operators in the industry are able to recover their monthly cost and make profit.
A market research conducted by NABH recently, showed that 80 per cent of the salon proprietors go through the first half of the year without any technical training on the latest techniques and salon services for the year.
It is for this reason that NABH organised the first ever Salon Academy for beauticians and hairdressers drawn from the southern sector of the country in Accra. The three-day training programme was aimed at introducing the participants to some of the new techniques in the industry, as well as educating them on the proper use of some of the chemicals on the hair, skin and nails.
Among some of the topics treated were ‘skill shortage in chemical hair relaxing’, ‘nail designing techniques’, ‘profit potentials of today’s salon business’ and ‘correct uses of hair styling products’. The rest were ‘creative hair clouding’, ‘hair extension collections’, ‘active salon retailing’, ‘business strategies for salon growth’ and ‘guide to professional make-up applications’.
The Head of Cosmetology Unit of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), Mr Emmanuel Nkrumah, in an address, advised the participants to ensure that they buy products certified by the FDB.
According to him, there were a lot of unregistered products on the market most of which do not meet the FDB’s specifications.
He also called on them to follow manufacturers’ directions on the use of products to avoid any harm to their clients.
The West Africa Representative of Citi and Guilds, Mr Kingsly Asiedu, in an address said available statistics showed that women across the world spend a total of £3.8 billion annually at the salon.
In Ghana, he said, it is estimated that women spend 40 per cent of their monthly income on hair and beauty.
He therefore called on participants to ensure that they provide quality services to their clients to give them value for their moneys.
He also called on the government to regulate the work of beauty salon operators to ensure that they complied with the requisite rules and regulations.
He said the association was affiliated to the Citi and Guilds Institute and that gave interested graduands the opportunity to sit for the institute’s international examination.
He therefore advised beauty salon operators to ensure that they upgraded their skills regularly, saying that “beauty courses are moving at a very fast rate and it is up to you to update yourselves with new techniques”.
He also called on them to disabuse their minds of the wrong perception that hairdressing was a profession for school dropouts, saying that people who cannot read or write will not survive in the industry due to its dynamic nature.
The National President of NABH, Mrs Joyce Lamptey, in her welcoming address said profits are the key to any business and that making more money was what everyone desired.
She, however, said that it was unfortunate to note that most operators in the hairdressing and beauty industry do not make profit since market research reports were inadequate to keep salon owners informed about annual changes in the industry.
She said “as an industry, the salon business is primarily driven by changes which occur in every new year in client behaviour, equipment, products and styles.
Mrs Lamptey said the key, therefore, to a sustainable salon growth and profitability lay in being equipped with the necessary tools to respond quickly and effectively to annual change.
A Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Ted Annang who chaired the ceremony, called on beauticians to put the satisfaction of their clients first in all that they did.
He said since their customers had an array of salons to choose from, it was up to them to give good customer care and satisfaction to attract new customers and maintain old ones.
Story: Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
A number of women and few men have operated the hairdressing salon business in many parts of the country mainly as a small or medium-scale business for ages.
Apart from some major salons and beauty companies such as FC, Allure and First Choice, SoftSheen Carson all in Accra, most of the salons and companies are often managed by a small group of people, majority of whom are apprentices or workers.
The business appeared flourishing over the years as most women who want to follow the fashion trend go to the salon at least once a week to either perm or plait their hair or for facials, manicure and pedicure.
However, statistics available from the National Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers (NABH) show that only 20 per cent of operators in the industry are able to recover their monthly cost and make profit.
A market research conducted by NABH recently, showed that 80 per cent of the salon proprietors go through the first half of the year without any technical training on the latest techniques and salon services for the year.
It is for this reason that NABH organised the first ever Salon Academy for beauticians and hairdressers drawn from the southern sector of the country in Accra. The three-day training programme was aimed at introducing the participants to some of the new techniques in the industry, as well as educating them on the proper use of some of the chemicals on the hair, skin and nails.
