The President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has called on activists and cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to work closely with party executives and shun persons who incite them to rebel against government appointees.
According to him, the Government is working very hard to ensure that it fulfils its mandate to the people and stressed that no amount of cajoling would distract him from the NDC’s “Better Ghana” agenda.
President Mills said this when he addressed party activists in Bolgatanga on his arrival in the Upper East Region last Saturday.
He was in the region to attend the final funeral rites of the late Paramount Chief of Chiana, Pe Rowland Adiali Ayagitam II.
“We are working very hard and very soon you will begin to see something very different. You will begin to see the Better Ghana emerging. All that I ask of you is patience,” he stated.
He advised activists or ‘foot soldiers’ as they are known, to be wary of those who incite them against government appointees.
“There are people who want to urge you to say we don’t like this one, sack this one, sack that one. If I do that and sack somebody and put others there, they will also suffer the same fate in the future”, he said.
“I, more than anybody else, know how hard you have worked. For eight years, I led you and I know the sacrifices you have all made. It will be criminal on my part to turn my back on you. If I do Allah will never bless me”.
“Let nobody tell you we are sleeping in the Castle; your sorrow is my sorrow and your joy is my joy. Work with your regional minister, the party executives, and the various leaders and I can assure you your time will come one day”, the President said.
The President’s advice comes after recent calls by some pressure groups within the party in the region for the dismissal of government appointees.
Recently, one of such groups, the Coalition for the Welfare of the Masses, took on the regional minister and the regional executives on the award of contracts.
In neighbouring Upper West Region, some persons believed to be supporters of the NDC stormed the Regional Coordinating Council and bolted with a tender box containing bid documents and later set it ablaze.
The riotous action by supporters of the party and the subsequent burning of the tender documents led to the dismissal of the then Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmoud Khalid.
Monday, 31 May 2010
MORE WOMEN MUST PARTICIPATE IN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS — CHIGABATIA (PAGE 14, MAY 31, 2010)
The Upper East Regional Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Agnes Asangalisah Chigabatia, has reiterated the need for more women to take active part in the forthcoming district level elections.
While conceding that politics was not a game for the faint-hearted, she suggested that it was about time women developed interest, particularly, at the grass roots level where their impact would be well felt, adding that if more women showed interest and participated in the decision-making process in their communities, there would be peace.
“By our nature, women have that motherly love and care and this will be translated into tackling issues in the community”, she said.
Mrs Chigabatia expressed concern about the failure of women in the country to actively vie for political office and stressed that if women really wanted to take part in the decision-making process of the country, they should take such bold challenges by competing with men in all aspects of governance.
The former lawmaker, who was a recipient of an international award, made these comments during an interview in Bolgatanga.
The “Great African Patriotic Achiever for 2009 Award” was presented to her at a ceremony held at the Holiday Inn, London, in recognition of her humanitarian activities and contribution to the building of her country and Africa as a whole.
Mrs Chigabatia expressed her appreciation to the people of the Builsa North and the NPP family for giving her the opportunity to become a Member of Parliament and also for making her the first female Regional Chairperson of the NPP, all of which exposed her to be nominated for the award.
While commending the media for exposing her works at the grass roots and at the parliamentary levels between the year 2004 to 2008 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party, Mrs Chigabatia, who runs the St. Agnes Vocational Institute which trains the youth in her area in hairdressing, dress- making and ICT free of charge called on the governmental and non-governmental organisations to support women's activities in the area of politics to enable them contest the district level elections from where they could build their political careers.
Commenting on the current presidential race within her party, she caution
ed the five aspirants for the flagbearership to desist from mudslinging, stressing that “we are one family”.
She maintained with determination, hard work and unity, the NPP would recapture power.
“If you look critically at the way the NDC is managing the country, should we put our house in order, all shall be well,” she said.
Mrs Chigabatia said she did not believe in the existence of camps within the party, adding that at the end of it all, God will choose for them a leader who they would all rally behind to help the NPP recapture power in 2012.
She advised the youth, especially, those within her party to desist from allowing themselves to be used as tools to tarnish the image of the party.
She advised them to take their businesses, academic and vocational training seriously, while they gradually prepare to step into the shoes of the current leaders.
While conceding that politics was not a game for the faint-hearted, she suggested that it was about time women developed interest, particularly, at the grass roots level where their impact would be well felt, adding that if more women showed interest and participated in the decision-making process in their communities, there would be peace.
“By our nature, women have that motherly love and care and this will be translated into tackling issues in the community”, she said.
Mrs Chigabatia expressed concern about the failure of women in the country to actively vie for political office and stressed that if women really wanted to take part in the decision-making process of the country, they should take such bold challenges by competing with men in all aspects of governance.
The former lawmaker, who was a recipient of an international award, made these comments during an interview in Bolgatanga.
The “Great African Patriotic Achiever for 2009 Award” was presented to her at a ceremony held at the Holiday Inn, London, in recognition of her humanitarian activities and contribution to the building of her country and Africa as a whole.
Mrs Chigabatia expressed her appreciation to the people of the Builsa North and the NPP family for giving her the opportunity to become a Member of Parliament and also for making her the first female Regional Chairperson of the NPP, all of which exposed her to be nominated for the award.
While commending the media for exposing her works at the grass roots and at the parliamentary levels between the year 2004 to 2008 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party, Mrs Chigabatia, who runs the St. Agnes Vocational Institute which trains the youth in her area in hairdressing, dress- making and ICT free of charge called on the governmental and non-governmental organisations to support women's activities in the area of politics to enable them contest the district level elections from where they could build their political careers.
Commenting on the current presidential race within her party, she caution
ed the five aspirants for the flagbearership to desist from mudslinging, stressing that “we are one family”.
She maintained with determination, hard work and unity, the NPP would recapture power.
“If you look critically at the way the NDC is managing the country, should we put our house in order, all shall be well,” she said.
Mrs Chigabatia said she did not believe in the existence of camps within the party, adding that at the end of it all, God will choose for them a leader who they would all rally behind to help the NPP recapture power in 2012.
She advised the youth, especially, those within her party to desist from allowing themselves to be used as tools to tarnish the image of the party.
She advised them to take their businesses, academic and vocational training seriously, while they gradually prepare to step into the shoes of the current leaders.
MAINTAIN ATMOSPHERE OF PEACE - PRESIDENT (SPREAD, MAY 31, 2010)
President John Evans Atta Mills has appealed to traditional leaders from Chiana in the Upper East Region to maintain the atmosphere of peace in the area by employing time tested traditional norms and practices in choosing a successor to the late paramount chief of the area.
President Mills said this on Saturday when he joined the people of Chiana in the Kassena-Nankana West District to observe the final funeral arrangements for the Chiana Pio, Pe Rowland Adiali Ayagitam II, who died in April, 2006 and has since been buried.
President Mills paid glowing tribute to the late Paramount Chief of Chiana, who was the speaker of the Consultative Assembly that drafted the 1992 Constitution, and a member of the Council of State in 1997 for his dedicated leadership role in the traditional area, the Upper East region and the nation as a whole.
“If indeed Ghana is being touted as a democratic nation, as a beacon in Africa, and as a country to be emulated, part of the credit should obviously go to the late Chiana Pio,” President Mills said
President Mills recounted the late chief’s commitment to peace and said a lasting legacy the people could pay him was to maintain the peace in the area. He emphasised that there can be no development where there was no peace.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, in a tribute said the late Chiana Pio was very selfless and dedicated in whatever position he was called upon to serve and this he did willingly, expertly and satisfactorily.
Mr Woyongo noted that during his 58 years reign as Chiana-Pio, Pe Ayagitam was indeed a lover of peace and ensured that peace prevailed in his traditional area and even beyond.
The regent, Innocent Kwaratugu Ayagitam, in his welcome address recounted the traditional leadership achievements of the late chief and called for the continuation of the dreams and ambitions of the Pe Ayagitam for the development of the traditional area.
These included the enhancement of facilities at the Chiana Senior High School, the rebuilding of the Chiana Health Centre into a fully-fledged hospital and the provision of a large dam for the area for irrigation purposes to support all year farming.
The funeral was also attended by a government delegation, including, Rev. Jacob Ayeebo, member of the Council of State, the Chief of Staff, Mr John M. Newman, the deputy regional minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, Mr Ibrahim Adam, Mr Mahama Ayariga, deputy minister for trade.
Mr Cletus Apul Avokah led a parliamentary delegation which included the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, Mr Timothy Ataboadey and Mr Leo Kaba. The Upper East Regional Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party, Mrs Agnes Chigabatia was also present at the funeral.
In line with custom, the government presented a cash of GH ¢10,000, a ram, assorted drinks and bags of rice to support the bereaved families. There were similar presentations from the Council of State and the NPP to the bereaved families to assist in the organisation of the funeral.
The late Chiana Pio, Pe Ayagitam, was born in 1932 and enskinned in 1950. He was appointed a member of the then Northern Territory Land Planning and Irrigation Committee in 1951-1952. He was also a farmer and was twice adjudged the best Upper Regional farmer in 1974 and 1976. Subsequently, he was selected as a member of a Ghanaian delegation to the Republic of China to study corporate farming systems of the Chinese people in 1974.
He served in various capacities as board member for Navrongo Secondary School, the erstwhile Farmers Service Corporation, Black Star Line and the Ghana Supply Commission, among others.
He was appointed by the former President, Jerry John Rawlings as the Speaker of the Consultative Assembly that drafted the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. He also contested and was elected to represent the Upper East Region as a member of the Council of State in 1997.
Pe Ayagitam served two-terms as President of the Kassena-Nankana Traditional Council (1972-1976, and 1986-1989). He was also the first president of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs when the region was split into two in 1983.
For his sterling leadership, government awarded him two national awards, the first being the Grand Medal, Civil Division and the Order of the Volta, Civil Division(2000) for the promotion of peace in the Upper East Region.
President Mills said this on Saturday when he joined the people of Chiana in the Kassena-Nankana West District to observe the final funeral arrangements for the Chiana Pio, Pe Rowland Adiali Ayagitam II, who died in April, 2006 and has since been buried.
President Mills paid glowing tribute to the late Paramount Chief of Chiana, who was the speaker of the Consultative Assembly that drafted the 1992 Constitution, and a member of the Council of State in 1997 for his dedicated leadership role in the traditional area, the Upper East region and the nation as a whole.
“If indeed Ghana is being touted as a democratic nation, as a beacon in Africa, and as a country to be emulated, part of the credit should obviously go to the late Chiana Pio,” President Mills said
President Mills recounted the late chief’s commitment to peace and said a lasting legacy the people could pay him was to maintain the peace in the area. He emphasised that there can be no development where there was no peace.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, in a tribute said the late Chiana Pio was very selfless and dedicated in whatever position he was called upon to serve and this he did willingly, expertly and satisfactorily.
Mr Woyongo noted that during his 58 years reign as Chiana-Pio, Pe Ayagitam was indeed a lover of peace and ensured that peace prevailed in his traditional area and even beyond.
The regent, Innocent Kwaratugu Ayagitam, in his welcome address recounted the traditional leadership achievements of the late chief and called for the continuation of the dreams and ambitions of the Pe Ayagitam for the development of the traditional area.
These included the enhancement of facilities at the Chiana Senior High School, the rebuilding of the Chiana Health Centre into a fully-fledged hospital and the provision of a large dam for the area for irrigation purposes to support all year farming.
The funeral was also attended by a government delegation, including, Rev. Jacob Ayeebo, member of the Council of State, the Chief of Staff, Mr John M. Newman, the deputy regional minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, Mr Ibrahim Adam, Mr Mahama Ayariga, deputy minister for trade.
Mr Cletus Apul Avokah led a parliamentary delegation which included the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, Mr Timothy Ataboadey and Mr Leo Kaba. The Upper East Regional Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party, Mrs Agnes Chigabatia was also present at the funeral.
In line with custom, the government presented a cash of GH ¢10,000, a ram, assorted drinks and bags of rice to support the bereaved families. There were similar presentations from the Council of State and the NPP to the bereaved families to assist in the organisation of the funeral.
The late Chiana Pio, Pe Ayagitam, was born in 1932 and enskinned in 1950. He was appointed a member of the then Northern Territory Land Planning and Irrigation Committee in 1951-1952. He was also a farmer and was twice adjudged the best Upper Regional farmer in 1974 and 1976. Subsequently, he was selected as a member of a Ghanaian delegation to the Republic of China to study corporate farming systems of the Chinese people in 1974.
He served in various capacities as board member for Navrongo Secondary School, the erstwhile Farmers Service Corporation, Black Star Line and the Ghana Supply Commission, among others.
He was appointed by the former President, Jerry John Rawlings as the Speaker of the Consultative Assembly that drafted the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. He also contested and was elected to represent the Upper East Region as a member of the Council of State in 1997.
Pe Ayagitam served two-terms as President of the Kassena-Nankana Traditional Council (1972-1976, and 1986-1989). He was also the first president of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs when the region was split into two in 1983.
For his sterling leadership, government awarded him two national awards, the first being the Grand Medal, Civil Division and the Order of the Volta, Civil Division(2000) for the promotion of peace in the Upper East Region.
BAN ON MOTOR RIDING IN BAWKU RELAXED (PAGE 67, MAY 31, 2010)
National Security has relaxed the temporary ban imposed on the riding of motorbikes in the Bawku municipality and its environs.
According to the Bawku Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Musa Abdulai, the ban had been relaxed to permit only females to ride motorbikes.
He, however, warned that female riders were not supposed to carry males on their motorbikes.
The new measure, which was relayed to the people by the Information Services Department last Friday, was greeted with cheers by sections of the people of the area who had endured the displeasure of either walking long distance to their destinations or resorting to the use of bicycles.
Diana Gariba, a teacher, told the Daily Graphic that the relaxation of the ban on the riding of motorbikes would bring great relief to the people.
Sections of the public in Bawku, especially government workers, health workers and teachers, had, in the past, appealed to the government for special permits to enable them to use their motorbikes, the major means of transportation in the municipality.
In April this year, National Security imposed a temporary ban on motor riding in Bawku, with the aim of reducing the spate of lawlessness and murders in the area.
The ban, according to the authorities, was to curb the activities of gunmen who went about killing innocent people and fleeing from crime scenes with the aid of motorbikes.
The MCE, who is also the Chairman of the Bawku Municipal Security Committee, said the ban had served its purpose, stressing that it reduced the spate of crime in the municipality.
Mr Abdulai, however, cautioned against the abuse of the new measure, warning that any person found violating the directive would be arrested.
According to the Bawku Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Musa Abdulai, the ban had been relaxed to permit only females to ride motorbikes.
He, however, warned that female riders were not supposed to carry males on their motorbikes.
The new measure, which was relayed to the people by the Information Services Department last Friday, was greeted with cheers by sections of the people of the area who had endured the displeasure of either walking long distance to their destinations or resorting to the use of bicycles.
Diana Gariba, a teacher, told the Daily Graphic that the relaxation of the ban on the riding of motorbikes would bring great relief to the people.
Sections of the public in Bawku, especially government workers, health workers and teachers, had, in the past, appealed to the government for special permits to enable them to use their motorbikes, the major means of transportation in the municipality.
In April this year, National Security imposed a temporary ban on motor riding in Bawku, with the aim of reducing the spate of lawlessness and murders in the area.
The ban, according to the authorities, was to curb the activities of gunmen who went about killing innocent people and fleeing from crime scenes with the aid of motorbikes.
The MCE, who is also the Chairman of the Bawku Municipal Security Committee, said the ban had served its purpose, stressing that it reduced the spate of crime in the municipality.
Mr Abdulai, however, cautioned against the abuse of the new measure, warning that any person found violating the directive would be arrested.
GBEWAA COLLEGE NEEDS ADMINISTRATION BOCK, WATER TANKS (PAGE 11, MAY 31, 2010)
THE Principal of Gbewaa College of Education in Pusiga in the Upper East Region, Pastor Luke Abugri, has appealed to the government to provide the college with an administration block, water tanks and buses and renovate staff bungalows.
The Principal mentioned inadequate water supply as one of the major problems confronting the school and said the staff, students and the surrounding communities all depended on one borehole.
Pastor Abugri made the call at the first congregation of the Gbewa College of Education at Pusiga. Two sets of graduates made up of over 800 students passed out and were presented with certificates.
The College, which was set up in 1953, has turned out about 8,000 teachers and other prominent workers who are currently serving in various sectors of the economy.
The Principal appealed to the government and the Ministry of Education to support the college to introduce French as a subject to enhance the teaching and learning of the subject in basic schools since the college was bordered on the north by Burkina Faso (Bittou) and on the east by Togo (Cinkansse).
