Cape Coast, Nov. 6, GNA – The circuit court in Cape Coast on Tuesday remanded into prison custody Esther Owusu, a 28-year-old trader, who allegedly hid wrappers of Indian hemp in food flask containing stew she was sending to her husband in jail.      The accused, who pleaded not guilty to possessing narcotic drugs, would be re-arraigned on Tuesday, November 13.      Mr. Ben Ansah Agyemfra, a State Attorney, told the court presided over by Mrs. Florence Kai Otu that Owusu lives at Anum Boso in the Eastern Region.       The prosecution told the court that on March 13 this year, at about 1130 hours, Owusu visited her husband, who was convicted 109 years for robbery, at the Ankaful Maximum Security Prisons.   Mr Agyemfra said officers at the Prisons conducted a search on the accused at the gate of the facility and found 111 wrappers of dried leaves and ten packets of tusker cigarettes hidden in a compartment of the food flask.      Mr. Agyemfra said when the accused was arrested and handed over to the Elmina Police she told the police that the flask containing stew was given to her by her husband’s friend in Accra to be given to him (husband).      He said the dried leaves, weighing 290.15grammes, which was sent to the Police Forensic laboratory was found to be cannabis.   GNA...

Yunyoo (N/R) Nov. 5, GNA - Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, Founding Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has commended delegates at the Yunyoo Constituency in the Northern Region, for peacefully electing a parliamentary candidate for the December 7 General election.   “I am happy that the Bimobas, Mamprusi and Konkomba delegates elected John Kweku Alhassan out of four aspirants in peace and unity.   Mr Naabu , who is also an opinion leader from the area, asked the three ethnic groups to continue to display unity of purpose to ensure that Mr Alhassan wrest the parliamentary seat from Mr Abdulai Bochel-Duut of the ruling National Democratic Congress.   He urged the people to vote for the NPP Flag bearer, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo to continue with the party’s development track record in the area.     GNA...

Ho, Nov. 6, GNA - Scores of young men and women Tuesday morning in Ho engaged in scrambles and scuffles over “T” shirts of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).       The youth as early as 0600 hours besieged the Campaign Office of the (NPP) in Ho making loud noises in anticipation of the arrival of Nana Addo.      While they waited impatiently, the youth, about 100 took over the Assemblies of God-Stadium Road and moved from one end of the Road to the other jostling Party officials for NPP souvenirs.      A man and a woman engaged in strong verbal exchanges as both failed in a struggle to secure a “T” shirt.      Few others expressed frustration in their inability to secure “T” shirts and other party paraphernalia.      Some who managed to get the souvenirs decorated their private and commercial vehicles and paraded the Ho Township all day.        The town came alive around 0800 hours as motor riders rode through the town announcing the arrival of Nana Akufo-Addo.   He is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli,  address a colloquium at Ho Polytechnic and move to Dzodze in the Ketu-North District to address a rally.   GNA...

Ho, Nov. 6, GNA- The Ho Polytechnic campus is said to be stirring with expectation on the eve of the visit of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).      He is scheduled to address a colloquium on Tuesday, on his agricultural policies if elected as president of Ghana in the December 7 elections.       Samuel Teye Akor, local Chapter Chairman of NPP Tertiary Education Students’ Confederacy (TESCON) told Ghana News Agency that NPP enthusiasts and others are itching to hear Nana speak about his flagship free Senior High School policy.      He said the atmosphere is that of intriguing expectation, as the polemics on the policy appeared skewing towards the views of the NPP.      Mr Akor said the Chapter is growing rapidly in numbers and its activities is establishing the NPP in the minds of people in the community.      Nana is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli, before addressing the colloquium and then move to Dzodze in the Ketu-North District to address a rally.   GNA...

