FOLAN PETITIONS CPP®
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

FRIENDS OF Ladi Nylander (FOLAN), a youth grouping of the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) has taken issue with what it sees as negative campaigning by some executives of the party against the national chairman.
The group registered their displeasure about the situation with a march to the CPP headquarters amidst songs and the hoisting of placards to present a petition advocating a second term for Ladi Nylander.
According to the group, unconstructive campaigning with harsh words targeted at the chairman was disturbing the party’s progress.
“We find it difficult to understand why some party members do not see eye to eye with the chairman looking at the pragmatic steps the chairman is taking to push the party ahead.”
It therefore called on the executives to come together to give their support to the incumbent in order for him “to finish the good things that he has started.”
“The CPP has been changing chairpersons every four years and this is not helping the party at all,” they said.
Giving reasons for the call at a press briefing in Accra, Emmanuel Nii Odoi, CPP 2008 parliamentary candidate for Odododiodo constituency said the party has seen some good innovative initiatives since the tenure of Nylander as chairman.
“These include the introduction of a shadow cabinet, family dialogue and inclusiveness of all persons in the central committee,” he explained.
Nii Odoi stated that people support different candidates for different reasons; however supporting a candidate should be through active campaigning and not destruction of an opponent’s image in order to make one’s candidate popular.
“People with genuine grievances within the party should take advantage and channel their complaints through the appropriate internal mechanisms for amicable resolution and not in the media just to destroy the image of the party.”
Past experiences during internal elections have showed that it becomes difficult for the party to unite afterwards to compete for the national elections, he said.
“We therefore want to ask that the incumbent chairman be allowed to exhibit the experience he has painstakingly acquired over the past few years that he has been chairman,” concluded Nii Odoi.

Caption: Emmanuel Nii Odoi (middle) speaking to the press at the event

Fire Guts Ridge Hospital ®
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
PERSONNEL of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) lived up to expectation yesterday as they were able to halt a fire which broke out at a section of the emergency quarters for staff of the Ridge Hospital in Accra.

Although no casualties were recorded, the fire destroyed 75 percent of items and other equipment in the affected rooms including GH¢1,018.
An eyewitness, Isaac Acquaye who could not tell what caused the fire said it started about 11:15am from the first room of the block which is occupied by the night superintendent.

“The moment I saw smoke coming from the quarters, I together with two others got some sachets of pure water to quench it but we could not,” he said.
Acquaye said in their bid to stop the fire from spreading to the adjoining rooms on the block, they decided to call in the fire service personnel.
Sillim Sayers, Health Service Administrator at the hospital and an eyewitness also said the fire destroyed everything in the first room but some items including hospital documents, books, water, mattresses, furniture and the television were savaged by staff from the other rooms.

Regional Fire Commander at Makola, Edwin Ekow Blankson, briefing the press said the service arrived at the scene within five minutes after receiving a call about a fire outbreak at the Ridge Hospital around 11:30am.
He told DAILY GUIDE the building was still intact as fire personnel were able to contain the fire within twenty minutes. “There is no way the fire could move beyond the set boundary,” he added.
He was unable to establish the cause of the fire and or the extent of damage immediately, adding that a committee will be set up to investigate the incident.
Dr. Obeng Apori, Medical Director of Ridge Hospital commended the fire service for their swift response to the distress call.
“If it had not been for the swift intervention of the fire service, the situation would have been very disastrous.”
He later called on government to refurbish the hospital in order to avoid a recurrence of the event.

