The Bolgatanga Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has elected new executive to steer the affairs of the party.
At the end of the gruelling session, which officials of the Municipal office of the Electoral Commission (EC) supervised, Mr Abdulai Akono Aduko polled 149 votes to defeat Mr Abubakari Atongo Salifu and Mr Orondo Samari, who polled 109 and four votes respectively.
Mr Thomas Amare, who had 152 votes, captured the post of Vice-Chairman. His contender, Mr David Apea, polled 111 votes.
The incumbent Secretary, Mr Roland Ayoo, secured 173 votes to retain his post, while the post of Assistant Secretary went to Mr George Abane, who polled 153 votes.
The post of Organiser went to Mr Philip Aboore Adongo, while Mr Francis Asare became the Deputy Organiser. The post of Propaganda Secretary went to Mr Huudu Yahaya and that of Deputy Propaganda Secretary went to Mr Kassim Azika.
Messrs Adamu Aganda and Fuseini Ayaah were elected Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer respectively.
Ahead of the main congress, the constituency had elected Mr Rockson Atamale as its Youth Organiser, with Mr Abdallah Salifu as Deputy Youth Organiser, while the position of Women’s Organiser and Deputy Women’s Organiser went to Madam Regina Aboteneeriba and Madam Elizabeth Akugre respectively.
The newly elected executive of the party were inducted into office by Alhaji Awudu Gariba, a member of the regional executive.
Mr Aduko pledged to work with all to entrench the party in the constituency.
Present at the event were leading members of the NDC in the region, including Mr Donald Adabre, Ghana’s Ambassador- designate to Mali; the immediate past constituency Chairman and current Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Mr Epsona H. Ayamga; the Regional NADMO Co-ordinator, Mr Patrick Akake; and the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Mr Emmanuel Akolbire Opam-Brown.
Mr Ayamga commended the 250 delegates from the 125 polling stations in the constituency for electing new leaders and expressed the hope that the new team would lift the party to greater heights and help it retain the seat in the 2012 elections.
Mr Opam-Brown also commended the new team and pledged to work with them to win the seat for the party in the next elections.
He conceded that with the elections now over a lot of work remained to be done to heal wounds and build bridges to ensure intra-party unity.
Friday, 30 October 2009
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
POOR FACILITIES AFFECT NAVRONGO CAMPUS OF UDS (PAGE 11, OCT 28)
THE lack of residential facilities for both staff and students, poor road network and lack of space for expansion have been identified as some of the major challenges facing the Navrongo Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS).
The Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the University, Dr Kenneth B. Pelig-Ba, made these observations at the 17th matriculation of freshmen and women admitted to the University at Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana East District of the Upper East Region.
According to him, the lack of residential facilities for both staff and students, had forced a majority of the personnel who should have been accommodated on campus to seek shelter far away from the campus.
Apart from the inconvenience of commuting long distances to school, the situation had also exposed them to landlords who charged exorbitant fees far above what the students and lecturers and other members of the university community could afford.
He has therefore appealed to the government to channel more resources towards the provision of residential accommodation for both staff and students to enhance teaching and learning in the university.
According to the acting Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Sagary K. Nokoe, for the 2009/2010 academic year, the university received a total of 12,450 applications for its undergraduate degree programmes but the university was able to offer admission to 8,743 applicants, representing about 80 per cent of those who qualified, adding that another 847 applicants were offered admission to pursue diploma programmes.
Professor Nokoe said to ensure that brilliant students who failed to get their first choices of study did not miss out; the university offered them their second and third choice programmes.
He disclosed that during this year’s admission, the university was, as usual, guided by its policy of providing applicants from deprived communities access to university education, stressing that the university was steadfast in demonstrating its commitment to providing more access to female applicants to pursue the university’s programmes.
“For the medical programmes, a deliberate strategy was adopted to ensure higher admission numbers from the three deprived northern regions”, Prof. Nokoe said.
While commending the government and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for their support, Prof. Nokoe expressed the hope that the pledge by the GETFund to construct a 1,000 capacity students hostel at the Tamale and Navrongo campus will soon be fulfilled.
The guest of honour for the occasion, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said the government was committed to breaking the chain of poverty by establishing the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) through which people in the north would be provided with good roads, hospitals, educational facilities and farm inputs to help bridge the development imbalance between the north and south.
He said this could not be achieved if people in the north continued with the unnecessary conflicts which were retarding development in the area.
Mr Woyongo gave the assurance that the government for its part, would in collaboration with other stakeholders, remain committed to designing programmes to provide unemployed graduates with entrepreneurial skills and employment opportunities.
The regional minister said in line with this, the government would soon be undertaking a comprehensive review of the curricula of all educational institutions, including both second cycle and tertiary levels in consultation with all stakeholders with the view to making the school system relevant to the labour market and industry in general.
The Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the University, Dr Kenneth B. Pelig-Ba, made these observations at the 17th matriculation of freshmen and women admitted to the University at Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana East District of the Upper East Region.
According to him, the lack of residential facilities for both staff and students, had forced a majority of the personnel who should have been accommodated on campus to seek shelter far away from the campus.
Apart from the inconvenience of commuting long distances to school, the situation had also exposed them to landlords who charged exorbitant fees far above what the students and lecturers and other members of the university community could afford.
He has therefore appealed to the government to channel more resources towards the provision of residential accommodation for both staff and students to enhance teaching and learning in the university.
According to the acting Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Sagary K. Nokoe, for the 2009/2010 academic year, the university received a total of 12,450 applications for its undergraduate degree programmes but the university was able to offer admission to 8,743 applicants, representing about 80 per cent of those who qualified, adding that another 847 applicants were offered admission to pursue diploma programmes.
Professor Nokoe said to ensure that brilliant students who failed to get their first choices of study did not miss out; the university offered them their second and third choice programmes.
He disclosed that during this year’s admission, the university was, as usual, guided by its policy of providing applicants from deprived communities access to university education, stressing that the university was steadfast in demonstrating its commitment to providing more access to female applicants to pursue the university’s programmes.
“For the medical programmes, a deliberate strategy was adopted to ensure higher admission numbers from the three deprived northern regions”, Prof. Nokoe said.
While commending the government and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for their support, Prof. Nokoe expressed the hope that the pledge by the GETFund to construct a 1,000 capacity students hostel at the Tamale and Navrongo campus will soon be fulfilled.
The guest of honour for the occasion, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said the government was committed to breaking the chain of poverty by establishing the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) through which people in the north would be provided with good roads, hospitals, educational facilities and farm inputs to help bridge the development imbalance between the north and south.
He said this could not be achieved if people in the north continued with the unnecessary conflicts which were retarding development in the area.
Mr Woyongo gave the assurance that the government for its part, would in collaboration with other stakeholders, remain committed to designing programmes to provide unemployed graduates with entrepreneurial skills and employment opportunities.
The regional minister said in line with this, the government would soon be undertaking a comprehensive review of the curricula of all educational institutions, including both second cycle and tertiary levels in consultation with all stakeholders with the view to making the school system relevant to the labour market and industry in general.
Friday, 23 October 2009
334 BAGS OF MAIZE LEFT TO ROT ...In NADMO stores (BACK PAGE, OCT 23)
About 334 bags of maize stockpiled in the stores of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the Kassena-Nankana East District have been left to rot.
The maize, meant to be food aid for the 2007 flood victims in the district, was not distributed.
The newly appointed District Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Roland Ayalazoya, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic at Navrongo, said he only became aware that the grain was rotting after he took over the running of the office in September, this year.
According to him, he took over the office from the previous officer, Mr Sylvester Navrose, on September 17, this year, adding that the following day he went with the storekeeper to the stores only to see the 334 bags of maize which were meant for the needy rotting and having been evaded by weevils.
Mr Ayalazoya said the matter was reported to the District Assembly, which directed the District Environmental Health Officer to inspect it. He added that after the inspection, the maize was declared unwholesome for human consumption.
The District NADMO officer said though the maize was declared unwholesome for human consumption, it was recommended for feeding animals, so the assembly directed that it should be sold to farmers as animal feed.
The District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana East, Mr Emmanuel Andema, who confirmed the story, said after the recent flood, it was decided that authorities take stock of the stores in order to reach out to the affected persons only to realise that the food aid in stock since 2007 had gone rotten.
He said the decision was taken by management to sell the maize at a token price of GHc 5.00 per bag.
He said the previous officers had been negligent in handling the food aid but failed to say what action would be instituted against them.
The DCE disclosed that among those who purchased the spoilt maize was the MP for Navrongo Central, who bought 100 bags.
When contacted on phone, Mr Navrose conceded that the food items were received in 2007. He said some of the maize was distributed but as part of their operation, some of it was kept as emergency stock.
According to Mr Navrose, when the NDC party assumed power, the current National Co-ordinator of NADMO wrote to him that no items in NADMO stores should be distributed.
He indicated that at the time of leaving office, he was unaware that some reserved stock of maize had gone bad.
The maize, meant to be food aid for the 2007 flood victims in the district, was not distributed.
The newly appointed District Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Roland Ayalazoya, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic at Navrongo, said he only became aware that the grain was rotting after he took over the running of the office in September, this year.
According to him, he took over the office from the previous officer, Mr Sylvester Navrose, on September 17, this year, adding that the following day he went with the storekeeper to the stores only to see the 334 bags of maize which were meant for the needy rotting and having been evaded by weevils.
Mr Ayalazoya said the matter was reported to the District Assembly, which directed the District Environmental Health Officer to inspect it. He added that after the inspection, the maize was declared unwholesome for human consumption.
The District NADMO officer said though the maize was declared unwholesome for human consumption, it was recommended for feeding animals, so the assembly directed that it should be sold to farmers as animal feed.
The District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana East, Mr Emmanuel Andema, who confirmed the story, said after the recent flood, it was decided that authorities take stock of the stores in order to reach out to the affected persons only to realise that the food aid in stock since 2007 had gone rotten.
He said the decision was taken by management to sell the maize at a token price of GHc 5.00 per bag.
He said the previous officers had been negligent in handling the food aid but failed to say what action would be instituted against them.
The DCE disclosed that among those who purchased the spoilt maize was the MP for Navrongo Central, who bought 100 bags.
When contacted on phone, Mr Navrose conceded that the food items were received in 2007. He said some of the maize was distributed but as part of their operation, some of it was kept as emergency stock.