Nkoranza (B/A), Nov. 6, GNA – Mr Kwame Owusu Sekyere, a retired educationist, has appealed to teachers not to allow politics to influence their work to protect the sanctity of education in the country.        He told teachers to rather develop a vision to improve on the standards of education which is the pivot for national development.        Mr Sekyere, a member of the Nkoranza South Municipal Education Oversight Committee, said this at a joint meeting of the Committee and Heads of Basic Schools in the Municipality at Nkoranza.        It was to discuss the non-payment of examinations fees by parents, a major challenge of the Nkoranza Municipal Education Directorate.        Mr Sekyere expressed concern about the attitude of parents with regard to their children’s education especially the provision of basic necessities to complement government’s efforts.        Madam Philippa Banson, Nkoranza South Municipal Director of Education, commended head teachers in the Municipality for their co-operation and urged them to continue to keep it up to improve the standard of education.        “Your efforts and co-operation resulted in the 88 per cent achievement in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which placed the Municipality first on the BECE league table for Junior High Schools in the Brong-Ahafo Region,” she said.       Mr Ebenezer Asare-Baah, Nkoranza South Municipal Secretary of GNAT, called on head teachers to involve School Management Committees (SMC) and Parent/Teacher Associations (PTA) in all school activities and curricular in order to win their support in running their schools.        Mr Akrapim Baffoe, Logistics Officer at the Municipal Education Directorate, said the government had allocated 2,000 school uniforms for distribution to pupils in basic schools.   GNA...

Dzodze (V/R), Nov. 5, GNA-Mr John Gatsi, a Lecturer at the School of Business of the University of Cape Coast has decried the steady decline in student performance in mathematics and science based subjects.      He said the trend must be reversed before it puts the nation’s industrial development agenda in jeopardy.      Mr Gatsi made the observation at Dzodze while addressing 200 Junior High School and Senior High School students, from the Ketu-North District, who were undertaken an appraisal examination in Integrated Science, Mathematics, English and Social Studies.         There was also a workshop for 80 science and mathematics teachers from the District   Mr Gatsi noted that out of the 1,345 presented by the District this year for the 2012 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) only 26.2 per cent obtained grades 1-5 in integrated science and 27.2 per cent in mathematics.        He said: “Only 21.3 per cent had grades 1-5 in ICT and 24.5 per cent in pre-technical, a reflection of the poor mathematics and the sciences in the District.”      Mr Gatsi said only the overall best student in the 2011 version of the appraisal examination scored 50 per cent in mathematics.       The appraisal examination, dubbed Annual Excellence Award Competition in Mathematics and Science Quiz, the third in a series, was under the aegis of John Gatsi Educational Foundation.       It was instituted by Mr Gatsi to generate a competitive learning culture among students to lift up their overall academic performance.       Best performing students are given book and cash prizes.      Mr Gatsi said the workshop was to address some challenges in respect of methodology and teaching to make students more committed to the learning of mathematics and the sciences.      Mr Gatsi said a total of 16 schools, in the rural areas of the district, scored 0 per cent in the 2012 BECE while only one public school was among the best performing schools that scored between 90 to 100 per cent.      He identified the provision of more kindergartens, school infrastructure and learning tools as critical in mitigating the abysmal performance and urged stakeholders to sit up.      Mrs Philomena Afeti, District Director of Education in a speech read for on her behalf said the “teaching of science and mathematics is skewed towards mere recital instead of practicals, making the (subject) unattractive “.      Mrs Afeti appealed to others to emulate the efforts of Mr Gatsi to forestall the decline.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 6, GNA -  The Centre for African Democratic Affairs (CADA) has asked political parties in the country to pay more attention to the issue of spoilt ballots in their interaction with the electorate as the December 7 general election approaches.   A release signed by Mr Frank Adarkwah Yiadom, Executive Director of CADA, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday noted that  although it was good to mobilise as many supporters as possible, it was even more prudent for parties to ensure that their votes were not wasted.   “It is ironical to note that political parties spend a lot of time, energies and financial resources canvassing for votes but do little to effectively educate their members and supporters to ensure that their votes are secured and not rejected.”    The release indicated that to win elections every vote was critically important, given that a 50 per cent plus one vote was the minimum number required to win presidential elections in Ghana.   It said during the first round of presidential elections in 2008, a total of 205,438 votes out of 8,671,272 ballots cast were rejected, an indication that 2.4 per cent of total votes cast were rejected.   “This high number of rejected ballots is unacceptable and every effort must be made to intensify voter education so that precious votes are not wasted because voters are unable to make their intentions clearly known”, it added.   The release stated CADA’s conviction that the presidential race could be settled in the first round if minimal rejected ballots were recorded in the forthcoming election and therefore save the nation from any unnecessary political tensions, time and additional resources.   The number of first time voters may be higher in 2012 than had been recorded in previous years,  the release pointed out, and said those new comers who had never voted in any national election would undoubtedly require effective voter education.   It cited the Electoral Commission and the National Commission for Civic Education as national institutions funded through the consolidated fund, calling for efficient collaboration between the two institutions to improve voter education in the country.   “Other Civil Society Organisations and organized groups are equally encouraged to support this noble activity of voter education in Ghana,” it urged.   CADA further urged religious groups to devote some time during their worship sessions to educate their congregation on the electoral process, and to seek assistance from professional bodies and individuals to sensitise their members on the electoral process.   GNA...