Among some of the topics treated were ‘skill shortage in chemical hair relaxing’, ‘nail designing techniques’, ‘profit potentials of today’s salon business’ and ‘correct uses of hair styling products’. The rest were ‘creative hair clouding’, ‘hair extension collections’, ‘active salon retailing’, ‘business strategies for salon growth’ and ‘guide to professional make-up applications’.
The Head of Cosmetology Unit of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), Mr Emmanuel Nkrumah, in an address, advised the participants to ensure that they buy products certified by the FDB.
According to him, there were a lot of unregistered products on the market most of which do not meet the FDB’s specifications.
He also called on them to follow manufacturers’ directions on the use of products to avoid any harm to their clients.
The West Africa Representative of Citi and Guilds, Mr Kingsly Asiedu, in an address said available statistics showed that women across the world spend a total of £3.8 billion annually at the salon.
In Ghana, he said, it is estimated that women spend 40 per cent of their monthly income on hair and beauty.
He therefore called on participants to ensure that they provide quality services to their clients to give them value for their moneys.
He also called on the government to regulate the work of beauty salon operators to ensure that they complied with the requisite rules and regulations.
He said the association was affiliated to the Citi and Guilds Institute and that gave interested graduands the opportunity to sit for the institute’s international examination.
He therefore advised beauty salon operators to ensure that they upgraded their skills regularly, saying that “beauty courses are moving at a very fast rate and it is up to you to update yourselves with new techniques”.
He also called on them to disabuse their minds of the wrong perception that hairdressing was a profession for school dropouts, saying that people who cannot read or write will not survive in the industry due to its dynamic nature.
The National President of NABH, Mrs Joyce Lamptey, in her welcoming address said profits are the key to any business and that making more money was what everyone desired.
She, however, said that it was unfortunate to note that most operators in the hairdressing and beauty industry do not make profit since market research reports were inadequate to keep salon owners informed about annual changes in the industry.
She said “as an industry, the salon business is primarily driven by changes which occur in every new year in client behaviour, equipment, products and styles.
Mrs Lamptey said the key, therefore, to a sustainable salon growth and profitability lay in being equipped with the necessary tools to respond quickly and effectively to annual change.
A Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Ted Annang who chaired the ceremony, called on beauticians to put the satisfaction of their clients first in all that they did.
He said since their customers had an array of salons to choose from, it was up to them to give good customer care and satisfaction to attract new customers and maintain old ones.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Action plan for DV Act ready
Daily Graphic, Pg 17, Jan 15/09
Story: Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
TO ensure the smooth implementation of the Domestic Violence (DV) Act passed in February 2007, the National Policy and Plan of Action (NPoA) has been launched.
The NPoA which provides a guideline for the implementation of the DV Act was compiled after the ministry had had various consultative meetings with stakeholders including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and developing partners.
The implementation of the DV Act has not been effective since its inception because of the delay in formulating the NPoA and the former Minister of MOWAC, Hajia Alima Mahama, who launched the document in Accra said the Netherlands Government has provided $1.5m for this year as their support for its implementation.
She added that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was also keen to support other activities in connection with the DV Act which has not yet been supported.
She said her ministry contributed GH¢100.00 from the HIPC Fund to the Breast Cancer (BC) Fund and the DV Victims Support Fund would be catered for in the ministry’s next budget.
She, however, pledged to provide technical support to the Management Board of the DV victims and urged them to call on her any time they needed her expertise.
The acting Director of the Department of Women, Mrs Francesca Pobe Hayford, in her welcoming address, took the opportunity to introduce Ms Christina Edmund and Mr Kweku Ohene Agyei as nominees for the ministries of Finance and the Interior respectively to the board.
Other members of the board are Dr Maureen Mantey, Ministry of Health; Ms Jemima Allotey, Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment; Mrs Beatrice Zakpa Gib-Sanziri, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit; Dr Dominic Pealore, Ministry of Education and Sports; Ms Ursula Owusu, FIDA and Mr Chris Azumah, Ministry of Local Government Rural Development and Environment. Others are Mr Henry Tackie, Attorney-General's Department; Mrs Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Ark Foundation and Mrs Margaret Ktsuati, Department of Social Welfare.