He said his appeal was in line with the National Accreditation Board’s 2007 assessment and recommendations as a step towards strengthening the good relationship among Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo.
The Principal expressed his appreciation to successive governments over the years in providing a library complex which was yet to be stocked, an on-going 400 capacity dormitory complex for students, and an auditorium as well as two large lecture halls with 200 sitting capacity which were all still under construction.
Pastor Abugri decried the number of students given to the college by Teacher Education Division and thus, appealed for higher numbers since the college could accommodate and train more than just 200 students per year.
He also appealed for the reintroduction of the Untrained-Teachers Diploma in Basic Education (UTDBE) programme since there were still more pupil-teachers in classrooms without basic training, especially, when the UTDBE performance showed that pupil-teachers could equally do better if given the chance.
A Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Pre-tertiary Education, Mrs Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, who was the special guest of honour, said the government would soon review the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Act to cover critical areas of education.
Those areas she said included scholarships, research, academic and residential facilities to enable education in Ghana to meet the current global standards.
The Deputy Minister of Education explained that with the review of the GETFund, the operations of the board would be broadened and decentralised.
She also announced that government was committed to designing educational programmes to provide unemployed graduates with entrepreneurial skills and employment opportunities.
According to her, government would soon undertake a comprehensive review of the curricular of all institutions in consultation with relevant organisations to ensure that the country’s educational system meets the demands of i
ndustries and labour market.
The Principal mentioned inadequate water supply as one of the major problems confronting the school and said the staff, students and the surrounding communities all depended on one borehole.
Pastor Abugri made the call at the first congregation of the Gbewa College of Education at Pusiga. Two sets of graduates made up of over 800 students passed out and were presented with certificates.
The College, which was set up in 1953, has turned out about 8,000 teachers and other prominent workers who are currently serving in various sectors of the economy.
The Principal appealed to the government and the Ministry of Education to support the college to introduce French as a subject to enhance the teaching and learning of the subject in basic schools since the college was bordered on the north by Burkina Faso (Bittou) and on the east by Togo (Cinkansse).
He said his appeal was in line with the National Accreditation Board’s 2007 assessment and recommendations as a step towards strengthening the good relationship among Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo.
The Principal expressed his appreciation to successive governments over the years in providing a library complex which was yet to be stocked, an on-going 400 capacity dormitory complex for students, and an auditorium as well as two large lecture halls with 200 sitting capacity which were all still under construction.
Pastor Abugri decried the number of students given to the college by Teacher Education Division and thus, appealed for higher numbers since the college could accommodate and train more than just 200 students per year.
He also appealed for the reintroduction of the Untrained-Teachers Diploma in Basic Education (UTDBE) programme since there were still more pupil-teachers in classrooms without basic training, especially, when the UTDBE performance showed that pupil-teachers could equally do better if given the chance.
A Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Pre-tertiary Education, Mrs Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, who was the special guest of honour, said the government would soon review the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Act to cover critical areas of education.
Those areas she said included scholarships, research, academic and residential facilities to enable education in Ghana to meet the current global standards.
The Deputy Minister of Education explained that with the review of the GETFund, the operations of the board would be broadened and decentralised.
She also announced that government was committed to designing educational programmes to provide unemployed graduates with entrepreneurial skills and employment opportunities.
According to her, government would soon undertake a comprehensive review of the curricular of all institutions in consultation with relevant organisations to ensure that the country’s educational system meets the demands of i
ndustries and labour market.
Maintain Atmosphere Of Peace - President(May 31,2010. Page 16
President John Evans Atta Mills has appealed to traditional leaders from Chiana in the Upper East Region to maintain the atmosphere of peace in the area by employing time tested traditional norms and practices in choosing a successor to the late paramount chief of the area.President Mills said this on when he joined the people of Chiana in the Kassena-Nankana West District to observe the funeral of the Chiana Pio, Pe Rowland Adiali Ayagitam II, who died in April, 2006. He has since been buried.President Mills paid glowing tribute to the late Paramount Chief, who was the speaker of the Consultative Assembly that drafted the 1992 Constitution, and a member of the Council of State in 1997 for his dedicated leadership role in the traditional area, the Upper East region and the nation as a whole.“If indeed Ghana is being touted as a democratic nation, as a beacon in Africa, and as a country to be emulated, part of the credit should obviously go to the late Chiana Pio,” President Mills said.President Mills recounted the late chief’s commitment to peace and said a lasting legacy the people could pay him was to maintain the peace in the area. He emphasised that there can be no development where there was no peace.The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, in a tribute said the late Chiana Pio was very selfless and dedicated in whatever position he was called upon to serve and this he did willingly, expertly and satisfactorily.Mr Woyongo noted that during his 58 years reign as Chiana-Pio, Pe Ayagitam was indeed a lover of peace and ensured that peace prevailed in his traditional area and even beyond. The regent, Innocent Kwaratugu Ayagitam, in his welcome address recounted the traditional leadership achievements of the late chief and called for the continuation of the dreams and ambitions of Pe Ayagitam for the development of the traditional area.These included the enhancement of facilities at the Chiana Senior High School, the rebuilding of the Chiana Health Centre into a fully-fledged hospital and the provision of a large dam for the area for irrigation purposes to support all year farming.The funeral was also attended by a government delegation, including, Rev. Jacob Ayeebo, member of the Council of State, the Chief of Staff, Mr John M. Newman, deputy regional minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, Mr Mahama Ayariga, deputy Minister of Trade.Mr Cletus Apul Avokah led a parliamentary delegation which included the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, Mr Timothy Ataboadey and Mr Leo Kaba. The Upper East Regional Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party, Mrs Agnes Chigabatia was also at the funeral. In line with custom, the government presented cash of GH ¢10,000, a ram, assorted drinks and bags of rice to support the bereaved families. There were similar presentations from the Council of State and the NPP to the bereaved families.The late Chiana Pio, Pe Ayagitam, was born in 1932 and enskinned in 1950. He was appointed a member of the then Northern Territory Land Planning and Irrigation Committee in 1951-1952. He was also a farmer and was twice adjudged the best Upper Regional farmer in 1974 and 1976. Subsequently, he was selected as a member of a Ghanaian delegation to the Republic of China to study corporate farming systems of the Chinese people in 1974.He served in various capacities as board member for Navrongo Secondary School, the erstwhile Farmers Service Corporation, Black Star Line and the Ghana Supply Commission, among others.He was appointed by the former President, Jerry John Rawlings as the Speaker of the Consultative Assembly that drafted the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. He contested and was elected to represent the Upper East Region as a member of the Council of State in 1997.Pe Ayagitam served two-terms as President of the Kassena-Nankana Traditional Council (1972-1976, and 1986-1989). He was the first president of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs when the region was split into two in 1983.For his sterling leadership, government awarded him two national awards, the first being the Grand Medal, Civil Division and the Order of the Volta, Civil Division(2000) for the promotion of peace in the Upper East Region.
Sunday, 30 May 2010
UPPER EAST POLICE BARE TEETH (PAGE 43, MAY 31, 2010)
THE Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service in the Upper East Region has vowed to ensure that persons who flout the laws are brought before the law courts and dealt with accordingly.
Human trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes that can be perpetrated by any person against a fellow human being.
A survey conducted by the police in the region showed that in some cases, parents received payments and other benefits and in return gave their consent for the vulnerable children to be trafficked down south and sometimes across the borders to be used as house helps or engage in prostitution at the expense of their education.
Opening a stakeholders meeting on human trafficking in Bolgatanga, the Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Bright Oduro, said in most cases, the victims were children and women who were the poorest and least educated.
He said the police would not sit idle and allow the perpetrators to have a field day but they would deal drastically with the social menace.
Mr Oduro appealed to the chiefs, opinion leaders, religious groups and child rights organisations to assist the newly-established unit, with jurisdiction over the Northern and Upper West Regions, to ensure that those who engaged in human trafficking were apprehended and prosecuted.
Human trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes that can be perpetrated by any person against a fellow human being.
A survey conducted by the police in the region showed that in some cases, parents received payments and other benefits and in return gave their consent for the vulnerable children to be trafficked down south and sometimes across the borders to be used as house helps or engage in prostitution at the expense of their education.
Opening a stakeholders meeting on human trafficking in Bolgatanga, the Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Bright Oduro, said in most cases, the victims were children and women who were the poorest and least educated.
He said the police would not sit idle and allow the perpetrators to have a field day but they would deal drastically with the social menace.
Mr Oduro appealed to the chiefs, opinion leaders, religious groups and child rights organisations to assist the newly-established unit, with jurisdiction over the Northern and Upper West Regions, to ensure that those who engaged in human trafficking were apprehended and prosecuted.
GOVT TAKES MEASURES TO DEVELOP 3 NORTHERN REGIONS (PAGE 43, MAY 29, 2010)
IT is no doubt that the three northern regions have time and again been cited as the poorest in Ghana.
In 2007, the conditions of poverty were further heightened as a result of draught and floods that hit the north resulting in widespread food crop and property loss.
The extenuating factor to the misery was the renewed interest in the accelerated development of the three regions through pragmatic policy initiatives.
During the last days of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, the then President of the Republic, Mr J.A. Kufuor, called for action on a long-term development initiative for northern Ghana through the establishment of the Northern Development Fund (NDF) with a seed money of GH¢25 million.
The NDF Bill was passed on November 7, 2008 and given presidential assent on December 4, the same year.
The renewed interest also found space in the manifestos of the two major political parties, the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for the 2008 general election. For instance, the presidential candidate of the NPP pledged to put $1 billion into the fund if elected while that of the NDC also made similar promises.
On assumption of office in 2009, the NDC government, which emerged winners of the polls, proposed the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) with a vision and mandate to accelerate the socio-economic development of the savannah belt.
Funding for SADA, according to the NDC government, would initially come from a special development fund with a start-up contribution of GH¢200 million. Additionally, there will be an annual contribution of a GH¢100 million for 20 years.
Many well-meaning Ghanaians and development partners have welcomed the political commitments to address visible developmental gap between northern and southern Ghana.
In view of this, SEND Ghana and the Northern Development Forum, both non-governmental organisations (NGOs), have organised a series of forums to deliberate on the government’s initiative with a view of bringing on board new ideas towards the smooth implementation of the programme to achieve the desired goals.
At one of the forums held in Bolgatanga, it came to light that although the Cabinet had approved the draft SADA bill for consideration when Parliament resumes sitting in May, 2010, participants were of the view that as ultimate beneficiaries of the SADA initiative, there should have been a greater grass-roots participation in the formulation of the draft bill.
Their views were encapsulated in the statement made by the Paramount Chief of Bongo in the Upper East Region, Naba Salifu Alemyarum, who called for the active and constant engagement of citizens from the savannah regions to ensure that they identify with the final Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) Act when passed by Parliament.
According to him, apart from helping the people to own the policy, when individuals at the grass-roots level feel they contributed to the making of the policy, they will obliged to see to its effective implementation.
Naba Alemyarum was speaking at a day’s forum on the SADA organised by SEND-Ghana in collaboration with the Northern Development Forum. The aim of the forum was to, among other things, deepen citizens’ awareness and ownership of the SADA proposal.
Naba Alemyarum bemoaned the fact that not even the bill was made available to the beneficiaries through road shows to enable the people to make an input.
He, therefore, challenged Members of Parliament (MPs) from the beneficiary districts to scrutinise the bill and, if possible, engage the constituents in broad consultations to ensure that the views of those at the grass roots were incorporated in the final Act.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, observed that SADA was one of the programmes that the present government hoped to embark upon to address the imbalances in development or lopsided development in the country.
He said it was anticipated that investment through the SADA would be directed at the provision of roads and bridges to link inaccessible areas to maximise the use of fertile lands and provide irrigation facilities to address the erratic rainfall pattern and ensure all-year-round farming and thereby, eliminate or reduce the annual ritual of youth migration to the south in search of non-existent jobs.
Mr Woyongo, however, re-echoed the fact that various government initiatives to promote some economic development in northern Ghana would not yield any positive results, if the people did not put a stop to the numerous ethnic clashes and violence.
The regional minister entreated citizens in the three northern regions to eschew backbiting and the “pull him down attitude”, which he said was very common in the north.
“We should learn to solve our problem in-house instead of telling the whole world that these are the problems of the Upper East Region,” he stressed.
“If we don’t stop tearing one another apart, poverty, ignorance, and backwardness will continue to stare us in the face and posterity will never forgive us,” Mr Woyongo said.
As it stands now, SADA is indeed one of the programmes that the present government hopes to embark upon to address the imbalances in development.
It is therefore important for all who matter to put their shoulders to the wheel to propel the development of the savannah zone.
In 2007, the conditions of poverty were further heightened as a result of draught and floods that hit the north resulting in widespread food crop and property loss.
The extenuating factor to the misery was the renewed interest in the accelerated development of the three regions through pragmatic policy initiatives.
During the last days of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, the then President of the Republic, Mr J.A. Kufuor, called for action on a long-term development initiative for northern Ghana through the establishment of the Northern Development Fund (NDF) with a seed money of GH¢25 million.
The NDF Bill was passed on November 7, 2008 and given presidential assent on December 4, the same year.
The renewed interest also found space in the manifestos of the two major political parties, the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for the 2008 general election. For instance, the presidential candidate of the NPP pledged to put $1 billion into the fund if elected while that of the NDC also made similar promises.
On assumption of office in 2009, the NDC government, which emerged winners of the polls, proposed the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) with a vision and mandate to accelerate the socio-economic development of the savannah belt.
Funding for SADA, according to the NDC government, would initially come from a special development fund with a start-up contribution of GH¢200 million. Additionally, there will be an annual contribution of a GH¢100 million for 20 years.
Many well-meaning Ghanaians and development partners have welcomed the political commitments to address visible developmental gap between northern and southern Ghana.
In view of this, SEND Ghana and the Northern Development Forum, both non-governmental organisations (NGOs), have organised a series of forums to deliberate on the government’s initiative with a view of bringing on board new ideas towards the smooth implementation of the programme to achieve the desired goals.
At one of the forums held in Bolgatanga, it came to light that although the Cabinet had approved the draft SADA bill for consideration when Parliament resumes sitting in May, 2010, participants were of the view that as ultimate beneficiaries of the SADA initiative, there should have been a greater grass-roots participation in the formulation of the draft bill.
Their views were encapsulated in the statement made by the Paramount Chief of Bongo in the Upper East Region, Naba Salifu Alemyarum, who called for the active and constant engagement of citizens from the savannah regions to ensure that they identify with the final Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) Act when passed by Parliament.
According to him, apart from helping the people to own the policy, when individuals at the grass-roots level feel they contributed to the making of the policy, they will obliged to see to its effective implementation.
Naba Alemyarum was speaking at a day’s forum on the SADA organised by SEND-Ghana in collaboration with the Northern Development Forum. The aim of the forum was to, among other things, deepen citizens’ awareness and ownership of the SADA proposal.
Naba Alemyarum bemoaned the fact that not even the bill was made available to the beneficiaries through road shows to enable the people to make an input.
He, therefore, challenged Members of Parliament (MPs) from the beneficiary districts to scrutinise the bill and, if possible, engage the constituents in broad consultations to ensure that the views of those at the grass roots were incorporated in the final Act.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, observed that SADA was one of the programmes that the present government hoped to embark upon to address the imbalances in development or lopsided development in the country.
He said it was anticipated that investment through the SADA would be directed at the provision of roads and bridges to link inaccessible areas to maximise the use of fertile lands and provide irrigation facilities to address the erratic rainfall pattern and ensure all-year-round farming and thereby, eliminate or reduce the annual ritual of youth migration to the south in search of non-existent jobs.
Mr Woyongo, however, re-echoed the fact that various government initiatives to promote some economic development in northern Ghana would not yield any positive results, if the people did not put a stop to the numerous ethnic clashes and violence.
The regional minister entreated citizens in the three northern regions to eschew backbiting and the “pull him down attitude”, which he said was very common in the north.
“We should learn to solve our problem in-house instead of telling the whole world that these are the problems of the Upper East Region,” he stressed.
“If we don’t stop tearing one another apart, poverty, ignorance, and backwardness will continue to stare us in the face and posterity will never forgive us,” Mr Woyongo said.
As it stands now, SADA is indeed one of the programmes that the present government hopes to embark upon to address the imbalances in development.
It is therefore important for all who matter to put their shoulders to the wheel to propel the development of the savannah zone.
PEACEKEEPERS UNDERGO OREINTATION PROGRAMME (PAGE 19, MAY 29, 2010)
police personnel who have been newly assigned for peacekeeping duties in Bawku over the next three months have undergone a three-day orientation programme at the Upper East Regional Police Training School at Pwalugu, near Bolgatanga.