Kumasi, Nov. 5, GNA – Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has appealed to politicians to put the nation ahead of individual ambition and convenience as they struggle for power.   “It must not be lost on anyone that politics is all about the development of the people and for that matter it should advance social harmony, peace and unity,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu said.   He made the appeal when he welcomed Mrs Lordina Mahama, the First Lady to the Manhyia Palace on Monday.   Mrs Mahama was on a day’s campaign tour of Kumasi to canvass for votes for the ruling National Democratic Congress .   The Asantehene advised political parties and their supporters to do away with hate speech and intolerance.   He said they should not do anything to stoke tension and uneasiness in the country.   He said as a nation, people should focus on what would unite and draw them closer to each other.   Ghana is admired globally for its democracy credentials hence the need to maintain the status quo, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said.   Mrs Mahama vowed to vigorously campaign for peaceful elections.   GNA...

Mpitimpi (ER), Nov.  6, GNA - The Ghana COCOBOD has supplied 20 million hybrid cocoa seedlings free of charge to cocoa farmers throughout the country, this year.   Mr Francis Antwi Adjei, Eastern Regional Manager of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) Control Unit (CU), who disclosed this,  said 3.6 of the seedlings were distributed to farmers in the Eastern Region whose cocoa farms had been infected by the disease, and those whose farms were more than 30 years, for re-planting.       He was addressing a cocoa extension public/private partnership rally, sponsored by the World Cocoa Foundation/Cocoa Livelihood Project (WCF/CLP) in partnership with the CSSVD-CU, at Mpitimpi in the Nkawkaw District on Tuesday.      The rally aimed to educate farmers on the devastating nature of the disease and also to deepen their knowledge in best farming practices to maximize production.      Mr Adjei noted that the disease, which was first detected by a farmer at Nankese in the Suhum Municipality, like the HIVand  AIDS has no known cure.       “The only cure for the disease is to cut down the affected trees to prevent it from spreading to other cocoa trees”, he said.      Mr Adjei cautioned the farmers that if they prevent the cutting down of their infected cocoa trees, the virus would keep on spreading until all cocoa trees on the farms die after five years.      He said after the diseased trees had been destroyed, the affected farmers would be compensated and supplied with hybrid cocoa seedlings free of charge for re-planting, which would start bearing fruits within two to three years.   Mr Adjei said the Government through the COCOBOD would supply free fertilizers to farmers.      He also advised farmers whose cocoa farms were 30 years and more to allow their cocoa trees to be cut down and replant hybrid seedlings.      Mr Adjei said cocoa farmers would be given timber trees including Emire to plant on their farms alongside cocoa, and added that it was aimed at reforestation and putting more money into the pockets of farmers.       Ms Melody Attah, Regional Extension Officer, advised cocoa farmers to consider cocoa farming as serious business.       She asked cocoa farmers to form groups and to solicit knowledge on modern farming practices from extension officers to maximize output. Ms Attah advised cocoa farmers to avoid engaging their children of school going age on cocoa farms at the expense of their education.      She reminded cocoa farmer that buyers of the produce on the world market would blacklist Ghana if they detect that children below 18 years were being engaged on worst forms of labour on cocoa farms.       Ms Attah noted that children who were engaged to carry heavy load suffered stunted growth.   GNA...

Nyinahin (Ash), Nov.  5, GNA – Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima-Mponua, says he is upbeat about retaining the seat for his party.       He predicted that the party would win about 85 per cent of the popular votes on December 7.        Addressing supporters of the NPP at Salema, a suburb of Nyinahin, he urged them to remain vigilant to prevent electoral fraud.        They should also avoid complacency and step up their house-to-house campaign to get the people to go out in their numbers to vote on polls day.            Mr Asiamah said Ghanaians need to vote for change to bring integrity, competence and efficiency into the governance of the nation.            Mr Akwasi Afriyie Dante, former MP for the area, asked the party supporters to unite to bring the NPP back to power.            They should also work hard and make the necessary sacrifices to make victory for NPP possible.            Mr Charles Yeboah, former District Chief Executive for Atwima-Nwabiagya, asked supporters of the political parties to be more responsible in the conduct of their electioneering.            GNA...