Mrs Hayford said with the inclusion of the two nominees, the board now had the full complement of members as stipulated in the DV Act.
She added that the Act had been translated into six Ghanaian Languages and was hopeful that with support from the Netherlands Government and the UNDP, it would be possible to kick-start activities to implement the NPoA.
A Principal State Attorney at the Attorney-General’s Department and a member of the DV Management Board, Mr Henry Tackie, who chaired the programme, pointed out to the board that they now had the burden of ensuring the protection of DV victims.
He called on members to study the NPoA in order to play their roles effectively and also reminded all members to ensure that their respective ministries played their roles as specified in the NPoA in the ministries’ 2009 budget estimates.
Story: Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
TO ensure the smooth implementation of the Domestic Violence (DV) Act passed in February 2007, the National Policy and Plan of Action (NPoA) has been launched.
The NPoA which provides a guideline for the implementation of the DV Act was compiled after the ministry had had various consultative meetings with stakeholders including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and developing partners.
The implementation of the DV Act has not been effective since its inception because of the delay in formulating the NPoA and the former Minister of MOWAC, Hajia Alima Mahama, who launched the document in Accra said the Netherlands Government has provided $1.5m for this year as their support for its implementation.
She added that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was also keen to support other activities in connection with the DV Act which has not yet been supported.
She said her ministry contributed GH¢100.00 from the HIPC Fund to the Breast Cancer (BC) Fund and the DV Victims Support Fund would be catered for in the ministry’s next budget.
She, however, pledged to provide technical support to the Management Board of the DV victims and urged them to call on her any time they needed her expertise.
The acting Director of the Department of Women, Mrs Francesca Pobe Hayford, in her welcoming address, took the opportunity to introduce Ms Christina Edmund and Mr Kweku Ohene Agyei as nominees for the ministries of Finance and the Interior respectively to the board.
Other members of the board are Dr Maureen Mantey, Ministry of Health; Ms Jemima Allotey, Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment; Mrs Beatrice Zakpa Gib-Sanziri, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit; Dr Dominic Pealore, Ministry of Education and Sports; Ms Ursula Owusu, FIDA and Mr Chris Azumah, Ministry of Local Government Rural Development and Environment. Others are Mr Henry Tackie, Attorney-General's Department; Mrs Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Ark Foundation and Mrs Margaret Ktsuati, Department of Social Welfare.
Mrs Hayford said with the inclusion of the two nominees, the board now had the full complement of members as stipulated in the DV Act.
She added that the Act had been translated into six Ghanaian Languages and was hopeful that with support from the Netherlands Government and the UNDP, it would be possible to kick-start activities to implement the NPoA.
A Principal State Attorney at the Attorney-General’s Department and a member of the DV Management Board, Mr Henry Tackie, who chaired the programme, pointed out to the board that they now had the burden of ensuring the protection of DV victims.
He called on members to study the NPoA in order to play their roles effectively and also reminded all members to ensure that their respective ministries played their roles as specified in the NPoA in the ministries’ 2009 budget estimates.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Female MPs outline their vision
Daily Graphic, Pg. 17, Jan 13/09
Story: Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
FIVE of the newly elected female Members of Parliament (MP) have resolved to collaborate with human rights organisations and public-spirited individuals to improve the status of people in their constituencies.
They said they would address the education and health needs of the people, especially women and children, and also provide skills training for women and the youth.
Speaking to them at the Parliament House where 228 Members of Parliament (MPs) including 20 women, were sworn in by the Speaker, Mrs Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, to commence the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic in Accra on January 7, 2009, they said they would also add their voice to debates to championing the course of women and children.
They are Madam Dubie Alhassan Halutie (NDC, Sissala), Ms Grace Addo (NPP, Amasie West), Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku (NPP, MP Evalue Gwira), Ms Samia Yaba Catherine Nkrumah (CPP, Jomoro) and Mrs Bernice Beatrice Boateng (NPP, New Juaben South).
Madam Halutie, who defeated the incumbent People’s National Convention (PNC) MP, Mr Moses Dani Baah, to become the first female MP for the constituency, expressed her profound gratitude to the people for the confidence reposed in her.