RAMADAM DATE ANNOUNCED
BY JAMILA AKWELEY OKERTCHIRI
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has announced the date for the observation of the crescent to signal the commencement of this year’s Ramadan.
Briefing the press on the start of the Ramadan, the National Executive Secretary at the office of the National Chief Imam, Alhaji Awaisi Bio, said 31st July 2011 shall be the first day for the observation.
If the crescent is not sighted on the said day, Monday, August 1, 2011 shall complete the month of Sha’ban by calculation.
“Consequently, Tuesday, the 2nd of August 2011 shall be an automatic day for the commencement of the fast for the year 2011,” he said.
Alhaji Bio therefore called on Muslims to bury their differences and unite to develop the country.
Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu commented, “The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of the practice of homosexuality and that even foreigners who were there were all punished by Allah Almighty.”
He added that Allah created male and female for the purpose of procreation, noting, “If Allah wanted us to practice this, He wouldn’t have created a woman when Adam wanted a partner in the Garden of Eden’.
Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu therefore called on Ghanaians to frown on the act in order to avoid incurring the wrath of Allah Almighty.
He also appealed to the authorities to do everything to stop the practice.

From left, Alhaji Osman Kadri, Chairman of occasion, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, National Chief Imam and Alhaji Abdul Kadri Tabir, Greater Accra chief of Dagomba and vice chair of the council of Muslim chiefs.

Hugs for Ghana Donates to Hospitals®
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

HUGS FOR Ghana, a student-led nonprofit organization in Mukilteo, USA has donated 100 sets of thermometers to four hospitals in the Greater Accra and Western regions of Ghana.
Korle Bu Children’s Hospital, Princess Marie Children’s Hospital, Labadi General Hospital and Eikwe Hospital are the beneficiaries of the items worth approximately $3,500.
The organization, founded by 16 year old Joel Bervell, is dedicated to supporting underprivileged children in hospitals, institutions and other child-related services in Ghana.
Presenting the items to Rebecca Lartey, Deputy Director of Nursing Services, Bervell, President of the organization said, “The organization’s mission is to reveal the gift of love, hope, confidence and warmth to the hearts and lives of Ghana’s youngest citizens.”
He said funds for the donation were raised through the health initiative projects-‘100 Cents Saves a Life’ and ‘Ghanaian Night of Culture,’ both free will donation events.
“The focus of the fundraiser was to provide information to the community about the needs of disadvantaged children in Ghana,” added Bervell.
He hoped the thermometers would contribute to the path of healing for children while at hospitals.
Mrs. Lartey said the donation had come at a time when the hospital needed it the most. She expressed joy about the donation and called on others to follow in the footsteps of Hugs for Ghana.

Joel Bervell presenting a thermometer to Mrs. Rebecca Lartey at the Korle Bu Children’s Hospital.

Japan Assists Adensi North District®
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

THE JAPANESE government has provided a 10-unit water closet toilet facility worth $105,932 for three towns in the Adansi North district.
The project targeted at covering Fomena, Dompoase and Fumso is expected to benefit 16,000 inhabitants.
It will also improve the sanitary and general health conditions of the beneficiaries.
“The growth in population in the district has increased pressure on sanitation facilities,” said Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Naoto Nikai at the grant signing ceremony.
“It is difficult for the limited facilities to serve the over 92,000 people in the district,” he added.
The project scheduled to be completed in a year is being financed through the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Scheme (GGHSP).
However, the district assembly will bare the cost of preliminary works and contingencies in the construction.
“This is very commendable on the part of the district assembly, ensuring that the provision of such amenities become the right of its inhabitants,” said Nikai.
District Chief Executive of Adensi North, Abdul Lateef Majdoub expressed gratitude to the Embassy of Japan for supporting them in addressing the issue.
“It is a demonstration of the continuous commitment of Japan to alleviate the suffering of people even in the face of the recent calamity that hit the country,” Majdoub said.
He therefore assured the Japanese government of the district’s commitment in providing the counterpart funding agreed upon.

Naoto Nikai and Abdul Lateef Majdoub signing the grant document at the ceremony.

“Deliver Quality Claims”
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

Insurance companies have been urged to improve their relationship with their customers by paying claims quickly.
Rev. Asante Marfo-Ahenkora, president of the Ghana Insurance Brokers Association (GIBA), made these observations during the first memorial lecture held in Accra to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Kwesi Essel-Koomson, founding Managing Director of KEK Insurance Group.
The lecture was themed: “Insurance claims - the role of the broker, the insurer and the reinsurer”.

