Australian Gov’t commended for supporting disability sports in Upper East

Story& Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Australian Government has been commended for supporting Persons With Disability(PWDs) in the Upper East Region with assorted sports equipments, capacity building programmes and creating an enabling environment for the promotion of our sports among PWDS. Under a programme dubbed “We Know Sports, PWDs In Active Sports”, the Australian Government through funding by AUSAID has significantly contributed to develop and promote disability sports, disability rights and inclusive development in the region. They have also held a series of capacity building workshops on sports planning and management, advocacy, publicity for PWD sports and also provided a number of sports equipment including twelve (12) sports wheel chairs, four Javelins, three and three discus to PWDS. This has led to the organization of the first ever inter-regional disability sports competition was successfully organized between the Northern Region and the Upper East Region to challenge the unfortunate and wrong perception that, sports is the preserve of the able-bodied. Mr. Awal Ahmed, Project Manager of Rural Initiatives for Self-Empowerment (RISE) Ghana, an NGO working to champion the cause of PWDs made the commendation at Bolgatanga during a duty tour of the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. William Billy Williams. Mr. Ahmed while expressing appreciation to the Australian Government for funding the noble initiative urged the High Commission and the AUSAID team to continue to support and entrust them with resources to put more smiles on the faces of more women, children and the deprived. For his part, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. William Billy Williams pledged to deepen the relationship of disable sports between his country and Ghana based on the biggest reputation of sports in Australia. He said Australia is committed to providing the same opportunity to everybody no matter where the individual comes from by providing the disabled in the Upper East Region with sports equipments. The High Commissioner commended RISE Ghana for their efforts at promoting inclusive society and called on Persons with Disabilities to use their skills to contribute to the betterment of the society. According to him, Australian High Commission is providing funds in small grants to communities in Ghana and countries in the sub-region in sectors such as water and sanitation, renewable energy, education and agriculture, adding that these projects demonstrate Australia’s on-going commitment to deepening engagement with Ghana and across a full spectrum of issues including strengthened diplomatic links, increased development assistance, trade and commercial activity and greater people-to-people links. The Upper East Regional Sports Development Officer, Ewuntomah Iddrisu pledged to make good use of the sports equipments and called for more assistance from the Australian High Commission.

Ghana Grains Council establishes warehouse to help farmers reduce post harvest losses

Story& Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Ghana Grains Council, (GGC) in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Alliance for Green Revolution has initiated steps to address post-harvest losses among small scale farmers. To that end, GGC has established standard 80 metric tonne capacity warehouse each in four districts in the Upper East Region. The facility is located in Bawku West, Garu-Tempane, Talensi and Builsa districts. The facility will serve as initial grain aggregation points for the nucleus farmers. The grains once aggregated will be later transferred to GGC certified warehouse which has the facilities for cleaning, grading, fumigating, packaging and storing the grains to increase their market appeal and provide the opportunity for better prices. According to the Chief Executive Officer for GGC, Dr. Kadri Alfah , the once the out-growers deposit their grains in the facility, the farmers will be issued with a warehouse receipt which can be used as collateral for credit from banks and micro-finance institutions. In an interview with the Daily Graphic at Pwalugu in the Talensi District after a day’s training programme on warehouse management for operators of the warehouse, he said the aim of the training was to help operators understand warehouse practices, grain standards, grading and storage and be able to deliver quality produce the Ghana Grains Council certified warehouse. Dr. Alfah who is also an expert in warehousing, ware house receipting and commodity exchange added that the warehouse receipts system would offer the farmers the opportunity to clean, grade, fumigate, package and store appropriately to increase market appeal. He expressed the hope that farmers will gain valuable skills and derive the necessary benefit by utilizing the facility and adopt the appropriate storage of grains to reduce warehouse post harvest losses. Ghana Grains Council is a non-profit, private, private sector organization formed in March 2010 with members drawn from grain value chains, including farmers, traders, food processors and various services providers, including banks and other financial institutions. It is the leading grain industry association responsible for establishing warehouse standards based on best industry practices for the reduction of post harvest storage losses of grains. -

