Story: Zakaria Alhassan & Benjamin Glover, Bawku
THE National Peace Council has called for the support and co-operation of the feuding factions in its efforts to foster peace and unity in the Bawku Municipality.
The Council, which is under the chairmanship of His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Catholic Archbishop of Cape Coast, made the appeal after holding separate meetings with the Paramount Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, and the opinion leaders of the Mamprusi clan at Bawku on Tuesday.
The meetings, which took place behind closed doors, were to see how best to ensure peace in the Bawku Municipality, which has been engulfed in ethnic conflict.
Other members of the NPC present at the meeting were the Ameer and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Ghana, Maulvi Wahab Adam; a representative of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Mahamud Gedel; the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu; and Professor Irene Odotei.
The Council had earlier met the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, who briefed them on the Bawku conflict and the measures taken so far by the Upper East Regional Security Council to restore peace in the area.
Before the meeting went into a closed-door session, Cardinal Turkson thanked the President, Mr John A. Kufuor, for mandating the National Peace Council to help find a lasting solution to the conflict in Bawku.
Cardinal Turkson and other council members advised both the Kusasis and the Mamprusis to live in peace, since that area could not pursue any development agenda while it was in conflict.
"We have come to listen and we shall keep coming to Bawku until peace is restored. We will continue our efforts to foster unity among the people and we pray that you will all lend your support in this worthy cause," he said
Cardinal Turkson pleaded with both sides to exercise restraint in the midst of any provocation, stressing that "we trust that God will make a way where there seems to be no way".
The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu, and Professor Irene Odotei both appealed to the two factions to work together for the peace of the area.
Thursday, 29 May 2008
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
13 Honoured for hard work(Daily Graphic, Monday May 26, 2008 p 40)
Mr. Samuel Apiiga, (right) an animal scientist and consultant in guinea fowl production receiving an award from the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister Mrs. Agnes Asangalisa Chigabatia at this year's May Day celebration.Mr. Apiiga who is also the Regional Animal Husbandry Officer was among 13 workers honoured for their contribution to the labour movement in the region. For his prize he took home a Color TV set, a certificate and badge.
He was awarded for his contribution to the development of guinea fowl production by way of training farmers and helping them acquire incubators to facilitate the production of the birds.
He has also engaged in regular radio broadcast to educate farmers on a variety of issue to help boost their output.
In an interview, he commended the TUC for the honour done him and other award winners. He also called on them to be dedicated and loyal in their work in order to receive the due recognition at the appropriate time
Technoserve donates learning materials to UE communities(Daily Graphic, Monday, May 26, 2008 p 40)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
Technoserve, a non governmental organization with funding from USAID as part of its food security programme of which literacy and numeracy is a significant component, has presented a number of learning materials to its beneficiaries in the Upper East Region.
The donation is aimed at helping farmers improve on their literacy level. It is also directed at encouraging the farmers to access information to improve on productivity.
The items included Solar Lamps, boxes of chalk, chalk board, Flush lights, Rain coats, pencils, Exercise books, and elementary textbook all valued at about GH c 3,925.
The beneficiary farmers were from Nomboko and Songo communities in the Garu-Tempane district, Saboro and Kologo in the Kassena-Nankana district, Soe-Yipala and Kalbeo in the Bolgatanga municipality, Sheaga in the Talensi-Nabdam district, Tilli and Tanga Wiiga in the Bawku West District as well as Chuchuliga in the Builsa district.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr. Anthony Adom, Senior Programme Adviser of Technoserve at Bolgatanga, he said as an organization working with farmers where illiteracy was high it found it critical to assist the farmers."Literacy plays a critical role in ensuring food security hence the decision to support the farmers", he added.
He said literacy and numeracy education will help farmers to read instructions on agro-chemicals to ensure their effective use.
The presentation ceremony was preceded by a training seminar on non-formal education for twelve facilitators in seven districts in the Upper East region.
Turning the UE into the Bread Basket , Tono, Vea-The answer(Daily Graphic, Monday, May 26, 2008
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
On March 27, 1975, the then Head of State of Ghana, Col. I.K. Acheampong performed the first ground cutting ceremony for the commencement of the construction of the Tono Irrigation Scheme.
The construction of the scheme by Taylor Woodrow Ltd took nearly ten years to complete. On February 9, 1984, the Government of Ghana incorporated a limited liability company, the Irrigation Company of Upper Region-ICOUR- to run both the Tono and Vea Irrigation schemes.
The then government also employed Tate and Lyle Technical Services of UK as the Manager of ICOUR for five years between 1984 and 1989 after which ICOUR fully came under Ghanaian Management in 1990 to date.
The Tono Irrigation Dam, built, is one of the largest agricultural dams in West Africa , covering a total catchment’s area of 3,600 hectares and providing a developed area of 2,400 hectares for growing irrigated crops. There several villages living and farming within the project area
The dam, which allows for year-round farming, has greatly aided in the development of the region. Tomatoes have long been the most lucrative crop in the Upper East region and it is as profitable as rice, maize, groundnuts, yam, pepper and dairy.
It also provides employment opportunities to a greater majority of the people of the Tono Community in particular and the Region as a whole.
A number of farmers on the scheme has won awards not only the district level but also at the national level.
As far back as 1989, Mr. Philip Abayori, an ICOUR farmer was adjudged the best national farmer. In 1996, Mr. George Alonkodongo also on the Tono Irrigation Scheme picked up a national best farmer award followed by Mr. Monday Adabugah who was adjudged the third best national farmer in 1998.
The Tono and Vea Schemes are well noted for dry season tomato production. The scheme also produces rice to boost the availability of local rice in the Ghanaian market.
Despite the enormous contribution of the project to socio-economic development of the region and the country at large, the project has not seen any major maintenance. This has led to a reduction of the original hectares of irrigated land to the present 1,800 hectares.
The loss is due to the siltation and breakage of canals and laterals making it impossible for water to reach certain developed areas.
It was for this reason that when on Saturday March 15, 2008, the Minister of Food and Agriculture cut he sod for rehabilitation works to begin; it was greeted with wild applause and cheers from the chiefs and people as well as farmers in the area.
According to the beneficiaries of the scheme, the rehabilitation of the project will not only increase food production in the region but will also give more jobs to people and therefore more money in their pockets.
The total cost of the rehabilitation is GH c 7.9 million would cost GH c 7.90 million cedis. It would include regarding and gravelling of the main access road in the scheme, re-gravelling of the dam wall and erosion control of the dam slopes and replacement of lost linings of concrete on the main and lateral canals.
Construction of washing bays, culverts, water control gates and desilting of main drain also form part of the project. Six construction firms have been engage to execute the project scheduled for completion in December.
Delivering his address, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Ernest A. Debrah said government has undertaken due diligence in the selection of the contractors and stressed that it would be disappointing for any of them to fail.
I cannot but agree with the Minister in his call to contractors undertaking the contracts to do quality work.
His appeal to the citizens of the area who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the project is also apt.
The populace must know that the physical, economic and social sustainability of the scheme after the rehabilitation will depend on the collective effort of the farmers, ICOUR Management and the wider community who are the direct or indirect beneficiaries of the scheme.
Clearly the rehabilitation of the Tono Irrigation Scheme is very timely and its completion would go a long way to boost food production in the region.
It is expected that farmers would put the rehabilitated scheme into good use by producing high value crops for not just the local market but possibly the international market.
With the Northern Star Tomato Factory now in place, the Nasia Rice Milling Company working and the banks now ready to provide credits to farmers, one can only expect the best after all is done.
Already Management of ICOUR under its current Managing Director, Mr. Issah Bukari has expressed its appreciation to the government for given the Tono Irrigation Scheme priority and initiating the restoration of the scheme.
According to Mr. Bukari, this will enhance efficiency of water management to increase productivity.
But like Oliver Twist, the MD is also pleading with the sector ministry and rightly so to assist the project repair the very old houses, offices and vehicles in order to meet the increasing. This in my view is a call worth considering.
In commending the government for fulfilling the long awaited dream of rehabilitating the Tono Irrigation Dam, one can only hope that in the not too distant future, similar support would be extended to the Vea Irrigation Project also in the Upper East Region to turn the area into the bread basket of the country.
On March 27, 1975, the then Head of State of Ghana, Col. I.K. Acheampong performed the first ground cutting ceremony for the commencement of the construction of the Tono Irrigation Scheme.
The construction of the scheme by Taylor Woodrow Ltd took nearly ten years to complete. On February 9, 1984, the Government of Ghana incorporated a limited liability company, the Irrigation Company of Upper Region-ICOUR- to run both the Tono and Vea Irrigation schemes.
The then government also employed Tate and Lyle Technical Services of UK as the Manager of ICOUR for five years between 1984 and 1989 after which ICOUR fully came under Ghanaian Management in 1990 to date.
The Tono Irrigation Dam, built, is one of the largest agricultural dams in West Africa , covering a total catchment’s area of 3,600 hectares and providing a developed area of 2,400 hectares for growing irrigated crops. There several villages living and farming within the project area
The dam, which allows for year-round farming, has greatly aided in the development of the region. Tomatoes have long been the most lucrative crop in the Upper East region and it is as profitable as rice, maize, groundnuts, yam, pepper and dairy.
It also provides employment opportunities to a greater majority of the people of the Tono Community in particular and the Region as a whole.
A number of farmers on the scheme has won awards not only the district level but also at the national level.
As far back as 1989, Mr. Philip Abayori, an ICOUR farmer was adjudged the best national farmer. In 1996, Mr. George Alonkodongo also on the Tono Irrigation Scheme picked up a national best farmer award followed by Mr. Monday Adabugah who was adjudged the third best national farmer in 1998.
The Tono and Vea Schemes are well noted for dry season tomato production. The scheme also produces rice to boost the availability of local rice in the Ghanaian market.
Despite the enormous contribution of the project to socio-economic development of the region and the country at large, the project has not seen any major maintenance. This has led to a reduction of the original hectares of irrigated land to the present 1,800 hectares.
The loss is due to the siltation and breakage of canals and laterals making it impossible for water to reach certain developed areas.
It was for this reason that when on Saturday March 15, 2008, the Minister of Food and Agriculture cut he sod for rehabilitation works to begin; it was greeted with wild applause and cheers from the chiefs and people as well as farmers in the area.
According to the beneficiaries of the scheme, the rehabilitation of the project will not only increase food production in the region but will also give more jobs to people and therefore more money in their pockets.
The total cost of the rehabilitation is GH c 7.9 million would cost GH c 7.90 million cedis. It would include regarding and gravelling of the main access road in the scheme, re-gravelling of the dam wall and erosion control of the dam slopes and replacement of lost linings of concrete on the main and lateral canals.
Construction of washing bays, culverts, water control gates and desilting of main drain also form part of the project. Six construction firms have been engage to execute the project scheduled for completion in December.
Delivering his address, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Ernest A. Debrah said government has undertaken due diligence in the selection of the contractors and stressed that it would be disappointing for any of them to fail.
I cannot but agree with the Minister in his call to contractors undertaking the contracts to do quality work.
His appeal to the citizens of the area who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the project is also apt.
The populace must know that the physical, economic and social sustainability of the scheme after the rehabilitation will depend on the collective effort of the farmers, ICOUR Management and the wider community who are the direct or indirect beneficiaries of the scheme.
Clearly the rehabilitation of the Tono Irrigation Scheme is very timely and its completion would go a long way to boost food production in the region.
It is expected that farmers would put the rehabilitated scheme into good use by producing high value crops for not just the local market but possibly the international market.
With the Northern Star Tomato Factory now in place, the Nasia Rice Milling Company working and the banks now ready to provide credits to farmers, one can only expect the best after all is done.
Already Management of ICOUR under its current Managing Director, Mr. Issah Bukari has expressed its appreciation to the government for given the Tono Irrigation Scheme priority and initiating the restoration of the scheme.
According to Mr. Bukari, this will enhance efficiency of water management to increase productivity.
But like Oliver Twist, the MD is also pleading with the sector ministry and rightly so to assist the project repair the very old houses, offices and vehicles in order to meet the increasing. This in my view is a call worth considering.
