Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Personnel engaged under the aforestation programme initiated by Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and ACI Construction Company has lauded government for the programmes which will help in protecting the vegetative cover and also create employment and enhance livelihoods. The project is a collaborative effort between Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and ACI Construction Company, a subsidiary of the AGAMS Group of Companies and it is being operated under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) over a 5 year period. The initiative seeks to plant an initial Five (5) million seedlings of assorted trees within the 50 districts of the SADA ecological zone, namely the Upper East, Upper West, Northern regions as well as Northern parts of Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions. Speaking on the sidelines of a tour of the project sites by the Chief Executives of SADA, Alhaji Gilbert Iddi, some of the young men and women recruited under the programme told the Daily Graphic that the programme will no doubt improve lives, restore the vegetation of the area and protect the natural resources of the area. Nsobila Awuni told the Daily Graphic that the intervention in the community has helped improve their lives and also afforded them the opportunity to protect their water bodies. The C.E.O of SADA visited the project sites in the Upper East Region, the namely Pusu Namongo, Winkogo and Vea under the pilot phase to monitor the progress of the project. Alhaji Iddi described the project as one of the key components under SADA initiative and urged personnel to take it seriously in making it a success. He said the project will not only help solve the deforestation issues but will also create employment. He disclosed that at least 100 youth from each district of the region will be offered the opportunity and resourced and trained in the planting and nurturing of the trees and therefore urged all Municipal and District assemblies in the region to embrace the concept. “This intervention is the first step. Eventually, we at SADA will want to have all our major rivers dredged. When that is done, we will be able to control the flood problems and its attendant destruction and loss of lives and property that has affected this region over the past ten years”, he said. He disclosed that management of SADA have signed a memorandum of understanding with two institutions, namely the Volta River Authority and Wienco Ghana for the possible construction of a multi-purpose dam at Pwalugu and Sisilli Kulpong for both hydroelectric power generation and irrigation farming. These interventions, he said when carried out will better the lives and reduce poverty in the catchment area. He urged the personnel recruited to work on the pilot phase of the project to attached seriousness to the project. He added that the intervention will also target school and institutions like the prisons, who will be provided technical assistance to grow and nurture trees. The Project Manager of ACI Construction, Mr. Polycarp Kazaresem said the purpose of intervention is to transform the SADA zone is to transformed the north into a forest zone, adding that they have they have the expertise and the resources to carry out the project. “We are going to train the people on how to cater for the trees, teach them to understand the tree language and ensure that the objectives set are met”, He said. -End- July 31, 2012

Bawku reacts to sentencing of MP

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku Family members and supporters of the convicted Member of Parliament for the Bawku Central constituency in the Upper East Region are distraught at the conviction of their representative in parliament. Speaking to some supporters of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), in Bawku, they said although they are troubled at the outcome of the legal tussle, they are optimistic lawyers for the MP will work hard at securing the freedom of the MP through an appeal. Mr Adamu Dramani was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment for each of the three counts of perjury, deceit of a public officer and false declaration of office Mr. Mohammed Tahiru Nambe, a family member of the MP said even though they are shocked they are in touch with lawyers of the MP in order to see the way forward. During a tour of Natinga and other suburbs of Bawku, some supporters of the jailed MP were seen sitting in groups discussing the imprisonment of their MP. They were visibly shocked at the ruling. They however vowed to explore all legitimate means and strategy to ensure that the opposition NPP retain the seat irrespective of the latest court ruling. The jailed MP was retained by the NPP as the parliamentary candidate for the December elections and according to the supporters, they least expected that he will be the incarcerated. They however pledged to work hard to ensure that the NPP retain the seat no matter what. Reacting to rumors that people were jostling to replace the MP in the race for parliament, Mr. Nambe said this is not the time for people to fight for the candidature for the constituency but rather a period for all to work hard to secure the freedom of the incarcerated MP. Meanwhile, executives of the NPP in the Bawku Central Constituency, has cautioned party supporters to remain calm as they explore ways secure the freedom of the MP. The Bawku Central Constituency Secretary of the NPP, Amadu Hamza expressed optimism that the legal team will do all it can have the MP released on bail. July 30,2012

Frustrated G.C.B. demand better services

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Frustrated clients of the Bolgatanga Branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank have asked management of the bank to take steps at improving its services and ensuring a quick and seamless banking experience. Speaking to the Daily Graphic on Monday morning where a huge crowd had built up in and outside the banking hall, frustrated customers said they do not see the reason why till date, management o f the bank has not found the need to open more branches in the region to take care of its numerous clients. “They must keep in mind that banking is a competitive business, and customer service is critical to improving customer satisfaction” said one of the clients. Ghana Commercial Bank operates three branches in the region; these are the Bolgatanga, Navrongo, and Bawku Branch. However, the Bolgatanga branch experiences regular long queues as clients of the bank who are mainly teachers, civil and public servants, nurses among others crowd in there. Sometimes long after banking hours, customers could be seen queuing in the banking hall awaiting their turn to be served. Some of the clients said their difficulties and frustration are further aggravated by regular link failure and breakdown of the ATM machines. They therefore called on the management to find innovative ways of improving customer service. Hajia Azumi Zakaria,, the Bolgatanga branch Manager of the bank, had in an interaction revealed that the bank was exploring ways of opening a new branch in the Bolgatanga municipality to improve on the current situation. -End- July 30, 2012

Fountain Gate International School hold graduation ceremony

Story & Pix : Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Fountain Gate International School in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region has held a ceremony in which 81 Kindergarten two (KG2) pupils were graduated into primary one while another 42 primary six pupils were graduated into Junior High School. The graduation ceremony which was characterized by several activities including poetry recitals, debate, drama, singing and cultural performances was attended by pupils, teachers and parents. Rev. Mrs. Rosemond Anaba, Director of the school in her speech advised the pupils to take bold steps to surmount all obstacles that come their way because they have what it takes to do so. She said in each of them lies the seed of greatness and conscious efforts must be made by pupils, teachers and parents to nurture these children to become great men and women. Rev. Mrs Anaba said though the 2011 BECE examination results were generally not encouraging across the country, Fountain Gate International School recorded a hundred per cent pass with aggregate 7 as the highest grade and aggregate 15 being the lowest. She said the school also participated in a number of competing national competitions, including spelling competition and won two gold medals and one bronze medal. The pupils also made donations to the children’s ward of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital as part of their social responsibility. This she said was to inculcate in them the discipline and grace of giving back to their community. She admonished parents to increase parental involvement in the training of the pupils. She appealed to parents to contribute their time and resources towards the training and moulding of the pupils. Rev. Mrs Anaba expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitude of some parents towards the development of their children education and encouraged parents to pay regular visits to the school to check on the performance of their ward. The Regional Desk Officer in charge of Private Schools, Mrs Janet Kpan, emphasised that education remains the only key in unlocking the poverty situation of the region and therefore urged parents to invest in training their wards and helping them attain the highest heights on the educational ladder. She lauded the school, which she described as one of the best in the region. She also acknowledged the role of teachers in the school, for helping shape the future of the children. She urged pupils graduating from one class to another to be mindful of the challenges ahead and commit themselves to studying hard to bring out the very best in them. Pupils and teachers who excelled during the term were also awarded for their hard work. -end- July 30, 2012

MTTU trains personnel

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Commanding Officer of the National Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP), Mr. Angwubotoge Awuni has charged personnel of the unit to work extra hard to help rid Ghana’ s transportation system of the numerous challenges that pose a threat to road users. Speaking at a capacity building workshop for police personnel drawn from the Upper East, Upper West, Northern and Brong Ahafo regions at the Pwalugu Police Training School aimed at educating and creating the necessary awareness on how to enforce the new Road Traffic Regulations, L.I. 2180 of 2012, ACP Awuni noted that the key to achieving the objectives of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety was improved enforcement of the relevant laws. He said The UN Decade of Action for Road Safety instituted in 2011 to reduce fatalities attributable to traffic accidents by 50 percent is hinged on six pillars; these are safer roads, improved road safety management, safer vehicles, safer road users, improved post-crash response and improve enforcement. ACP Awuni said improved enforcement requires the necessary legal backing and hence the introduction of the new L.I. which seeks to fill in the gap in respect of legislation and enforcement. He stressed with the regulation in place some of the bad practices such as the use of mobile phones and the operation of television monitors on the dash boards on vehicles when driving, use of hand held communication devices such mobile phones to make or receive calls, send or receive messages or access the internet when driving is illegal among others are all unlawful adding the prohibition of the use of these devices will greatly minimise road traffic accidents. He noted that the new regulation makes provision for towing services and said this is expected to rid the road of broken down vehicles which obstruct traffic on the road and sometimes cause serious accidents. He also touched on the regulations that prohibit the use of motor cycles for commercial purposes. He therefore tasked the personnel to be abreast of the provisions of the law in order to maintain safety on the roads. He also gave the assurance that the Police Service and for that matter the MTTU will hold series of education and create the needed awareness to ensure the effective and efficient enforcement of the content of the regulations. Giving an overview of Road Traffic Accidents and other related Traffic Regulations, the officer in charge of education, research and training, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ACP), Mr. A. K. Obeng said between January 1, 2012 and June 2012, a total of 7,172 cases, involving 10,572 vehicles. Out of the number, 1,444 persons died while 7,165 of them sustained injuries. Mr. Obeng attributed the causes to road user indiscipline, abuse of road markings and signs, intolerance, over speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol and fatigue driving amongst other. He urged the participants to be vigilant and ensure strict compliance to the law to avert some of these deaths. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr. Samuel Sasu-Mensah also underscored the need for ethical and professionalism on the part of the personnel in order to achieve the desire goal of the service. Earlier in a welcoming address, the Upper East Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCOP), Mr. Bright Oduro expressed the hope that the participants will after the workshop discharge their duties effectively to reduce the carnage on the roads. July 26, 2012