She said she was determined to use her position to better the lot of women who suffered various forms of abuse and neglect.
The MP, who is a retired Deputy Chief Medical Assistant, observed that most of the youth in the constituency dropped out of school at early stages to take up menial jobs such as head portage in the big cities and stated that she would enlighten parents on the need to give the education of their children a priority.
She said one of her priorities was to identify such young girls and encourage them to learn a trade so that they could go back to their various communities as responsible people.
The MP also said since farming was a major economic activity of the people in the area, she would lobby for financial assistance and other farming inputs to enable farmers to improve production.
The MP for Amansie West, Ms Grace Addo, said she would take special interest in promoting quality health care in the area and also tackle the issue of early marriages, which is a problem confronting young girls in her constituency.
According to her, access to health care was a major problem in the area due to inadequate health facilities, adding that apart from the St Martin’s Catholic Hospital, the few facilities available were not well resourced.
According to her, most of the challenges confronting people in the constituency were related to poverty and she was optimistic that with the right investments in skills training and the creation of employment avenues for the youth, the issue would be resolved.
Mrs Afeku, a former Government Spokesperson on Infrastructure, also thanked her constituents for giving her the mandate to represent them in parliament.
She said her vision apart from serving the people in the constituency was to help improve the lot of the girl-child in the area, as well as improve on their educational standards.
She said since most young girls in the area did not perform well in school, she would work to boost the rate of enrolment of the girl-child in her constituency through the setting up of educational foundations and scholarship schemes.
She said she would involve the youth in most of her activities saying that she would incorporate them in decision-making to boost their confidence levels.
On her part, Ms Nkrumah said her focus would be on education and water and sanitation.
She said she would be committed to improve on the educational needs of her people especially the education of the girl child, as well as provide vocational and skills training for the youth.
She said she would also create a business centre to offer small loan services to women so that they could expand their businesses and improve on their income.
According to her, when women had access to credit facilities they would be able to improve on their economic well-being and empower themselves to support the upkeep of the home.
Ms Nkrumah also mentioned that most of the diseases that were confronting the constituency were water-borne, saying that she had begun a water project to ensure potable water to the people.
She said she would work closely with the people, especially women and the youth in her community, so as to identify their needs and work towards them.
For her part, Madam Boateng said she would establish small-scale businesses to support women and also encourage the youth to take their education seriously.
She advised women in her constituency to give her the maximum co-operation to enable her to function effectively as a leader, facilitator and convenor and mobilise available human and material resources to develop the area, especially in the areas of education, health, water and sanitation and skills training for the youth.
Story: Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
FIVE of the newly elected female Members of Parliament (MP) have resolved to collaborate with human rights organisations and public-spirited individuals to improve the status of people in their constituencies.
They said they would address the education and health needs of the people, especially women and children, and also provide skills training for women and the youth.
Speaking to them at the Parliament House where 228 Members of Parliament (MPs) including 20 women, were sworn in by the Speaker, Mrs Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, to commence the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic in Accra on January 7, 2009, they said they would also add their voice to debates to championing the course of women and children.
They are Madam Dubie Alhassan Halutie (NDC, Sissala), Ms Grace Addo (NPP, Amasie West), Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku (NPP, MP Evalue Gwira), Ms Samia Yaba Catherine Nkrumah (CPP, Jomoro) and Mrs Bernice Beatrice Boateng (NPP, New Juaben South).
Madam Halutie, who defeated the incumbent People’s National Convention (PNC) MP, Mr Moses Dani Baah, to become the first female MP for the constituency, expressed her profound gratitude to the people for the confidence reposed in her.
She said she was determined to use her position to better the lot of women who suffered various forms of abuse and neglect.
The MP, who is a retired Deputy Chief Medical Assistant, observed that most of the youth in the constituency dropped out of school at early stages to take up menial jobs such as head portage in the big cities and stated that she would enlighten parents on the need to give the education of their children a priority.
She said one of her priorities was to identify such young girls and encourage them to learn a trade so that they could go back to their various communities as responsible people.