In commending the government for fulfilling the long awaited dream of rehabilitating the Tono Irrigation Dam, one can only hope that in the not too distant future, similar support would be extended to the Vea Irrigation Project also in the Upper East Region to turn the area into the bread basket of the country.
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
MP TO PROVIDE CLASSROOM BLOCK FOR VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE (PAGE 20)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Binduri in the Upper East Region, Mr Mark Awuni, has promised to construct a two-unit six-classroom block for the William Ofori Atta Memorial Institute, a community-based vocational institute at Nayoko in the Bawku Municipality.
Speaking at the first graduation ceremony of the institute, Mr Awuni expressed concern about the way students in the community commuted between seven and 11 kilometres to and from the institute daily to acquire employable skills.
He pledged to use part of his share of the MPs Common Fund to finance the project as soon as it was released.
The vocational institute was founded by two philanthropists through a non-governmental organisation—Partners International, in July 2005.
The first batch of students who graduated from the institute recently were trained in dressmaking, batik and tie-dye, among others.
The MP commended the graduates for their perseverance, which he said would go a long way to help fight the level of poverty in the area. He also advised the graduands to ignore the admonition from their colleagues to travel to either Kumasi or Accra for non-existent jobs, stressing that should they heed such calls, they would end up on the streets.
Mr Awuni also encouraged parents to send their children, especially females to school instead of keeping them at home.
A member of the Board of Governors of the institute, Dr Roger Kanton, said the institute, which was strategically located, deserved special attention from the government as a way of addressing the abject poverty plaguing the people.
The acting Principal of the institute, Pastor Noah Abdul-Karim, said a co-operative society had been formed within the institute for the graduates to assist them in securing start-up capital to start micro-projects.
He said courses run at the institute included secretarial, fashion and design, information and communication technology.
Pastor Abdul-Karim added that technical courses such as building and construction, carpentry and joinery, electrical installation, blacksmithing and welding would soon be introduced at the institute.
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Binduri in the Upper East Region, Mr Mark Awuni, has promised to construct a two-unit six-classroom block for the William Ofori Atta Memorial Institute, a community-based vocational institute at Nayoko in the Bawku Municipality.
Speaking at the first graduation ceremony of the institute, Mr Awuni expressed concern about the way students in the community commuted between seven and 11 kilometres to and from the institute daily to acquire employable skills.
He pledged to use part of his share of the MPs Common Fund to finance the project as soon as it was released.
The vocational institute was founded by two philanthropists through a non-governmental organisation—Partners International, in July 2005.
The first batch of students who graduated from the institute recently were trained in dressmaking, batik and tie-dye, among others.
The MP commended the graduates for their perseverance, which he said would go a long way to help fight the level of poverty in the area. He also advised the graduands to ignore the admonition from their colleagues to travel to either Kumasi or Accra for non-existent jobs, stressing that should they heed such calls, they would end up on the streets.
Mr Awuni also encouraged parents to send their children, especially females to school instead of keeping them at home.
A member of the Board of Governors of the institute, Dr Roger Kanton, said the institute, which was strategically located, deserved special attention from the government as a way of addressing the abject poverty plaguing the people.
The acting Principal of the institute, Pastor Noah Abdul-Karim, said a co-operative society had been formed within the institute for the graduates to assist them in securing start-up capital to start micro-projects.
He said courses run at the institute included secretarial, fashion and design, information and communication technology.
Pastor Abdul-Karim added that technical courses such as building and construction, carpentry and joinery, electrical installation, blacksmithing and welding would soon be introduced at the institute.
Friday, 23 May 2008
ONE MORE DEATH RECORDED IN BAWKU (BACK PAGE)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
ONE person was killed and another seriously wounded when they were attacked by a group of unidentified persons in Bawku yesterday morning.
The deceased was identified as Mustapha Alidu, commonly known as Konkonsa, a taxi driver who plied between Bawku and Cinkasse, while the injured person is Osman Issaka, a petty trader.
The incident occurred between Pusiga and Zong-Natinga, both suburbs of Bawku, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
The body of Mustapha, who was shot and later burnt together with his car, has been deposited at the Bolgatanga Hospital mortuary, while Osman, who sustained a deep cut on his neck is said to be in a critical condition as of the time this report was filed.
Some family members who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital said the taxi was heading towards Cinkasse, a marketing centre in northern Togo from Bawku, when a group of masked persons attacked them.
They said Mustapha, a Moshie, who was married with children, was shot in the chest and later burnt, together with the taxi, while Osman, also a Moshie, was nearly slaughtered .
Some passengers on board the taxi were said to have sustained some machete wounds but managed to flee the scene.
ONE person was killed and another seriously wounded when they were attacked by a group of unidentified persons in Bawku yesterday morning.
The deceased was identified as Mustapha Alidu, commonly known as Konkonsa, a taxi driver who plied between Bawku and Cinkasse, while the injured person is Osman Issaka, a petty trader.
The incident occurred between Pusiga and Zong-Natinga, both suburbs of Bawku, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
The body of Mustapha, who was shot and later burnt together with his car, has been deposited at the Bolgatanga Hospital mortuary, while Osman, who sustained a deep cut on his neck is said to be in a critical condition as of the time this report was filed.
Some family members who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital said the taxi was heading towards Cinkasse, a marketing centre in northern Togo from Bawku, when a group of masked persons attacked them.
They said Mustapha, a Moshie, who was married with children, was shot in the chest and later burnt, together with the taxi, while Osman, also a Moshie, was nearly slaughtered .
Some passengers on board the taxi were said to have sustained some machete wounds but managed to flee the scene.
Thursday, 22 May 2008
AGNES CHIGABATIA GETS NOD FOR THE SECOND TIME (PAGE 57)
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Agnes Asangalisa Chigabatia, has been elected to contest the Builsa North parliamentary seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2008 elections.
Mrs Chigabatia, who stood unopposed was re-elected by popular acclamation by the 74 NPP polling station chairmen of the constituency.
The other contender to the slot, Mr Ben Agaliga, who is also the Presiding Member of the Builsa District Assembly, stepped down a few days to the primaries to pave way for the sitting MP.
The Upper East Regional Vice Chairman of the NPP, Mr Kizito Akanyomse, commended the delegates for endorsing the candidature of the incumbent MP, adding that it was an indication that they wanted to work with her for the development of the constituency.
While appealing to the supporters of the party in the constituency to work in unity and rally behind Mrs Chigabatia, Mr Akanyomse advised them to transform their support into votes to enable the NPP record a resounding victory, come December 2008.
Mrs Chigabatia in her acceptance speech thanked the Presiding Member for stepping down for her, saying that it was a mark of unity in the party. She urged all members of the party to remain united and work towards victory in the main elections. “Politics is not about lies, politics is all about development”, she said.
Mrs Chigabatia called on all political parties in the constituency to bury their differences and work for the development of the Builsa District to lift it from the list of underdeveloped districts in Ghana.
The Constituency Chairman of the NPP, Mr Charles Amoabil, who also stressed on unity, called on all eligible voters to participate fully in the voters registration exercise when the Electoral Commission starts the re-registration exercise.
He urged supporters of the party in the constituency to desist from insults during campaigns and rather dwell on issues.
Mrs Chigabatia, who stood unopposed was re-elected by popular acclamation by the 74 NPP polling station chairmen of the constituency.
The other contender to the slot, Mr Ben Agaliga, who is also the Presiding Member of the Builsa District Assembly, stepped down a few days to the primaries to pave way for the sitting MP.
The Upper East Regional Vice Chairman of the NPP, Mr Kizito Akanyomse, commended the delegates for endorsing the candidature of the incumbent MP, adding that it was an indication that they wanted to work with her for the development of the constituency.
While appealing to the supporters of the party in the constituency to work in unity and rally behind Mrs Chigabatia, Mr Akanyomse advised them to transform their support into votes to enable the NPP record a resounding victory, come December 2008.
Mrs Chigabatia in her acceptance speech thanked the Presiding Member for stepping down for her, saying that it was a mark of unity in the party. She urged all members of the party to remain united and work towards victory in the main elections. “Politics is not about lies, politics is all about development”, she said.
Mrs Chigabatia called on all political parties in the constituency to bury their differences and work for the development of the Builsa District to lift it from the list of underdeveloped districts in Ghana.
The Constituency Chairman of the NPP, Mr Charles Amoabil, who also stressed on unity, called on all eligible voters to participate fully in the voters registration exercise when the Electoral Commission starts the re-registration exercise.
He urged supporters of the party in the constituency to desist from insults during campaigns and rather dwell on issues.
BOLGA PNC AGAINST CPP ALLIANCE
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
The Upper East Regional branch of the People’s National Convention (PNC) has expressed shock at the news of an electoral alliance between the PNC and the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
It said although it had nothing against the said arrangement it was worried at the manner in which it was carried out.
This was contained in a press release signed by the party’s Regional Secretary, Mr Henry Fatchu Henry, and 22 constituency executive members in the region.
“In accordance with the PNC Constitution, it is the National Executive Committee (NEC) which is the chief executive organ of the party that can execute such function as approved by Congress and not an individual or a group of 10 members,” the statement said.
The statement recalled an earlier decision taken after the 2004 elections where a delegation from the CPP met with the PNC on unity talks.
It said a memorandum of understanding was signed requesting the two parties to obtain approval from their NEC and later their various congresses.
“The PNC on June 6, 2005 held a NEC meeting at Tema and endorsed the unity agenda but the CPP could not get endorsement from their NEC.
“Again the NEC meeting of the PNC before congress at Bolgatanga on November 30, 2007 to December 2, 2007, still stood by the decision which was taken at Tema,” the statement said.
It called on members and supporters of PNC to ignore the purported electoral alliance and continue with the campaign to ensure that the party won the general election in December.
“If the Presidential Candidate of the PNC, Dr Edward Mahama, is interested in being the running mate of any political party, nobody is against that but the party is not going anywhere with anybody,” the statement concluded.
The Upper East Regional branch of the People’s National Convention (PNC) has expressed shock at the news of an electoral alliance between the PNC and the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
It said although it had nothing against the said arrangement it was worried at the manner in which it was carried out.
This was contained in a press release signed by the party’s Regional Secretary, Mr Henry Fatchu Henry, and 22 constituency executive members in the region.
“In accordance with the PNC Constitution, it is the National Executive Committee (NEC) which is the chief executive organ of the party that can execute such function as approved by Congress and not an individual or a group of 10 members,” the statement said.
The statement recalled an earlier decision taken after the 2004 elections where a delegation from the CPP met with the PNC on unity talks.
It said a memorandum of understanding was signed requesting the two parties to obtain approval from their NEC and later their various congresses.
“The PNC on June 6, 2005 held a NEC meeting at Tema and endorsed the unity agenda but the CPP could not get endorsement from their NEC.
“Again the NEC meeting of the PNC before congress at Bolgatanga on November 30, 2007 to December 2, 2007, still stood by the decision which was taken at Tema,” the statement said.
It called on members and supporters of PNC to ignore the purported electoral alliance and continue with the campaign to ensure that the party won the general election in December.
“If the Presidential Candidate of the PNC, Dr Edward Mahama, is interested in being the running mate of any political party, nobody is against that but the party is not going anywhere with anybody,” the statement concluded.
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
MINISTER SETTLES DELIVERY BILLS OF FIVE WOMEN ( Daily Graphic Tuesday May 20 PAGE 11)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, BolgatangaFIVE newly born babies and their mothers who were being detained at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital because their parents could not settle the cost of delivery have now been released.Their release followed the settlement of their accumulated bills by the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Agnes Chigabatia, last Friday.The babies, all males, and their mothers, were being detained, pending full payment of their hospital bills which amounted to GH¢ 777.10. None of the mothers had actually registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).The deputy regional minister presented GH¢ 800 to the hospital administration to offset the cost.The plight of the babies came to light when Mrs Chigabatia toured the hospital as part of the activities marking this year's International Day of the Family.The minister expressed surprise at the fact that in spite of the numerous campaigns for people to register with the health insurance scheme, some of them had still not heeded the advice.Mrs Chigabatia urged all to register with the scheme to enable them to access free medical treatment, including safe motherhood and to prevent detentions and their attendant embarrassment at the hospitals.She also asked men to be responsible by taking good care of their wives and children. Receiving the money, the Hospital Administrator, Mr George Atampugre, thanked the minister for her kind gesture.He said under normal circumstances, detaining babies and their mothers until parents paid their bills was not the best, but the hospital authorities were forced to adopt such a system as a way of ensuring that parents honoured their obligations. "As a hospital, we have no right to detain people because they cannot pay, but we need the money to run the hospital, because funding is now more and more based on our internally generated funds," Mr Atampugre said.He also advised people to take advantage of the NHIS to avoid such embarrassing situations.The Matron of the Hospital, Madam Rose Alobase, on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed her appreciation to the minister for showing her concern for the women and more particular the newly born babies.
