Wednesday, 31 October 2012
63 to contest 15 seats in Upper East
Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
SIXTY-THREE persons have filed nominations on the ticket of the various political partiesto contest in parliamentary electionsin the fifteen constituenciesin the Upper East Region. Statistics obtained from the Upper East Regional Office of the Electoral Commissionindicated that out of thetotal number of aspirants, 57 of them are males while the remaining six are females. The National Democratic Congress, (NDC), and the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), arecontestingin all the15 constituencies while the People National Convention, (PNC) have filed candidatesin 11 constituencies. The Progressive Peoples Party, (PPP) presented candidatesin 10 constituencies, while the Conventions Peoples Party made a showingin seven constituencies with the National Democratic Party, (NDP), filing candidatesin three constituencies. Twoindependent candidates filedin two constituenciesto contest in the race.In the Fumbisi constituency, four persons filedto contest the seat. They are Roger Abolimbisa Akantagriwen for the NDC, Paulina Morton-Bruce for the NPP, Alhassan Azong, theincumbent MP, for the PNC and Mr. Daniel Kunde who iscontesting on the ticket of the CPP. Three persons arein the race for the Sandema Constituency. They are NDC’s James Agalga, Mrs. Agnes Asangalisah Chigabatia, former Deputy Minister and former MP on the ticket of the NPP, and Mr. Francis Agilinko, a 36 year old teacher for the PNC. The Navrongo Central Constituency will witness a three-man race with the aspirants being, the current Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo for the NDC, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda on the ticket of the NPP and Mr. Crispin Avanakwa Awupuri, a 40 year old teacher who iscontesting on the ticket of the PPP. Five people are vying for the Chiana/Paga seat. Mr. Abuga Pele, Executive Director of the National Youth Employment Programme of the NDC will be seekingto unseat, NPP’s Leo Kabah Alowe. Alsoin teh race are Mr. Muniru Aloah Adoa of the PPP, Journalist Francis Niagra Santuah on the ticket of PNC and Desmond Ayirevire for the CPP.In the newly created Bolgatanga East Constituency, the race for the seat is between NDC’s Mr. Dominic Ayine, a law lecturer, NPP’s Rockson Ayine Bukari, a former Municipal Chief Executive for the Bolgatanga and PNC’s David Apasera, a former MP for the Bolgatanga Central constituency as well as PPP’s Baba Starling. Mr. Emmanuel Opam-Brown Akolbire, NDC MP for Bolgatanga Central Constituency will face stiff challenge from NPP’s Dr. Gyesika A. Agambila, PPP’s Robert Anamolga, PNC’s Rockson Akugre and NDP’s Saeed Jafar Mohammed. The race for the Bongo Seat is between theincumbent MP, Albert Abongo for the NDC and four others, namely, Madam Diana Aburiya Asuure of the NPP, Mr. Jacob Nsoh of the PNC Peter Ayamga Akugre of the CPP and anindependent candidate Mr. Clement Ayorigo. Five terms MP for Talensi, Mr. John Akologu Tia of the NDC will face NPP’s Robert Nachinab Doaneng, Ramson Yinbil Babihitzaaya of the CPP, Dr. Micheal Wombeogo, PNC and Dominic Mogre, PPP.In the Nabdam constituency, another veteran parliamentarian, Mr. Moses Asaga of the NDC will becontested once again by former Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Boniface Gambila of the NPP. Othersin the race are Gabilemm Ditamina, PPP, David Kurug, PNC and William Atampugre, CPP. Majority Leaderin Parliament and NDC MP for the Zebilla Constituency, Mr. Cletus Apul Avoka will becontested by Mr. Frank Fuseini Adongo, NPP, Atang Naba, NDP, and anindependent candidate, Mallam Ali Yusuf Isa. Five people are vying for the Bawku Central Constituency. They are Deputy Education Minister, Mr. Mahama Ayagira, NDC, Former Deputy Managing Director of Metro TV, Alhassan Ayariga, NPP, Businessman Iddrisu Mubarak, PPP, Farmer Joseph Awini Auuga, PNC, and Teacher, Madam Zaliya Ibrahim the only female candidatein the constituency on the ticket of CPP.In the Binduri Constituency, the race for the seatin between Ben Noah Azure, NDC, Stephen M.D. Yakubu, theincumbent NPP MP, William Ayinga Abanga, PPP and Cyprian Azure Ayendago, PNC. For the Pusiga Constituency, the race is between Madam Laadi Ayii Ayamba, NDC, Imoro Sarko, NPP, and William Abako Abosa, PPP.Incumbent MP for Garu constituency, Mr. Dominic Azimbe Azumah of the NDC will becontested by former Regional Minister, Alhassan Samari, NPP, Dominic Ligadya Dinko, CPP and Seidu James Achel of the NDP.In the newly created Tempane, fourcontestants arein race for the sole ticketto represent the peoplein parliament. They are immediate past DCE for Garu-Tempane, David Adakurugu, NDC, Mr. Joseph Akudibillah, NPP, Samson Kangben Laar, PPP and Madam Akugri Laadi for the PNC.
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
DCE elect for Talensi District enlist support of assembly members and citizens
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tongo
The newly appointed District Chief Executive for the Talensi District in the Upper East Region, Mr. Edward Awunnore has promised to work with assembly members and the people in the area to explore the rich natural resources including the Tengzug Hills and other rich cultural heritages to accelerate development of the area.
Mr Edward Awunnore who stands to be reappointed if the NDC is retains power in the December 7, 2012, prior to his endorsement was an English teacher of the Bolgatanga Technical School. He polled 21 votes representing 70 per cent with nine people voted against him at a confirmation exercise.
The election became necessary following the split of the former Talensi-Nabdam District. The Awunnore expressed his appreciation to the President for nominating him for the job and also thanked the assembly members for overwhelmingly endorsing his candidature and the the confidence reposed in him.
He pledged to work with all members of the assembly as well as the various decentraised departments to mobilize the needed revenue for the development of the area.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo who swore in the DCE elect admonished the new head of the assembly to build bridges of peace and run an open door administration to harness the strength of all members to fast track development in the area.
He reaffirmed government commitment to pursue development it development agenda for the area stressing work on the road between Winkongo and Tongo, the district capital is been worked on while government is committed to ensuring the constructing of a multipurpose dam at the Pwalugu for irrigation, hydro-power generation and water transport.
He urged assembly members to close their ranks and work with the new DCE to enable him achieve success in his new appointment.
Apart from the Talensi District which have endorsed its DCE, the Pusiga District has also endorsed the president nominee, Mr. Abugbila Awuni Alhassan. The Nabdam district failed to endorse Mrs. Vivian Anafo after she failed to secure the requisite votes. Two other districts, Binduri and the Builsa South districts are yet to have its heads nominated by the President.
benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
-End-
UE Security Taskforce strategies for elections 2012
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
Heads of Security Agencies in the Upper East Region have pledged to collectively work in ensuring free, fair and violent-free elections in December.
Briefing the Daily Graphic after an inaugural meeting of the Regional Election Security Taskforce, the Public Relations Office of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP), Mr. Thomas Yaw Agbanyo said members of the Taskforce have resolved to exhibit a high sense of professional discipline and competence to ensure that the ongoing electioneering campaign and the general election are conducted peacefully.
The task force is made up of heads of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Prisons Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service, with the Regional Police Commander Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCOP), Mr. Bright Oduro as the chairman.