According to Mr Navrose, when the NDC party assumed power, the current National Co-ordinator of NADMO wrote to him that no items in NADMO stores should be distributed.
He indicated that at the time of leaving office, he was unaware that some reserved stock of maize had gone bad.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
MMT TAKES STEPS TO CHECK CHEATING PASSENGERS (PAGE 20, OCT 20, 2009)
THE Management of Metro Mass Bus Transit (MMT) has started an exercise to ensure that passengers boarding the company’s buses pay for the service they enjoy.
Dubbed: “Operation show your ticket”, the exercise is targeted at limiting the rate of stealing on the bus.
According to the Upper East Regional Manager of MMT, Mr Stephen Abubakari, of late, most passengers virtually sneak into the buses on the blind side of the crew members, that is, the conductor and the drivers.
He explained that this time round, management was shifting the responsibility for obtaining tickets to the passengers, adding that it was the right of passengers to insist on their tickets when boarding any metro mass bus.
"When we are on inspection duty, we would not say it is the conductor who has refused to issue the passenger with a ticket , but rather the passenger has sneaked into the bus.
Mr Abubakari said to ensure the success of sensitisation exercise, some project team members in the company, namely Mrs Adjoa Akyere Bondzie, Ms Juliet Molisha Ofori and Mr Kwame Korang had toured the bus terminus of the MMT in the region to educate their clients on the new measures being adopted by management to ensure transparency.
The team told the passengers that MMT had come to stay and, therefore, urged them to support the company to generate more revenue in order to acquire more strong buses to serve them better.
Members of the team entreated the passengers to support management in its efforts at minimising fraud on their routes.
They warned that people with no valid tickets caught on the buses would be made to pay a fine of 15 times the face value of the ticket or in default, will be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“We hope to limit the incidence of fraud and increase revenue for the company which will be ploughed back into maintaining the buses and put us in the position to serve the public well”, Mr Abubakari stressed.
He said fares charged by the MMT were very reliable and the company needed more revenue in order to render better services.
While soliciting support of the passengers to assist management to improve , Mr Abubakari advised staff of the company to be professional, adding that any staff who was found wanting in terms of service delivery would be sanctioned.
He urged the staff to be customer friendly and keep to the orientation that had been provided them prior to their engagement.
Earlier, the team paid a courtesy call on the paramount Chief of Bolgatanga, Naba Martin Abilba, the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, some Municipal and District Chief Executives as well as the Deputy Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Tuffour, to solicit their support for the success of the latest exercise by MMT to check fraud on the buses.
Dubbed: “Operation show your ticket”, the exercise is targeted at limiting the rate of stealing on the bus.
According to the Upper East Regional Manager of MMT, Mr Stephen Abubakari, of late, most passengers virtually sneak into the buses on the blind side of the crew members, that is, the conductor and the drivers.
He explained that this time round, management was shifting the responsibility for obtaining tickets to the passengers, adding that it was the right of passengers to insist on their tickets when boarding any metro mass bus.
"When we are on inspection duty, we would not say it is the conductor who has refused to issue the passenger with a ticket , but rather the passenger has sneaked into the bus.
Mr Abubakari said to ensure the success of sensitisation exercise, some project team members in the company, namely Mrs Adjoa Akyere Bondzie, Ms Juliet Molisha Ofori and Mr Kwame Korang had toured the bus terminus of the MMT in the region to educate their clients on the new measures being adopted by management to ensure transparency.
The team told the passengers that MMT had come to stay and, therefore, urged them to support the company to generate more revenue in order to acquire more strong buses to serve them better.
Members of the team entreated the passengers to support management in its efforts at minimising fraud on their routes.
They warned that people with no valid tickets caught on the buses would be made to pay a fine of 15 times the face value of the ticket or in default, will be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“We hope to limit the incidence of fraud and increase revenue for the company which will be ploughed back into maintaining the buses and put us in the position to serve the public well”, Mr Abubakari stressed.
He said fares charged by the MMT were very reliable and the company needed more revenue in order to render better services.
While soliciting support of the passengers to assist management to improve , Mr Abubakari advised staff of the company to be professional, adding that any staff who was found wanting in terms of service delivery would be sanctioned.
He urged the staff to be customer friendly and keep to the orientation that had been provided them prior to their engagement.
Earlier, the team paid a courtesy call on the paramount Chief of Bolgatanga, Naba Martin Abilba, the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, some Municipal and District Chief Executives as well as the Deputy Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Tuffour, to solicit their support for the success of the latest exercise by MMT to check fraud on the buses.
Monday, 19 October 2009
USE EXPERTISE TO DEVELOP ASSEMBLIES (PAGE 30, OCT 17)
APPOINTED members of municipal and district assemblies in the Upper East Region have been tasked to deploy their expertise in their various fields of endeavour to ensure that the assemblies function effectively.
A Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Mr Eric Oduro Osae, made the call during a two-day training programme for appointed assembly members and Presiding Members in the region.
The forum was organised by the Institute of Local Government Studies with support from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The programme was aimed at building the capacity of the appointed assembly members, some of whom are new to the local governance system.
Mr Osae, who is also a legal practitioner, called on the participants to demand accountability from all stakeholders in the district assembly structure to ensure greater transparency and efficiency.
He bemoaned the fact that most assembly members were ignorant of the enormous power they wielded, which, if properly utilised, could fast-track development at the local level.
Mr Osae urged the assembly members to acquaint themselves with the relevant laws and legislation that would make them efficient in their work.
Mr Osae expressed regret at the inability of most assemblies to raise locally generated revenue, saying one of the areas the assemblies could source funds to support the District Assembly Common Fund was to recruit persons who could write good proposals and reports as well as effective internal auditors.
He said they could source assistance from several development partners, who are all committed to helping the assemblies with the needed development.
Mr Simon Bokor, Head of Education and Training Department of the ILGS, explained that the training had become necessary considering the fact that as new members were appointed by the President, there was the need to build their capacity so that they would be on top of whatever they were expected to do.
He expressed the hope that the participants would make good use of the lessons learnt by making useful contributions in the deliberations and workings of their respective assemblies.
In a presentation, Mr Richard Kambootah, Head of Programmes, ILGS, Tamale campus, said district assemblies were the highest political, administrative, planning and budgeting, as well as the rallying authority at the local level.
He said in the performance of its deliberative, legislative and executive functions, the district assembly worked through the committee systems and noted that the systems were not functioning effectively.
Mr Kambootah, therefore, charged the appointed members, as professionals from varied backgrounds, to assert themselves for the benefit of the citizens.
"You were selected because the President knew you have special abilities that can help the assembly. It, therefore, behoves you to work hard to justify your selection," he said.
He also advised the assembly members to separate partisan politics from development issues within the district assembly system.
"When a policy is targeted at development, we should all stand for it and refrain from reading political meanings into it. That way, the citizen will benefit from it," he assured.
A Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Mr Eric Oduro Osae, made the call during a two-day training programme for appointed assembly members and Presiding Members in the region.
The forum was organised by the Institute of Local Government Studies with support from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The programme was aimed at building the capacity of the appointed assembly members, some of whom are new to the local governance system.
Mr Osae, who is also a legal practitioner, called on the participants to demand accountability from all stakeholders in the district assembly structure to ensure greater transparency and efficiency.
He bemoaned the fact that most assembly members were ignorant of the enormous power they wielded, which, if properly utilised, could fast-track development at the local level.
Mr Osae urged the assembly members to acquaint themselves with the relevant laws and legislation that would make them efficient in their work.
Mr Osae expressed regret at the inability of most assemblies to raise locally generated revenue, saying one of the areas the assemblies could source funds to support the District Assembly Common Fund was to recruit persons who could write good proposals and reports as well as effective internal auditors.
He said they could source assistance from several development partners, who are all committed to helping the assemblies with the needed development.
Mr Simon Bokor, Head of Education and Training Department of the ILGS, explained that the training had become necessary considering the fact that as new members were appointed by the President, there was the need to build their capacity so that they would be on top of whatever they were expected to do.
He expressed the hope that the participants would make good use of the lessons learnt by making useful contributions in the deliberations and workings of their respective assemblies.
In a presentation, Mr Richard Kambootah, Head of Programmes, ILGS, Tamale campus, said district assemblies were the highest political, administrative, planning and budgeting, as well as the rallying authority at the local level.
He said in the performance of its deliberative, legislative and executive functions, the district assembly worked through the committee systems and noted that the systems were not functioning effectively.
Mr Kambootah, therefore, charged the appointed members, as professionals from varied backgrounds, to assert themselves for the benefit of the citizens.
"You were selected because the President knew you have special abilities that can help the assembly. It, therefore, behoves you to work hard to justify your selection," he said.
He also advised the assembly members to separate partisan politics from development issues within the district assembly system.
"When a policy is targeted at development, we should all stand for it and refrain from reading political meanings into it. That way, the citizen will benefit from it," he assured.
ZOOMLION, ASSEMBLY COLLABORATE TO MANAGE LANDFILL SITE (PAGE 35, OCT 17)
WASTE Management appears to be a major headache facing most city authorities in Ghana and the Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region is no exception.
The Revised Environmental Sanitation Policy stipulates that waste management, including solid, liquid and industrial waste, health-care and other hazardous waste; storm water drainage, cleansing of thoroughfares, markets and other public spaces, should be carried out by waste management Departments within Metropolitan and municipal assemblies or by district environmental health and management departments of district assemblies.
The policy also stipulates that all district assemblies shall be required to among other things, ensure that the sites are managed to satisfy approved environmental protection. But sadly to note, the landfill site at Sherigu which serves as the final disposal site for waste in the Bolgatanga Municipality appears not to be receiving the best of treatment.
Both solid and liquid waste is dumped indiscriminately and the site has become a breeding ground for disease causing organisms.
To ensure adequate hygienic standards, Zoomlion Ghana, a private waste management company has entered into a partnership with the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to level and compact the pile of refuse at the final disposal sites to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
Hitherto, the exercise huge piles of refuse were left unattended to. The entrance was filled with refuse to the extent that the entire entrance to the site was blocked, making access to the site very difficult.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Upper East Regional Landfill Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Jonathan Ameyibor, said solid waste management could not be effectively carried out if those responsible only collected waste and did not know where to dump it.