Speaking on the brokers’ perspective, Rev. Marfo-Ahenkora said an insurance broker deals with many insurers so they have access to different types of insurance policies.
He explained: “They act on behalf of their clients and define what risk to insure, what type of cover is best and how much it should cost. In many cases, the insurance broker is most valuable in the event of a claim.”
He therefore admonished those insured to engage the services of insurance broker, stressing that brokers have a duty to work in the best interest of their clients and provide sound practical account independent of any insurance company.
Samuel Kwaku Ocran, Deputy Managing Director of Star Assurance Company, also speaking on the insurer’s role, noted that the claims unit of insurance companies deals quickly and fairly with all claims submitted while distinguishing between valid and invalid claims.
“When this is done, the insurer then assesses the loss or damage, adjusts and negotiates the claim amount, processes the claim for payment as well as indemnifies the insured in the form of repair, replacement, reinstatement or payment of cash”, he said.
Mr. Ocran however noted that an insurance company may refuse to pay claims due to false statement and failure to disclose relevant facts when applying for the insurance; claims which does not fall within the items insured in the policy; and failure to comply with the terms of agreement.
He asked persons insured to look beyond the white and black prints on the contract terms when applying for insurance.

Ken Aghoghovbia, Chief Executive Officer of Africa Reinsurance Corporation, in a speech read on his behalf, said the primary objective of the reinsurer is to settle claims promptly barring anything that might prevent them from doing so.
“It is evident that the primary role of reinsurance is essentially to give the necessary support to insurers to enable them meet their primary obligation, settle claims of policy holders and guide against the risk of collapse that may arise from the inability to settle genuine claims when due.”

Muslims Call for Homosexual Prohibition®
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri & Michael Ciaglo

THE MUSLIM community in Ghana has called on government to introduce a “Prohibition of Homosexuality and Lesbianism Bill” that would criminalize homosexual acts.
The details of this bill, which would imprison homosexuals without the option of a fine, were presented at a Coalition of Muslim Organizations, Ghana (COMOG) news conference on Thursday morning.
COMOG bemoaned homosexuality and called for a collective effort from government and religious groups to battle it.
“The community hereby urges all of us – Christians, Muslims, traditionalists, government and opposition – to unite as one concerned people to fight the common twin – homosexuality and lesbianism – as well as their byproduct – same sex marriage,” said Alhaji Mohammed Easah, National President of COMOG.

Alhaji Mohammed Easah, (center) national president of COMOG, speaks out against homosexuality

Earlier this week, the Christian Council of Ghana held a similar press conference denouncing homosexuality and calling on all religious organizations and “decent-loving Ghanaians” to join the campaign against the practice.
Alhaji Easah also noted that “all religious organizations have condemned homosexuality in strong terms. We, the Muslim community, condemn the practice as disgusting, repugnant, unacceptable and alien to our culture and national norms, and also alien to our natural behavior as a people.”
The current Ghanaian Criminal Code, section 104(1) (b), outlaws “unnatural carnal knowledge,” a phrase interpreted to mean homosexual intercourse. COMOG is calling for government to go one step further and implement stricter regulations against all homosexual activities.
Alhaji Esaha said the proposed bill, if passed into law by parliament, would attract severe penalties including long prison terms with no option of a fine and disqualification from appointment or promotion to any public office or position.
Alhaji Easah urged traditional rulers and opinion leaders to join the fight and assist police in identifying and prosecuting gays and lesbians, adding “Any person who fails to report a homosexual or lesbian that approaches him or her to engage in such acts also commits the offense.”
In an attempt to garner widespread acceptance of the bill, Alhaji Easah advocated for all political parties to agree on a stance against homosexuality.
“Let this fight be not an NDC/NPP affair, but an all-hands-on-deck affair,” Alhaji Easah said. “Let government, the opposition and the people unite to prosecute this fight to success – in the ultimate interest of Ghanaians.”