Mount Sinai Primary School hold open day

From: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Pupils of Mount Sinai Primary School in the Bolgatanga Municipality have held a series of activities mark the end of term. Pupils from the nursery department, Kindergarten, lower and Upper Primary took part in poetry recitals, singing, chorography, and drama performances to shake off the stress after a term long teaching and learning. The pupils also used the occasion to call for unity among Ghanaians and appeal to all citizens to work towards sustaining the peace of the country. The ceremony was also used to award best three students in each class who excelled at the end of term examination to motivate the pupils to learn hard. July 26, 2012

Upper East Mourns Late President Mills

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga

Politicians, Security Chiefs, and a cross section of the population in the Upper East Region have been paying tribute to the late President of the Republic of Ghana who passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2012. On the first day of the opening of a book of condolence at the office of the Regional Coordinating Council, the Upper East Regional Representative on the Council of State, Rt. Rev. Dr. Jacob Ayeebo, the Deputy Regional Minister , Madam Lucy Awuni, the Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Mr. Edward Ayagle, the District Chief Executives for Talensi and Nabdam, Madam Vivian Anafo, the DCE for Bongo, Mr Clement a. Tia, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bright Oduro, the Regional Commander for Ghana Immigration Service, Mr. Emmanuel Akiti were among the first who signed the book of condolence. Rt. Rev. Dr. Jacob Ayeebo, who is also Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale wrote “With deep sorrow, May your soul sleep in peace and rise in glory, Amen”. The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni wrote “The people of Ghana love you but the good lord love you most. May your soul rest in the bosom of the Lord”. “I am dispirited to hear of the sudden death of our beloved President. I wish sincerely that Ghana and Ghanaians will stay together as one people and forge ahead. May your soul rest in perfect peace” were the words inscribed by the Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Mr. Edward Ayagle. The DCE for Talensi and Nabdam, Madam Vivian Anafo wrote that the people of Nabdam and Talensi will forever remember and practice the virtues taught by the late president adding “we are proud of you and will forever miss you. We pray the good Lord receive you in his heavenly bosom where we trust you will continue to pray for mother Ghana as you did. Rest in peace” The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCOP), Mr. Bright Oduro carve these words “ Demirifa Due, May your soul rest in the bosom of the Lord. Rest in perfect peace”. In a related development, the founder of the Fountain Gate Chapel, Rev. Eastwood Anaba has also paid tribute to the late President of Ghana, John Evans Atta Mills emphasising that the late President will be remembered by his humility and simplicity. Pastor Anaba who also heads the Eastwood Anaba Ministries told the National broadcaster, GTV from Accra that the passing away of Mr. Mills was sad for Ghana, Africa and the World as whole. “It is very difficult news to take but we can only trust God to keep our nation”. The late president, either as a presidential aspirant or sitting president attended the Fountain Gate Chapel anytime he visited the region to fellowship with the congregation. “He was a personal friend who I knew way before he became president. My preaching on the love revolution was something he was very interested in and will occasionally pick copies of the tape to listen to”, Rev. Anaba said. “As a friend, I knew our president as a very likeable person, a Godly man who was not ashamed of his faith in Christ and yet he didn’t discriminate against other people”. He added further that the late president was a gentleman who respected other people’s rights and their boundaries stressing that he was also a generous man who shared his intellect and time, his resources and strength with the entire nation. -End- July 27, 2012

Upper East NPP reacts to jail sentence passed on Bawku MP

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), Mr. Joseph Kpemka Dindiock has urged supporters of the party in the Bawku municipality to remain calm as the party work on options available to them to have the jailed MP, Mr Adamu Dramani granted bail. Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Bolgatanga shortly after the MP was jailed for two years by the Supreme Court, over his dual nationality, Lawyer Kpenka called for calm and restraint among supporters of the party in the Bawku Central Constituency. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mr Adamu Dramani,was jailed for two years by the Supreme Court, over his dual nationality. The MP was found guilty on three counts of false declaration of office, perjury and deceiving a public officer. The sentences are to run concurrently Reacting to the news, Mr. Kpemka urged the supporters of the party in Bawku to take heart and pray with the MP during these difficult times . “We want to assure them that all the necessary legal remedies available will be explored to get him out on appeal . He said they at regional executives will confer with his lawyers, stand by them to work on an appeal for him and seek bail. Pending that, he said the regional executives will wait for directions from Accra as to the way forward with regards to the pending parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, some supporters of the MP and the party who spoke to the Daily Graphic from Bawku via telephone said they are very sad at the latest development. One party member told the Daily Graphic that, in Natinga, a suburb of Bawku and melting pot for the NPP, every single person is sad at the outcome. July 27,2012

FBD bemoan insanitary condition at slaughter house and poor meat handling

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Office of the Food and Drug Board, (FBD), has called for an intensification of efforts at monitoring the sanitation conditions and hygiene of slaughter house to prevent acts likely to be detrimental to public health. The call by the FBD, has come as s result of what the it says is the poor handling of meat products from the abattoirs to the meat shops for sale to consumers in the region, which it described as a major setback in terms of food safety. The Regional Director of the Food and Drugs Board, Mr. Eugene Addo who disclosed this at a forum on meat handling at Bolgatanga, Mr. Addo said the haphazard carting of meat products in rotten and rusty push trucks to meat stalls are great threats to public health. Participants at the forum included District Chief Executives, Presiding Members of District Assemblies, , Environmental Health Officers, Veterinary officers, Officials of Ministry of Food and Agriculture, butchers among others stakeholders. Mr. Addo reiterated the fact there is an urgent need to control the situation in order to ensure public health safety, cautioning that under PNDC Law305 (b), it is an offence for a person to sell, prepare, package, convey, store, or display for sale food under unsanitary conditions commits an offence. He also added that under the law food should be stored and conveyed in a manner that preserves its composition, quality and purity and minimise the dissipation of its nutritive properties from climate and other deteriorating condition. The Dean of Faculty of Agriculture at the Animal Science Department, of the University for Development, Professor Gabriel A. Teye, in a presentation said poor meat hygiene practices are common all over Ghana. According to him, most off the meat produced in Ghana is highly contaminated adding that the microbial loads on the meat are higher than the accepted limits. He said the situation has gotten so alarming that consumers do not even prefer the locally processed meats. Another observation he made was that about 80 per cent of those involved in the processing of meat have no formal education hence the resultant unhygienic practices in the handling of the product. Dr. Tei noted that butchers are essential components of both the livestock and food production chain and therefore must be educated on good hygienic standards of meat production. He said apart from constructing new abattoirs in regional capitals and district capitals, there is the urgent need to provide other facilities ideal for the business such as meat vans solely for the purpose of conveying meat products, to improve the hygienic standards of meat production. Additionally, he said rules governing meat production and handling of the products must be enforced by appropriate agencies while graduates from the country’s universities who have specialised in meat processing must be encouraged to go into the production and processing of meat as a means of ensuring food safety. A participant, Madam Veronica Agana of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit in the Bolgatanga Municipality cited inadequate personnel and logistics as a major constraint to the effective enforcement and monitoring of the relevant health regulation on the ground. She therefore called on the municipal and district assemblies’s to resourced personnel assign to ensure the safety of meat to improve upon sanitation and other related health concerns at the slaughter houses. -End- July 23, 2012

David Kurug, lecturer at B’Poly stake claims for Nabdam seat on the ticket of PNC