Cop arrested for stealing rifle(Saturday, May 17, 2008 Front Page)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
Police Constable Daniel Yeboah on duty with the Rapid Deployment Force in Bawku has been arrested for allegedly stealing an AK 47 rifle belonging to his colleague and selling it to a civilian.
Briefing newsmen at Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Victor Seth Agbetornyo said Constable Yeboah who graduated from the Pwalugu Police Training School in October last year was with the Rapid Deployment Force on operations in Bawku.
But he allegedly stole the AK 47 rifle together with 30 rounds of ammunition from a colleague, constable Yaw Asamoah and sold it to one Abugre Mamudu alias T.A, Chairman of the Bawku Unity Branch of the GPRTU for GH c 600.00.
He said both Danso and Mamudu have been arrested by the police and place in police custody pending further investigation.
Meanwhile the 25-year-old police constable and a native of Bawku in the Upper East Region, who was arrested with others by the security personnel during the recent unrest in the Bawku Municipality has been granted an unconditional bail.
Bangura Yawusah Musah was among 225 police recruits who graduated from the Pwalugu Police Training School on Friday May 2, 2008 and granted a 14-day pass to enable them travel to their respective hometowns.
According to the police, Bangura left the Training School on Sunday May 4, 2004 after church service and traveled to Bawku.
The police administration said a day after his arrival in Bawku, Bangura who was in mufti was arrested with others for alleged rioting. He together with others was later sent to the Regional Police Headquarters in Bolgatanga for screening.
The sources said Bangura after a thorough screening was granted an unconditional bail.
Thursday, 15 May 2008
MINISTRY SUSPENDS PROJECTS IN BAWKU (BACK PAGE)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Nalerigu
The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports has suspended all its projects in the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region, due to the volatile nature of the conflict in the area.
The World Vision International has also cancelled its educational projects while Barclays Bank, which recently extended its services to the area, has also folded up.
Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister, disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Nayiri Mahami Sheriga Abdulai, at Nalerigu in the Northern Region and said that due to the unstable peace in the municipality most workers had fled the area for safer locations.
The Regional Minister, accompanied by Members of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC), was at Nalerigu to brief the Nayiri on the latest development with regards to the Bawku crisis.
Mr Samari said the renewed fighting in the area was unfortunate, as President Kufuor had met the leadership of the feuding factions at the castle in an attempt to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
He noted that due to the recent fighting in Bawku, some Mamprusis in Pusiga were currently seeking refuge in some towns in northern Togo and announced that plans were underway to bring them back home.
He appealed to the Nayiri to impress on his Mamprusi subjects in Bawku to exercise restraint to avert a spillover to the Northern Region.
The Nayiri expressed regret at the current situation in Bawku and called for patience and education on the problems in Bawku.
He said there were several remote causes to the conflict in Bawku, which, he said, included the non performance of the funeral of the late Adam Zamgbeogo, as well as his inability to visit the shrine of Naa Gbewaa at Pusiga to invoke the spirit of their ancestors to help bring peace to Bawku.
He also said the inaccessibility to good farmlands by Mamprusis in Bawku to carry out their farming activities was another contributory factor to the conflict and expressed the hope that such problems would be addressed to help bring peace to the area.
“If in the past it was possible for us to live together in peace, why the differences now?” He questioned.
The Nayiri expressed regret at the cancellation of development projects in Bawku due to the conflict and said without development there would not be progress.
He pledged his commitment at efforts being made at restoring peace in Bawku and gave the assurance that he would impress on his subjects to remain calm and exercise restraint in the face of provocation.
Responding to a concern raised by the Upper East Regional Minister about an incident in which a bus travelling from Kumasi to Bawku was stopped at Wulugu and the passengers searched to identify persons believed to be Kusasis, the Nayiri condemned the act and said he would do all he could to advise his subjects to desist from carrying out such acts of retribution.
The Regional Minister had earlier called on the District Chief Executive for East Mamprusi, Mr Peter Awuni, and the District Co-ordinating Director for West Mamprusi, Mr Musah Issah, to discuss some security issues and plans to check the activities of criminals who would want to take advantage of the conflict in Bawku to carry out their nefarious activities.
The delegation included the Upper East Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour; the Regional CEPS Commander, Mr Evans Klutse; the Regional Chief Fire Officer, Mr Johnson Abu; the Regional Security Co-ordinator, Mr Ahmed Mumuni; and the Regional BNI Commander, Mr David Gobah.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports has suspended all its projects in the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region, due to the volatile nature of the conflict in the area.
The World Vision International has also cancelled its educational projects while Barclays Bank, which recently extended its services to the area, has also folded up.
Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister, disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Nayiri Mahami Sheriga Abdulai, at Nalerigu in the Northern Region and said that due to the unstable peace in the municipality most workers had fled the area for safer locations.
The Regional Minister, accompanied by Members of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC), was at Nalerigu to brief the Nayiri on the latest development with regards to the Bawku crisis.
Mr Samari said the renewed fighting in the area was unfortunate, as President Kufuor had met the leadership of the feuding factions at the castle in an attempt to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
He noted that due to the recent fighting in Bawku, some Mamprusis in Pusiga were currently seeking refuge in some towns in northern Togo and announced that plans were underway to bring them back home.
He appealed to the Nayiri to impress on his Mamprusi subjects in Bawku to exercise restraint to avert a spillover to the Northern Region.
The Nayiri expressed regret at the current situation in Bawku and called for patience and education on the problems in Bawku.
He said there were several remote causes to the conflict in Bawku, which, he said, included the non performance of the funeral of the late Adam Zamgbeogo, as well as his inability to visit the shrine of Naa Gbewaa at Pusiga to invoke the spirit of their ancestors to help bring peace to Bawku.
He also said the inaccessibility to good farmlands by Mamprusis in Bawku to carry out their farming activities was another contributory factor to the conflict and expressed the hope that such problems would be addressed to help bring peace to the area.
“If in the past it was possible for us to live together in peace, why the differences now?” He questioned.
The Nayiri expressed regret at the cancellation of development projects in Bawku due to the conflict and said without development there would not be progress.
He pledged his commitment at efforts being made at restoring peace in Bawku and gave the assurance that he would impress on his subjects to remain calm and exercise restraint in the face of provocation.
Responding to a concern raised by the Upper East Regional Minister about an incident in which a bus travelling from Kumasi to Bawku was stopped at Wulugu and the passengers searched to identify persons believed to be Kusasis, the Nayiri condemned the act and said he would do all he could to advise his subjects to desist from carrying out such acts of retribution.
The Regional Minister had earlier called on the District Chief Executive for East Mamprusi, Mr Peter Awuni, and the District Co-ordinating Director for West Mamprusi, Mr Musah Issah, to discuss some security issues and plans to check the activities of criminals who would want to take advantage of the conflict in Bawku to carry out their nefarious activities.
The delegation included the Upper East Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour; the Regional CEPS Commander, Mr Evans Klutse; the Regional Chief Fire Officer, Mr Johnson Abu; the Regional Security Co-ordinator, Mr Ahmed Mumuni; and the Regional BNI Commander, Mr David Gobah.
PARENTS, TEACHERS EMBARK ON PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION (Daily Graphic Wednesday May 14,2008 PAGE 11)
Some of the demonstrating students
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
A number of students, mainly from second cycle institutions, and their parents embarked on a peaceful demonstration in the Upper East Regional capital in protest against the government's failure to release the school feeding grant to second cycle institutions in the three northern regions.The demonstration which was organised by a pressure group known as the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) was restricted to the Saint John's Park at Bolgatanga, after both organisers and the Regional Security Council had agreed that with the current unrest in Bawku it was not appropriate to disturb the peace of the region through such a procession. The demonstration would have originally taken the demonstrators through the principal streets and end at the forecourt of the Regional Co-ordinating Council.Amidst singing and dancing, the students carried placards, some of which read "no feeding, no vote", "Oga give us our feeding grants" among others. They went round the field several times and were later addressed by the regional minister, Mr Alhassan Samari.The executives of NORPRA, led by its President, Mr Bismark AyorogoAdongo, presented a petition to the regional minister,in which they noted that, second cycle institutions in the north which should have been reopened by now, were still closed, and that school authorities did not even know when the feeding grants would be released.The petition said human resource development which was a priority of the government would undoubtedly suffer if the government continued to neglect and frustrate teaching and learning efforts in educational institutions in the three northern regions.It therefore called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, release the feeding grants to enable first and second year students in second cycle schools to get back to school.Speaking to demonstrators, the regional minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, acknowledged the current difficulties the various schools were going through and emphasised that as a son of the region and someone who had schooled in the region, he fully appreciated their frustrations.He said the government was working assiduously to ameliorate their challenges, adding that some amount of money had been released to heads of educational institutions to enable them to recall the students for academic work to continue.He urged the students to call off their procession and gave the assurance that some good news was going to be announced soon.The students obliged but warned that if nothing was heard this week they would be back on the streets.The failure of the National Scholarship Secretariat to release funds for the feeding of students in the second cycle schools in the three northern regions has resulted in the indefinite postponement of the reopening of the third term of senior high schools in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions.First and second year students who were to report in their respective schools on April 27, 2008 for the third term were still at home.
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
A number of students, mainly from second cycle institutions, and their parents embarked on a peaceful demonstration in the Upper East Regional capital in protest against the government's failure to release the school feeding grant to second cycle institutions in the three northern regions.The demonstration which was organised by a pressure group known as the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) was restricted to the Saint John's Park at Bolgatanga, after both organisers and the Regional Security Council had agreed that with the current unrest in Bawku it was not appropriate to disturb the peace of the region through such a procession. The demonstration would have originally taken the demonstrators through the principal streets and end at the forecourt of the Regional Co-ordinating Council.Amidst singing and dancing, the students carried placards, some of which read "no feeding, no vote", "Oga give us our feeding grants" among others. They went round the field several times and were later addressed by the regional minister, Mr Alhassan Samari.The executives of NORPRA, led by its President, Mr Bismark AyorogoAdongo, presented a petition to the regional minister,in which they noted that, second cycle institutions in the north which should have been reopened by now, were still closed, and that school authorities did not even know when the feeding grants would be released.The petition said human resource development which was a priority of the government would undoubtedly suffer if the government continued to neglect and frustrate teaching and learning efforts in educational institutions in the three northern regions.It therefore called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, release the feeding grants to enable first and second year students in second cycle schools to get back to school.Speaking to demonstrators, the regional minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, acknowledged the current difficulties the various schools were going through and emphasised that as a son of the region and someone who had schooled in the region, he fully appreciated their frustrations.He said the government was working assiduously to ameliorate their challenges, adding that some amount of money had been released to heads of educational institutions to enable them to recall the students for academic work to continue.He urged the students to call off their procession and gave the assurance that some good news was going to be announced soon.The students obliged but warned that if nothing was heard this week they would be back on the streets.The failure of the National Scholarship Secretariat to release funds for the feeding of students in the second cycle schools in the three northern regions has resulted in the indefinite postponement of the reopening of the third term of senior high schools in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions.First and second year students who were to report in their respective schools on April 27, 2008 for the third term were still at home.
Bawku needs peace(Junior Graphic May 14-20, 2008 Lead Story)
Worried students of the Bawku Senior High School seem to be thinking about the conflict in the municipality and how best they could make good use of the limited time they have.
Story:Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
Students of the Bawku Senior High School in the Upper East Region have appealed to the feuding factions in the conflict to do all in their power to stop fighting and resort to dialogue to settle their differences. According to the students, the conflict which had raged on for nearly six months was affecting their education.The conflict in Bawku which started on December 31, 2007 forced the government to impose a curfew and deploy more security personnel there to calm the situation.