The MP also said since farming was a major economic activity of the people in the area, she would lobby for financial assistance and other farming inputs to enable farmers to improve production.
The MP for Amansie West, Ms Grace Addo, said she would take special interest in promoting quality health care in the area and also tackle the issue of early marriages, which is a problem confronting young girls in her constituency.
According to her, access to health care was a major problem in the area due to inadequate health facilities, adding that apart from the St Martin’s Catholic Hospital, the few facilities available were not well resourced.
According to her, most of the challenges confronting people in the constituency were related to poverty and she was optimistic that with the right investments in skills training and the creation of employment avenues for the youth, the issue would be resolved.
Mrs Afeku, a former Government Spokesperson on Infrastructure, also thanked her constituents for giving her the mandate to represent them in parliament.
She said her vision apart from serving the people in the constituency was to help improve the lot of the girl-child in the area, as well as improve on their educational standards.
She said since most young girls in the area did not perform well in school, she would work to boost the rate of enrolment of the girl-child in her constituency through the setting up of educational foundations and scholarship schemes.
She said she would involve the youth in most of her activities saying that she would incorporate them in decision-making to boost their confidence levels.
On her part, Ms Nkrumah said her focus would be on education and water and sanitation.
She said she would be committed to improve on the educational needs of her people especially the education of the girl child, as well as provide vocational and skills training for the youth.
She said she would also create a business centre to offer small loan services to women so that they could expand their businesses and improve on their income.
According to her, when women had access to credit facilities they would be able to improve on their economic well-being and empower themselves to support the upkeep of the home.
Ms Nkrumah also mentioned that most of the diseases that were confronting the constituency were water-borne, saying that she had begun a water project to ensure potable water to the people.
She said she would work closely with the people, especially women and the youth in her community, so as to identify their needs and work towards them.
For her part, Madam Boateng said she would establish small-scale businesses to support women and also encourage the youth to take their education seriously.
She advised women in her constituency to give her the maximum co-operation to enable her to function effectively as a leader, facilitator and convenor and mobilise available human and material resources to develop the area, especially in the areas of education, health, water and sanitation and skills training for the youth.
Friday, January 9, 2009
MTTU pledges to go into action to enforce laws
Daily Graphic, Pg 23, Thurs. Jan/09/09
Story Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
THE Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) has begun enforcing the laws on the wearing of seat belts, wrong parking and picking of passengers and cars with tinted films on their glasses.
According to the Commander of the MTTU, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Daniel Avorga, drivers who flouted any of the three regulations would be prosecuted according to the law, adding that the unit “will close its ears to any pleas” and would not entertain any apologies on behalf of offenders by any relative or official.
He said this after the unit had given warning letters to and released 18 drivers who committed various traffic offences for which they were detained for 36 hours.
According to ACP Avorga, the general public had misunderstood the actions of the unit during the December elections when it granted pardon to some traffic offenders to mean that the unit had stopped prosecuting drivers in court.
He explained that “during the December 7 and 28, 2008 elections, we did not stop prosecuting drivers but we just did not want to be caught in the political heat”.
He, therefore, appealed to drivers to comport themselves in order not to fall foul of the law, adding that most offenders were drivers who did not operate from any station and, therefore, were not bound by any union regulations.
He said since December 2008 till date the unit had pardoned 38 drivers who committed various offences and gave the assurance that that was the last instance of magnanimity by the unit as any driver caught after that would be sent to court where he would be made to pay at least 10 penalty units, which was GH¢120.
ACP Avorga said each of the offending drivers had been given a warning letter and his particulars stored for future reference, adding that “this act of goodwill is the last of its kind to be extended to any driver”.
He said many of the drivers “do not know the rules and regulations that inform traffic regulations”.
On the issue of drivers not wearing seat belts, ACP Avorga said Act 683, Section 13 of the Road Traffic Regulations enjoined people in vehicles to wear seat belts, whether they were seated in the front or at the back, if the belts were provided.
Offenders, he said, would be taken to court, saying that the unit had decided to strictly enforce that law because of the benefits of seat belts in reducing fatalities in case of a crash.