“When you do that you create environmental problems. The waste generated creates germs that can result in the outbreak of an epidemic. This, therefore, calls for proper management of the filth,” he said.
According to Mr Ameyibor, as an institution concerned with the environmental protection, Zoomlion found it necessary to bring in a landfill dozer to push the refuse, level and compact it.
“We believe that when we do this, we limit the breeding of organisms and also reduce the volume on waste and increase the lifespan of the landfill,” he said.
Mr Ameyibor said apart from that measure, the company was considering acquiring a land for well designed engineered land fill site with all the necessary equipment.
He said if possible, his outfit would also have an on-site recycling plant to recycle the materials, and generate energy using the gas from the refuse for domestic use or to support the national electricity grid.
Mr Ameyibor gave the assurance that Zoomlion would continue with its programme to educate the populace until they changed their poor attitude towards environmental sanitation.
“People do not seem to understand the need to manage waste. They just dump things indiscriminately. Our major task is to appeal to the people not to litter the environment because they would end up spending their resources to treat themselves of environmental related diseases," he stressed.
The Revised Environmental Sanitation Policy stipulates that waste management, including solid, liquid and industrial waste, health-care and other hazardous waste; storm water drainage, cleansing of thoroughfares, markets and other public spaces, should be carried out by waste management Departments within Metropolitan and municipal assemblies or by district environmental health and management departments of district assemblies.
The policy also stipulates that all district assemblies shall be required to among other things, ensure that the sites are managed to satisfy approved environmental protection. But sadly to note, the landfill site at Sherigu which serves as the final disposal site for waste in the Bolgatanga Municipality appears not to be receiving the best of treatment.
Both solid and liquid waste is dumped indiscriminately and the site has become a breeding ground for disease causing organisms.
To ensure adequate hygienic standards, Zoomlion Ghana, a private waste management company has entered into a partnership with the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to level and compact the pile of refuse at the final disposal sites to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
Hitherto, the exercise huge piles of refuse were left unattended to. The entrance was filled with refuse to the extent that the entire entrance to the site was blocked, making access to the site very difficult.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Upper East Regional Landfill Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Jonathan Ameyibor, said solid waste management could not be effectively carried out if those responsible only collected waste and did not know where to dump it.
“When you do that you create environmental problems. The waste generated creates germs that can result in the outbreak of an epidemic. This, therefore, calls for proper management of the filth,” he said.
According to Mr Ameyibor, as an institution concerned with the environmental protection, Zoomlion found it necessary to bring in a landfill dozer to push the refuse, level and compact it.
“We believe that when we do this, we limit the breeding of organisms and also reduce the volume on waste and increase the lifespan of the landfill,” he said.
Mr Ameyibor said apart from that measure, the company was considering acquiring a land for well designed engineered land fill site with all the necessary equipment.
He said if possible, his outfit would also have an on-site recycling plant to recycle the materials, and generate energy using the gas from the refuse for domestic use or to support the national electricity grid.
Mr Ameyibor gave the assurance that Zoomlion would continue with its programme to educate the populace until they changed their poor attitude towards environmental sanitation.
“People do not seem to understand the need to manage waste. They just dump things indiscriminately. Our major task is to appeal to the people not to litter the environment because they would end up spending their resources to treat themselves of environmental related diseases," he stressed.
THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND RESEARCH IN REDUCING POVERTY IN UE (PAGE 35)
BRIDGING the developmental gap between northern and southern Ghana has been the tune song by most governments since time immemorial. But those who rise to the tune appear to be oblivious of the role science and research could play in unlocking the potential of the northern part of Ghana.
Most researchers are of the opinion that government’s efforts at reducing poverty in the country as a whole and the north in particular could be given a big boost if science and research were taken seriously.
The role of science and research in the area of agriculture cannot be contested but it is sad to note that institutions mandated to carry out research to support agriculture, particularly in the north do not enjoy much support from government.
One of such institutions which currently has to depend on external support due to little assistance from the government is the Manga Agricultural Research Station located in the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region.
The Manga Agricultural Research Station was opened by the colonial masters in 1936. The station was initially operated by the Germans and the English but after Ghana had attained independence in 1957, it metamorphosed into a farm mechanisation centre during the reign of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who wanted to expand agriculture and move the sector forward.
Available literature indicates that, after the overthrow of Dr Nkrumah, the station underwent a lot of metamorphosis such that the centre became an animal traction training centre from where the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) took over its running and later turned it into a research station because research was then vested in the ministry.
The Manga Agriculture Station was offloaded to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSRI) to be run as a fully-fledged research station.
According to the Senior Research Scientist in charge of the station, Dr Roger Kanton, despite the seemly gloomy picture due to the lack of support for the research facility, the centre was endowed with human resource and estates.
He said the centre currently had about 96 acres of land and an outstation in Binduri where it conducted research on dry season horticultural crops.
Dr Kanton said the station also had a number of cattle which were helping the centre in animal traction.
"We strongly believe that animal traction has the key, taking into consideration the fact that the soils in the region are fragile and it will not make sense to carry tractors everywhere trying to plough back the sub soils”, he stated.
Dr Kanton, however, emphasised that the situation did not mean that farmers in the region did not need tractors.
Back to the work of the research station, Dr Kanton said the centre was a purely crop based research station.
Some of the programmes run by the station include agronomy, insect, pest and disease control mechanisms, soils research and water conservation. The centre also has economists and rural sociologists as well post-harvest specialists, who from time to time, engage members of the community to disseminate its findings.
It was in that light that the centre recently hosted more them 40 farmers from the Garu-Tempane District in the Upper East Region where they were introduced to new varieties of maize, sorghum and sesame introduced by the centre.
The farmers were taken round maize, sesame and sorghum experimental farms where they were taught the various stages of production.
The farmers were introduced to the “Akpasoe” maize variety which has high protein content, high yielding sorghum varieties, “capala” and “dorado” as well as sesame.
The sesame was being grown on small scale for household consumption, but the crop is said to have high patronage on the international market.
Dr Kanton encouraged the farmers to go into the cultivation of crops such as sorghum since it was possible to earn higher incomes because Guinness Ghana Brewery Limited had expressed its preparedness to buy locally produced sorghum.
Sorghum is one of the major staples of the people in the three northern regions so when they sell what is rejected, the income could be used to support the households and ensure food security. Sale of the crop can be used to support education through the payment of school fees, hospital bills, among others things,” Dr Kanton said.
The leader of the farmers, Mr Solomon Atigah, reiterated the benefit of visiting the research station.
He stressed that although farmers had received training on the appropriate agronomic practices for the crops, especially sorghum and sesame, many were still reluctant to put what they had learnt into practice.
“Today they will see things for themselves and hopefully change their mind set,” Mr Atigah who is also the manager of the Garu Presbyterian Agricultural Station (GPAS) said.
He stated that GPAS was collaborating with the Association of Church Development Projects, (ACDEP), a non-governmental organisation, SARI, MOFA and other partners, to support farmers to produce and market soybeans and sorghum.
While pledging the readiness of the Manga Agricultural Research Station to provide farmers the opportunity to learn how to cultivate crops in the most efficient way to increase production and help diversify their income base, Dr Kanton also urged the government to address the many challenges facing research and science.
He mentioned lack of residential accommodation for research scientists, lack of logistics including vehicles to support field work, the inadequate financial support to carry out research, as some of the major challenges of the station.
In its determination to bridge the development gap between the northern and southern Ghana, it would be appropriate for government to invest heavily on research and science institutions regarding the agricultural sector since that would have direct impact in improving the living conditions of the people.
Most researchers are of the opinion that government’s efforts at reducing poverty in the country as a whole and the north in particular could be given a big boost if science and research were taken seriously.
The role of science and research in the area of agriculture cannot be contested but it is sad to note that institutions mandated to carry out research to support agriculture, particularly in the north do not enjoy much support from government.
One of such institutions which currently has to depend on external support due to little assistance from the government is the Manga Agricultural Research Station located in the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region.
The Manga Agricultural Research Station was opened by the colonial masters in 1936. The station was initially operated by the Germans and the English but after Ghana had attained independence in 1957, it metamorphosed into a farm mechanisation centre during the reign of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who wanted to expand agriculture and move the sector forward.
Available literature indicates that, after the overthrow of Dr Nkrumah, the station underwent a lot of metamorphosis such that the centre became an animal traction training centre from where the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) took over its running and later turned it into a research station because research was then vested in the ministry.
The Manga Agriculture Station was offloaded to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSRI) to be run as a fully-fledged research station.
According to the Senior Research Scientist in charge of the station, Dr Roger Kanton, despite the seemly gloomy picture due to the lack of support for the research facility, the centre was endowed with human resource and estates.
He said the centre currently had about 96 acres of land and an outstation in Binduri where it conducted research on dry season horticultural crops.
Dr Kanton said the station also had a number of cattle which were helping the centre in animal traction.
"We strongly believe that animal traction has the key, taking into consideration the fact that the soils in the region are fragile and it will not make sense to carry tractors everywhere trying to plough back the sub soils”, he stated.
Dr Kanton, however, emphasised that the situation did not mean that farmers in the region did not need tractors.
Back to the work of the research station, Dr Kanton said the centre was a purely crop based research station.
Some of the programmes run by the station include agronomy, insect, pest and disease control mechanisms, soils research and water conservation. The centre also has economists and rural sociologists as well post-harvest specialists, who from time to time, engage members of the community to disseminate its findings.
It was in that light that the centre recently hosted more them 40 farmers from the Garu-Tempane District in the Upper East Region where they were introduced to new varieties of maize, sorghum and sesame introduced by the centre.
The farmers were taken round maize, sesame and sorghum experimental farms where they were taught the various stages of production.
The farmers were introduced to the “Akpasoe” maize variety which has high protein content, high yielding sorghum varieties, “capala” and “dorado” as well as sesame.
The sesame was being grown on small scale for household consumption, but the crop is said to have high patronage on the international market.
Dr Kanton encouraged the farmers to go into the cultivation of crops such as sorghum since it was possible to earn higher incomes because Guinness Ghana Brewery Limited had expressed its preparedness to buy locally produced sorghum.
Sorghum is one of the major staples of the people in the three northern regions so when they sell what is rejected, the income could be used to support the households and ensure food security. Sale of the crop can be used to support education through the payment of school fees, hospital bills, among others things,” Dr Kanton said.