Koforidua, Nov. 06, GNA - Mr Victor Smith, the Eastern Regional Minister, said on Tuesday that religion has a herculean role to play in ensuring that Ghana remains peaceful, before, during and after the December polls by preaching peace and tolerance to their congregation.    “You have to advise your congregation especially, the youth, not to allow themselves to be enticed with money or vain promises to engage in violent acts that can plunge the country into chaos,” he said.    Mr Smith was addressing the opening ceremony of the Catholic Bishops Conference Annual Plenary in Koforidua on Tuesday.    The week-long conference is under the theme “The Church: Family of God in Ghana at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace”.    He said they owe it a duty to be courageous and bold enough to bring to order any politician who in his quest for power uses violent and intemperate language.    “Whether the person is from government or opposition, it is your responsibility to have the moral courage to condemn irresponsible behaviours and attitudes,” he said.    Mr Smith said as the election draws closer, it might be helpful to recollect how close Ghana came to disaster during and after the 2008 polls and the need to maintain peace at all times.     He said there was no doubt that the battle would be fiercely fought, but that should not bring any social disorder in any part of the country.    “This is because in the case of violence, it will not discriminate between the rich or poor or a member of Political Party A or B”.   Mr Smith appealed to all Ghanaians to respect the people put in place to govern “us for God appoints leaders in society to ensure peace and security”.    He said some politicians had taken elections as life or death issues and were approaching them with the same mindset by preparing to sacrifice the peace of society to achieve their selfish agenda.    Mr Smith therefore urged the law enforcement agencies to stand up against all forms of manipulations by politicians in government and in opposition.   He appealed to the police to exhibit professionalism in the performance of their duties in order to win the confidence of the people.    Daasebre Professor Oti Boateng, Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, appealed to Ghanaians to be united as the December polls approach.    He said whatever the case, there would be losers and advised those who would be defeated in the upcoming polls to accept defeat in good faith.     Most Reverend Leon B. Kalenga, Apostolic Nuncio in Ghana, in a speech read on his behalf, advised Christians not to relent in their efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in society.    He said Christians should be ambassadors of peace at all times adding “it is our duty to promote and maintain peace”.    Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, President of Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, said there was the need for social justice in Ghana where the rich get richer at the expense of the poor.   GNA...

Sunyani, Nov. 5, GNA – Mr Samuel Boadu, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday said the Sunyani Municipality recorded the lowest turnout at the two centres opened for the pilot Biometric Exercise.      He said publicity on the exercise went on well but it was negligence on the part of the electorate that contributed to the low turnout.      In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Mr Boadu said Sunyani Municipality and Tain District were selected for the exercise.      The two-day exercise which covered the 10 regions was from Saturday, November 3 to Sunday, November 4.          In the Sunyani Municipality, Methodist Primary School Centre at Abesim recorded 87 voter turnout of the total 865 voters registered representing 10 per cent whilst the Bakers Co-operative Office at the Victoria Park recorded 23 voter turnout of the 433 voters registered, representing five per cent.      At the Roman Catholic Church Centre at Nsawka w in the Tain District, 134 voter turnout was recorded out of the 589 registered voters representing 23 per cent, while the Town Council Centre also at Nsawkaw recorded 205 voter turnout of the 768 registered voters representing 27 per cent.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 6, GNA – Referee Mary Adama, has rendered an unqualified apology to the Referees Appointment Committee (RAC) and Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) for her behavior during the recent fitness test at the El Wak Stadium.   In a letter of apology to the two bodies and retired referees; L.O Laryea, Alex Kotey and Joseph Wellington, copied to the GNA Sports, Adama said, “the verbal altercations that came from me were as a result of perceived injustice being meted out to me and which I felt could bring my refereeing career to an abrupt end.   She added that “those utterances and behaviour are very much regretted and i therefore apologise to you for bringing your hard-won reputation into disrepute.   Adama was recently heard on some radio stations accusing L. O Laryea, Chairman of RAG, Wellington and Quartey of demanding sex from female referees before granting them FIFA badges.   She also invoked curses on the three retired match officials for being unfair to her.   GNA...