A statement issued by the Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Thomas Agbanyo, said the personnel were briefed by the Director-General in Charge of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) John Kudalor.
DCOP Kudalor said the Police High Command had taken upon itself to brief the personnel thoroughly and train them in arms drill and mob control to prepare them adequately before deploying the personnel for such operation.
He advised the personnel to be disciplined and law-abiding when they arrive in Bawku and told them to conduct themselves well and avoid aligning themselves with the feuding factions in the conflict.
He assured the personnel that the necessary logistics and cash rations would be provided them.
The Upper East Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bright Oduro, warned that the relative peace being enjoyed in Bawku did not mean everything was well and asked the personnel not to be complacent.
He cautioned them to take care of their rifles and be vigilant at all times, emphasising that they must respect their officers on the ground.
Superintendent Yakubu, the Commander of the Rapid Deployment Force, took the personnel through the necessary drills that would equip them with strong physique that would be needed for their work in Bawku.
A statement issued by the Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Thomas Agbanyo, said the personnel were briefed by the Director-General in Charge of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) John Kudalor.
DCOP Kudalor said the Police High Command had taken upon itself to brief the personnel thoroughly and train them in arms drill and mob control to prepare them adequately before deploying the personnel for such operation.
He advised the personnel to be disciplined and law-abiding when they arrive in Bawku and told them to conduct themselves well and avoid aligning themselves with the feuding factions in the conflict.
He assured the personnel that the necessary logistics and cash rations would be provided them.
The Upper East Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bright Oduro, warned that the relative peace being enjoyed in Bawku did not mean everything was well and asked the personnel not to be complacent.
He cautioned them to take care of their rifles and be vigilant at all times, emphasising that they must respect their officers on the ground.
Superintendent Yakubu, the Commander of the Rapid Deployment Force, took the personnel through the necessary drills that would equip them with strong physique that would be needed for their work in Bawku.
Friday, 28 May 2010
MORE WOMEN MUST PARTICIPATE IN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS — CHIGABATIA (MIRROR, PAGE 42, MAY 29, 2010)
From Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
The Upper East Regional Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Agnes Asangalisah Chigabatia, has reiterated the need for more women to take active part in the forth coming district level elections.
While conceding that politics was not a game for the faint-hearted, she suggested that it was about time women developed interest, particularly, at the grassroots level where their impact would be well felt, adding that if more women showed interest and participated in the decision making process in their communities, there would be peace.
“By our nature, women have that motherly love and care and this will be translated into taking issues in the community”, she said.
The Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North and Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, expressed concern about the failure of women in the country to actively vie for political office and stressed that if women really wanted to take part in the decision making process of the country, they should take such bold challenges by competing with men in all aspects of governance.
The former lawmaker, who was a recipient of an international award, made these comments during an interview in Bolgatanga.
The “Great African Patriotic Achiever for 2009 Award” was presented to her at a ceremony held at the Holiday Inn, London, in recognition of her humanitarian activities and contribution to the building of her country and Africa as a whole.
The Upper East Regional Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Agnes Asangalisah Chigabatia, has reiterated the need for more women to take active part in the forth coming district level elections.
While conceding that politics was not a game for the faint-hearted, she suggested that it was about time women developed interest, particularly, at the grassroots level where their impact would be well felt, adding that if more women showed interest and participated in the decision making process in their communities, there would be peace.
“By our nature, women have that motherly love and care and this will be translated into taking issues in the community”, she said.
The Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North and Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, expressed concern about the failure of women in the country to actively vie for political office and stressed that if women really wanted to take part in the decision making process of the country, they should take such bold challenges by competing with men in all aspects of governance.
The former lawmaker, who was a recipient of an international award, made these comments during an interview in Bolgatanga.
The “Great African Patriotic Achiever for 2009 Award” was presented to her at a ceremony held at the Holiday Inn, London, in recognition of her humanitarian activities and contribution to the building of her country and Africa as a whole.
MP SUPPORTS FIVE GIRLS (MIRROR, PAGE 35, MAY 29, 2010)
From Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku
The Member of Parliament for the Binduri Constituency within the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East Region, Mr. Stephen Yakubu, has given an educational support package worth GH¢1,000 to five young girls who performed very well in the 2009 Basic Education Certificate Examination.
The donation, sourced from the MP’s share of the GETFund, is meant to support the beneficiaries who are all in Senior High School till they complete their education at that level.
Addressing the beneficiaries and their parents at a short presentation ceremony at Bawku, the MP said girl-child education in the constituency had caught his attention because he had realised that a wide gap exists between the number of male and female students at the tertiary level.
He said there was the need to provide incentive packages to motivate the girl-child to enable her study hard and move higher on the educational ladder.
Mr. Yakubu noted that this gap was as a result of the attitude of parents who withdraw their female children from school and give them out for marriage just to receive their dowry, which are usually cows.
He advised parents to desist from such practices and rather maintain and support their daughters in school because education was the only key to development in all spheres of life.
He disclosed that because of the importance he attached to education in the constituency, he had started renovating a kindergarten block at Kolovia, a community in the area and the construction of a two-classroom block at Gotisalaga, all in Binduri.
The MP appealed to the government to involve all the five MPs in the Bawku Municipality in initiatives targeted at resolving the conflict in the Bawku area.
The Bawku Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Eugene Zongoh-Naa Domah, said the financial burden of education was so high that government could not handle it alone, hence the need for stakeholders like NGOs and philanthropists to channel their resources to support and promote education, especially those in remote and deprived areas.
He also urged the beneficiaries to aim high and look up to successful women as their role models in order to motivate them to achieve better goals in life.
The Member of Parliament for the Binduri Constituency within the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East Region, Mr. Stephen Yakubu, has given an educational support package worth GH¢1,000 to five young girls who performed very well in the 2009 Basic Education Certificate Examination.
The donation, sourced from the MP’s share of the GETFund, is meant to support the beneficiaries who are all in Senior High School till they complete their education at that level.
Addressing the beneficiaries and their parents at a short presentation ceremony at Bawku, the MP said girl-child education in the constituency had caught his attention because he had realised that a wide gap exists between the number of male and female students at the tertiary level.
He said there was the need to provide incentive packages to motivate the girl-child to enable her study hard and move higher on the educational ladder.
Mr. Yakubu noted that this gap was as a result of the attitude of parents who withdraw their female children from school and give them out for marriage just to receive their dowry, which are usually cows.
He advised parents to desist from such practices and rather maintain and support their daughters in school because education was the only key to development in all spheres of life.
He disclosed that because of the importance he attached to education in the constituency, he had started renovating a kindergarten block at Kolovia, a community in the area and the construction of a two-classroom block at Gotisalaga, all in Binduri.
The MP appealed to the government to involve all the five MPs in the Bawku Municipality in initiatives targeted at resolving the conflict in the Bawku area.
The Bawku Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Eugene Zongoh-Naa Domah, said the financial burden of education was so high that government could not handle it alone, hence the need for stakeholders like NGOs and philanthropists to channel their resources to support and promote education, especially those in remote and deprived areas.
He also urged the beneficiaries to aim high and look up to successful women as their role models in order to motivate them to achieve better goals in life.
ECOWAS volleyball championship...GHANA SET TO WIN (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, MAY 28, 2010)
The national youth male volleyball team is confident of emerging champions in the four-nation ECOWAS Youth Championship slated for Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The Chairman of the Greater Accra Volleyball Association and leader of the Ghanaian contingent, Mr. Paul Atchoe, attributed the confidence to the experience of the team, the bulk of the players who come from the Ghana Immigration Service which placed second in the recent Zone 3 club championship in Benin, and the level of training it has had undertaken.
He told the Graphic Sports at Bolgatanga, where the team made a stopover for a warm-up game with a select side from the Upper East Region en route to Burkina Faso, that the team was self motivated and had the capability of lifting high the flag of Ghana at the championship.
Last Wednesday, the team beat a select side from Bolgatanga in a warm-up game ahead of the championship in neighboring Burkina Faso by three straight sets. Two other exhibition games ended one game apiece.
The Ghanaian volleyball team is travelling will road to Burkina Faso from Accra to participate in the annual ECOWAS Youth Championship.
The three-day competition which begins today, ends on Sunday, May 30, 2010. It will feature countries like Ghana, Togo, Mali and the host nation, Burkina Faso. The Ghanaian team is made up of 15 players and seven officials.
According Mr. Atchoe, the championship has been in existence since ECOWAS was introduced 35 years ago, adding that this is the first time Ghana has been invited based on its performance in the recent Zone 3 club championship held in Benin where the Police team placed first and the Immigration Team placed second in the women and men division respectively.
He told the Graphic Sports that the five straight games against the Bolgatanga select side has revealed some lapses within the team and said the handlesrs will go back to the drawing board to correct those lapses ahead of the championship in Burkina Faso.
“We know it’s not going to be easy because as the only Anglophone country amongst the Francophone nations, the challenges will be tough. But with our youthful experience, we hope to come back with the winner’s trophy”
“The morale of the players is high. They’ve got the stamina, the strength and the desire to go for the ultimate and they are going to do just that”, Mr. Atchoe said.
Mr. Atchoe expressed the team’s appreciation to the Mr. Worlanyo K. Agrah, Chief Executive Officer of National Sports Council (NSC), for the support.
The Upper East Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bright Oduro, who is also a veteran volleyball player, encouraged the players to go all out to lift high the flag of Ghana in the championship.
The Chairman of the Greater Accra Volleyball Association and leader of the Ghanaian contingent, Mr. Paul Atchoe, attributed the confidence to the experience of the team, the bulk of the players who come from the Ghana Immigration Service which placed second in the recent Zone 3 club championship in Benin, and the level of training it has had undertaken.
He told the Graphic Sports at Bolgatanga, where the team made a stopover for a warm-up game with a select side from the Upper East Region en route to Burkina Faso, that the team was self motivated and had the capability of lifting high the flag of Ghana at the championship.
Last Wednesday, the team beat a select side from Bolgatanga in a warm-up game ahead of the championship in neighboring Burkina Faso by three straight sets. Two other exhibition games ended one game apiece.
The Ghanaian volleyball team is travelling will road to Burkina Faso from Accra to participate in the annual ECOWAS Youth Championship.
The three-day competition which begins today, ends on Sunday, May 30, 2010. It will feature countries like Ghana, Togo, Mali and the host nation, Burkina Faso. The Ghanaian team is made up of 15 players and seven officials.
According Mr. Atchoe, the championship has been in existence since ECOWAS was introduced 35 years ago, adding that this is the first time Ghana has been invited based on its performance in the recent Zone 3 club championship held in Benin where the Police team placed first and the Immigration Team placed second in the women and men division respectively.
He told the Graphic Sports that the five straight games against the Bolgatanga select side has revealed some lapses within the team and said the handlesrs will go back to the drawing board to correct those lapses ahead of the championship in Burkina Faso.
“We know it’s not going to be easy because as the only Anglophone country amongst the Francophone nations, the challenges will be tough. But with our youthful experience, we hope to come back with the winner’s trophy”
“The morale of the players is high. They’ve got the stamina, the strength and the desire to go for the ultimate and they are going to do just that”, Mr. Atchoe said.
Mr. Atchoe expressed the team’s appreciation to the Mr. Worlanyo K. Agrah, Chief Executive Officer of National Sports Council (NSC), for the support.
The Upper East Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bright Oduro, who is also a veteran volleyball player, encouraged the players to go all out to lift high the flag of Ghana in the championship.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
NYEP RECRUITS PASS OUT (PAGE 13, MAY 27, 2010)
Five Hundred and Seventeen Community Protection Assistant recruits who formed the first batch of trainees under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) have passed out of the Ghana Police Training School at Pwalugu after a six-week training course.
The recruits, who turned up smartly in their new uniforms of blue shirts and black trousers were taken through courses such as Community policing, Human Rights and Citizenship, powers of arrest, traffic management, crime scene management, foot and mobile patrols, district assembly bye-laws, Law of Evidence, among others.
The recruits would be posted to the various regions to commence work over the next two years.
Addressing the recruits, the National Coordinator of the NYEP, Mr Abuga Pele, who represented the Minister of Youth and Sports, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, said the current management of the NYEP under the National Democratic Congress government had worked out a well defined exit plan to ensure that beneficiaries under the Community Protection Assistant Module were exited properly to continue to contribute to the socio-economic development of the county.
She said for instance, at the end of the two-year service period, the police administration shall absorb a percentage of the CPAs when conducting general recruitment for the service.
According to her, those who were not absorbed by the police administration would be recruited by the private security companies under a Memorandum of Understanding with the NYEP.
She hinted that the rest of the Community Protection Assistants who had not benefited from the above arrangement would be enrolled into the Trades and Vocations module.
Ms Dansua said similar exit plans had been developed for all the modules of the programme.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, reminded the recruits that their activities and general comportment would continue to be monitored during the two years they would be working as CPAs.
She therefore cautioned them to put up their best performance so that they would be counted among those who would eventually exit smoothly into the various security institutions after the two-year period.
The Upper East Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Bright Oduro, who was the review officer, reminded the recruits that the training they had received did not make them police men or women.
ACP Oduro therefore tasked the recruits to respect the core pillars of professionalism and discipline, warning that the Police Administration and the NYEP would not tolerate wrong doings and illegal conduct while on duty.
The Overall Best Recruit award went to Hubert Kwaku Afenyo who also picked the prize in Academics, while the Best in Conduct went to Frank Asomah. The prize for best in drill went to Samuel Ansong while the Best in Physical Training went to Selorm Wilson. Micheal Amankwa received the Officer Commanding Award.
The recruits, who turned up smartly in their new uniforms of blue shirts and black trousers were taken through courses such as Community policing, Human Rights and Citizenship, powers of arrest, traffic management, crime scene management, foot and mobile patrols, district assembly bye-laws, Law of Evidence, among others.
The recruits would be posted to the various regions to commence work over the next two years.
Addressing the recruits, the National Coordinator of the NYEP, Mr Abuga Pele, who represented the Minister of Youth and Sports, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, said the current management of the NYEP under the National Democratic Congress government had worked out a well defined exit plan to ensure that beneficiaries under the Community Protection Assistant Module were exited properly to continue to contribute to the socio-economic development of the county.
She said for instance, at the end of the two-year service period, the police administration shall absorb a percentage of the CPAs when conducting general recruitment for the service.
According to her, those who were not absorbed by the police administration would be recruited by the private security companies under a Memorandum of Understanding with the NYEP.
She hinted that the rest of the Community Protection Assistants who had not benefited from the above arrangement would be enrolled into the Trades and Vocations module.
Ms Dansua said similar exit plans had been developed for all the modules of the programme.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, reminded the recruits that their activities and general comportment would continue to be monitored during the two years they would be working as CPAs.
She therefore cautioned them to put up their best performance so that they would be counted among those who would eventually exit smoothly into the various security institutions after the two-year period.
The Upper East Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Bright Oduro, who was the review officer, reminded the recruits that the training they had received did not make them police men or women.
ACP Oduro therefore tasked the recruits to respect the core pillars of professionalism and discipline, warning that the Police Administration and the NYEP would not tolerate wrong doings and illegal conduct while on duty.
The Overall Best Recruit award went to Hubert Kwaku Afenyo who also picked the prize in Academics, while the Best in Conduct went to Frank Asomah. The prize for best in drill went to Samuel Ansong while the Best in Physical Training went to Selorm Wilson. Micheal Amankwa received the Officer Commanding Award.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
3,500 FLEE TO TOGO (LEAD STORY, MAY 26, 2010)
Story: Benjamin Glover
THOUSANDS of displaced people are said to have fled the conflict zone in northern Ghana and crossed over into temporary shelters in northern Togo.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), which confirmed the exodus to Ghanaian officials, did not quote figures, but a BBC report said Togo's Security Minister, Colonel Mohammed Atcha Titikpina, had put the latest figure at 3,500.
The Chairman of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Mr Mark Woyongo, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the seriousness of the matter had been brought to his attention by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
He said he received the information from the Deputy National Co-ordinator of NADMO before a NADMO delegation left for northern Togo following reports received from the UNHCR of the presence of some displaced Ghanaians in Togo.
Mr Woyongo, who is also the Upper East Regional Minister, however, insisted that the situation in Togo had nothing to do with the Bawku crisis but could be linked to the conflict in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District which recently claimed four lives and displaced about 3,768 people.
According to the BBC report, Ghanaians fleeing to northern Togo to escape unrest at home had become a regular occurrence in the last few days.
It said the displaced people, consisting mainly of women, children and young people who started arriving in Togo last week, were victims of ethnic conflict and land disputes in some parts of the Northern Region.
The report said Togolese officials, led by Colonel Titikpina, had paid a visit to the displaced people who were currently in temporary shelter camps set up in Tandjouare in northern Togo.