In addition, President J. A. Kufour, invited the leaders of both sides, the Kusasis and the Mamprusis to the castle in Accra for dialogue but this notwithstanding, peace in the area has been breached on several occasions.
Some of the students told the Junior Graphic that due to the fighting in the town they were unable to concentrate effectively, particularly, at a time that they were writing their final examination.
According to them, when they hear gunshots while at school their attention is drawn from their studies to the safety of family members at home.
Matilda Atanga, the Assistant Girls’ Prefect, has appealed to the Government to send more soldiers to Bawku to help maintain peace in the municipality.
"When my colleagues and I hear gunshots we get frightened. In fact we are unable to study. I lost concentration and can say that it is by the grace of God that I was able to go through my examination.”
The Headmaster, Mr Paul Apanga, however, allayed the fears of parents and explained that though the school was within the curfew zone, the students were safe and sound.
He said even when the students went across the street to fetch water form a borehole; they were not harassed by the security personnel.
"We have advised the students not to go beyond the boreholes and so far they have all complied", Mr Apanga said.
He commended the Bawku Municipal Security Committee for the tremendous support it has given to the school adding that "They have ensured that the school is well monitored both day and night to ensure that all goes well with everyone,” he added.
Story:Benjamin Xornam Glover, BawkuStudents of the Bawku Senior High School in the Upper East Region have appealed to the feuding factions in the conflict to do all in their power to stop fighting and resort to dialogue to settle their differences. According to the students, the conflict which had raged on for nearly six months was affecting their education.The conflict in Bawku which started on December 31, 2007 forced the government to impose a curfew and deploy more security personnel there to calm the situation.
In addition, President J. A. Kufour, invited the leaders of both sides, the Kusasis and the Mamprusis to the castle in Accra for dialogue but this notwithstanding, peace in the area has been breached on several occasions.
Some of the students told the Junior Graphic that due to the fighting in the town they were unable to concentrate effectively, particularly, at a time that they were writing their final examination.
According to them, when they hear gunshots while at school their attention is drawn from their studies to the safety of family members at home.
Matilda Atanga, the Assistant Girls’ Prefect, has appealed to the Government to send more soldiers to Bawku to help maintain peace in the municipality.
"When my colleagues and I hear gunshots we get frightened. In fact we are unable to study. I lost concentration and can say that it is by the grace of God that I was able to go through my examination.”
The Headmaster, Mr Paul Apanga, however, allayed the fears of parents and explained that though the school was within the curfew zone, the students were safe and sound.
He said even when the students went across the street to fetch water form a borehole; they were not harassed by the security personnel.
"We have advised the students not to go beyond the boreholes and so far they have all complied", Mr Apanga said.
He commended the Bawku Municipal Security Committee for the tremendous support it has given to the school adding that "They have ensured that the school is well monitored both day and night to ensure that all goes well with everyone,” he added.
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
PRESIDENT KUFUOR CONDEMNS RENEWED FIGHTING IN BAWKU (PAGES 24 & 25)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
The President, Mr J.A. Kufuor, has condemned the recent renewed fighting in the Bawku Municipality, stressing that such disturbances risk derailing the peace efforts made so far.
The President’s sentiments were expressed by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, at separate meetings with the Paramount Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, and the Regent of the Mamprusi community in Bawku, Alhaji Adam Ibrahim Zangbeogo, at Bawku yesterday.
Mr Samari said coming from the Castle meeting with the President in March, the two parties returned to Bawku with full hope and excitement that permanent peace was going to return to the area once they committed themselves to a peace process.
"The President has reiterated his concern and displeasure at the happenings in Bawku and is appealing to both sides to exercise restraint, while a permanent solution is found to the problem," he said.
He disclosed that as part of the peace efforts, the President intended to invite the leadership of both sides for the second time, for further talks as part of efforts at solving the Bawku problem.
Mr Samari, who was in Bawku to assess the security situation on behalf of the Government, expressed his condolences to families who had lost their dear ones.
The Bawku Naba said on his return to Bawku from Accra after the meeting with the President, he advised his sub-chiefs to follow the advice of the President to the letter.
"I expected the Nayiri (the overlord of Mamprugu) to also do the same by inviting his children, the Mamprusis in Bawku, to dialogue with them on the need to keep the peace but this has not been done," he said.
He said what happened in Bawku recently came as a big surprise to him and added that he welcomed the second opportunity to meet with the President to discuss the way forward for Bawku.
He also called on the security agencies, especially the police, to be fair in dealing with persons arrested in connection with the violence, emphasising that improper handling of the cases stood the possibility of complicating the situation in the area.
The spokesman for the Mamprusis, Alhaji Akalifa Bugri, for his part, said after the meeting with the President it was on record that no Mamprusi in Bawku had done anything to derail the peace.
He said the elders of the Mamprusi community had impressed on their youth that whoever breached the peace would be made to face the full rigours of the law and these they had obeyed.
"Our opponents have surrounded us and they are causing a whole lot of mayhem," he added.
Another elder, Alhaji Ibrahim Kolbila, said since December 31, 2007 no Mamprusi had ever made any attempt to disturb the peace of the area, because they had been cautioned by the REGSEC, as well as the Municipal Security Committee.
He said to date seven deaths had been recorded on their side and any time this occurred, they were told that these were works of armed robbers. "Meanwhile we are aware of who the perpetrators are and we have reported them to the security agencies," he said.
He said for over a month now, it had been difficult accessing potable water and just recently, people from Pusiga, who were coming to town to supply sachet water, were beaten up and forced to flee.
Mr Mohammed Tahiru Nambe, another opinion leader, expressed disapproval at a statement by the Bawku Naba that all Mamprusis should leave Bawku, stressing that that would be the last thing any Mamprusi would do. He also condemned the killing of the late Karim Oga Musah, stressing that his death was a big blow to the peace efforts of the area.
"Karim Oga has worked with the leadership of the Mamprusi community to ensure that there is peace in Bawku and his death is indeed a big loss not only to the Kusasis but also us on the Mamprusi side," he said.
The Assembly Member for South Natinga, Mr Bashiru Salifu, appealed to the public, especially government workers, to disabuse their minds that the Mamprusi man was a troublemaker.
He called on the security agencies to be firm and deal ruthlessly with people who would flout the law in the town.
Responding, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour, pledged the neutrality of the security personnel in the events in Bawku.
He entreated the people to foster close partnership and report the activities of deviants to the police in order to curb the violence in the area.
The President, Mr J.A. Kufuor, has condemned the recent renewed fighting in the Bawku Municipality, stressing that such disturbances risk derailing the peace efforts made so far.
The President’s sentiments were expressed by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, at separate meetings with the Paramount Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, and the Regent of the Mamprusi community in Bawku, Alhaji Adam Ibrahim Zangbeogo, at Bawku yesterday.
Mr Samari said coming from the Castle meeting with the President in March, the two parties returned to Bawku with full hope and excitement that permanent peace was going to return to the area once they committed themselves to a peace process.
"The President has reiterated his concern and displeasure at the happenings in Bawku and is appealing to both sides to exercise restraint, while a permanent solution is found to the problem," he said.
He disclosed that as part of the peace efforts, the President intended to invite the leadership of both sides for the second time, for further talks as part of efforts at solving the Bawku problem.
Mr Samari, who was in Bawku to assess the security situation on behalf of the Government, expressed his condolences to families who had lost their dear ones.
The Bawku Naba said on his return to Bawku from Accra after the meeting with the President, he advised his sub-chiefs to follow the advice of the President to the letter.
"I expected the Nayiri (the overlord of Mamprugu) to also do the same by inviting his children, the Mamprusis in Bawku, to dialogue with them on the need to keep the peace but this has not been done," he said.
He said what happened in Bawku recently came as a big surprise to him and added that he welcomed the second opportunity to meet with the President to discuss the way forward for Bawku.
He also called on the security agencies, especially the police, to be fair in dealing with persons arrested in connection with the violence, emphasising that improper handling of the cases stood the possibility of complicating the situation in the area.
The spokesman for the Mamprusis, Alhaji Akalifa Bugri, for his part, said after the meeting with the President it was on record that no Mamprusi in Bawku had done anything to derail the peace.
He said the elders of the Mamprusi community had impressed on their youth that whoever breached the peace would be made to face the full rigours of the law and these they had obeyed.
"Our opponents have surrounded us and they are causing a whole lot of mayhem," he added.
Another elder, Alhaji Ibrahim Kolbila, said since December 31, 2007 no Mamprusi had ever made any attempt to disturb the peace of the area, because they had been cautioned by the REGSEC, as well as the Municipal Security Committee.
He said to date seven deaths had been recorded on their side and any time this occurred, they were told that these were works of armed robbers. "Meanwhile we are aware of who the perpetrators are and we have reported them to the security agencies," he said.
He said for over a month now, it had been difficult accessing potable water and just recently, people from Pusiga, who were coming to town to supply sachet water, were beaten up and forced to flee.
Mr Mohammed Tahiru Nambe, another opinion leader, expressed disapproval at a statement by the Bawku Naba that all Mamprusis should leave Bawku, stressing that that would be the last thing any Mamprusi would do. He also condemned the killing of the late Karim Oga Musah, stressing that his death was a big blow to the peace efforts of the area.
"Karim Oga has worked with the leadership of the Mamprusi community to ensure that there is peace in Bawku and his death is indeed a big loss not only to the Kusasis but also us on the Mamprusi side," he said.
The Assembly Member for South Natinga, Mr Bashiru Salifu, appealed to the public, especially government workers, to disabuse their minds that the Mamprusi man was a troublemaker.
He called on the security agencies to be firm and deal ruthlessly with people who would flout the law in the town.
Responding, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour, pledged the neutrality of the security personnel in the events in Bawku.
He entreated the people to foster close partnership and report the activities of deviants to the police in order to curb the violence in the area.
HOSPITAL STAFF ABANDON POST (PAGE 3)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
AFTER several days of fighting in the Bawku Municipality, the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital is now being manned by three Medical Doctors — two Cubans and a Ghanaian — and a handful of nurses some of whom are on contract.
The conflict is hitting the hospital so hard that most of the staff have deserted for safety.
When the Daily Graphic visited the facility on Thursday, the three medical officers and a few health aids were seen attending to some patients who had taken advantage of the lull in curfew hours to seek medical attention.
Dr Hector Jesus Delion Lopez said apart from him and his wife, Dr Jesline, there was only one other Ghanaian doctor whose name he gave as Doctor Seidu currently at post working hard to care for the patients.
Dr Lopez said even though the situation in Bawku was frightening they were committed to helping the people and had no intention of leaving the place.
He showed the Daily Graphic team a bullet mark on top of his official car.
According to Dr Lopez the car was hit by a stray bullet while it was parked at his bungalow at the doctors’ quarters when the fighting erupted last Monday.
He commended the Bawku Municipal Assembly and the Security Agencies for providing them adequate security and said no matter the difficulties he was committed to work.
He, however, appealed to the people to put an end to the conflict.
At the Male Surgical Ward the place was empty. According to a retired senior nursing officer, madam Alix Balthlilga, who said she was on contract, as of last Monday there were nine people on admission but due to the volatile situation, five of them were transferred to the Regional Hospital at Bolgatanga while the rest were discharged.
A few nurses spotted at the precincts of the hospital said they had called on the authorities and hospital management to shut down the facility and re-post some of them to other places.
“The people of Bawku have shown that they do not need us. If they really needed our services, they will not come after us. This place is a peace zone. So why would they subject us to such harassment,” said one of the nurses who did not want to be named.
AFTER several days of fighting in the Bawku Municipality, the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital is now being manned by three Medical Doctors — two Cubans and a Ghanaian — and a handful of nurses some of whom are on contract.
The conflict is hitting the hospital so hard that most of the staff have deserted for safety.
When the Daily Graphic visited the facility on Thursday, the three medical officers and a few health aids were seen attending to some patients who had taken advantage of the lull in curfew hours to seek medical attention.