According to ASP Agbanyo members of the taskforce have identified the various flashpoints in the region and resolve to beef up with strong security and patrol personnel. Again, he said enough logistics would be provided to the security to make sure that no one foments trouble anywhere in the region.
ASP Agbanyo added that all the security agencies agreed at the meeting to release their vehicles on Election Day to ensure a smooth operation of the security agencies.
He said the taskforce will be replicated in all municipalities and districts to demonstrate the readiness of the security agencies to deal with all elections related violence.
ASP Agbanyo said present at the meeting was the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Bruce Ayisi who inform the members that polls will take place in 1, 118 polling stations in the region and enlisted the support of the security agencies to make the process violent free.
benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
Navrongo Central Constituency, a rematch between Mark Woyongo and Joseph Kofi Adda
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
But for the timely clearance of the Progressive People’s Party, (PPP) candidate for the Navrongo Central parliamentary candidate, Mr. Crispin Avanakwa Awupuri by the Returning Officer of the Electoral Commission, it will have been a straight ‘fight’ for the seat between NDCs Mark Woyongo and NPPs Joseph Kofi Adda.
At the close of filing of nominations on Thursday, 18 October 2012, only the three persons above were cleared to contest the 2012 parliamentary elections. A gentleman who appeared on the nick of time appeared at the offices of the EC attempting to file on the ticket of the PNC but the Returning Officer detected a flaw and hence rejected the documents.
Under the current circumstances, on can describe the polls as a rematch between NDCs Mark Woyongo and NPPs Joseph Kofi Adda and it will not be far from wrong, albeit the presence of the PP candidate.
In the last parliamentary elections, Messrs Woyongo and Adda together with PNCs Gabriel Pwamang and CPPs, Fotunate Anuga were entangled in the race for the seat. At the end of that contest, Mr. Kofi Adda polled 14, 354 representing 45.23 percent of votes cast as against, Mr. Woyongo’s 13, 224 represent 41. 67 per cent.
The two gentlemen are in the race again and what makes it interesting is that the PNC which is not presenting a candidate for this year’s race is reported to have thrown its weight behind Mr. Mark Woyongo.
In 2008, the PNC candidate, Mr. Gabriel Pwamang polled 4,026 votes. Assuming all these votes goes to add to that of what Mr. Woyongo obtained in 2008, it will add up to 18, 380. With this one can safely call it for Mr. Woyongo, who doubles as the current Regional Minister.
But politics like a game of football is not east to predict. The NPP since the year 2000 have had a grip on the Navrongo constituency. In the 2000 elections, the late John Setuni Achuliwor contested on the NPP’s ticket and defeated the NDCs Clement T. Bugase by 143 votes. Achuliwor polled 11,246 while Bugase had 11,103 votes. The rest was shared between five other candidates who contested in that race.
Following the death of John Setuni Achuliwor in 2003, Mr. Adda a MP. He won the by-election for the Navrongo Central constituency. In the 2004 elections, Adda retained his seat after he defeated NDCs Emmanuel Andema, the current Municipal Chief Executive for the Kassena-Nankana East.
In that polls, Adda polled 12, 444 votes while Mr. Andema came a distant third with 6,201.
Mr. Adda comes into this year’s race with a lot of experience likewise his contender who has also in the past three-and-half years have done so much for the region as a whole and the Kassena-Nankana East District.
Mr. Adda after the he was elected was appointed the Minister for Manpower Development and Employment by President John Kufuor in 2005. On 28 April 2006, he was moved in a cabinet reshuffle to the position of Minister for Energy, a position held until the NPP was deposed in the 2008 elections.
As a seating MP, Daily Graphic has learnt that he is constantly in touch with his constituents and he is reported to be a mingler who wouldn’t mind engaging the people in informal conversation anytime he visits.
Mr. Woyongo is taking a second shot at the seat. His first attempt was in 2008 when right after retiring from public service grabbed the chance to contest. Observers believe he fared well and having had the opportunity as Regional Minister, his chances are far brighter than his previous attempt.
The experience communicator that he is, the Upper East Regional Minister is bent on winning the seat for the N.D.C. As a regional minister, election watchers believe lobbying skills that has seen the Kassena-Nankana East District benefit from a number developmental projects in the constituency be it educational infrastructure, health facilities, access to water and electricity but as to whether that will sway votes into his favor is something that we all await to see.
Mr. Woyongo trained as a journalist and for a long time worked as the Upper East Regional Information Officer. He also worked as a press attaché in UK. He returned to Ghana, worked with the Information Services Department rising through the ranks until he retired as a Director in charge of Finance and Administration.
He is the 25th regional minister to serve in the Upper East region in that capacity since the creation of the region on July 1, 1960.
In 2008 when he was appointed in 2008, I asked him what he brings to the table as a Regional Minister. His response was that “My vision is to ensure that there is peace, unity and development. Without peace and unity there cannot be any meaningful development,”
He came in at a time when the Bawku crisis was at it peak. Thankfully the situation in Bawku in particular and the region in general is better than it was before.
As a Regional Minister, he enjoys so much commendation for lobbying development projects to the region but as to whether his achievements as Regional Minister will reflect in votes at the ballot in his constituncy is something we all wait to see.
Mr. Adda on the other hand is a Financial Economist and a Management Consultant. He worked as an Executive officer at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana in 1979. Between 1983 and 1984, he worked as a Research Analyst intern at the Third World Trade Institute, New York, USA.
He was also an account Executive and Management trainee at the Equitable Financial Service, Inc., in New Jersey, USA. Mr. Adda has also worked at Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey, USA (1986 – 1988), Thomson McKinnon Securities Inc., New York (1989 – 1991) and with Deloitte and Touche Consulting, (West Africa), Accra (1991 – 1994). Since 1994, Joseph Adda has been the Director of Omni Consulting International (Ghana) Ltd. Between 1996 and 2000, he worked in various capacities at the Ministry of Finance, Ghana.
Incidentally both front runners in the Navrongo Central Constituency are former students of the Notre Dame Minor Seminary School High School.The question is can Woyongo end the dorminance of NPP in the Navrongo central constituncy? The answer will be known after December 7, 2012.
benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Assemblies cautioned against misuse of HIV and AIDS share of Common Fund
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
The Upper East Regional HIV and AIDS Co-ordinator of the Ghana Health Service, Mr. Samuel Angyogdem has cautioned Municipal and District Assemblies against misuse of District Assembly Common fund allocated for HIV activities.
He noted that while some assemblies in the region have kept faith with the release of the 0.5 per cent for HIV and AIDS activities, other districts have remain silent and this he said was hampering roll out of programmes to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT).
He mentioned the Builsa district, the Kassena Nankana East and Kassena Nankana West District, Talensi and Nabdam Districts as the defaulting districts.
Mr. Angyogdem gave the caution at Bolgatanga when he addressed the opening of a three-day media training programme on HIV and AIDS. It was organised by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), with the aim to galvanize support, whip up and sustain interest to the national HIV response particularly on human rights, stigma and discrimination among most at risk populations.
He noted that lapses witnessed in the disbursement of the 0.5 per cent of the common fund for HIV activities in these districts was hampering any meaningful roll out of PMTCT trainings and other HIV related activities. He therefore urged the defaulting assemblies to mend their ways and ensure timely release of funds if HIV and AIDS activities are to succeed.