The leader of the farmers, Mr Solomon Atigah, reiterated the benefit of visiting the research station.
He stressed that although farmers had received training on the appropriate agronomic practices for the crops, especially sorghum and sesame, many were still reluctant to put what they had learnt into practice.
“Today they will see things for themselves and hopefully change their mind set,” Mr Atigah who is also the manager of the Garu Presbyterian Agricultural Station (GPAS) said.
He stated that GPAS was collaborating with the Association of Church Development Projects, (ACDEP), a non-governmental organisation, SARI, MOFA and other partners, to support farmers to produce and market soybeans and sorghum.
While pledging the readiness of the Manga Agricultural Research Station to provide farmers the opportunity to learn how to cultivate crops in the most efficient way to increase production and help diversify their income base, Dr Kanton also urged the government to address the many challenges facing research and science.
He mentioned lack of residential accommodation for research scientists, lack of logistics including vehicles to support field work, the inadequate financial support to carry out research, as some of the major challenges of the station.
In its determination to bridge the development gap between the northern and southern Ghana, it would be appropriate for government to invest heavily on research and science institutions regarding the agricultural sector since that would have direct impact in improving the living conditions of the people.
UPPER EAST MARKS DAY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION (PAGE 21, OCT 17)
The 2008 HIV sentinel survey indicates that the Upper East Region has an HIV prevalence of two per cent compared to the national prevalence of 1.7 per cent.
The study also shows that the Navrongo sentinel site has the highest HIV prevalence of 2.8 in the region.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service in charge of Administration, Mr Lucio Dery, disclosed this at a regional celebration to mark this year’s international Day for Disaster Reduction at Bolgatanga.
The theme for the celebration, which was organised by Action Aid Ghana, was “hospitals safe from disasters”.
Apart from issues of fortifying physical infrastructure of the health facilities at local, district, regional and national levels, it also brought to the fore the question of how people handled and attended to those affected by disasters in health facilities.
Mr Dery announced that since 2006, diarrhoeal cases in the Upper East Region continued to increase from 7,910 to 15,077 in 2008, adding that as of June 2009, 9,688 cases had already been recorded.
He indicated that for the same period the CSM death toll trend was also on the ascendency with 36 deaths in 2008 rising from 22 in 2006, adding that as of June 2009 as many as 18 deaths had already been recorded.
Neoanatal deaths, which are deaths within 28 days of birth due to varying causes, including maternal and environmental factors, he said, were also unacceptably high in the region.
Another worrying phenomenon, Mr Dery noted, was the fact that for the past three years and beyond, road traffic accidents were among the top ten causes of hospital attendance and admissions in the region.
The implication of this was that “both our precarious human resource situation and the hospital facilities are overstretched and this gives rise to some unavoidable deaths and other adverse events,” the Deputy Director explained.
Mr Dery stressed that hospitals could be made safe from disasters if “we collectively keep our region free from poor sanitation practices leading to flood and disease prevention and control”.
Mr Dery said that one other way of curbing disasters in hospitals in the region was a collective effort to increase the number of doctors, midwives, nurses, and laboratory technologists through the setting up of a Regional Health Development Fund to sponsor and bond them to serve the region for a minimum time period.
The Upper East Regional Development Programme Manager of Action Aid Ghana, Mr Micheal Lumor, said his organisation believed that even though disasters brought pain and hardship, they also brought alongside opportunities for affected persons to begin to think and take collective actions to make them less vulnerable to disasters.
He called on the government and its institutions to look back and reflect on their overall role in addressing the root causes of disasters and help save lives.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, observed that disaster reduction was a shared responsibility, and that it behoved all to contribute positively to nip the canker in the bud for the region to flourish and become prosperous.
The study also shows that the Navrongo sentinel site has the highest HIV prevalence of 2.8 in the region.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service in charge of Administration, Mr Lucio Dery, disclosed this at a regional celebration to mark this year’s international Day for Disaster Reduction at Bolgatanga.
The theme for the celebration, which was organised by Action Aid Ghana, was “hospitals safe from disasters”.
Apart from issues of fortifying physical infrastructure of the health facilities at local, district, regional and national levels, it also brought to the fore the question of how people handled and attended to those affected by disasters in health facilities.
Mr Dery announced that since 2006, diarrhoeal cases in the Upper East Region continued to increase from 7,910 to 15,077 in 2008, adding that as of June 2009, 9,688 cases had already been recorded.
He indicated that for the same period the CSM death toll trend was also on the ascendency with 36 deaths in 2008 rising from 22 in 2006, adding that as of June 2009 as many as 18 deaths had already been recorded.
Neoanatal deaths, which are deaths within 28 days of birth due to varying causes, including maternal and environmental factors, he said, were also unacceptably high in the region.
Another worrying phenomenon, Mr Dery noted, was the fact that for the past three years and beyond, road traffic accidents were among the top ten causes of hospital attendance and admissions in the region.
The implication of this was that “both our precarious human resource situation and the hospital facilities are overstretched and this gives rise to some unavoidable deaths and other adverse events,” the Deputy Director explained.
Mr Dery stressed that hospitals could be made safe from disasters if “we collectively keep our region free from poor sanitation practices leading to flood and disease prevention and control”.
Mr Dery said that one other way of curbing disasters in hospitals in the region was a collective effort to increase the number of doctors, midwives, nurses, and laboratory technologists through the setting up of a Regional Health Development Fund to sponsor and bond them to serve the region for a minimum time period.
The Upper East Regional Development Programme Manager of Action Aid Ghana, Mr Micheal Lumor, said his organisation believed that even though disasters brought pain and hardship, they also brought alongside opportunities for affected persons to begin to think and take collective actions to make them less vulnerable to disasters.
He called on the government and its institutions to look back and reflect on their overall role in addressing the root causes of disasters and help save lives.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, observed that disaster reduction was a shared responsibility, and that it behoved all to contribute positively to nip the canker in the bud for the region to flourish and become prosperous.
Monday, 12 October 2009
BOLGA POLY TO HOLD CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE EDUCATION (PAGE 11, OCT 9)
THE Bolgatanga Polytechnic in the Upper East Region, is to hold a regional conference to deliberate on the state of science and technology education in the region to devise strategies for improving the situation.
This decision stems from the fact that progressively, the polytechnic is unable to admit more students to study science related programmes because very few students from the region obtain good passes at the senior high school (SHS) level.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Paul B. Tanzubil, said this at Sumbrungu, near Bolgatanga, during the seventh matriculation of the polytechnic.
Four-hundred and ninety-eight students, including 121 females, were offered admission into various Higher National Diploma programmes of study at the polytechnic, while 129 students who will be pursuing professional courses at the non-tertiary level and 36 more in the pre-HND access course matriculated.
Out of this number, 25 per cent of those admitted would be pursuing courses in science and engineering.
The rector appealed to all stakeholders in education in the region to redouble their efforts, stressing “a largely illiterate population is bound to perish in this increasing sophisticated era of globalisation”.
Professor Tanzubil announced that the polytechnic had been given the autonomy to award its own certificates, diplomas and degrees for its accredited programmes, adding that it hopes to start a degree programme as early as 2010/2011 academic year.
He also disclosed that plans were far advanced to introduce HND Programmes in Procurement and Logistics Management and Building Technology during the 2010/2011 academic year.
Touching on some of the challenges facing the young institution, the rector mentioned the poor condition of service for staff, inadequate infrastructure and very low annual budgetary allocation, and emphasised that though there have been some improvements over the years, the pace or quantum was not sufficient and appealed for greater commitment from the Government.
“The policy of allocating resources to tertiary institutions on the basis of student numbers is inimical to the growth of young institutions such as the Bolgatanga Polytechnic and needs a serious review”, he said.
The rector advised the martriculants to avoid indulging in such negative practices that would put them in trouble and urged them to attend lectures regularly, to attain their objectives of acquiring higher academic and professional laurels.
The Registrar of the Polytechnic, Mr Ibrahim D. Yakubu, who administered the matriculation oath, advised the students to be guided by the rules and regulations of the polytechnic and uphold its good name.
A founding Principal of the Polytechnic, Mr Robert Ajene, stressed the need for the Ministry of Education to equip students at the polytechnic with entrepreneurial skills to enhance the performance on the job market upon graduation.
The President of the Students Representative Council, Mr Matthew Abugbilla, advised the martriculants to avoid acts that would bring the image of the polytechnic into disrepute.
This decision stems from the fact that progressively, the polytechnic is unable to admit more students to study science related programmes because very few students from the region obtain good passes at the senior high school (SHS) level.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Paul B. Tanzubil, said this at Sumbrungu, near Bolgatanga, during the seventh matriculation of the polytechnic.
Four-hundred and ninety-eight students, including 121 females, were offered admission into various Higher National Diploma programmes of study at the polytechnic, while 129 students who will be pursuing professional courses at the non-tertiary level and 36 more in the pre-HND access course matriculated.
Out of this number, 25 per cent of those admitted would be pursuing courses in science and engineering.
The rector appealed to all stakeholders in education in the region to redouble their efforts, stressing “a largely illiterate population is bound to perish in this increasing sophisticated era of globalisation”.
Professor Tanzubil announced that the polytechnic had been given the autonomy to award its own certificates, diplomas and degrees for its accredited programmes, adding that it hopes to start a degree programme as early as 2010/2011 academic year.
He also disclosed that plans were far advanced to introduce HND Programmes in Procurement and Logistics Management and Building Technology during the 2010/2011 academic year.
Touching on some of the challenges facing the young institution, the rector mentioned the poor condition of service for staff, inadequate infrastructure and very low annual budgetary allocation, and emphasised that though there have been some improvements over the years, the pace or quantum was not sufficient and appealed for greater commitment from the Government.
“The policy of allocating resources to tertiary institutions on the basis of student numbers is inimical to the growth of young institutions such as the Bolgatanga Polytechnic and needs a serious review”, he said.
The rector advised the martriculants to avoid indulging in such negative practices that would put them in trouble and urged them to attend lectures regularly, to attain their objectives of acquiring higher academic and professional laurels.
The Registrar of the Polytechnic, Mr Ibrahim D. Yakubu, who administered the matriculation oath, advised the students to be guided by the rules and regulations of the polytechnic and uphold its good name.