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Nangodi A lecturer at the Bolgatanga Polytechnic in the Upper East Region, Mr. David Kurug has called on the electorate in the Nabdam Constituency to elect parliamentary candidates who are very young but have demonstrated their readiness to serve their people and address the many challenges facing their communities. Mr. Kurug, who is contesting the Nabdam seat on the ticket of the Peoples National Convention, (PNC) in an interview with the Daily Graphic after he was acclaimed by delegates of the PNC as the parliamentary candidate that the sitting MP, Mr. Moses Asaga who has served for the past 16 years As MP has done so much to demerit the votes of the electorate. “Mr. Moses Asaga of the NDC and Boniface Gambila, of the NPP, should give the youth a chance to contribute and come out with solutions to problems that confronts the developmental problems whilst are still young so that we can take out destiny into our own hands”, he said. “My intention to contest is borne out of a result of a personal zeal to serve the people of my constituency coupled with a call from the youth to adequately represent them in order to bring to the area the needed development”, he said. Outlining his vision for the area, Mr. Kurug said when given the nod, would explore all possible means within his capabilities to establish an Educational Fund to will help raise funds to support education and human resource development in the area. He maintained that aside the MP share of the common fund; we will institute a fund where all Nabdams both home and abroad will be encouraged to contribute into so as to provide assistance to brilliant but needy students. Mr. Kurug also promised to devout attention to agriculture when given the mandate by the people. “Considering the fact that we are farmers and our lands are no more fertile for productive agriculture and do not give maximum returns to farmers thereby increasing poverty levels, I would liaise with other development partners to introduce the use of mechanized methods of farming”, he said. He said another pressing issue that confronts the constituency that demands attention is the small scale mining, stressing that if given the chance, he will champion the course in parliament to ensure the practice is streamlined and save the environment from further destruction. July 22, 2012

Old Vandals support St John’s Integrated Senior High Technical School

Story and Pix : Benjamin Xornam Glover, Navrongo

Students and staff of the St John’s Integrated Senior High Technical School in the Kassena-Nankana East District of the Upper East Region are reeling under inadequate supply of water to the school especially during long dry season. The school, which a population of 328 students including 80 hearing impaired students, depend on only one boreholes and a dug out for the supply of water. However, during the dry season, when the land is dry and there is only very little water in the dug outs, it becomes very difficult for the students to get water for bathing and other daily activities. In those difficult times, students have to fall on the neighbouring, Community Health Nurse Training School for water supply. In response to their plight, the Upper East Region branch of the Old Vandals Association, (OVA), an alumni association of the Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana has presented a water storage tank and a pumping machine to help authorities store water. When installed, the facility will provide reliable water supply to the school which is a major challenge to the school Members of the association also donated ceiling fans, a television set, 90 pairs of footwear, two sets of sewing machines to the school. The items were presented by the Regional President of the OVA, Dr. Francis Asaana to the Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Germma Kazaresam at the school. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Asaana said the objective of OVA in supporting the school was to help ameliorate the hardship of the school in terms of getting access to water. He reiterated fact that OVA is a non political, non partisan association whose members have contributed in diverse contributed to support the Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana and also identified and addressed issues confronting the under privileged in society. In her response, the headmistress of the school, Mrs. Germma Kazaresam said the gesture by OVA was the first of its kind by a group from within Ghana and said it will go a long way to bring comfort to the students who sometimes have to rely the nearby community health nurses training school to access water for use by the students and the kitchen department. The ceremony was witnessed by representatives of the Catholic Church, who started the school, traditional rulers, and members of OVA in the region and the entire student population of the school. -End-

Bongo MP donates computers but beneficiary schools lack electricity to power them for effective teaching and learning of ICT

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bongo In a bid to boost the teaching and learning of Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a subject, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bongo Constituency, Mr. Albert Abongo has presented a number of computers to selected schools in the area. This is the second time the MP is providing computers for the schools in the area to significantly push forward the new ICT policy of the Ministry of Education, which makes the teaching of computer skills compulsory and an examinable subject in the basic schools. Zorko Senior High School, which had earlier received two computers from the MP some few months back, received an additional four desktop computers and its accessories and a photocopier machine. A number of selected Junior High Schools in the area, namely Vea, Kodorogo, Tarongo, Kadare, Gamborongo, also received a computer each to facilitate the teaching and learning of ICT. Mr. Abongo in an interview after the presentation said the computers were sourced from the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), as part of efforts at facilitating and providing I.C. T education and internet service to deprived communities. He appealed to the authorities of the schools and the students to ensure that the computers are put to good use to the total benefit of all. At the Zorko Senior High School, the MP said government is doing everything possible to improve infrastructure development on the schools new campus and this is manifested in the 18 unit classroom block currently on under construction at the school. The Assistant Headmaster of the Zorko Senior High School, Mr. Augustine Ceaser Achegewe expressed his appreciation for the gesture and said the school was happy to within a relatively short time benefited from the MPs benevolence. During a tour of the beneficiary schools, especially the Junior High Schools, one major observation was the lack of electricity supply in the schools to power the computers for the effective teaching and learning of I.C.T. The Bongo West Circuit Supervisor, Mr. Sylvanus Akurigo, acknowledged the challenge and said all efforts are being made to get schools hooked up to the national grid. He pointed to some electric poles acquired for that purpose and said very soon the schools will be connected to effectively utilize the computers. In the meantime, he said since nearby quarters’ have lights and it should be possible for teachers to utilise the lights nearby to facilitate the teaching of ICT. The MP for Bongo also acknowledged the unavailability of electricity to power the computers but said the most important thing was for the pupils to see what a computer looks like and appreciates the subject while efforts are made to extend electricity to the schools. -End- July 20, 2012

Zorkor Senior High School wants speedy completion of classroom and hostel projects

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bongo The problem of inadequate classroom infrastructure at the Zorkor Senior High School in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region if not address in time may greatly affect fresh admissions in September this year. Speaking to the Daily Graphic during a visit to the school, The Headmaster of the School, Mr. Baba J. Salifu, renewed an appeal to contractors working on various infrastructure projects to speed up work to facilitate academic work. Zorkor Senior High School was established in 2009. Initially, the school commenced work from the Zorkor Social Centre from where it provided opportunity for some 177 Junior High School graduates, who did not get computer placement After operating for some time, the school moved to a six-unit classroom block originally designed for a Junior High School. Later the Bongo District Assembly handed over a three-unit classroom block at a permanent site for the school to augment teaching and learning. During a visit to the school, work was ongoing on an 18-unit classroom block. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the headmaster, Mr. Baba J. Salifu appealed to the contractor working on the project to speed up work to ensure better position the school to admit new student come the next academic year. “We are praying and hoping that at least the ground floor is completed early for the September admission otherwise we will find ourselves in a tight corner”, he said. He said two other projects, a hostel for boys and girls has also been awarded but the contractors are yet to move to site. He therefore appealed to them to quickly move to site to begin work since the school was in dire need of those projects. Mr. Salifu commended the government, through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and expressed the hope that the contractors will up their efforts in order to complete the projects on time for the student to use. Responding, the MP for Bongo, Mr. Albert Abongo said education was the key role to national development and said government would therefore, not relent in its efforts at providing the necessary infrastructure for the school. “We were here recently with the Vice President, who promised the ongoing projects and I am hopeful that the next step will be to provide the school with an administration block and I can assure you that we will work towards that”, he said. -End- July 20, 2012

Nabdam District Assembly target rapid development

Story& Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Nangodi The Nabdam District Assembly is one of the newly created assemblies inaugurated in June this year. The district was carved out of the Talensi-Nabdam District and according to the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr. Francis Wongnab Mbabire, the 21 member assembly is ready to work hard to see the Nabdam District Assembly initiate projects that will bring development to the area and lift the place out of deprivation. Speaking to the Daily Graphic after its maiden meeting during which he was sworn into office by Mr. P.K. Richardson, a High Court Judge, the Presiding Member said the elevation of the area into a district status will require hard work from all the members of the house and as such will expect greater consultation and cooperation from all assembly members to meet the aspiration of the populace of the district. Apart from the swearing in of the Presiding Member, the assembly also constituted some sub committees in order to ensure a smooth operation of the assembly. The committees were the Development Planning, Social Services, Work, Justice and Security, Finance and Administration, Women and Children Sub-Committees The District capital is located at Nangodi, a mining town along the Bolgatanga-Bawku Highway. Other major towns are Sakoti, Kongo and Pelungu . Mr. Mbabire said like any new born baby, the area lack a lot of things including infrastructure, human resource to man the various decentralised departments, poor road network, inadequate health and educational facilities amongst several infrastructure needed to fast track development but with determination and hard work, they hope to overcome the many teething challenges in order to make the area one of the best in the region. “A new district such as ours, come with a lot of challenges. Some of these challenges will include the availability of resource to man the various departments given the fact that the area is deprived, inadequate accommodation for staff to be posted to the area, lack of water and other amenities that goes to make life comfortable. But as an assembly, we are committed to succeed and with time, we will overcome”, he said. The Presiding Member said, one of the immediate issues that needed to be addressed was the poor road network. For instance se said the road linking the district capital, Nangodi and Pelungu has been rendered impassable as a result of broken down culverts. Additional, that linking Nagodi and Sakoti was also not in a good shape. He also stressed the needed for drastic rehabilitation of the Nangodi section of the Bolgatanga –Bawku highway which is has developed many potholes. “As a district, we will require a good health facility. The present one cannot accommodate more than two persons and as a new district as such we will all have to work hard to get our facility expanded to cater for the health needs of the people. While commending the government for elevating the area into a district, he said the assembly will be looking forward for more support and assistance to help elevate the Kongo Senior High School into a boarding status in order to provide good education for the youth of the area. On revenue generation, Mr. Mbabire said the assembly would have to intensify education and involve the citizenry of the area in the fee fixing processes of the assembly in order to generate the needed revenue to run the assembly. The Acting District Chief Executive, Madam Vivian Anafo, enjoined all assembly members in the newly created assembly to cooperate with the administrators who will be assisting in the day to day activities of the office to help the area develop. She said one of the major challenges was the lack of accommodation for the officers to be posted to work in the area and therefore appealed to the assembly members to support and help in the securing of residential facilities for the officers. The District Coordinating Director, Mr. Adams Arafat Abubakari Tia called for team work for the development of the area. -End- Pix: Benjamin Glover July 18,2012