Tamale, Nov. 5, GNA - Girls must be encouraged to develop interest in and participate in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Madam Seidu Barikisu, Member of the Female ICT Teachers Association has said.      She has suggested that more places be given to girls in terms of admission into ICT field of study at schools.      Madam Barikisu said this during the inauguration of an ICT Club for the students of the Tamale Girls Senior High School (SHS) in Tamale.      The inauguration of the ICT Club was spearheaded by Savana Signatures, an ICT focused development non-governmental organisation.      The club is to stimulate the interest of the students in ICT learning and application to improve the number of females participating in ICT, which has become the source f opportunities.      Madam Barikisu argued that women are the bedrock of the society, adding that they would be in a better position to impart the ICT knowledge onto their children.          She said ICT could enhance girls' chances of acquiring jobs as well as exploring other vital opportunities.      Mr John Stephen Agbenyo, Director of Savana Signatures told the students to make good use of the opportunities offered by the club.      Mr Prosper Napare, Staff Secretary of Tamale Girls SHS said the club is important as it would help expose students to the world of technology to explore new opportunities.   It is estimated that about two million Ghanaians have access to ICT.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 6, GNA -  Local language broadcasters in Ghana were on Tuesday urged to assume a leadership role in educating voters to make informed decisions in this year’s elections.   “Broadcasters in the local language stations have the capacity of overcoming the barriers imposed by illiteracy and cost on newspapers, the internet and English language broadcasters,” National Media Commission (NMC) document obtained by the Ghana News Agency stated.      The document stated that local broadcasters should design political programmes that would help the electorates to understand political parties and their candidates as well as their respective policies.   “This would enable the electorate to understand the voting processes and why their choice matters to the political efficacy of Ghana’s democracy”, the NMC guidelines on broadcasting stated.   On culture and decorum, the NMC appealed to local language broadcasters to avoid the use of expressions or insinuations that have the potential to incite hatred on the basis of political, religious, ethnic and chieftaincy differences.   The document cautioned local language broadcasters to make conscious efforts to refrain from expressing their personal political views in their quest to educate voters.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 5, GNA – The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), is expected to appear before the National Labour Commission (NLC) on Wednesday November 7, in respect of a petition against the Association’s industrial action.   This follows a fresh subpoena which was served CLOGSAG on Monday, November 5 in respect of the petition by the Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC) against the Association’s nationwide strike.   Mrs Charlotte Hanson, Public Affairs Officer of NLC who made this known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday in an interview in Accra said “it is believed CLOGSAG did not get the notice of the subpoena that was served them on Friday, November 2 on time”.   The NLC on Friday issued a Writ of Subpoena Adueces Tecum order 38 rule 10 (1) to CLOGSAG to appear before the Commission on Monday.   A copy of the Subpoena obtained by the GNA in Accra on Friday stated that: “You are commended to attend a hearing at the NLC, Ridge on Monday 5, November at 1100 a.m. fixed for the hearing of the petition.   The subpoena which was signed by Mr Edward Briku-Boadu NLC Executive Secretary and copied to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning added: “Notice of which is hereby given you and from day to day there after as may be needed until the end of the hearing”.   CLOGSAG declared an indefinite industrial action last Wednesday, October 31 to pressure government to pay premium to its members, saying: “The strike…is in response to failure on the part of government and the FWSC to address outstanding issues with regard to the payment of premium.”   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - UT Life Insurance has donated seven “White Boards,” valued at Ghc1, 750.00 to the Tesano Cluster of Schools in Accra.   Mr. Evans Yaw Duku, Head of Retail Business of UT Life Insurance explained that the donation was just a token of many more support from UT Life Insurance Company towards education and most especially the Tesano Cluster of Schools.   Presenting the boards, Mr Duku noted that the company considers such gestures as part of the company’s commitment to education, “we donated furniture and other logistics to some schools at Aburi.   “Our core business as a Life Insurance Company thrives on minimizing risk on the society”.   Mr Duku said the company was committed to supporting education as part their corporate Social responsibility.   He said even though the proposal on the white boards project from Wisewater Foundation was out of their budget, the company was touched by its content “the plight of Teachers to harmful effect of the chalk dust.”   Mr. Emmanuel Amarquaye, Executive Chairman Wisewater Foundation, said the foundation seeks to raise sponsorship for 300 white boards at the cost Ghc75, 000.00 in one year.   “I am pleased to announce that with the donation from UT Life, we now have 230 boards,” he said.   Mr Amarquaye said the foundation was lobbying other corporate bodies and businesses organizations operating in the country to support in equipping the less privileged public schools.   GNA...