A founding Principal of the Polytechnic, Mr Robert Ajene, stressed the need for the Ministry of Education to equip students at the polytechnic with entrepreneurial skills to enhance the performance on the job market upon graduation.
The President of the Students Representative Council, Mr Matthew Abugbilla, advised the martriculants to avoid acts that would bring the image of the polytechnic into disrepute.
CONSTRUCTIONAL WORK ON GIS OFFICE AT ZEBILLA STARTS (OCT 5, PAGE 35)
THE Minister of the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka and the Director General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mrs Elizabeth Adjei, have jointly cut the sod for the commencement of an office building for the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at Zebilla in the Upper East Region.
The new office infrastructure, estimated at GH¢60,000, is solely being funded by the government.
The projects, comprising four offices, two cells, a general office and washrooms, when completed, will enhance the work of the immigration officers, who are currently operating in a makeshift structure.
At the ceremony, Mr Avoka advised the security personnel to be disciplined, execute their duties with professionalism and be loyal to the government of the day.
He urged the personnel at the borders to be vigilant, stressing that if they did that, they would successfully accomplish the task ahead of them.
The interior minister emphasised that as a region sharing borders with countries like Togo and Burkina Faso, where there were many activities, the region had a lot of challenges to meet.
He, therefore, charged the personnel at the borders to be extra-vigilant to stem the tide.
Mr Avoka mentioned some of the challenges as cattle rustling, armed robbery, fuel smuggling, narcotic drugs peddling, and illegal entry of Fulani herdsmen into the country to cause havoc to the vegetation and child trafficking.
In response to a request to arm personnel of the border patrol unit of the GIS, in view of the challenging roles they performed, Mr Avoka said he had taken notice of it, adding that a memo would be sent to the Cabinet for further deliberation.
The Director General of the GIS, Mrs Adjei, commended the personnel in the region for the good work they were doing.
She said the Bawku sector, under which Zebilla falls, was one of the largest border sector commands in the country.
According to Mrs Adjei, the construction of the office building in the area would not only improve the safety and security of people, but also enhance business.
She said it would also give life to and invigorate the area through interaction and cross-cultural activities between Zebilla in Ghana and Zabre in Burkina Faso.
Mrs Adjei said the provision of offices would help to create jobs in the area.
She expressed the appreciation of the service to the Bawku West District Assembly for releasing plots of land for the construction of quarters for officers as well.
Mrs Adjei appealed to the people in the area to give their fullest support to the operations of the service in the area.
She was also grateful to the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr Adam Imoro Anaba, for promising to provide the service with a motorbike to enhance patrol duties of the border area.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs Elizabeth Awuni, urged the personnel to collaborate with other security agencies in the region to fight crime.
The officer in charge of the Zebilla border post, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration, Mr Christopher Attivor, said through their vigilance at the border, an Algerian of questionable identity who entered the country through an unapproved route was arrested, detained and handed over to the police and later deported.
He added that earlier this year, two men were also arrested and handed over to the police for trafficking four children from the Garu-Tempane District.
The Bawku Sector Commander of Immigration, Mr George Atanga, highlighting some operational successes chalked up, said some illegal immigrants suspected to be involved in the communal conflict in Bawku were refused entry between January 2007 and August 2009.
He also said the sector intercepted 48 traffickers from the period 2008 and July, 2009, adding that three notorious cross border animal rustlers from Togo and Burkina Faso were arrested by the patrol team and subsequently handed over to the police for further action.
The new office infrastructure, estimated at GH¢60,000, is solely being funded by the government.
The projects, comprising four offices, two cells, a general office and washrooms, when completed, will enhance the work of the immigration officers, who are currently operating in a makeshift structure.
At the ceremony, Mr Avoka advised the security personnel to be disciplined, execute their duties with professionalism and be loyal to the government of the day.
He urged the personnel at the borders to be vigilant, stressing that if they did that, they would successfully accomplish the task ahead of them.
The interior minister emphasised that as a region sharing borders with countries like Togo and Burkina Faso, where there were many activities, the region had a lot of challenges to meet.
He, therefore, charged the personnel at the borders to be extra-vigilant to stem the tide.
Mr Avoka mentioned some of the challenges as cattle rustling, armed robbery, fuel smuggling, narcotic drugs peddling, and illegal entry of Fulani herdsmen into the country to cause havoc to the vegetation and child trafficking.
In response to a request to arm personnel of the border patrol unit of the GIS, in view of the challenging roles they performed, Mr Avoka said he had taken notice of it, adding that a memo would be sent to the Cabinet for further deliberation.
The Director General of the GIS, Mrs Adjei, commended the personnel in the region for the good work they were doing.
She said the Bawku sector, under which Zebilla falls, was one of the largest border sector commands in the country.
According to Mrs Adjei, the construction of the office building in the area would not only improve the safety and security of people, but also enhance business.
She said it would also give life to and invigorate the area through interaction and cross-cultural activities between Zebilla in Ghana and Zabre in Burkina Faso.
Mrs Adjei said the provision of offices would help to create jobs in the area.
She expressed the appreciation of the service to the Bawku West District Assembly for releasing plots of land for the construction of quarters for officers as well.
Mrs Adjei appealed to the people in the area to give their fullest support to the operations of the service in the area.
She was also grateful to the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr Adam Imoro Anaba, for promising to provide the service with a motorbike to enhance patrol duties of the border area.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs Elizabeth Awuni, urged the personnel to collaborate with other security agencies in the region to fight crime.
The officer in charge of the Zebilla border post, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration, Mr Christopher Attivor, said through their vigilance at the border, an Algerian of questionable identity who entered the country through an unapproved route was arrested, detained and handed over to the police and later deported.
He added that earlier this year, two men were also arrested and handed over to the police for trafficking four children from the Garu-Tempane District.
The Bawku Sector Commander of Immigration, Mr George Atanga, highlighting some operational successes chalked up, said some illegal immigrants suspected to be involved in the communal conflict in Bawku were refused entry between January 2007 and August 2009.
He also said the sector intercepted 48 traffickers from the period 2008 and July, 2009, adding that three notorious cross border animal rustlers from Togo and Burkina Faso were arrested by the patrol team and subsequently handed over to the police for further action.
PLIGHT OF UPPER EAST HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (PAGE 35, OCT 5)
FOR years now, there has been serious discussions about why medical doctors and allied health workers refuse to take up appointments in the Upper East Region.
Several reasons have been assigned for the failure of doctors to accept postings to that part of the country.
During the past two weeks, the debate has got to a head with accusation being levelled against the Medical Director in charge of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Dr Aduko Amiah, as the main cause of the problem.
The accusers alleged that the medical director, who has worked in the hospital for more than 26 years, was frustrating young doctors who report to work in the region, hence their refusal to stay on.
They further alleged that the medical director, who at the time of filing this report was away in China on official duties, had monopolised the place and running an iron clad administration, making things difficult for the others around him.
However, in a sharp rebuttal to the allegations, the management of the hospital has jumped to the defence of the medical director, emphasising that the allegation is totally false.
Addressing a news conference in Bolgatanga, the acting Medical Director, Dr Richard Anongura, said the issue of doctors refusing posting to the region was an age-old problem not only in the region, but also all the three northern regions.
He said it was not necessarily as the result of the attitude or management style of any individual, but rather due to economic, social and career issues.
Dr Anongura said economically, doctors shied away from the region due to lack of opportunities to earn extra income from private practice, a situation commonly referred to as locum.
On the social front, Dr Anongura said doctors and other health professionals shied away because of the lack of good schools for their children’s education and other social amenities that made life bearable elsewhere.
According to the acting Medical Director, career-wise, doctors and other health professionals posted to the region felt they were being sent to “Siberia”.
He said the doctors claimed that when they were posted to that part of the country, they hardly got the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge and skills through conferences, seminars and long courses, which were available to their counterparts down south.
Dr Anongura said as there were a few doctors in the region, they were unable to even go on their annual leave and because other health professionals refused posting to the area, they were unable to go on transfer for lack of replacement.
“Despite all these challenges, no special incentive packages are put in place by the government and health authorities to entice the needed health professionals to accept posting to the place.
“The scanty motivation packages by the individual health facilities are not enough to attract the required doctors and other health professionals to come to the region and deliver health care. The real problem, therefore, lies with the institutional arrangements and not individual personalities,” Dr Anongura said.
From the foregoing, it is clear that all is not well as far as healthcare delivery in the Upper East Region is concerned, and immediate steps ought to be taken to address the problem.
The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John K. Awoonor-Williams, confirmed that health delivery in the region was in crisis.
He said three out of the nine districts in the region had no hospitals, so patients who had referrals went to the other six district hospitals and the Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga for treatment.
According to him, the Bongo District Hospital, which caters for a population of about 100,000, had no doctor while the regional hospital had only three Ghanaian doctors—a gynaecologist, a dentist and one other doctor who is on retirement but has been engaged on contract.
He said the doctor–patient ratio in the various districts in the region was 1:40,000.
“If we look at all these, we are really in crisis, adding that among the District Directors of Health Service, there is only one who is a doctor with the rest being public health nurses who are working very hard,” Dr Awoonor-Williams said.
He said so critical was the situation that two out of the eight doctors at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, which is mainly for research work, have been deployed to work in the clinical areas at the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital and the others at the regional level looking at clinical issues.
Dr Awoonor-Williams said over the past four years, the region had lost about 21 doctors either through transfers or pursuit of further studies.
“We must find solutions to the problem. The situation is getting worse, despite efforts to get doctors to come for locum services,” he stated.
The regional director cited an instance where a doctor who was approached to offer locum services demanded GH¢4,500 instead of GH¢1,500 being offered plus accommodation and transport for one month.
According to Dr Awoonor-Williams, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service was aware and everything was being done to ameliorate the situation.
“We have to continue to create the environment to solve the problem. For the past three years, only one out of 19 doctors posted to the region reported for duty,” he stated.
He said as part of efforts to solve the problem, the Regional Directorate of Health Services was trying to institute some measures to address the issue.
According to him, one of such measures was the idea of sponsoring candidates and bond them to come and work in the region after completing their courses.
Dr Awoonor-Williams proposed the creation of a fund from the Savannah Development Fund to be kept at the Regional Co-ordinating Council or the Regional Health Directorate to assist students in medical schools who would be bonded after their studies.
He added that the directorate was working on staff accommodation and other attractive incentives to motivate health workers who would accept posting to the region.
