Ghana's government has banned a conference for gay men and lesbians due to take place there later this month (September). Information Minister Kwamena Bartels said as homosexuality was illegal in Ghana the gathering was not permitted. "Government does not condone any such activity which violently offends the culture, morality and heritage of the entire people of Ghana," he said.

Chief Financial Officer wanted for enterprise development financial institution in Accra, Ghana. The CFO will provide leadership, direction and expertise in financial management and administration of the bank; establish and enhance overall financial controls; comply with locally acceptable accounting principles; and ensure profitability and sustainability of the bank. For consideration, email your CV to ReConnect Africa at: [email][email protected] or [email][email protected]

A Medical Officer at the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, Dr. Joe Taylor has described the pelvis of women as a 'goldmine' where quack healthcare providers are busily making huge sums of money through galamsey (illegal mining) or unsafe abortion. Dr. Taylor, a Gynaecologist by profession, said some qualified doctors and male nurses are increasingly getting involved in the abortion business.

The Parliamentary Centre, an International NGO working in Parliamentary Development, seeks a Budget and Governance Advisor to join its Poverty Reduction team.

Women in Ghana have launched a campaign against domestic violence in support of a bill addressing domestic violence introduced in parliament. The Foundation of Female Photojournalists (FFP) developed a documentary addressing domestic and gender-based violence in order to “motivate viewers to support initiatives that would assist victims of gender violence and the quest to build a society of equal rights to all,” Ghana News Agency reports. The documentary provides information regarding gender and domestic violence, as well as strategies to address these issues.

The Ghanaian Minister for Tourism and Diasporean affairs, Hon. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, addressed a special briefing session last Friday (July 7) to launch an initiative for the year 2007 to “heal and reconcile” relations between Africans at home and abroad. Among the Joseph Project’s immediate objectives are to establish Ghana as the gateway for the return of Africans from the Diaspora to the continent.

President Kufuor will attend the plenary session of the Second conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora to be held in Salvador. The conference themed "The Diaspora and Africa Renaissance" is a follow up to the first conference held in Dakar in October 2004. The conference aims at reviving and harnessing the contribution of intellectuals in Africa and the Diaspora. It also aims at broadening mutual understanding and fostering greater cooperation for development between Africa and Diaspora countries.

Although some of the educated Ghanaians who left to make their fortune abroad, are coming home, the Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations is keen to tempt many more back. Those who do come find themselves relatively well-off compared with their fellow Ghanaians. They have the money to buy a plot of land and build a dream home. But the gated communities that are springing up only emphasize the huge divide between the haves and have-nots sleeping rough.

Premier Wen Jiabao and Ghanaian President John Kufuor agreed to a low-interest loan of about $66-million for a number of projects, including a plan to upgrade Ghana's communications network by increasing phone lines and improving the country's Internet-access. The plan also includes training students and workers in communications technology, finance minister Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu said after the meeting.

A campaign to stop violence in mining has been launched by the National Coalition of Mining (NCOM), a grouping of communities affected by mining and civil society organisations. Reading from a prepared sheet on behalf of NCOM, Gifty Dzah, from ABANTU for Development, said the objective of the campaign was to stop violence by mining companies and state agencies against communities and citizens.

A Canadian company conceived on the principles of corporate responsibility plans to harvest underwater forests. Clark Sustainable Resource Developments is a new venture that plans to secure and operate licences to harvest underwater forests, beginning on Lake Volta, the world's largest reservoir, in Ghana.

Ghana's centuries-old chieftaincy system is one of Africa's oldest ruling classes. The country's unique system of land ownership, where chiefs frequently control the land for the benefit of the communities they represent, is revealing an ugly side. Land can be leased several times over and thousands of disputes are clogging up Ghana's legal system.

Specialists have emphasised the importance of education for children both as a route out of poverty and for realising their potential. There is a tendency to assume that migration undermines children's education, as most children's migration is for work.

The International Institute for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Journalism- Penplusbytes with support from the French Embassy in Ghana and GINKS is organizing a three day training workshop for thirty journalists from most regions of Ghana working in the print, electronic and online media. The workshop is designed to serve as a knowledge sharing platform for the media to understand key issues in the Information Society, New Medias impact in the newsroom; and provide an opportunity for the media players to develop new practical skills in using specific ICTs tools in the newsroom.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Programs will play a critical role in developing and implementing the vision and direction of AWDF's fundraising and grantmaking strategies and initiatives. She will work in close collaboration with the ED, Board of Directors, Advisors and Program team, and will promote the visibility of AWDF and develop strategic alliances with peers in international philanthropy. She will supervise and manage a nine-person program staff and participate in fundraising and communications activities.

This three day workshop, held in Accra, Ghana, is organised by PenPlusBytes, in conjunction with the French Embassy in Ghana. The workshop seeks to address the need for major transformation of the Ghanaian journalists in their training and attitude towards using new media technology.

Life Choices is a nationwide family planning campaign that was launched in October 2001 in Ghana. The goal of the campaign is to increase the use of modern family planning methods in urban, peri-urban and rural areas, with particular attention to communities whose pharmacies and chemical shops sell Ghana Social Marketing Foundation (GSMF) brands and where other community-based service providers have a presence.

During the Tech forum in Kumasi, Ghana, people showcased some of their work. Henry Addo showcased his Webmark site, a free (open source) online bookmark manager. Henry uses mostly cybercafes to access the web, and used to list his bookmarks on one of the computers in the cybercafe. When he found someone using the computer with his bookmarks, he used to get annoyed. Out of this need, he decided to develop an online bookmark manager.

The chairman of the University of Ghana's council, has disclosed that the University of Ghana is planning to cut down on the number of students at the university in order to instill discipline and monitor attendance of lectures. This according to him has become necessary because of the findings of the Mfodwo Committee set up to investigate cases of examination malpractices in the university.

“Since March 6, 1957, we as a people declared ourselves to be a people with one nation, commonly sharing diverse characteristics like religion, language, history, territory, institutions, culture, statehood or aspiration to statehood. The majority of the present generation was not involved in the fight for freedom from the ‘oppressor’s rule.’ Indeed, at all times in the struggle of a people, it takes a courageous few to be in the frontline - of course with a lot more unsung heroes in the shadows. But a question that has received varied responses, as many times as has been asked is, what we have done with our independence?"