Tamale, Nov. 5, GNA – Accountants and financial officers of some decentralised organisations were on Monday sensitised on the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).   GIFMIS is a new system financial system aimed at facing out the old means of financial transactions in the public sector.   The financial management system for subverted government institutions was introduced in March, with the objective to produce an entity-wide state of the art budget and financial system of record.   It is being implemented using the Oracle E-Business Suite Financial software to implement public sector budgeting, general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable and cash management that intends to reform and improve fiscal discipline and macro-economic stability.   Mr Daniel Quayson, of the Northern Regional Controller and Accountant General’s Department told the participants of the three-day workshop in Tamale that GIFMIS has been identified as the best means of financial internal control and urged all state institutions to adapt the innovation.   He said the new system uses ICT and electronic knowledge in managing electronic business process that cover activities of requesting, purchasing, receiving, paying and accounting for goods and services.   Mr Michael Abah, of GIFMIS Secretariat said the intention of GIFMIS is “to improve the effectiveness of service delivery and the allocation of scarce resources using the new tools, processes and best practices”.   He said GIFMIS accounts for expenditures and revenues of the Consolidated Fund, the Contingency Fund and other public funds as determined by law under Section 175 of the Constitution and enhance and re-enforce the internal control systems in public financial management to facilitate accountability.   Mr Abah said the system could ensure complete and timely exchange of data and information among the Ministries Departments and Agencies as well as the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies and central government to produce complete, timely and accurate  reports  adding that “it provides documentation of business processes, workflow and approval levels to ensure consistent and timely compliance across”.   Alhaji Alhassan Issahaku, Regional Coordinating Director urged the implementers to commit themselves to the new tool and endeavour to share the knowledge gain with their colleagues to enhance efficiency.   GNA...

Koforidua, Nov. 06, GNA  - The Controller and Accountant General’s Department has introduced a new system of record keeping of state budgeting and financial management to meet all budget and financial accounting and reporting.     The new system known as Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) would enable Ministries, Departments and Agencies to carry out the process of requesting, purchasing, receiving, paying and accounting for goods and services electronically.     Addressing participants at a training workshop to introduce accountants of government agencies and departments from the Eastern Region to the new system in Koforidua on Monday, Daniel Amin Sahnoon, a facilitator, said the GIFMIS uses a latest version of the oracle E-Business Suite software and rallies on improve organization and business processes.     He said the scope of the new system includes seven oracles E-Business suites modules namely General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Account Receivable, Cash Management, Budgeting, Fixed Assets and Human Resource Management.   Mr Sahnoon said the full implementation of the GIFMIS would serve as the single source system for official budget creation and management, cash and treasury management, financial control, accounting and reporting for the country as a whole.     He said over the past couple of years, a number of electronic financial management tools had been introduced in many nations across the world.     Mr Sahnoon said in Ghana as part of the ongoing public financial management reforms, the system had been introduced.     He said the beneficiary institutions under the first phase were the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing, Ministry of Interior, and Controller and Accountant General Department.     Mr Sahnoon said the benefits of such a system were enormous, as it would increase financial and procurement visibility, efficiency, cost saving and control in the institutions.     He urged the participants to take the training serious to be able to use the system effectively.   GNA...

Kasoa (C/R), Nov. 5, GNA - Mr Andrews Donkor, Senya East General Secretary of National Democratic Congress (NDC), has appealed to party faithful in the area to retain Dr Nuhu Adams, incumbent NDC Member of Parliament in the December 2012 general election.   He said Dr Adams had played instrumental role during his four year tenure, leading to the elevation of Kasoa into a municipal status.   Addressing a gathering of supporters of the party at Asempa Down, a suburb of the constituency, he said the elevation of the town was in line with the MPs personal efforts aimed at accelerating development.   Mr Donkor said if the people renew the mandate of Dr Adams, he would continue his good works at ensuring improvement in the road network and water supply.   He asked NDC supporters to embark on house to house campaign to educate supporters about the policies of the ahead of the December 7 elections.   Dr Adams pledged to implement more development projects if he is given a second term in office.   GNA...