Responding to the concerns, the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said in the interim, apart from organising series of medical outreach for specialists who would offer their services in the region, he would approach the Ministry of Defence to make available aircraft available at Tamale to fly persons whose conditions were critical to Accra for medical attention.
Ghana in general and the Upper East in particular have an obligation to work hard towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals one, four, five and six, being eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, reduction in child mortality, improvement of maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
Another important aspect of the Millennium Development Goals is the adoption of realistic measures to address the acute shortage of doctors, which all Ghanaians should strive to achieve.
Several reasons have been assigned for the failure of doctors to accept postings to that part of the country.
During the past two weeks, the debate has got to a head with accusation being levelled against the Medical Director in charge of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Dr Aduko Amiah, as the main cause of the problem.
The accusers alleged that the medical director, who has worked in the hospital for more than 26 years, was frustrating young doctors who report to work in the region, hence their refusal to stay on.
They further alleged that the medical director, who at the time of filing this report was away in China on official duties, had monopolised the place and running an iron clad administration, making things difficult for the others around him.
However, in a sharp rebuttal to the allegations, the management of the hospital has jumped to the defence of the medical director, emphasising that the allegation is totally false.
Addressing a news conference in Bolgatanga, the acting Medical Director, Dr Richard Anongura, said the issue of doctors refusing posting to the region was an age-old problem not only in the region, but also all the three northern regions.
He said it was not necessarily as the result of the attitude or management style of any individual, but rather due to economic, social and career issues.
Dr Anongura said economically, doctors shied away from the region due to lack of opportunities to earn extra income from private practice, a situation commonly referred to as locum.
On the social front, Dr Anongura said doctors and other health professionals shied away because of the lack of good schools for their children’s education and other social amenities that made life bearable elsewhere.
According to the acting Medical Director, career-wise, doctors and other health professionals posted to the region felt they were being sent to “Siberia”.
He said the doctors claimed that when they were posted to that part of the country, they hardly got the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge and skills through conferences, seminars and long courses, which were available to their counterparts down south.
Dr Anongura said as there were a few doctors in the region, they were unable to even go on their annual leave and because other health professionals refused posting to the area, they were unable to go on transfer for lack of replacement.
“Despite all these challenges, no special incentive packages are put in place by the government and health authorities to entice the needed health professionals to accept posting to the place.
“The scanty motivation packages by the individual health facilities are not enough to attract the required doctors and other health professionals to come to the region and deliver health care. The real problem, therefore, lies with the institutional arrangements and not individual personalities,” Dr Anongura said.
From the foregoing, it is clear that all is not well as far as healthcare delivery in the Upper East Region is concerned, and immediate steps ought to be taken to address the problem.
The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John K. Awoonor-Williams, confirmed that health delivery in the region was in crisis.
He said three out of the nine districts in the region had no hospitals, so patients who had referrals went to the other six district hospitals and the Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga for treatment.
According to him, the Bongo District Hospital, which caters for a population of about 100,000, had no doctor while the regional hospital had only three Ghanaian doctors—a gynaecologist, a dentist and one other doctor who is on retirement but has been engaged on contract.
He said the doctor–patient ratio in the various districts in the region was 1:40,000.
“If we look at all these, we are really in crisis, adding that among the District Directors of Health Service, there is only one who is a doctor with the rest being public health nurses who are working very hard,” Dr Awoonor-Williams said.
He said so critical was the situation that two out of the eight doctors at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, which is mainly for research work, have been deployed to work in the clinical areas at the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital and the others at the regional level looking at clinical issues.
Dr Awoonor-Williams said over the past four years, the region had lost about 21 doctors either through transfers or pursuit of further studies.
“We must find solutions to the problem. The situation is getting worse, despite efforts to get doctors to come for locum services,” he stated.
The regional director cited an instance where a doctor who was approached to offer locum services demanded GH¢4,500 instead of GH¢1,500 being offered plus accommodation and transport for one month.
According to Dr Awoonor-Williams, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service was aware and everything was being done to ameliorate the situation.
“We have to continue to create the environment to solve the problem. For the past three years, only one out of 19 doctors posted to the region reported for duty,” he stated.
He said as part of efforts to solve the problem, the Regional Directorate of Health Services was trying to institute some measures to address the issue.
According to him, one of such measures was the idea of sponsoring candidates and bond them to come and work in the region after completing their courses.
Dr Awoonor-Williams proposed the creation of a fund from the Savannah Development Fund to be kept at the Regional Co-ordinating Council or the Regional Health Directorate to assist students in medical schools who would be bonded after their studies.
He added that the directorate was working on staff accommodation and other attractive incentives to motivate health workers who would accept posting to the region.
Responding to the concerns, the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said in the interim, apart from organising series of medical outreach for specialists who would offer their services in the region, he would approach the Ministry of Defence to make available aircraft available at Tamale to fly persons whose conditions were critical to Accra for medical attention.
Ghana in general and the Upper East in particular have an obligation to work hard towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals one, four, five and six, being eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, reduction in child mortality, improvement of maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
Another important aspect of the Millennium Development Goals is the adoption of realistic measures to address the acute shortage of doctors, which all Ghanaians should strive to achieve.
BE COMMITED TO SCIENCE, RESEARCH (PAGE 11, OCT 7)
THE Dean of Students of the University for Development Studies (UDS), at Navrongo Dr Walter M. Kpikpi has urged the government to commit itself to support and research, stressing that science if properly supported science could turn round the fortunes of the nation.
Dr Kpikpi made these remarks at this year’s annual welcoming ceremony for newly admitted students from the Upper East Region into UDS at Navrongo. The ceremony was organised by the Upper East Students Union of the UDS.
Held under the theme, “Living in Harmony in the Upper East Region, the role of the youth”, the event was geared towards forging peace, unity and togetherness of the youth of the region in tertiary institutions to fight poverty, disease and squalor which is afflicting the people.
According to Dr Kpikpi, contrary to perceptions held that the region was poor, there existed a great potential which if well supported could yield positive results for the region.
He cited for example the possibility of cultivating large tracts of gum Arabic which has a great economic value and said if science based intuitions, such as UDS were supported and well resourced, it could lead in the production of the plant which attracts high prices abroad. He also cited the possibility of producing bio-fuel from seeds that grow wild in the region.
“We want the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) to be more accommodative and receptive to us so that when we come to you with these problems, you would know that these are not personnel problems but developmental problems for the region and for the country as a whole.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo commended the organisers for the choice of theme emphasising that the youth could play an effective role in the harmonious living of the various people of the region.
He noted that a careful look at almost all the conflicts in the region revealed that the youth were the ones at the forefront and charged the students to translate their activities or effects into something practical and more useful to themselves and society.
These violent means of settling disagreements should be avoided at all costs. If you are able to support the government’s programmes with your youthful contributions, we shall soon see massive reductions in conflicts in the region, the regional minister stated.
Mr Woyongo referred to conditions in the three northern regions and charged them to work hard to improve on their situation, saying that if they did not work for development, they would not get it on a silver platter.
He asserted that there was continuous marginalisation of the three northern regions over the years and governments have paid lip service to their development.
According to Mr Woyongo, although there had been several policy interventions to bridge the gap between the north and south, the gap kept widening.
He cited for instance, the school feeding programme in which the Upper East Region considered to be poor had only 4 per cent of schools in the region benefitting from the programme whiles the Ashanti Region which was relatively better off had 29 per cent of schools benefitting from the programme.
“How do we bridge the gap when these disparities exist?” he asked adding that “we cannot bridge the gap by merely paying lip service to bridging that gap between the north and the south, we must be realistic”.
While calling for equitable distribution of the national cake, Mr Woyongo charged the people in the region to remain united in their fight for development. He also stressed the need for the people to take their education seriously since that was key to the development of the north.
“You have the responsibility to be good role models for your peers back at home to emulate. Let them see that conflicts are not the way to solving or addressing problems. It should be noted that conflicts and development do not go together. The development we desire and wish to attain cannot thrive under conflict and insecurity. You must therefore be ambassadors of peace and not agents of conflicts,” he told the students.
The Principal of the Saint John’s Bosco’s College of Education, Mr Alfred Ndago, who was the guest speaker, identified land disputes, poverty, illiteracy, re-ordering of the traditional system, as well as political interferences as some of the tendencies that appeared to be the source of disharmony and conflicts in the region.
He therefore advised the students not to allow themselves to be dragged into conflict but pursue their education with zeal to propel them into higher heights and advocate change to turn round the atmosphere of hopelessness.
The Upper East Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, Mr Peter H. Mensah urged the youth to form civic clubs to share civic knowledge as well as the right and responsibility of a good citizen.
The President of the Upper East Regional Students Union, Mr Edward Sumaila Issifu said apart from serving as a platform for students who hailed from the region to share ideas, the union also sought to imbue in its members positive cultural practices of the region.
Dr Kpikpi made these remarks at this year’s annual welcoming ceremony for newly admitted students from the Upper East Region into UDS at Navrongo. The ceremony was organised by the Upper East Students Union of the UDS.
Held under the theme, “Living in Harmony in the Upper East Region, the role of the youth”, the event was geared towards forging peace, unity and togetherness of the youth of the region in tertiary institutions to fight poverty, disease and squalor which is afflicting the people.
According to Dr Kpikpi, contrary to perceptions held that the region was poor, there existed a great potential which if well supported could yield positive results for the region.
He cited for example the possibility of cultivating large tracts of gum Arabic which has a great economic value and said if science based intuitions, such as UDS were supported and well resourced, it could lead in the production of the plant which attracts high prices abroad. He also cited the possibility of producing bio-fuel from seeds that grow wild in the region.
“We want the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) to be more accommodative and receptive to us so that when we come to you with these problems, you would know that these are not personnel problems but developmental problems for the region and for the country as a whole.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo commended the organisers for the choice of theme emphasising that the youth could play an effective role in the harmonious living of the various people of the region.
He noted that a careful look at almost all the conflicts in the region revealed that the youth were the ones at the forefront and charged the students to translate their activities or effects into something practical and more useful to themselves and society.
These violent means of settling disagreements should be avoided at all costs. If you are able to support the government’s programmes with your youthful contributions, we shall soon see massive reductions in conflicts in the region, the regional minister stated.