Colonel Titikpina was quoted as saying, "We have come in the name of the government of Togo to express our sympathies and solidarity with our Ghanaian brothers and sisters.”
"Our immediate task is to find the resources to provide these refugees with emergency relief supplies, security, feeding, clothing and temporary rehabilitation structures," he said.
THOUSANDS of displaced people are said to have fled the conflict zone in northern Ghana and crossed over into temporary shelters in northern Togo.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), which confirmed the exodus to Ghanaian officials, did not quote figures, but a BBC report said Togo's Security Minister, Colonel Mohammed Atcha Titikpina, had put the latest figure at 3,500.
The Chairman of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Mr Mark Woyongo, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the seriousness of the matter had been brought to his attention by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
He said he received the information from the Deputy National Co-ordinator of NADMO before a NADMO delegation left for northern Togo following reports received from the UNHCR of the presence of some displaced Ghanaians in Togo.
Mr Woyongo, who is also the Upper East Regional Minister, however, insisted that the situation in Togo had nothing to do with the Bawku crisis but could be linked to the conflict in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District which recently claimed four lives and displaced about 3,768 people.
According to the BBC report, Ghanaians fleeing to northern Togo to escape unrest at home had become a regular occurrence in the last few days.
It said the displaced people, consisting mainly of women, children and young people who started arriving in Togo last week, were victims of ethnic conflict and land disputes in some parts of the Northern Region.
The report said Togolese officials, led by Colonel Titikpina, had paid a visit to the displaced people who were currently in temporary shelter camps set up in Tandjouare in northern Togo.
Colonel Titikpina was quoted as saying, "We have come in the name of the government of Togo to express our sympathies and solidarity with our Ghanaian brothers and sisters.”
"Our immediate task is to find the resources to provide these refugees with emergency relief supplies, security, feeding, clothing and temporary rehabilitation structures," he said.
Sunday, 23 May 2010
FORUM HELD ON CHILDREN MIGRATION (MIRROR, PAGE 34, MAY 22, 2010)
From Benjamin Xornam Glover,
Bolgatanga
Participants at a stakeholder’s forum at Bolgatanga have urged Municipal and District Assemblies in Northern Ghana to partner Child Rights Organisations and other institutions to reduce the migration of young children from the north of Ghana to Accra.
The forum, which was organised by Afrikids Ghana, a Child Rights Organisation, which works around indigenous communities in the Upper East Region to improve the quality of life for rejected and vulnerable children, attracted participants from a cross section of the society, including local authorities, the media, and other NGOs.
The aim was to assess the impact of the NGOs on their beneficiaries and also disseminate recommendations of an external evaluator on the activities of the NGO in the region.
The Country Director of AfriKids Ghana, Mr Nicholas Kumah, said unchecked migration of young people as well as the engagement of children in mining activities have been identified as a major threat to the development of the youth, hence, the need to mobilise and take appropriate actions to remedy the situation.
He said AfriKids have brought back over 150 children engaged in prostitution and illegal labour from the streets of Kumasi and have been assisted to acquire a vocation.
He disclosed that over 100 children have also been rescued from mining under dangerous conditions in the Talensi Nabdam district.
All the participants pledged to work together to ensure that the welfare of children, especially, those in deprived communities are improved.
Bolgatanga
Participants at a stakeholder’s forum at Bolgatanga have urged Municipal and District Assemblies in Northern Ghana to partner Child Rights Organisations and other institutions to reduce the migration of young children from the north of Ghana to Accra.
The forum, which was organised by Afrikids Ghana, a Child Rights Organisation, which works around indigenous communities in the Upper East Region to improve the quality of life for rejected and vulnerable children, attracted participants from a cross section of the society, including local authorities, the media, and other NGOs.
The aim was to assess the impact of the NGOs on their beneficiaries and also disseminate recommendations of an external evaluator on the activities of the NGO in the region.
The Country Director of AfriKids Ghana, Mr Nicholas Kumah, said unchecked migration of young people as well as the engagement of children in mining activities have been identified as a major threat to the development of the youth, hence, the need to mobilise and take appropriate actions to remedy the situation.
He said AfriKids have brought back over 150 children engaged in prostitution and illegal labour from the streets of Kumasi and have been assisted to acquire a vocation.
He disclosed that over 100 children have also been rescued from mining under dangerous conditions in the Talensi Nabdam district.
All the participants pledged to work together to ensure that the welfare of children, especially, those in deprived communities are improved.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
90 U. East education workers honoured(May 10 2010. Page 54)
Ninety Teaching and Non-teaching Staff in the Upper East Region have been honored for their dedicated services.
The best teachers for the past three years, 2007 to 2009 were presented with prizes including Double Door Refrigerators, Colour TV sets and four burner Gas Cookers and a certificate.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Epsona Ayamga, who deputized for the Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo expressed the hope that the awards will help to motivate the teachers to give off their best.He said the NDC government, taking cognizance of some of the challenges confronting teachers and the education service as a whole in the quest for quality education delivery has put in place a lot of interventions as captured in the 2010 budget statement to address most of the challenges.
He said for example, under Teacher Motivation and Retention, the government will continue to implement teacher incentive packages and motivation for teachers.
The Acting Regional Director of Education for the Upper East Region, Mrs. Agnes Atagabe called for the need to motivate teachers in order for them to go the extra mile in achieving quality education.
She stressed that quality education is not achieved on a silver platter neither does it come from teachers only. “It is achieved through hard work, dedication and the concerted efforts of government, parents, development partners and the students themselves,” she said.
Whilst commending the government for showing concern about the plight of teachers and the efforts being made to make the profession attractive, the Acting Regional Education Director also appealed to teachers and workers to go the extra mile and help ensure the success of the government’s educational reform and policies.
She spoke about the issues of absenteeism and insufficient contact hours which negatively impact teaching and learning and added that if teachers would consciously increase the contact hours with their pupils and encourage them to learn by setting good examples, we can achieve the millennium development goals with regards to education.
The best teachers for the past three years, 2007 to 2009 were presented with prizes including Double Door Refrigerators, Colour TV sets and four burner Gas Cookers and a certificate.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Epsona Ayamga, who deputized for the Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo expressed the hope that the awards will help to motivate the teachers to give off their best.He said the NDC government, taking cognizance of some of the challenges confronting teachers and the education service as a whole in the quest for quality education delivery has put in place a lot of interventions as captured in the 2010 budget statement to address most of the challenges.
He said for example, under Teacher Motivation and Retention, the government will continue to implement teacher incentive packages and motivation for teachers.
The Acting Regional Director of Education for the Upper East Region, Mrs. Agnes Atagabe called for the need to motivate teachers in order for them to go the extra mile in achieving quality education.
She stressed that quality education is not achieved on a silver platter neither does it come from teachers only. “It is achieved through hard work, dedication and the concerted efforts of government, parents, development partners and the students themselves,” she said.
Whilst commending the government for showing concern about the plight of teachers and the efforts being made to make the profession attractive, the Acting Regional Education Director also appealed to teachers and workers to go the extra mile and help ensure the success of the government’s educational reform and policies.
She spoke about the issues of absenteeism and insufficient contact hours which negatively impact teaching and learning and added that if teachers would consciously increase the contact hours with their pupils and encourage them to learn by setting good examples, we can achieve the millennium development goals with regards to education.
NFED facilitators receive incentives(May 10, 2010. P. 54)
THE Kassena-Nankana East District Co-ordinator of the Non-Formal Education Division, Mr. Bernard Akara has lauded the programme stressing that it has contributed to the reduction of illiteracy in the district.
According to him, it has also promoted high participation in communal labour and development activities in the districts.
Mr. Akara made these comments at a ceremony where facilitators of the programme in the district were presented with incentives for their hard work. The package for the facilitators comprises bicycles, sewing machines, Zinc and radio cassettes players.
Touching on the achievements of the programme over the years, Mr. Akara said the Non-Formal Education programme has contributed to poverty reduction of the learners and their dependants as a result of t he income-generating activities which is the bed rock of the programme.
He noted that young learners are encouraged to enroll in formal schools and this has contributed in the increase of pupils, especially the girl-child in the primary school, leading to some continuing to higher levels.
He added that the acquisition of skills in the areas of writing, reading and computation by the learners ii on the ascendency in almost all the communities in the district, while learners now have accessibility to banks and other financial institutions for credit facilities like micro—credit.
Mr. Akara, however noted that despite the achievements and successes of the functional literacy programme in the districts, there are a few challenges. These, he said include the lack of structures, forcing organizers of the programme to run classes in t he open, under trees and in private buildings.
Another challenge posed by some learners and facilitators is the unannounced migration to the southern parts of the country by some of the learners to seek for jobs or join relatives
“We also lack both physical and moral support from community members, chiefs, elders, opinion leaders and assembly members, in the area of co-operation and encouragement”, he lamented.
As a way forward, he called on the district assembly, opinion leaders, chiefs to support the communities to put up structures for the learners, since that will go a long way to boost the morale of facilitators and learners.
The District Chief Executive, Mr. Emmanuel Andema in a speech read on his behalf commended the facilitators and the learners for their dedication, stressing that the benefits of the education, no matter the level was enormous.
He pledged the assembly’s support in the area of extending electricity to communities without light to enhance the teaching and learning process.
According to him, it has also promoted high participation in communal labour and development activities in the districts.
Mr. Akara made these comments at a ceremony where facilitators of the programme in the district were presented with incentives for their hard work. The package for the facilitators comprises bicycles, sewing machines, Zinc and radio cassettes players.
Touching on the achievements of the programme over the years, Mr. Akara said the Non-Formal Education programme has contributed to poverty reduction of the learners and their dependants as a result of t he income-generating activities which is the bed rock of the programme.
He noted that young learners are encouraged to enroll in formal schools and this has contributed in the increase of pupils, especially the girl-child in the primary school, leading to some continuing to higher levels.
He added that the acquisition of skills in the areas of writing, reading and computation by the learners ii on the ascendency in almost all the communities in the district, while learners now have accessibility to banks and other financial institutions for credit facilities like micro—credit.
Mr. Akara, however noted that despite the achievements and successes of the functional literacy programme in the districts, there are a few challenges. These, he said include the lack of structures, forcing organizers of the programme to run classes in t he open, under trees and in private buildings.
Another challenge posed by some learners and facilitators is the unannounced migration to the southern parts of the country by some of the learners to seek for jobs or join relatives
“We also lack both physical and moral support from community members, chiefs, elders, opinion leaders and assembly members, in the area of co-operation and encouragement”, he lamented.
As a way forward, he called on the district assembly, opinion leaders, chiefs to support the communities to put up structures for the learners, since that will go a long way to boost the morale of facilitators and learners.
The District Chief Executive, Mr. Emmanuel Andema in a speech read on his behalf commended the facilitators and the learners for their dedication, stressing that the benefits of the education, no matter the level was enormous.
He pledged the assembly’s support in the area of extending electricity to communities without light to enhance the teaching and learning process.
Afrikids Ghana receives international award(May 10, 2010. P 54)
Afrikids Ghana, a grassroots Child Rights Organization operating in the Upper East Region has being awarded by a United Kingdom based organization for its efforts in working to improve life of vulnerable and deprived children in the Northern parts of Ghana.
The NGO, which was established in 2002, was awarded by the STARS Foundation which works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children around the world. For their prize, Afrikids was provided US$100,000 of unrestricted funding as well as consultancy support tailored to meet their needs.
Afrikids Ghana was selected against a range of criteria which reflect the hallmarks of effective practice and demonstrate a positive impact on the lives of the children supported.
A citation accompanying the award read “its (AFRIKIDS Ghana) projects have as their mission to ensure that every child enjoys their basic human rights. Through providing access to basic education and primary healthcare, vocational training and support to boost family incomes, as well as listening to and empowering the communities in which it works, Afrikids Ghana takes a holistic approach to providing lasting solutions that target the root causes of children’s problems.”
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga, the Country Director of Afrikids Ghana, Mr. Nicholas Kudjoe Kumah said the award and more especially the funding will go into improving Child rights education for school children and community collaboration to reduce the spread of child labour in the gold mining areas.
He also indicated that part of the funds will be used to promote ICT education for young adults and workers in the organization’s operational areas.
According to Mr. Kumah, one other area of focus will be the moral education for children at risk of migrating to the southern part of Ghana in search of non-existence jobs.
“Afrikids Ghana share in the sacred mission to improve the lives of ordinary and vulnerable people by complimenting the effort of the state” he added.
-end-
The NGO, which was established in 2002, was awarded by the STARS Foundation which works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children around the world. For their prize, Afrikids was provided US$100,000 of unrestricted funding as well as consultancy support tailored to meet their needs.
Afrikids Ghana was selected against a range of criteria which reflect the hallmarks of effective practice and demonstrate a positive impact on the lives of the children supported.
A citation accompanying the award read “its (AFRIKIDS Ghana) projects have as their mission to ensure that every child enjoys their basic human rights. Through providing access to basic education and primary healthcare, vocational training and support to boost family incomes, as well as listening to and empowering the communities in which it works, Afrikids Ghana takes a holistic approach to providing lasting solutions that target the root causes of children’s problems.”
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga, the Country Director of Afrikids Ghana, Mr. Nicholas Kudjoe Kumah said the award and more especially the funding will go into improving Child rights education for school children and community collaboration to reduce the spread of child labour in the gold mining areas.
He also indicated that part of the funds will be used to promote ICT education for young adults and workers in the organization’s operational areas.
According to Mr. Kumah, one other area of focus will be the moral education for children at risk of migrating to the southern part of Ghana in search of non-existence jobs.
“Afrikids Ghana share in the sacred mission to improve the lives of ordinary and vulnerable people by complimenting the effort of the state” he added.
-end-
GAWU supports farmers with inputs(May 10, 2010. P 54)
The General Agriculture Workers Union of the Trade Union Congress has supported farmers in the Kassena-Nankana East District with farming inputs to enhance their farming activities.
The items are 12 Knapsack sprayers and 7 large turpurlines. The items are aimed at addressing some constraints that farmers in the district face including pest and weed attack and the difficulty of threshing their rice on the ground.
The beneficiary farming communities are Bornia, Korania, Nayagnia, Doba and Kugwania.
The Coordinating Officer of GAWU, Mr. Karim Saagbul said the support is being sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency, (CIDA) under the Strategic Intervention for Gender Equality Project,(SIGEP).
The goal of SIGEP is to contribute to gender-based sustainable poverty reduction through targeted support to state and non-state and state actors for strategic initiatives that advance equality between women and men and women’s empowerment.The purpose of SIGEP is to improve the capacity of non-state actors to address strategic gender interests, specifically in two of CIDA’s priority sectors: Food Security and Agriculture and Water and Sanitation.
He noted that one of the biggest problems facing smallholder farmers in Ghana, including the farmers in the beneficiaries who are mainly in vegetable and rice farming is the issue of post harvest loses.
He expressed the hope that the items donated will go a long way to help the farmers in managing the challenges they face.
The Regional Industrial Relations Officer of GAWU, Mr. Hypolyte Alua since agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of the district, any assistance to the sector was a step in the right direction.
The Regional Chairman of GAWU, Mr. Martin Pwayidi who received the items on behalf of the beneficiaries expressed the hope that GAWU and other organizations would continue to promote agriculture in the district to boost the morale of farmers to spur them on to improve productivity at all times
The items are 12 Knapsack sprayers and 7 large turpurlines. The items are aimed at addressing some constraints that farmers in the district face including pest and weed attack and the difficulty of threshing their rice on the ground.
The beneficiary farming communities are Bornia, Korania, Nayagnia, Doba and Kugwania.
The Coordinating Officer of GAWU, Mr. Karim Saagbul said the support is being sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency, (CIDA) under the Strategic Intervention for Gender Equality Project,(SIGEP).
The goal of SIGEP is to contribute to gender-based sustainable poverty reduction through targeted support to state and non-state and state actors for strategic initiatives that advance equality between women and men and women’s empowerment.The purpose of SIGEP is to improve the capacity of non-state actors to address strategic gender interests, specifically in two of CIDA’s priority sectors: Food Security and Agriculture and Water and Sanitation.
He noted that one of the biggest problems facing smallholder farmers in Ghana, including the farmers in the beneficiaries who are mainly in vegetable and rice farming is the issue of post harvest loses.
He expressed the hope that the items donated will go a long way to help the farmers in managing the challenges they face.
The Regional Industrial Relations Officer of GAWU, Mr. Hypolyte Alua since agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of the district, any assistance to the sector was a step in the right direction.