Political Parties tasked to protect prevailing peace in Bawku ahead of elections

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Paramount Chief for the Bawku Traditional Area in the Upper East Region, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka has charged political parties and their followers within the jurisdiction not to do anything to disturb the delicate peaceful atmosphere currently existing in Bawku. He has also called on the various security agencies to ensure that no one is spared for any act that violate the prevailing peace in the area. Naba Azoka made the call on Wednesday during a durbar to climax this year’s Samanpiid festival of the chiefs and people of Kusaug at Bawku. The Samanpiid festival is an annual celebration of the Kusasis tribe not only to thanks the ancestors of the land for a successful farming season but also a period where inhabitants showcase their culture and also gather to map out the way forward in development. The Paramount Chief reminded the people of the turbulence period the people of Bawku have had to endure for the past years due to ethnic conflict and said the time has come for all to put the dark period behind and forge ahead in peace. “I believe we have come to the end of the dark tunnel. I wish to use this occasion to caution all my subjects and residents of Kusaug generally not to do anything to disturb the delicate peace now existing in Bawku” To all political parties, he said “the rules of the game have been clearly defined and we must all do well to abide by them”. He also encouraged the law-enforcement agencies to remain focused and steadfast in their task to ensure law and order in the traditional area during and after the polls. Naba Azoka said so far the handlers of security in Bawku have proved to be on top of their job and commended them for their swift movements to flashpoints in the area anytime there is a sound of gun-shot Touching on other developments over the period under review, Naba Azoka commended the government for subsidizing the prize of fertilizer wish has contributed to good yields and boosted food production in the area. He however bemoaned the few cases of smuggling of the products to neighboring countries but expressed the appreciation to the security agencies for their role in battling the activities of the smugglers. He also commended government for responding positively on a petition for the reconstruction of the Bawku –Bolgatanga highway adding that even though some work has started as pledged by the Upper East regional minister, work on the road will be fast-tracked to save travelers from the hardship they face. The Bawku Naba also renewed an appeal to the management of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, SADA, to include the proposed Tamne Irrigation dam Project in the planned construction of dams for irrigation purposes for the benefit of farmers from the area. The Municipal Chief Executive for Bawku, Mr. Musah Abdulai reiterated the call for peace stressing that for any growth and development to take place and sustained, the need for peace is paramount. He noted that as the country inch closer to election and taking cognizance of the peculiar situation of the area, it was incumbent on the people of Bawku to uphold their resolve to keep the peace of the area. He said to demonstrate the need for all live in peace, leaders of all political parties in the municipality have signed a memorandum of understanding pledging to eshew violence and to educate their followers to help sustain the mutual respect for other parties in the political contest and not to see their opponents as enemies. He therefore expressed the hope that all will abide it for peaceful elections. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo said situations, in which people live in constant fear of being attacked scare investors away, cause stagnation of the local economy and lead to the loss of human resources are some of the worse experiences that takes place when conflicts occur. He therefore expressed the hope that the people in Bawku will continue to sustain the relative peace and even deepen it so that they can benefit also from the development that the present Government has been pursuing for the country. -End- Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