He also called on motorbike riders and their passengers to wear crash helmets and further warned that motor riders who crossed red lights or used their bikes to intimidate people would be prosecuted.
On wrong parking and picking of passengers at unauthorised points, ACP Avorga said the unit would prosecute offending drivers and made specific references to drivers who parked to load in front of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) branch at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the 37 Military Hospital and along the Independence Avenue.
According to him, that would help to ease traffic on most of the major roads to help in the free flow of traffic.
On the use of tinted films on the glasses of cars, ACP Avorga said it was an offence and called on all those who had flouted it to ensure that they complied with the required rules now.
Story Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
THE Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) has begun enforcing the laws on the wearing of seat belts, wrong parking and picking of passengers and cars with tinted films on their glasses.
According to the Commander of the MTTU, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Daniel Avorga, drivers who flouted any of the three regulations would be prosecuted according to the law, adding that the unit “will close its ears to any pleas” and would not entertain any apologies on behalf of offenders by any relative or official.
He said this after the unit had given warning letters to and released 18 drivers who committed various traffic offences for which they were detained for 36 hours.
According to ACP Avorga, the general public had misunderstood the actions of the unit during the December elections when it granted pardon to some traffic offenders to mean that the unit had stopped prosecuting drivers in court.
He explained that “during the December 7 and 28, 2008 elections, we did not stop prosecuting drivers but we just did not want to be caught in the political heat”.
He, therefore, appealed to drivers to comport themselves in order not to fall foul of the law, adding that most offenders were drivers who did not operate from any station and, therefore, were not bound by any union regulations.
He said since December 2008 till date the unit had pardoned 38 drivers who committed various offences and gave the assurance that that was the last instance of magnanimity by the unit as any driver caught after that would be sent to court where he would be made to pay at least 10 penalty units, which was GH¢120.
ACP Avorga said each of the offending drivers had been given a warning letter and his particulars stored for future reference, adding that “this act of goodwill is the last of its kind to be extended to any driver”.
He said many of the drivers “do not know the rules and regulations that inform traffic regulations”.
On the issue of drivers not wearing seat belts, ACP Avorga said Act 683, Section 13 of the Road Traffic Regulations enjoined people in vehicles to wear seat belts, whether they were seated in the front or at the back, if the belts were provided.
Offenders, he said, would be taken to court, saying that the unit had decided to strictly enforce that law because of the benefits of seat belts in reducing fatalities in case of a crash.
He also called on motorbike riders and their passengers to wear crash helmets and further warned that motor riders who crossed red lights or used their bikes to intimidate people would be prosecuted.
On wrong parking and picking of passengers at unauthorised points, ACP Avorga said the unit would prosecute offending drivers and made specific references to drivers who parked to load in front of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) branch at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the 37 Military Hospital and along the Independence Avenue.
According to him, that would help to ease traffic on most of the major roads to help in the free flow of traffic.
On the use of tinted films on the glasses of cars, ACP Avorga said it was an offence and called on all those who had flouted it to ensure that they complied with the required rules now.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Address comcerns of traders- Market women tell next government
Daily Graphic, Pg 17, Tues. Jan. 06/09
Story: Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
SOME petty traders and shop owners in Accra Central Business District (CBD) and parts of the metropolis have stressed the need for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to implement policies and programmes that will help boost their businesses and income.
According to them, they expect that the NDC government will check the influx of sub-standard goods such as dresses and fabrics, as well as consumable such as drinks and biscuits, to help promote made-in-Ghana goods.
They commended the Kufour administration for ensuring peace in the country during its tenure of office and pointed out that, that enabled them to undertake their trading activities with confidence.
Most of the traders who expressed their expectation of the next government in an interview with the Daily Graphic, urged the NDC government to continue with “the good works of the outgoing government”.
They mentioned that although policies such as National Health Insurance Scheme, free maternal care for pregnant women and capitation grant for schools by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government were laudable, their incomes were not enough for them to make ends meet in order to improve on their standard of living.
A shop owner, Ama Saidu, who operates a mothercare shop in the CBD, called on the government to take steps to reduce the importation of mothercare products to protect local industries and enable producers of local goods to compete favourably with foreigners.