Giving a trend analysis of PMTCT in the region, Mr. Angyogdem said out of the 17,048 Anti Natal Care Registrants recorded between January to June 2012, 16,370 were Tested and received post-test counselling. Of the figure, 160 tested Positive out of which 129 are given antiretroviral drug
He attributed the good PMTCT uptake to easy to reach population, high saturation of trained counselors from over the years, integration of PMTCT services into rreproductive and child health services , regular monitoring and support as well as trainings initiated by some districts assemblies notably Bolgatanga, Bawku, Garu-Tempane and Bongo, with support from Ministries Departments and Agencies.
Mr. Angyogdem, therefore, stressed the need for advocacy and education of the populace by the media for district assemblies who are silent on the disbursement of funds for PMTCT activities to live up to expectation and help meet set targets.
Touching on plans increasing access to antiretroviral treatment,(ART), he said nine ART sites in the region has been established while key stakeholders and owner of Private health facilities have been engaged in a dialogue to explore the possibility of rolling out ART services.
Again, he said to addressed the problem of stigma, persons living with HIV have been deployed as models of hope to offer counseling in communities. He added his office was also liaising with the World Food Programme for food support activities to persons living with HIV and their dependants in order to make life comfortable.
Dr Richard Amenyah, Director (Technical Services) of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Ghana is fully committed to ensuring the elimination of mother –to-child transmission of HIV by 2015 and task the media to allocate more space and time to the dissemination of messages to help achieve that target.
“I believe that no Ghanaian with HIV should die because treatment is available. People must put aside fear and stigma and seek early treatment and the media must help in this direction”, he said.
The Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Affail Monney, who spoke on the topic: "The Role of the Media in the Response to HIV," called on journalists to go beyond the norm and evolve creative stories and story angles to support the national response to AIDS.
Fmr Vice President Aliu Mahama reinterate call for peace talks to continue in Bawku
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
Former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama has reiterated the call on the leadership of the people of Bawku, especially the faction that has withdrawn its participation from the deliberations of Inter Ethnic Peace Committee to return to the negotiation table and use dialogue to help restore permanent peace in the area.
The Bawku Inter Ethnic Peace Committee, made up the two dominant ethnic groups in the Bawku Municipality- Kusasis and Mamprusis- as well as other minority tribes, was established by the current government in 2009/2010 in the aftermath of the conflict that rocked the area to draw up a road map leading to restoration of permanent peace in the area. However, the committee’s activities were jolted when one of the sides, the Mamprusis, withdrew their participation due to perceive bias on the part of government and since then, its programmes activities have stalled.
In a media encounter with selected journalists at Bolgatanga after accompanying, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, running mate to the NPP’s Presidential Candidate for the December 7, 2012 polls on a tour of the region, Alhaji Aliu Mahama said it will be fruitful and rewarding if all efforts are channelled into bringing lasting peace to the area.
“The pulling out from the Inter Ethnic Peace Committee might have been as a result of lost of confidence of one of the sides. I believe with that passage of time, things are cooling down. I will want to prevail on the aggrieved party to come back to the negotiation table so that they can really work out something to bring permanent peace to the area”, he said.
“This is the time to start talking after a long layoff knowing that people have now cooled down and will be able to listen to each other”, he stressed.
He commended the people of the region for sustaining the peace which he said was needed for the development of the country stressing that development can never take place where conflict exists.
On the December 7, 2012 elections he have the assurance that as far as the NPP was concern, they stand for peace and they would do all they can to ensure that peace prevails, during, during and after the elections.
“Naturally, anytime election period come, people have their fears. But I believe that having gone through five elections and I am very hopeful that, Ghana will go through these elections peacefully”, he emphasised.
Alhaji Aliu Mahama who was with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia throughout his one week tour of the region asked the people to support Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia by voting massively for the NPP in the December election to continue from where President Kufour left off.
He said during the latter parts of the Kufour administration, Pwalugu Tomato Factory in the region was revamped to help rejuvenate agricultural activities, particularly tomato processing in the region to reduce poverty.
He however accused the current government for failing to put in place a good management to continue from where their (NPP) administration had left off from leading to a slump in activities at the plant. He therefore called on the people to vote back the NPP to help it continue its plans for the factory to help change lives and improve on the economy of the area.
“We in the NPP know the importance of that factory. We know what it can do to impact on the lives of farmers in the area. It was for that reason that our administration secured a loan facility from Brazil to build a mini hydro dam with irrigation facilities at Pwalugu. We had planned that through that programme, the region will enjoy constant electric power which will certainly attract industries to the region and also create a huge irrigation system that will keep out farmers busy all year round. Sadly the programme was frustrated by the NDC government who succeeded the NPP. They ended up diverting the funds into roads construction”, Alhaji Aliu said.
He expressed the confidence that the people of the Upper East Region will return the NPP back into power to revive that dream and also carry on its free SHS education policy which he said from observation of their tour of the region was catching up with the electorates like wide fire.
-End- (benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh)
UE Regional NPP secretary lose bid for Tempane constituency
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tempane
The opposition New Patriotic Party in the newly created Tempane Constituency has elected Mr. Joseph Akudibila as its parliamentary candidate.
Mr. Akudibila, a former Deputy Minister for Defense in the Kufour Administration polled 149 votes to defeat two other contenders; Mr. Joseph Dindiock Kpemka, who prior to the polls was the Regional Secretary of the NPP and Mr. Paul Abugre Azumah, a tutor who polled 121 and 12 votes respectively at the primaries which were held on Sunday.
The wrong placement of candidates on the ballot party contrary to agreed position at the balloting, led to disagreements and a delay in the process of conducting the polls.
Following objections raised by one of the contenders, the Electoral Commission had to reprint the ballot papers, a situation that led to a late start of the programme. Voting eventually kicked off at 4 pm instead of the 10 am scheduled for the exercise.
Tempane is one of two constituencies created in the Upper East Region as part of the 45 newly created constituencies.
With the victory,Mr. Akudibila will come face to face with the District Chief Executive for the area, Mr. David Adakudugu who is contesting the seat on the ticket of NDC.
The NPP candidate was between won the then Garu-Tempane constituency seat as an independent candidate 2000 after he dethrone the NDC; Dominic Azimbe Azumah. While in parliament he aligned himself with the NPP and was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense. In the 2004 elections, however, he lost to the man he defeated at the earlier polls, NDC’s Mr. Dominic Azimbe Azumah.
Meanwhile in the Bolgatanga East Constituency, the former Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga won the primaries to contest the seat on the ticket of the NPP. He polled 79 votes to defeat Mr. Emmanuel Abugre Abole, a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast who secured 76 in their primaries.
With the dust settled, Mr. Rockson Ayinne Bukari will lock horns with NDC’s Lawyer Dominic Ayine and PNC’s David Apasera for the sole slot to represent the people in parliament
-End-
PNC elects candidates for newly created constituencies in UE
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Yorogo
Mr. Rockson Akugre, a Bolgatanga based lawyer has been elected the People’s National Convention parliamentary candidate for the Bolgatanga Central
Constituency in this year Parliamentary elections on December 7, 2012.
With the spilt of the constitution into two, the previously elected candidate for the constituency, Mr. David Apasera now shifts to the newly created Bolgatanga East Constituency paving way for the holding of primaries in the Bolgatanga central constituency that saw the election of the Legal Practitioner.
Mr. Akugre polled 71 votes out the total 141 valid votes cast while his opponent, Thomas Akurugu who was contesting for the position for the first time, polled 70 votes.