The Regional Chairman of GAWU, Mr. Martin Pwayidi who received the items on behalf of the beneficiaries expressed the hope that GAWU and other organizations would continue to promote agriculture in the district to boost the morale of farmers to spur them on to improve productivity at all times
Increase fuel levy to generate more revenue(May 17, 2010 Page 46)
A MEMBER of the Road Fund Management Board, Professor Mohammed Salifu has called for an increase in the fuel levy as a means of generating more revenue for the Road Fund Board to facilitate its work.
Currently at 6 cents per liter, the fuel levy contribute about 93 per cent of revenue to the Road Fund while collections of tolls and other levies make up the rest of revenue to the fund.
According to Professor Salifu who is also a lecturer at the department of Civil Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, since 1997 when the Road Fund Act was passed to date, the fuel levy, which contribute the bulk of money to the fund, should have been increased from 6 cents per litre to about 9.5 cents per liter but this has not been done.
The situation, he stressed has was impacting negatively in financing road maintenance in the country and therefore called on the government to bite the bullet and increase the fuel levy.
Professor Salifu made these comment at a forum in Bolgatanga on Financing Road maintenance in Ghana. It was organized by the Road Fund Board under the auspices of the Ministry of Roads and Highways with the aim at sensitizing the public and all stakeholders on the role of the Road Fund in financing of road maintenance in Ghana.
The Road Fund, which derives its revenue from fuel levy, tolls and Vehicle registration, vehicles, road use and International transit fees, is the main source of financing road maintenance in Ghana.
“There is a perception that a lot of money is coming into the fund on the back of the recent increases in the road toll but the truth of the matter is that, the amount accruing to the fund from the road toll is negligible,” he said.
Professor Salifu explained that an increase in the fuel levy will not necessary have to reflect in an increase at the ex-pump prices. He therefore called on government to consider an increase in the fuel levy to sustain the Road Fund.
He also appealed to the Attorney General to initiate steps to help the Road Fund Board retrieve huge sums of monies collected by private road toll operators who have defaulted in payment to the fund.
The National Vice Chairman of the Association of Road Contractors, (ASROC), Mr. Joseph Ebo Hewton, said from February 2010 when the increase in the road toll was announced to date, an amount of GH c 8.3 million has been collected compared to the GH c 2.9 million collected in the whole of 2009. He therefore appealed to road users to see the benefits in the decision and support government.
Mr. Hewton proposed that government should find a way of collecting taxes from vehicles using liquefied gas instead of petroleum. This he explained will shore up the revenue base of the Fund.
He also suggested that the Road Fund Board should amend the Act so that part of the funds should be used for capacity building of both contractors and contract awarding agencies to ensure effective supervision and value for money contracts.
The Upper East Regional Vice Chairman of ASROC, Mr. Hakim Dauda proposed that 25 per cent of vehicles insurance should be paid to the Road Fund Board for the maintenance of roads. This he explained will reduce accidents and minimize claims on insurance companies.
“Tolling could be made optional for motorist to pay periodically in advance so as to avoid the frequent stops. Such advance payments could be incorporated when motorist go for their DVLA road worthiness renewals and facilitate the Road Fund raising bulk sums for their operations,” he said.
The Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Dr. Oakley Quaye-Kumah noted that the cost of road construction and its subsequent regular maintenance requires a huge financial outlay which cannot be met entirely from the country’s annual budgetary provision and support received from the development partners.
“It is increasingly recognized that the users of these roads must have to directly or indirectly contribute to the cost of its maintenance,” he said.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni said the deplorable conditions of most roads in the Upper East Region leave much to be desired, especially during the raining season. The, situation, she said is a big source of worry to the people which calls for redress.
“Any poverty reduction strategy in the region would require the availability of good feeder roads to feed the highways in the movement of goods and services throughout the region,” she said
Currently at 6 cents per liter, the fuel levy contribute about 93 per cent of revenue to the Road Fund while collections of tolls and other levies make up the rest of revenue to the fund.
According to Professor Salifu who is also a lecturer at the department of Civil Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, since 1997 when the Road Fund Act was passed to date, the fuel levy, which contribute the bulk of money to the fund, should have been increased from 6 cents per litre to about 9.5 cents per liter but this has not been done.
The situation, he stressed has was impacting negatively in financing road maintenance in the country and therefore called on the government to bite the bullet and increase the fuel levy.
Professor Salifu made these comment at a forum in Bolgatanga on Financing Road maintenance in Ghana. It was organized by the Road Fund Board under the auspices of the Ministry of Roads and Highways with the aim at sensitizing the public and all stakeholders on the role of the Road Fund in financing of road maintenance in Ghana.
The Road Fund, which derives its revenue from fuel levy, tolls and Vehicle registration, vehicles, road use and International transit fees, is the main source of financing road maintenance in Ghana.
“There is a perception that a lot of money is coming into the fund on the back of the recent increases in the road toll but the truth of the matter is that, the amount accruing to the fund from the road toll is negligible,” he said.
Professor Salifu explained that an increase in the fuel levy will not necessary have to reflect in an increase at the ex-pump prices. He therefore called on government to consider an increase in the fuel levy to sustain the Road Fund.
He also appealed to the Attorney General to initiate steps to help the Road Fund Board retrieve huge sums of monies collected by private road toll operators who have defaulted in payment to the fund.
The National Vice Chairman of the Association of Road Contractors, (ASROC), Mr. Joseph Ebo Hewton, said from February 2010 when the increase in the road toll was announced to date, an amount of GH c 8.3 million has been collected compared to the GH c 2.9 million collected in the whole of 2009. He therefore appealed to road users to see the benefits in the decision and support government.
Mr. Hewton proposed that government should find a way of collecting taxes from vehicles using liquefied gas instead of petroleum. This he explained will shore up the revenue base of the Fund.
He also suggested that the Road Fund Board should amend the Act so that part of the funds should be used for capacity building of both contractors and contract awarding agencies to ensure effective supervision and value for money contracts.
The Upper East Regional Vice Chairman of ASROC, Mr. Hakim Dauda proposed that 25 per cent of vehicles insurance should be paid to the Road Fund Board for the maintenance of roads. This he explained will reduce accidents and minimize claims on insurance companies.
“Tolling could be made optional for motorist to pay periodically in advance so as to avoid the frequent stops. Such advance payments could be incorporated when motorist go for their DVLA road worthiness renewals and facilitate the Road Fund raising bulk sums for their operations,” he said.
The Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Dr. Oakley Quaye-Kumah noted that the cost of road construction and its subsequent regular maintenance requires a huge financial outlay which cannot be met entirely from the country’s annual budgetary provision and support received from the development partners.
“It is increasingly recognized that the users of these roads must have to directly or indirectly contribute to the cost of its maintenance,” he said.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni said the deplorable conditions of most roads in the Upper East Region leave much to be desired, especially during the raining season. The, situation, she said is a big source of worry to the people which calls for redress.
“Any poverty reduction strategy in the region would require the availability of good feeder roads to feed the highways in the movement of goods and services throughout the region,” she said
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
PASTOR PAYS COMPENSATION FOR DESTROYING IDOLS (MIRROR, PAGE 27, MAY 15, 2010)
From Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
The pastor and three others alleged to have destroyed idols in the Upper East Region have agreed to pay compensation to the complainant in the case.
When the case was called last Tuesday, the judge, Mr William Boampong, announced that the case had been struck out following an agreement between the two parties for the payment of GH¢410 as settlement.
Pastor Richard Nsoh of the Faith Action Church and three accomplices, Michael Abolga and two minors (names withheld), were charged by the Bolgatanga Circuit Court for allegedly destroying idols belonging to the family of a female member of the church he had prayed for.
He was facing charges of abetment of crime and causing unlawful damage, while his three accomplices, who are all relatives of the complainant, were charged with unlawful entry, assault and stealing.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The facts, as presented in court, are that the minors, both students, fell sick and were sent to the church for deliverance by Abolga.
According to the prosecution, in the course of the prayers, the pastor allegedly revealed to them that the complainant’s idols were responsible for their sickness.
It said the three later went to the complainant and threatened to kill him and when he questioned them, they became offended and assaulted him.
It said not satisfied, the three entered the complainant’s room, picked his idols, an animal skin and cash of GH¢50 and sent them to the pastor at Sirigu, who burnt them.
A report was later lodged with the police who issued a medical form to the complainant to seek medical attention.
The pastor and three others alleged to have destroyed idols in the Upper East Region have agreed to pay compensation to the complainant in the case.
When the case was called last Tuesday, the judge, Mr William Boampong, announced that the case had been struck out following an agreement between the two parties for the payment of GH¢410 as settlement.
Pastor Richard Nsoh of the Faith Action Church and three accomplices, Michael Abolga and two minors (names withheld), were charged by the Bolgatanga Circuit Court for allegedly destroying idols belonging to the family of a female member of the church he had prayed for.
He was facing charges of abetment of crime and causing unlawful damage, while his three accomplices, who are all relatives of the complainant, were charged with unlawful entry, assault and stealing.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The facts, as presented in court, are that the minors, both students, fell sick and were sent to the church for deliverance by Abolga.
According to the prosecution, in the course of the prayers, the pastor allegedly revealed to them that the complainant’s idols were responsible for their sickness.
It said the three later went to the complainant and threatened to kill him and when he questioned them, they became offended and assaulted him.
It said not satisfied, the three entered the complainant’s room, picked his idols, an animal skin and cash of GH¢50 and sent them to the pastor at Sirigu, who burnt them.
A report was later lodged with the police who issued a medical form to the complainant to seek medical attention.
ZOOMLION DELEGATION VISITS UPPER EAST (MIRROR, PAGE 25, MAY 15, 2010)
From Benjamin Xornam Glover,
Bolgatanga.
A delegation from the head office of Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, have paid a two-day working visit to the Upper East Regional operation areas.
The objective of the visit was to get first hand information about the operational challenges and difficulties, motivate staff to give of their best, and appropriately redirect staff’s energy towards achieving better results for the company.
Members of the delegation were Mr. Lawrence Laryea, Head of Operations, Mr. Oscar Provencal, Public Relations Officer of the company and Mr. Edward Akolgo, a Senior Human Resource Officer.
Briefing The Mirror on the visit, the Communications Officer of the Zoomlion Ghana in charge of the three Northern Regions, Mr. Francis Atayure Abirigo, said the team visited newly created Kassena-Nankana West District, Paga, Kassena-Nankana East District, Navrongo and Talensi-Nabdam District and Tongo, respectively.
He said after the two-day tour of the districts, the delegation met with the regional management team, Municipal /District Operations Supervisors, Tricycle Supervisors, Operations Monitors and Drivers at a durbar in the regional capital Bolgatanga.
According to Mr. Abirigo, Mr. Lawrence Laryea, who is the Head of Operations, in an address underscored the need for staff to operate within the scope of operational rules and regulations.
Mr. Laryea urged the District Operations Supervisors to co-operate and collaborate with the Municipal and District Chief Executives as well as the District Environmental Health Officers to enhance good working relations and achieve results that would be beneficial to all.
Municipal and District Operations Supervisors tabled a catalogue of operational challenges such as logistical and human resource as well as capacity building training for staff to boost performances.
Mr. Mike Laud Tagoe, Upper East Regional Operation Supervisor, appealed to management to always address regional issues with dispatch to discourage delays in operational activities.
He said the region was enjoying total support and co-operation from chief executives of the assemblies and, therefore, commended them for their support.
Bolgatanga.
A delegation from the head office of Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, have paid a two-day working visit to the Upper East Regional operation areas.
The objective of the visit was to get first hand information about the operational challenges and difficulties, motivate staff to give of their best, and appropriately redirect staff’s energy towards achieving better results for the company.
Members of the delegation were Mr. Lawrence Laryea, Head of Operations, Mr. Oscar Provencal, Public Relations Officer of the company and Mr. Edward Akolgo, a Senior Human Resource Officer.
Briefing The Mirror on the visit, the Communications Officer of the Zoomlion Ghana in charge of the three Northern Regions, Mr. Francis Atayure Abirigo, said the team visited newly created Kassena-Nankana West District, Paga, Kassena-Nankana East District, Navrongo and Talensi-Nabdam District and Tongo, respectively.
He said after the two-day tour of the districts, the delegation met with the regional management team, Municipal /District Operations Supervisors, Tricycle Supervisors, Operations Monitors and Drivers at a durbar in the regional capital Bolgatanga.
According to Mr. Abirigo, Mr. Lawrence Laryea, who is the Head of Operations, in an address underscored the need for staff to operate within the scope of operational rules and regulations.
Mr. Laryea urged the District Operations Supervisors to co-operate and collaborate with the Municipal and District Chief Executives as well as the District Environmental Health Officers to enhance good working relations and achieve results that would be beneficial to all.
Municipal and District Operations Supervisors tabled a catalogue of operational challenges such as logistical and human resource as well as capacity building training for staff to boost performances.
Mr. Mike Laud Tagoe, Upper East Regional Operation Supervisor, appealed to management to always address regional issues with dispatch to discourage delays in operational activities.
He said the region was enjoying total support and co-operation from chief executives of the assemblies and, therefore, commended them for their support.
UPPER EAST ROLLS OUT PACKAGE FOR DOCTORS (PAGE 51, MAY 17, 2010)
A PACKAGE rolled out by the Upper East Regional Health Directorate to attract medical officers to the region has yielded results since seven newly trained doctors have accepted to do their housemanship in the region.
The package includes the provision of means of transport and fully furnished accommodation as well as feeding and in-service training.
The doctors, three females and four males who have reported for duty, will initially work at the regional hospital, but periodically visit district hospitals to offer services to the people.
For years, doctors posted to do their housemanship in the region have usually failed to report for duty because some of them perceived the region as “Siberia”.
The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, made this known at a reception organised by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, at Bolgatanga to welcome the new doctors to the region.
Dr Awoonor-Williams explained that the arrival of seven newly qualified doctors to the Upper East Region would help address some of the challenges confronting health care in the region, especially with regard to human resource.
He expressed the hope that after their housemanship the new doctors would stay in the region.
He commended the Regional Co-ordinating Council for its support and appealed to the people of the region to co-operate with the doctors in the discharge of their duties.
He said as part of efforts to enhance healthcare service delivery in the region, the directorate was making efforts to expand the number of district hospitals from the present five to nine, adding that plans were underway to build a district hospital for the Garu-Tempane District, while efforts would be made to provide similar facilities for the Talensi-Nabdam and Kassena-Nankana West districts.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, expressed joy at the decision of the seven to work in the region and assured them that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would support them.
The package includes the provision of means of transport and fully furnished accommodation as well as feeding and in-service training.
The doctors, three females and four males who have reported for duty, will initially work at the regional hospital, but periodically visit district hospitals to offer services to the people.
For years, doctors posted to do their housemanship in the region have usually failed to report for duty because some of them perceived the region as “Siberia”.
The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, made this known at a reception organised by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, at Bolgatanga to welcome the new doctors to the region.
Dr Awoonor-Williams explained that the arrival of seven newly qualified doctors to the Upper East Region would help address some of the challenges confronting health care in the region, especially with regard to human resource.
He expressed the hope that after their housemanship the new doctors would stay in the region.
He commended the Regional Co-ordinating Council for its support and appealed to the people of the region to co-operate with the doctors in the discharge of their duties.
He said as part of efforts to enhance healthcare service delivery in the region, the directorate was making efforts to expand the number of district hospitals from the present five to nine, adding that plans were underway to build a district hospital for the Garu-Tempane District, while efforts would be made to provide similar facilities for the Talensi-Nabdam and Kassena-Nankana West districts.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, expressed joy at the decision of the seven to work in the region and assured them that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would support them.
UPPER EAST ROLLS OUT PACKAGE FOR DOCTORS (PAGE 51, MAY 17, 2010)
A PACKAGE rolled out by the Upper East Regional Health Directorate to attract medical officers to the region has yielded results since seven newly trained doctors have accepted to do their housemanship in the region.
The package includes the provision of means of transport and fully furnished accommodation as well as feeding and in-service training.
The doctors, three females and four males who have reported for duty, will initially work at the regional hospital, but periodically visit district hospitals to offer services to the people.
For years, doctors posted to do their housemanship in the region have usually failed to report for duty because some of them perceived the region as “Siberia”.
The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, made this known at a reception organised by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, at Bolgatanga to welcome the new doctors to the region.
Dr Awoonor-Williams explained that the arrival of seven newly qualified doctors to the Upper East Region would help address some of the challenges confronting health care in the region, especially with regard to human resource.
He expressed the hope that after their housemanship the new doctors would stay in the region.
He commended the Regional Co-ordinating Council for its support and appealed to the people of the region to co-operate with the doctors in the discharge of their duties.