FOOD AND DRUGS BOARD TO CHASE NON-IODINE SALT PRODUCERS

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Board has indicated that the number cases of Goitre and stunted growth in children for example, have reduced in their numbers in the Bolgatanga Municipality and other districts across region. This according to the outfit is due to an increase public education carried out by the FDB on the need to use only iodated salt . Speaking to journalists at Bolgatanga, the officer in charge of the FDB in the region, Mr. Eugene Addo expressed his satisfaction at development adding that the number of ill health cases associated with iodine deficiency in the region is fast reducing, after a series public education on the importance of iodine in the human system. He said available information says sufficient intake of iodine into the human system helps in making children more intelligent in school, prevents Goitre and Cretinism (stunted growth). He said the FDB is is not relenting in its public education efforts on the consumption of iodated salt and the dangers associated with iodine deficiency and said under a sponsorship package by World Food Programme, the board will reach out to all stakeholders to ensure that the right thing is done. Meanwhile, the FDB has intensified its public education programme educate traders and commercial users of salt in the region on some of the regulations governing transportation, storage and sales of Salt in the country. Mr. Eugene Addo and his team who visited some markets in the municipality cautioned traders selling non-iodide salt and those producing non-iodide salts, to desist or will be fished out for prosecution. According to him, it is still an offense punishable under the Food and Drugs amended Act, 1996 (Act 523) to produce, distribute or offer to sell salt for human or animal consumption if it not adequately iodated. Mr Addo said the law also covers transportation of non-iodated salt without a permit from the Food and Drugs Board adding that non-iodated salt is only allowed to be transported for industrial use only and has to be permitted by the F.D.B. -End- July 18,2012

UE Fire Service holds Biennial sports competition

UE Fire Service holds Biennial sports competition Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service in the Upper East Region have held thier biennial sports competition Bolgatanga with the aim at promoting fitness among its personnel and also prepare sportsmen and women for the Security Service Sports Association (SESSA). The competion saw personnel of the service from neighbouring Upper West who took part in events such as athletics, volley ball, tug of war, cross country, football soccer and indoors game. The Upper West Region emerged winners of the competition with five points and was presented with a trophy whilst Upper East Region the host placed second with two points. Speaking to personnels after the events, the Upper East Regional Fire Commander of Upper East, Mr Edwin Kuntu Blankson called on men and women in the service to take sporting activities very seriously to become more fit as demanded by the service. He also urged the sports men and women in the teams to ensure that they came out with the best players for the SESSA which would be hosted by the Service next year. “You must allow unity and discipline prevail among you in all the games to become champions”, he stressed. -end- July 18/2012

UE: NDC Primaries, two incumbent MP lose seat(Saturday, January 21, 2012 )

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Two incumbent members of parliament in the Upper East Region came out of the weekend primaries of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) seriously bruised when they were defeated the polls. The sitting MP for Pusiga, Mr. Simon Atingban Akunye was overpowered by Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, the only female aspirant out of the 31 aspirants that filed to contest in the nine constituencies in the region. Hajia Ayamba, a Deputy National Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, polled 89 votes to wade off the challenge from three other male contenders, namely Messrs Aboko Akudugu, George Bambill Azungah and Simon Akunye who polled 81, 47 and 38 votes respectively. The other sitting MP who suffered defeat was Mr. Timothy Ataboadey Awontirum who polled 74 as against the winner, Lawyer James Agalga, who garnered 123 votes in the Builsa North Constituency polls. Messrs George Abavelim,the Presiding Member of the Builsa District Assembly, Philip A. Azaikoba and Seth Alafa who also contested the Builsa North seat obtained 42, 22 and 6 votes in that order. Two aspirants were acclaimed. They are Mr. Cletus Apul Avoka, the Majority leader for the Zebilla Constituency while Mr. Roger Abolumbisa, a former MP was retained unopposed for the Builsa South constituency. In the Bongo constituency, the man whose name rhymes with the name of the constituency, Mr. Albert Abongo thrashed the Regional Secretary of the party, Donatus Akamugri. Abongo polled 132 votes as against 70 secured by Akamugir. The other two contenders in the race for the Bongo seat were Lawyer Charles Adongo Bawa-Duah who polled 30, and Ministry of Energy spokesperson, Edward Abambire Bawa who had 115 votes. In the Talensi constituency, five terms MP and Minister of Information, John Tia Akologu secured the nod to pursue a sixth term parliamentary slot when he defeated four other contenders by polling 186 votes. The other contenders comprising Messrs Benson Baba Tongo, a former President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Edward Adimazoya Akolgo, Simon Nabia and Peter Tobil Kapeog had 89, 21, 5 and 4 votes respectively. In next door Nabdam Constituency, Mr. Moses Asaga sailed smoothly to shore when he polled 121 as against 37 garnered by his only contender Mr. Sebig Martin Dittoh. In the Bolgatanga constituency, the sitting MP Emmanuel Akolbire Opam-Brown dismissed his challenger, Mr. Mathew Akayigre Adombire. Mr. Opam-Brown polled 398 votes while his contender had 103. The MP for Garu Tempane, Dominic Azimbe Azumah retained his seat when he polled 195 votes. Six other contenders, Essagol Joseph Lama, Akuka Alazuuga, John Akudugu Simon Asore, Daniel Asigri Zayeya and Alhaji Ayass Awelisa polled 92, 52, 17, 7, 3 and 1 votes respectively. -END-

Ending the Spirit Child Phenomenon in Sirigu, orphaned Paul Apowida raise awareness and pledge to consign the belief to history

(Saturday, January 7, 2012 The Mirror) Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Meet Paul Apowida, a native of Sirigu in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region. As a child, both his parents died shortly after he was born. As a result of this, traditional healers (soothsayers in the village) tagged him as a “spirit child”, meaning he was possessed by evil spirits who had brought misfortune to his parents and was capable of extending that malevolent spirit to the entire community. He was condemned to death by the soothsayer who instructed Paul’s stepmother to feed him with poisonous herbs. Paul survived the ordeal and was later saved by a kindly Catholic Sister, Jane Naaglosegme who had been posted to Sirigu to start a care home, Mother of Mercy Babies Home for ‘Spirit Children”. Young Paul was nursed backed to health and with support from a Bolgatanga based charity organization, Afrikids Ghana, Paul was sent to the SOS home in Tema, where he attended school and later trained as an artist. Many of his paintings were sold to raise funds for Afrikids, the organization that saved his life Afterwards, he moved to the United Kingdom and while there he enlisted into the British Army. After his training in the army, he was posted to Afghanistan on peace keeping mission. Paul now in his mid 20’s recently return from his mission in Afghanistan and as part of his effort to repay the kindness extended to him by Afrikids and also raise fund for the organization embarked on a 35 kilometer marathon from Afrikids, Ghana Headquarters in Bolgatanga to his native village of Sirigu. Accompanied by two professional athletes and staff of the Charity organization, Paul completed the challenge in two hours, thirty minutes and later addressed a durbar of chiefs, opinion leaders, the youth, women, men and youth on the need to end the spirit child phenomenon. Speaking to this reporter, an emotional Paul said coming back home and meeting all this people welcoming him makes him feel so proud. He expressed his appreciation to Afrikids for giving him the opportunity to become who he is now most importantly underscored the need to end the practices of killing innocent children all in the name of the spirit-child phenomenon. Addresing a durbar at Sirigu to mark the end of the belief in spirit children paul expressed his appreciation to his benefactors, Sister Jane Naaglosegme of the Mother of Mercy Babies’ Home, and staff of Afrikids, especially the founder , Georgie Fienberg of UK and the Country Director, Mr. Nicholas Kumah for their assistance. “There are many reasons that I should not be standing here with you today…As an infant I was accused of being a spirit and on the loss of my parents my family tried to have me killed. As a child I was sent to Accra, to a good school and home, but without my family and my people around me,” he said As a young adult I struggled to support myself on the streets of Accra, trying to make it as an artist. As a soldier in the British army I have encountered the dangers of Afghanistan, and the European winters. And finally today, as if all of this was not enough, I have been asked to run the final leg home from Bolga to Sirigu in return for sponsorship for AfriKids!” “But I am not standing here today asking for your pity, I am standing here to celebrate with you the fact that my life has been blessed and the lives of many children like me since have also been blessed. Through all of the challenges I have faced there has been two constant things; one is the internal strength of the people of the Kassena Nankana District which is in me, and the second has been AfriKids” he said. “Together I hope you can see we have proved that my diagnosis as a spirit child was wrong, just as it has been wrong for every other child that has been accused”, he concluded. He said he was so pleased that as an adult, he has able to repay some of this kindness, supporting his brothers and sisters in SOS, Tema, raising over 90,000GHC for AfriKids in painting sales and serving Britain, the country that ultimately helped him in the army. He was grateful that things are now changing in the village with people now benefiting from improved healthcare and people are now recognising that children cannot be spirits., “ all children are human and deserve a decent life”, he added. The Country Director of Afrikids Ghana, Mr. Nicholas Kumah said the organisation, having worked in the Sirigu Community over the past 10 years have made an impressive headway with the phenomenon gradually dying down. “We have met all the village medicine man, popularly referred to as concoction men, and they tell us for the past two to three years, people have not come for consultation. This is an indication that the phenomenon is gradually dying”, he said. Mr. Kumah added that Paul Apowida homecoming will also bolster teh drive among the community members that they don’t have to tag innocent babies as evil children and later have them killed all in the name of tradition. -End

