CHOLERA TO HIT GHANA AGAIN???

The Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate has issued a warning alerting the general public of an imminent cholera out-break in the coming raining reason. Poor sanitation conditions facing the city currently have giving the GHS much concern about the health situation. According to statistic available to the Directorate over 6000 cholera cases were recorded in the Region alone and more than 400 casualties. Dr.Mrs linda Van- Otoo, the Director for the Region also appealed to Ghanaians to avoid buying and eating cooked food exposed to dust and flies. She made this appeal on Peace FM News today. She also called on the public to cultivate the habbit of washing their hands with soap and water after using the restroom to avoid contamination and possible spreading of feaces. She also said people to be mindful of the water they drink and eat food while it is hot. The causes of cholera is due to poor hygienic conditions and therefore urged the public to be conscious of their environment and reports cases as soon as it is detected.

18 YEAR OLD SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR DEFILEMENT.

Eric Boateng, 18, and an illegal miner, has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Nkawie Circuit Court for defilement which resulted in a pregnancy. He had defiled his 14-year victim in November, last year and pleading guilty to the offence, he admitted to defiling his victim in who was then 14-years in November last year. A source from Ghana News Agency reports that Police Detective Sergeant Jonas Adjei told the court presided over by Justice William Boampong that the convict and the girl live at Asakraka, a farming community in the Atwiam-Nwabiagya District. He said in November, last year, Boateng lured the girl to her own elder brother’s room where he forcibly had sex with her. He said months later, the parents detected that she was pregnant and when asked who was responsible, she mentioned the convict. A formal report was made to the police for his arrest. A medical examination by doctors confirmed the pregnancy.

TEN DISTINGUISH WOMEN HONOURED

Ten distinguish women from the ten Regions of Ghana and eight civil society groups have been awarded by the Institute of Local Government Studies (I L G S) for their immense contribution to the promotion of Local Governance in their respective Districts and the nation as a whole. The ten awardees include, Madam Veronica Atampoka Mba, a visually impaired Assembly Woman in Bongo District (Upper East Region); Madam Edith Evelyn Akpoto, former Presiding Member for Hohoe Municipal Assembly (Volta Region) and Elizabeth Anambiak Asampo, Assembly Women of the Kumbungu District (Northern Region). Others are Claire Cynthia Der, former Presiding Member for Lambussie-Karni District Assembly (Upper West Region); Beatrice Bernie Boateng, former Member of Parliament for New Juabeng North Constituency (Eastern Region) and Victoria Norgbey, an Educationist and Governance Expert (Western Region). The rest are Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, Queen mother of Offinso Traditional Area (Ashanti Region); Comfort Zormelo, former Assembly Woman at Medie (Greater Accra); Afua Kwartema Yamoah, former Assembly Woman for Agona East District (Central Region) and Comfort Perpetual Amoah, Assembly Woman for Hwediem Asona Electoral Area (Brong Ahafo Region). Eight institutions that were also honoured were Abantu for Development, the National Association of Local Authorities in Ghana (NALAG), ActionAid Ghana, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) and United Nations Women. The rest were the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Ghana (FIDA), Women in Law Development in Africa (WILDAF) and IBIS Ghana. The memories of passed heroines like the late Hawa Yakubu, former Member of Parliament for Bawku, Florence Bentie, former District Chief Executive for Sisala, Regina Ayerko Apotsi, former Presiding Member for Manya Krobo and Sarah Kuntu-Atta, former District Chief Executive for Upper Denkyira were honoured for their selfish service to their district when they were alive. Addressing the gathering,Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur highlighted the importance of local governance in the country's democratic dispensation. She called for more attention to be given to local governance as it had direct bearing on the lives and participation in governance of those at the grassroots level. She lauded the role of local governance as it served as the fertile grounds for nurturing those who wanted to get into mainstream politics. She however expressed concern about the low level of women’s involvement in governance and called for the passage of the affirmative Justice Bill to address issues relating to more inclusion of women in politics. GNA

UN CONGRATULATES NEW POPE

UN Secretary general Ban Ki.Moon has extended his congratulating message to the newly elected Pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires of Argentina,now Pope Francis on his assumption of the papacy, and to all Catholics across the world on this momentous occasion. In a press satement issued by the UN information Center, the Secretary General noted that he look forward to continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the Holy See, under the wise leadership of His Holiness Pope Francis. Adding that the UN share many common goals with the Papacy from the promotion of peace, social justice and human rights, to the eradication of poverty and hunger which are all core elements of sustainable development. "We also share the conviction that we can only resolve the interconnected challenges of today’s world through dialogue. I am certain that His Holiness will continue to build on the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, in the promotion of inter-faith dialogue which is at the heart of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative." he added.