Mr Woyongo referred to conditions in the three northern regions and charged them to work hard to improve on their situation, saying that if they did not work for development, they would not get it on a silver platter.
He asserted that there was continuous marginalisation of the three northern regions over the years and governments have paid lip service to their development.
According to Mr Woyongo, although there had been several policy interventions to bridge the gap between the north and south, the gap kept widening.
He cited for instance, the school feeding programme in which the Upper East Region considered to be poor had only 4 per cent of schools in the region benefitting from the programme whiles the Ashanti Region which was relatively better off had 29 per cent of schools benefitting from the programme.
“How do we bridge the gap when these disparities exist?” he asked adding that “we cannot bridge the gap by merely paying lip service to bridging that gap between the north and the south, we must be realistic”.
While calling for equitable distribution of the national cake, Mr Woyongo charged the people in the region to remain united in their fight for development. He also stressed the need for the people to take their education seriously since that was key to the development of the north.
“You have the responsibility to be good role models for your peers back at home to emulate. Let them see that conflicts are not the way to solving or addressing problems. It should be noted that conflicts and development do not go together. The development we desire and wish to attain cannot thrive under conflict and insecurity. You must therefore be ambassadors of peace and not agents of conflicts,” he told the students.
The Principal of the Saint John’s Bosco’s College of Education, Mr Alfred Ndago, who was the guest speaker, identified land disputes, poverty, illiteracy, re-ordering of the traditional system, as well as political interferences as some of the tendencies that appeared to be the source of disharmony and conflicts in the region.
He therefore advised the students not to allow themselves to be dragged into conflict but pursue their education with zeal to propel them into higher heights and advocate change to turn round the atmosphere of hopelessness.
The Upper East Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, Mr Peter H. Mensah urged the youth to form civic clubs to share civic knowledge as well as the right and responsibility of a good citizen.
The President of the Upper East Regional Students Union, Mr Edward Sumaila Issifu said apart from serving as a platform for students who hailed from the region to share ideas, the union also sought to imbue in its members positive cultural practices of the region.
REDUCE BARRIERS ON TEMA-OUAGADOUGOU ROAD (PAGE 21, OCT 6)
Two Non-governmental Organizations are demanding a reduction in the number of road barriers on the Tema-Ouagadougou corridor to boost trade amongst these two countries.
The Social Support Foundation and the Community Development and Advocacy Centre are jointly implementing the Accelerated Economic Development through improved road transport governance project strategically towards enhancing equitable access, accountability and transparency in road transport governance within the West African sub-region.
Speaking at a forum with stakeholders in the transport and haulage industry as well as law enforcement agencies at Paga, the Project Team leader, Mr. Louis Acheampong said the project seeks to free the West African transport corridors from excessive barriers, corruption and delays.
According to him, studies carried out has shown that on the main Tema-Paga corridor, there 1.9 check points per every 100 km translating into 19 minutes of time delay for the same distance adding that US $ 4.98 of bribe are paid for 100 km to agents at the check points.
Mr. Acheampong said a closer analysis of the report revealed that national economies in the West African sub-region loses over US $ 1.5 million in a year because this money goes into the pockets of officials at the check points as unofficial monies collected from cargo drivers irrespective of whether these drivers have the required documentations on their vehicles and cargoes.
“Undoubtedly, the various countries lose high revenue and their respective citizens are at the receiving end in terms of high cost of goods and services paid as final consumers”, he said.
He noted that though corrupt practices are still a big problem on the West African sub-region despite the overall bribery decrease of 11 per cent and that of Ghana by 5 per cent in 2009 with respect to 2008 recorded figures, the situation is still alarming since some new opportunities for bribery has elevated through the introduction of new check points and new extortion avenues under the pretext of enforcing the rules of axle-weight load limits.
Mr. Acheampong therefore appealed to all stakeholders especially the authorities of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the security and law enforcement officers at the barriers and check points ad the driver unions and the Shippers Council for their unflinching support and collaboration to free the corridors of the sun-region of the evils that are prevalent and endemic on the roads.
The Upper East Regional Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Edward Tabiri made a strong case for the police presence on the road. He argued that by their traditional function, the police are enjoined to be on the road at a particular location and or at a particular point in time whenever circumstances demand.
He mentioned child trafficking, and prostitution, small arms and ammunition trafficking, armed robbery, illicit drug trafficking, counterfeiting, piracy, carjacking and road traffic offences as justification for police presence on the road.
“It is very difficult to tell which barriers are not necessary given our underdeveloped police service. In well endowed societies, it takes one-man police officer to serve as the MTTU cum response officer. We just do not have the resources hence the need to put more men on the road to check crime and road offences,” Mr. Tabiri said.
He added that to curb the delays and corruption, scan machines ought to be put at certain points along the Tema-Ouagadougou corridor, stressing that the threat to offload a whole container load of wares always invariably coerces the transporter to yield to unnecessary demands for bribes.
“Drivers must not drive only road worthy vehicles but also insist on their rights not to give out bribes” he added.
The Social Support Foundation and the Community Development and Advocacy Centre are jointly implementing the Accelerated Economic Development through improved road transport governance project strategically towards enhancing equitable access, accountability and transparency in road transport governance within the West African sub-region.
Speaking at a forum with stakeholders in the transport and haulage industry as well as law enforcement agencies at Paga, the Project Team leader, Mr. Louis Acheampong said the project seeks to free the West African transport corridors from excessive barriers, corruption and delays.
According to him, studies carried out has shown that on the main Tema-Paga corridor, there 1.9 check points per every 100 km translating into 19 minutes of time delay for the same distance adding that US $ 4.98 of bribe are paid for 100 km to agents at the check points.
Mr. Acheampong said a closer analysis of the report revealed that national economies in the West African sub-region loses over US $ 1.5 million in a year because this money goes into the pockets of officials at the check points as unofficial monies collected from cargo drivers irrespective of whether these drivers have the required documentations on their vehicles and cargoes.
“Undoubtedly, the various countries lose high revenue and their respective citizens are at the receiving end in terms of high cost of goods and services paid as final consumers”, he said.
He noted that though corrupt practices are still a big problem on the West African sub-region despite the overall bribery decrease of 11 per cent and that of Ghana by 5 per cent in 2009 with respect to 2008 recorded figures, the situation is still alarming since some new opportunities for bribery has elevated through the introduction of new check points and new extortion avenues under the pretext of enforcing the rules of axle-weight load limits.
Mr. Acheampong therefore appealed to all stakeholders especially the authorities of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the security and law enforcement officers at the barriers and check points ad the driver unions and the Shippers Council for their unflinching support and collaboration to free the corridors of the sun-region of the evils that are prevalent and endemic on the roads.
The Upper East Regional Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Edward Tabiri made a strong case for the police presence on the road. He argued that by their traditional function, the police are enjoined to be on the road at a particular location and or at a particular point in time whenever circumstances demand.
He mentioned child trafficking, and prostitution, small arms and ammunition trafficking, armed robbery, illicit drug trafficking, counterfeiting, piracy, carjacking and road traffic offences as justification for police presence on the road.
“It is very difficult to tell which barriers are not necessary given our underdeveloped police service. In well endowed societies, it takes one-man police officer to serve as the MTTU cum response officer. We just do not have the resources hence the need to put more men on the road to check crime and road offences,” Mr. Tabiri said.
He added that to curb the delays and corruption, scan machines ought to be put at certain points along the Tema-Ouagadougou corridor, stressing that the threat to offload a whole container load of wares always invariably coerces the transporter to yield to unnecessary demands for bribes.
“Drivers must not drive only road worthy vehicles but also insist on their rights not to give out bribes” he added.
Sunday, 11 October 2009
EX-CONVICT STEALS 8 GOATS (MIRROR, OCT 3, PAGE 23)
From Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bongo
A Bongo District Magistrate Court has jailed a 20-year-old ex-convict to 48 months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing eight goats.
Azitariga Nyabire, convicted for a similar offence three years ago, was charged with stealing and unlawful entry. He pleaded guilty to stealing but not guilty for unlawful entry and was convicted on his own plea.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Kwashie Azalakor told the court, presided over by Madam Viviane Yamusah, that on September 8, 2009, at about 4:30 am, Nyabire was found with the goats, suspected to have been stolen, at the Kansoe Market Square near Namoo.
This raised suspicion and Nyabire was arrested and handed over to the police.
He said during interrogation Nyabire initially said he was on an endurance exercise from Zorko to the market square, a distance of about five kilometres and denied any offence.
Mr Azalakor said Nyabire had been granted bail at the same court on a similar case.
A Bongo District Magistrate Court has jailed a 20-year-old ex-convict to 48 months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing eight goats.
Azitariga Nyabire, convicted for a similar offence three years ago, was charged with stealing and unlawful entry. He pleaded guilty to stealing but not guilty for unlawful entry and was convicted on his own plea.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Kwashie Azalakor told the court, presided over by Madam Viviane Yamusah, that on September 8, 2009, at about 4:30 am, Nyabire was found with the goats, suspected to have been stolen, at the Kansoe Market Square near Namoo.
This raised suspicion and Nyabire was arrested and handed over to the police.
He said during interrogation Nyabire initially said he was on an endurance exercise from Zorko to the market square, a distance of about five kilometres and denied any offence.
Mr Azalakor said Nyabire had been granted bail at the same court on a similar case.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
INSTITUTE INTERNAL AUDIT STRUCTURES — OPPONG-YEBOAH (SEPT 21, PAGE 31)
THE Upper East Regional Auditor, Mr Felix Oppong-Yeboah, has suggested that all government agencies as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies should institute strong internal audit structures to ensure the efficient management of resources for development.
His call follows reports of several irregularities in the financial management of two assemblies in the region, namely the Bolgatanga Municipal and Builsa District.
The irregularities include internally generated funds not banked or recorded, failure or wrongful deduction of withholding tax and irregular review of bank reconciliation and improper accounting of imprest.
According to the audit carried out by Messrs Ernst and Young, Chartered Accountants contracted by the Audit Service, the two assemblies also failed to capture subventions from the central government, poor filing system, undue delays at deleting names of retired workers from pay roll and the absence of an Internal Audit Unit.
Mr Oppong-Yeboah, who was addressing a workshop on Public Financial Management at Bolgatanga, therefore, reiterated the need for the strengthening of internal audit structures to avert such problems.
The Audit Service organised the workshop in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and other financial organisations.