Busongo community get Nurses quarters. (Thursday, February 9, 2012 )

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Busongo The Upper East Regional Health Directorate with support from the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health under its Mobile Technology for Community Health (MoTeCH) project has constructed a three bedroom nurses quarters for the Busongo Community in the Kassena-Nankana West district. The facility, worth GH c 35,000 will ease the accommodation challenges for Community Health Officers in the Busongo community and enhance the access to health services to the people of Busongo and its neighbouring communities. In a ceremony to officially commission the clinic, the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. John Koku Awoonor William expressed gratitude to the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health for its partnership stressing that it will go a long way to deliver good health for the entirety of the population in the community. He however renewed an appeal to the District Assembly to honour its promise of adding a pavilion to the newly constructed accommodation facility to serve as a treatment facility since the existing structure is dilapidated and can no more serve that purpose. Dr. Awoonor-Williams also commended Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health who through its Mobile Technology for Community Health (MoTeCH) project which seeks to deploys mobile phone technology to enhance access to antenatal and neonatal care in rural communities provided a grant of over $ 200,000 of equipment for all Community-based Health Planning and Services centers (CHPS) facilities in both Kassena-Nankana East and West Districts. The support, he said has significantly strengthened the entire health system in the two districts and provided a source of motivation for the nurses. The Chief of Sirigu, Naba Akware Anyoka expressed appreciation to the Regional Director of Health Services and his staff for the commitment, dedication and dynamism that had brought about drastic improvement in the health sector in his community and the region as a whole. The facility he said had come at the right time to solve the inadequate accommodation problem for the nurses at the Busongo/Nyagolingo CHPS centre. He observed that in order to reach the Millennium Development Goals, it is important that health care becomes more accessible to the people especially pregnant women stressing that it is not uncommon to see many pregnant women walk long distances to the few health facilities in Sirigu to access antenatal and postnatal care. The Chief appealed to the Regional Director of Health Services for assistance to help upgrade at least three weighing centres to Community Health Compounds as well as expand the Busongo/Nyagolingo CHPS centre into a Health Centre to increase maternal and Child health care in the community. He also bemoaned the absence of accessible road network linking all the health facilities in Sirigu and appealed to the District Assembly to help address the problem. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo who was present at the commissioning said ggovernment has proposed a number of projects such as water, extension of electricity, opening up of the road network and assured the people of Sirigu and its neighbouring communities that their immediate needs will be taken care of. He pointed out to the construction of five new projects at the Sirigu Senior High School as well as the construction of the road network from Kandigah Junction to Sirigu and beyond to buttress government efforts at addressing the challenges of the area and promised that more will be done. The District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana West, Mr. Thomas Addah Dalu said the assembly last year provided financial support to ten community Health Trainees and two medical students at the University for Development Studies and the University of Cape Coast with the view that these medical students will return to work in teh district for a number of years after their study. -End-

Deploying Mobile phone Technology to enhance access to antenatal and neonatal care in rural communities(Tuesday, February 7, 2012 )

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Busongo In an effort to bridge the gap between community health workers and patients, the Ghana Health Service is putting in place steps to upscale how best to use mobile phones to increase the quality and quantity of antenatal and neonatal care in rural communities in Ghana. The Mobile Technology for Community Health (MoTeCH) project was founded with the goal of improving the availability of health information for clients and patients as well as health workers in the hope that better information will lead to improved maternal and child health outcomes in rural communities. The project, which has been successfully piloted in the Kassena-Nankana East and West District of the Upper East Region, is a joint initiative between the Ghana Health Service, the Grameen Foundation, and the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health Under the pilot phase which was launched in 2010, health workers used mobile phone to disseminate home-based health education to families and to encourage them to seek pre-pregnancy and child health services. Pregnant women and their partners receive regular, customized messages in voice or text format based on their baby’s due date. Receiving messages is cost-free and clients can access their messages on any mobile phone, whether their personally owned mobile phone of borrowed phone from a family member. In addition to alerts and reminders concerning their clients, health workers also benefitted from the introduction of simplified registers which streamlined the paper based capture and management of health information at the Community-based Health Planning and Services centers in the communities. Thus it provided a standardized format for all Community Health Officers in facilities in the project areas. Speaking at a community durbar at Busongo in the Kassena-Nankana West District to officially mark, the end of the pilot phase of the programme, a Director of Health Information at the Ghana Health Service, Mr. Daniel Darko even before a total national scale up is done, the lessons so far learnt have been imputed into a national policy at the Ghana Health Service Headquarters, in terms of Human Resource Development and Information management. He indicated that the MoTeCH project is currently being replicated in the Ewutu Senya District of the Central Region as a result of the success chalked in the pilot phase in the Kassena-Nankana East and West District of the Upper East Region. The Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. John Koku Awoonor-Williams noted the MoTeCH innovation apart from sending regular alerts to clients also has the potential for significantly reducing the amount of time health workers spend writing their reports by hand each month. Dr. Awoonor-Williams said aside the benefits, implementers also took note of some of the challenges encountered during the pilot stages such as poor network coverage and limited access to mobile phones in some areas, the need for pay greater attention in explaining to clients the steps for contacting MoTeCH to access their messages and also facilitiating mobile phone access for clients. On the health worker side, another challenge experienced was in the area of capturing all the relevant data in the mobile phones due to heavy workloads and under staffing. These issues he said have been fully noted and will be addressed in future iterations of the project. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo commended the various partners for harnessing the increasing widespread of mobile phone usage to help people especially those in remote areas to access quality health services which can lead to improve health, increase prosperity and reduce poverty. Mr. Woyongo said he was convinced that the MoTeCH intervention will make an impact on the maternal and child mortality in the region and expressed the hope that the technology will be deployed to other parts of the region and nationwide. The District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana West, Mr. Thomas Dalu Addah said administrative data shows that the MoTeCH and other programmes initiated in the district brought improvement in skills delivery from 42 per cent to 52 per cent and post natal registrants from 26.9 per cent to 63 per cent. He also pledged the assembly’s commitment to continue to support initiatives that will bring relief to the people. Representatives of the Grameen Foundation, and the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Ms Jacqueline Molla Larsen and Ms Allison Stone both commended partners for the successful piloting of the project in the Kassena-Nankana East and West Districts and expressed that hope that the lessons learnt during the initial phase will be used in the future to make the MoTeCH system even more beneficial for its target groups. -End-

BOLGATANGA NOT READY FOR VALENTINE’S DAY(Friday, February 10, 2012 )

The oft euphoria that surround Valentine Day Celebration appears to dying done at least in the Bolgatanga Municipality, capital of the Upper East Region. With only a few days to 14th February, popularly known as Saint Valentine’s Day and yet Shops in the Bolgatanga Municipality are not ready with the usual red colour stuff for people who like to shop for the Valentine Day. Many shop and boutique operators interviewed in the area told the Daily Graphic that, they have been reading the shopping trend from Christmas and New Year festivities to date, and are not encouraged to spend money in stocking their shops with items associated with the Val’s Day celebration. And true to their words, the public seem not to be ready for any elaborate celebration. Mr. Foster Aggor, a radio presenter who double as a club DJ said the low euphoria may be due to the fact that the Val’s Day falls on a working day, and also coincide with a period where many have just settled or yet to settle their debut accrued during the Christmas festivities. Some few years ago, Ghana declared the 14th February valentine’s Day, “Chocolate Day” and was trumpeted so much with the hope of making it stay on the minds of Ghanaians. Surprisingly many residents are not aware of the Chocolate Day, but still remember that 14th February is Val’s Day. It is there no surprising that many shops in town either do not have chocolate at all or have a little quantity as of Friday, February 10, 2012. END