UE PNC rubbishes calls to have Ayariga ousted

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Branch of the Peoples National Convention, (PNC), has disassociated itself from calls by some members of the party to have the party’s flag bearer; Mr. Hassan Ayariga kicked out two-weeks to the December 7 general elections. The Regional Secretary of the party, Mr. Henry Fatchu such attempt to have the flag bearer ousted before the general elections smacks of dishonesty and a lack of understanding of the democracy. He argued that Mr. Ayariga was duly elected at a congress in Sunyani and was officially given a mandate to leader the party into election 2012. Therefore for any individual or group of persons to gang up and to lead a campaign to have the flag bearer removal on the flimsiest of excuse two –weeks to elections smack of lack of appreciation of the tenets of democracy . Mr. Hassan Ayariga has been accused of being an appendage of the governing NDC NDC after his performance at the last IEA debate by some national executives of the party including the National Youth Organizer, Abu Ramadan. The flag bearer has also incurred the wrath of some parliamentary candidates who are alleged to have accused him of working against the part. The group therefore asking the leadership of the party to call the party’s flag bearer to order or force him to step down. In an interview, the Upper East Regional Secretary of the party, Henry Fatchu dismissed the call, stressing that it was misplaced. He said rather than jumping from one radio station to the other and holding press conferences, those championing that campaign should hit the party’s election 2012 campaign trail and mobilize more votes for the party. Mr. Fatchu doubted the level of commitment of those calling for the head of Hassan Ayariga and said even from the privilege position of those championing the call, they have failed to lobby and get support for parliamentary candidates, especially women. “We have female aspirants in this region, who do not have posters, yet, it is a known fact that there are NGOs in Accra who are extending support to women. What have been their contribution to helping our female access these kind of financial support?” he question. “I can tell you for a fact that, those of us in the regions, are working so hard, moving from community to community, village to village to campaign for the party and help the party win more seats in parliament and the least we expect is such divisive calls that has the potential of derailing the forward match of the PNC. He conceded that there is high level of indiscipline in the party this is something the Council of elders and the National Executive Council of the party must work on to bring every one on board. “We are deeply worried at such calls and something must be done about it. He accused those leading the campaign for failing to turn-up at Gwollu fort he launch of the party manifesto by the flag bearer and said if they showed their faces there, visited the grave side of the founder of the party and interacted with the core supporters of the party, they wouldn’t have started the campaign to have the flag bearer ousted at this late hour. Mr. Fatchu enjoin all those leading the campaign to oust Mr. Hassan Ayariga to hit the campaign trail in whatever little way since their input is valuable to the cause of the party. He disagreed with opinions that Mr. Hassan Ayariga did not performed at the IEA debate stressing that all the issues he raised relevant and salient. “He, Hassan Ayariga has set out to redefined politics in Ghana by preaching togetherness, inclusiveness, youth empowerment and economic growth and he articulated his views clearly at the IEA platform. He insisted Mr. Ayariga’s output at the debate does not amount to doing the bidding of any political party but rather utilized it articulate his vision for Ghana. The Upper East Regional Secretary of the party called on all to rally behind their candidate and give him the support in the race for the presidency. -End- Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

World Vision engages people in Bawku in peace forum

World Vision engages people in Bawkuin peace forum. Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga World Vision Ghana (WV), has organized a peace forum in Bawku as part of its contribution to national peace building ahead of the December 7, 2012 polls. The foruminvolving religious and community leaders was to demonstrate the essence of peace and the need for all to sustain the prevailing peace before, during and after the elections. Also present were some selected Junior High Schoolsincluding personnel from the NCCE and the various security agencies among a cross section of the public.Bawku hasin the recent past witnessedinter-ethnic violenceinvolving the Mamprusis and Kusasis, the dominant tribesin the area. The town is alsoincludedin the list of flashpoint ahead for the polls. Mr. Thomas Abilla, spokespersons for the Paramount Chief of the Zug-ran Naba Asigri Abugrago Azokain a speech read on behalf of the chief, underscored the need for peace before, during and after the 2012 elections. He saidBawku, once an economic hubin the northern parts of the country, has traded that accolade due to the violent conflict and has since suffered the consequences as a result. He said though the area is currently enjoying relative peace, economic and social activities have dwindled as traders fear to engage thepeople in their trading activities. This, he noted, has affected the pace of development causing most residents to travel far and near to safeguard their lives and properties. On education, he said BECE results collated for the past two years clearly shows that the conflict has taken a toll on academic performance of students. Mr. Abilla said considering the relative peace being enjoyed by thepeople, development was picking up, emphasizing thatpeople are tired of the conflict and were committed to the current peace process. He therefore encouraged residents ofBawku to sustain the peace and cooperate with the security agencies as the country gears up for the upcoming December polls. He said with discipline and tolerance the area was poised to ensuring a peaceful electoral process devoid of violent behaviors. The youth, he observed are responsible for determining the future of the area. He moreover advised the youth to exercise high sense of decorum and firmnessin their decision and not allow themselves to be used as elements for violence. He expressed appreciation to the various religiousinstitutions for demonstrating true commitment to peacein Bawku, and urged others to emulate their shining examples. The Operations Based Team Manager ofWorld Vision, Madam Benedicta Pealore encouraged thepeople ofBawku to strive for peace to allow accelerated developmentin the area. She said though the upcoming election is characterized with tension, Ghanaians with one accord, can once again prove to theworld that the nation is capable of exercising a violent free election. There were peace messages from some pupils on behalf of the childrenin the area. Abdulai Wasila of Methodist JHS and Issahaku Hadi of Mother Theresa Educational centre who represented the youth stressed on the need for all stakeholders to embrace peacein the forthcoming elections. -End- Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