He said as part of efforts to enhance healthcare service delivery in the region, the directorate was making efforts to expand the number of district hospitals from the present five to nine, adding that plans were underway to build a district hospital for the Garu-Tempane District, while efforts would be made to provide similar facilities for the Talensi-Nabdam and Kassena-Nankana West districts.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, expressed joy at the decision of the seven to work in the region and assured them that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would support them.
The package includes the provision of means of transport and fully furnished accommodation as well as feeding and in-service training.
The doctors, three females and four males who have reported for duty, will initially work at the regional hospital, but periodically visit district hospitals to offer services to the people.
For years, doctors posted to do their housemanship in the region have usually failed to report for duty because some of them perceived the region as “Siberia”.
The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, made this known at a reception organised by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, at Bolgatanga to welcome the new doctors to the region.
Dr Awoonor-Williams explained that the arrival of seven newly qualified doctors to the Upper East Region would help address some of the challenges confronting health care in the region, especially with regard to human resource.
He expressed the hope that after their housemanship the new doctors would stay in the region.
He commended the Regional Co-ordinating Council for its support and appealed to the people of the region to co-operate with the doctors in the discharge of their duties.
He said as part of efforts to enhance healthcare service delivery in the region, the directorate was making efforts to expand the number of district hospitals from the present five to nine, adding that plans were underway to build a district hospital for the Garu-Tempane District, while efforts would be made to provide similar facilities for the Talensi-Nabdam and Kassena-Nankana West districts.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, expressed joy at the decision of the seven to work in the region and assured them that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would support them.
Thursday, 13 May 2010
FORMER NDC CHAIRMAN DISMISSES ALLEGATIONS (PAGE 14, MAY 13, 2010)
The immediate past Upper East Regional First Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Richard Adua, has dismissed allegations levelled against him by the youth wing of the Navrongo Central branch of the party that he is the chief architect of all the problems and misfortunes of the party in the constituency.
Mr. Adua has described the allegations against him as preposterous and baseless and dared the youth making those allegations to substantiate them with facts.
“Any individual who wants to achieve his or her personal interest at the expense of the party must desist from that since unity was very paramount to the party in the constituency,” he said adding that “there is the need for all party members to patch up their differences to enable the NDC retain power”
Mr. Adua’s reaction follows a press statement the youth wing of the Navrongo Central branch of the party issued and signed by the Constituency Youth Organiser, Mr. Ajenda Adua, alleging that Mr Richard Adua had incited some party members who contested the Regional Executive Election and lost and were peeved, against the Regional Minister and the Regional Executives.
The youth wing also alleged that Mr Adua was among the people in the party who fuelled the recent allegations levelled against the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo on the award of contracts to cronies and family members.
Responding to the charges made against him, Mr. Adua indicated that in 2004, he personally contacted Mr. Woyongo to contest the Parliamentary election in the constituency on the ticket of the party to which Mr. Woyongo declined because he was still in office.
According to him, even though Mr Woyongo declined the proposal, he (Mr Woyongo) gave him (Mr Adua) some money to support the campaign activities which he gave to the constituency executive for the exercise and wondered why he would thwart the Minister's efforts and the party as a whole.
He further explained that in the 2008 elections, he was one of the persons who endorsed the Electoral Commission form which Mr Woyongo filed to contest the Parliamentary election for the Navrongo Central Constituency and even took him round to introduce him as the NDC Parliamentary candidate to elders and chiefs in the area.
Mr Adua denied the allegation that he was always dictating to government officials and threatening them and said the youth wing should know that he was the former Regional Vice-Chairman of the party and had never supported any member of the party to vote against Mr Woyongo who failed to win the Navrongo Central seat in 2008 election.
Mr Adua rejected the claims saying he appropriated a land obtained from the Tono Irrigation Project stressing that he had in his pocession documentation to prove that the land in question was duly acquired by him from the Management of the Tono Irrigation Company.
Mr. Adua has described the allegations against him as preposterous and baseless and dared the youth making those allegations to substantiate them with facts.
“Any individual who wants to achieve his or her personal interest at the expense of the party must desist from that since unity was very paramount to the party in the constituency,” he said adding that “there is the need for all party members to patch up their differences to enable the NDC retain power”
Mr. Adua’s reaction follows a press statement the youth wing of the Navrongo Central branch of the party issued and signed by the Constituency Youth Organiser, Mr. Ajenda Adua, alleging that Mr Richard Adua had incited some party members who contested the Regional Executive Election and lost and were peeved, against the Regional Minister and the Regional Executives.
The youth wing also alleged that Mr Adua was among the people in the party who fuelled the recent allegations levelled against the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo on the award of contracts to cronies and family members.
Responding to the charges made against him, Mr. Adua indicated that in 2004, he personally contacted Mr. Woyongo to contest the Parliamentary election in the constituency on the ticket of the party to which Mr. Woyongo declined because he was still in office.
According to him, even though Mr Woyongo declined the proposal, he (Mr Woyongo) gave him (Mr Adua) some money to support the campaign activities which he gave to the constituency executive for the exercise and wondered why he would thwart the Minister's efforts and the party as a whole.
He further explained that in the 2008 elections, he was one of the persons who endorsed the Electoral Commission form which Mr Woyongo filed to contest the Parliamentary election for the Navrongo Central Constituency and even took him round to introduce him as the NDC Parliamentary candidate to elders and chiefs in the area.
Mr Adua denied the allegation that he was always dictating to government officials and threatening them and said the youth wing should know that he was the former Regional Vice-Chairman of the party and had never supported any member of the party to vote against Mr Woyongo who failed to win the Navrongo Central seat in 2008 election.
Mr Adua rejected the claims saying he appropriated a land obtained from the Tono Irrigation Project stressing that he had in his pocession documentation to prove that the land in question was duly acquired by him from the Management of the Tono Irrigation Company.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
NCCE BEMOANS STATE OF INSECURITY IN BAWKU (PAGE 46, MAY 13, 2010)
THE Upper East Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Peter H. Mensah, has expressed concern over the current insecurity in Bawku, resulting from the protracted conflicts there.
He has also bemoaned the role of the youth in the violence due to the potential long-term negative effect on society.
Mr Mensah expressed the concern during the launch of the Upper East Regional Constitution Week in Bolgatanga. It was on the theme: “Enhancing constitutionalism through effective citizens’ participation for good governance”.
Traditional leaders, assembly members, heads of departments, educationists and NCCE officials attended the launch.
Activities earmarked for the celebration include roundtable discussions on the Constitution, constitutional game competition in schools, civic education activities in schools, social auditing in the communities, radio talk-shows and face-to-face interaction with various segments of society.
Mr Mensah noted that the continuous killing of people in the Bawku municipality, which had necessitated the imposition of a curfew and other harsh social restrictions, had made it difficult for any activity to be carried out in the area.
He appealed to the authorities to create the opportunity for the NCCE, as an exclusive entity, to play a mainstream role in the peace-building efforts, using its civic education method of intervention.
He explained that when given the chance, the NCCE would target the youth, who were obviously the main perpetrators of the violence.
He also requested the regional and national houses of chiefs, who were mandated by the Constitution to deal with issues related to the chieftaincy institution, to step in, as a matter of responsibility, with relevant interventionary measures.
Mr Mensah renewed appeals to the feuding factions and all other stakeholders — political, opinion, religious, traditional and youth leaders — as well as ordinary citizens in the Bawku municipality to create conditions that would offer opportunities to facilitate the promotion of peace.
“For example, religious groups could hold conventions and intercessory prayers in Bawku. Apart from God’s intervention, this move can also soften the hardened hearts of the belligerents,” the NCCE boss posited.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, noted that in spite of some deficiencies observed in the Constitution, Ghana was still adjudged one of the best countries practising the multi-party democratic system of governance in Africa.
He added that the government would show more commitment by ensuring that portions of the Constitution found to be inconsistent with the promotion and enhancement of democracy and good governance in the country were reviewed and refined, hence the setting up of the Constitutional Review Commission.
Later, during a lecture on the topic, “Poverty — A threat to constitutionalism and multi-party democracy in Ghana”, Mr Jonathan Adabre, a policy analyst and Regional Manager of ISODEC, noted that the institution of comprehensive integrated social protection systems was the only way to increase citizens’ participation in multi-party democracy.
He has also bemoaned the role of the youth in the violence due to the potential long-term negative effect on society.
Mr Mensah expressed the concern during the launch of the Upper East Regional Constitution Week in Bolgatanga. It was on the theme: “Enhancing constitutionalism through effective citizens’ participation for good governance”.
Traditional leaders, assembly members, heads of departments, educationists and NCCE officials attended the launch.
Activities earmarked for the celebration include roundtable discussions on the Constitution, constitutional game competition in schools, civic education activities in schools, social auditing in the communities, radio talk-shows and face-to-face interaction with various segments of society.
Mr Mensah noted that the continuous killing of people in the Bawku municipality, which had necessitated the imposition of a curfew and other harsh social restrictions, had made it difficult for any activity to be carried out in the area.
He appealed to the authorities to create the opportunity for the NCCE, as an exclusive entity, to play a mainstream role in the peace-building efforts, using its civic education method of intervention.
He explained that when given the chance, the NCCE would target the youth, who were obviously the main perpetrators of the violence.
He also requested the regional and national houses of chiefs, who were mandated by the Constitution to deal with issues related to the chieftaincy institution, to step in, as a matter of responsibility, with relevant interventionary measures.
Mr Mensah renewed appeals to the feuding factions and all other stakeholders — political, opinion, religious, traditional and youth leaders — as well as ordinary citizens in the Bawku municipality to create conditions that would offer opportunities to facilitate the promotion of peace.
“For example, religious groups could hold conventions and intercessory prayers in Bawku. Apart from God’s intervention, this move can also soften the hardened hearts of the belligerents,” the NCCE boss posited.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, noted that in spite of some deficiencies observed in the Constitution, Ghana was still adjudged one of the best countries practising the multi-party democratic system of governance in Africa.
He added that the government would show more commitment by ensuring that portions of the Constitution found to be inconsistent with the promotion and enhancement of democracy and good governance in the country were reviewed and refined, hence the setting up of the Constitutional Review Commission.
Later, during a lecture on the topic, “Poverty — A threat to constitutionalism and multi-party democracy in Ghana”, Mr Jonathan Adabre, a policy analyst and Regional Manager of ISODEC, noted that the institution of comprehensive integrated social protection systems was the only way to increase citizens’ participation in multi-party democracy.
GH¢1.4 MILLION PROJECT FOR LADY OF LOURDES SCHOOL (PAGE 11, MAY 12, 2010)
a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of new premises for Our Lady of Lourdes (O.L.L) Girls Senior High School at Navrongo, has been performed by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo,
The first phase of the new project, which is aimed at promoting girl-child education in the area, includes the construction of classroom blocks, dormitories and access roads, all valued at GH¢ 1.4 million, and is to be completed by September, 2011.
Work will soon begin on the next phase of the project which will include four semi-detached bungalows; two staff bungalows, an 800-seater dining hall, a library, an administration block and a laboratory.
The school was initially established by the Catholic Church but later absorbed by the government. It is now the only model girls’ school in the region and has the principal aim of promoting girl-child education in the Kassena-Nankana East District in particular and the region in general.
The new structures are to replace the old and dilapidated school block, which poses danger to the students. Funding for the project is from the Ghana Education Trust Fund, (GETfund).
At the ceremony, Mr Woyongo paid tribute to the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church and the late Bishop Lucas Abadamloora who worked tirelessly to ensure that the project became a reality.
According to Mr Woyongo, following the extension of the SHS educational system to four years, the government is embarking on a massive programme to provide additional infrastructure to ensure that all schools that would be in need of facilities to absorb the first year students in September/October this year are catered for.
He announced that the first phase of such school infrastructure improvement programme had begun in earnest in selected schools. He, however, indicated that notwithstanding the infrastructurural needs of the schools, the government was equally aware of the need to motivate teachers.
To this end, he said the government was working to make sure that salaries of teachers were comprehensive and comparable with other professions, hence the introduction of the Single Spine Salary Structure Pay Policy which will start in July this year.
The District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana East District, Mr Emmanuel Andema, said while the government focused on the provision of infrastructurral needs of most school, there was the need for a vigorous campaign to check the dwindling educational performance of children, especially at the basic level.
The Headmistress of the school, Rev. Sister Martina Naameh, said the project when completed, would create a congenial atmosphere for teaching and learning and gave the assurance that the quality of teaching in the school would be comparable to any school in the country.
Our Lady of Lourdes Girls Senior High School was established in January 1958 as a Girls Middle School by the late Bishop Gerald Bertrand, the late Bishop of the Catholic Church to cater for girls in the region who had to trek long distances to Jirapa to attend school.
Following the educational reforms, it was converted to a mixed school but has now been reverted to its old status to offer education to girls as a way of bridging the gap between girls and boys in accessing education.
The first phase of the new project, which is aimed at promoting girl-child education in the area, includes the construction of classroom blocks, dormitories and access roads, all valued at GH¢ 1.4 million, and is to be completed by September, 2011.
Work will soon begin on the next phase of the project which will include four semi-detached bungalows; two staff bungalows, an 800-seater dining hall, a library, an administration block and a laboratory.
The school was initially established by the Catholic Church but later absorbed by the government. It is now the only model girls’ school in the region and has the principal aim of promoting girl-child education in the Kassena-Nankana East District in particular and the region in general.
The new structures are to replace the old and dilapidated school block, which poses danger to the students. Funding for the project is from the Ghana Education Trust Fund, (GETfund).
At the ceremony, Mr Woyongo paid tribute to the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church and the late Bishop Lucas Abadamloora who worked tirelessly to ensure that the project became a reality.
According to Mr Woyongo, following the extension of the SHS educational system to four years, the government is embarking on a massive programme to provide additional infrastructure to ensure that all schools that would be in need of facilities to absorb the first year students in September/October this year are catered for.
He announced that the first phase of such school infrastructure improvement programme had begun in earnest in selected schools. He, however, indicated that notwithstanding the infrastructurural needs of the schools, the government was equally aware of the need to motivate teachers.
To this end, he said the government was working to make sure that salaries of teachers were comprehensive and comparable with other professions, hence the introduction of the Single Spine Salary Structure Pay Policy which will start in July this year.
The District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana East District, Mr Emmanuel Andema, said while the government focused on the provision of infrastructurral needs of most school, there was the need for a vigorous campaign to check the dwindling educational performance of children, especially at the basic level.
The Headmistress of the school, Rev. Sister Martina Naameh, said the project when completed, would create a congenial atmosphere for teaching and learning and gave the assurance that the quality of teaching in the school would be comparable to any school in the country.
Our Lady of Lourdes Girls Senior High School was established in January 1958 as a Girls Middle School by the late Bishop Gerald Bertrand, the late Bishop of the Catholic Church to cater for girls in the region who had to trek long distances to Jirapa to attend school.
Following the educational reforms, it was converted to a mixed school but has now been reverted to its old status to offer education to girls as a way of bridging the gap between girls and boys in accessing education.
Sunday, 9 May 2010
CORDINATING COUNCIL DENIES STORY (PAGE 19, MAY 8, 2010)
The Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council (UERCC) has denied a story carried by an Accra daily that the Upper East Regional Minister and the Regional Tender Review Committee have been involved in some form of corruption in the award of contracts.
Addressing a press conference in Bolgatanga, the acting Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Gilbert Nuru-Teg, described the May 5, 2010 publication as factually inaccurate and demanded an unqualified apology and retraction from the newspaper
Flanked by the Regional Economic Planning Officer, Mr Sagito Issaka, the Regional Consultant of the AESL, Mr J.K. Boamah, and the Regional Director of the Ghana Highway Authority, Mr David Hammond, the acting RCD said contrary to assertions made by the paper, all the necessary procurement processes were followed by the Tender Review Committee prior to the award of the contract to Messrs Talkai Enterprise.
Those, he explained, included the placing of adverts, the sale of document, tender opening, evaluation and award of contract.
He noted that contrary to what was published in the newspaper, the advert for that particular project appeared in the February 6, 2010 issue of the Ghanaian Times, adding that the project in question was located on the compound of the Bawku Technical Institute and not the Bawku Senior High/Technical School, as the newspaper alleged.
Mr Nuru-Teg said the assertion that some portions of the project were awarded before being advertised was erroneous and baseless.
”We challenge any contractor holding an award letter on the project to come and prove it,” he challenged.
“We also wish to state that the letter from the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, reference number UERCC/CONS/32/10, advising the Upper East Region was dated March 3, 2010, contrary to the false impression created by the paper,” he said.
According to him, it was impossible for a project whose documentation started around the middle of March to have reached foundation level within five to six weeks, as shown in the newspaper.
“Apparently, the newspaper did not do any investigation on the information it had or did a shoddy and prejudicial investigation before publishing such a fallacious story. We do not want to believe that some faceless individuals, with diabolical intentions against the RCC and its heads, are behind the said story but the one-sided stand taken by the newspaper by not contacting any official of the RCC to ascertain the veracity of the information raises legitimate questions about the credibility of the story,” Mr Nuru-Teg said.
He said the doors of the UERCC were always open and advised the editorial team of the newspaper to, in the future, cross-check its facts by consulting the heads of the institution or consultants on development projects before publishing such stories.
“It is quite evident that the newspaper published an untrue and unauthenticated story with the ultimate aim of damaging the image of the UERCC,” he said.
On behalf of the RCC, he demanded an unqualified apology and the retraction of the story by the newspaper, adding that the matter had been referred to the lawyers of the RCC for advice.
Addressing a press conference in Bolgatanga, the acting Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Gilbert Nuru-Teg, described the May 5, 2010 publication as factually inaccurate and demanded an unqualified apology and retraction from the newspaper
Flanked by the Regional Economic Planning Officer, Mr Sagito Issaka, the Regional Consultant of the AESL, Mr J.K. Boamah, and the Regional Director of the Ghana Highway Authority, Mr David Hammond, the acting RCD said contrary to assertions made by the paper, all the necessary procurement processes were followed by the Tender Review Committee prior to the award of the contract to Messrs Talkai Enterprise.
Those, he explained, included the placing of adverts, the sale of document, tender opening, evaluation and award of contract.
He noted that contrary to what was published in the newspaper, the advert for that particular project appeared in the February 6, 2010 issue of the Ghanaian Times, adding that the project in question was located on the compound of the Bawku Technical Institute and not the Bawku Senior High/Technical School, as the newspaper alleged.
Mr Nuru-Teg said the assertion that some portions of the project were awarded before being advertised was erroneous and baseless.
”We challenge any contractor holding an award letter on the project to come and prove it,” he challenged.
“We also wish to state that the letter from the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, reference number UERCC/CONS/32/10, advising the Upper East Region was dated March 3, 2010, contrary to the false impression created by the paper,” he said.
According to him, it was impossible for a project whose documentation started around the middle of March to have reached foundation level within five to six weeks, as shown in the newspaper.
“Apparently, the newspaper did not do any investigation on the information it had or did a shoddy and prejudicial investigation before publishing such a fallacious story. We do not want to believe that some faceless individuals, with diabolical intentions against the RCC and its heads, are behind the said story but the one-sided stand taken by the newspaper by not contacting any official of the RCC to ascertain the veracity of the information raises legitimate questions about the credibility of the story,” Mr Nuru-Teg said.
He said the doors of the UERCC were always open and advised the editorial team of the newspaper to, in the future, cross-check its facts by consulting the heads of the institution or consultants on development projects before publishing such stories.
“It is quite evident that the newspaper published an untrue and unauthenticated story with the ultimate aim of damaging the image of the UERCC,” he said.
On behalf of the RCC, he demanded an unqualified apology and the retraction of the story by the newspaper, adding that the matter had been referred to the lawyers of the RCC for advice.
Friday, 7 May 2010
PASTOR GRANTED BAIL FOR DESTROYING IDOLS (MIRROR, PAGE 27, MAY 8, 2010)
From Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
The Bolgatanga Circuit Court, presided over by Mr William Boampong, has granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 to a Bolgatanga-based pastor, Richard Nsoh of the Faith Action Church, for allegedly destroying idols belonging to the family of a female member of the church he had prayed for.
He is facing charges of abetment of crime and causing unlawful damage, while his three accomplices, namely, Lamisi Abire, Sheila Atinga and Michael Abolga, all relatives of the complainant, have been charged with unlawful entry, assault and stealing.
They have also been admitted to GH¢6,000 bail.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them and will reappear on May 11, 2010.
The pastor had, on April 12, 2010, been remanded in prison custody at the Navrongo Prison for two weeks to enable the police to conduct investigations into the case
The facts, as presented in court, are that Lamisi and Sheila, both students, fell sick and were sent to the church for deliverance by Abolga.
According to the prosecution, in the course of the prayers, the pastor allegedly revealed to them that the complainant’s idols were responsible for their sickness.
It said the three later went to the complainant and threatened to kill him and when he questioned them, they became offended and assaulted him.
It said not satisfied, the three entered the complainant’s room, picked his idols, an animal skin and cash of GH¢50 and sent them to the pastor at Sirigu, who burnt them to ashes.
A report was later lodged with the police who issued a medical form to the complainant to seek medical attention.
The Bolgatanga Circuit Court, presided over by Mr William Boampong, has granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 to a Bolgatanga-based pastor, Richard Nsoh of the Faith Action Church, for allegedly destroying idols belonging to the family of a female member of the church he had prayed for.
He is facing charges of abetment of crime and causing unlawful damage, while his three accomplices, namely, Lamisi Abire, Sheila Atinga and Michael Abolga, all relatives of the complainant, have been charged with unlawful entry, assault and stealing.
They have also been admitted to GH¢6,000 bail.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them and will reappear on May 11, 2010.
The pastor had, on April 12, 2010, been remanded in prison custody at the Navrongo Prison for two weeks to enable the police to conduct investigations into the case
The facts, as presented in court, are that Lamisi and Sheila, both students, fell sick and were sent to the church for deliverance by Abolga.
According to the prosecution, in the course of the prayers, the pastor allegedly revealed to them that the complainant’s idols were responsible for their sickness.
It said the three later went to the complainant and threatened to kill him and when he questioned them, they became offended and assaulted him.
It said not satisfied, the three entered the complainant’s room, picked his idols, an animal skin and cash of GH¢50 and sent them to the pastor at Sirigu, who burnt them to ashes.
A report was later lodged with the police who issued a medical form to the complainant to seek medical attention.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
FARMER HELD OVER MURDER OF WIFE (PAGE 51, MAY 6, 2010)
A farmer resident at Zongoyire, a community in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region, is being held by the police for allegedly murdering his pregnant wife.
Abugre Akologo, aged between 30 and 35, is said to have picked a quarrel with his wife, Lydia Akologo, who was carrying a four-month-old pregnancy, last Sunday, May 2, 2010 over a piece of meat which the woman was said to have consumed from the family cooking pot.
In the course of the misunderstanding, Abugre allegedly pushed his wife, aged between 28 and 30, to the ground, after which she allegedly became unconscious.
She was rushed to the Bulanga Health Centre, which was a few kilometres away, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Bawku West District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Owusu Mpianin, who confirmed the incident, said the body of the deceased had been lodged at the Upper East Regional Hospital morgue in Bolgatanga pending autopsy.
He said a provisional charge of murder had been slapped on the suspect, who would be processed before the Zebilla Magistrate Court on Thursday, May 6, 2010.
ASP Mpianin said apart from Abugre’s account, police were conducting further investigations to unravel more evidence from neighbours.
Abugre Akologo, aged between 30 and 35, is said to have picked a quarrel with his wife, Lydia Akologo, who was carrying a four-month-old pregnancy, last Sunday, May 2, 2010 over a piece of meat which the woman was said to have consumed from the family cooking pot.
In the course of the misunderstanding, Abugre allegedly pushed his wife, aged between 28 and 30, to the ground, after which she allegedly became unconscious.
She was rushed to the Bulanga Health Centre, which was a few kilometres away, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Bawku West District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Owusu Mpianin, who confirmed the incident, said the body of the deceased had been lodged at the Upper East Regional Hospital morgue in Bolgatanga pending autopsy.
He said a provisional charge of murder had been slapped on the suspect, who would be processed before the Zebilla Magistrate Court on Thursday, May 6, 2010.
ASP Mpianin said apart from Abugre’s account, police were conducting further investigations to unravel more evidence from neighbours.
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
YOUTH ATTACK HEALTH WORKERS(SPREAD, MAY 5, 2010)
The Upper East Regional Health Directorate has ordered the closure of the Community-Based Health Planning Service (CHPS) compound at Teshi, a community in the Bawku West District.
This follows a mob attack on the health officers by some youth of the community.
The three health officers have, consequently, been redeployed to Zebilla and Bolgatanga.
During the polio immunisation programme, some youth were alleged to have stolen mobile phones belonging to the health officers and they later lodged a complaint with the chief of the area, who invited the youth and rebuked them.
While the officers were on their way from the chief’s palace after the incident, the youth accosted the health officers, threw stones at them and physically assaulted them.
When contacted, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, confirmed the closure of the facility.
He also told the Daily Graphic that the Regional Health Directorate would not tolerate any attacks on its staff.
“These are young persons who are sacrificing their lives and helping the community save lives,” he said, adding, “Such attacks on essential service providers are highly intolerable.”
He said the incident occurred at a time when efforts were underway to expand the structures at the facility and stressed that until the situation was thoroughly resolved, no health officers would be posted to the area.
Dr Awoonor-Williams said there were many channels available to communities dissatisfied with any health official to address issues and urged them to utilise the channels but not take the law into their own hands.
“If that happens, we can’t post any health officer to such a community,” he added.
Meanwhile, the incident is being investigated by the police in Zebila after a formal complaint had been lodged by the victims.
This follows a mob attack on the health officers by some youth of the community.
The three health officers have, consequently, been redeployed to Zebilla and Bolgatanga.
During the polio immunisation programme, some youth were alleged to have stolen mobile phones belonging to the health officers and they later lodged a complaint with the chief of the area, who invited the youth and rebuked them.
While the officers were on their way from the chief’s palace after the incident, the youth accosted the health officers, threw stones at them and physically assaulted them.
When contacted, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, confirmed the closure of the facility.
He also told the Daily Graphic that the Regional Health Directorate would not tolerate any attacks on its staff.
“These are young persons who are sacrificing their lives and helping the community save lives,” he said, adding, “Such attacks on essential service providers are highly intolerable.”
He said the incident occurred at a time when efforts were underway to expand the structures at the facility and stressed that until the situation was thoroughly resolved, no health officers would be posted to the area.
Dr Awoonor-Williams said there were many channels available to communities dissatisfied with any health official to address issues and urged them to utilise the channels but not take the law into their own hands.
“If that happens, we can’t post any health officer to such a community,” he added.
Meanwhile, the incident is being investigated by the police in Zebila after a formal complaint had been lodged by the victims.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Workers honoured on May Day(April 4, 2010. Page 16/49
..........From Sandema Benjamin Xornam Glover reports that the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana, (CLOGSAG) has renewed its threats to kicked against the implementation of the single spine salary structure, (SSSS), set to begin later this year.According to the group, if all the teething concerns raised against the salary structure are not fully addressed, CLOGSAG will resist the implementation of the new salary structure.
The Upper East Regional Chairman of CLOGSAG, Mr. Patrick Fagelogo restated the position of the group at this year’s Regional May Day parade at Sandema in the Builsa district
The single spine salary structure which was mooted in 2006 has gone through series of negotiations among various workers unions in a bid to replace the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) which has many distortions.Incidentally, while members of CLOGSAG were demonstrating against the implementation of the new salary structure, other members of organized labour namely; National Association of Graduate Teachers, Ghana National Association of Teachers and Judiciary Service Staff Association in a solidarity message reaffirmed their commitment in the series of consultations between them and the Fair Wages and Salary Commission to ensure the speedy implementation of the SSSS.
The much-anticipated SSSS is to ensure uniformity and equality in public sector pay. But according to Mr. Fagelogo, CLOGSAG believes its members will be greatly disadvantaged and make them worse off as far as their take home pay is concerned.
He said assertions by the Fair Wages and Salary Commission that the Civil and Government staff are not productive as such they do not deserve what they are being paid as erroneous. “If the Civil and local Government Staff are not productive, no government can have any positive growth. So if the government is deemed to be doing well and all indices are positive, it means Civil and Local Government Staff are very productive, unless the Fair Wages and Salary Commission is saying the Government of Ghana is not telling the people of Ghana the truth”, he argued.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo said government will continue to champion the course of workers and place a high premium on them.
He said the NDC government is conscious of the fact that there can be no improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians, including workers without a massive improvement in rural economy and food security. In that regard, the Northern Star Tomato Factory has been reactivated to full scale operation to address the predicaments of tomato farmers in the region.
Mr. Augustine A. Adongo, Regional Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, said this year’s celebration was dedicated to Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah for his pioneering role in the development of the Ghanaian worker.
The District Chief Executive of Builsa, Mr. Norbert Awulley spoke against absenteeism, alcoholism, idling and late reporting to work and urged workers to utilize their working hours well to ensure higher productivity. Thirteen workers were later honored for their dedicated service. They received TV sets and Certificates for their contribution to the various unions.
The Upper East Regional Chairman of CLOGSAG, Mr. Patrick Fagelogo restated the position of the group at this year’s Regional May Day parade at Sandema in the Builsa district
The single spine salary structure which was mooted in 2006 has gone through series of negotiations among various workers unions in a bid to replace the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) which has many distortions.Incidentally, while members of CLOGSAG were demonstrating against the implementation of the new salary structure, other members of organized labour namely; National Association of Graduate Teachers, Ghana National Association of Teachers and Judiciary Service Staff Association in a solidarity message reaffirmed their commitment in the series of consultations between them and the Fair Wages and Salary Commission to ensure the speedy implementation of the SSSS.
The much-anticipated SSSS is to ensure uniformity and equality in public sector pay. But according to Mr. Fagelogo, CLOGSAG believes its members will be greatly disadvantaged and make them worse off as far as their take home pay is concerned.
He said assertions by the Fair Wages and Salary Commission that the Civil and Government staff are not productive as such they do not deserve what they are being paid as erroneous. “If the Civil and local Government Staff are not productive, no government can have any positive growth. So if the government is deemed to be doing well and all indices are positive, it means Civil and Local Government Staff are very productive, unless the Fair Wages and Salary Commission is saying the Government of Ghana is not telling the people of Ghana the truth”, he argued.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo said government will continue to champion the course of workers and place a high premium on them.
He said the NDC government is conscious of the fact that there can be no improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians, including workers without a massive improvement in rural economy and food security. In that regard, the Northern Star Tomato Factory has been reactivated to full scale operation to address the predicaments of tomato farmers in the region.
Mr. Augustine A. Adongo, Regional Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, said this year’s celebration was dedicated to Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah for his pioneering role in the development of the Ghanaian worker.
The District Chief Executive of Builsa, Mr. Norbert Awulley spoke against absenteeism, alcoholism, idling and late reporting to work and urged workers to utilize their working hours well to ensure higher productivity. Thirteen workers were later honored for their dedicated service. They received TV sets and Certificates for their contribution to the various unions.
ZOIL TO ENGAGE 633 YOUTH IN UPPER EAST (PAGE 46, MAY 4, 2010)
Six hundred and thirty-three youth from seven districts in the Upper East Region are to gain employment under the auspices of ZOIL Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
Working in collaboration with the National Youth Employment Programme, these youth will be engaged in a re-afforestation programme in the region.
The Assistant Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mr Issaka Abubakar, who made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic during the May Day parade in Sandema, said apart from creating jobs, the project was aimed at addressing the environmental challenges confronting the region.
The beneficiary districts include the Kassena-Nankana West and East, Builsa, Garu-Tempane and Talensi-Nabdam districts, as well as the Bawku and Bolgatanga municipalities.
According to him, the project was targeting a total of 633 hectares, adding that each person would be responsible for one hectare.
He added that in order to sustain the programme, those to be engaged would be assisted and encouraged to embark on crop farming to earn some income.
Mr Abubakar expressed the hope that the programme would help reduce the unemployment rate in the beneficiary districts and communities, while providing food for their households and income for their families.
He appealed for support and co-operation from the beneficiary district assemblies to ensure greener environment and fight against the fast spread of the desert southwards.
He also enlisted the help of the chiefs and opinion leaders in the beneficiary districts and communities to advise their people to desist from indiscriminate bush burning.
Working in collaboration with the National Youth Employment Programme, these youth will be engaged in a re-afforestation programme in the region.
The Assistant Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mr Issaka Abubakar, who made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic during the May Day parade in Sandema, said apart from creating jobs, the project was aimed at addressing the environmental challenges confronting the region.
The beneficiary districts include the Kassena-Nankana West and East, Builsa, Garu-Tempane and Talensi-Nabdam districts, as well as the Bawku and Bolgatanga municipalities.
According to him, the project was targeting a total of 633 hectares, adding that each person would be responsible for one hectare.
He added that in order to sustain the programme, those to be engaged would be assisted and encouraged to embark on crop farming to earn some income.
Mr Abubakar expressed the hope that the programme would help reduce the unemployment rate in the beneficiary districts and communities, while providing food for their households and income for their families.
He appealed for support and co-operation from the beneficiary district assemblies to ensure greener environment and fight against the fast spread of the desert southwards.
He also enlisted the help of the chiefs and opinion leaders in the beneficiary districts and communities to advise their people to desist from indiscriminate bush burning.
Monday, 3 May 2010
MINISTER INSPECTS PROJECTS IN UPPER EAST (PAGE 22, MAY 3, 2010)
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THE road network in the Bolgatanga Municipality and other major towns in the Upper East Region have been selected for major rehabilitation.
Besides, some roads in the Builsa District which are flood-prone and others in the Talensi-Nabdam and Bongo Districts will also be attended to.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Kwashie Gidisu disclosed this when he briefed journalists in Bolgatanga after a two-day working visit to the region.
Mr Gidisu was in the region to learn at first hand the state of the various projects and also interacted with the contractors on issues concerning their completion.
Although the minister did not mention the amount involved, he said the package would facilitate business and economic activities between the regional capital and the districts. Already, the government has given approval for the provision of streetlights in the Bolgatanga Municipality ahead of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the region.
The tour took Mr Gidisu to the Bolgatanga Municipality, Bongo, Kassena-Nankana East, Kassena-Nankana West, Builsa and Talensi Nabdam districts where he inspected a number of urban and feeder roads.
Some of the projects included the Sandema-Gbedema Road, Gbedema-Kanjarga-Fumbisi as well as the Fumbisis Uwasi-Kandema roads. Others were the Bongo-Bolgatanga Road, as well as the Paga-Sirigu stretch and the Merigu-Nayagnia-Navrongo and the Kandiga–Sirigu roads.
At Nayagnia, the minister and his team visited the project site of the construction of a steel bridge across a river by Messrs Adams Mahama Construction Limited.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Adams Mahama gave the assurance that work which started in March, 2010, would be completed in May, this year to link the community, which is usually cut off during the raining season, to other areas.
In the Talensi-Nabdam District, the Minister also inspected work on the Winkongo-Tongo Road as well as the road leading to Pelungu.
At Tongo, Mr Gidisu bemoaned the poor road network in the district and promised to investigate the cause of the delay of most of the roads.
He, however, warned that the government would not hesitate to terminate any contracts which had delayed, repackage them and re-award them to more competent contractors.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, advised the contractors to honour their deadlines in order not to incur extra cost for the government.
He stressed the need for effective supervision by the appropriate agencies to ensure that the right thing was done.
Besides, some roads in the Builsa District which are flood-prone and others in the Talensi-Nabdam and Bongo Districts will also be attended to.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Kwashie Gidisu disclosed this when he briefed journalists in Bolgatanga after a two-day working visit to the region.
Mr Gidisu was in the region to learn at first hand the state of the various projects and also interacted with the contractors on issues concerning their completion.
Although the minister did not mention the amount involved, he said the package would facilitate business and economic activities between the regional capital and the districts. Already, the government has given approval for the provision of streetlights in the Bolgatanga Municipality ahead of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the region.
The tour took Mr Gidisu to the Bolgatanga Municipality, Bongo, Kassena-Nankana East, Kassena-Nankana West, Builsa and Talensi Nabdam districts where he inspected a number of urban and feeder roads.
Some of the projects included the Sandema-Gbedema Road, Gbedema-Kanjarga-Fumbisi as well as the Fumbisis Uwasi-Kandema roads. Others were the Bongo-Bolgatanga Road, as well as the Paga-Sirigu stretch and the Merigu-Nayagnia-Navrongo and the Kandiga–Sirigu roads.
At Nayagnia, the minister and his team visited the project site of the construction of a steel bridge across a river by Messrs Adams Mahama Construction Limited.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Adams Mahama gave the assurance that work which started in March, 2010, would be completed in May, this year to link the community, which is usually cut off during the raining season, to other areas.
In the Talensi-Nabdam District, the Minister also inspected work on the Winkongo-Tongo Road as well as the road leading to Pelungu.
At Tongo, Mr Gidisu bemoaned the poor road network in the district and promised to investigate the cause of the delay of most of the roads.
He, however, warned that the government would not hesitate to terminate any contracts which had delayed, repackage them and re-award them to more competent contractors.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, advised the contractors to honour their deadlines in order not to incur extra cost for the government.
He stressed the need for effective supervision by the appropriate agencies to ensure that the right thing was done.
MINISTER INSPECTS PROJECTS IN UPPER EAST (PAGE 22, MAY 3, 2010)
THE road network in the Bolgatanga Municipality and other major towns in the Upper East Region have been selected for major rehabilitation.
Besides, some roads in the Builsa District which are flood-prone and others in the Talensi-Nabdam and Bongo Districts will also be attended to.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Kwashie Gidisu disclosed this when he briefed journalists in Bolgatanga after a two-day working visit to the region.
Mr Gidisu was in the region to learn at first hand the state of the various projects and also interacted with the contractors on issues concerning their completion.
Although the minister did not mention the amount involved, he said the package would facilitate business and economic activities between the regional capital and the districts. Already, the government has given approval for the provision of streetlights in the Bolgatanga Municipality ahead of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the region.
The tour took Mr Gidisu to the Bolgatanga Municipality, Bongo, Kassena-Nankana East, Kassena-Nankana West, Builsa and Talensi Nabdam districts where he inspected a number of urban and feeder roads.
Some of the projects included the Sandema-Gbedema Road, Gbedema-Kanjarga-Fumbisi as well as the Fumbisis Uwasi-Kandema roads. Others were the Bongo-Bolgatanga Road, as well as the Paga-Sirigu stretch and the Merigu-Nayagnia-Navrongo and the Kandiga–Sirigu roads.
At Nayagnia, the minister and his team visited the project site of the construction of a steel bridge across a river by Messrs Adams Mahama Construction Limited.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Adams Mahama gave the assurance that work which started in March, 2010, would be completed in May, this year to link the community, which is usually cut off during the raining season, to other areas.
In the Talensi-Nabdam District, the Minister also inspected work on the Winkongo-Tongo Road as well as the road leading to Pelungu.
At Tongo, Mr Gidisu bemoaned the poor road network in the district and promised to investigate the cause of the delay of most of the roads.
He, however, warned that the government would not hesitate to terminate any contracts which had delayed, repackage them and re-award them to more competent contractors.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, advised the contractors to honour their deadlines in order not to incur extra cost for the government.
He stressed the need for effective supervision by the appropriate agencies to ensure that the right thing was done.
Besides, some roads in the Builsa District which are flood-prone and others in the Talensi-Nabdam and Bongo Districts will also be attended to.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Kwashie Gidisu disclosed this when he briefed journalists in Bolgatanga after a two-day working visit to the region.
Mr Gidisu was in the region to learn at first hand the state of the various projects and also interacted with the contractors on issues concerning their completion.
Although the minister did not mention the amount involved, he said the package would facilitate business and economic activities between the regional capital and the districts. Already, the government has given approval for the provision of streetlights in the Bolgatanga Municipality ahead of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the region.
The tour took Mr Gidisu to the Bolgatanga Municipality, Bongo, Kassena-Nankana East, Kassena-Nankana West, Builsa and Talensi Nabdam districts where he inspected a number of urban and feeder roads.
Some of the projects included the Sandema-Gbedema Road, Gbedema-Kanjarga-Fumbisi as well as the Fumbisis Uwasi-Kandema roads. Others were the Bongo-Bolgatanga Road, as well as the Paga-Sirigu stretch and the Merigu-Nayagnia-Navrongo and the Kandiga–Sirigu roads.
At Nayagnia, the minister and his team visited the project site of the construction of a steel bridge across a river by Messrs Adams Mahama Construction Limited.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Adams Mahama gave the assurance that work which started in March, 2010, would be completed in May, this year to link the community, which is usually cut off during the raining season, to other areas.
In the Talensi-Nabdam District, the Minister also inspected work on the Winkongo-Tongo Road as well as the road leading to Pelungu.
At Tongo, Mr Gidisu bemoaned the poor road network in the district and promised to investigate the cause of the delay of most of the roads.
He, however, warned that the government would not hesitate to terminate any contracts which had delayed, repackage them and re-award them to more competent contractors.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, advised the contractors to honour their deadlines in order not to incur extra cost for the government.
He stressed the need for effective supervision by the appropriate agencies to ensure that the right thing was done.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
FOUR DIE, 346 HOUSES BURNT IN BUNKRURUGU/YUNYOO CONFLICT (PAGE 46, APRIL 29, 2010)
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Four persons died and more than 346 houses burnt in eight communities during the recent intra-ethnic conflict in the Bunkpurugu/ Yunyoo District.
Over 3,768 people have still been displaced from their homes due to the violence.
Two grinding mills were completely burnt down and the palaces of two chiefs razed to the ground completely. Several quantities of foodstuffs and animals were also stolen in the affected communities and those displaced have sought refuge in Togo or nearby communities.
The perpetrators of the attacks torch the thatch houses deep in the night and later return to pull the mud structures down. The arsonists also perforate the zinc roofs and later burn the houses down.
This was disclosed when a delegation from the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga toured the affected conflict communities in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District to assess the extent of damage.
A breakdown of the houses burnt are Kambatiak, 52; Gbingbamon, 70; Nasiabuk Number 1, 43; Nasiabuk Number 2, 51, and Gbadauk, 45. The rest are: Tobong Naakuk, 22; Tobong Bufuk, 36; and Gbankoni, 27.
The team, which was dispatched by the Diocesan Administrator, Very Reverend Monsignor Thomas Anamooh, to the conflict area, was led by Mr Joseph Ayembilla, the acting Development Coordinator.
Others were the Parish Priest, Reverend Father Kevin Rand; Rev. Fr. Yosef Giday, Mr Rusmond Annyinah, Diocesan Peace Coordinator, and Mr Lawrence Kwotuah, the Bunkpurugu Parish Peace-building Committee Chairman.
The Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese is in the Upper East Region, but its jurisdiction extends beyond the political administration to include the West and East Mamprusi and Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo districts in the Northern Region.
The first violence occurred on March 18, 2010. Kambatiak and its surrounding communities are inhabited by Bimobas, but the conflict occurred between two clans - the Nandog and Nakuk. The March 18 clash was followed by a reprisal attack on Saturday, March 20, 2010 by the Nandog clan. The renewed violence occurred on Tuesday, April 21, 2010; the third within two months.
A land dispute is believed to be the main cause of the violence.
According to the community members, the violence started when on March 18, 2010, a member of one of the communities, Tubong, tried to extend a grinding mill structure to a land that the District Security Council (DISEC) had placed restrictions on. He was allegedly attacked by the other community and his grinding mill and nearby house set ablaze by the other community, Gbankoni.
At Gbadoo, one of the communities visited on Monday, members of the community told the team that the people were nearly attacked by another group that very day of the visit but for the timely intervention of the police who averted the clash.
The police confirmed the allegation and said three people had been arrested that same day and were being investigated in connection with Monday’s attack.
They told the delegation that they faced some challenges including inadequate rations. They also lamented that their only operational vehicle, a double-cabin pick-up, had a weak battery and personnel occasionally had to push it to get it started.
It also came to light that the security personnel were inadequate and could not thwart any reprisal attacks by any of the communities. This is because the communities are scattered.
In an interview, some of the victims cited some challenges they faced as lack of food, since their entire stock of foodstuffs was burnt in the violence; lack of accommodation, seeds and continued threats from other affected communities
The people called on the church and the government to initiate dialogues among the various communities in order to resolve the conflict.
They further stressed the need for all the political leaders and chiefs from the communities to meet, discuss the cause of the conflict and how to resolve it once and for all.
A teacher in the Gbadao community, Mr Godwin Duak, called on the MP of the area, Mr Emmanuel Kwame Duut, to initiate a dialogue between the affected communities.
The people further appealed to the Catholic Church to support them with relief items, since most people now slept in the open, and seeds as the farming season approached.
Currently, most of the people have no shelter or food. Women and children are the most vulnerable and helpless in the area.
The acting Diocesan Development Coordinator, Joseph Ayembilla, on behalf of the Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev. Msgr. Thomas Anamooh, advised the people to dialogue,
since that was the only way to resolve the conflict.
He emphasised that violence could not solve their problems but rather worsen them and that their number one enemy was not anybody from within or outside their community but poverty, ignorance, disease and deprivation.
He, therefore, urged them to unite and fight the enemy rather than engage in intra-ethnic fights.
He said the Catholic Church was concerned about their plight but could only support them if they lived in peace and unity. “This is the only way to go,” he stressed.
The Parish Priest of the Bunkpurugu Parish, Very Rev. Fr. Kevin Rand, also appealed to the people to be calm and added that since they were all children of God, they should not kill one another and burn their property.
Over 3,768 people have still been displaced from their homes due to the violence.
Two grinding mills were completely burnt down and the palaces of two chiefs razed to the ground completely. Several quantities of foodstuffs and animals were also stolen in the affected communities and those displaced have sought refuge in Togo or nearby communities.
The perpetrators of the attacks torch the thatch houses deep in the night and later return to pull the mud structures down. The arsonists also perforate the zinc roofs and later burn the houses down.
This was disclosed when a delegation from the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga toured the affected conflict communities in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District to assess the extent of damage.
A breakdown of the houses burnt are Kambatiak, 52; Gbingbamon, 70; Nasiabuk Number 1, 43; Nasiabuk Number 2, 51, and Gbadauk, 45. The rest are: Tobong Naakuk, 22; Tobong Bufuk, 36; and Gbankoni, 27.
The team, which was dispatched by the Diocesan Administrator, Very Reverend Monsignor Thomas Anamooh, to the conflict area, was led by Mr Joseph Ayembilla, the acting Development Coordinator.
Others were the Parish Priest, Reverend Father Kevin Rand; Rev. Fr. Yosef Giday, Mr Rusmond Annyinah, Diocesan Peace Coordinator, and Mr Lawrence Kwotuah, the Bunkpurugu Parish Peace-building Committee Chairman.
The Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese is in the Upper East Region, but its jurisdiction extends beyond the political administration to include the West and East Mamprusi and Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo districts in the Northern Region.
The first violence occurred on March 18, 2010. Kambatiak and its surrounding communities are inhabited by Bimobas, but the conflict occurred between two clans - the Nandog and Nakuk. The March 18 clash was followed by a reprisal attack on Saturday, March 20, 2010 by the Nandog clan. The renewed violence occurred on Tuesday, April 21, 2010; the third within two months.
A land dispute is believed to be the main cause of the violence.
According to the community members, the violence started when on March 18, 2010, a member of one of the communities, Tubong, tried to extend a grinding mill structure to a land that the District Security Council (DISEC) had placed restrictions on. He was allegedly attacked by the other community and his grinding mill and nearby house set ablaze by the other community, Gbankoni.
At Gbadoo, one of the communities visited on Monday, members of the community told the team that the people were nearly attacked by another group that very day of the visit but for the timely intervention of the police who averted the clash.
The police confirmed the allegation and said three people had been arrested that same day and were being investigated in connection with Monday’s attack.
They told the delegation that they faced some challenges including inadequate rations. They also lamented that their only operational vehicle, a double-cabin pick-up, had a weak battery and personnel occasionally had to push it to get it started.
It also came to light that the security personnel were inadequate and could not thwart any reprisal attacks by any of the communities. This is because the communities are scattered.
In an interview, some of the victims cited some challenges they faced as lack of food, since their entire stock of foodstuffs was burnt in the violence; lack of accommodation, seeds and continued threats from other affected communities
The people called on the church and the government to initiate dialogues among the various communities in order to resolve the conflict.
They further stressed the need for all the political leaders and chiefs from the communities to meet, discuss the cause of the conflict and how to resolve it once and for all.
A teacher in the Gbadao community, Mr Godwin Duak, called on the MP of the area, Mr Emmanuel Kwame Duut, to initiate a dialogue between the affected communities.
The people further appealed to the Catholic Church to support them with relief items, since most people now slept in the open, and seeds as the farming season approached.
Currently, most of the people have no shelter or food. Women and children are the most vulnerable and helpless in the area.
The acting Diocesan Development Coordinator, Joseph Ayembilla, on behalf of the Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev. Msgr. Thomas Anamooh, advised the people to dialogue,
since that was the only way to resolve the conflict.
He emphasised that violence could not solve their problems but rather worsen them and that their number one enemy was not anybody from within or outside their community but poverty, ignorance, disease and deprivation.
He, therefore, urged them to unite and fight the enemy rather than engage in intra-ethnic fights.
He said the Catholic Church was concerned about their plight but could only support them if they lived in peace and unity. “This is the only way to go,” he stressed.
The Parish Priest of the Bunkpurugu Parish, Very Rev. Fr. Kevin Rand, also appealed to the people to be calm and added that since they were all children of God, they should not kill one another and burn their property.
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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...