According to her people prefer to buy imported goods, some of which are cheaper than those produced locally, saying that such a situation normally leaves them with no other option than to mix their products with sub-standard ones so as to make up for their loses.
Ama, who blamed the high cost of goods and services on the change in currency, called on the new government to ensure that prices were stabilised.
Auntie Yaa, a tomato seller at the CMB, expressed the hope that the new government would put in place small loan schemes to make credit facilities available.
She said she expected the government to give out flexible loans that would help traders to expand their activities.
She called for a peaceful environment, saying that it was only when there was peace that they could also excel in their business.
Auntie Yaa called on the government to maintain the NHIS and improve on it so that it would benefit everyone in the country.
Another tomato trader at CMB, Madam Victoria Ntiamoah, said she would wish that at least the government made a minimum of GH¢500 available to all traders who needed loans to expand their businesses.
According to her, when the government gives out small loans traders end up using them to settle their old debts and therefore if they are given more they will be able to settle their debts and also have some to trade with.
She urged the new government to deliver on the promises such as free education for both the first and second-cycle schools, since that made them vote massively for the NDC.
Hagar, a trader in ladies blouses at the CBD, urged the new government to continue with the works of the NPP government, stressing that “it is only when there is continuity that we can also work in peace”.
She said she was always ready to work to earn a living but all that she needed was a peaceful atmosphere to go about her work.
Regina Abeka, a roasted plantain seller, on her part said the government should provide more work avenues for young people to rid the streets of hawkers and street vendors who needed to go to school to develop their future.
Story: Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
SOME petty traders and shop owners in Accra Central Business District (CBD) and parts of the metropolis have stressed the need for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to implement policies and programmes that will help boost their businesses and income.
According to them, they expect that the NDC government will check the influx of sub-standard goods such as dresses and fabrics, as well as consumable such as drinks and biscuits, to help promote made-in-Ghana goods.
They commended the Kufour administration for ensuring peace in the country during its tenure of office and pointed out that, that enabled them to undertake their trading activities with confidence.
Most of the traders who expressed their expectation of the next government in an interview with the Daily Graphic, urged the NDC government to continue with “the good works of the outgoing government”.
They mentioned that although policies such as National Health Insurance Scheme, free maternal care for pregnant women and capitation grant for schools by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government were laudable, their incomes were not enough for them to make ends meet in order to improve on their standard of living.
A shop owner, Ama Saidu, who operates a mothercare shop in the CBD, called on the government to take steps to reduce the importation of mothercare products to protect local industries and enable producers of local goods to compete favourably with foreigners.
According to her people prefer to buy imported goods, some of which are cheaper than those produced locally, saying that such a situation normally leaves them with no other option than to mix their products with sub-standard ones so as to make up for their loses.
Ama, who blamed the high cost of goods and services on the change in currency, called on the new government to ensure that prices were stabilised.
Auntie Yaa, a tomato seller at the CMB, expressed the hope that the new government would put in place small loan schemes to make credit facilities available.
She said she expected the government to give out flexible loans that would help traders to expand their activities.
She called for a peaceful environment, saying that it was only when there was peace that they could also excel in their business.
Auntie Yaa called on the government to maintain the NHIS and improve on it so that it would benefit everyone in the country.
Another tomato trader at CMB, Madam Victoria Ntiamoah, said she would wish that at least the government made a minimum of GH¢500 available to all traders who needed loans to expand their businesses.
According to her, when the government gives out small loans traders end up using them to settle their old debts and therefore if they are given more they will be able to settle their debts and also have some to trade with.
She urged the new government to deliver on the promises such as free education for both the first and second-cycle schools, since that made them vote massively for the NDC.
Hagar, a trader in ladies blouses at the CBD, urged the new government to continue with the works of the NPP government, stressing that “it is only when there is continuity that we can also work in peace”.
She said she was always ready to work to earn a living but all that she needed was a peaceful atmosphere to go about her work.
Regina Abeka, a roasted plantain seller, on her part said the government should provide more work avenues for young people to rid the streets of hawkers and street vendors who needed to go to school to develop their future.