MP for Garu goes to the aid of health facilities (Monday, February 27, 2012)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Garu The Member of Parliament for Garu-Tempane and Minister of State at the Office of the President, Mr. Dominic Azimbe Azumah has procured 10 pick-ups for distribution to health institutions in the district. The vehicles worth over GH c 850,000 are meant to ameliorate the transportation needs of these facilities and for use to save the people, especially women from dying in their quest to visit health facilities due to the of lack of transport. The MP who announced this during this year’s annual Danjuar festival celebration of the Bimoba Communities at Kpikpira said funds for the vehicles were secured from a three year accumulation of his share of the District Assembly Common Fund, HIPC Funds, NHIS and support from the Dutch Embassy. “Our women go through a lot of difficulty assessing our health facilities hence the move to get these vehicles to save our poor women who were dying every day from lack of vehicles to transport them to hospitals”. He said the vehicles are ready and waiting for an official inauguration by the Vice President after which it will be distributed to the beneficiary facilities. Responding to concerns that he should have looked at the roads in the first rather than buying vehicles, the MP said, “I am sure if you were in the shoes of my women, you would d think of human lives first” Mr. Azumah encouraged the people who are 18 years and above to participate in the biometric voter registration when the process begin and also advice the youth to refrain from all acts of violence during parliamentary and presidential polls later in the year. -End-

Talensi-Nabdam District Education needs spacious office(Monday, February 27, 2012 )

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tongo The Talensi Nabdam District Education Directorate has appealed to the government to consider providing the directorate with an office block to improve on education delivery in District. Officers in charge of education in the area are also calling the district assembly, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and philanthropists to assist the directorate to address the problem. So bad is the situation that officer have to cram themselves around their working desks and the situation gets worse around these times of the year where temperatures are extremely high, making it difficult for officers to give off their maximum. Speaking to the Daily Graphic after a visit to the Directorate, all though the district Education Director, Mr. Joachim Faara, said although he has information that the assembly is making frantic effort to get a new site for offices for the directorate, that has not been successful due to scarce resources. He said coupled with that is the fact that the assembly also has certain pressing issues they have to take care of but was hopeful that at the right time when they get the necessary resources, they will be able to relocate the directorate to a more convenient place. “We don’t find it convenient staying in here because it has been an old classroom block. It is our prayer that as the district assembly harnesses resources, in future they will have to resettle us”, Mr. Faara said. He also appealed to NGOs and other Civil Society Organisations who want to help quality education delivery in the directorate to come to its aid. “Every officer needs some privacy in the discharge of his or her duties but because they are all jammed up in one room that is not possible. By the nature of the building, the ventilation is poor and inadequate for effective work, especially when the weather is hot, then you see that many of the officers are tempted to move out of the room and that makes it difficult to the staff to stay in the office from 8 am to 5pm. He described performance of pupils in the district as average adding that teachers and other stakeholders will have to do a little more in order for the education sector to reach excellence. -End- Pix:The Classroom block that serves as the offices of the Talensi-Nabdam District Education Directorate

Bimoba community in Garu-Tempane appeals to gov't to connect the area on the National Electricity Grid(Monday, February 27, 2012)

Attn: Regional Desk Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Kpikpira The Regent of Kpikpira in the Garu-Tempane District of the Upper East Region has appealed to the government to fulfil its promise to have the Bimoba communities in the district connected to the National Electricity Grid as early as possible. According to the Regent, Peter Dameri Kulbong the promise which was made last year when honoured will boost socio-economic lives of the people. The Regent made the comment in a speech read on his behalf by the assemblyman for the area, Mr. Joesph Kpemka Dindiock at this year’s Danjuar festival of the Bimobas at Kpikira. The festival, the tenth to be held, was celebrated with pump and pageantry and attracted a good number of sons and daughters of the Bimoba community from Ghana and neighboring countries. Also present was a delegation of the Bawku Naba, Asigri Azoka Abugrago II. Aside the lack of electricity, the traditional ruler said the Bimoba communities in the district encounter a myriad of problems which have made life unbearable. This is said included but not limited to poverty, disease, illiteracy, inadequate infrastructure among other daunting challenges that needed to be surmounted if the people are to witness any meaningful development. He bemoaned the recent performance at the Basic Education Certificate Examination adding the most of the schools within the Bimoba Community performed abysmally. The regent added that this bad performance is expected to worsen if immediate pragmatic and holistic measures are not put in place to avert an imminent collapse of basic education in the area. “The traditional leaders and opinion leaders are ready for any radical policies by government that have the potential of brightening the future of our Junior High School pupils”, he said. He noted that year in year out, they as a people have appealed to government to help construct dams and dug outs within their communities so as to avert the mass exodus of the productive youth to the southern parts in search of greener pastures. He therefore drummed homed the need for a pragmatic and time bound policies aimed at getting a number of dams and dug outs for the area to ameliorate a precarious poverty situation especially during the long fry season. The Member of Parliament for Garu-Tempane and Minister of State at the Office of the President, Mr. Dominic Azimbe Azumah in a swift response said government has approved the rural electrification project adding that starting February 28, 2012, the Regional Coordinating Council will hand over project to a contractor to begin connecting the various communities including those in the Garu-Tempane district. “A loan agreement of $110 million was approved by parliament on the 18th of December last year. All processes are on course and the rural electrification will begin and come October, the entire community will be lighted up”. He also announced that government has approved boarding status of the Tempane Senior High School with immediate effect, stressing that all the necessary documentation have been completed. The Chairman of the Bimoba Union, Mr. Essagol Joe Lama, announced that the Girl Child Education Support Fund initiated in the area, gave chalked positive results stressing hat in 2010, 25 girls were supported from JHS 1 to JHS 3 with 18 girls gaining admission to Senior High School. He said for 2012, the union intends to sponsor 30 girls and therefore appealed to individuals and organizations to lend their support to the fund. The Garu-Tempane District Chef Executive, Mr. David Adakudugu also assured the Bimoba community of the assembly’s continues commitment to spread development to very part of the district. The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni said government recognizes the developmental gap between the North and the South and for that matter has put in place bold initiatives such as the Savannah Accelerated Development programme to harness all the economic potentials to bridge that gap and create wealth for the people. -End-

PPP canvass for more members in Bawku (TO:Graphic Editorial CC:K. Asmah Kobby Asmah Message flagged Wednesday, February 29, 2012 )

PPP canvass for more members in Bawku Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku The Progressive People’s Party, (PPP), has set out a campaign in Bawku in the Upper East Region to canvass for more members to the newly formed party. The leading figure of the party, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom who Interacting with a crowd at the meeting halls at the premises of the Bawku public library, said the party has come to stay and make an impact against all odds. Everywhere you go in Ghana people are beginning to know that the PPP is not just new but one that is going to make difference. So you all have to join us to do something positive and bring something good to Ghana”, he said. “Our party wants everybody to do well. When there is a job, contract or position to be given to somebody, we are not going to ask for the tribal background of that individual. We will not demand their religious background or political affiliation. As long as you are a Ghanaian and you qualify, we will give you the job to do”, he said. According to Dr. Nduom the PPP stood for peace and as such will not encourage its members to go and foment trouble. “We want peace in Ghana, where people can work together and live in peace”, he added. He reiterated the possibility of the PPP winning elections in Ghana and urge the public to discount the notion that PPP can never win elections in Ghana. He recalled the example President Yayi Boni of Benin, as well as the current president of Zambia, Michael Sata who he said came from obscurity to become President of their countries. Dr. Nduom said when elected into government, the PPP will want to make it necessary for every child to go to school from kindergarten to Senior High School in well resourced facilities without interruption. He also promised to provide jobs for the people and ensure efficient health system that will among others see the eradication of malaria. Dr. Nduom encouraged every ne to participate in the biometric voter registration when the exercise takes off The Coordinator of PPP in the Bawku, Garu-Tempane, Zebilla, Pusiga and Binduri, Mr. Ziblim Lukman said the PPP was making inroads and expressed the hope that come elections 2012, the party will cause a stir in the five constituencies. -End-

Gov’t commits $121 million to provide electricity to 500 communities in UE under the Rural Electrification Programme. (Wednesday, February 29, 2012 )

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga 500 communities in the Upper East Region are to benefit from a rural electrification project which when completed would benefit about 88,917 household in the beneficiary districts while creating in its wake 30 permanent jobs and 200 temporary jobs. The project will involve the supply and installation of electrical materials and equipment to the tune of $ 121 million for the beneficiary communities in the nine districts of the region. This came to light during a brief ceremony at Bolgatanga to hand over the project and introduce the contractor, Messrs Thengashep (GH) PTY to the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, by the Ministry of Energy. The extension of electricity to the various communities fulfils a promise made by President Mills to have most of the deprived communities in the three northern regions to the national grid to facilitate development. In a remark, the deputy minister for energy, Alhaji Inusah Fusieni said an assessment carried out by the ministry revealed that the three region in northern Ghana, namely, Northern Region, Upper East and Upper West regions, had accessibility rates of 43.52 per cent ,30.39 per cent and 31.95 per cent respectively which fall far below the national average of 72 per cent. He said it was the resolve of government in the medium term to raise the accessibility rates of the three regions to that of the national average and even beyond. Alhaji Fusieni said the project in the Upper East Region together with 112 communities currently being electrified under the Self-Help Electrification Programme, (SHEP) and scheduled to be completed in December 2012 fall in tandem with the policy of the National Electrification Scheme which aims at extending the reach of electricity to all parts of the country by the year 2020. The deputy energy minister said per the benefit to be derived from the project in terms of the total number of household to benefit from it and the anticipated jobs to be created as a result, “the NDC government cannot but be excited about providing this key ingredient needed for the socio-economic development of the beneficiary communities”. While urging the contractors to deliver an efficient job, the deputy minister called on the beneficiary communities to monitor and bring to the attention of the ministry anything they suspect to be unusual for prompt action. On the thorny issues of compensation, the deputy minister was categorical stressing that there will be no compensation issue in the implementation of the project. He also entreated beneficiary communities to safeguard the wooden poles that would be used for the project. He announced that government is putting measures in place to ensure that unscrupulous persons do not charge high fees for connection. “The connection and meter fee for this project is 58 Ghana pesewas for single phase and GH c 1.16 for a three-phase connection, nothing more nothing less”, he declared while urging the public not to hesitate to report to the ministry or the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council any person who charged beyond the stated fees . The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo, expressed happiness that the programme to extend electricity to many more communities was taking off. He asked the contractor to do deliver a good job and one that will last longer. He also urged people in the beneficiary communities to assist the contractor to do his work in peace. Mr. Woyongo appealed to the beneficiary communities to give a second thought to the issue of payment of compensation to them but gave the assurance that no property belonging to anybody will be destroyed in the cause of connecting their places to the national grid. While urging the people to desist from activities that will lead to bush fires, the regional minister proposed the use of steal poles instead of wooden ones to avert loss of materials in the event of wild fires. -End-

Deputy Upper West Regional Minister on SADA (Monday, March 5, 2012 )

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. Cezar Kale has echoed the need for the movement of the programmes and policies of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, (SADA) from the drawing board to the implementation stage in order to stem the tide of migration in the region and also reduce poverty in that part of the country. “It is about time we harness the numerous natural resource potential of the Upper West Region. Available statistics indicate that if we take the three regions of the north, Upper West is leading with the migration rate with about 52 per cent of the population migrating to the adjoining regions especially Brong Ahafo region were close to about 30 per cent of our population are there and into ventures like farming”, he said . He said with the Upper West Region being more or less an agriculture oriented region, the coming in of SADA coupled with the injection of capital and the provision of irrigated dams, dug outs among others, most of the population who hitherto are forced to migrate will stay and work. Speaking at a high –level joint United Nation Country Team meeting with the Regional Ministers of the Savannah Ecological Zone at Bolgatanga, Mr. Kale bemoaned the continuous use of the region an example of the poverty situation of the northern sector of the country. According to the Ghana Living Standards Survey conducted in 2006, the Upper East Region ranks highest on the poverty levels with 88 per cent. This is followed closely by the Upper East Region with 70 per cent and the Northern Region at 52 per cent The situation, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister blamed on the inability to tap into and invest into the numerous natural resources which can be used to develop. According to him, the region abounds in a lot of natural resource as well as many other development potential which have not been explored harnessed to the advantage of the people. The high-level meeting which was also attended by officials of the Savannah Accelerated Development(SADA), Regional Coordinating Directors and Regional Economic Planning Officers was to explore together opportunities for further expanding UN assistance towards addressing key priorities of the regional development agenda and strengthening the capacity for implementing district development plans. -End-

LESDEP gives start-up kits to trained youth(Thursday, March 1, 2012 )

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga 527 youth trained in various trade vocations under the Local Enterprises and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP) in the Upper East Region have been presented with start-up kits to enable them irk out a living. The beneficiaries who have been trained in mobile phone repairs, beauty care service, hair dressing, catering services, barbering services and rural transport services, were presented with complete set of tool kits related to their various vocation among which were embroidery machines, industrial machines, mobile phone repair kits, household sewing machines, barbering kit, hair dryers, sterilizers and multipurpose tri-wheeler vans. Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Bolgatanga during the handing over ceremony, the Regional Coordinator of the Programme, Mr. Robert Agaab said the beneficial have between two months to two years to payback the cost of the equipment which is a form of a revolving loan in order that others also benefit from the programme. Mr. Agaab explained that LESDEP, which was partnering with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, apart from training to the youth, also ensures that they were helped with the necessary logistics after training to commence their work. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo who handed over the items to the beneficiaries said the intervention is no doubt a fulfillment of the Better Ghana agenda drive of the government and commended the beneficiaries for availing themselves for the programmes. He said the programme targets the training and equipping of 20,000 clients nationwide by the end of 2012 adding that it has already trained not less than 12,000 unemployed Ghanaians in the areas of mobile phone repairs, catering services, ICT, barbering, dressmaking, beauty care, beads making, Agro processing, event management, welding and fabrication amongst others. Mr. Woyongo said due to the importance government attaches to the programme, it has allocated an amount of GH c 84 million in the 2012 budget to LESDEP to assist in the job creation drive to Ghanaians. “The concept of LESDEP has therefore come at a time when the teeming youth are seeking avenues for employment. In this vein, I task the youth particularly the serious ones to take advantage of this important and get enrolled”, he said. -End-

SADA Board Chairman lobby UN system in Ghana and other development partners to turn dream Into reality(TO:Graphic Editorial Message flagged Friday, March 2, 2012)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Board Chairman of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, (SADA), Alhaji Alhassan Andani has appealed to government, the UN system in Ghana and other development partners to support the authority with fund mobilization to fasttrack the development of the northern savannah ecological zone. Speaking at a briefing held for various heads of the United Nations agencies at Bolgatanga, Mr. Andani stressed on the role of UN system and their contributions to improving lives of people in the northern ecological zone. “We have had enough of the research. The talking has to stop and the doing has to start now”. He said there is a need for strong partnership between the SADA management, the UN system in Ghana and other development partners to help raised the needed resources for accelerated development of the zone. The briefing was attended by Regional Ministers of the Upper East, Northern Region, Volta Region, namely Messrs Mark Woyongo, Moses Bukari Mabengba, and Joseph Amenowode, respectively as well as the Deputy Minister for the Upper West Region, Mr. Caesar Kale It was also attended by Municipal and District Chief Executives from the Upper East Region, Regional Coordinating Directors, Regional Economic Planning Officers, in the SADA Zone. Alhaji Andani described the under development of the SADA zone as a national security issue which needs urgent attention. “We have a situation where only two kilometers away from the regional capitals, people are living in deplorable condition. It’s getting worse because the soils are so impoverished and poorly managed. For eight months in a year, able young men and women are sitting in their villages doing nothing and you see children just being created who are not going to school and it is just that bad”, he said. “We don’t need statistics to tell you what problems confront us. Our villages are still deprived yet they are sitting on land and water bodies which can transform any serious country into a serious economic opportunity”, he added. Alhaji Andani indicated that government of Ghana have made significant efforts at resourcing SADA by fully releasing the approved budget approved for 2011 and also ensuring that the 2012 budget also took account of all the issues that SADA presented. Again, the investment fund has been solidly established and “we are been chance to collect the cheque for the first GH c 100 million which we will do when the president has had the opportunity to inaugurate the stakeholder steering committee which will ensure that there is proper governance within the SADA processes”, he said. The Chief Executive Officer of SADA, Mr. Gilbert Iddi, said the mangers of SADA are seeking to meet all development partners working in the zone to align their activities so that they can focus and concentrate on a common agenda for the acceleration of development process of the SADA zone. He said management with the approval of the board has identified two growth poles. The first being the Nasia-Kukobila community and the other being the Pwalugu area for the production of vegetables and fruit trees. He added that SADA intends to set up service plots, which will be developed and irrigated to encourage dry season farming as a means of accelerating development in the zone. SADA is also thinking of providing sustainable housing initiatives, improving rural transport that will lead to lower prices of food produce and also looking at the possibility of improving water transport opportunities. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo highlighted the key things that ought to be done to accelerate development and bridge the development gap between the northern ecological zone and that of the southern parts of Ghana. These include investments that will stimulate the modernization of agricultural development and competitiveness of small holders, transforming the subsistence oriented smallholder farmer and processor. According to him, specific issues that should be considered among others include improved access to irrigation and water management technologies for all year round farming, rehabilitation and desilting of existing dams, construction of new ones, tree crop production as a source of steady flow of incomes to empower the poor to build their assets and enhance their capacity to invest in farm and non-farm production activities. He also stressed the need for investment in road infrastructure and development to open up production zones for increased production and link them to marketing centers in the southern part of the country as well as the expanded markets in the neighboring Sahel countries. Mr. Woyongo also stressed the need for investment in education and health infrastructure to complement the economic ones, massive investment in water and sanitation, expansion of rural electricity to support the small-scale industrial sector as a means of diversifying the economy of the SADA zone. “It is the conviction of stakeholders of development in the north that if these interventions are properly co-ordinated under SADA, northern Ghana would be ushered onto the path of economic recovery and prosperity with the nest 15 years”, Mr. Woyongo said. The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Harmandip Ruby Sandhu-Rojon said the UN system Ghana is ready and committed to partner Ghana to address the regions with the greatest needs. She stressed on the role of UN under the recently launched UN Development Assistance Framework action plane for the next five years which will be working in four thematic areas to build on the weaknesses in the MDGs. The thematic areas are food security and nutrition, sustainable environment, energy and human settlement, human development and productive capacity for improve social services, and transparent and accountable governance. It will also target other cross cutting issues which include gender, capacity development and sustainability of UNs intervention and build on the partnership that already exists. She said while it is true that Ghana has made a relatively headway in the eradication of poverty at the national level, the same cannot be said of the situation in the SADA zone for instance where poverty has actually increased and there are issues of food security and malnutrition. She said these are some of the challenges, agencies like the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme are working on through school feeding, increasing income generating activities among others. -End-

UE Health Directorate bemoans frequent power outages(Tuesday, March 6, 2012 )

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Frequent power outages in the Upper East Region have destroyed a number of vaccine refrigerators and cold chain storage equipments in some district health facilities in the region. This problem is compounded by the fact that the region is in the meningitis season where authorities are going all lengths in dealing with outbreaks of CSM in a number of the districts and therefore very essential to have cold chain storage system running uninterrupted. Districts affected damages due to frequent power fluctuations include the Bawku municipality and the Bawku West District. Also affected is the Kassena-Nankana West District where unfortunately, a number of CSM outbreaks have been recorded. The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. John Koku Awoonor-Williams who confirmed this in an interview at Bolgatanga said the the frequent power outages was hampering efficient service delivery. He said the situation was dire and that the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), a subsidiary of the Volta River Authority needed to act quickly to fix it to ensure stable and reliable power supply to most of the health facilities in the region. “We know that sometimes these challenges are beyond the control of VRA but we need to find out what can be done to have a more reliable power supply”, he added. “The cost of repairs is enormous. Sometimes, these equipments are badly damaged that they are beyond repairs and we have to buy new vaccine fridges”, he said. The Regional Director of Health Services said, as a result of the damages to the vaccine refrigerators, authorities have had to keep vaccines in the regional capital, Bolgatanga where there is a bigger facility and capacity to store vaccines for longer hours even if the lights goes off. This however comes with the challenge of having to transport vaccines to these districts and the fact that the vaccines will not be immediately available at the point where they are most needed. “Because of the nature of our various districts and facilities, we try to keep vaccines and cold chain logistics at the facility level, sub-district level and CHPS compound in order to avoid the situation where officers now have to travel long distances to access these vaccines which under normal circumstances should be readily available in the districts”. “Apart from our district hospitals, all the sub-districts, DHMT offices and CHPS compound do not have back-up systems in terms of stand-by generators. Where we have solar systems, we have encountered a number of challenges. Solar system management for our facilities have not been effective, especially during this time of the year when there is so much dust even though the sun the sun is high”. “The difficulties have to do with the maintenance of the equipments. Most of the solar repairers are based in the southern parts of Ghana and once the system is down, it takes a longer time for them to travel up north to these facilities to deal with the problem”, he said. Dr. Awoonor-Williams therefore reiterated that need for VRA to ensure a stable power supply to forestall further destruction of equipments

Garu: Independence day parade(Tuesday, March 6, 2012)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Garu As part of the Independence day celebration in the Garu-Tempane District in the Upper East Region, the district assembly donated 11 motor bicycles to the district directorate of education for distribution to Circuit Supervisors to enhance monitoring and supervision. Handing the over the bicycles, after a match pass by pupils selected from 24 schools across the district, the District Chief Executive for the area, Mr. David Adakudugu said the assembly has taken a serious view of the string of poor performance at the BECE level ad was of the candid opinion that one of the ways at eradicating the canker is to ensure proper supervision hence the decision to support the directorate with the motor bicycles. In addition, he said the assembly was providing solar lamps to at least one classroom in each of the Junior High School that are not connected to the national grid. Receiving the items, the District Director of Education, Mr. Emmanuel S. Zumakpeh commended the assembly stressing that it help in improving performance of teachers in the area. In a related development, pupils in the Bolgatanga West B Circuit who for a very long time have not had the opportunity to participate in the regional schools parade event had the privilege of participating in their own independence celebration parade at Sumbrungu, seven miles away from Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital. The event which was held a day prior to the national celebration more than 10 schools participating in the parade, characterized by gymnastic and cultural display by pupils from the Kulbia Primary School. The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Edward Ayagle, Director of Education, Mrs. Agnes Atagabe and the Municipal Police Crime Officer, ASP Godson Letsyo took the salute as the students file past. The Circuit Supervisor, Mr. Johnson Apasinaba explained that the event was held to help make the students in the circuit who hitherto were not selected to participate in the regional event feel part of the national celebration. The Municipal Director of Education, Mrs. Agnes Atagabe, while commending the government for fulfilling some of its campaign promises such as distributing free school uniforms and exercise to students. As the country prepares for general elections, she advised parents not to take the peace of the country for granted by work hard in sustaining the prevailing peace in the country and create a better atmosphere for children. -End-

Four months old baby boy found in a culvert. (Wednesday, March 7, 2012 )

Four months old baby boy found in a culvert. Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Garu A baby boy thought to be about four months old has been found in culvert at Bulpelsi in the Garu-Tempane District of the Upper East Region. The boy who was rescued after some school pupils found him in the drain pipe raised alarmed is currently been handed over to a guardian, an old lady in the area for safe keeping while the police conduct further investigation. The Deputy District Coordinating Director of the assembly, Mr. Musah Abubakari who disclosed this to the Mirror at Garu appealed to the public with information of anyone who has abandoned a young child in the area to get in touch with the police or the Social Welfare department. He said also appealed to any concerned family members to assist to find out who the child is. -End

BOLGA: Assembly men and women aligned to NDC demand removal of civil servants (Message flagged Wednesday, March 14, 2012 )

BOLGA: Assembly men and women aligned to NDC demand removal of civil servants Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Some assembly members of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly in the Upper East Region are contemplating initiating impeachment proceedings against the Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr. John Nyaaba. The decision to impeach the Presiding Member who is also the Assembly Member for the Nyariga Electoral Area MCE, according to the aggrieved assembly members was because of the P.Ms disregards to local governance acts and other actions they concede are very divisive and threaten the unity of the house. A group of Assembly members, who hinted the Daily Graphic of an impeachment plan said the action to removed the PM has also become necessary following a recent letter dated, March 2, 2012 written by the P.M and endorsed by 18 other government appointed assembly members addressed to the Office of the President, demanding the transfer of the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Yakubu Abukari Alhassan and three other civil servants, namely the Second Deputy Coordinating Director, The Finance Officer and Budget Officer. The P.M in his letter accused the four civil servants as being moles of the opposition NPP who do not support the ruling NDC but are rather engaged in subtle maneuvers aimed at thwarting the efforts of the assembly in its bid to bring development to the area. The letter which was copied to the Upper East Regional Minister, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, the National Security Coordinator and the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, was endorsed by 13 government appointee and 5 elected assembly members. Some of the allegations labeled against the civil servants in question were that they were meddling in partisan politics, are in touch with the NPP communication team in the municipality and feeding them with happenings within the assembly, that they(the accused) discriminate against NDC assembly members and are more inclined towards NPP assembly members, that they are not keen at facilitating the sub-structure through their failure to attend committee meetings to record minutes and even when they do attend, what they do not record true proceedings. Again, the PM alleged that the Municipal Coordinating Director has teamed up with key staff against the efforts of the MCE and NDC assembly members by dragging their feet in the implementation of assembly decisions and resolution despites promptings by the MCE. “One such issue has to do with the provision of furniture for the presiding member’s offices which are mandatory”, he said adding the staff of the assembly deliberately hide or conceal some official correspondence from the Municipal chief executive. “One such example is the Audited General’s Query letter of 2011 and other important documents”, the P.M alleged. The in his letter held the view that it was only by removing the Civil servants from office that the chances of the NDC can be boosted to win the 2012 elections in the area. However, according to the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Yakubu Abukari Alhassan, the accusations of by the P.M and assembly members were baseless. He said the accusations smacks of ethic agenda clothed in political colors aimed at tarnishing his reputation and long standing service to mother Ghana. Mr. Alhassan who had initial declined to comment on the matter said he will at an appropriate time and following the right procedures come out to clear the air on all the allegations leveled against him and his colleagues -End-