The polls was not without incident as a delegate who was not suppose to be on voters lists managed to vote at the primaries. This triggered protest from the party agents and held up proceedings for nearly a hour.
The said delegate, Daily Graphic learnt hails from a polling station which falls under the Bolgatanga East Constituency managed but managed to vote.
The agent of Lawyer Rockson Akugure detected the error and demanded that the process be called off and restarted since that act compromise the process.
However, after several protestation and consultation with party leaders, it was agreed that the Electoral Commission who supervised the process should announce the results and declare Rockson Akugure the
winner. A decision that did not go down well with the loser, Mr. Thomas Akurugu.
Meanwhile Mr. Tuyaab Haruna Mintirr, has been selected as the party’s parliamentary candidate for the other constituency created in the region, the Tempane Constituency, according to the regional secretary of the party.
-End-
Past and Present Assembly women engage political parties
PAST and Present Assembly Women in the Upper East Region have added their voice to the need for all political parties to ensure peace before, during and after the December 7, 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
The President of the group, Madam Agnes Atayila made the call at an engagement forum with political parties in Bolgatanga. The forum was to the group the opportunity to interact with the various political parties and parliamentary aspirants on their party’s manifestos and agenda for the advancement of women.
It was also to critically analyse how the various parties and parliamentary aspirants seek to address the problem s of women representation though the affirmative action, unpaid care work for women, health and violence against women, economic empowerment and creation of equal opportunities for women advancement.
“As Ghanaians, we only have one home, Ghana. Where do we go if out only home is not peaceful and accommodative to us? We urged all political parties to tolerate each other, campaign on issues and accept defeat and conduct their activities without jeopardizing the peace and tranquillity we are currently enjoying”, Madam Atayila said.
She said as representatives of women at the local governance level, it was their interest to ensure that political parties that usually constitute government are accountable to the good people of Ghana, particularly women.
She noted that elections periods are usually routine times for politicians to make promises but fail to deliver when voted into power, hence the need for the engagement as a step in holding politicians and for that matter political parties accountable for pledges and promises made to Ghanaians.
The Upper East Regional Youth Organiser of the NDC, Mr. Robert Yeli-Oni in his presentation said the party is aware that the north’s poverty profile ranks women the poorest and also recognises the fact that the life of every poor household can change faster once the woman is empowered.
He said as part of the party’s commitment to empowering and ensuring gender equity, the NDC government in 2010 launched the ‘Women in Local Governance Fund’ to support women participation in local government elections.
He said the NDC government has also established the Domestic Violence Fund and also accepted the proposals in the White Paper on the Constitutional Review Commission with regards to provisions which are meant to improve the status of women in Ghana.
Mr. Yeli-Oni said the NDC in its manifesto has proposed to address gender inequality by ensuring the expeditious enactment of the Affirmative Action Act to provide a framework for addressing historical gender-related injustices adding that the party will work with political parties and civil society organization to take the provisions of the Affirmative Action Act into account in sponsoring candidates for elections.
Mr. Crispin Avanakwa Awupuri who represented the Progressive Peoples Party said it is the ambition of the party to establish leadership training institutions in every district to give training to girls and equip them with the necessary tools to be able to play active leadership roles wherever they find themselves.
For his part, Mr. Paul Abanga-Niah, Regional Education Secretary of the Convention People’s Party said the party has always believed in the effective role of women in society hence the choice of a woman as chairperson for the party. He said when voted for, the CPP will continue and make it possible for women to play key roles at every level of the governance structure in this country.
Mr. Amidu Mamudu Sisala, Regional Treasurer of the Peoples National Convention, said 50 percent of appointment in their government when elected will be allocated to women.
Mr. Gregory Dery, of Action Aid Ghana, which supported the programme said it was about time political parties attached seriousness to issues of gender equality and women empowerment , stressing that the instances where politicians make vain promises without implementing them was long gone.
He also bemoaned the dwindling numbers of females in parliament as well as other key positions such as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and said such worrying trends must be addressed.
-End-
Dr. Bawumia Assures Teachers of better conditions of service
THE RUNNING mate of the NPP Presidential Candidate in this year’s elections, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has assured teachers; especially those teaching in deprive areas of improved conditions of service when voted into office.
He said all teachers after ten years of service will get a subsidised housing loans to build their houses anywhere in the country.
Addressing members of Tertiary Students Confederacy from the Bolgatanga Polytechnic, University for Development Studies, St. John Bosco College of Education at the campus of Bolgatanga Polytechnic, as part of his tour of the Upper East Region, Dr. Bawumia said the NPP was committed to improving the well being of Ghanaians through is Free SHS programme, jobs creation and quality healthcare programme and urged the youth in the region to ignore the wave of pessimism against the NPP proposed policies by the ruling NDC.
He was accompanied by former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Prince Imoro Andani, former Northern Regional Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, Madam Rita Asobayire, former Women’s Organiser of NPP, Mr. Paul Afoko, Mr. Emmanuel Signet Asigri, a member of the Communication Team as well as regional executives of the NPP.
Responding to claims that free SHS is not possible, he said if when President Nkrumah first introducing free education in the north, the whole of the three northern regions had just one middle boarding school. He said in that regard if Dr. Nkrumah had said there were not enough schools, hence he will not introduce free education in the north, in that case, Dr. Hilla Limann and the current President, John Mahama who are all beneficiaries of Nkrumah’s policy, will not have grown to become leaders of this country.
He said persons who have benefitted from such intervention in the past should not stand in the way of the children of this country, insisting that the NPP will pit in place the infrastructure alongside the policy in the first four years of an Akufo-Adda administration.
He said the NPP believes in the fact that education and human resource accumulation is what drives growth hence the resolve of the NPP under an Akufo-Addo led administration to make education at the Senior High School level free to give every Ghanaian child an opportunity to develop his or her capabilities.
“We cannot have a situation where money prevents people accessing education. We want our children irrespective of where they find themselves to get the best of education”, he said stressing that the under the NPP government, 350 new SHS will be built in the first four years.
He accused the NDC government for mismanaging the economy in spite of the many resources available to them adding that contrary to the better Ghana promised Ghanaians, many more people are suffering from “a harder, bitter and ‘Wahala’ Ghana.”
“The NDC government inherited more opportunities make a difference in this country. They are the best government in the history of this country to inherit an oil extraction industry; they are the government that has borrowed more money more than all other government that has ruled Ghana from the days of President Nkrumah.
Dr. Bawumia said the NDC administration had been going round tooting its horns that it had revamped the Northern Star Tomato Factory but the situation on the ground presently does not reflect the reality.
He said the NPP when voted into power will give real meaning by revamping the factory which will change the lifestyles of the people for the better and improve lives through job creation in the region.
Agriculture will be a major area of priority under an Akufo-Addo presidency, in the north the tree northern regions will become the rear bread basket of West Africa. He said the NPP will invest and modernise agriculture adding that happily neighbouring Burkina Faso has provided the model for the way forward.
He added that NPP under Nana Akufo-Adoo will enhance irrigation facilities and embark of a major dam construction project to boost all year farming.
-End-
Six pupils selected to represent UE in spelling Bee competition
NPP vet five parliamentary aspirants in two new constituencies in UE
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
FIVE persons have filed their nominations to contest in two separate newly created constituencies in the Upper East Region.
The two constituencies were part of the 45 newly created constituencies following the maturation of CI 78.
