The Chairman of the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education, Mr Alfred Ndago, has appealed to the government to expedite the passage of the Colleges of Education Bill into law.
He said the passage of the bill into law would give a clear direction to the management of the various teacher training colleges in the country.
“The transition of colleges of education to the tertiary sector can be described as frustrating, uncertain and disconnect between what we know about tertiary status and the realities on the ground. Stakeholders have failed to keep deadlines of the roadmap and played politics around the issues”, he said.
Mr Ndago, who is also the Principal of the St John Bosco's College of Education, made the appeal at the second congregation of the college at Navrongo and said the bill of the colleges of education was expected to be passed before the end of 2011 but three weeks to the end of the year, nothing concrete was said or done about it.
“Instead, feverish preparations are being made to fast track the passage of the Bill establishing the two new universities in the Brong Ahafo and Volta Region. Meanwhile, lecturers in the colleges of education have been debarred from the best teacher awards for the past two years, they have suffered promotion discrimination, low salaries and have their backs being broken from extra duty activities,” he said.
He said the five semester programme for the colleges designed and approved for implementation to ensure that trainees content knowledge base was strengthened had remained on the shelves for the past two years because the government had not been able to find the needed funds to quickly provide the infrastructural needs of each college to accommodate level 300 trainees in the fifth semester.
“What should engage government is to reposition the colleges of education to serve as efficient, effective and progressive centres of teaching and learning. Real education change will not come about by doing more of the same things that have been tried before in the form of refining what already exists but ensuring qualitative difference in how we think about what we do”, he said.
He said 500 graduates made up of those who completed in 2009/10 and 2010 /11 academic year had satisfied all the requirements for the award of diploma in Basic Education with nine and 21 students obtaining second class upper respectively.
He said results of the final year trainees had improved since 2007 when the college became a tertiary institution, stressing that, for instance, in 2007, only one candidate had a second class upper, which rose to four in 2009, nine in 2010 and 21 in 2011.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the College, Most Reverend Alfred Agenta, bemoaned the recent poor performances of BECE students in the region and challenged the newly qualified teachers to help provide quality education for the disadvantaged in the deprived areas of the country.
“You are to illuminate our villages, communities and the nation at large with the light, that is the knowledge and wisdom that you have acquired from the institution. Always remember that as an education professional, you are to fire the imagination of your students and those you come into contact with”, said the Most Rev. Agenta who is also the Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church.
The Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), Professor Mahama Duwiejuah, gave the assurance he would ensure that the necessary attention was given to the Bill in order for it to be passed into law adding that in the meantime, all the issues of salaries of tutors of colleges of education, as well as allowances of students had been transferred to the NCTE, while various committees had been put in place to ensure effective transition of the colleges onto fully-fledged tertiary institutions.
Prof. Duwiejuah said the teachers had chosen the right profession and it was up to them to prove their worth. He also underscored the need for discipline in all spheres of life by the trainees as they embarked on their professional carrier as teachers.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Keen contest for NDC Bongo seat(7th December 2011 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
The Upper East Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, has launched his bid to contest the slot of Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bongo Constituency in next year's general election.
The entry of Mr Akamugri into the race brings to four the number of persons who have so far expressed interest in the seat, including the incumbent, Mr Albert Abongo.
The other two persons in the race, according to the constituency secretary, Mr Paul Agambire, are Mr Charles Bawa Dua and Mr Edward A. Bawa.
Launching his campaign at Bongo, Mr Akamugri, who is also the regional coordinator of the School Feeding Programme, said he was hopeful that his dedication and hard work at the constituency and regional levels put him ahead of his contenders in the race for the seat.
In 1998, Mr Akamugri rose to the position of Regional Secretary and has since retained the position and prior to that he served as the Bongo Constituency Youth Organiser.
Addressing members of the party at Bongo, Mr Akamugri said with the experience garnered in his political carrier coupled with the strong commitment to the party he was better placed to succeed the current MP and continue with the development agenda of the area.
“I, like many people in this constituency, believe that the current MP, who has served three terms in parliament already, has done his part in contributing to the development of Bongo. By the tenets of the principles of democracy well cherished in the NDC, it is time for change and renewal”, he said.
“It is time to bring on board new ideas and new ways of doing things. It is time to explore new avenues for this constituency's development. It is time to hand leadership of this constituency to a fresh hand to take us even further. It is time to offer myself for this new beginning we are asking for”, he added.
According to Akamugri, the district faced many development challenges, including poor road network that leaves most communities cut off from others, insufficient market centres, inadequate health and educational facilities as well as limited access to water and sanitation facilities, stressing that when given the nod he would explore new ways of providing such social amenities for the people.
“I am committed to that model of development where an MP does not give his people stipends to survive, but rather seeks ways to empower them to create great sources of income for their own care and well being”, he said.
The entry of Mr Akamugri into the race brings to four the number of persons who have so far expressed interest in the seat, including the incumbent, Mr Albert Abongo.
The other two persons in the race, according to the constituency secretary, Mr Paul Agambire, are Mr Charles Bawa Dua and Mr Edward A. Bawa.
Launching his campaign at Bongo, Mr Akamugri, who is also the regional coordinator of the School Feeding Programme, said he was hopeful that his dedication and hard work at the constituency and regional levels put him ahead of his contenders in the race for the seat.
In 1998, Mr Akamugri rose to the position of Regional Secretary and has since retained the position and prior to that he served as the Bongo Constituency Youth Organiser.
Addressing members of the party at Bongo, Mr Akamugri said with the experience garnered in his political carrier coupled with the strong commitment to the party he was better placed to succeed the current MP and continue with the development agenda of the area.
“I, like many people in this constituency, believe that the current MP, who has served three terms in parliament already, has done his part in contributing to the development of Bongo. By the tenets of the principles of democracy well cherished in the NDC, it is time for change and renewal”, he said.
“It is time to bring on board new ideas and new ways of doing things. It is time to explore new avenues for this constituency's development. It is time to hand leadership of this constituency to a fresh hand to take us even further. It is time to offer myself for this new beginning we are asking for”, he added.
According to Akamugri, the district faced many development challenges, including poor road network that leaves most communities cut off from others, insufficient market centres, inadequate health and educational facilities as well as limited access to water and sanitation facilities, stressing that when given the nod he would explore new ways of providing such social amenities for the people.
“I am committed to that model of development where an MP does not give his people stipends to survive, but rather seeks ways to empower them to create great sources of income for their own care and well being”, he said.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Defeated NDC Aspirant To Contest Binduri Seat(5th December 2011 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
One of the defeated candidates in the Binduri constituency primaries of the National Democratic Congress, Mr Stephen Atubiga, has announced his intention to contest the 2012 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate.
Mr Atubiga, one of the five to have contested the primaries, lost the contest with a difference of two votes to the eventual winner, Mr Ben Noah Azure.
He said his decision to go independent stemmed from what he described as some under-hand dealings by some individuals, namely the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni and her husband, Mr Mark Anthony Awuni, a former MP for the area, who he alleged manipulated the process and that robbed him of the chance to represent his people in parliament.
However, the Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, has denied the allegations, stressing that she does not work with the Electoral Commission. She said per the party’s constitution, she and her husband, a former MP, were mandated to vote and that was all they did at the primaries. “Like any of the delegate, I am entitled to one vote and I exercised it on the day of the election,” she said.
“My husband has gone to the primaries four times and only succeeded on one occasion. These are the traumas that come with election defeat. So if he (Atubiga) is traumatised, he should go seek for help somewhere else and desist from soiling my name,” she advised.
Mr Atubiga claimed his decision was supported by the constituency executive who had appended their signature to a document backing his independent candidature aspiration.
He named Messrs Paul Aiden, Moses Nti, Thomas Ndago, Alex Aweliga, Majeed Ayendago. Robert Ayaaba, James Asidiwaya and Seidu Musah, constituency secretary, organiser, treasurer, propaganda secretary, youth organiser and deputy youth organiser, deputy organiser and vice chairman, respectively, as those who support him. Others are Madam Margaret Abindaw, the
Constituency Women’s organiser and Mary Adam, the Deputy Women’s Organiser.
The announcement comes at the heels of a directive issued by the General Secretary of the ruling NDC, Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, that any party member interested in going independent during the 2012 parliamentary and presidential elections should count him or herself out of the NDC.
The disgruntled member who returned from the United States of America to contest the polls said his stance was motivated by the numerous appeals made to him by his constituents who saw him as a viable candidate to wrest the seat from the incumbent NPP candidate, Mr Stephen Yakubu.
He said apart from rejuvenating the party in the constituency, he had managed to woo members of the party who defected to other parties to return to the NDC. Again, he had opened a bank account for the party and this had endeared him to the ordinary person in the party.
He described the candidate elect as not marketable and a non-winnable person, hence the need to go as an independent candidate to fulfil the desires of the people who saw him as a viable candidate capable of wresting the seat from the NPP. He, however, insisted that he would canvass for votes for the NDC presidential candidate, President John Atta Mills.
When he was reminded of the warning by the party’s general secretary on the issue of independent candidates, he said, “the party needs us to win elections than we need them. Yes, we respect rules and regulation but sometimes we have to take a stand to prove our point.”
Mr Atubiga also called for the immediate removal of the deputy regional minister from office for failing “to bring development to the constituency where she hails from” but the Mrs Awuni refuted the claimed, stressing that her mandate as deputy regional minister stretched across the region and was not limited to the Binduri area. “Since coming into this office, I have helped a lot of people all over the region,” she maintained.
Mr Atubiga, one of the five to have contested the primaries, lost the contest with a difference of two votes to the eventual winner, Mr Ben Noah Azure.
He said his decision to go independent stemmed from what he described as some under-hand dealings by some individuals, namely the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni and her husband, Mr Mark Anthony Awuni, a former MP for the area, who he alleged manipulated the process and that robbed him of the chance to represent his people in parliament.
However, the Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, has denied the allegations, stressing that she does not work with the Electoral Commission. She said per the party’s constitution, she and her husband, a former MP, were mandated to vote and that was all they did at the primaries. “Like any of the delegate, I am entitled to one vote and I exercised it on the day of the election,” she said.
“My husband has gone to the primaries four times and only succeeded on one occasion. These are the traumas that come with election defeat. So if he (Atubiga) is traumatised, he should go seek for help somewhere else and desist from soiling my name,” she advised.
Mr Atubiga claimed his decision was supported by the constituency executive who had appended their signature to a document backing his independent candidature aspiration.
He named Messrs Paul Aiden, Moses Nti, Thomas Ndago, Alex Aweliga, Majeed Ayendago. Robert Ayaaba, James Asidiwaya and Seidu Musah, constituency secretary, organiser, treasurer, propaganda secretary, youth organiser and deputy youth organiser, deputy organiser and vice chairman, respectively, as those who support him. Others are Madam Margaret Abindaw, the
Constituency Women’s organiser and Mary Adam, the Deputy Women’s Organiser.
The announcement comes at the heels of a directive issued by the General Secretary of the ruling NDC, Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, that any party member interested in going independent during the 2012 parliamentary and presidential elections should count him or herself out of the NDC.
The disgruntled member who returned from the United States of America to contest the polls said his stance was motivated by the numerous appeals made to him by his constituents who saw him as a viable candidate to wrest the seat from the incumbent NPP candidate, Mr Stephen Yakubu.
He said apart from rejuvenating the party in the constituency, he had managed to woo members of the party who defected to other parties to return to the NDC. Again, he had opened a bank account for the party and this had endeared him to the ordinary person in the party.
He described the candidate elect as not marketable and a non-winnable person, hence the need to go as an independent candidate to fulfil the desires of the people who saw him as a viable candidate capable of wresting the seat from the NPP. He, however, insisted that he would canvass for votes for the NDC presidential candidate, President John Atta Mills.
When he was reminded of the warning by the party’s general secretary on the issue of independent candidates, he said, “the party needs us to win elections than we need them. Yes, we respect rules and regulation but sometimes we have to take a stand to prove our point.”
Mr Atubiga also called for the immediate removal of the deputy regional minister from office for failing “to bring development to the constituency where she hails from” but the Mrs Awuni refuted the claimed, stressing that her mandate as deputy regional minister stretched across the region and was not limited to the Binduri area. “Since coming into this office, I have helped a lot of people all over the region,” she maintained.
Monday, 5 December 2011
Water Treatment Plant For Tono (5th December 2011 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
The government has secured a 40-million euro loan for the construction of a water treatment plant at Tono in the Kassena-Nankana East District to serve the people of Bolgatanga, Navrongo and Paga.
This is meant to increase water coverage significantly in the bid to meet the millennium development goal for water and sanitation.
It will complement the Vea water treatment plant, which is currently under expansion with a $5-million loan.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, announced this at a regional meet-the-press series organised by the Ministry of Information at Bolgatanga.
Mr Woyongo said the government was seeking to increase coverage of sustainable potable water supply to 76 per cent by 2015 through increasing investment funding in the region.
He said the government was dedicated to making funds available for the region to re-test the fluoride levels in all capped boreholes and as well improve logistical support for effective monitoring.
Mr Woyongo said although water coverage in the region was about 69.14 per cent, which was comparatively better than what obtains in other regions, the dispersed settlement pattern of the region had led to some people commuting more than one kilometre to fetch potable water.
He, however, enumerated some steps being taken to address the situation, including the completion of five small town water supply systems with eight others near completion levels.
In addition, 200 boreholes had been awarded on contract for drilling with procurement process for drilling of additional 591 boreholes being ongoing.
Touching on other development projects in the region over the past three years, Mr Woyongo mentioned the construction of six steel bridges valued at GH¢4,039,130.60 with about 580.93 kilometres of roads being reshaped at a cost GH¢1,869.756.34.
The regional minister said GH¢10,152.707.82 went into spot improvement and minor rehabilitation works on 191.03 kilometres of roads and surfacing of a 44.0 kilometres of feeder roads.
He said 14.5 kilometres of highway projects had been awarded for upgrading while there was bitumen surfacing of 75 kilometres of roads at a cost of GH¢3,238.925.95.
He said sealing and resealing of the Bolgatanga town roads had been completed, adding that the Bolgatanga-Bawku road through to Pusiga Junction, the Bolgatanga-Bongo road , the Winkongo-Tongo and Sandema-Wiesi roads had been prioritised for 2012.
The regional minister said works on the Nakong-Tumu road had also commenced.
Concerning education, he said the region suffered deficits in the areas of infrastructure which was aggravated by rainstorms that affected most schools and that the government had embarked on the provision of more education infrastructural facilities to improve the situation.
He said at the second cycle institution level alone, over 100 projects, comprising dormitories, classroom blocks and auditoriums, had been built, adding that over 180 schools under trees had been replaced with classroom blocks and rural and urban area schools that hitherto ran the shift system had been removed.
Mr Woyongo said 2,150,000 free exercise books, 33,353 free school uniforms, increase in the capitation grant and provision of 150 laptops to ten basic schools were evidences of the commitment of the government to improve the educational sector.
The regional minister said five agriculture mechanisation service centres had been established with 25 tractors, five each for each centre.
To improve threshing and post-harvest quality grain, Mr Woyongo said the region had taken delivery of multi-grain threshers for sale to farmers while five combine harvesters had been received for sale to farmers.
The regional minister said 20 dams in various communities were being rehabilitated to support dry season irrigation, livestock and domestic use, adding that the government had provided funds for the payment of the contractor rehabilitating the Tono Irrigation project.
The Minister for Information, Mr. John Tia Akologu, explained the rationale for the regional meet-the-press series, stressing that it would provide the citizenry information on the achievement of the government.
Mr Akologu, who is also the MP for Talensi, called on the media to use the platform to promote healthy debates that would focus on developments around them.
He also reiterated the need for peace as the nation prepared for general election
This is meant to increase water coverage significantly in the bid to meet the millennium development goal for water and sanitation.
It will complement the Vea water treatment plant, which is currently under expansion with a $5-million loan.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, announced this at a regional meet-the-press series organised by the Ministry of Information at Bolgatanga.
Mr Woyongo said the government was seeking to increase coverage of sustainable potable water supply to 76 per cent by 2015 through increasing investment funding in the region.
He said the government was dedicated to making funds available for the region to re-test the fluoride levels in all capped boreholes and as well improve logistical support for effective monitoring.
Mr Woyongo said although water coverage in the region was about 69.14 per cent, which was comparatively better than what obtains in other regions, the dispersed settlement pattern of the region had led to some people commuting more than one kilometre to fetch potable water.
He, however, enumerated some steps being taken to address the situation, including the completion of five small town water supply systems with eight others near completion levels.
In addition, 200 boreholes had been awarded on contract for drilling with procurement process for drilling of additional 591 boreholes being ongoing.
Touching on other development projects in the region over the past three years, Mr Woyongo mentioned the construction of six steel bridges valued at GH¢4,039,130.60 with about 580.93 kilometres of roads being reshaped at a cost GH¢1,869.756.34.
The regional minister said GH¢10,152.707.82 went into spot improvement and minor rehabilitation works on 191.03 kilometres of roads and surfacing of a 44.0 kilometres of feeder roads.
He said 14.5 kilometres of highway projects had been awarded for upgrading while there was bitumen surfacing of 75 kilometres of roads at a cost of GH¢3,238.925.95.
He said sealing and resealing of the Bolgatanga town roads had been completed, adding that the Bolgatanga-Bawku road through to Pusiga Junction, the Bolgatanga-Bongo road , the Winkongo-Tongo and Sandema-Wiesi roads had been prioritised for 2012.
The regional minister said works on the Nakong-Tumu road had also commenced.
Concerning education, he said the region suffered deficits in the areas of infrastructure which was aggravated by rainstorms that affected most schools and that the government had embarked on the provision of more education infrastructural facilities to improve the situation.
He said at the second cycle institution level alone, over 100 projects, comprising dormitories, classroom blocks and auditoriums, had been built, adding that over 180 schools under trees had been replaced with classroom blocks and rural and urban area schools that hitherto ran the shift system had been removed.
Mr Woyongo said 2,150,000 free exercise books, 33,353 free school uniforms, increase in the capitation grant and provision of 150 laptops to ten basic schools were evidences of the commitment of the government to improve the educational sector.
The regional minister said five agriculture mechanisation service centres had been established with 25 tractors, five each for each centre.
To improve threshing and post-harvest quality grain, Mr Woyongo said the region had taken delivery of multi-grain threshers for sale to farmers while five combine harvesters had been received for sale to farmers.
The regional minister said 20 dams in various communities were being rehabilitated to support dry season irrigation, livestock and domestic use, adding that the government had provided funds for the payment of the contractor rehabilitating the Tono Irrigation project.
The Minister for Information, Mr. John Tia Akologu, explained the rationale for the regional meet-the-press series, stressing that it would provide the citizenry information on the achievement of the government.
Mr Akologu, who is also the MP for Talensi, called on the media to use the platform to promote healthy debates that would focus on developments around them.
He also reiterated the need for peace as the nation prepared for general election
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Delay In Funds Reimbursement Affecting NHIS(4th December 2011 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
Persistent delays in the reimbursement of funds by the National Health Insurance Authorities have been identified as one of the major challenges facing health services delivery in the Upper East Region.
The Upper East Regional Director, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, disclosed this in Bolgatanga during the inauguration of a 10-member board of directors of the Presbyterian Health Services.
The board, which is under the chairmanship of Rev. Esmund W. Nagba, will handle all health activities of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in its health institutions in the in the Northern and Upper presbyteries of the church.
Speaking at the function, the regional director of health services bemoaned the delayed reimbursement of funds by the National Health Insurance Authority, emphasising that due to delays, the regional medical store was almost depleted by 50 per cent.
This was because the regional medical stores owed suppliers over GH¢3 million. “If you run a private business and you owe GH¢3 million, you are in for bankruptcy. That is why we are very worried that are we going to meet our drug availability which we have always had at 95 per cent. If we do not take proactive steps, we will be heading for trouble,” he said.
“As I speak to you now, the last payment by the National Health Insurance Authority to facilities was as far back as June. These are the kind of challenges facing health service delivery in the region,” he added.
Dr Awoonor-Williams commended the Presbyterian health service for administering health services in the Upper East Region.
He congratulated the management on the col1aboration between the mission establishment and the Ghana Health Service.
Dr Awoonor-Williams gave an assurance that the Ghana Health Service was not in competition with other health services, particularly the mission institutions, but rather saw them as partners complementing each other in rendering services to the people.
Inaugurating the board on behalf of the clerk of the General Assembly Council of the church, Rev. Martin Nabor said the church was a key player in the health sector of the country, adding that the church’s health institutions have been providing curative, preventive and promotive services for clients within its operational areas, which are mainly rural.
He added that the Presbyterian Church was currently the third largest single provider of health services in the country, after the Catholic Church and the Ghana Health Services.
Dr Awoonor-Williams, therefore, tasked the new board members to commit themselves to set objectives which would be translated into effective operation and improve service delivery.
Rev. Nabor also urged the new board to effectively plan the creation of new health institutions in their respective areas of operations and determine and plan for the acquisition and accountability of resources.
He also admonished the new board to appoint, promote and ensure discipline of staff to enhance client satisfaction.
Rev. Nabor acknowledged the difficult tasked that lay ahead of the board, especially at a time when the health institutions were facing many challenges such as inadequate number of professional staff, lack of logistics such as vehicles and basic equipment for service delivery.
“The biggest challenge the church is grappling with is the increasing demand for health services by rural communities in the face of dwindling partner support. Time and again, our partners have drawn our attention to their inability to access more funds for our health and HIV/AIDS programmes. The alarm bells are sounding louder of late and it is about time the church identified new sources in this endeavour,” Rev. Nabor said.
The Board Chairman, Rev. Esmund W. Nagba, on behalf of his colleague board members, commended the Moderator and the General Assembly Council for nominating them to serve on the board and pledged to work hard and faithfully to uphold the very core values on which the church was established.
He said the church had always upheld discipline and the board would promote discipline and professionalism among staff in all Presbyterian health facilities to promote effective health delivery.
The Upper East Regional Director, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, disclosed this in Bolgatanga during the inauguration of a 10-member board of directors of the Presbyterian Health Services.
The board, which is under the chairmanship of Rev. Esmund W. Nagba, will handle all health activities of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in its health institutions in the in the Northern and Upper presbyteries of the church.
Speaking at the function, the regional director of health services bemoaned the delayed reimbursement of funds by the National Health Insurance Authority, emphasising that due to delays, the regional medical store was almost depleted by 50 per cent.
This was because the regional medical stores owed suppliers over GH¢3 million. “If you run a private business and you owe GH¢3 million, you are in for bankruptcy. That is why we are very worried that are we going to meet our drug availability which we have always had at 95 per cent. If we do not take proactive steps, we will be heading for trouble,” he said.
“As I speak to you now, the last payment by the National Health Insurance Authority to facilities was as far back as June. These are the kind of challenges facing health service delivery in the region,” he added.
Dr Awoonor-Williams commended the Presbyterian health service for administering health services in the Upper East Region.
He congratulated the management on the col1aboration between the mission establishment and the Ghana Health Service.
Dr Awoonor-Williams gave an assurance that the Ghana Health Service was not in competition with other health services, particularly the mission institutions, but rather saw them as partners complementing each other in rendering services to the people.
Inaugurating the board on behalf of the clerk of the General Assembly Council of the church, Rev. Martin Nabor said the church was a key player in the health sector of the country, adding that the church’s health institutions have been providing curative, preventive and promotive services for clients within its operational areas, which are mainly rural.
He added that the Presbyterian Church was currently the third largest single provider of health services in the country, after the Catholic Church and the Ghana Health Services.
Dr Awoonor-Williams, therefore, tasked the new board members to commit themselves to set objectives which would be translated into effective operation and improve service delivery.
Rev. Nabor also urged the new board to effectively plan the creation of new health institutions in their respective areas of operations and determine and plan for the acquisition and accountability of resources.
He also admonished the new board to appoint, promote and ensure discipline of staff to enhance client satisfaction.
Rev. Nabor acknowledged the difficult tasked that lay ahead of the board, especially at a time when the health institutions were facing many challenges such as inadequate number of professional staff, lack of logistics such as vehicles and basic equipment for service delivery.
“The biggest challenge the church is grappling with is the increasing demand for health services by rural communities in the face of dwindling partner support. Time and again, our partners have drawn our attention to their inability to access more funds for our health and HIV/AIDS programmes. The alarm bells are sounding louder of late and it is about time the church identified new sources in this endeavour,” Rev. Nabor said.
The Board Chairman, Rev. Esmund W. Nagba, on behalf of his colleague board members, commended the Moderator and the General Assembly Council for nominating them to serve on the board and pledged to work hard and faithfully to uphold the very core values on which the church was established.
He said the church had always upheld discipline and the board would promote discipline and professionalism among staff in all Presbyterian health facilities to promote effective health delivery.
Friday, 2 December 2011
Bolga PNC Executive Trade Blows(2nd December 2011,Benjamin Xornam Glover)
At least three persons sustained injuries, when factions within the Bolgatanga Constituency of the People’s National Convention clashed.
The clash involved supporters of Mr Rockson Akugre, a lawyer and Mr David Apasera, a former MP for the area who are both contesting the parliament slot for the party.
Among those who were severally injured was the Regional Organiser of the PNC, Mr Iddrisu Azure who is also a supporter of Mr Akugre.
Mr Azure was admitted at the Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga as a result of a cut in the mouth and a swollen eye he sustained during a violent clash with other members of the PNC but was later discharged.
He told the Daily Graphic that he was attacked by men he suspected to be supporters of Mr Apasera who were opposed to his (Azure’s) support for Lawyer Akugre.
The trouble had sparked off after a faction in support of Lawyer Akugre had gone to court to obtain a court injunction restraining the constituency executives from going ahead with the primaries.
According to Mr Azure, after he and Mr Akugre had emerged from the High Court premises and were going home, his assailants stopped them and demanded to know why they were challenging the conduct of the primaries.
He said out of the blue, his assailants charged on him and punched him from all direction.
He said he managed to slip from them and reported the matter to the police who issued him with a police medical form.
The Regional Organiser said he was sent to the Regional Hospital where he was treated and detained overnight.
Meanwhile, as a result of the injunction served on the executives by the court, the scheduled constituency primaries were not held.
In a related development, Mr Apasera has denied mobilising the people to attack the regional organiser.
Speaking on a radio station in Bolgatanga, the former MP rather blamed his contender and his supporters for working had to thwart his effort at winning the primaries to represent his people in parliament.
In the meantime the regional chairperson of the party, Madam Agnes Atayilah, is urging both sides to exercise restraints and not involve themselves in acts that will destroy the party.
The clash involved supporters of Mr Rockson Akugre, a lawyer and Mr David Apasera, a former MP for the area who are both contesting the parliament slot for the party.
Among those who were severally injured was the Regional Organiser of the PNC, Mr Iddrisu Azure who is also a supporter of Mr Akugre.
Mr Azure was admitted at the Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga as a result of a cut in the mouth and a swollen eye he sustained during a violent clash with other members of the PNC but was later discharged.
He told the Daily Graphic that he was attacked by men he suspected to be supporters of Mr Apasera who were opposed to his (Azure’s) support for Lawyer Akugre.
The trouble had sparked off after a faction in support of Lawyer Akugre had gone to court to obtain a court injunction restraining the constituency executives from going ahead with the primaries.
According to Mr Azure, after he and Mr Akugre had emerged from the High Court premises and were going home, his assailants stopped them and demanded to know why they were challenging the conduct of the primaries.
He said out of the blue, his assailants charged on him and punched him from all direction.
He said he managed to slip from them and reported the matter to the police who issued him with a police medical form.
The Regional Organiser said he was sent to the Regional Hospital where he was treated and detained overnight.
Meanwhile, as a result of the injunction served on the executives by the court, the scheduled constituency primaries were not held.
In a related development, Mr Apasera has denied mobilising the people to attack the regional organiser.
Speaking on a radio station in Bolgatanga, the former MP rather blamed his contender and his supporters for working had to thwart his effort at winning the primaries to represent his people in parliament.
In the meantime the regional chairperson of the party, Madam Agnes Atayilah, is urging both sides to exercise restraints and not involve themselves in acts that will destroy the party.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
PNC Chairman Takes Swipe At Leading Members(Benjamin Xornam Glover)
The National Chairman of the Peoples National Convention, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, has taken a swipe at some leading members of the party for embarking on acts that seek to break the unity of the party and derail its progress.
Speaking at the Upper East Regional delegate’s conference of the party, which saw the election of new set of executives to run the affairs of the party for next four years, Alhaji Ramadan made a specific reference to Dr Somtim Tobiga for resorting to the law courts and also failing to even mingle with party members to discuss matters of mutual interest.
He made this comment Dr Tobiga refused to join members of the party in the auditorium of the Catholic Social Centre in Bolgatanga for the conference but rather chose to peep through the windows of a hall where a regional party conference was underway in order to follow proceedings.
When the chairman of the party rose to speak, he expressed his disappointment at the development.
He said the PNC which had in the past being known to be very united was experiencing certain developments which appeared to be threatening that unity.
“It is pathetic that we are in a party where people don’t want to see eye to eye with their compatriots. People don’t want to sit with their fellow party members to discuss issues of mutual concern.
This is not the way to build the party. This party needs everybody. When we begin to pick and choose, we will end up showing the world that we are not together.”
“As we speak, I have my brother (pointing to the direction of Dr Tobiga) standing behind the window there. He is a very agile member of the party. He represented the party on many platforms and we are all proud of him. But what is wrong today that we cannot sit together to solve our problem? Today, Tobiga does not even want to take a seat among us. He wants to be outside. He is a pillar of our party but does not want to mingle with us. What is the magnitude of the problem that we cannot sit and resolve but we will also want to rush to the courts?” Alhaji Ramadan asked.
Dr Somtim Tobiga in an interview denied that he was engaged in activities that would disintegrate the party.
According to him, he is involved in organising the party in various constituencies.
He explained that his decision to observe proceedings from outside was because he was not formally invited to the conference.
He also said that he had filed a motion on behalf of his clients restraining Mr Bernard Mornah, Alhaji Ramadan and Dr Edward Mahama from holding themselves as General Secretary, National Chairman and Leader, respectively, of the party.
According to him, that motion has not yet been heard and “because of that, for me, as a lawyer in the case, to be seen in the same hall listening to these same people whose position I am challenging will be unprofessional. That’s why I am outside,” he said.
He added that his presence at the precincts of the conference was to gather evidence to support his motion which was yet to be heard in court.
Speaking at the Upper East Regional delegate’s conference of the party, which saw the election of new set of executives to run the affairs of the party for next four years, Alhaji Ramadan made a specific reference to Dr Somtim Tobiga for resorting to the law courts and also failing to even mingle with party members to discuss matters of mutual interest.
He made this comment Dr Tobiga refused to join members of the party in the auditorium of the Catholic Social Centre in Bolgatanga for the conference but rather chose to peep through the windows of a hall where a regional party conference was underway in order to follow proceedings.
When the chairman of the party rose to speak, he expressed his disappointment at the development.
He said the PNC which had in the past being known to be very united was experiencing certain developments which appeared to be threatening that unity.
“It is pathetic that we are in a party where people don’t want to see eye to eye with their compatriots. People don’t want to sit with their fellow party members to discuss issues of mutual concern.
This is not the way to build the party. This party needs everybody. When we begin to pick and choose, we will end up showing the world that we are not together.”
“As we speak, I have my brother (pointing to the direction of Dr Tobiga) standing behind the window there. He is a very agile member of the party. He represented the party on many platforms and we are all proud of him. But what is wrong today that we cannot sit together to solve our problem? Today, Tobiga does not even want to take a seat among us. He wants to be outside. He is a pillar of our party but does not want to mingle with us. What is the magnitude of the problem that we cannot sit and resolve but we will also want to rush to the courts?” Alhaji Ramadan asked.
Dr Somtim Tobiga in an interview denied that he was engaged in activities that would disintegrate the party.
According to him, he is involved in organising the party in various constituencies.
He explained that his decision to observe proceedings from outside was because he was not formally invited to the conference.
He also said that he had filed a motion on behalf of his clients restraining Mr Bernard Mornah, Alhaji Ramadan and Dr Edward Mahama from holding themselves as General Secretary, National Chairman and Leader, respectively, of the party.
According to him, that motion has not yet been heard and “because of that, for me, as a lawyer in the case, to be seen in the same hall listening to these same people whose position I am challenging will be unprofessional. That’s why I am outside,” he said.
He added that his presence at the precincts of the conference was to gather evidence to support his motion which was yet to be heard in court.
Sunday, 27 November 2011
MP Bemoans Internal Strife Within PNC(26th November 2011.by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
The Peoples National Convention (PNC) Member of Parliament for Builsa South constituency in the Upper East Region, Mr Alhassan Azong, has bemoaned the growing incidence of internal strife and differences within the party, which he says is derailing the progress of the party and called on party members at all levels to find amicable ways of solving the problem.
Mr Azong, who is also a Minister of State at the Office of the President, made the observation during a constituency delegates conference held at Fumbisi which ended with the elections of new executives to run the affairs of the party for the next two years.
The MP called on party members to get copies of the party’s constitution and acquaint themselves with the provisions in it so that they could duly defend the party and ensure that the rights things were done.
He also called for hard work and commitment to ensure that the party would retain the Builsa South seat.
In an election supervised by the Electoral Commission, the 213 delegates elected Mr Joseph Achianah as the Constituency Chairman while Mr Emmanuel Akanpaadzi was elected the 1st Vice Chairman. The position of secretary went to Mr Seidu Mukhtar Alikali. Eleven others were elected into various position in the Builsa Constituency to run affairs for the next four years.
In an acceptance speech, the 1st Vice Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Akanpaadzi, on behalf of the elected officers, thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in them and promised to work in unity and work hard to retain the seat in the constituency.
The newly elected executives were later sworn into office by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Henry Fatchu.
In a related development, the Regional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Baba Mohamed, has advised contestants for positions at the regional level not to see themselves as political enemies but as people working in partnership with a vision to build a strong political party towards victory in December 2012.
Alhaji Mohammed gave the advice when he swore in a 10-member constituency executives for the Garu-Tempane constituency.
The poll, which was conducted by the officials of the Electoral Commission, saw Mr Thompson Aguri Awini being elected as chairman, while Mr Francis Aawuni Akolgo was elected as Secretary. Other persons elected were Jacob Kolog, Vice Chairman; Damire Moses, Deputy Secretary; Laadi Akugri, Women’s Organiser; Eric Avoka, Constituency Organiser; Felix Asaana Ayaaba,Youth Organiser; Seidu Karim, Treasurer; Minter Haruna Tuyaab, Education Secretary and Micheal Koka, Deputy Education Secretary.
The Garu-Tempane Constituency Chairman elect, Mr Thompson Aguri Awini, expressed his appreciation to delegates and pledged on behalf of his colleagues to work hard to help the party win the upcoming elections for the PNC in the constituency.
Mr Azong, who is also a Minister of State at the Office of the President, made the observation during a constituency delegates conference held at Fumbisi which ended with the elections of new executives to run the affairs of the party for the next two years.
The MP called on party members to get copies of the party’s constitution and acquaint themselves with the provisions in it so that they could duly defend the party and ensure that the rights things were done.
He also called for hard work and commitment to ensure that the party would retain the Builsa South seat.
In an election supervised by the Electoral Commission, the 213 delegates elected Mr Joseph Achianah as the Constituency Chairman while Mr Emmanuel Akanpaadzi was elected the 1st Vice Chairman. The position of secretary went to Mr Seidu Mukhtar Alikali. Eleven others were elected into various position in the Builsa Constituency to run affairs for the next four years.
In an acceptance speech, the 1st Vice Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Akanpaadzi, on behalf of the elected officers, thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in them and promised to work in unity and work hard to retain the seat in the constituency.
The newly elected executives were later sworn into office by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Henry Fatchu.
In a related development, the Regional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Baba Mohamed, has advised contestants for positions at the regional level not to see themselves as political enemies but as people working in partnership with a vision to build a strong political party towards victory in December 2012.
Alhaji Mohammed gave the advice when he swore in a 10-member constituency executives for the Garu-Tempane constituency.
The poll, which was conducted by the officials of the Electoral Commission, saw Mr Thompson Aguri Awini being elected as chairman, while Mr Francis Aawuni Akolgo was elected as Secretary. Other persons elected were Jacob Kolog, Vice Chairman; Damire Moses, Deputy Secretary; Laadi Akugri, Women’s Organiser; Eric Avoka, Constituency Organiser; Felix Asaana Ayaaba,Youth Organiser; Seidu Karim, Treasurer; Minter Haruna Tuyaab, Education Secretary and Micheal Koka, Deputy Education Secretary.
The Garu-Tempane Constituency Chairman elect, Mr Thompson Aguri Awini, expressed his appreciation to delegates and pledged on behalf of his colleagues to work hard to help the party win the upcoming elections for the PNC in the constituency.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Boakye Gyan, Abuga Pele, Ayariga Win NDC Primaries(D/G 21/11/2011)
The ruling National Democratic Congress held primaries Saturday to elect parliamentary candidates for constituencies without sitting Members of Parliament in the three northern regions, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Region.
Messrs Mark Woyongo, Abuga Pele, Mahama Ayariga, and Ben Noah Azure won the Navrongo Central, Chiana-Paga, Bawku, and Binduri constituency seats respectively in the Upper East Region reports Benjamin Xornam Glover.
The primaries elected parliamentary candidates for constituencies without sitting Members of Parliament (MPs).
Mr. Mark Woyongo, the incumbent Regional Minister shrugged off challenge from his contenders polling 248 votes as against 109 and 5 votes respectively by Messrs Sampson T. Chiragia and Jacob Atule Adongo, a Deputy National Coordinator for the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
In the Chiana-Paga constituency, the National Coordinator for the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), Mr. Abuga Pele, won against the District Chief Executive (DCE) of for Kassena-Nankana West, Mr. Thomas Dalu Adda. He polled 312 votes, while the DCE got 146 votes.
Deputy Minister for Education and former MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga polled 319 votes to win against Issahaku Bukari, a development worker who had 97 votes.
In the Binduri constituency, Mr Ben Noah Azure also beat four other contestants to represent the ruling party in the constituency. He had 92 votes as against 90 secured by the closest contender, Mr. Stephen Atubuga, who had 90 votes. The remaining contestants, namely, Dr. Robert A. Alem, Richard Akumbas, and Daniel Adoliba had 69, 31, and 7 votes respectively.
Messrs Mark Woyongo, Abuga Pele, Mahama Ayariga, and Ben Noah Azure won the Navrongo Central, Chiana-Paga, Bawku, and Binduri constituency seats respectively in the Upper East Region reports Benjamin Xornam Glover.
The primaries elected parliamentary candidates for constituencies without sitting Members of Parliament (MPs).
Mr. Mark Woyongo, the incumbent Regional Minister shrugged off challenge from his contenders polling 248 votes as against 109 and 5 votes respectively by Messrs Sampson T. Chiragia and Jacob Atule Adongo, a Deputy National Coordinator for the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
In the Chiana-Paga constituency, the National Coordinator for the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), Mr. Abuga Pele, won against the District Chief Executive (DCE) of for Kassena-Nankana West, Mr. Thomas Dalu Adda. He polled 312 votes, while the DCE got 146 votes.
Deputy Minister for Education and former MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga polled 319 votes to win against Issahaku Bukari, a development worker who had 97 votes.
In the Binduri constituency, Mr Ben Noah Azure also beat four other contestants to represent the ruling party in the constituency. He had 92 votes as against 90 secured by the closest contender, Mr. Stephen Atubuga, who had 90 votes. The remaining contestants, namely, Dr. Robert A. Alem, Richard Akumbas, and Daniel Adoliba had 69, 31, and 7 votes respectively.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
185 Schools Under Trees Provided Classrooms In UER(1st November 2011, Daily Graphic)
A total of 185 schools holding classes under trees in the Upper East Region have been provided with classroom infrastructure by the government since it held the reins of power.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, who disclosed this during the recent working visit to the region by members of the Council of State said this had become possible following a crash programme being embarked upon by the NDC government to provide educational infrastructure for schools.
Mr Woyongo said in addition to tackling the schools under trees, second cycle institutions in the region had benefitted from over 99 big projects comprising dormitories, classroom blocks, assembly halls, laboratories, as well as teachers’ accommodation facilities.
According to the regional minister, the increase in the capitation grant, expansion of the school feeding programme, distribution of free exercise books and uniforms to deprive pupils have undoubtedly increased school enrolment significantly.
He said additionally, a number of district education directorates and second cycle schools had also received pick-ups and buses to enhance supervision and administration of the schools.
The Upper East Regional Director of Education, Mr Paul Apanga, while acknowledging the government’s efforts at tackling the phenomenon of schools under tress, stated that with increasing interest in education, many more communities were establishing schools in remote villages and this called for the provision of additional infrastructure.
He also made a special appeal for the construction of a new dormitory block and a classroom facility for the Bolgatanga Senior High School to deal with the problem of congestion.
On water and sanitation, Mr Woyongo told the delegation that with the execution of the Better Ghana Agenda, the government was expanding the Bolgatanga, Bawku, and Navrongo water systems, while five small town and water supply systems had been completed with eight others almost at the level of completion.
He said apart from the expansion of the Vea Raw Water Treatment Plant being executed with a loan of $5 million, another 40 million euros had been secured for the construction of a water treatment plant at Tono to serve Navrongo, Paga, and Bolgatanga. All these, he said, when completed would increase the water coverage significantly in the country’s bid to meet the Millennium Development Goals for Water and Sanitation.
The Upper East Regional Minister also told the members of the council that the government had also secured a loan facility of over $100 million to provide 500 communities in the region with electricity.
Touching on the National Youth Employment Programmes, he said currently 14 modules were being operated with about 12,177 youth being engaged, adding that the Youth in Road Maintenance module was yet to be launched in the region. He, however, expressed the hope that once the scheme was rolled out many more youth would be engaged.
The Chairman of the Council of State, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, described the trip as an eye opening one which would go a long way to facilitate advisory role of the council.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, who disclosed this during the recent working visit to the region by members of the Council of State said this had become possible following a crash programme being embarked upon by the NDC government to provide educational infrastructure for schools.
Mr Woyongo said in addition to tackling the schools under trees, second cycle institutions in the region had benefitted from over 99 big projects comprising dormitories, classroom blocks, assembly halls, laboratories, as well as teachers’ accommodation facilities.
According to the regional minister, the increase in the capitation grant, expansion of the school feeding programme, distribution of free exercise books and uniforms to deprive pupils have undoubtedly increased school enrolment significantly.
He said additionally, a number of district education directorates and second cycle schools had also received pick-ups and buses to enhance supervision and administration of the schools.
The Upper East Regional Director of Education, Mr Paul Apanga, while acknowledging the government’s efforts at tackling the phenomenon of schools under tress, stated that with increasing interest in education, many more communities were establishing schools in remote villages and this called for the provision of additional infrastructure.
He also made a special appeal for the construction of a new dormitory block and a classroom facility for the Bolgatanga Senior High School to deal with the problem of congestion.
On water and sanitation, Mr Woyongo told the delegation that with the execution of the Better Ghana Agenda, the government was expanding the Bolgatanga, Bawku, and Navrongo water systems, while five small town and water supply systems had been completed with eight others almost at the level of completion.
He said apart from the expansion of the Vea Raw Water Treatment Plant being executed with a loan of $5 million, another 40 million euros had been secured for the construction of a water treatment plant at Tono to serve Navrongo, Paga, and Bolgatanga. All these, he said, when completed would increase the water coverage significantly in the country’s bid to meet the Millennium Development Goals for Water and Sanitation.
The Upper East Regional Minister also told the members of the council that the government had also secured a loan facility of over $100 million to provide 500 communities in the region with electricity.
Touching on the National Youth Employment Programmes, he said currently 14 modules were being operated with about 12,177 youth being engaged, adding that the Youth in Road Maintenance module was yet to be launched in the region. He, however, expressed the hope that once the scheme was rolled out many more youth would be engaged.
The Chairman of the Council of State, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, described the trip as an eye opening one which would go a long way to facilitate advisory role of the council.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Ndebugre doubts chances of NPP candidate for Zebilla(DG, Tuesday October 25, 2011)
A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Akparibo Ndebugre from the Zebilla constituency, has his doubts that the party's parliamentary candidate, Mr Frank Fuseini will win the seat for the NPP come December 2012.
According to him, the processes leading to the declaration of one person in this case, Mr Fuseini, as the parliamentary candidate for the constituency had not been transparent which had created a problem.
Speaking at a launch of a support group for the NPPs Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the former Member of Parliament for Zebilla said although he was ready to rally support for the presidential candidate, he could not do same for the parliamentary candidate.
Mr Ndebugre, who supported the NPP after be lost to Mr Cletus Avoka of the NDC in the last parliamentary election when as an independent candidate said: “Mr Fuseini is going to start whatever campaign he intends to wage with a deficit in image, since the opponent we are facing is formidable. It would appear that many of us are unaware of Mr Fuseini's association with the NPP.
Incidentally, Mr Fuseini was also a member of the PNC in the Zebilla constituency but has now defected to the NPP. He was endorsed unopposed by delegates at the party's constituency congress recently.
Mr Ndebugre stated that although some party members had questioned Mr Fuseini's qualification to contest the party's parliamentary primaries, no effort had been made at resolving the problem transparently and in accordance with the party's rules.
“Mr Fuseini was simply railroaded into that position. There cannot be any doubt that a lacklustre parliamentary campaign will impact negatively on the presidential vote in the constituency and this is what we must avoid at all cost,” he said.
“Ghana's politics of today is being modelled to promote honesty and fair play and it is neither honest nor fair to use smartness and other means to enter a race when you know in your heart of hearts that you do not qualify to participate in that race,” he added.
“For these reasons, and others, some of us do not and it appears cannot feel disposed to supporting Mr Frank Fuseini as the NPP parliamentary candidate for the Zebilla Constituency,” he emphasised.
Explaining the objectives of the launch of the Nana Addo for President (NAFOP) in Zebilla with himself as the patron, Mr Ndebugre noted that for the NPP to recapture power and continue with the development of Ghana, it needed to be re-organised and united.
He said it was the goal of the group to campaign vigorously to get a great number of votes for the NPP presidential candidate to ensure victory for the party.
He called on NPP members committed to this vision to hold themselves in readiness for the establishment of the necessary structures to support the project for it to succeed.
According to him, the processes leading to the declaration of one person in this case, Mr Fuseini, as the parliamentary candidate for the constituency had not been transparent which had created a problem.
Speaking at a launch of a support group for the NPPs Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the former Member of Parliament for Zebilla said although he was ready to rally support for the presidential candidate, he could not do same for the parliamentary candidate.
Mr Ndebugre, who supported the NPP after be lost to Mr Cletus Avoka of the NDC in the last parliamentary election when as an independent candidate said: “Mr Fuseini is going to start whatever campaign he intends to wage with a deficit in image, since the opponent we are facing is formidable. It would appear that many of us are unaware of Mr Fuseini's association with the NPP.
Incidentally, Mr Fuseini was also a member of the PNC in the Zebilla constituency but has now defected to the NPP. He was endorsed unopposed by delegates at the party's constituency congress recently.
Mr Ndebugre stated that although some party members had questioned Mr Fuseini's qualification to contest the party's parliamentary primaries, no effort had been made at resolving the problem transparently and in accordance with the party's rules.
“Mr Fuseini was simply railroaded into that position. There cannot be any doubt that a lacklustre parliamentary campaign will impact negatively on the presidential vote in the constituency and this is what we must avoid at all cost,” he said.
“Ghana's politics of today is being modelled to promote honesty and fair play and it is neither honest nor fair to use smartness and other means to enter a race when you know in your heart of hearts that you do not qualify to participate in that race,” he added.
“For these reasons, and others, some of us do not and it appears cannot feel disposed to supporting Mr Frank Fuseini as the NPP parliamentary candidate for the Zebilla Constituency,” he emphasised.
Explaining the objectives of the launch of the Nana Addo for President (NAFOP) in Zebilla with himself as the patron, Mr Ndebugre noted that for the NPP to recapture power and continue with the development of Ghana, it needed to be re-organised and united.
He said it was the goal of the group to campaign vigorously to get a great number of votes for the NPP presidential candidate to ensure victory for the party.
He called on NPP members committed to this vision to hold themselves in readiness for the establishment of the necessary structures to support the project for it to succeed.
Monday, 3 October 2011
I Didn't Receive $5m From Government - Nana Konadu(3rd October 2011 10:21:10 by Benjamin Glover)
Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has denied ever receiving $5million from the government on behalf of the 31st December Women’s Movement to run the Nsawam Fruits Cannery. She has also denied ever receiving financial assistance from the government to operate a chocolate factory.
According to her all these assertions by some people she failed to name in the current government, were part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish her image in her quest to secure the flagbearship of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking to a packed audience at the VAG Hall mostly dominated by women in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region as part of her “Thank You Tour,” Mrs Rawlings urged her followers to ignore such allegations, since she contended they were intended as a grand scheme to destroy her image and portray her as an ungrateful person.
“We have struggled to get the factory running on our own. Never has government come to our aid. So anybody who comes to tell you that I am collecting money from the government, it is not true,” she said.
“Five million for me? Even the founder himself, who is supposed to be taken care of as a former president, that has not even started, how much more me, the wife? So when they come, tell them to stop lying about our founder, stop lying about our party,” she urged, adding, “Those who are peddling lies about me are new in our party. They did not sleep in the bushes to form the party, they didn’t walk in the rains to form the party, they did not drink in the villages to form the party as we did, as you did, as I did.
They have come to join a party that is already growing and have become prosperous. They should come and join and learn in order to let the party grow instead of coming to destroy things for us,” she said.
She justified her nationwide tour to express appreciation to those who sacrificed their time and effort during her failed bid to become a flag bearer, stressing that it was only proper that she expressed appreciation to all who supported her.
She indicated that she would continue to mobilise the party at the grass roots in order to make the NDC a strong and formidable party.
Mrs Rawlings bemoaned the unemployment situation in the country, especially among the youth and called on the government to do something extra to give the youth, hope and life.
The former first lady also urged supporters of the party to take active part in the Biometric Registration when the Electoral Commission declares the exercise open later in the year.
A Deputy General Secretary of the NDC and spokesperson for the Rawlingses, Mr Kofi Adams condemned what he termed, attempts by some elements within the party to shift the NDC from the Social Democratic philosophy to that of Nkrumahism.
“What has changed suddenly that five days after winning elections, you have a member of this party in the person of Hannah Tetteh going to sit with the Americans to sit to turn the NDC into something else?” he said, in apparent reference to the contents of recently released leaked cables , Wikileaks.
“Those who think that they want to dismember NDC by their action must be taken out. This is a party that has values. We welcome new members, but we must show them we have a track record,” Mr Adams added
On the decision by Major Boakye Gyan, who has filed to contest for the Jaman South parliamentary seat on the ticket of the NDC, Mr Adams questioned how someone who six months ago described the NDC as an illegality, was being allowed to pick forms to contest as a parliamentary candidate.
According to her all these assertions by some people she failed to name in the current government, were part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish her image in her quest to secure the flagbearship of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking to a packed audience at the VAG Hall mostly dominated by women in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region as part of her “Thank You Tour,” Mrs Rawlings urged her followers to ignore such allegations, since she contended they were intended as a grand scheme to destroy her image and portray her as an ungrateful person.
“We have struggled to get the factory running on our own. Never has government come to our aid. So anybody who comes to tell you that I am collecting money from the government, it is not true,” she said.
“Five million for me? Even the founder himself, who is supposed to be taken care of as a former president, that has not even started, how much more me, the wife? So when they come, tell them to stop lying about our founder, stop lying about our party,” she urged, adding, “Those who are peddling lies about me are new in our party. They did not sleep in the bushes to form the party, they didn’t walk in the rains to form the party, they did not drink in the villages to form the party as we did, as you did, as I did.
They have come to join a party that is already growing and have become prosperous. They should come and join and learn in order to let the party grow instead of coming to destroy things for us,” she said.
She justified her nationwide tour to express appreciation to those who sacrificed their time and effort during her failed bid to become a flag bearer, stressing that it was only proper that she expressed appreciation to all who supported her.
She indicated that she would continue to mobilise the party at the grass roots in order to make the NDC a strong and formidable party.
Mrs Rawlings bemoaned the unemployment situation in the country, especially among the youth and called on the government to do something extra to give the youth, hope and life.
The former first lady also urged supporters of the party to take active part in the Biometric Registration when the Electoral Commission declares the exercise open later in the year.
A Deputy General Secretary of the NDC and spokesperson for the Rawlingses, Mr Kofi Adams condemned what he termed, attempts by some elements within the party to shift the NDC from the Social Democratic philosophy to that of Nkrumahism.
“What has changed suddenly that five days after winning elections, you have a member of this party in the person of Hannah Tetteh going to sit with the Americans to sit to turn the NDC into something else?” he said, in apparent reference to the contents of recently released leaked cables , Wikileaks.
“Those who think that they want to dismember NDC by their action must be taken out. This is a party that has values. We welcome new members, but we must show them we have a track record,” Mr Adams added
On the decision by Major Boakye Gyan, who has filed to contest for the Jaman South parliamentary seat on the ticket of the NDC, Mr Adams questioned how someone who six months ago described the NDC as an illegality, was being allowed to pick forms to contest as a parliamentary candidate.
Friday, 30 September 2011
Samari Gears Up To Unseat NDC In Garu-Tempane Constituency(30th September 2011 07:36:14 by Benjamin Glover)
The New Patriotic Party Parliamentary Candidate for Garu-Tempane in the Upper East Region, Mr Alhassan Samari, has urged electorates in the constituency to take a cue from what he terms the ruling National Democratic Congress’ failure in government and vote the party out of power.
Mr Samari, a former Upper East Regional Minister during the Kufuor Administration, said since the NDC assumed the reins of power, the country in general and the constituency in particular had not witnessed the “Better Ghana Agenda” promised Ghanaians and the people of Garu-Tempane.
He has, therefore, called on the electorates to vote for him as Member of Parliament and Nana Akufo-Addo as president.
The former regional minister who is making a second attempt to unseat the incumbent MP, Mr Dominic Azumah of the NDC, said this in an interview after he addressed a mammoth gathering of supporters in the constituency.
He opined that the voters were misled to vote for the NDC based on vile propaganda and urged the electorates to learn a lesson or two from the past mistakes and vote for the NPP in order to bring development to the area.
Mr Samari urged members of the party to eschew division and pull together as members of one family in order to unseat the NDC. “Party unity is key. In the past, we allowed our ranks to be divided and this cost us victory. The time has now come for us to forgive one another and rally behind the party to regain power,” he said.
He recounted a number of successes chalked up by the NPP in Garu-Tempane during his tenure as regional minister such as the carving of the Garu-Tempane District out of the Bawku Municipal Assembly, initial development of the Tempane Senior High School, the proposed Modern Market Complex for the district, extension of electricity, construction of roads and rehabilitation of the major steel bridge over the Tamale river, among many other projects.
Comparing the performance of the two parties, Mr Samari noted that the NPP did far more than the NDC was doing to improve the lives of the people and said it was about time the people voted out the NDC and gave the mandate to the NPP.
The Constituency Chairman, Mr Joseph Akudibilah, for his part, maintained that the NPP’s achievement in the district was unparalleled. “Even though we cherished a property owning democracy, we legislated the best pro-poor policies for the country since independence,” he said.
Mr Akudibilah, a former deputy minister for defence, said apart from building school infrastructure the district also benefited from subsidy on fertilisers for farmers, National Health Insurance Scheme, school feeding programme, among many others.
He said in contrast, the NDC government, instead of continuing from where the NPP left off, are failing and their regime had been characterised by “a myriad of excuses, vindictiveness, property grabbing, failed economic policies and lip services at bridging the development gap between the north and the south.”
He challenged the current MP for the area, Mr Dominic Azumah, to point out clearly what he had done for the area, having served in Parliament for four terms.
The Constituency Election Coordinator for the NPP, Mr Emmanuel Asore Avoka, highlighted the major achievements of Mr Samari when he was regional minster in the NPP era between 2005 and 2008. He said during that period, 54 classroom blocks, 20 KVIP’s, six clinics, eight market structures and 15 teachers’ quarters were constructed.
He added that exercise books, furniture and text books were distributed, electricity was extended to six communities, feeder roads were constructed, bridges were reconstructed while twenty boreholes and streetlights were provided to various communities.
In addition, he said a number persons where supported to pursue further education in the fields of nursing and teaching.
In the view of Mr Avoka, all these were verifiable records chalked up by the NPP. He, therefore, challenged the NDC and its functionaries in the district to tell the people what real achievements they had chalked up since coming to office.
While calling on the DCE to re-fix the faulty streetlights in the district to bring back smiles on the faces of the people of the area, Mr Avoka also called on the President to launch investigations into the circumstances under which the current DCE put up a private house close to his official residence within a year or two after his appointment.
The Regional Secretary of the NPP, Mr Joseph Kpemka Dindoick, who is also a former DCE for Garu-Tempane, accused the NDC for borrowing excessively without corresponding developments on the ground to account for the loans secured and urged the Ghanaians to vote out the NDC.
The Regional Organiser of the NPP, Mr Yaw Mort, reiterated the need for all members to eschew disunity and work together to bring the party back into power.
Mr Samari, a former Upper East Regional Minister during the Kufuor Administration, said since the NDC assumed the reins of power, the country in general and the constituency in particular had not witnessed the “Better Ghana Agenda” promised Ghanaians and the people of Garu-Tempane.
He has, therefore, called on the electorates to vote for him as Member of Parliament and Nana Akufo-Addo as president.
The former regional minister who is making a second attempt to unseat the incumbent MP, Mr Dominic Azumah of the NDC, said this in an interview after he addressed a mammoth gathering of supporters in the constituency.
He opined that the voters were misled to vote for the NDC based on vile propaganda and urged the electorates to learn a lesson or two from the past mistakes and vote for the NPP in order to bring development to the area.
Mr Samari urged members of the party to eschew division and pull together as members of one family in order to unseat the NDC. “Party unity is key. In the past, we allowed our ranks to be divided and this cost us victory. The time has now come for us to forgive one another and rally behind the party to regain power,” he said.
He recounted a number of successes chalked up by the NPP in Garu-Tempane during his tenure as regional minister such as the carving of the Garu-Tempane District out of the Bawku Municipal Assembly, initial development of the Tempane Senior High School, the proposed Modern Market Complex for the district, extension of electricity, construction of roads and rehabilitation of the major steel bridge over the Tamale river, among many other projects.
Comparing the performance of the two parties, Mr Samari noted that the NPP did far more than the NDC was doing to improve the lives of the people and said it was about time the people voted out the NDC and gave the mandate to the NPP.
The Constituency Chairman, Mr Joseph Akudibilah, for his part, maintained that the NPP’s achievement in the district was unparalleled. “Even though we cherished a property owning democracy, we legislated the best pro-poor policies for the country since independence,” he said.
Mr Akudibilah, a former deputy minister for defence, said apart from building school infrastructure the district also benefited from subsidy on fertilisers for farmers, National Health Insurance Scheme, school feeding programme, among many others.
He said in contrast, the NDC government, instead of continuing from where the NPP left off, are failing and their regime had been characterised by “a myriad of excuses, vindictiveness, property grabbing, failed economic policies and lip services at bridging the development gap between the north and the south.”
He challenged the current MP for the area, Mr Dominic Azumah, to point out clearly what he had done for the area, having served in Parliament for four terms.
The Constituency Election Coordinator for the NPP, Mr Emmanuel Asore Avoka, highlighted the major achievements of Mr Samari when he was regional minster in the NPP era between 2005 and 2008. He said during that period, 54 classroom blocks, 20 KVIP’s, six clinics, eight market structures and 15 teachers’ quarters were constructed.
He added that exercise books, furniture and text books were distributed, electricity was extended to six communities, feeder roads were constructed, bridges were reconstructed while twenty boreholes and streetlights were provided to various communities.
In addition, he said a number persons where supported to pursue further education in the fields of nursing and teaching.
In the view of Mr Avoka, all these were verifiable records chalked up by the NPP. He, therefore, challenged the NDC and its functionaries in the district to tell the people what real achievements they had chalked up since coming to office.
While calling on the DCE to re-fix the faulty streetlights in the district to bring back smiles on the faces of the people of the area, Mr Avoka also called on the President to launch investigations into the circumstances under which the current DCE put up a private house close to his official residence within a year or two after his appointment.
The Regional Secretary of the NPP, Mr Joseph Kpemka Dindoick, who is also a former DCE for Garu-Tempane, accused the NDC for borrowing excessively without corresponding developments on the ground to account for the loans secured and urged the Ghanaians to vote out the NDC.
The Regional Organiser of the NPP, Mr Yaw Mort, reiterated the need for all members to eschew disunity and work together to bring the party back into power.
Thursday, 15 September 2011
NDC Will Win - Mark Woyongo15th September 2011 07:39:54 by Benjamin Xornam Glover()
Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo has stated that he hopes to ride on the back of the numerous developments projects initiated by the current National Democratic Congress, (NDC) in the Navrongo Central Constituency to wrestle the seat from the opposition NPP come Election 2012.
Speaking to journalists at Navrongo after picking his parliamentary candidacy nomination form and addressing delegates, Mr. Woyongo said since assuming the reins of power, the NDC have done a lot at improving the lot of the people in the area and it was only proper that the people reciprocate the gesture by endorsing his candidature for the parliamentary slot.
He cited the construction of an auditorium, classrooms and dormitory infrastructure for senior high schools across the region including schools in the constituency such as Notre Dame Senior High School, Navrongo Senior High School, improvement of roads network to link deprived communities, connecting many communities under the Rural Electrification Project and construction of more boreholes to provide potable water for the people as some of the development extended to the people.
Mr Woyongo who is making a second shot at the seat after missing out in the last elections said, “I am convinced that with the numerous development projects that we have brought to this region in general and Navrongo in particular, we can work together and come 2012, the NDC will be declared winners in the polls”.
He said unlike 2004 when the NDC secured about 6,000 votes, 2008 saw a massive rise to 13,000 votes. He commended the supporters of the party for working tirelessly to help the NDC improved on its fortunes and called on party members to campaign vigorously to ensure a sound victory for the party in the coming elections in order to unseat the incumbent MP, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda of the NPP.
Speaking to journalists at Navrongo after picking his parliamentary candidacy nomination form and addressing delegates, Mr. Woyongo said since assuming the reins of power, the NDC have done a lot at improving the lot of the people in the area and it was only proper that the people reciprocate the gesture by endorsing his candidature for the parliamentary slot.
He cited the construction of an auditorium, classrooms and dormitory infrastructure for senior high schools across the region including schools in the constituency such as Notre Dame Senior High School, Navrongo Senior High School, improvement of roads network to link deprived communities, connecting many communities under the Rural Electrification Project and construction of more boreholes to provide potable water for the people as some of the development extended to the people.
Mr Woyongo who is making a second shot at the seat after missing out in the last elections said, “I am convinced that with the numerous development projects that we have brought to this region in general and Navrongo in particular, we can work together and come 2012, the NDC will be declared winners in the polls”.
He said unlike 2004 when the NDC secured about 6,000 votes, 2008 saw a massive rise to 13,000 votes. He commended the supporters of the party for working tirelessly to help the NDC improved on its fortunes and called on party members to campaign vigorously to ensure a sound victory for the party in the coming elections in order to unseat the incumbent MP, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda of the NPP.
Thursday, 8 September 2011
PNC Members Endorse Apasera(8th September 2011 06:04:20 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
Some members of the People's National Convention (P.N.C) in the Bolgatanga Central Constituency in the Upper East Region have initiated moves to have Mr David Apasera re-elected as the Member of Parliament for the constituency.
Interacting with journalists, members of the PNC in the Kolaa Zone in the Bolgatanga Central Constituency recounted some achievements of the two-term former MP such as sponsoring needy, brilliant students to acquire higher education, the provision of market sheds and paying the premium of the National Health Insurance Scheme for the vulnerable, among others, and stressed the need to re-elect Mr Apasera to revive the fortunes of the party.
Mr Apasera was first elected MP in 2000 and was retained in the 2004 but lost the seat in 2008 elections to the NDC candidate, Mr Emmanuel Akolbire Opam-Brown.
The PNC is yet to open nominations for those interested in representing the party in parliament. But even before the opening of nominations, spokesperson for the group lobbying for Mr David Apasera, Mr Joseph Akangerige, believes re-electing the two-time MP bodes well for the development of the constituency.
Mr Akangerige, who is also the Kolaa Zonal Chairman said, “it will surprise you to note that people from the length and breadth of this constituency have come to realise the good works of Mr Apasera.
“There is therefore the need for every delegate to give him the nod to contest the Parliamentary election in 2012”.
“Delegates will agree with me that the weight of the PNC in the constituency for now lies on this gentleman. In order not to allow the PNC to be dormant in the Bolgatanga Constituency, we wish to urge each and every one of you to remain faithful, honest and committed to Mr Apasera whose performance in his first four year term had been judged by many today to outweigh his successor”, he said.
Interacting with journalists, members of the PNC in the Kolaa Zone in the Bolgatanga Central Constituency recounted some achievements of the two-term former MP such as sponsoring needy, brilliant students to acquire higher education, the provision of market sheds and paying the premium of the National Health Insurance Scheme for the vulnerable, among others, and stressed the need to re-elect Mr Apasera to revive the fortunes of the party.
Mr Apasera was first elected MP in 2000 and was retained in the 2004 but lost the seat in 2008 elections to the NDC candidate, Mr Emmanuel Akolbire Opam-Brown.
The PNC is yet to open nominations for those interested in representing the party in parliament. But even before the opening of nominations, spokesperson for the group lobbying for Mr David Apasera, Mr Joseph Akangerige, believes re-electing the two-time MP bodes well for the development of the constituency.
Mr Akangerige, who is also the Kolaa Zonal Chairman said, “it will surprise you to note that people from the length and breadth of this constituency have come to realise the good works of Mr Apasera.
“There is therefore the need for every delegate to give him the nod to contest the Parliamentary election in 2012”.
“Delegates will agree with me that the weight of the PNC in the constituency for now lies on this gentleman. In order not to allow the PNC to be dormant in the Bolgatanga Constituency, we wish to urge each and every one of you to remain faithful, honest and committed to Mr Apasera whose performance in his first four year term had been judged by many today to outweigh his successor”, he said.
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Crack The Whip On Defaulters - PAC(1st September 2011 05:55:56 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament hearing audited reports on metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions have urged audit report implementation committees in the various districts to sanction all public officers who continue to misapply funds.
According to the committee, failure to do so will mean harming the public purse and bleeding the coffers of the state. The Chairman of the committee, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, expressed worries about the trend of misconduct on the part of officers of the assemblies and their failure to apply the rules to the letter.
“When government gives you money, it also gives you guidelines on how to spend it, it is therefore very important to be abreast of the rules and regulations to avoid such corrupt practices,” he said.
“As members of the audit implementation committee, when you fail to apply sanctions, you become liable to sanctions,” he warned.
Most of the report heard by the committee bordered on failures to recoup monies disbursed under the Poverty Alleviation Fund and lack of commitment by those currently in office to trace the addresses of those who benefited from such programmes to recover those monies.
“What is more worrying is that last year in Tamale during our hearings, the same observations were made and officers were tasked to work on it but here we are with the same story been repeated. It appears, assemblies are not taking audit reports seriously,” he added.
During the hearing, representatives of the Yendi Municipal Assembly for instance told the committee that persons who benefited from loans disbursed under the Poverty Alleviation Fund mistook it for gifts and therefore failed to repay the money owed the state.
They told the committee that although they had records of those who benefited; the assembly was finding it difficult to trace the addresses of those on the list, a response that did not go down well with members of the committee.
The committee members lashed the Yendi Municipal Assembly for failing to show enough commitment to protect government funds. They directed the assemblies to make use of the state agencies such as the Police and the CID to identify those who have defaulted and prosecute them.
In the case of Sisala East District, out of GH¢31,050 unrecovered loans only GH¢2, 700 had been paid and the chairman of the committee asked the district chief executive, Madam Alijata Sulemana, to extend her recent heroic act of solely arresting a vehicle carrying 700 bags of subsidised government fertiliser beingsmuggled into the Republic of Burkina Faso by a notorious smuggler in the district to recover unpaid loans from beneficiaries.
http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/page.php?news=15251
According to the committee, failure to do so will mean harming the public purse and bleeding the coffers of the state. The Chairman of the committee, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, expressed worries about the trend of misconduct on the part of officers of the assemblies and their failure to apply the rules to the letter.
“When government gives you money, it also gives you guidelines on how to spend it, it is therefore very important to be abreast of the rules and regulations to avoid such corrupt practices,” he said.
“As members of the audit implementation committee, when you fail to apply sanctions, you become liable to sanctions,” he warned.
Most of the report heard by the committee bordered on failures to recoup monies disbursed under the Poverty Alleviation Fund and lack of commitment by those currently in office to trace the addresses of those who benefited from such programmes to recover those monies.
“What is more worrying is that last year in Tamale during our hearings, the same observations were made and officers were tasked to work on it but here we are with the same story been repeated. It appears, assemblies are not taking audit reports seriously,” he added.
During the hearing, representatives of the Yendi Municipal Assembly for instance told the committee that persons who benefited from loans disbursed under the Poverty Alleviation Fund mistook it for gifts and therefore failed to repay the money owed the state.
They told the committee that although they had records of those who benefited; the assembly was finding it difficult to trace the addresses of those on the list, a response that did not go down well with members of the committee.
The committee members lashed the Yendi Municipal Assembly for failing to show enough commitment to protect government funds. They directed the assemblies to make use of the state agencies such as the Police and the CID to identify those who have defaulted and prosecute them.
In the case of Sisala East District, out of GH¢31,050 unrecovered loans only GH¢2, 700 had been paid and the chairman of the committee asked the district chief executive, Madam Alijata Sulemana, to extend her recent heroic act of solely arresting a vehicle carrying 700 bags of subsidised government fertiliser beingsmuggled into the Republic of Burkina Faso by a notorious smuggler in the district to recover unpaid loans from beneficiaries.
http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/page.php?news=15251
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
PAC Holds Hearings In Upper East(31st August 2011 05:24:41 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
The ranking member of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Alhaji Amadu Siedu, has disclosed that over GH c 2.561 million was lost to government due to irregularities in management of public funds by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA) in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions mainly through violation of financial regulations and other unapproved spending.
Alhaji Siedu, who announced this at the hearing of the Auditor-General’s Report of 2005-2007 for MMDAs in the three Northern regions, in Bolgatanga on Monday said most of the losses were due to contract irregularities, tax irregularities, procurement and cash irregularities.
The ranking member, who is also the NDC Member of Parliament for Yapei/Kusawgu,mentioned that in the Northern region, over GH c1.2 million was lost while in the Upper East Region GH c 388.000 was lost. In the Upper West Region, GH c 973,000 was lost during the period under review.
He said those funds were disbursed on defined projects and programmes but were not properly accounted for in terms of documentation.
The Committee, apart from hearing reports for the three financial years ending December 2007, will also consider the management and utilisation of the statutory and other earmarked funds for district assemblies for the period.
Thirty-one assemblies in the three regions would appear before the committee. The assemblies include; Zabzugu Tatale, Gusheigu, Saboba/ Chereponi, Tamale Metropolitan, East Mamprusis, Salaga, Savelugu Nanton, East Gonja, Bole, Nanumba South, and Nunumba North District Assemblies. Others are West Gonja, Yendi, Central Gonja, Karaga, Sawla/Tuna/Kalba, Bawku West, Garu Tempane, Bongo, Kasena Nankana, Bawku Municipality. The rest are Talensi, Bolgatanga Municipality, Builsa, Nadowli, Wa East, Wa Municipality, Sisala East, Lawra, Jirapa Lambussie, Sisala West, Wa West district assemblies.
Alhaji Seidu said most of those irregularities was as a result of failure to adhere to the Financial Administration Act and therefore called on duty bearers to stick to the regulations.
Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, said the aim of the hearing was to ensure that MMDAs addressed issues raised in the Auditor-General’s report.
He urged public officers to enforce sanctions for those found culpable of misapplying public funds.
‘The days of non accountability of public funds are gone forever. Our work as members of the committee is to institute the culture of transparency and accountability’, he said and added that the concerns of the ordinary Ghanaian tax payerwere for public office holders to account for how they spent public funds and they as representatives of the people were dedicated to ensuring that monies given to MMDAs were properly accounted for.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, in an address read on his behalf by his deputy, Madam Lucy Awuni, said the fact that the Parliamentary Committee on Public Account had been empowered to move out to the regions as part of exercising its oversight responsibility over the executive was a clear demonstration of government’s avowed commitment to ensuring that the principles of probity and accountability were vigorously pursued to the letter.
Mr Woyongo said the hearing apart from serving as a wakeup call to public officials and duty bearers to properly manage public funds, it would also help the people in the region to know much about how funds allocated to the various assemblies were managed.
Alhaji Siedu, who announced this at the hearing of the Auditor-General’s Report of 2005-2007 for MMDAs in the three Northern regions, in Bolgatanga on Monday said most of the losses were due to contract irregularities, tax irregularities, procurement and cash irregularities.
The ranking member, who is also the NDC Member of Parliament for Yapei/Kusawgu,mentioned that in the Northern region, over GH c1.2 million was lost while in the Upper East Region GH c 388.000 was lost. In the Upper West Region, GH c 973,000 was lost during the period under review.
He said those funds were disbursed on defined projects and programmes but were not properly accounted for in terms of documentation.
The Committee, apart from hearing reports for the three financial years ending December 2007, will also consider the management and utilisation of the statutory and other earmarked funds for district assemblies for the period.
Thirty-one assemblies in the three regions would appear before the committee. The assemblies include; Zabzugu Tatale, Gusheigu, Saboba/ Chereponi, Tamale Metropolitan, East Mamprusis, Salaga, Savelugu Nanton, East Gonja, Bole, Nanumba South, and Nunumba North District Assemblies. Others are West Gonja, Yendi, Central Gonja, Karaga, Sawla/Tuna/Kalba, Bawku West, Garu Tempane, Bongo, Kasena Nankana, Bawku Municipality. The rest are Talensi, Bolgatanga Municipality, Builsa, Nadowli, Wa East, Wa Municipality, Sisala East, Lawra, Jirapa Lambussie, Sisala West, Wa West district assemblies.
Alhaji Seidu said most of those irregularities was as a result of failure to adhere to the Financial Administration Act and therefore called on duty bearers to stick to the regulations.
Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, said the aim of the hearing was to ensure that MMDAs addressed issues raised in the Auditor-General’s report.
He urged public officers to enforce sanctions for those found culpable of misapplying public funds.
‘The days of non accountability of public funds are gone forever. Our work as members of the committee is to institute the culture of transparency and accountability’, he said and added that the concerns of the ordinary Ghanaian tax payerwere for public office holders to account for how they spent public funds and they as representatives of the people were dedicated to ensuring that monies given to MMDAs were properly accounted for.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, in an address read on his behalf by his deputy, Madam Lucy Awuni, said the fact that the Parliamentary Committee on Public Account had been empowered to move out to the regions as part of exercising its oversight responsibility over the executive was a clear demonstration of government’s avowed commitment to ensuring that the principles of probity and accountability were vigorously pursued to the letter.
Mr Woyongo said the hearing apart from serving as a wakeup call to public officials and duty bearers to properly manage public funds, it would also help the people in the region to know much about how funds allocated to the various assemblies were managed.
Friday, 26 August 2011
Flood waters kill one person in Upper East(25th August 2011 04:55:22 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
One person is reported dead in Timonde in the Bawku West District in the Upper East Region after he was swept away by flood waters.
Identified as Nehemia Apakiba Akolgo, 14, and a nephew of a former MP for Zebilla, John Ndebugre, the boy was carried away by flood waters after he was alleged to have fallen into the White Volta.
Reports indicated that Nehemia, in the company of others who were herding cattle, had gone into their farmlands along the White Volta to harvest some corn when the incident occurred.
The body has since been retrieved and buried after an autopsy.
Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Patrick Akake, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that his office was still conducting an assessment of the extent of damage caused by the floods in the Bolgatanga municipality.
He said initial information gathered by his staff in the various zones in the Bolgatanga municipality as of Wednesday, August 24, 2011 showed that 3,047 persons had been displaced in the Bolgatanga municipality as a result of the floods.
He said NADMO had also distributed relief items, mainly bags of maize and mattresses to the affected persons while personnel of the department had been put on stand-by to assist residents who would be in need.
Identified as Nehemia Apakiba Akolgo, 14, and a nephew of a former MP for Zebilla, John Ndebugre, the boy was carried away by flood waters after he was alleged to have fallen into the White Volta.
Reports indicated that Nehemia, in the company of others who were herding cattle, had gone into their farmlands along the White Volta to harvest some corn when the incident occurred.
The body has since been retrieved and buried after an autopsy.
Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Patrick Akake, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that his office was still conducting an assessment of the extent of damage caused by the floods in the Bolgatanga municipality.
He said initial information gathered by his staff in the various zones in the Bolgatanga municipality as of Wednesday, August 24, 2011 showed that 3,047 persons had been displaced in the Bolgatanga municipality as a result of the floods.
He said NADMO had also distributed relief items, mainly bags of maize and mattresses to the affected persons while personnel of the department had been put on stand-by to assist residents who would be in need.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Politicians Must Engage In Clean Campaign - PCG(Daily Graphic, 28th April 2011)
The first Presbytery Conference of the Upper Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has ended in Garu with a call on politicians to engage in a clean contest, devoid of insults and other vices that could plunge Ghana into chaos.
“Election 2012 promises to be yet another political contest. We as Christians cannot wait or defer prayer and exhortation till the time comes. We wish to entreat all actors and aspirants in this election to engage in the contest with every sense of decency, knowing that since the earth is the Lord’s, the mathematics of governance and the equation thereof are in His supreme hands,” the Chairperson of the Presbytery, Reverend Esmund Wasau Nagba, declared.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a five-day Presbytery conference of the Upper Presbytery of PCG which, among other things, took stock of activities of the church in order to adopt new strategies to improve on the church's growth.
The Upper Presbytery comprises districts of the church in the Upper East and Upper West regions and is the 16th Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). It was inaugurated in November last year.
The Chairperson of the Presbytery, while underscoring the need for the Christian community to amplify their gratitude to God for the relative peace prevailing in the country, pleaded with all to endeavour to keep the peace and work at ensuring the consolidation of this state of relative peace.
Rev. Esmund Wasau Nagba reminded chiefs, elders and traditional authorities, political functionaries and party faithful and media practitioners to continue to be mindful of their gate keeping roles when it came to peace and harmony and endeavour to let their responses and reactions to issues promote social cohesion and peace.
He said the church was particularly grateful to God for the wind of peace currently prevailing in Bawku and commended the various entities and agencies that worked tirelessly to restore some measure of peace in Bawku and encourage all to work assiduously to maintain the peace.
The Presbytery, he said, was unhappy with the withdrawal of the Mamprusis side from the Inter Ethnic Peace Committee deliberation and called on the Mamprusis faction to return to the negotiation table.
On the education front, Rev. Nagba said the church had noted with concern the standards of education, especially in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, with a high percentage of senior high school leavers not qualifying for tertiary institutions and expressed the need for a collective awakening so that, together with the appropriate agencies, solution could be found to the problem.
“The Presbytery wishes to appeal to policy makers to ensure that the policy fluctuation on education, especially with regard to the duration of the senior high school is stabilised as a continuation of this fluctuation may not be good for the future of our young ones,” the communiqué noted.
On the Ecumenical front, Rev. Nagba congratulated the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church on its nomination of a new Bishop.
While praying for the successful installation of the Bishop, Rev. Nagba said the Upper Presbytery of PCG would look forward to a healthy ecumenical relationship so that, together with other church entities within and beyond the presbytery, they would work to deepen the faith.
“Election 2012 promises to be yet another political contest. We as Christians cannot wait or defer prayer and exhortation till the time comes. We wish to entreat all actors and aspirants in this election to engage in the contest with every sense of decency, knowing that since the earth is the Lord’s, the mathematics of governance and the equation thereof are in His supreme hands,” the Chairperson of the Presbytery, Reverend Esmund Wasau Nagba, declared.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a five-day Presbytery conference of the Upper Presbytery of PCG which, among other things, took stock of activities of the church in order to adopt new strategies to improve on the church's growth.
The Upper Presbytery comprises districts of the church in the Upper East and Upper West regions and is the 16th Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). It was inaugurated in November last year.
The Chairperson of the Presbytery, while underscoring the need for the Christian community to amplify their gratitude to God for the relative peace prevailing in the country, pleaded with all to endeavour to keep the peace and work at ensuring the consolidation of this state of relative peace.
Rev. Esmund Wasau Nagba reminded chiefs, elders and traditional authorities, political functionaries and party faithful and media practitioners to continue to be mindful of their gate keeping roles when it came to peace and harmony and endeavour to let their responses and reactions to issues promote social cohesion and peace.
He said the church was particularly grateful to God for the wind of peace currently prevailing in Bawku and commended the various entities and agencies that worked tirelessly to restore some measure of peace in Bawku and encourage all to work assiduously to maintain the peace.
The Presbytery, he said, was unhappy with the withdrawal of the Mamprusis side from the Inter Ethnic Peace Committee deliberation and called on the Mamprusis faction to return to the negotiation table.
On the education front, Rev. Nagba said the church had noted with concern the standards of education, especially in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, with a high percentage of senior high school leavers not qualifying for tertiary institutions and expressed the need for a collective awakening so that, together with the appropriate agencies, solution could be found to the problem.
“The Presbytery wishes to appeal to policy makers to ensure that the policy fluctuation on education, especially with regard to the duration of the senior high school is stabilised as a continuation of this fluctuation may not be good for the future of our young ones,” the communiqué noted.
On the Ecumenical front, Rev. Nagba congratulated the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church on its nomination of a new Bishop.
While praying for the successful installation of the Bishop, Rev. Nagba said the Upper Presbytery of PCG would look forward to a healthy ecumenical relationship so that, together with other church entities within and beyond the presbytery, they would work to deepen the faith.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
'Award Minor Construction Projects To Technical Schools'( D/G Wednesday, June 8, 2011)
The Chairman of the Association of Principals of Technical Institutes, Alhaji Alhassan Umar, has appealed to the government to consider awarding minor construction projects to technical institutes.
Such contracts, he explained, would provide an avenue for students of technical institutes to gain practical experience before completing their education.
According to him, such opportunity would also address the challenge of lack of training materials facing technical institutes, and ultimately lead to the generation of funds internally for the institutes.
“Such training will make the products of technical institutes more confident in setting up their own businesses after completion, thereby reducing youth unemployment,” he contended.
Alhaji Umar, who is also the Principal of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute, made the appeal at the launch of the maiden food bazaar and exhibition organised by the Catering Department of the institute.
The bazaar, which was on the theme: “Enhancing indigenous food for healthy life,”showcased varieties of food.
He said the concession would reduce the government’s high budgetary constraints and help the technical and vocational education and training sector to thrive.
“Eventually, the poor perception of society of technical and vocational education will give way for individuals to specialise in careers with practical skills and attitudes for the socio-economic development of the country,” he added.
He expressed appreciation to the government for granting the Bolgatanga Technical Institute its fair share of infrastructural development by constructing a six-unit classroom block, and rehabilitating a two-storey classroom block at the institute.
Alhaji Umar said construction of an administration block, which would include a library, a computer laboratory as a 24-unit three storey classroom block and a science laboratory, was also ongoing.
He, however, appealed to the Regional Coordinating Council to bring pressure to bear on the consultants and the contractor to speed up work on the project.
Through its own internally generated funds, he said, the school, with support from the PTA had started constructing a wall to ward off intruders, and called on the government to support the institute to renovate the boys’ dormitory which he described as a death trap.
He also appealed for support for the catering department of the institute since it lacked basic logistics such as refrigerators and microwave ovens.
Speaking on the theme, a retired educationist, Madam Florence Bobi commended the management of the institute for initiating the programme to highlight the need for people to consume indigenous foods and promote healthy lifestyles.
She noted with conmcern that due to education, cultural influences, foreign trade and technological advancement, people were moving away from their own self sustaining, local food systems to industrially derived food supplies with all its attendant health challenges.
“There are countless reasons why buying indigenous or local food is rewarding. This includes enjoying the taste of fresh food, improved health and nutrition, environmental stewardship, support for family farms and rural communities,” she said.
She said consuming indigenous food would also bring significant peace of mind as knowing where one’s food came from was very vital. Buying locally or directly from farmers can dramatically increase a farmer’s income and boost their capacity to take care of their families,” she emphasised.
Madam Bobi tasked the management of the institution to train the students to develop innovative skills which will enable them to become creative in the presentation of meals or dishes to attract consumers when they graduated.
The Deputy Regional Coordinating Director, Mr Gilbert Nuru Teg, who deputised for the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, commended the school for its efforts, stressing that Ghana needed more such skilled men and women at all levels for national development.
Such contracts, he explained, would provide an avenue for students of technical institutes to gain practical experience before completing their education.
According to him, such opportunity would also address the challenge of lack of training materials facing technical institutes, and ultimately lead to the generation of funds internally for the institutes.
“Such training will make the products of technical institutes more confident in setting up their own businesses after completion, thereby reducing youth unemployment,” he contended.
Alhaji Umar, who is also the Principal of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute, made the appeal at the launch of the maiden food bazaar and exhibition organised by the Catering Department of the institute.
The bazaar, which was on the theme: “Enhancing indigenous food for healthy life,”showcased varieties of food.
He said the concession would reduce the government’s high budgetary constraints and help the technical and vocational education and training sector to thrive.
“Eventually, the poor perception of society of technical and vocational education will give way for individuals to specialise in careers with practical skills and attitudes for the socio-economic development of the country,” he added.
He expressed appreciation to the government for granting the Bolgatanga Technical Institute its fair share of infrastructural development by constructing a six-unit classroom block, and rehabilitating a two-storey classroom block at the institute.
Alhaji Umar said construction of an administration block, which would include a library, a computer laboratory as a 24-unit three storey classroom block and a science laboratory, was also ongoing.
He, however, appealed to the Regional Coordinating Council to bring pressure to bear on the consultants and the contractor to speed up work on the project.
Through its own internally generated funds, he said, the school, with support from the PTA had started constructing a wall to ward off intruders, and called on the government to support the institute to renovate the boys’ dormitory which he described as a death trap.
He also appealed for support for the catering department of the institute since it lacked basic logistics such as refrigerators and microwave ovens.
Speaking on the theme, a retired educationist, Madam Florence Bobi commended the management of the institute for initiating the programme to highlight the need for people to consume indigenous foods and promote healthy lifestyles.
She noted with conmcern that due to education, cultural influences, foreign trade and technological advancement, people were moving away from their own self sustaining, local food systems to industrially derived food supplies with all its attendant health challenges.
“There are countless reasons why buying indigenous or local food is rewarding. This includes enjoying the taste of fresh food, improved health and nutrition, environmental stewardship, support for family farms and rural communities,” she said.
She said consuming indigenous food would also bring significant peace of mind as knowing where one’s food came from was very vital. Buying locally or directly from farmers can dramatically increase a farmer’s income and boost their capacity to take care of their families,” she emphasised.
Madam Bobi tasked the management of the institution to train the students to develop innovative skills which will enable them to become creative in the presentation of meals or dishes to attract consumers when they graduated.
The Deputy Regional Coordinating Director, Mr Gilbert Nuru Teg, who deputised for the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, commended the school for its efforts, stressing that Ghana needed more such skilled men and women at all levels for national development.
Friday, 15 April 2011
'Group Calls For Speedy Appointment Of MCE'(Daily Graphic,Fri, 08 Apr 2011)
Story:Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
A group calling itself ‘Upper East Youth Association’ has appealed to President J.E.A. Mills to appoint a substantive municipal chief executive for the Bolgatanga Municipality.
This, the group says, would facilitate the continuation of development activities and programmes drawn up for the municipality.
A release issued in Bolgatanga said, the absence of a substantive MCE for the Upper East Regional Capital, following the removal of the Mr Epsona Ayamga in March 2011 had created a huge power vacuum within the local government system in the municipality.
It said the situation had brought a number of development activities to a standstill, notwithstanding the fact that the regional minister was acting in that capacity.
The release said, it is common knowledge that one of the core functions of a District Chief Executive under the Local Government system and the 1992 Constitution is to be responsible for the day-to-day performance of the executive and administrative functions of the district assembly. This means that without the district chief executive, who is the chief representative of the central government in the municipality with additional functions of presiding over meetings of the executive committee of the assembly, no meaningful development can be carried out.
It said, in such instances, it was the poor and vulnerable groups that bore the brunt of the suffering because of their over-reliance on government’s interventions and protection.
While appealing to the President to fast-track the process of appointing a substantive MCE, the release said, given the current sanitation problems bedevilling the Bolgatanga municipality, the group was pleading with the President to consider appointing a person with the capability to deal with the sanitation problems in the municipality.
The release pledged the group's commitment to work with any person appointed as MCE for Bolgatanga, adding that it would help fight against the environmental challenges confronting the municipality
A group calling itself ‘Upper East Youth Association’ has appealed to President J.E.A. Mills to appoint a substantive municipal chief executive for the Bolgatanga Municipality.
This, the group says, would facilitate the continuation of development activities and programmes drawn up for the municipality.
A release issued in Bolgatanga said, the absence of a substantive MCE for the Upper East Regional Capital, following the removal of the Mr Epsona Ayamga in March 2011 had created a huge power vacuum within the local government system in the municipality.
It said the situation had brought a number of development activities to a standstill, notwithstanding the fact that the regional minister was acting in that capacity.
The release said, it is common knowledge that one of the core functions of a District Chief Executive under the Local Government system and the 1992 Constitution is to be responsible for the day-to-day performance of the executive and administrative functions of the district assembly. This means that without the district chief executive, who is the chief representative of the central government in the municipality with additional functions of presiding over meetings of the executive committee of the assembly, no meaningful development can be carried out.
It said, in such instances, it was the poor and vulnerable groups that bore the brunt of the suffering because of their over-reliance on government’s interventions and protection.
While appealing to the President to fast-track the process of appointing a substantive MCE, the release said, given the current sanitation problems bedevilling the Bolgatanga municipality, the group was pleading with the President to consider appointing a person with the capability to deal with the sanitation problems in the municipality.
The release pledged the group's commitment to work with any person appointed as MCE for Bolgatanga, adding that it would help fight against the environmental challenges confronting the municipality
Monday, 21 March 2011
Hard Road To Travel - As 54 Ghanaians Trek Across Sahara Desert To Escape Libyan Turmoil(D/G Monday, March 21, 2011)
Fifty-four Ghanaians have arrived safely in Bolgatanga after they crossed the Sahara Desert in three weeks in their bid to flee the political turmoil in Libya.
After spending two weeks on the life-threatening journey, the returnees became stranded in Niamey, Niger, partly because they were said to have been frustrated by Nigerien border officials.
The returnees had to send a distress call to the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso, which dispatched some of its officials to Niamey to help the returnees out.
After securing the returnees’ safe passage across the Nigerien border, the Ghana Embassy officials catered for them and secured a bus for them to continue their journey home.
The returnees were received in Bolgatanga Friday by the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni; the Regional Police Commander, ACP Bright Oduro; Regional Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr Peter Defie, and some members of the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council.
Sharing their horrific experiences with journalists, the leader of the returnees, Mr Osman Saeed, said at a point during their journey they ran short of food and water but with the instinct to survive, they decided to continue the journey rather than perish in Libya.
He said they managed to survive until they got to Niamey, where a consular officer of the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso, Mr Abdul Hanan Zubero, and others were dispatched to assist them.
For his part, Mr Zubero said the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso had received a distress call that some Ghanaians were stranded in Niamey.
After consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra, some embassy officials were dispatched to the Nigerien border to aid the returnees and assist them on their trip back home to Ghana. He said arrangements were then made to cater for them and convey them from Niger to Ghana.
Mr Zubero said the returnees were given between GH¢20 and GH¢50 to pay their fares to their various destinations after the bus hired from Niger had made its final stop in Kumasi.
Welcoming the returnees, Mrs Awuni advised them to put their skills to good use and pledged the government’s assistance to integrate them into society.
She urged the returnees to contact their various district assemblies to see how best the assemblies could be of assistance to them.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
UE PNC Condemns 'All Die Be Die' Statement(D/G February 15, 2011)
The Upper East regional branch of the People's National Convention (PNC) has joined the fray of condemnations of the “All die be die" statement by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Flag bearer, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo, and urged Ghanaians not to countenance such negative comments.Reacting to the comments in an interview in Bolgatanga, the Regional Secretary of the PNC, Mr Henry Fatchu, said it was unacceptable for any political party, group of persons or an individual to further divide the nation which already had been polarised on political party lines.According to him, such acts and inaction, through the use of what he termed “abusive language, have the tendency of degenerating into ethnic upheavals.”He, however,conceded that it was an undeniable fact that there was a “cold war” between members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) which had transcended from the leadership to the grassroots and social commentators across the country.“This has an effect on human lives and needs to be addressed with all the seriousness that it deserves. It is practically, morally and politically wrong for the NDC to use available resources to run after nothing and make others heroes instead of directing its energies into improving the material conditions of Ghanaians to ensure that no one is left hungry, illiterate, homeless, destitute and unemployed,” he said.Mr Fatchu said the general society should also be responsible for this predicament because they created the enabling environment for the political leaders to feed on with electrifying words.He bemoaned the fact that a section of the media, instead of setting a positive agenda to criticise the programmes of government and failure to eliminate the most acute social inequality in terms of economic, cultural and educational, turned to report negative and undesirable remarks.He recalled an occasion, a few months ago, when the president met with religious leaders and the issue of undesirable comments by politicians took centre stage.Mr Fatchu, therefore, called on the religious leaders to, as a matter of urgency, call the leadership of NDC and NPP to order and ask them to come up with social programmes which would eliminate poverty, unemployment and homelessness instead of turning a blind eye to the growing unemployment in the country.
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
NCCE Condemns High Filing Fees By Parties(D/G, Monday February 7, 2011. page 13)
The National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) has described as unfortunate the decision by some political parties to charge high filing fees for parliamentary aspirants.According to the Chairman of the commission, Mr Larry Bimi, such exorbitant charges would only go to debar competent but resource constrained persons from seeking to represent their constituents in the legislature.Mr Bimi said this at an end of year party for staff of the Commission in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Capital.The New Patriotic Party (NPP) recently announced that all aspirants from constituencies where there are sitting NPP MPs would pay a total sum of GH¢ 16,000, while those in orphaned constituencies would pay GH ¢ 6,000. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced a figure of GH¢ 2,000 as filing fees. Both parties however, offered a 50 per cent rebate for women aspirants to encourage them.But Mr Bimi believed that such high demands could overwhelm poor persons who were desirous of contesting elections and prevent them from participating in the democratic process even though they have what it takes to represent their constituents.He, therefore, called on the political parties in the country to put their acts together to provide an equal platform for all to take part in the democratic process of the country.He said Ghana had enjoyed relatively stable democracy mainly due to the efforts of the NCCE and the Electoral Commission albeit in the face of inadequate resources.He advised staff not to be daunted but continue to make do with the available resources to impact positively on the society and promised them that every effort would be made to fight for more resources to help them deliver on their mandate.The Upper East Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr Peter Mensah, said in pursuit of the mandate of the commission in the region, a number of activities including school based programmes designed to complement the school curricular as well as nurturing the leadership potential of the youth had been undertaken.Others are face–to-face interaction with communities, organised bodies and representative audiences, as a well as radio discussions on relevant subjects.On the Bawku crisis, he said the commission under the auspices and with financial support from the Bawku Municipal Assembly played a substantial role in efforts towards the resolution of the conflict, adding that the NCCE was able to mobilise some opinion leaders in the Bawku Municipality including leaders of the feuding ethnic groups and arranged a press conference where they declared to the whole region their commitment to peace and unity.“Though that event certainly did not end the conflict, it contributed to the beginning of the easing of the tension at Bawku” he contended.The Paramount Chief of Bongo who is a staff of the commission, Naba Salifu Alemyarum, chaired the function. He advised staff of the commission, not to be daunted by the many challenges they face but rather work hard to effectively enhance the image of the NCCE in the region.Awards were later presented to staff of the commission who dedicated themselves in the past year.
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
ICT CENTRE FOR BAWKU SCHOOLS (JUNIOR GRAPHIC, PAGE 6, JAN 26, 2011)
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bawku Central Constituency, Mr. Adamu Daramani Sakande with support from E-Toys and More, is to construct an Ultra Modern Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centre for some schools within the municipality.
The facility which will be located within the Winamzua Cluster of Schools when completed will also serve as an Information Resource Centre for schools in the Bawku Central Constituency.
It will also facilitate ICT training and development for interested residents.
Speaking to journalists in Bawku, Mr. Sakande said apart from the external support from E-Toys and More, the facility valued at about GHc20,000 would be funded from his share of the District Assembly Common Fund.
He bemoaned the lack of a well resourced ICT centre in the Bawku Municipality and the inability of schools there to establish their own computer laboratories, which he explained was hindering the teaching and learning of ICT at the junior and senior high school levels.
He expressed the hope that the completion of the project would contribute greatly to the improvement of ICT education in the area.
In a related development, E-Toys and More also donated some teaching and learning materials to the St. Anthony Kindergarten.
The facility which will be located within the Winamzua Cluster of Schools when completed will also serve as an Information Resource Centre for schools in the Bawku Central Constituency.
It will also facilitate ICT training and development for interested residents.
Speaking to journalists in Bawku, Mr. Sakande said apart from the external support from E-Toys and More, the facility valued at about GHc20,000 would be funded from his share of the District Assembly Common Fund.
He bemoaned the lack of a well resourced ICT centre in the Bawku Municipality and the inability of schools there to establish their own computer laboratories, which he explained was hindering the teaching and learning of ICT at the junior and senior high school levels.
He expressed the hope that the completion of the project would contribute greatly to the improvement of ICT education in the area.
In a related development, E-Toys and More also donated some teaching and learning materials to the St. Anthony Kindergarten.
CPP, PNC LEADERSHIP TOLD TO SHUN PAROCHIALISM (PAGE 12, JAN 25, 2011)
THE National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Adjei, has stated that members of the party who may foment trouble against the progressive trend of affairs within the party will not be spared.
He said unhealthy rivalry between aspirants would not be tolerated, adding that there was the need for party activists to sacrifice rather than beg for favours in respect of votes because those who looked for favours eventually lost respect and dignity.
Dr Adjei was addressing a regional rally to mark the second anniversary celebration of the coming into power of the Mills’ Administration at Ho at the weekend.
He stressed the need for party activists who were aggrieved with their members of parliament and municipal and district chief executives to resolve their differences in a friendly manner.
A member of the Council of State, Dr Bernard Glover, asked members of the party to come out boldly to defend its tenets to justify the declaration of the action year.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, outlined the road projects for the region, stating that more than enough funds had been mobilised to start the Eastern Corridor road by the second quarter of the year.
He disclosed that four contractors were expected to undertake the job, adding that re-engineering of the Aflao dual carriageway had been awarded and pleaded with the people to exercise restraint since the party would reciprocate efforts of the electorate.
The General Secretary of the party, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the party would begin to select candidates within the first quarter of the year after which primaries for members of parliament would be held to be followed by the election of a flag bearer by the end of the year.
Mr Nketia urged party activists to be faithful to the constitution of the party.
The Deputy General Secretary, Mr Kofi Adams, said the victory of the party in the last elections was important because it reversed the suffering and deprivation of majority of the people.
He, therefore, said everybody had a role to play in order to oil the victory machine with a greater sense of unity of purpose.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the NDC would not depart from its promises to the people, adding that education is the cornerstone of development of the region.
The Regional Chairman, Mr Kwasi Aboagye, said there were a lot of good things to be delivered this year under the action year.
He said unhealthy rivalry between aspirants would not be tolerated, adding that there was the need for party activists to sacrifice rather than beg for favours in respect of votes because those who looked for favours eventually lost respect and dignity.
Dr Adjei was addressing a regional rally to mark the second anniversary celebration of the coming into power of the Mills’ Administration at Ho at the weekend.
He stressed the need for party activists who were aggrieved with their members of parliament and municipal and district chief executives to resolve their differences in a friendly manner.
A member of the Council of State, Dr Bernard Glover, asked members of the party to come out boldly to defend its tenets to justify the declaration of the action year.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, outlined the road projects for the region, stating that more than enough funds had been mobilised to start the Eastern Corridor road by the second quarter of the year.
He disclosed that four contractors were expected to undertake the job, adding that re-engineering of the Aflao dual carriageway had been awarded and pleaded with the people to exercise restraint since the party would reciprocate efforts of the electorate.
The General Secretary of the party, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the party would begin to select candidates within the first quarter of the year after which primaries for members of parliament would be held to be followed by the election of a flag bearer by the end of the year.
Mr Nketia urged party activists to be faithful to the constitution of the party.
The Deputy General Secretary, Mr Kofi Adams, said the victory of the party in the last elections was important because it reversed the suffering and deprivation of majority of the people.
He, therefore, said everybody had a role to play in order to oil the victory machine with a greater sense of unity of purpose.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the NDC would not depart from its promises to the people, adding that education is the cornerstone of development of the region.
The Regional Chairman, Mr Kwasi Aboagye, said there were a lot of good things to be delivered this year under the action year.
Friday, 21 January 2011
APPOINT EXPERIENCED ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AS DCEs (PAGE 12, JAN 21, 2011)
THE Assembly member of the Zorko –Kanga electoral area in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region, Alexis Ayamdor has proposed that experienced assembly members who have worked with the various District Assemblies be selected to become District Chief Executives (DCEs).
Mr. Ayamdor, who retained the seat at the last District Level election, stated in an interview that experienced assembly members when elected as DCEs stood a much better chance of addressing issues relating to development of the Assemblies.
According to him, when experienced persons were appointed to such positions, they would be better placed to deliver since such persons had acquired some level of experience and were more versatile when it comes to the running the administration of the District Assemblies than people who were elected to represent their respective assemblies and had no requisite experiences.
He pointed out that the current practice where the President appointed people to head District Assemblies was not helping the development of the districts and suggested that experienced assembly members should rather be made to contest for the position of DCEs.
This, he indicated, would help encourage assembly members to work harder to increase the output of the assemblies and also make the DCE-elect also become more accountable to the electorate.
Touching on the just ended district level elections, Mr. Ayamdor said despite the numerous public awareness and education, many eligible voters did not show much interest in the electoral process, hence the need to put in place corrective measures to avert such flaws in future elections.
Mr. Ayamdor, who retained the seat at the last District Level election, stated in an interview that experienced assembly members when elected as DCEs stood a much better chance of addressing issues relating to development of the Assemblies.
According to him, when experienced persons were appointed to such positions, they would be better placed to deliver since such persons had acquired some level of experience and were more versatile when it comes to the running the administration of the District Assemblies than people who were elected to represent their respective assemblies and had no requisite experiences.
He pointed out that the current practice where the President appointed people to head District Assemblies was not helping the development of the districts and suggested that experienced assembly members should rather be made to contest for the position of DCEs.
This, he indicated, would help encourage assembly members to work harder to increase the output of the assemblies and also make the DCE-elect also become more accountable to the electorate.
Touching on the just ended district level elections, Mr. Ayamdor said despite the numerous public awareness and education, many eligible voters did not show much interest in the electoral process, hence the need to put in place corrective measures to avert such flaws in future elections.
UPPER EAST BEC CANDIDATES DENIED ADMISSION TO SHSs (PAGE 11, JAN 21, 2011)
THE Headmaster of Bolgatanga Senior High School in the Upper East Region, Mr Didacus Afegra has disclosed that most students in the region who wrote last year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) have been denied admission into second cycle schools due to their inability to write “Gurune” as their examinable subject.
Mr Afegra who said this in an interview in Bolgatanga described the situation as worrying.
He explained that all over the country, the BECE candidates wrote more than one elective subject out of which the best grades in any of the electives was selected and used for grading and placement purposes.
Mr Afegra, who doubles as the Regional Chairman of BONABOTO, a union of residents of Bolgatanga, Nabdam, Bongo and Tongo communities, pointed out that candidates in most second cycle institutions across the region wrote only one elective subject and that those who failed in this elective subject were not placed into senior high schools and technical institutions.
He, therefore, appealed to the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo to use his good offices to facilitate the approval and the introduction of the “Gurune Language” as an examinable subject at the final BECE by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC).
Mr Afegra said despite several complaints and appeals to the authorities concerned, nothing concrete had been done. The situation, he lamented, had given rise to youth migration down south since the desire of most students in the region was to get admission to well- endowed second cycle schools across the country.
He, however, stressed the urgent need for the GES and the WAEC to take a quick look at the situation and provide a permanent solution to it to ensure enrolment of more students into the second cycle schools.
He stressed that students in the Gurune speaking areas must be given the chance and necessary encouragement to study the “Gurune language” which was a core component of the culture of the people in the area.
According to him, the region possessed enough reading materials and trained teachers who were capable of teaching the children to pass the examination at the BECE level.
Mr Afegra, however, expressed his outfit’s preparedness in ensuring that the Gurune language was approved for the benefit of students in the region and said this demanded the support of all and sundry.
Mr Afegra who said this in an interview in Bolgatanga described the situation as worrying.
He explained that all over the country, the BECE candidates wrote more than one elective subject out of which the best grades in any of the electives was selected and used for grading and placement purposes.
Mr Afegra, who doubles as the Regional Chairman of BONABOTO, a union of residents of Bolgatanga, Nabdam, Bongo and Tongo communities, pointed out that candidates in most second cycle institutions across the region wrote only one elective subject and that those who failed in this elective subject were not placed into senior high schools and technical institutions.
He, therefore, appealed to the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo to use his good offices to facilitate the approval and the introduction of the “Gurune Language” as an examinable subject at the final BECE by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC).
Mr Afegra said despite several complaints and appeals to the authorities concerned, nothing concrete had been done. The situation, he lamented, had given rise to youth migration down south since the desire of most students in the region was to get admission to well- endowed second cycle schools across the country.
He, however, stressed the urgent need for the GES and the WAEC to take a quick look at the situation and provide a permanent solution to it to ensure enrolment of more students into the second cycle schools.
He stressed that students in the Gurune speaking areas must be given the chance and necessary encouragement to study the “Gurune language” which was a core component of the culture of the people in the area.
According to him, the region possessed enough reading materials and trained teachers who were capable of teaching the children to pass the examination at the BECE level.
Mr Afegra, however, expressed his outfit’s preparedness in ensuring that the Gurune language was approved for the benefit of students in the region and said this demanded the support of all and sundry.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
DELIVER ON YOUR MANDATE...Rev Nagba urges churches (PAGE 46, JAN 20, 2011)
THE Chairperson of the newly created Upper Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rev. Esmond Wasau Nagba, has urged churches to focus on their core business of evangelism, discipleship and church growth in order to draw more people to God.
Rev. Esmond Wasau Nagba made the call during an induction service for the new Presbytery Clerk, Rev. Martin Lamisi Sebire, at the Peniel Congregation of the PCG in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
Speaking on the theme: “Chosen for the mission of the Father,” Rev. Nagba, said orthodox churches in the country would regain their past glories only if they shunned negative attitudes and demonstrated God’s love through commitment and dedicated services.
The induction service brought together members of the newly created Upper Presbytery.
The Upper Presbytery was carved out of the Northern Presbytery and has Bolgatanga as its main station. It is the 16th Presbytery within the General Assembly of the PCG. It also covers other five districts of northern Ghana, including Wa, Bawku, Gambaga and Garu Tempane.
In his sermon, Rev. Nagba expressed concern about the way the orthodox churches had veered from their core mission and mandate of communicating God’s word to unbelievers through evangelism.
He said in the past, people were attached to the orthodox churches due to the exemplary Christian lifestyles portrayed by its members but “the situation today is nothing to write home about”.
He stressed the need for a greater attitudinal change among the faithful to redeem their lost image.
Rev. Nagba stated that churches must not only preach the good news, but they should also affirm it by the attitude and conduct of their members towards God and mankind.
He called on churches to devote their time to God, charge their congregations to do away with backbiting and the “pull him down” attitude to ensure their growth, both physically and spiritually.
Rev. Nagba also challenged them with the responsibility of sharing God’s word with unbelievers wherever they found themselves.
While inducting Rev. Lamisi Sabire into office, Rev. Nagba tasked the congregants to co-operate with him to ensure his effective administration.
In his acceptance speech, Rev. Lamisi Sebire expressed gratitude to the church for the confidence reposed in him and pledged his commitment to discharge his official duties with humility, faithfulness and obedience to the service of God and the church.
Rev. Esmond Wasau Nagba made the call during an induction service for the new Presbytery Clerk, Rev. Martin Lamisi Sebire, at the Peniel Congregation of the PCG in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
Speaking on the theme: “Chosen for the mission of the Father,” Rev. Nagba, said orthodox churches in the country would regain their past glories only if they shunned negative attitudes and demonstrated God’s love through commitment and dedicated services.
The induction service brought together members of the newly created Upper Presbytery.
The Upper Presbytery was carved out of the Northern Presbytery and has Bolgatanga as its main station. It is the 16th Presbytery within the General Assembly of the PCG. It also covers other five districts of northern Ghana, including Wa, Bawku, Gambaga and Garu Tempane.
In his sermon, Rev. Nagba expressed concern about the way the orthodox churches had veered from their core mission and mandate of communicating God’s word to unbelievers through evangelism.
He said in the past, people were attached to the orthodox churches due to the exemplary Christian lifestyles portrayed by its members but “the situation today is nothing to write home about”.
He stressed the need for a greater attitudinal change among the faithful to redeem their lost image.
Rev. Nagba stated that churches must not only preach the good news, but they should also affirm it by the attitude and conduct of their members towards God and mankind.
He called on churches to devote their time to God, charge their congregations to do away with backbiting and the “pull him down” attitude to ensure their growth, both physically and spiritually.
Rev. Nagba also challenged them with the responsibility of sharing God’s word with unbelievers wherever they found themselves.
While inducting Rev. Lamisi Sabire into office, Rev. Nagba tasked the congregants to co-operate with him to ensure his effective administration.
In his acceptance speech, Rev. Lamisi Sebire expressed gratitude to the church for the confidence reposed in him and pledged his commitment to discharge his official duties with humility, faithfulness and obedience to the service of God and the church.
UPPER EAST PNC CONDEMNS IMC (PAGE 12, JAN 19, 2011)
THE Upper East regional branch of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) has expressed disappointment at the recent impasse and power struggle within the party.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Henry Fatchu, said the entire regional and constituency executives of the party were let down by the quest of some people within the party to take over the administration of the party.
The PNC is witnessing some leadership crisis after some aggrieved members under the guise of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) moved to take charge of affairs of the party from the existing national executives.
But such actions, Mr Fatchu said, smacked of a disregard for party structures and disrespect for all the delegates who elected the national officers for a specified period of time.
“As a matter of fact, we as a branch of the party are disassociating our region from their action and have no respect whatsoever for such so-called interim management committee and will not bow to any instructions or dictates from them,” the Regional Secretary said.
He described as ironical the fact that those challenging the authority of the current leadership of the party had no roots but were out there to simply “make empty noise because they have been induced by others only to ridicule the party.”
Mr Fatchu challenged the agitators, stressing that “if they so matter towards the rebuilding of the party, then they should win seats from their constituencies to strengthen the party in Parliament than their individualistic and self seeking interests.”
“As a region, we are pledging our support for the duly elected national officers as our only legally mandated leaders, and therefore, calling on them to work hard and also restructure the party by organising early congress to shape the party in preparedness for the 2012 general elections,” he said.
He said the contribution of Dr Edward Mahama towards the building of the party over the years was incomparable and that the party should regard him as a hero and a great leader who strove to work for the party at all times.
In a related development, the Regional Chairman of the PNC, Alhaji Baba Mohammed, has urged followers of the party to remain calm in the face of the recent wrangling within the party.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga, Alhaji Mohammed described the wrangling as a petty family squabble that would soon be resolved.
He gave the assurance that everything would soon be put to rest. The PNC enjoys good support in the Bolgatanga Constituency, which has seen the party win the parliamentary seat in the 2000 and 2004 general elections.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Henry Fatchu, said the entire regional and constituency executives of the party were let down by the quest of some people within the party to take over the administration of the party.
The PNC is witnessing some leadership crisis after some aggrieved members under the guise of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) moved to take charge of affairs of the party from the existing national executives.
But such actions, Mr Fatchu said, smacked of a disregard for party structures and disrespect for all the delegates who elected the national officers for a specified period of time.
“As a matter of fact, we as a branch of the party are disassociating our region from their action and have no respect whatsoever for such so-called interim management committee and will not bow to any instructions or dictates from them,” the Regional Secretary said.
He described as ironical the fact that those challenging the authority of the current leadership of the party had no roots but were out there to simply “make empty noise because they have been induced by others only to ridicule the party.”
Mr Fatchu challenged the agitators, stressing that “if they so matter towards the rebuilding of the party, then they should win seats from their constituencies to strengthen the party in Parliament than their individualistic and self seeking interests.”
“As a region, we are pledging our support for the duly elected national officers as our only legally mandated leaders, and therefore, calling on them to work hard and also restructure the party by organising early congress to shape the party in preparedness for the 2012 general elections,” he said.
He said the contribution of Dr Edward Mahama towards the building of the party over the years was incomparable and that the party should regard him as a hero and a great leader who strove to work for the party at all times.
In a related development, the Regional Chairman of the PNC, Alhaji Baba Mohammed, has urged followers of the party to remain calm in the face of the recent wrangling within the party.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga, Alhaji Mohammed described the wrangling as a petty family squabble that would soon be resolved.
He gave the assurance that everything would soon be put to rest. The PNC enjoys good support in the Bolgatanga Constituency, which has seen the party win the parliamentary seat in the 2000 and 2004 general elections.
Monday, 17 January 2011
ALCOHOL ABUSE WORRIES BUILSA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL (PAGE 35, JAN 17, 2011)
THE Builsa Traditional Council in the Upper East Region is deeply worried at the rising incidence of alcoholism in the area.
It has, therefore, urged the youth to eschew the habit of excessive drinking and rather venture into more profitable ventures such as agriculture.
The district has, for the past four years, produced farmers who have won national awards during the National Farmers Day celebrations, and the council believes many more potential best farmers could emerge from the area if only the youth will put their efforts into that venture.
“We, the chiefs, wish to urge the youth who are the future leaders to put an end to alcohol consumption because it does not speak well of us and it does no honour to our ancestors,” the council stressed.
The Regent of Sandema and acting Paramount Chief of Builsa, Nansuing Nab Alex Azantilow, said this at the recent annual Feok Festival of the chiefs and people of Builsa at Sandema.
The theme for the celebration, which is aimed at giving thanks to the ancestors of the area for a prosperous year, was: “Harnessing the natural resources of Builsa for better development.”
The regent commended the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for assisting livestock farmers in the area with a number of sheep, aimed at improving the local livestock breed.
He called for an enhancement in the package to ensure that many more people benefited from that facility.
Nansuing Azantilow commended the government for selecting Builsa to benefit from improved health facilities, adding that it would bring better health care services to the doorsteps of the people.
He stressed that when the people were strong, they would produce more food to feed themselves and the rest of the country.
Nansuing Azantilow, however, bemoaned the fact that in spite of the contributions of Builsa to the national cause such as enlisting many citizens from the area into the Gold Coast Armed Forces and later the British Army to fight in the first and second world wars, little had been done to honour those gallant men who lost their lives in the struggle.
He, therefore, called for the construction of a befitting veterans’ halls as well as the building of a modern police station in memory of all those who lost their lives.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said the government was aware of the Builsa District’s potential and was, therefore, poised to open up the area to promote socio-economic activities that would help reduce poverty among the people.
He said under a DANIDA, funded programme, approval had been given for the construction of a bridge over River Sisilii at Doninga to link the region with the Upper West as an alternate and shorter route to Wa.
The regent reassured the people that the Chuchuliga-Sandema road, which had been a major concern of the people for a very long time, had been repackaged and awarded to a competent contractor for rehabilitation.
The Builsa District Chief Executive, Mr Norbert Awulley, earlier in a welcoming address, said the assembly was working out a strategy to formalise the operations of a number of small scale miners (galamsey operators) in the district.
He said the miners would be equipped with the requisite scientific knowledge, equipment and skills and their operations streamlined so that their activities would not adversely affect the environment.
It has, therefore, urged the youth to eschew the habit of excessive drinking and rather venture into more profitable ventures such as agriculture.
The district has, for the past four years, produced farmers who have won national awards during the National Farmers Day celebrations, and the council believes many more potential best farmers could emerge from the area if only the youth will put their efforts into that venture.
“We, the chiefs, wish to urge the youth who are the future leaders to put an end to alcohol consumption because it does not speak well of us and it does no honour to our ancestors,” the council stressed.
The Regent of Sandema and acting Paramount Chief of Builsa, Nansuing Nab Alex Azantilow, said this at the recent annual Feok Festival of the chiefs and people of Builsa at Sandema.
The theme for the celebration, which is aimed at giving thanks to the ancestors of the area for a prosperous year, was: “Harnessing the natural resources of Builsa for better development.”
The regent commended the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for assisting livestock farmers in the area with a number of sheep, aimed at improving the local livestock breed.
He called for an enhancement in the package to ensure that many more people benefited from that facility.
Nansuing Azantilow commended the government for selecting Builsa to benefit from improved health facilities, adding that it would bring better health care services to the doorsteps of the people.
He stressed that when the people were strong, they would produce more food to feed themselves and the rest of the country.
Nansuing Azantilow, however, bemoaned the fact that in spite of the contributions of Builsa to the national cause such as enlisting many citizens from the area into the Gold Coast Armed Forces and later the British Army to fight in the first and second world wars, little had been done to honour those gallant men who lost their lives in the struggle.
He, therefore, called for the construction of a befitting veterans’ halls as well as the building of a modern police station in memory of all those who lost their lives.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said the government was aware of the Builsa District’s potential and was, therefore, poised to open up the area to promote socio-economic activities that would help reduce poverty among the people.
He said under a DANIDA, funded programme, approval had been given for the construction of a bridge over River Sisilii at Doninga to link the region with the Upper West as an alternate and shorter route to Wa.
The regent reassured the people that the Chuchuliga-Sandema road, which had been a major concern of the people for a very long time, had been repackaged and awarded to a competent contractor for rehabilitation.
The Builsa District Chief Executive, Mr Norbert Awulley, earlier in a welcoming address, said the assembly was working out a strategy to formalise the operations of a number of small scale miners (galamsey operators) in the district.
He said the miners would be equipped with the requisite scientific knowledge, equipment and skills and their operations streamlined so that their activities would not adversely affect the environment.
ALCOHOL ABUSE WORRIES BUILSA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL (PAGE 35, JAN 17, 2011)
THE Builsa Traditional Council in the Upper East Region is deeply worried at the rising incidence of alcoholism in the area.
It has, therefore, urged the youth to eschew the habit of excessive drinking and rather venture into more profitable ventures such as agriculture.
The district has, for the past four years, produced farmers who have won national awards during the National Farmers Day celebrations, and the council believes many more potential best farmers could emerge from the area if only the youth will put their efforts into that venture.
“We, the chiefs, wish to urge the youth who are the future leaders to put an end to alcohol consumption because it does not speak well of us and it does no honour to our ancestors,” the council stressed.
The Regent of Sandema and acting Paramount Chief of Builsa, Nansuing Nab Alex Azantilow, said this at the recent annual Feok Festival of the chiefs and people of Builsa at Sandema.
The theme for the celebration, which is aimed at giving thanks to the ancestors of the area for a prosperous year, was: “Harnessing the natural resources of Builsa for better development.”
The regent commended the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for assisting livestock farmers in the area with a number of sheep, aimed at improving the local livestock breed.
He called for an enhancement in the package to ensure that many more people benefited from that facility.
Nansuing Azantilow commended the government for selecting Builsa to benefit from improved health facilities, adding that it would bring better health care services to the doorsteps of the people.
He stressed that when the people were strong, they would produce more food to feed themselves and the rest of the country.
Nansuing Azantilow, however, bemoaned the fact that in spite of the contributions of Builsa to the national cause such as enlisting many citizens from the area into the Gold Coast Armed Forces and later the British Army to fight in the first and second world wars, little had been done to honour those gallant men who lost their lives in the struggle.
He, therefore, called for the construction of a befitting veterans’ halls as well as the building of a modern police station in memory of all those who lost their lives.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said the government was aware of the Builsa District’s potential and was, therefore, poised to open up the area to promote socio-economic activities that would help reduce poverty among the people.
He said under a DANIDA, funded programme, approval had been given for the construction of a bridge over River Sisilii at Doninga to link the region with the Upper West as an alternate and shorter route to Wa.
The regent reassured the people that the Chuchuliga-Sandema road, which had been a major concern of the people for a very long time, had been repackaged and awarded to a competent contractor for rehabilitation.
The Builsa District Chief Executive, Mr Norbert Awulley, earlier in a welcoming address, said the assembly was working out a strategy to formalise the operations of a number of small scale miners (galamsey operators) in the district.
He said the miners would be equipped with the requisite scientific knowledge, equipment and skills and their operations streamlined so that their activities would not adversely affect the environment.
It has, therefore, urged the youth to eschew the habit of excessive drinking and rather venture into more profitable ventures such as agriculture.
The district has, for the past four years, produced farmers who have won national awards during the National Farmers Day celebrations, and the council believes many more potential best farmers could emerge from the area if only the youth will put their efforts into that venture.
“We, the chiefs, wish to urge the youth who are the future leaders to put an end to alcohol consumption because it does not speak well of us and it does no honour to our ancestors,” the council stressed.
The Regent of Sandema and acting Paramount Chief of Builsa, Nansuing Nab Alex Azantilow, said this at the recent annual Feok Festival of the chiefs and people of Builsa at Sandema.
The theme for the celebration, which is aimed at giving thanks to the ancestors of the area for a prosperous year, was: “Harnessing the natural resources of Builsa for better development.”
The regent commended the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for assisting livestock farmers in the area with a number of sheep, aimed at improving the local livestock breed.
He called for an enhancement in the package to ensure that many more people benefited from that facility.
Nansuing Azantilow commended the government for selecting Builsa to benefit from improved health facilities, adding that it would bring better health care services to the doorsteps of the people.
He stressed that when the people were strong, they would produce more food to feed themselves and the rest of the country.
Nansuing Azantilow, however, bemoaned the fact that in spite of the contributions of Builsa to the national cause such as enlisting many citizens from the area into the Gold Coast Armed Forces and later the British Army to fight in the first and second world wars, little had been done to honour those gallant men who lost their lives in the struggle.
He, therefore, called for the construction of a befitting veterans’ halls as well as the building of a modern police station in memory of all those who lost their lives.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said the government was aware of the Builsa District’s potential and was, therefore, poised to open up the area to promote socio-economic activities that would help reduce poverty among the people.
He said under a DANIDA, funded programme, approval had been given for the construction of a bridge over River Sisilii at Doninga to link the region with the Upper West as an alternate and shorter route to Wa.
The regent reassured the people that the Chuchuliga-Sandema road, which had been a major concern of the people for a very long time, had been repackaged and awarded to a competent contractor for rehabilitation.
The Builsa District Chief Executive, Mr Norbert Awulley, earlier in a welcoming address, said the assembly was working out a strategy to formalise the operations of a number of small scale miners (galamsey operators) in the district.
He said the miners would be equipped with the requisite scientific knowledge, equipment and skills and their operations streamlined so that their activities would not adversely affect the environment.
ALCOHOL ABUSE WORRIES BUILSA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL (PAGE 35, JAN 17, 2011)
THE Builsa Traditional Council in the Upper East Region is deeply worried at the rising incidence of alcoholism in the area.
It has, therefore, urged the youth to eschew the habit of excessive drinking and rather venture into more profitable ventures such as agriculture.
The district has, for the past four years, produced farmers who have won national awards during the National Farmers Day celebrations, and the council believes many more potential best farmers could emerge from the area if only the youth will put their efforts into that venture.
“We, the chiefs, wish to urge the youth who are the future leaders to put an end to alcohol consumption because it does not speak well of us and it does no honour to our ancestors,” the council stressed.
The Regent of Sandema and acting Paramount Chief of Builsa, Nansuing Nab Alex Azantilow, said this at the recent annual Feok Festival of the chiefs and people of Builsa at Sandema.
The theme for the celebration, which is aimed at giving thanks to the ancestors of the area for a prosperous year, was: “Harnessing the natural resources of Builsa for better development.”
The regent commended the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for assisting livestock farmers in the area with a number of sheep, aimed at improving the local livestock breed.
He called for an enhancement in the package to ensure that many more people benefited from that facility.
Nansuing Azantilow commended the government for selecting Builsa to benefit from improved health facilities, adding that it would bring better health care services to the doorsteps of the people.
He stressed that when the people were strong, they would produce more food to feed themselves and the rest of the country.
Nansuing Azantilow, however, bemoaned the fact that in spite of the contributions of Builsa to the national cause such as enlisting many citizens from the area into the Gold Coast Armed Forces and later the British Army to fight in the first and second world wars, little had been done to honour those gallant men who lost their lives in the struggle.
He, therefore, called for the construction of a befitting veterans’ halls as well as the building of a modern police station in memory of all those who lost their lives.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said the government was aware of the Builsa District’s potential and was, therefore, poised to open up the area to promote socio-economic activities that would help reduce poverty among the people.
He said under a DANIDA, funded programme, approval had been given for the construction of a bridge over River Sisilii at Doninga to link the region with the Upper West as an alternate and shorter route to Wa.
The regent reassured the people that the Chuchuliga-Sandema road, which had been a major concern of the people for a very long time, had been repackaged and awarded to a competent contractor for rehabilitation.
The Builsa District Chief Executive, Mr Norbert Awulley, earlier in a welcoming address, said the assembly was working out a strategy to formalise the operations of a number of small scale miners (galamsey operators) in the district.
He said the miners would be equipped with the requisite scientific knowledge, equipment and skills and their operations streamlined so that their activities would not adversely affect the environment.
It has, therefore, urged the youth to eschew the habit of excessive drinking and rather venture into more profitable ventures such as agriculture.
The district has, for the past four years, produced farmers who have won national awards during the National Farmers Day celebrations, and the council believes many more potential best farmers could emerge from the area if only the youth will put their efforts into that venture.
“We, the chiefs, wish to urge the youth who are the future leaders to put an end to alcohol consumption because it does not speak well of us and it does no honour to our ancestors,” the council stressed.
The Regent of Sandema and acting Paramount Chief of Builsa, Nansuing Nab Alex Azantilow, said this at the recent annual Feok Festival of the chiefs and people of Builsa at Sandema.
The theme for the celebration, which is aimed at giving thanks to the ancestors of the area for a prosperous year, was: “Harnessing the natural resources of Builsa for better development.”
The regent commended the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for assisting livestock farmers in the area with a number of sheep, aimed at improving the local livestock breed.
He called for an enhancement in the package to ensure that many more people benefited from that facility.
Nansuing Azantilow commended the government for selecting Builsa to benefit from improved health facilities, adding that it would bring better health care services to the doorsteps of the people.
He stressed that when the people were strong, they would produce more food to feed themselves and the rest of the country.
Nansuing Azantilow, however, bemoaned the fact that in spite of the contributions of Builsa to the national cause such as enlisting many citizens from the area into the Gold Coast Armed Forces and later the British Army to fight in the first and second world wars, little had been done to honour those gallant men who lost their lives in the struggle.
He, therefore, called for the construction of a befitting veterans’ halls as well as the building of a modern police station in memory of all those who lost their lives.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said the government was aware of the Builsa District’s potential and was, therefore, poised to open up the area to promote socio-economic activities that would help reduce poverty among the people.
He said under a DANIDA, funded programme, approval had been given for the construction of a bridge over River Sisilii at Doninga to link the region with the Upper West as an alternate and shorter route to Wa.
The regent reassured the people that the Chuchuliga-Sandema road, which had been a major concern of the people for a very long time, had been repackaged and awarded to a competent contractor for rehabilitation.
The Builsa District Chief Executive, Mr Norbert Awulley, earlier in a welcoming address, said the assembly was working out a strategy to formalise the operations of a number of small scale miners (galamsey operators) in the district.
He said the miners would be equipped with the requisite scientific knowledge, equipment and skills and their operations streamlined so that their activities would not adversely affect the environment.
LET THE WIDOWS HAVE THEIR RIGHTS (PAGE 35, JAN 17, 2011)
IN September, 2010, I wrote an article on some dehumanising culturally related violence perpetrated against women in the form of widowhood rights.
Not long afterwards, Ms Gifty Anti hosted a GTV Breakfast Show programme during which she featured the Head of the Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM), Madam Betty Ayagiba, as well as a victim of the abuse and a lawyer, who discussed the practice, which is one of the worst forms of violence against women.
In the course of the discussion, a female viewer called in and bluntly accused the victim as being a witch and responsible for many blemishes in the family.
From the countenance of the hostess and other panel members, I could see that they were livid and astonished at the accusation levelled against the innocent old lady, a victim of the abuse who was on the panel.
In some parts of the Upper East Region, women who lose their husbands are made to undergo some dehumanising cultural practices which can sometimes be very injurious. Those who refuse to do so are labelled as witches and are haunted.
I caught up with the Director of WOM, Madam Betty Ayagiba, to find out from her how they were dealing with the deep-rooted problem and some of the challenges they faced.
One major challenge she mentioned was the fact that many people were still denying the fact that widows were made to go through those practices. She said people still felt culture must be maintained so women should still practise the negative cultural practices.
Another major challenge Madam Ayagiba raised was the fact that some of the women did not open up completely or did not speak the truth about what they were going through and ended up with wrong advice or intervention.
As an NGO in the forefront of change, what is WOM doing? In answer to that question, Madam Ayagiba said through the support of other funding agencies such as ActionAid Ghana and RAVI, a number of programmes such as sensitisation and skills acquisition training had been done to equip the victims and better integrate them into the society.
She cited the instance where with the support of ActionAid Ghana and Ravi, five communities had written resolutions and signed, opting to stop the negative cultural practices meted out to widows shortly after losing their husbands.
The communities are Sumbrungu, Gambigo, Anateem, Zuarungu and Durongo, all in the Bolgatanga Municipality. The chiefs and elders in communities such as Kongo in the Talensi-Nabdam District have issued a fiat stopping the maltreatment of widows.
Madam Ayagiba added that nowadays, chiefs, especially those in the Talensi-Nabdam District, visited funeral grounds to see to it that widows were not stripped naked.
“We are glad that men have added their voices that the widows should not go through some of the unnecessary abuses,” she said.
Madam Ayagiba, however, contended that more sensitisation programmes ought to be held throughout the region to get more women liberated from those callous acts.
On the economic empowerment programme offered the women, Madam Ayagiba said they preached about human rights violations and also tried to address the immediate needs of the women.
She stated that in communities such as Duusi, Datuko and Sakote, widows groups had grinding mills to facilitate the empowerment process.
Madam Ayagiba said through the Canadian initiative support for small businesses, a grinding mill had been acquired for the Bukere community widows group after ActionAid Ghana had helped to put up a structure.
“With support from other donors, WOM has provided grinding mills for 10 groups in other communities,” she said.
Another area the organisation has found itself in terms of economic empowerment is in livestock breeding.
Madam Ayagiba said WOM had supported 15 groups to rear and own animals. She said the organisation had also trained more than 500 women to weave modern straw baskets and they exported between 3,000 and 5,000 to the United States of America and Denmark every year.
Madam Ayagiba said WOM processed quality white shea butter pomade for the market and had attended many national and international trade fairs to sell its products.
She added that they had currently embarked on a 200-acre mango plantation at Sakote in the Talensi Nabdam District to support the women.
“However, one major challenge is lack of funds to address the needs of widows, orphans and communities, which are all major forms of violence against women and the organisation will welcome any support in that direction,” she stressed.
Madam Ayagiba did not end without making some recommendations.
In the first place, she wanted the government and NGOs to work in a concretised manner to raise awareness in communities on traditional practices and policies which discriminated against women.
“Again, chiefs and other traditional leaders must take the lead in promoting advocacy for the elimination of negative widowhood practices,” Madam Ayagiba said.
Madam Ayagiba added “Women should also stand up and fight for what is right for them otherwise the suffering will continue and lastly, the whole judicial system, the police, and agencies of state such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) must work as a team to deal with issues of human rights abuse, especially against women.
It is only through effective measures that the debilitating effects of such abuses can be solved and help the nation to take a giant step forward to accelerate progress at achieving the third of the Millennium Development Goals which places emphasis on promoting gender equity and women's economic empowerment”.
Not long afterwards, Ms Gifty Anti hosted a GTV Breakfast Show programme during which she featured the Head of the Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM), Madam Betty Ayagiba, as well as a victim of the abuse and a lawyer, who discussed the practice, which is one of the worst forms of violence against women.
In the course of the discussion, a female viewer called in and bluntly accused the victim as being a witch and responsible for many blemishes in the family.
From the countenance of the hostess and other panel members, I could see that they were livid and astonished at the accusation levelled against the innocent old lady, a victim of the abuse who was on the panel.
In some parts of the Upper East Region, women who lose their husbands are made to undergo some dehumanising cultural practices which can sometimes be very injurious. Those who refuse to do so are labelled as witches and are haunted.
I caught up with the Director of WOM, Madam Betty Ayagiba, to find out from her how they were dealing with the deep-rooted problem and some of the challenges they faced.
One major challenge she mentioned was the fact that many people were still denying the fact that widows were made to go through those practices. She said people still felt culture must be maintained so women should still practise the negative cultural practices.
Another major challenge Madam Ayagiba raised was the fact that some of the women did not open up completely or did not speak the truth about what they were going through and ended up with wrong advice or intervention.
As an NGO in the forefront of change, what is WOM doing? In answer to that question, Madam Ayagiba said through the support of other funding agencies such as ActionAid Ghana and RAVI, a number of programmes such as sensitisation and skills acquisition training had been done to equip the victims and better integrate them into the society.
She cited the instance where with the support of ActionAid Ghana and Ravi, five communities had written resolutions and signed, opting to stop the negative cultural practices meted out to widows shortly after losing their husbands.
The communities are Sumbrungu, Gambigo, Anateem, Zuarungu and Durongo, all in the Bolgatanga Municipality. The chiefs and elders in communities such as Kongo in the Talensi-Nabdam District have issued a fiat stopping the maltreatment of widows.
Madam Ayagiba added that nowadays, chiefs, especially those in the Talensi-Nabdam District, visited funeral grounds to see to it that widows were not stripped naked.
“We are glad that men have added their voices that the widows should not go through some of the unnecessary abuses,” she said.
Madam Ayagiba, however, contended that more sensitisation programmes ought to be held throughout the region to get more women liberated from those callous acts.
On the economic empowerment programme offered the women, Madam Ayagiba said they preached about human rights violations and also tried to address the immediate needs of the women.
She stated that in communities such as Duusi, Datuko and Sakote, widows groups had grinding mills to facilitate the empowerment process.
Madam Ayagiba said through the Canadian initiative support for small businesses, a grinding mill had been acquired for the Bukere community widows group after ActionAid Ghana had helped to put up a structure.
“With support from other donors, WOM has provided grinding mills for 10 groups in other communities,” she said.
Another area the organisation has found itself in terms of economic empowerment is in livestock breeding.
Madam Ayagiba said WOM had supported 15 groups to rear and own animals. She said the organisation had also trained more than 500 women to weave modern straw baskets and they exported between 3,000 and 5,000 to the United States of America and Denmark every year.
Madam Ayagiba said WOM processed quality white shea butter pomade for the market and had attended many national and international trade fairs to sell its products.
She added that they had currently embarked on a 200-acre mango plantation at Sakote in the Talensi Nabdam District to support the women.
“However, one major challenge is lack of funds to address the needs of widows, orphans and communities, which are all major forms of violence against women and the organisation will welcome any support in that direction,” she stressed.
Madam Ayagiba did not end without making some recommendations.
In the first place, she wanted the government and NGOs to work in a concretised manner to raise awareness in communities on traditional practices and policies which discriminated against women.
“Again, chiefs and other traditional leaders must take the lead in promoting advocacy for the elimination of negative widowhood practices,” Madam Ayagiba said.
Madam Ayagiba added “Women should also stand up and fight for what is right for them otherwise the suffering will continue and lastly, the whole judicial system, the police, and agencies of state such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) must work as a team to deal with issues of human rights abuse, especially against women.
It is only through effective measures that the debilitating effects of such abuses can be solved and help the nation to take a giant step forward to accelerate progress at achieving the third of the Millennium Development Goals which places emphasis on promoting gender equity and women's economic empowerment”.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
THE Minister of the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka and the Director General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mrs Elizabeth Adjei, have jointly c...