The workshop which attracted participants comprising District Budget Officers, accountants, finance administrators and heads of some departments in the region, was aimed at sensitising the participants to good financial management and to provide an independent opinion from the various agencies whose units the reports identified as areas with problems.
The Deputy Head of the Public Expenditure Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Finance, Mr Seth Botchway, entreated all Municipal and District Assemblies to take public financial management issues seriously to prevent the loss of state resources .
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni in a keynote address, said it was not only embezzlement of public funds that constituted irregularities in public financial processes, but also the inability of key officials not doing the work for which they were paid or keeping records as well as adhering to procedures that protected public property and assets.
She, therefore, expressed the hope that the knowledge the participants would gain would help them improve their work.
His call follows reports of several irregularities in the financial management of two assemblies in the region, namely the Bolgatanga Municipal and Builsa District.
The irregularities include internally generated funds not banked or recorded, failure or wrongful deduction of withholding tax and irregular review of bank reconciliation and improper accounting of imprest.
According to the audit carried out by Messrs Ernst and Young, Chartered Accountants contracted by the Audit Service, the two assemblies also failed to capture subventions from the central government, poor filing system, undue delays at deleting names of retired workers from pay roll and the absence of an Internal Audit Unit.
Mr Oppong-Yeboah, who was addressing a workshop on Public Financial Management at Bolgatanga, therefore, reiterated the need for the strengthening of internal audit structures to avert such problems.
The Audit Service organised the workshop in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and other financial organisations.
The workshop which attracted participants comprising District Budget Officers, accountants, finance administrators and heads of some departments in the region, was aimed at sensitising the participants to good financial management and to provide an independent opinion from the various agencies whose units the reports identified as areas with problems.
The Deputy Head of the Public Expenditure Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Finance, Mr Seth Botchway, entreated all Municipal and District Assemblies to take public financial management issues seriously to prevent the loss of state resources .
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni in a keynote address, said it was not only embezzlement of public funds that constituted irregularities in public financial processes, but also the inability of key officials not doing the work for which they were paid or keeping records as well as adhering to procedures that protected public property and assets.
She, therefore, expressed the hope that the knowledge the participants would gain would help them improve their work.
3 COUNTRIES HOLD TRANS-BORDER MEETING (SEPT 21, PAGE 31)
HEADS of Regional Administrations from Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso, as well as technical officers drawn from ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the three countries that share common borders have met in the Burkinabe town of Tenkodogo to share ideas on trans-border co-operation.
The Upper East Region of Ghana, shares borders with the Central East Region of Burkina Faso and the Savannah Region of Togo.
As a result of the common borders, the meeting was initiated by the Burkinabe side, not only to cement the already cordial relations, but also to collaborate with their counterparts in Ghana and Togo on how best to address the common challenges facing the three neighbouring countries.
Dubbed the maiden tripartite trans-border meeting, it seeks to enhance the social and economic ties that exist among these countries.
Ghana’s delegation to the meeting was led by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, while the team from Togo was led by Mr Mossyamba Ali Seidu, the Head of the Savannah Region, with the Governor of the Central East Region leading the delegation from Burkina Faso.
The specific objectives of the three-day meeting are to reinforce the trans-border cohesion, good neighbourliness, free movement of goods and services among the three nations.
The meeting would also seek to contribute to the attainment of the objectives being pursued by the sub-regional organisations such as ECOWAS and the AU.
In addition, the deliberations will attempt to reinforce the socio-economic development programme being undertaken by the administrative offices of the three regions and contribute to the strengthening of the bond of co-operation between the participating regions.
At the end of the conference, it is expected that the three regions will attain trans-border cohesion and co-existence, free movement of goods and services as well as nurture the bond of friendship among the three countries.
The participants are also expected to exchange experience and ideas in the areas of environment, security, transportation, customs, animal husbandry, commerce, health, eradication of negative cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), child trafficking and other anti-social practices.
Deliberations would be done in plenary sessions in three thematic groups such as security, environment, free movement of goods and people. Others include social issues such as health, education, forced marriages, FGM and child trafficking.
The rest are economic issues, namely agriculture, transport, commerce, customs and animal husbandry.
A joint communiqué will be signed by the leaders of the three delegations at the end of the session.
On the first day of the summit, members of the delegation of each region paid a courtesy call on the paramount Chief of Tenkodogo, Naaba Saaga, who expressed hope that observance of the summit would help foster unity among the peoples of the three countries.
The Upper East Region of Ghana, shares borders with the Central East Region of Burkina Faso and the Savannah Region of Togo.
As a result of the common borders, the meeting was initiated by the Burkinabe side, not only to cement the already cordial relations, but also to collaborate with their counterparts in Ghana and Togo on how best to address the common challenges facing the three neighbouring countries.
Dubbed the maiden tripartite trans-border meeting, it seeks to enhance the social and economic ties that exist among these countries.
Ghana’s delegation to the meeting was led by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, while the team from Togo was led by Mr Mossyamba Ali Seidu, the Head of the Savannah Region, with the Governor of the Central East Region leading the delegation from Burkina Faso.
The specific objectives of the three-day meeting are to reinforce the trans-border cohesion, good neighbourliness, free movement of goods and services among the three nations.
The meeting would also seek to contribute to the attainment of the objectives being pursued by the sub-regional organisations such as ECOWAS and the AU.
In addition, the deliberations will attempt to reinforce the socio-economic development programme being undertaken by the administrative offices of the three regions and contribute to the strengthening of the bond of co-operation between the participating regions.
At the end of the conference, it is expected that the three regions will attain trans-border cohesion and co-existence, free movement of goods and services as well as nurture the bond of friendship among the three countries.
The participants are also expected to exchange experience and ideas in the areas of environment, security, transportation, customs, animal husbandry, commerce, health, eradication of negative cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), child trafficking and other anti-social practices.
Deliberations would be done in plenary sessions in three thematic groups such as security, environment, free movement of goods and people. Others include social issues such as health, education, forced marriages, FGM and child trafficking.
The rest are economic issues, namely agriculture, transport, commerce, customs and animal husbandry.
A joint communiqué will be signed by the leaders of the three delegations at the end of the session.
On the first day of the summit, members of the delegation of each region paid a courtesy call on the paramount Chief of Tenkodogo, Naaba Saaga, who expressed hope that observance of the summit would help foster unity among the peoples of the three countries.
SIC LIFE DONATES TO FLOOD VICTIMS (MIRROR, SEPT 19, 2009, PAGE 35)
From Benjamin Xornam Glover,
Bolgatanga
SIC Life Company has donated a cheque for GH¢3,000 and food items as well as clothing valued at GH¢4,000 to support relief agencies to assist people in the Balgatanga Municipality who were affected by recent floods that hit the Upper East Region.
This was in reponse to an appeal made to it by the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Mr Akolbire Opam-Brown.
The items were 10 bags of rice, 25 bags of maize, five bags of millet, nine bales of second hand clothing and two boxes of assorted clothing, shoes, slippers donated by staff of the company.
The Managing Director of SIC Life, Mr Abdul-Rahman Anafure, said the gesture was part of the company’s social responsibility to assist those who were affected by the floods.
He commended the management of the Metro Mass Transit for transporting the items free of charge from Accra to Bolgatanga.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Amuni, receiving the items, thanked the Company and appealed to other companies to emulate the example.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgantanga, Mr Epsona Ayamga, said about 500 people have so far been displaced by the flood in the Binduri community after the Nafkoliga River broke its banks and were staying with relatives and friends.
Large acreage of farm lands have been submerged.
Speaking to The Mirror after a tour of the area, most of the farmers said they were taking advantage of the fertile nature of the soil to farm close to the river, as a result of difficulty in accessing fertilizers to support their farming activites.
They said foodstuffs mainly maize, sweet potato and millet were inundated, adding that they would have nothing to harvest under the current condition.
They therefore appealed for seedlings to enable them start dry season farming.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Ministe, Mr Abdulai as well as the Regional Director of NADMO, Mr Patrick Akake, have toured the affected areas to assess the damage caused by the flood.
The Deputy Regional Minister assured the people that government will do everything possible to assist the farmers.
Mr Abdulai also said as a result of high demand for fertilizers the three assemblies in the Bawku area - the Bawku Municipality, Bawku West District Assembly and the Garu-Tempane District Assembly - have met the Minister for food and Agriculture to ensure that more coupons are released to the farmers to assist them in their activities.
Bolgatanga
SIC Life Company has donated a cheque for GH¢3,000 and food items as well as clothing valued at GH¢4,000 to support relief agencies to assist people in the Balgatanga Municipality who were affected by recent floods that hit the Upper East Region.
This was in reponse to an appeal made to it by the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Mr Akolbire Opam-Brown.
The items were 10 bags of rice, 25 bags of maize, five bags of millet, nine bales of second hand clothing and two boxes of assorted clothing, shoes, slippers donated by staff of the company.
The Managing Director of SIC Life, Mr Abdul-Rahman Anafure, said the gesture was part of the company’s social responsibility to assist those who were affected by the floods.
He commended the management of the Metro Mass Transit for transporting the items free of charge from Accra to Bolgatanga.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Amuni, receiving the items, thanked the Company and appealed to other companies to emulate the example.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgantanga, Mr Epsona Ayamga, said about 500 people have so far been displaced by the flood in the Binduri community after the Nafkoliga River broke its banks and were staying with relatives and friends.
Large acreage of farm lands have been submerged.
Speaking to The Mirror after a tour of the area, most of the farmers said they were taking advantage of the fertile nature of the soil to farm close to the river, as a result of difficulty in accessing fertilizers to support their farming activites.
They said foodstuffs mainly maize, sweet potato and millet were inundated, adding that they would have nothing to harvest under the current condition.
They therefore appealed for seedlings to enable them start dry season farming.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Ministe, Mr Abdulai as well as the Regional Director of NADMO, Mr Patrick Akake, have toured the affected areas to assess the damage caused by the flood.
The Deputy Regional Minister assured the people that government will do everything possible to assist the farmers.
Mr Abdulai also said as a result of high demand for fertilizers the three assemblies in the Bawku area - the Bawku Municipality, Bawku West District Assembly and the Garu-Tempane District Assembly - have met the Minister for food and Agriculture to ensure that more coupons are released to the farmers to assist them in their activities.
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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...