Of the five persons, three are contesting the Tempane constituency carved out of the Garu-Tempane constituency while the remaining two are vying for the Bolgatanga East Constituencies.
In the race for the ticket for the Tempane seat are 39-year-old lawyer, Joseph Dindiock Kpemka, a former Presiding Member and District Chief Executive for the Garu-Tempane District. The remaining two are Mr. Joseph Akudibilah, a former deputy minister for defence in Kufour administration and Mr. Paul Abugre, a tutor.
One of the candidates, Mr. Joseph Dindiock Kpemka told the Daily Graphic right after picking his nomination forms that he believes that the delegates of the Tempane constituency of the NPP as well as the general electorates in the area would consider his record of achievement as a former DCE for the Garu-Tempane District by voting massively for him and the NPP at the general polls.
In the Bolgatanga East constituency, the two aspiring candidates are Mr. Rockson Bukari, a former Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga and Dr. Emmanuel Abugre Abole, a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast.
Incidentally, both candidates lost to Dr. Agamibilla Agansika at the last NPP primaries in the Bolgatanga Central primaries held in 2011All the candidates expressed optimism that they will emerged victorious at the primaries which is to be held on October 14 2012.
“Though I live outside the constituency, I relate with the constituents affably well. I am not out of reach. Added to that my human relations gives me an added advantage over my contender”, Dr. Emmanuel Abugre Abole told the Daily Graphic.
He however bemoaned the fact contrary to assurance from the party hierarchy that their filing fee of GH c 6,000.00 will either be waived or halved due to the fact that they contested the last Primaries in the Bolgatanga Central Constituency prior to the creation of the new constituencies, they were made to pay an additional filing fees of GH c 6,000.00 bringing the total to GH c 12,000.00 within a spate of one year and called on the leadership of the party to review that decision of either waive or reduce the amount.
Friday, 12 October 2012
Schools accumlates huge bank balances (Friday,October12, 2012 Back Page)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
An assessment of the Capitation Grant in Ghana has noted that in spite of challenges identified in the provision of schools infrastructure, some schools have accumulated huge bank balances in their Capitation grants account.
The study said with these huge balances in the various accounts, one can only conclude that these schools are not using the grant to improve quality of education as stipulated in the guidelines.
This was contained in the latest assessment report carried out by SEND-GHANA. It assessed the extent to which guidelines set out by the Ghana Education Service to ensure transparency and equity in the distribution and utilization of the Capitation Grant are being followed in the Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.
The study said deprived schools such as Holy Angels Primary in Garu-Tempane, Nangodi Primary in the then Talensi-Nabdam District, Lungni D/A Primary in Nanumba South, Gengande Primary School in Bawku West and St. Anne’s Primary in West Gonja districts had balances of GH c 4,064.95, GH c 2,562.41, GH c 5,173.00, GH c 6,000 and GH c 2,139 respectively in their bank account as at the end of 2008 / 2009 academic year.
“For instance, St. Anne’s Primary decided to accumulate the grant in preparation of the celebration of their 50th anniversary” the report said.
It said interestingly, some district offices of GES were aware of the situation and cited reasons such as absence of School Management Committees, fear of prosecution, delay in the release of the grant and inability to prepare School Performance Improvement Plan as the main reasons accounting for the situation.
“This is quite worrying given the fact that, these schools lack basic infrastructure such as desk, toilets and urinal facilities, which could have been provided with the grant”, the report said
The study noted that it is expected that with the capitation grant, schools should have their own toilets facilities but the assessment revealed that about 29.9 per cent of schools with the majority of schools in the Upper East Region having no toilet facilities.
The government of Ghana in a bid to improve access to education introduced the Capitation Grant and abolished all forms of school fees in public basic schools. The grant covers cost and levies such as examination fees, registration, facilities management, games and sports which were hitherto paid by parents and guardians as school fees in public schools.
Currently, government pays GHC 4.50 per pupil per annum and the amount of grant received by a school is determined by the number of pupils.
-End-
Northern Star Tomato Factory: The vision must not die
Article: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Pwalugu
I recently engaged some tomato farmers in the Pwalugu area in a conversation during which they raised some concerns about the operations of the Northern Star Tomato Factory formerly known as Pwalugu Tomato Factory.
This facility was established under first reign of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah with the intention to process tomato into puree and paste for the local market and for export.
Like many other state enterprises, the factory went through problems of its own leading to a collapse at one point in time.
1n 2006, under the reigns of the President John A. Kufuor the factory was revamped. In 2009, when the current NDC administration , the government, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, assisted the factory with funds to re-equip the factory, payment of the salaries of its skeletal staff as well as for the purchase of tomatoes from farmers.
Well since then, the factory has been struggling to operate. Due to the seasonal nature of tomato farming in the region, the factory does not operate all year round. When the produce is out of season, operations at the plant ceases. That has been the cycle till date, leaving one to think why can’t managers diverse operations of the factory to include the processing of other vegetables such as pepper and dawadawa.
In my encounter with the farmers, who are obviously stakeholders in the operations of the factory, they revealed to this writer that for nearly two years, barrels of processed tomato paste have been left at the factory due to the unavailability of market.
The produce have been crushed into puree and kept in barrels. The factory as it stands now does not have the capacity to process the puree into paste for sale to the public.
The farmers told this writer that the tomato processed into puree between 2010 and 2011 were still packed in barrels at the factory premises. They claimed officials occasionally sprinkle salt on the produce to preserve it.
In the wake of the recent heavy rains and flooding of the premises of the factory, I and a team journalists joined the MP for Talensi, (the factory is located in his constituency) to inspect the extent the damage caused to the facility as a result of flooding. During our rounds, I came across several barrels of processed puree packed at the factory floor and in a room, confirming the claims of the farmers.
Asked what measures had been put in place ensure smooth running of the plant, Mr Adu responded that the factory lacked vacuum pumps to facilitate the process of canning the tomato puree, even though a new machine for the canning had been procured.
He therefore appealed to the MP to liaise with the Ministry of Trade and Industrial in placing an international advert to help secure the vacuum pumps since local suppliers failed to respond to a similar advert placed in the local media.
Despite the numerous interventions the Northern Star Tomato Factory does not appear to be out of the woods yet, as it continues to lack the capacity and requisite support to operate effectively and efficiently.
The factory is a major backbone for thousands of tomato farmers in the region. There is therefore the need to take a hard look at its operations in order to address the challenges facing it.
The Pwalugu Tomato Factory, like its cousin, Zuarungu Meat Factory which is also lying idle can be put to optimal operation to not only ensure ready market for the produce but also employ and keep the people especially the hundreds of youth who migrate to the southern parts in search of non-existent jobs in permanent employment.
Government must perhaps consider diversifying the operations at the tomato factory by including vegetables like pepper as well as processing of dawadawa into nice packages not only for the local market but also for export.
The dream behind the setting up of these factories in the region must not die if it means government to intensify its efforts at securing a private investor to take over the management of the factory. All hope is not lost.
The dangerous trio of challenges bedevilling the people of the region are poverty, ignorance and disease and if government can make efforts at retooling and providing enough resources at fully revamping the Northern Star Tomato Factory, it will go a long way in addressing the poverty situation.
The people of the region are mainly farmers. A complete revival and diversification of operations at the factory to enable it do all year production and processing will provide farmers enough money to take care of their families and meet their many needs.
-End-
benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
GHANA NORTHERN UNION ON METROPOLITAN CHICAGO DONATE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO BOLGA HOSPITAL
Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
The Ghana Northern Union of the Metropolitan Chicago in the United States of America, has handed over an assortment of medical equipment and supplies to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.
The forty foot container full of medical equipment and supplies were sourced from a US based group, Children of Abraham, whose aimed is to assist humans and promote peaceful co-existence among God’s children.
Among the consignment was a dialysis machine, hospital beds, wheel chairs, ultra sound machines, clutches, microscopes, examination tables, laboratory and surgical equipments and medical consumables among several others all valued at over $ 1.5 million.
A member of the union, Mr. Alidu Fuseini, who presented the items to management of the hospital said the donation which was made possible through the Queen Mother of the Chicago Northern Union, Pagnaa Habiba Seidu Fuseini and Professor Rufai Misbau also of Chicago together with members of the union was targeted complementing government’s efforts in helping deliver quality health service to their kith and kin back home.
Mr. Fuseini, who is also the Chief Director at the Office of the Head of Civil Service, the union three years ago presented school supplies to schools in Bongo and just last year handing over a state of the art ambulance from the City of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and a similar forty foot consignment of medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Mr. Fuseini said though the donation was in the name of the Bolgatanga Hospital, he appeal to management and the Regional Health Directorate to dispatch some of the equipment to clinics, health centres and CHPS compounds in the remotest villages to enable the people benefit from it. He also gave the assurance that the people of the Upper West Region will soon also receive their share of assorted medical equipment from the union to help in the health service delivery.
Later in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr. Fusieni appealed to health workers who refuse postings to the northern parts of the country to reconsider their decision.
“They should try and come and they will see the difference. Apparently whenever they come, they tend to stay and don’t even want to go back when they see that this place is not as bad as they think it is”, he said.
The region faces serious shortage of health workers including doctors and pharmacists as personnel posted there to work most often refuse the postings.
Receiving the items, Deputy Regional Director of Health Service in charge of Public Health, Dr. James Akpablie commended the group for the donation and appealed to various benevolent groups to assist the region’s heath facilities with medical equipment to aid them in the discharge of their duties.
“Our hospitals and especially health centers have been in need of so many items and sometimes we are not able to provide certain services because those items are not there. Sometimes we don’t have beds for sick patients so you go to the hospital and some of the patients are lying on the floor and this has been of worry to the managers of the system”, he said
Dr. Peter Baffoe, Medical Director of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital also appreciation to the group and pledged that items will be judiciously used for the benefit of the people.
-End-
Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover
Mr. Alidu Fuseini, a member of the Ghana Northern Union of Metropolitan Chicago, (in smock) handing over the items to the Deputy Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. James Akpablie. With them are Dr. Peter Baffoe, Medical Director of the Bolga Hospital and other management staff of the hospital
Thursday, 11 October 2012
NPP Vets Candidates For New Constituencies(Daily Graphic, 11th October 2012)
......In Bolgatang in the Upper East Region, five persons filed their nominations to contest in two separate newly created constituencies.
Of the five persons, three are contesting the Tempane Constituency carved out of the Garu-Tempane Constituency while the remaining two are vying for the Bolgatanga East Constituency.
In the race for the Tempane seat are a 39-year-old lawyer, Joseph Dindiock Kpemka, a former Presiding Member and District Chief Executive for the Garu-Tempane District. The remaining two are Mr Joseph Akudibilah, a former deputy minister for defence in Kufuor administration and Mr Paul Abugre, a tutor.
Mr Kpemka, told graphic.com..gh after picking his nomination forms that he believed that the delegates of the Tempane Constituency of the NPP and the electorate in the area would consider his record of achievement as a former DCE for the Garu-Tempane District by voting massively for him and the NPP at the general polls.
In the Bolgatanga East constituency, the two aspiring candidates are Mr Rockson Bukari, a former Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga and Dr Emmanuel Abugre Abole, a lecturer of the University of Cape Coast.
All the candidates expressed optimism that they would emerge victorious at the primaries to be held on October 14, 2012.
“Though I live outside the constituency, I relate with the constituents well. I am not out of reach. Added to that, my human relations gives me an advantage over my contender,” Dr Emmanuel Abugre Abole told graphic.com.gh.
He, however, bemoaned the fact that contrary to assurances from the party hierarchy that their filing fee of GH¢6,000 will either be waived or halved due to the fact that they contested the last primaries in the Bolgatanga Central Constituency prior to the creation of the new constituencies, they were made to pay an additional filing fees of GH¢6,000, bringing the total to GH¢12,000 within one year and called on the leadership of the party to review that decision.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Presby Education Unit launches ICT project(Wednesday, October 10, 2012 Page 22)
Upper East GNAT honours workers(Wednesday, October 10, 2012 Page 22)
Bolgatnga Munucipality inundated by Metal Containers( Wednesday, October 10, 2012 Page 22)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
Bolgatanga Municipality is under siege. Metal Containers have sprung up on almost every available piece of land and there is no stopping.
Almost all available space along major roads and open space is gradually being taken over by individual who with or without permit are planting metal containers for all manner of business including petty trading and the operations of drinking bars.
Artisans are also not being left out in the act. Welders, carpenters, hairdressers, motor mechanics, vehicles repairers among others have found it convenient to plant these metal containers in all manners of places including residential area without obtaining permits from the city authorities.
Even under electric pylons and high tension electric poles, these containers are being mounted without reflecting the harm that may be should one of these live wires snap and drop on these containers.
The invasion of these metal containers, my fear is when not check could gradually turn the Bolgatanga Municipality into one huge unplanned city in a few years to come.
While owners of these containers said they are using these facilities to create additional source for finance to supplement incomes and also irk out a living, many others also think some of activities emanating from these containers are a nuisance. Some residents in residential areas cited excessive noisemaking from drinking bars operating from these containers as major nuisance.
They said it was time the Municipal Assembly halted the haphazard erection of container shops to curb the persistent noise making in the municipality especially residential areas.
62-year-old, Retired Educationist, Benjamin Nsobilah said some drinking spots located in his residential area have mounted loud speakers that makes so much noise which disturb people in the neighbourhood.
He has therefore appealed to Municipal Assembly to halt disturbances to give resident a peace of mind and even regulate how and where such containers are mounted.
He said rather than allowing such containers to be place just everywhere and anywhere, it should be possible for the assembly to properly demarcate places in the municipality where such facilities should be located.
Another resident, Mr. Vincent Asare bemoaned the erection of these metal containers, especially those being operated as drinking bars closed to a major truck road such as the Bolgatanga-Navrongo-Page Highway stressing that any veering off of vehicles from the road could be fatal.
In an interview with the Convenor of the Social Services Committee of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, Mr. Fred Apana, he conceded that the unsightly citing of metal containers pose a major challenge to the assembly.
It however blamed the situation on some landlords and landowners some of whom he said allocate space to the individuals after collecting monies from them. “My brothers, some of the land lords and landowners m are making money and they see it as a business”, he said.
Citing an example from his own electoral area, Atulbabisi, Mr. Apana said most of the containers planted there have no permits and anytime he enquired from the owners of such metal containers, the simple answer is “it is the land owners who gave it to me”
He said his personnel wish was for the removal of some of these containers who do not have permits but on the other hand, most people are of the opinion that as an assembly, they should have a human face because that is where the owners get their livelihoods.
He however said the assembly has put in place a development control committee whose task among others is to check some of the disorderly citing of containers. “ I am hopefully most of these containers will be removed because most of them apart from blocking the view of drivers and posing a danger to driving others are cited in waterways.
He said the recent flush floods experienced in the municipality, which caused destruction to properties, it was imperative that the necessary action is taken to bring order to the municipality.
End
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Dr. Bawumia tous Bolgatanga Constituency
Story
story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has started a tour of the Upper East Region with a call on the electorates to vote massively for the NPP come December 7, 2012.
He said a government of NPP led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo would not implement any policy that would undermine the growth of the people but rather work hard to transform Ghana and bring about jobs, quality free education and healthcare amongst others.
Dr. Bawumia made the call when he made a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Bolgatanga Traditional Area, Naba Martin Abilba III at his palace.
He was accompanied by former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Prince Imoro Andani, former Northern Regional Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, Madam Rita Asobayire, former Women’s Organiser of NPP, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda, NPP parliamentary candidate for Navrongo as well as Dr. Gyesika Agambila, Parliamentary Candidate for Bolgatanga Central.
Dr. Bawumia was not happy that almost four years of NDC rule instead of rekindling the growth of the economy and accelerating development has rather brought policies that has introduce hardship and lack of jobs for the youth.
He said education and job creation were paramount on the NPP’s agenda for the pending election hence the promise to implement a policy of free SHS education to help build the skills of the youth for the industrialisation and transformation of the economy.
Former Vice President Aliu Mahama cited the upgrade of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, which he said started during the reign of the President Kufour, and many other development projects initiated by the NPP in the region and said the party is counting on the cooperation and support of the people to help the NPP regain power to continue with the good works.
“It is easier to deal with a Vice President than to deal with a President. The President is always a very busy person and he is always on the run. With a Vice President who is your own son, he is somebody you can clearly and easily work with. You saw it during our term. It was me you were dealing directly with. We supported one another”, he said.
“This country has been run down in these past four years and clearly we cannot allow this same government to have another opportunity for four more years. President Kufour had eight years because he did the job and satisfy the people of this country after four years and they ask him to come back. But clearly, we cannot continue in poverty, poor handling of the health systems. We have done so much for you and we are determine to do more”, he added
The Bolga Naba said having worked so closely with the father of Dr. Bawumia as well as Vice President Aliu Mahama, he knows the calibre and capabilities of the team and expressed the hope that come December 7, 2012, NPP will carry the day.
“Although the constitution states that chiefs are not supposed to mount political stages, we do know where we come from and where we were. This house for instance, was originally an NPP house many many ,many years ago. My ancestors take their root from NPP and for me today to go out from this party, my ancestors will even slaughter me. I am in the right position and I know how to guide the young ones” he said.
The tour of the Bolgatanga Central Constituency saw the team visiting suburbs such as Tindonsobligo where they paid a courtesy call on the ‘Tindana’ traditional landowners. The team also addressed mini rallies at Atulbabisi, Zaare, Sherigu and also took a walk through the Bolgatanga Central market.
At Atulbabsi where a youth group was inaugurated, Dr. Bawumia cited the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Capitation Grant, and School Feeding Programme, Metro Mass Transit as a practical demonstration of the NPP towards reducing poverty and urged the people to give the party a chance. He said considering the huge amount being expended on judgement debt payment, it was possible for the NPP to implement the free SHS education programme and urged the youth to shun the deceit from the opponent that it can’t be done now.
At the Sherigu Naba’s Palace, Dr. Bawumia promised that the NPP government when elected will tar the road leading to the town and install street lights.
-end-
GHANA NORTHERN UNION ON METROPOLITAN CHICAGO DONATE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO BOLGA HOSPITAL
UE NPP REGIONAL SECRETARY PICKS NOMINATION FORMS FOR TEMPANE CONSTITUENCY
Talensi, Nabdam farmers engage aspirants(Monday, October 8, 2012 Page 22)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tongo
PARLIAMENTARY aspirants in the Talensi and Nabdam constituencies in the Upper East Region have pledged their commitments towards pursing programmes and policies that will address challenges facing smallholder farmers when elected into parliament.
Messrs David Kurug, Peoples National Convention (PNC) parliamentary aspirant for Nabdam and Emmanuel Gambil Ditamina who is also contesting the same seat on the ticket Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) made the pledge at a day’s forum for smallholder farmers and parliamentary aspirants at Tongo in the Talensi District.
Also present were the NDC constituency chairman for Talensi, Mr. Bukari Hammond and his counterpart from the NPP, Mr. Foed K. Tindan who both made similar pledges on behalf of their candidates, Messrs John Tia Akologu, the sitting MP of Talensi and Robert D. Mosore.
The forum, organised by Actionaid Ghana was to identify peculiar challenges confronting the smallholder farmer, particularly women and efforts to increase investment for agriculture to enhance food security at the constituency level.
Presenting their demands to the parliamentary aspirants and their representatives, the farmers said despite the fact that traditionally, economic activity in the two constituencies just as in the other parts of the region is centred on agriculture, the sector has been plagued with many challenges and therefore appealed to the aspirants to make pledges to address them when elected to parliament.
Madam Lydia Miyella, a farmer said the most prominent of the challenges facing the smallholder farmer is the lack of access to fertiliser and other farming inputs and therefore called on the aspirants to help address the problem.
For his part, Mr. Maxwell Kparib, another farmer representative identified marketing of thier produce as well as the deplorable state of feeder roads linking the farms to market centres asa major setback toothier enterprise.
Another farmer Madam Alice Nsor appealed to the aspirants to in the face of climatic and environmental changes, champion the case of construction of a dams and reservoir for irrigation purposes since it has become an accepted fact that rain-fed farming can no longer be relied on in the quest for food security.
Responding to the concerns of the farmers, Mr. Mr. Foed K. Tindan, the NPP Constituency Chairman said modernising agriculture and ensuring food security was fundamental to the party’s programme adding that when voted for the party will modernise agriculture by encouraging the smallholder farmer through the adoption of improved agricultural technology and seeds, mitigate the overreliance on rains and improved access roads to farmlands.
For his part, the Talensi Constituency Chairman of the NDC Mr. Bukari Hammond said his party has demonstrated its commitment to farmers by undertaking the block farming concept, subsidising the price of fertilisers, providing access to motorised tricycles to aid farmers cart their farm produce and supply of tractors and tractor services as some of the intervention implanted and pledged the readiness of his party to do more.
Mr. David Kurug of the PNC said when voted for he will among others liaise with seed companies to ensure that there are seed distribution outlets in the district for farmers to have access to quality seeds which will contribute to increase in crop production.
Mr. Emmanuel Gambil Ditamina, the PPP Parliamentary aspirant for Nabdam said his party when given the nod will facilitate access to funds to enable smallholder farmers engage in profitable ventures.
The Policy Advisor on Food Rights and Climate Change for Actionaid Ghana, Madam Queronica Q. Quartey who presented a research paper on public financing of agriculture underscored the need for an increase investment in the sector
She noted that in the year 2011 for instance, the budget of MOFA was just 2.8 per cent of the national budget which is woefully inadequate. “If MOFA is supposed to be driving the agriculture agenda and it has just 2.8 per cent of the national budget, then this certainly will lead to poor performance”, she said.
“We also realised that out of MOFA’s allocation, only 0.4 per cent goes to the women in agriculture directorate of MOFA to support and address the constraints of women in the sector which is inadequate”, she said, adding that there is the need for increase investment for women smallholder farmers.