E.C engage parliamentary candidates in U/E ahead of polls

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga. The Upper East Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Bruce Ayisi has enlisted the support of all stakeholders to ensure a successful conduct of polls in the region. He said the EC has over the years exhibited high level of professionalism with respect to electoral conduct and assured the general public that the commission was set to conduct much credible voting exercise through the use of the biometric option but entreated the public and all stakeholders to cooperate with the commission. Mr. Ayisi said these at a dialogue with parliamentary candidates and political party representatives as well as a section of the public at Bolgatanga. The session was on the theme: ‘Enhancing the credibility of Ghana’s Election” and was supported by in DFID and KAB Governance Consult (KGC). It was aimed at demonstrating the commission’s commitment at maintaining the credibility of the polls and to reduce the possibility of violent confrontations by political party loyalists. It was also held to further deepen the confidence of the candidates on the forthcoming 2012 general elections. Mr. Ayisi, stated that the E.C has been transparent and responsive in dealing with electoral issues, adding that the EC will not renege in its effort to maintain the status quo He said 63 parliamentary candidates have filed nominations on the ticket of the various political parties to contest in parliamentary elections in the fifteen constituencies in the Upper East Region. Out of the figure, 57 of them are males while the remaining six are females. He assured all the aspiring parliamentary candidates as well as the political parties that the doors of the E.C are always opened and urged them to always approach his outfit so that together they will work to make the elections in the region peaceful and successful. The Deputy Regional Director of the EC, Mr. Azu Bosco Anyigire, disclosed that the provisional figures of voters in the region stood at 566, 859 adding that a number of activities have been organized by the EC including workshop for women, persons with disability, training of personal on the use of the Biometric verification machine attendants all in readiness of the election. He pointed out that the EC will work closely with the Regional Election Security Taskforce to ensure that all rules governing the polls are applied stringently to ensure a free fair and transparent election devoid of electoral malfeasance. According to him, the EC has checks in place for persons with all forms of disability and would ensure that they are well catered for through the use of tactile ballots. On the issue of double registration, Mr. Anyigire said his outfit will pursue persons that indulge in the act whilst applying the necessary sanction against them. He said with the aid of the biometric verification process, such persons would be disenfranchised. -End- writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Junior Graphic for deprieved schools(J/G November 21-27, 2012 page 2)

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Graphic Communication Group Limited as part of is Corporate Social Responsibility activities have identified some deprived school in the Upper East Region which will be supplied with copies of its youth oriented newspaper, the Junior Graphic’. The project is in collaboration with suppliers of the company’s newsprint and it is targeted rekindling the habit of reading among the youth. It is also aimed at promoting reading and literacy among the pupils and students, as well as motivates the youth to learn from the lives and works of eminent Ghanaians. Beneficiary schools in the Upper East Region are the Bukere Primary School, Zaare Primary School and Aningazanga Primary School. Under the programme, each school is to be supplied with five copies of the Junior Graphic weekly. The publication will be stocked in the libraries of the selected schools where students are expected to access them. At Bukere Primary School where the first batch of supplies where handed over to the school, the Assistant Headmistress, Mrs. Momori Umuheira expressed appreciation to Graphic Communications Group Limited for the initiative. Similar sentiments were expressed by the Headmistress of Aningazanga Primary School, Ms. Felicia Kanton who also stated that the gesture will go a long way to boost reading habits of the pupils. -end- Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover

Yaale community benefit from free medical outreach

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Yaale

Yaale community is one of the most deprived in the Talensi district is of the Upper East Region. Social amenities such as clinics, schools, water, and electricity are lacking or inadequate. The road network is poor. The major occupation of the people is small scale mining and subsistence farming and this is characterized by low yields mainly due to low soil fertility erratic rainfall pattern and small farm sizes. The community has no clinic or health post. The alternative facility is the Presbyterian Primary Health Care Centre at Namolgo, which is about eight kilometers away Yaale. There is also a health post at Datoku however the nature of the settlement pattern and poor road network has made patronage of these health facilities by the people of Yaale is rather poor, thereby causing high incidences of disease and illness. High poverty levels of the people of the area are manifested in their inability to register for the National Health Insurance Scheme that will also help them access health care. Touched by their plight, Eastwood Anaba Ministries under its social transformation wing organized a medical outreach in the community. A team of medical doctors, nurses and pharmacists screened the people for various ail-ments and administered drugs. Those with critical cases were referred to the Regional Hospital for further attention. Apart from the medical screening, the medical team also gave out gifts, including clothing for adults. shoes, baby clothing to the people. A total of 160 people made up of 86 adults and 74 children were registered onto the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable people use their cards to access health care in nearby communities. An associate member of the E.A.M, Mrs. Ruth Wallace said the programme was birthed by Rev Eastwood and Mrs. Rosemond Anaba to primarily to extend the God’s love to the community and to propagate the gospel of Christ. She explained that the medical outreach was designed to see to the economic, social, as well as the spiritual development of the deprived in the society adding that aside the medical outreach, E.A.M has also embarked on an educational support programme where children are assisted from pre-school to tertiary levels. She added that it was the objective of organization to in the future provide, funds permitting to provide social amenities such as water to deprived communities, support agriculture which is the main occupation of the people and well as enhance skill acquisition by the youth, stressing that “our aim is to ensure that more people are empowered”. Mrs. Wallace said through that they hope to storm the tide of migration to urban areas and also help the youth to put a stop social to vices. The Coordinator of the Medical Outreach programme, Dr. Hornametor Afake said the aim of the programme was to reach out to the people in the community who in one way or another did not have access health facility in the community. He said some of the conditions examined were malaria, high blood pressure, respiratory tract infections, wound dressing, ophthalmology cases and anemia in children amongst others. The Assembly man for the Garri-Gbane Electoral Area, Mr. Bismark Yumah was grateful to the medical team and Eastwood Anaba Ministries for the gesture and expressed the hope that it would be sustained. He appealed to philanthropists and corporate bodies to help build a Junior High school in the area to save the children who have completed their primary school from walking long distances to attend JHS School in neighboring communities. Mr. Yumah said the district assembly has not been able to meet all their development needs of the community to lift them out of their socio-economic status. He said it was through the self-help of the people and the support of some non-governmental organizations that saw the construction of a primary school and the provision of a borehole for the area. He appealed the Eastwood Anaba Ministries to provide the community with a clinic for the area since health care was paramount to the people. -End- Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover A member of the medical team attending to a community member during the screening exercise

Court restrained EC from registering Kasena voters(D/G November 27,2012)

The Electoral Commission (EC) has explained that its failure to register some prospective voters in the Navrongo Central Constituency stems from the fact that a court injunction restrained it from doing so. The Upper East Regional Director of the EC, Mr Bruce Ayisi, told the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga that following disagreements over the naming of the electoral area, residents of the area boycotted the biometric voters registration exercise. He, however, said the Accra Fast Track High Court, on October 18, 2012, ordered the EC to take steps to register the people of the Atosali-Azaasi Electoral Area under the same name, Atosali-Azaasi Electoral Area, following a suit initiated by a resident. However, Mr Ayisi said, another resident of one of the affected electoral areas also filed a motion for stay of execution, for which reason the EC had to suspend the exercise till date. He said as a result of the legal tussle, which is yet to be determined, the people of the Atosali-Azaasi Area did not have their details captured in the voters register and would, therefore, miss the opportunity to participate in the December 7, 2012 general election. During the biometric voters registration exercise, residents of the Akurugu Daboo Electoral Area said they were not happy with the change of name of the area from Akurugu Daboo to Atosali-Azaasi by persons they believed were settlers in the community without their consultation. As a result, they failed to partake in the exercise and the case was sent to court. In 2010, the people of the Atosali-Azaasi Electoral Area, as a result of the disagreement over the naming of the electoral area, failed to participate in the district assembly election and so they did not have an elected representative in the Kassena-Nankana East Municipal Assembly. There are 97 polling stations in the constituency, out of which those likely not to be involved in the elections are the Akurugu Daboo Primary School, Azaasi Primary School, Gayingo Primary School, Doba JHS and Doba Primary School polling stations. Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