Dr Hector Jesus Delion Lopez said apart from him and his wife, Dr Jesline, there was only one other Ghanaian doctor whose name he gave as Doctor Seidu currently at post working hard to care for the patients.
Dr Lopez said even though the situation in Bawku was frightening they were committed to helping the people and had no intention of leaving the place.
He showed the Daily Graphic team a bullet mark on top of his official car.
According to Dr Lopez the car was hit by a stray bullet while it was parked at his bungalow at the doctors’ quarters when the fighting erupted last Monday.
He commended the Bawku Municipal Assembly and the Security Agencies for providing them adequate security and said no matter the difficulties he was committed to work.
He, however, appealed to the people to put an end to the conflict.
At the Male Surgical Ward the place was empty. According to a retired senior nursing officer, madam Alix Balthlilga, who said she was on contract, as of last Monday there were nine people on admission but due to the volatile situation, five of them were transferred to the Regional Hospital at Bolgatanga while the rest were discharged.
A few nurses spotted at the precincts of the hospital said they had called on the authorities and hospital management to shut down the facility and re-post some of them to other places.
“The people of Bawku have shown that they do not need us. If they really needed our services, they will not come after us. This place is a peace zone. So why would they subject us to such harassment,” said one of the nurses who did not want to be named.
Sunday, 11 May 2008
WASSCE SMOOTH IN BAWKU DESPITE CRISIS (PAGE 3)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
No candidate has been absent in the ongoing West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), in spite of the current conflict there, authorities of the Bawku Senior High School have disclosed.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Paul Apanga, told the Daily Graphic in Bawku that all the 481 candidates, 121 of whom are girls, who were registered for the May/June WASSCE reported to write their respective papers.
"For all the papers, not a single student has been absent and not one of them has been escorted by the security personnel from outside to come and write his or her papers," he stressed.
Fighting broke out in Bawku last Sunday evening following which the government imposed a 22-hour curfew on the town and its neighbouring communities. The curfew hours were later reviewed to 16 hours.
The security agencies, however, offered to provide security escort for any student, particularly day students, who needed to write the examinations.
According to Mr Apanga, when the disturbance started on Sunday, many people thought school work and the examinations would be disrupted but fortunately for the authorities normal school work was going on smoothly.
"We have the WAEC Depot in this school, which serves three districts — Bawku Municipality, Garu-Tempane and Bawku West. This depot is under heavy security and whenever there is time to write a particular paper, supervisors come in to take their supplies," he said.
Though the school is within the curfew zone, the headmaster allayed the fears of parents, stressing that the students were safe and sound.
He said even when the students had to go across the streets to fetch water from a borehole, they were not harassed by the security personnel.
“We have advised the students not to go beyond the boreholes and so far they have all complied,” Mr Apanga said.
He commended the Bawku Municipal Security Committee for its tremendous support, adding, "They have ensured that the school is well monitored both day and night to ensure that all goes well.”
Asked whether some teachers had sought to leave in view of the conflict, Mr Apanga said there were a total of 85 teachers in the school and when the crisis started on December 31, 2007, only one female teacher who hailed from Walewale requested for a transfer because she felt uncomfortable.
According to Mr Apanga, in consultation with the Municipal Education Director, the request was granted and she had since been transferred.
Meanwhile, some final-year students who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed concern about the conflict in Bawku and appealed to the people to learn to co-exist in peace and unity.
In a related development, some basic schools in the Bawku Municipality remained closed due to the renewed violence in the town.
When the Daily Graphic team got to the Benguri Primary School in the morning of Thursday, not a single soul was present.
No candidate has been absent in the ongoing West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), in spite of the current conflict there, authorities of the Bawku Senior High School have disclosed.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Paul Apanga, told the Daily Graphic in Bawku that all the 481 candidates, 121 of whom are girls, who were registered for the May/June WASSCE reported to write their respective papers.
"For all the papers, not a single student has been absent and not one of them has been escorted by the security personnel from outside to come and write his or her papers," he stressed.
Fighting broke out in Bawku last Sunday evening following which the government imposed a 22-hour curfew on the town and its neighbouring communities. The curfew hours were later reviewed to 16 hours.
The security agencies, however, offered to provide security escort for any student, particularly day students, who needed to write the examinations.
According to Mr Apanga, when the disturbance started on Sunday, many people thought school work and the examinations would be disrupted but fortunately for the authorities normal school work was going on smoothly.
"We have the WAEC Depot in this school, which serves three districts — Bawku Municipality, Garu-Tempane and Bawku West. This depot is under heavy security and whenever there is time to write a particular paper, supervisors come in to take their supplies," he said.
Though the school is within the curfew zone, the headmaster allayed the fears of parents, stressing that the students were safe and sound.
He said even when the students had to go across the streets to fetch water from a borehole, they were not harassed by the security personnel.
“We have advised the students not to go beyond the boreholes and so far they have all complied,” Mr Apanga said.
He commended the Bawku Municipal Security Committee for its tremendous support, adding, "They have ensured that the school is well monitored both day and night to ensure that all goes well.”
Asked whether some teachers had sought to leave in view of the conflict, Mr Apanga said there were a total of 85 teachers in the school and when the crisis started on December 31, 2007, only one female teacher who hailed from Walewale requested for a transfer because she felt uncomfortable.
According to Mr Apanga, in consultation with the Municipal Education Director, the request was granted and she had since been transferred.
Meanwhile, some final-year students who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed concern about the conflict in Bawku and appealed to the people to learn to co-exist in peace and unity.
In a related development, some basic schools in the Bawku Municipality remained closed due to the renewed violence in the town.
When the Daily Graphic team got to the Benguri Primary School in the morning of Thursday, not a single soul was present.
Friday, 9 May 2008
NINE REMANDED IN BAWKU (PAGE 34)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
NINE out of the 13 people being prosecuted before a Bolgatanga Magistrate Court, presided over by Mr Abdul Hakeem, for their alleged involvement in the recent fighting in Bawku have been remanded into prison custody.
Three of the remaining four were granted bail on account of their being juveniles, while the last person was not in court because he was on admission at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital seeking medical attention.
The pleas of those who were in court yesterday were not taken and they will appear again on May 21, 2008.
The first case that came up for hearing was against Dramani Mohammed, Ibrahim Musah, Aziz Apanga, Naba Ndezure, Yakobu Bukari and Seidu Sule, who did not turn up because he was on hospital admission.
They were charged with breach of curfew and rioting with weapons such as rifles and machetes.
Prosecuting, Detective Inspector John Agyuah told the court that the accused persons were spotted by security personnel on patrol duties in Bawku on May 5 with guns, machetes and other offensive weapons and firing indiscriminately, way after a new curfew time of 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 a.m. had been imposed.
He said the security personnel managed to arrest the six offenders and later sent them to the office of the Criminal Investigations Department in Bolgatanga for questioning.
He said considering the volatile situation in Bawku, he was appealing to the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody, while investigations continued, adding that the police were working around the clock to retrieve more weapons.
Counsel for the accused persons, Mr Cletus Avoka, said much as everyone was disturbed about the situation in Bawku and was committed to helping the security agencies to curb the situation, innocent persons should not suffer punishment unjustly.
He argued that the facts put out by the prosecution connecting the accused persons to the disturbances were far from the truth.
“It was true that there was a curfew in place on the said day. However, the people in Bawku did not know, let alone hear, about it. Normally, the Information Service van would move from street to street to announce the curfew but this was not done. Therefore, most people did not hear about it,” he said.
He argued further that the accused persons were arrested in their homes and not in the streets, as claimed by the prosecution, and prayed the court to grant them bail.
The court, after hearing both arguments, ruled that considering the volatile situation, the accused persons be remanded in prison custody to appear again on May 21.
The court, however, granted the third accused, Aziz Apanga, 17, bail in the sum of GH¢2,000 with two sureties on account of his age.
In the second case heard in the same court, five suspects — Fuseini Abidin, Ndego Abduraman, Issah Abugrago, Ndego Samed and Seidu Hamidu — were charged with the offence of rioting with weapons.
Presenting his facts, Detective Inspector Agyuah said security personnel on duty following renewed fighting in Bawku on Monday heard gunshots and decided to move to the scene.
He said when the security men were getting closer to the scene, the accused persons, including others now on the run, maintained their position on seeing the security men and opened fire on them.
He said that went on for some time until their ammunition ran out and they were later arrested with the AK 47 rifle. They were later transferred to the Regional CID in Bolgatanga for investigations.
Mr Avoka, who was counsel for the accused persons, faulted the facts, saying they were far from the truth. He questioned how five men could fire one single rifle at the same time.
He also contended that Abidin and Abduraman were juveniles and pleaded with the court to grant them bail.
The court, after hearing both sides, granted Abidin and Abduraman bail in the sum of GH¢3,000 each and remanded the rest in prison custody.
The next person to appear before the same court was Nuhu Fuseini, who was charged with unlawful possession of a fire arm and ammunition
Detective Agyuah told the court that while the joint military and police commander and his team were on duty in Bawku on May 5, they came across the accused person who was holding a Sten gun number 5404 which he was firing indiscriminately. The team, he said, managed to overpower him and retrieved the weapon, which had 16 rounds of ammunition left in it.
He prayed the court to remand the suspect, while the police conducted further investigations.
Mr Avoka, counsel for the accused, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail, arguing that he was a juvenile, to which the prosecutor protested, saying the accused person had claimed in his statement to the police that he was 20 and not 15, as claimed by counsel.
Mr Avoka further said on the day in question people were vacating their homes out of fear. He said when the shooting intensified, the accused person also decided to flee to a nearby village and in the process of fleeing he had sought refuge in a nearby house.
It was there that he had seen the gun lying by. Just then the security men came around and, out of fear of being beaten, he had admitted that the weapon was his.
The court remanded the accused person in prison custody to appear again on the next adjourned date.
The last person to appear before the same court was Haruna Ibrahim, who was charged with murder.
The prosecution said on May 5, at Kariyama, a suburb of Bawku, while security personnel were on patrol duties, they spotted the accused person and other accomplices who were alleged to have beheaded one Muniru Adams.
He said the other suspects managed to flee but Haruna was apprehended, while the body of the beheaded man was deposited at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.
He added that efforts were underway to arrest the other culprits.
Counsel for the accused, Mr Avoka, said his client was a victim of mistaken identity, adding that the suspects hailed from Pusiga and not Bawku, as claimed by the prosecution.
He said on the day of the incident, the accused had been riding a bicycle into Bawku when he saw a lot of people running so he jumped off his bicycle but he was arrested by the security men.
The court, however, remanded Ibrahim in prison custody to appear again on May 21, 2008.
Meanwhile, the rest of the people arrested on Monday will appear in court today.
NINE out of the 13 people being prosecuted before a Bolgatanga Magistrate Court, presided over by Mr Abdul Hakeem, for their alleged involvement in the recent fighting in Bawku have been remanded into prison custody.
Three of the remaining four were granted bail on account of their being juveniles, while the last person was not in court because he was on admission at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital seeking medical attention.
The pleas of those who were in court yesterday were not taken and they will appear again on May 21, 2008.
The first case that came up for hearing was against Dramani Mohammed, Ibrahim Musah, Aziz Apanga, Naba Ndezure, Yakobu Bukari and Seidu Sule, who did not turn up because he was on hospital admission.
They were charged with breach of curfew and rioting with weapons such as rifles and machetes.
Prosecuting, Detective Inspector John Agyuah told the court that the accused persons were spotted by security personnel on patrol duties in Bawku on May 5 with guns, machetes and other offensive weapons and firing indiscriminately, way after a new curfew time of 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 a.m. had been imposed.
He said the security personnel managed to arrest the six offenders and later sent them to the office of the Criminal Investigations Department in Bolgatanga for questioning.
He said considering the volatile situation in Bawku, he was appealing to the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody, while investigations continued, adding that the police were working around the clock to retrieve more weapons.
Counsel for the accused persons, Mr Cletus Avoka, said much as everyone was disturbed about the situation in Bawku and was committed to helping the security agencies to curb the situation, innocent persons should not suffer punishment unjustly.
He argued that the facts put out by the prosecution connecting the accused persons to the disturbances were far from the truth.