Monday, January 5, 2009
WiLDAF urges political leaders to help defuse tension
Daily Graphic, Pg.19, Jan. 03/09
Story Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
THE Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) organisation says the tension that has engulfed the country does not augur well for the country’s development and called on political leaders in the country to help diffuse it by putting Ghana first in all that they do.
The organisation also called on the First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor and the wives of all leaders of political parties who campaigned for their husbands earlier in the year to join the call for peace to prevail.
They also appealed to all women to talk to “our fathers, grandfathers, husbands, brothers, nephews and sons that they should not get involved in acts that will cause violence”.
The Chairperson of WiLDAF, Dr Cherub Antwi-Nsiah, made the call at a press conference in Accra.
The press conference was aimed at expressing women’s concerns over the political tension in the country.
According to Dr Antwi-Nsiah, women and their children usually bore the brunt of civil strife when they erupted and therefore said that there was the need for the two contending parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to let peace prevail in the country.
“Collectively, events of the run-off lead women to conclude that the NDC and NPP are undertaking actions that are likely to lead this country into chaos. The two political parties, their supporters and sympathisers have not and are not listening to the cry of the majority of the people of Ghana for peace,” they said.
“Tensions around the elections the last week are preventing women from carrying out their normal economic and social activities. The loss of revenue around the Christmas and New Year period, particularly in the wake of economic problems of last year that resulted from escalating prices of crude oil, should matter to all Ghanaians,” Dr Antwi-Nsiah said.
She added that there was the need for the present tension to be diffused and therefore recommended among others that the NPP should desist from following through with the writ for injunction so that there could be a smooth transition to the next government.
“The Electoral Commission should declare the results on time so that women and children will be free from unnecessary fear characterising the elections,” it also recommended.
They appealed to the two political parties involved in the election to accept the results in good faith.
They said “events in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, DR Congo and Northern Uganda, which plunged these countries into mayhem, are still fresh on our minds”.
“We are witnesses to sisters from neighbouring countries who lived as victims of conflict and as refugees and their experiences should serve as lessons to Ghanaian women,” they said.
Story Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
THE Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) organisation says the tension that has engulfed the country does not augur well for the country’s development and called on political leaders in the country to help diffuse it by putting Ghana first in all that they do.
The organisation also called on the First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor and the wives of all leaders of political parties who campaigned for their husbands earlier in the year to join the call for peace to prevail.
They also appealed to all women to talk to “our fathers, grandfathers, husbands, brothers, nephews and sons that they should not get involved in acts that will cause violence”.
The Chairperson of WiLDAF, Dr Cherub Antwi-Nsiah, made the call at a press conference in Accra.
The press conference was aimed at expressing women’s concerns over the political tension in the country.
According to Dr Antwi-Nsiah, women and their children usually bore the brunt of civil strife when they erupted and therefore said that there was the need for the two contending parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to let peace prevail in the country.
“Collectively, events of the run-off lead women to conclude that the NDC and NPP are undertaking actions that are likely to lead this country into chaos. The two political parties, their supporters and sympathisers have not and are not listening to the cry of the majority of the people of Ghana for peace,” they said.
“Tensions around the elections the last week are preventing women from carrying out their normal economic and social activities. The loss of revenue around the Christmas and New Year period, particularly in the wake of economic problems of last year that resulted from escalating prices of crude oil, should matter to all Ghanaians,” Dr Antwi-Nsiah said.
She added that there was the need for the present tension to be diffused and therefore recommended among others that the NPP should desist from following through with the writ for injunction so that there could be a smooth transition to the next government.
“The Electoral Commission should declare the results on time so that women and children will be free from unnecessary fear characterising the elections,” it also recommended.
They appealed to the two political parties involved in the election to accept the results in good faith.
They said “events in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, DR Congo and Northern Uganda, which plunged these countries into mayhem, are still fresh on our minds”.
“We are witnesses to sisters from neighbouring countries who lived as victims of conflict and as refugees and their experiences should serve as lessons to Ghanaian women,” they said.
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