New NHIA regional office inaugurated at Bolgatanga by Prez. Mahama

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga PRESIDENT JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA has inaugurated a two storey office Regional Office block for the National Health Insurance Authority at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The project, one of ten being constructed across the country, which was being undertaken by the NHIA, is part of governments towards the provision of infrastructure towards the delivery of an efficient and effective health insurance system in the country. Work on the GH c 500, 000 office block commenced in June 2011 and completed in October this year. It will have offices for the various aspects of the NHIA operations in the region. Speaking at the ceremony, President Mahama expressed the hope that the edifice will not only create an enabling atmosphere for the smooth administration of national health insurance scheme but also contribute to a better, effectively and efficiently management of the scheme in order to deliver a scheme that will increase access to health care, in term of quality and in terms of delivery. He reiterated the fact that the scheme has been growing from strength to strength with subscriptions more than doubled adding that more people are accessing quality health care under the NHIS compared to four years ago. President Mahama said Ghana’s health insurance scheme has become a model for Africa with many other African countries sending people to study how Ghana has managed and achieved this level of success. “These successes have reflected in country’s human development Indicators. For instance, Maternal Mortality has come down from 450 to 280. Though significant, we have not achieve the MDG goal on Maternal Mortality” he said He commended the staff of the NHIA and urged them to continue to work hard with the assurance that government will do its part by supporting the scheme and make it one of the best in the world.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mr. Sylvester Mensah said contrary to speculations, NHIS utilisation has witnessed an increase. He said for instance In 2007, utilisation was around 5 million while in 2008, utilisation jumped up to 12.5million. He said between 2008 and 2011, utilisation was 25.4 million. “This represents growing public confidence in the scheme and an indication that more and more people are enrolling onto the scheme and more and more people are accessing health care through the use of the NHIS card”, he said. Mr. Mensah said that notwithstanding, the authority appreciates the fact that there are a lot more people who may be having challenges in securing their ID cards and accessing health care. To address this difficulty, he said the authority will soon be issuing instant biometric identity cards to its subscribers eliminate the delays in the issuance of ID cards to persons who want to register with the scheme and also put an end to cases where some subscribers never receive their cards after registration. Again, he said the authority have set up a call centre where subscribers and service providers alike could lodge complain either at the point of service delivery or when there are challenges with the authority in order to have a rapid response to the problem. “We are blazing the trail with this shame, like any other country running a social health insurance scheme, we have some challenges but what is important is that what strategies are in place to address those challenges, and that is what we have done”. “We reckon that we have isolated cases of difficulties in hospitals clients are asked to pay for services but the scheme will continue to educate the public in order to overcome such challenges” he added. -End- benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Kassena-Nankana East honours 18 farmers

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Gia The Kassena Nankana East Municipal Director of Agriculture, Mr. Adamu Seidu Vasco has identified the shortage of staff in departments as a major hindrance affecting agriculture services delivery in the area. He said dwindling staff strength due to retirement and death of staff without corresponding replacement affects efforts by extension officers to reach farmers to answer their queries and help in facilitating increased income, food security and reduced poverty in the municipality. Mr. Adamu Seidu Vasco said this during the district celebration of National Farmers Day at Gia. In all 18 farmers from the municipality were presented with awards at the event with Mr. Ignatus Kwokiyoni Asuakwo being adjudged the Best Municipal farmer for Kassena-Nankana District. He received a motorized tricycle, a radio set, half piece of cloth, a pair of wellington boots, three cutlasses, bars of soap, a bag of fertilizer and a certificate. Speaking at the function, Mr. Adamu Seidu Vasco said apart of the inadequate staff, another major challenge facing agriculture in the municipality was the deliberate refusal of farmers to pay for inputs advanced to them to support them in their activities. This attitude, he maintained smacks of dishonesty on the part of those farmers. He disclosed that last year, only 50 per cent recovery was made on the block farming programme. He however cautioned that the department of agriculture will adopt all available means to pursue defaulting farmers to the recovery of any support extended to them. The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Emmanuel Andema urged farmers constitute themselves into groups since it was only through that they can access agriculture extension services, information on agricultural technologies and the best farming practices that are environmentally friendly. “By coming together to form strong groups, our farmers would also be able to empower their members to influence policies of government that affect their livelihood”, he said. -End- benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Ministry of Youth and Sport distribute footballs to SHS in UE