-End-
World Teachers' Day observed (Monday October 8, 2012 Page 48)
PWDs bemoan slow action ....on implementation Act(Friday October 1, 2012 Page 25)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWDs) in the Bolgatanga and Talensi District have bemoaned the slow implementation of Persons with Disability Act.
They have therefore reminded municipal and district assemblies of the requirements in the Act, which was passed in 2006, by and comply putting in place the necessary arrangements to make life easier for the disabled citizens.
The law inter alia imposes obligation on municipal and district assemblies to address deficiencies in providing access for persons with disability to public buildings but years after the law was passed, PWDs in the region have stated that most public buildings including offices of Municipal and District Assemblies are not accessible to persons with disability.
PWDs made the call at a forum with duty bearers and office holders at Bolgatanga. The aim of the forum was to provide an accountability platform for PWDs to engage with duty bearers on issues affecting them.
It was also to track the commitments and actions of duty bearers in line with Provisions PWD Act. It was organized by Rural Initiatives for Self Empowerment-Ghana (RISE) with support from the German Centre for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana.
Contributing to the discussions, Madam Gifty Akapadi of the Ghana Society of Persons with Disability narrated how she once slipped and tumble while climbing a flight of stairs while trying to access the offices of the Municipal Chief Executive of Bolgatanga.
She said this wouldn’t have happened with the assembly had made efforts to make the building accessible for the PWDs by installing lifts or relocating the office of the chief Executive to the ground floor.
Madam Josephine Kuomkugre, Bolgatanga Municipal Chairperson of the Ghana Society of Persons with Disability also said the rights of pregnant women with disability who visit some health facility in the region for deliveries are violated when they are coarse into accepting caesarean sections instead of normal delivery and therefore call to a stop in the practice.
“Anytime a woman with disability goes to give birth, the suggestion straight away is to go for caesarean section. They (medical officers) do not look at whether the fellow can give birth normally or not” she said.
“To cite a personal example, I have two children. In the case of my first child, they(nurses) just prescribed surgery but fortunately for me, the day I was in labour, when I got there, the doctor was not available and before they could get the doctor to come, the baby had already come out” she said.
Madam Josephine also suggested that interpreters in sign language should be engaged at health facilities to assist hearing and speech impaired persons to communicate their ailment to nurses and doctors for effective diagnosis or in the alternative, sigh language interpretation should be included in the curriculum of training of health care providers to avoid wrong diagnosis.
She said due to difficulty in communication, PWDs especially those with hearing and speech impairment had difficulty stating their ailment and obtaining the right diagnosis.
Madam Gladys Waadi of the Ghana Blind Union described as worrisome the discriminatory attitude of some nurse towards PWDs. She alleged that pregnant women with disability are sometimes verbally abused by some nurses as though they do not have right to family life and demanded an immediate end to such unprofessional attitude by some nurses.
Pastor Thomas Ayine who is in charge of disability sports said the assemblies must do more to address the plight of PWDs adding that the issues of disability should always be in the agenda of the assemblies in their meetings.
He called on assemblies who have not appointed PWDs should reconsider their actions by selecting PWDS to represent the interest of PWDS in their deliberations. Pastor Ayine also called for the inclusion of PWDs as signatories to the account of the three allocation of the District Assembly Common Fund.
Some of the duty bearers present responded to the issues raised at the meeting. Madam Evelyn Naaso of the Ghana Health Service promised to channel the concerns related to the health sector to management of the Ghana Health Service in the region for the necessary action to be taken.
For his part, Mr. Godfrey Titigah of the Ghana Education Service bemoaned the lack of legislative instrument to back the implement the disability act stressing that the absence of the legislative instrument have contributed some of the problems faced PWDs and therefore appealed to parliament to fast track the process of evolving the legislative instrument to make for a smooth implementation of the Act.
He however gave assurance that the GES will continue to sensitise head teachers and teachers to make the school environment disability friendly.
Mr. Fred Apana, Convenor for Social Services of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly said the assembly will continue to engage PWDs as it has done in the past and address the issues confronting them. He said the assembly has in the past assisted PWDs financially and it will continue to do that equitably.
On the issues of accessibility to the offices of assembly, he said it will require huge capital and efforts will be made to address such challenges but stated that new developments in the municipality are required to create access for PWDs.
The Project Manager for RISE Ghana, Mr. Awal Ahmed said unless there is a shift from a clinical, charitable model of disability which focuses solely on the individual and emphasizes rehabilitative, compensatory measures to a social, rights-based approach which promises persons with disabilities the right to equality of opportunity and participation in society Ghana risk not attaining the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
-End-
Bad roads slows business activities on Missiga-Kulungungu road(Monday, October 1, 2012 Page 55)
Tono, Garu-Tempane to get fire stations(Saturday, September 29, 2012. Page 18)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
The Upper East Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, (ACFO) Mr. Edwin Blankson has disclosed that a contract has been awarded for the construction of new fire station at Tono near Navrongo while another one will be opened in Garu-Tempane.
ACFO Blankson who said this during a tour of the region by members of the Ghana National Fire Service [GNFS] Council indicated that additionally the Bongo fire station is earmarked for upgrading soon.
The tour of the region by the council members was to access the performance of the service as well as challenges faces the GNFS in the discharge of its duties.
The team was led by its Chairman, Hon. Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho who indicated that over the past three and half years, government has invested heavily in the service through the supply of logistics such as the new fire tenders that government can take between 2000 and 3000 gallons of water unlike the old tenders.
He disclosed that 75 additional modern fire tenders have been procured from India and will soon arrive in the country for distribution. In addition, several firefighting equipment including breathing apparatus, firefighting suits and compressors have also been bought for distribution to the station stressing that all these will give fire service personnel better chances of controlling fires and rescuing victims during fire outbreaks.
Addressing personnel of the service in the region, Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho stressed the need for discipline and dedication to duty.
The Chief Fire Officer, Brigadier General J.B. Guyiri told the personnel that much as the management appreciate the fact that knowledge enhancement and development of human resource, things ought to be done within rules and regulations of the service.
“The fire service is a professional institution but as I speak to you, the service as we have now does not boast of a single fire engineer. And the terms of conditions tells us that if you want to get higher in the service and access tertiary institution, you should go for a course that is relevant to the GNFS. You do not go a do any course and come and hold the service to ransom with a degree that has nothing to do with fire fighting”, he said.
Earlier, members of the Council paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni during which, Alhaji Sorogho disclosed that during their visits to some fire service stations across the regions, they realized the lack of both office and residential accommodation for personnel of the service.
He therefore appealed to the regional coordinating councils, (RCC) to collaborate with the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, (MMDAs) to provide shelter for equipment and personnel of the service as well as construct new fire hydrants at strategic locations for refilling during times of fighting fires.
Alhaji Sorogho said the Fire Service Council on its own, has released GH c 1 million as rent advances to the over 7000 personnel of the service noting that the amount is inadequate and that government should provide a permanent solution to solve the accommodation problems faced by the service and its personnel.
The Deputy Upper East regional minister Mrs. Lucy Awuni commended personnel of the fire service in the region for their performance and assured the council that the RCC will make it a precondition for all municipal and district assemblies to first put in place the necessary structures and shelter to house fire tenders and other firefighting equipment before opening up a fire service station in any district.
-End-
9 SHS in UE get vehicles(Saturday, September 29, 2012. Page 18)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
THE Minister of the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka and the Director General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mrs Elizabeth Adjei, have jointly c...