“It was true that there was a curfew in place on the said day. However, the people in Bawku did not know, let alone hear, about it. Normally, the Information Service van would move from street to street to announce the curfew but this was not done. Therefore, most people did not hear about it,” he said.
He argued further that the accused persons were arrested in their homes and not in the streets, as claimed by the prosecution, and prayed the court to grant them bail.
The court, after hearing both arguments, ruled that considering the volatile situation, the accused persons be remanded in prison custody to appear again on May 21.
The court, however, granted the third accused, Aziz Apanga, 17, bail in the sum of GH¢2,000 with two sureties on account of his age.
In the second case heard in the same court, five suspects — Fuseini Abidin, Ndego Abduraman, Issah Abugrago, Ndego Samed and Seidu Hamidu — were charged with the offence of rioting with weapons.
Presenting his facts, Detective Inspector Agyuah said security personnel on duty following renewed fighting in Bawku on Monday heard gunshots and decided to move to the scene.
He said when the security men were getting closer to the scene, the accused persons, including others now on the run, maintained their position on seeing the security men and opened fire on them.
He said that went on for some time until their ammunition ran out and they were later arrested with the AK 47 rifle. They were later transferred to the Regional CID in Bolgatanga for investigations.
Mr Avoka, who was counsel for the accused persons, faulted the facts, saying they were far from the truth. He questioned how five men could fire one single rifle at the same time.
He also contended that Abidin and Abduraman were juveniles and pleaded with the court to grant them bail.
The court, after hearing both sides, granted Abidin and Abduraman bail in the sum of GH¢3,000 each and remanded the rest in prison custody.
The next person to appear before the same court was Nuhu Fuseini, who was charged with unlawful possession of a fire arm and ammunition
Detective Agyuah told the court that while the joint military and police commander and his team were on duty in Bawku on May 5, they came across the accused person who was holding a Sten gun number 5404 which he was firing indiscriminately. The team, he said, managed to overpower him and retrieved the weapon, which had 16 rounds of ammunition left in it.
He prayed the court to remand the suspect, while the police conducted further investigations.
Mr Avoka, counsel for the accused, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail, arguing that he was a juvenile, to which the prosecutor protested, saying the accused person had claimed in his statement to the police that he was 20 and not 15, as claimed by counsel.
Mr Avoka further said on the day in question people were vacating their homes out of fear. He said when the shooting intensified, the accused person also decided to flee to a nearby village and in the process of fleeing he had sought refuge in a nearby house.
It was there that he had seen the gun lying by. Just then the security men came around and, out of fear of being beaten, he had admitted that the weapon was his.
The court remanded the accused person in prison custody to appear again on the next adjourned date.
The last person to appear before the same court was Haruna Ibrahim, who was charged with murder.
The prosecution said on May 5, at Kariyama, a suburb of Bawku, while security personnel were on patrol duties, they spotted the accused person and other accomplices who were alleged to have beheaded one Muniru Adams.
He said the other suspects managed to flee but Haruna was apprehended, while the body of the beheaded man was deposited at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.
He added that efforts were underway to arrest the other culprits.
Counsel for the accused, Mr Avoka, said his client was a victim of mistaken identity, adding that the suspects hailed from Pusiga and not Bawku, as claimed by the prosecution.
He said on the day of the incident, the accused had been riding a bicycle into Bawku when he saw a lot of people running so he jumped off his bicycle but he was arrested by the security men.
The court, however, remanded Ibrahim in prison custody to appear again on May 21, 2008.
Meanwhile, the rest of the people arrested on Monday will appear in court today.
UNEASY CALM IN BAWKU...Banks remain closed but brisk activity at market (LEAD STORY)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
AN uneasy calm is currently prevailing in Bawku after fresh fighting erupted in the town last Sunday.
A visit to the town yesterday revealed that life was steadily bouncing back, as people could be seen going about their businesses amidst tight security.
At the main Bawku Central Market, business was taking place, but while a few shops within town had opened for business, others remained closed.
The offices of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Barclays Bank, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), as well as Ghana Post, the Social Security and the National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), however, remained closed.
Bank customers with ATM cards were seen withdrawing money from the cash dispenser at the Barclays Bank.
At the forecourt of the Bawku Community Centre, where a temporary lorry station has been established, brisk activities were going on.
These included trading, but some people were seen boarding vehicles, apparently in their bid to flee the area.
In an interview, some of the residents complained about the rising cost of living as a result of the conflict.
The Bawku Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Abdulai Abanga, said he had been taken aback by the latest developments, especially coming after several efforts to bring peace to the area.
Mr Abanga said Bawku had been on the verge of attaining total peace when the last incident occurred.
“After the meeting between the President and the chiefs of the two feuding sides and the intensification of peace efforts at the local level, we were all very hopeful that peace was gradually returning, only to be hit hard by this latest development,” he said.
He described the killing of Alhaji Karim Oga as a big blow, saying that the late Alhaji Karim was one of the moderates who had been very helpful in terms of advising the youth on the need to keep peace in the area .
Meanwhile, the Bawku Traditional Council has expressed confidence in the wise counsel of President Kufuor after his meeting with all the factions in the Bawku conflict in March this year.
It, however, appealed to the government to issue a public statement on its official position on the issue.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, the Paramount Chief of the Bawku Traditional Area, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka, said the traditional council anticipated a firm action on those supporting, misleading or encouraging the acts of terrorism and banditry before they got out of hand.
According to the chief, “our own patience has a limit”, and added in an angry tone, “If the Mamprusis in Bawku will give us no peace, then we will call on them to move away from our land to where they came from, Mamprugu. This land of ours is Kusaug and we will never yield to intimidation to surrender it to the Mamprusis.”
The Bawku Naba said the British colonialist extended Mamprusi rule to his land and modified it at various stages, culminating in the granting of full self-rule to Kusasis in 1957.
“If the timing co-incided with the attainment of Ghana’s independence in the same year, this cannot be blamed on the personality of the late President Nkrumah or his CPP, as the Mamprusis keep on alleging without valid proof. We have won our case through the due process of the law and that ends it,” Naba Azoka said.
He also called on leaders of political parties to refrain from giving recognition to the leaders of the Mamprusis, whom they treated as if they were also chiefs in Bawku and were at par with the Bawku Naba.
“When they visit Bawku and pay courtesy calls on the Bawku Naba, they do the same to a so-called Mamprusi regent.
We will have nothing to complain about if they call on a party chairman belonging to any ethnic group in Bawku, whether Mamprusi, Bissa, Moshie, Hausa or Dagomba, all of whom are sizeable minorities in the Bawku municipality and beyond,” he explained.
He said that attitude on the part of politicians could be the result of ignorance of the local situation and the implication of their actions.
According to him, the current Bawku situation certainly served as a test case of fair play and the rule of law in Ghana.
Naba Azoka commended the government for the efforts made so far in ensuring peace in the area and pledged his support to peace efforts in the area.
AN uneasy calm is currently prevailing in Bawku after fresh fighting erupted in the town last Sunday.
A visit to the town yesterday revealed that life was steadily bouncing back, as people could be seen going about their businesses amidst tight security.
At the main Bawku Central Market, business was taking place, but while a few shops within town had opened for business, others remained closed.
The offices of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Barclays Bank, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), as well as Ghana Post, the Social Security and the National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), however, remained closed.
Bank customers with ATM cards were seen withdrawing money from the cash dispenser at the Barclays Bank.
At the forecourt of the Bawku Community Centre, where a temporary lorry station has been established, brisk activities were going on.
These included trading, but some people were seen boarding vehicles, apparently in their bid to flee the area.
In an interview, some of the residents complained about the rising cost of living as a result of the conflict.
The Bawku Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Abdulai Abanga, said he had been taken aback by the latest developments, especially coming after several efforts to bring peace to the area.
Mr Abanga said Bawku had been on the verge of attaining total peace when the last incident occurred.
“After the meeting between the President and the chiefs of the two feuding sides and the intensification of peace efforts at the local level, we were all very hopeful that peace was gradually returning, only to be hit hard by this latest development,” he said.
He described the killing of Alhaji Karim Oga as a big blow, saying that the late Alhaji Karim was one of the moderates who had been very helpful in terms of advising the youth on the need to keep peace in the area .
Meanwhile, the Bawku Traditional Council has expressed confidence in the wise counsel of President Kufuor after his meeting with all the factions in the Bawku conflict in March this year.
It, however, appealed to the government to issue a public statement on its official position on the issue.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, the Paramount Chief of the Bawku Traditional Area, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka, said the traditional council anticipated a firm action on those supporting, misleading or encouraging the acts of terrorism and banditry before they got out of hand.
According to the chief, “our own patience has a limit”, and added in an angry tone, “If the Mamprusis in Bawku will give us no peace, then we will call on them to move away from our land to where they came from, Mamprugu. This land of ours is Kusaug and we will never yield to intimidation to surrender it to the Mamprusis.”
The Bawku Naba said the British colonialist extended Mamprusi rule to his land and modified it at various stages, culminating in the granting of full self-rule to Kusasis in 1957.
“If the timing co-incided with the attainment of Ghana’s independence in the same year, this cannot be blamed on the personality of the late President Nkrumah or his CPP, as the Mamprusis keep on alleging without valid proof. We have won our case through the due process of the law and that ends it,” Naba Azoka said.
He also called on leaders of political parties to refrain from giving recognition to the leaders of the Mamprusis, whom they treated as if they were also chiefs in Bawku and were at par with the Bawku Naba.
“When they visit Bawku and pay courtesy calls on the Bawku Naba, they do the same to a so-called Mamprusi regent.
We will have nothing to complain about if they call on a party chairman belonging to any ethnic group in Bawku, whether Mamprusi, Bissa, Moshie, Hausa or Dagomba, all of whom are sizeable minorities in the Bawku municipality and beyond,” he explained.
He said that attitude on the part of politicians could be the result of ignorance of the local situation and the implication of their actions.
According to him, the current Bawku situation certainly served as a test case of fair play and the rule of law in Ghana.
Naba Azoka commended the government for the efforts made so far in ensuring peace in the area and pledged his support to peace efforts in the area.
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
SECURITY FOR BAWKU WASSCE CANDIDATES (PAGE 3)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
Final-year senior high school students engaged in this year’s West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), as well as their invigilators and supervisors, in the Bawku municipality are to be provided adequate security protection to enable them to complete their examination.
The May/June 2008 WASSCE started on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 and will end on Wednesday, May 28, 2008.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, said in view of the 22-hour curfew imposed on the town following renewed fighting in the area, the candidates and their supervisors would be escorted to and from their examination centres to enable them to write their papers.
The government extended the 12 midnight to 4.00 a.m. curfew imposed on Bawku and its surrounding townships to 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 a.m. because of renewed fighting in the town last Sunday.
By that latest development, the people of Bawku and neighbouring towns have only two hours of freedom.
The Regional Police Commander maintained that the official death toll in the recent conflict was four, including one person who was beheaded, adding that 10 houses were burnt at Pusiga, while two trucks were also burnt on the Bawku- Garu Road
According to DCOP Gyeabour, presently the situation in Bawku was somewhat calm, but he was quick to add that more security personnel were being deployed in the town to avert further clashes in the area.
He disclosed that some vital installations, such as the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, had been placed under heavy security guard.
Meanwhile, seven patients on admission at the hospital at the time of the renewed fighting in Bawku have been, on the recommendation of the medical authorities, transferred to the Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga.
The Regional Police Commander added that in the early hours of Monday when the fighting erupted, some armed persons attempted to attack one of the police barracks but the police quickly mobilised and quelled the attack.
Final-year senior high school students engaged in this year’s West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), as well as their invigilators and supervisors, in the Bawku municipality are to be provided adequate security protection to enable them to complete their examination.
The May/June 2008 WASSCE started on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 and will end on Wednesday, May 28, 2008.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, said in view of the 22-hour curfew imposed on the town following renewed fighting in the area, the candidates and their supervisors would be escorted to and from their examination centres to enable them to write their papers.
The government extended the 12 midnight to 4.00 a.m. curfew imposed on Bawku and its surrounding townships to 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 a.m. because of renewed fighting in the town last Sunday.
By that latest development, the people of Bawku and neighbouring towns have only two hours of freedom.
The Regional Police Commander maintained that the official death toll in the recent conflict was four, including one person who was beheaded, adding that 10 houses were burnt at Pusiga, while two trucks were also burnt on the Bawku- Garu Road
According to DCOP Gyeabour, presently the situation in Bawku was somewhat calm, but he was quick to add that more security personnel were being deployed in the town to avert further clashes in the area.
He disclosed that some vital installations, such as the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, had been placed under heavy security guard.
Meanwhile, seven patients on admission at the hospital at the time of the renewed fighting in Bawku have been, on the recommendation of the medical authorities, transferred to the Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga.
The Regional Police Commander added that in the early hours of Monday when the fighting erupted, some armed persons attempted to attack one of the police barracks but the police quickly mobilised and quelled the attack.
The Bawku crisis...WEAPONS SEIZED (1b)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
THE military on operation in the Bawku municipality in the Upper East Region has retrieved 13 weapons from the combatants in the renewed fighting in the town.
The weapons, which were seized following last Monday’s upheavals, included nine AK 47 assault rifles, a shot machine gun, one G3, one self-loading rifle and a locally manufactured gun.
The Officer Commanding the Airborne Force Detachment in Bawku, Captain Victor Abbey, who disclosed this at a press conference in Bawku yesterday, said the AK 47 rifles contained 90 rounds of ammunition, while the G3 had 10 rounds, as well as an AA cartridge.
Present at the news conference were the Commanding Officer of the Airborne Force in Tamale, Lt Col Awuah-Mantey; the Police Divisional Commander for Bawku, Chief Superintendent Peter Mawong, as well as members of the Municipal Security Council.
Lt Col Awuah-Mantey said the Bawku crisis was assuming dimensions which were quite disturbing.
He said the President, in his wisdom, had called the leadership of the two feuding parties to appeal to them to ameliorate the situation, explaining that following that move, the situation became calm for some time.
“But, then, it is as if the people are still adamant and they are trying to take the law into their own hands,” he noted.
He said it was quite unfortunate that for the past three days Bawku had become turbulent, adding that the most disturbing aspect of the situation was that while “we have been trained to hold the weapons, unfortunately people who are not qualified are handling such sophisticated weapons”.
Those weapons, he alleged, had been acquired through unknown sources, a situation which was quite disturbing.
He noted that the conflict in Bawku was draining the coffers of the nation, adding that in spite of all the efforts being made by the government, the people were not reciprocating with their attitude and conduct.
“While we are thinking of pursuing unnecessary conflict, we should also be thinking of the development of this area because all the other parts of the country are seeing development,” he admonished the people.
Touching on the 22-hour curfew imposed on Bawku, Lt Col Awuah-Mantey conceded that the decision was quite harsh, but he was quick to add that it was a step to stem the tide.
“It has come to our realisation that a lot of people are hungry at home and are unable to access health care and food, but who has created that situation?” he asked.
He, however, gave the assurance that once the situation improved, the curfew hours would be reviewed.
The Bawku Divisional Police Commander confirmed that 72 people had so far been arrested and were being screened, adding that among those who were arrested was a police recruit who had graduated from the Pwalugu Police Training School just last Friday.
He said after the screening, appropriate charges would be preferred against them and for them to be arraigned.
THE military on operation in the Bawku municipality in the Upper East Region has retrieved 13 weapons from the combatants in the renewed fighting in the town.
The weapons, which were seized following last Monday’s upheavals, included nine AK 47 assault rifles, a shot machine gun, one G3, one self-loading rifle and a locally manufactured gun.
The Officer Commanding the Airborne Force Detachment in Bawku, Captain Victor Abbey, who disclosed this at a press conference in Bawku yesterday, said the AK 47 rifles contained 90 rounds of ammunition, while the G3 had 10 rounds, as well as an AA cartridge.
Present at the news conference were the Commanding Officer of the Airborne Force in Tamale, Lt Col Awuah-Mantey; the Police Divisional Commander for Bawku, Chief Superintendent Peter Mawong, as well as members of the Municipal Security Council.
Lt Col Awuah-Mantey said the Bawku crisis was assuming dimensions which were quite disturbing.
He said the President, in his wisdom, had called the leadership of the two feuding parties to appeal to them to ameliorate the situation, explaining that following that move, the situation became calm for some time.
“But, then, it is as if the people are still adamant and they are trying to take the law into their own hands,” he noted.
He said it was quite unfortunate that for the past three days Bawku had become turbulent, adding that the most disturbing aspect of the situation was that while “we have been trained to hold the weapons, unfortunately people who are not qualified are handling such sophisticated weapons”.
Those weapons, he alleged, had been acquired through unknown sources, a situation which was quite disturbing.
He noted that the conflict in Bawku was draining the coffers of the nation, adding that in spite of all the efforts being made by the government, the people were not reciprocating with their attitude and conduct.
“While we are thinking of pursuing unnecessary conflict, we should also be thinking of the development of this area because all the other parts of the country are seeing development,” he admonished the people.
Touching on the 22-hour curfew imposed on Bawku, Lt Col Awuah-Mantey conceded that the decision was quite harsh, but he was quick to add that it was a step to stem the tide.
“It has come to our realisation that a lot of people are hungry at home and are unable to access health care and food, but who has created that situation?” he asked.
He, however, gave the assurance that once the situation improved, the curfew hours would be reviewed.
The Bawku Divisional Police Commander confirmed that 72 people had so far been arrested and were being screened, adding that among those who were arrested was a police recruit who had graduated from the Pwalugu Police Training School just last Friday.
He said after the screening, appropriate charges would be preferred against them and for them to be arraigned.
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
HIV/TB PREVENTION WORKSHOP ENDS AT BONGO (PAGE 21)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bongo
SIXTY-EIGHT community volunteers have attended a sensitisation workshop at Bongo in the Upper East Region on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention.
The Ghana Poultry Network (GHAPNET), in collaboration with the Bongo District Health Management Team, organised the workshop.
Members of the team later extended the sensitisation exercise to churches, schools and other social gatherings.
A representative of GHAPNET, Mr Godson Coffie, in an address, stressed the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to fight the two diseases, since health workers alone could not monitor and manage the disease without public support. ”We are all at risk because TB is no respecter of persons,” he stressed.
Mr Coffie urged the public to encourage people suffering from the diseases to seek treatment at the hospital.
The District TB Co-ordinator, Madam Faustina Bezen, elaborated extensively on the relationship between TB and HIV.
She disclosed that 21 new cases of tuberculosis were recorded in the district last year, adding that as of April this year, 10 new cases of the disease had been reported to the hospital.
While urging the people to seek early treatment at the hospital, Madam Bezen stated that TB treatment was free, and therefore implored the people not to hesitate to report any health personnel who charged victims of the disease.
According to her, the newly introduced TB treatment package improved access to TB patients, as they were treated in their communities.
The District Director of the Veterinary Services Department, Dr Shittu Mohammed, in a presentation, advised the public on the need to pasteurise their fresh cow milk before use.
He disclosed that the Veterinary Service of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture had been carrying out periodic TB sampling tests, adding that Veterinary Public Health officers were on high alert to detect other forms of TB in tissues and organs at the various slaughter houses.
The Paramount Chief of Bongo, Naba Aleemyaarum Salifu, who chaired the function, commended the organisers of the event for their efforts, and tasked the participants to encourage all suspected TB patients to report to health institutions for testing and possible treatment.
He emphasised the need for them to encourage TB patients to go through the treatment course to reduce the prevalence of TB in the district.
SIXTY-EIGHT community volunteers have attended a sensitisation workshop at Bongo in the Upper East Region on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention.
The Ghana Poultry Network (GHAPNET), in collaboration with the Bongo District Health Management Team, organised the workshop.
Members of the team later extended the sensitisation exercise to churches, schools and other social gatherings.
A representative of GHAPNET, Mr Godson Coffie, in an address, stressed the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to fight the two diseases, since health workers alone could not monitor and manage the disease without public support. ”We are all at risk because TB is no respecter of persons,” he stressed.
Mr Coffie urged the public to encourage people suffering from the diseases to seek treatment at the hospital.
The District TB Co-ordinator, Madam Faustina Bezen, elaborated extensively on the relationship between TB and HIV.
She disclosed that 21 new cases of tuberculosis were recorded in the district last year, adding that as of April this year, 10 new cases of the disease had been reported to the hospital.
While urging the people to seek early treatment at the hospital, Madam Bezen stated that TB treatment was free, and therefore implored the people not to hesitate to report any health personnel who charged victims of the disease.
According to her, the newly introduced TB treatment package improved access to TB patients, as they were treated in their communities.
The District Director of the Veterinary Services Department, Dr Shittu Mohammed, in a presentation, advised the public on the need to pasteurise their fresh cow milk before use.
He disclosed that the Veterinary Service of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture had been carrying out periodic TB sampling tests, adding that Veterinary Public Health officers were on high alert to detect other forms of TB in tissues and organs at the various slaughter houses.
The Paramount Chief of Bongo, Naba Aleemyaarum Salifu, who chaired the function, commended the organisers of the event for their efforts, and tasked the participants to encourage all suspected TB patients to report to health institutions for testing and possible treatment.
He emphasised the need for them to encourage TB patients to go through the treatment course to reduce the prevalence of TB in the district.
BAWKU AGAIN ...4 Dead, 15 Injured, 72 Arrested in renewed fighting (LEAD STORY)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
FOUR persons are reported dead, following renewed hostilities in the Bawku municipality in the Upper East Region on Sunday night.
Ten houses and two trucks were also said to have been set ablaze in the violence, which was characterised by sporadic gunshots in parts of the municipality.
Seventy-two persons have been arrested for screening by the Police for their alleged involvement in the renewed fighting in the municipality.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Regional Police Commanader, Deputy Commisioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour, confirmed that the dead included a popular Bawku-based contractor and opinion leader of the Kusasi community, Alhaji Karimu, also known as Ojah.
He was said to have been shot near a mosque around the offices of the Bawku Municipal Assembly.
DCOP Gyeabour said 15 of the arrested persons who sustained various degrees of injuries have been sent to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital for medical attention under police escort.
According to DCOP Gyeabour the police have intercepted two weapons including an AK 47 rifle and the military have also retrieved five rifles including one which was abandoned.
He gave the assurance that the security forces were firmly on the ground adding that all those arrested will be dealt with the law.
As a result of the renewed fighting, the Minister of the Interior has, on the advice of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC), re-imposed the curfew on the Bawku municipality.
The curfew, which will also affect Zabugu, Binduri, Pusiga, Zoosi and their environs, will now start at 9.00 a.m. and end at 7.00 a.m. until further notice.
The increase in the curfew hours is to assist the military and the police to bring the explosive situation in Bawku to normalcy.
A press release signed by the Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, and issued in Accra yesterday reminded the public that the ban on all persons in the Bawku municipality, Zabugu, Binduri, Pusiga and Zoosi and their environs from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapon still remained in force and that any person found with any arms or ammunition would be arrested and prosecuted.
Sources in Bawku told the Daily Graphic that fighting started about 7.00 p.m., moments after Muslim prayers, and intensified between 11.00 p.m. and 12 midnight.
The late Alhaji Karimu, aged about 50, died while being transported to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital after receiving first aid at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital.
Alhaji Karim’s death was said to have triggered the sporadic gunshots throughout the Bawku municipality.
About 6.00 a.m. on Monday, intermittent gunshots could still be heard in the municipality.
Meanwhile, all shops and offices remain closed, while the streets are deserted.
Military and police patrols have intensified and sources within the security services told the Daily Graphic that more security personnel were being deployed to the area.
FOUR persons are reported dead, following renewed hostilities in the Bawku municipality in the Upper East Region on Sunday night.
Ten houses and two trucks were also said to have been set ablaze in the violence, which was characterised by sporadic gunshots in parts of the municipality.
Seventy-two persons have been arrested for screening by the Police for their alleged involvement in the renewed fighting in the municipality.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Regional Police Commanader, Deputy Commisioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour, confirmed that the dead included a popular Bawku-based contractor and opinion leader of the Kusasi community, Alhaji Karimu, also known as Ojah.
He was said to have been shot near a mosque around the offices of the Bawku Municipal Assembly.
DCOP Gyeabour said 15 of the arrested persons who sustained various degrees of injuries have been sent to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital for medical attention under police escort.
According to DCOP Gyeabour the police have intercepted two weapons including an AK 47 rifle and the military have also retrieved five rifles including one which was abandoned.
He gave the assurance that the security forces were firmly on the ground adding that all those arrested will be dealt with the law.
As a result of the renewed fighting, the Minister of the Interior has, on the advice of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC), re-imposed the curfew on the Bawku municipality.
The curfew, which will also affect Zabugu, Binduri, Pusiga, Zoosi and their environs, will now start at 9.00 a.m. and end at 7.00 a.m. until further notice.
The increase in the curfew hours is to assist the military and the police to bring the explosive situation in Bawku to normalcy.
A press release signed by the Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, and issued in Accra yesterday reminded the public that the ban on all persons in the Bawku municipality, Zabugu, Binduri, Pusiga and Zoosi and their environs from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapon still remained in force and that any person found with any arms or ammunition would be arrested and prosecuted.
Sources in Bawku told the Daily Graphic that fighting started about 7.00 p.m., moments after Muslim prayers, and intensified between 11.00 p.m. and 12 midnight.
The late Alhaji Karimu, aged about 50, died while being transported to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital after receiving first aid at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital.
Alhaji Karim’s death was said to have triggered the sporadic gunshots throughout the Bawku municipality.
About 6.00 a.m. on Monday, intermittent gunshots could still be heard in the municipality.
Meanwhile, all shops and offices remain closed, while the streets are deserted.
Military and police patrols have intensified and sources within the security services told the Daily Graphic that more security personnel were being deployed to the area.
Monday, 5 May 2008
NABILA GETS THE NOD AS TALENSI-NABDAM DCE (PAGE 15)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tongo
THE Talensi-Nabdam District Assembly has voted unanimously to approve President John Agyekum Kufuor's nomination of Mr Anaba Nabila, a Senior Programmes Officer in charge of women’s rights and governance at Action AID Ghana, an NGO, as the District Chief Executive (DCE).
The 36 out of the 37 members of the assembly present voted in favour of Mr Nabila in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Mr Nabila, who prior to the election was the Presiding Member of the assembly, replaces Mr Sebastian Tibil Bisnab who was relieved of his duties by the President in November last year.
Between then and now, the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Agnes Asangalisa Chigabatia, had been acting as the DCE for the area.
Present at the function were the Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, his deputy, as well as the former DCE, who is also the NPP parliamentary candidate for the upcoming December elections.
Addressing the Assembly Members, Mr Samari entreated the electorate to accept the President's nominee to facilitate the smooth and rapid operations of the assembly.
He urged the district chief executive to work assiduously towards the growth of the area.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Nabila expressed his appreciation to the assembly members for the confidence reposed in him, and pledged to work hard to ensure the district's development.
Meanwhile, the assembly will converge this week to elect a new presiding member.
THE Talensi-Nabdam District Assembly has voted unanimously to approve President John Agyekum Kufuor's nomination of Mr Anaba Nabila, a Senior Programmes Officer in charge of women’s rights and governance at Action AID Ghana, an NGO, as the District Chief Executive (DCE).
The 36 out of the 37 members of the assembly present voted in favour of Mr Nabila in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Mr Nabila, who prior to the election was the Presiding Member of the assembly, replaces Mr Sebastian Tibil Bisnab who was relieved of his duties by the President in November last year.
Between then and now, the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Agnes Asangalisa Chigabatia, had been acting as the DCE for the area.
Present at the function were the Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, his deputy, as well as the former DCE, who is also the NPP parliamentary candidate for the upcoming December elections.
Addressing the Assembly Members, Mr Samari entreated the electorate to accept the President's nominee to facilitate the smooth and rapid operations of the assembly.
He urged the district chief executive to work assiduously towards the growth of the area.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Nabila expressed his appreciation to the assembly members for the confidence reposed in him, and pledged to work hard to ensure the district's development.
Meanwhile, the assembly will converge this week to elect a new presiding member.
Sunday, 4 May 2008
TRIAL BY ORDEAL — THREE IN TROUBLE, ONE ON THE RUN (PAGE 30)
From Benjamin Xornam Glover,
Bolgatanga
The Bolgatanga Magistrate’s Court has remanded two persons, Adongo Tandem, 47, and Huriyia, 42, who allegedly subjected a 70-year-old woman to an unlawful trial by ordeal and threat of death in police custody.
A third accused person, Tandem Aboatsu, 90, was however granted court bail due to his age.
The pleas of the three were not taken and they will appear again on May 12, 2008.
The Upper East Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, who disclosed this to The Mirror at Bolgatanga, said the victim, one Ayipoka Garito, 70, lives with her husband, Yama Tandem, at Namorantin in the Talensi/Nabdam District.
He said in December, 2007 one Akos Tandem, a relative of Yama, had an accident and was admitted at a health centre in the district. She, however, died later in February this year.
He said the accused persons, all farmers and related to Yama, opted to consult an oracle at a village called Zorkor in the Bongo District.
According to Inspector Tetteh, at the shrine, the priest allegedly told them that Madam Ayipoka was a witch and responsible for Akos' death.
The Inspector said the three later came for Ayipoka and sent her to the shrine. While there, the fetish priest gave Ayipoka a concoction to drink and forced her to confess that she killed the deceased.
"After drinking the concoction she became weak and under duress, confessed that she was a witch and responsible for the death of Akos", Inspector Tetteh said.
Before that, the victim, her brother, one Adoh Atia, and her brother's wife had been banished from Namorantin and according to the police, they are now living with a relative at Zebilla in the Bawku West District.
Inspector Tetteh said not pleased with the situation, Mr Atia led his sister to lodge a complaint at the Bolgatanga office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the three were arrested.
He added that after investigation they were arraigned and charged with the offence of unlawful trial by ordeal and threat of death.
He said currently the fetish priest was being sought by the police to assist in investigations.
Bolgatanga
The Bolgatanga Magistrate’s Court has remanded two persons, Adongo Tandem, 47, and Huriyia, 42, who allegedly subjected a 70-year-old woman to an unlawful trial by ordeal and threat of death in police custody.
A third accused person, Tandem Aboatsu, 90, was however granted court bail due to his age.
The pleas of the three were not taken and they will appear again on May 12, 2008.
The Upper East Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, who disclosed this to The Mirror at Bolgatanga, said the victim, one Ayipoka Garito, 70, lives with her husband, Yama Tandem, at Namorantin in the Talensi/Nabdam District.
He said in December, 2007 one Akos Tandem, a relative of Yama, had an accident and was admitted at a health centre in the district. She, however, died later in February this year.
He said the accused persons, all farmers and related to Yama, opted to consult an oracle at a village called Zorkor in the Bongo District.
According to Inspector Tetteh, at the shrine, the priest allegedly told them that Madam Ayipoka was a witch and responsible for Akos' death.
The Inspector said the three later came for Ayipoka and sent her to the shrine. While there, the fetish priest gave Ayipoka a concoction to drink and forced her to confess that she killed the deceased.
"After drinking the concoction she became weak and under duress, confessed that she was a witch and responsible for the death of Akos", Inspector Tetteh said.
Before that, the victim, her brother, one Adoh Atia, and her brother's wife had been banished from Namorantin and according to the police, they are now living with a relative at Zebilla in the Bawku West District.
Inspector Tetteh said not pleased with the situation, Mr Atia led his sister to lodge a complaint at the Bolgatanga office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the three were arrested.
He added that after investigation they were arraigned and charged with the offence of unlawful trial by ordeal and threat of death.
He said currently the fetish priest was being sought by the police to assist in investigations.
NUMBER OF LOST VOTER ID IN UPPER EAST WORRYING (PAGE 42)
By Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
A total of 9,655 people, comprising 9,292 resident applicants and 363 non-resident applicants registered to replace their Voters' Identity Cards in the Upper East Region during the recent Electoral Commission exercise to replace lost IDs.
The Regional Director of the EC, Mr Iddrisu Adams, disclosed this at a special regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee meeting at Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital.
The meeting, which was held on the theme; “Building Confidence in the Outcome of the 2008 Elections”, was aimed at offering the platform for the political parties to have insight into the work of the EC.
It was organised by the EC with support from Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and KAB Governance Consult. Topics discussed included the Inbuilt Integrity of Ghana's Electoral Process; Results and Challenges of the Replacement of Lost Voter ID Cards, Revision of the Voters' Register - Challenges and Expectations; and Expectations of the Commission from Political Parties towards Credible Elections in December 2008.
Present were representatives of National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People's Party (CPP), People's National Convention (PNC), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), and Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).
Officials of the National Commission on Civic Education and media practitioners were also part of the meeting.
Giving a breakdown of the figures, the Regional Director of the EC said the highest figure of 2,493 was recorded in the then Kassena-Nankana District, while the Garu-Tempane District recorded the lowest figure of 652 people.
In the Bawku and Bolgatanga Municipalities as well as and Builsa District, 1,589; 1,321, and 1,012 people applied for replacement of their ID cards respectively, while in the Bongo, Talensi/Nabdam and Bawku West districts, 965, 945 and 678 people respectively applied for the replacement of their lost cards.
Mr Adams said the replacement exercise commenced in six districts on March 14, 2008 without any adverse incidents. However, the exercise was postponed in the Bawku municipality and the Garu-Tempane District on the advice of the Bawku Municipal Security Committee on the grounds that the security situation at that particular point in time was not conducive for the commencement of the exercise.
He revealed that the exercise later took off in the two areas between March 26 and 28, 2008 after the EC was notified that the curfew period had been reviewed from the prevailing 3:00 pm to 7:00 am, to 8.00 pm to 5:oo am.
The Regional Director of the EC said despite the success of the exercise in the region, there were some challenges, such as most of the non-resident voters, especially those who registered in the big towns and cities not being able to provide details of their registration centre codes and voter ID numbers during the exercise.
A total of 9,655 people, comprising 9,292 resident applicants and 363 non-resident applicants registered to replace their Voters' Identity Cards in the Upper East Region during the recent Electoral Commission exercise to replace lost IDs.
The Regional Director of the EC, Mr Iddrisu Adams, disclosed this at a special regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee meeting at Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital.
The meeting, which was held on the theme; “Building Confidence in the Outcome of the 2008 Elections”, was aimed at offering the platform for the political parties to have insight into the work of the EC.
It was organised by the EC with support from Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and KAB Governance Consult. Topics discussed included the Inbuilt Integrity of Ghana's Electoral Process; Results and Challenges of the Replacement of Lost Voter ID Cards, Revision of the Voters' Register - Challenges and Expectations; and Expectations of the Commission from Political Parties towards Credible Elections in December 2008.
Present were representatives of National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People's Party (CPP), People's National Convention (PNC), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), and Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).
Officials of the National Commission on Civic Education and media practitioners were also part of the meeting.
Giving a breakdown of the figures, the Regional Director of the EC said the highest figure of 2,493 was recorded in the then Kassena-Nankana District, while the Garu-Tempane District recorded the lowest figure of 652 people.
In the Bawku and Bolgatanga Municipalities as well as and Builsa District, 1,589; 1,321, and 1,012 people applied for replacement of their ID cards respectively, while in the Bongo, Talensi/Nabdam and Bawku West districts, 965, 945 and 678 people respectively applied for the replacement of their lost cards.
Mr Adams said the replacement exercise commenced in six districts on March 14, 2008 without any adverse incidents. However, the exercise was postponed in the Bawku municipality and the Garu-Tempane District on the advice of the Bawku Municipal Security Committee on the grounds that the security situation at that particular point in time was not conducive for the commencement of the exercise.
He revealed that the exercise later took off in the two areas between March 26 and 28, 2008 after the EC was notified that the curfew period had been reviewed from the prevailing 3:00 pm to 7:00 am, to 8.00 pm to 5:oo am.
The Regional Director of the EC said despite the success of the exercise in the region, there were some challenges, such as most of the non-resident voters, especially those who registered in the big towns and cities not being able to provide details of their registration centre codes and voter ID numbers during the exercise.
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THE Minister of the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka and the Director General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mrs Elizabeth Adjei, have jointly c...