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Ministry of Youth and Sports has presented over 2,000 footballs to the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council for onward distribution to all senior high/technical schools [SHS] and all district and municipal assemblies in the region. Mr. Michael Frimpong, Public Relations Officer handed over the items to the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo at brief ceremony in Bolgatanga. The items are to be distributed to each Senior High School as well as Municipal and District Assemblies to help in the development of sports, especially soccer in their respective districts. Mr. Frimpong said the ministry has already done similar distributions other regions across the country and is working to distribute other sports kits in the future. The Regional Minister commended the Ministry of Youth and Sports for its efforts at sports development at the senior high school level noting that, the move will produce the needed young and energetic footballers to replace the current ones in the national male and female teams many of whose players are ageing. Mr. Woyongo noted with worry that many youth in the region’s schools and districts hitherto used improvised footballs in their training sessions and hoped the presentation by the youth and sports ministry will go a long to whip up the youth’s interests in the game and also enhance sports development in general. He cautioned sports masters at the schools not to sell the footballs or keep them to themselves while asking students to combine both sports and academics effectively. According to Mr. Woyongo, sport, especially football is big business in today’s world and commended some basic school pupils who won several prizes at the just ended Milo Marathon in Accra. He also congratulated the Black Maidens for their feat in the just ended Women’s Under-17 World Cup and encouraged young girls to participate actively in football saying the game is not exclusive to men only. The Upper East Regional Physical Education Coordinator at the Ghana Education Service, Mr. Thomas Awiah expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the gesture but appealed for the provision of adequate support for other sport disciplines such as hockey, hand ball, table tennis and others in order to develop the youth in all the areas of sports available in the country. Mr. Awiah said all the 23 public senior high and technical schools, 11 private SHS, three community SHS and other technical/ vocational schools will all receive the footballs. -end- benjamin.glover@graphic.co.gh

Regional Health Director says District Assemblies must invest more in Health of Women and Children

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. John Koku Awoonor-Williams has challenged the Regional Coordinating Council, Municipal and District Assemblies in the region to invest more in health if the issues of women and children are to be addressed. “Enough of the political talks and posturing while women and children continues to die”, he lamented. Dr. Koku Awoonor-Williams made the call at a conference in Bolgatanga to address maternal mortality issues in the region. He said ever since former first lady, Dr. Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills launched Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa’, in Bolgatanga in November last year, not much has happened as practical and demonstrable commitments from the Municipal and District Assemblies. “Pregnant women and children continue to die in our various communities and villages and health facilities. Health facilities and CHPS Compounds are in deplorable state that needs the attention of local District Executives”, he said adding that staff working in remote and deprived communities need motivation from district assemblies that are not forthcoming. According to him, there are very little investments in health infrastructure by the Regional Coordinating Council and Municipal and District Assemblies, emphasising that the health workforce in the region is precarious and yet indigenous students needing financial support to undertake medical training are hardly supported. “I think we can do better and must do better. Let’s walk the talk”, he stressed. He said between January and June this year health institutions in the region recorded 17 maternal deaths as against 23 maternal deaths recorded within the same period last year. Dr. Awoonor-Williams noted that even though the region have over the years performed well in safe motherhood especially infant and maternal health leading the rest of the nation much still needs to be done since one maternal death is an epidemic. He said with Ghana as one of the signatories Millennium Declarations and with the change in its status to a middle income country,, accelerating the reduction of maternal and child deaths through proven cost effective interventions such as family planning, has become even more urgent. While appreciating the need for regional, district and community level ownership of health and development and particularly maternal health, Dr. Awoonor-Williams expressed the hope that all stakeholders in the health sector will take on the multifaceted issues of maternal mortality and address them to eventually curb maternal deaths in the region to the barest minimum. The Regional Director of Health lamented that Millennium Development Goal 4 and 5 which prioritize skilled attendance at delivery remains a difficult challenge for Ghana, as said as 2015 draws near, he reiterated the urgency for all, including health workers, civil society, community leaders and development partners to assist the directorate to re-focus and re-double their commitment and accountability in continually directing resources at the many proven cost-effective community based health interventions to reduce the unfortunate deaths of mothers and their children to complete the joy that childbearing bring to families and society. Dr. Peter Baffoe, Senior Specialist- Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in a presentation said postpartum hemorrhage has been identified as the most common direct cause of maternal death in the region. Out of the 17 maternal deaths recorded half way through the year, post partum haemorrhage (the loss of greater than 500 ml of blood following vaginal delivery, or 1000 ml of blood following cesarean section) accounted for eight of the deatsh. Other direct causes were hypertension, ecclampsia, cardiac failure, amniotic fluid embolism and unsafe abortions. On the way forward, Dr. Baffoe amongst others stressed the urgent need for regional blood mobilisation strategy and appealed to residents of the region to voluntarily donate blood to help stock the blood bank. He also emphasised the need for the implementation of audit recommendations, improvement in the transport system in the region in collaboration with members of the G.P.R.T.U and taxi drivers, as well as improved customer and staff attitude on the part health workers to help address some of the challenges. -End- Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh