Sissala Union congratulate Alhaji Hamidu Sulemana on his confirmation as Minister of Roads and Highways

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Sissala Union has congratulated the Alhaji Hamidu Sulemana on his nomination, vetting and subsequent swearing in as the substantive Minister for Roads and Highways. A statement signed by Dr. Roger A. L. Kanton, President of the Union and copied to the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga, the union also expressed their gratitude to the President, Mr John Dramani Mahama for choosing their son to head this rather important and heavy demanding Ministry. "Your choice for the job we sincerely believe is driven by your commitment to duty, hard work coupled with the Presidents desire to get the very deplorable roads in the Upper West Region fixed during his tenure of office." The Union said. They recalled, the recent armed robbery incident, which the Minister was unfortunately a victim of and said it could be traced to the highly unmotorable nature of the roads in the region, thereby making the roads of the region a haven for criminal elements who have now taken over the road network of the entire region. They therefore tasked the minister to "on behalf of your brothers and sisters in the Upper West Region to give your top most priority to the Bolgatanga-Tumu-Wa highway, which though the umbilical cord of the two Upper Regions yet the most impassable in the country." They expressed the hope that given background of Alhaji Hamidu Sulemana, who is the member of Parliament for the Sissala West Constituency and also the immediate past Upper West Regional Minister, he will use his training as a Mechanical Engineer to rise to the task given him by assisting the President in his pursuit of the Better Ghana Agenda of the National Democratic Congress Party. "The Union would also like to use this medium to assure you of the unflinching support of all Sissala both in and outside Ghana in every way we possibly can in making your work at this very demanding Ministry a memorable one." They assured. -END-

MTTU Commander unhappy about road crashes

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Commanding Officer of the Motto Transport and Traffic Unit,(MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP) Mr Angwubutoge Awuni has expressed regret about the increase in road crashes and its attendant loss of life on the Bolgatanga-Tamale road and demanded that officers of the unit in the Upper East and Northern Regions take step up their performance to halt the unnecessary death and maiming of road users He said if his men and women live up to expectation and also union executives at the various transport terminals act as safety agents by upholding discipline, the rampant cases of roads accidents will be curtailed. "We have just started the new year 2013 but nationwide provisional fatality figures collated by the National MTTU as at January 25 exceeds 100 deaths. Obviously this cannot be acceptable and we should therefore intensify our enforcement activities to help reverse the negative." He said. ACP Awuni said this when he addressed transport union executives and drivers at the main Bolgatanga lorry terminal after he led a team of MTTU personnel and officers of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority as well as National Road Safety Commission to interact and sensitized drivers on the new road traffic legislative instrument (L.I. 2180). The sensitization programmers for drivers followed an earlier road safety seminar held for personnel of the MTTU at the Pwalugu police training School. ACP Awuni cautioned drivers to stop overloading and wrong overtaking and urged them to undertake regular maintenance of their vehicles to curtail carnage on the roads. He instructed personnel of the unit in the region not to spare drivers who flout the law on the road. "I cannot be arresting people elsewhere in the country while right here at my doorstep, we have drivers who infringe on the law but allowed to go scot free." A stern looking ACP Awuni who hails from the Upper East Region said. Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP), Mr Alexander K. Obeng in-charge of Education, Research and Training urged drivers to refrain from drink driving which was against rules and regulations of driving. The Deputy Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Road Safety Commission, Mr Rudolph Beckley reminded the drivers and their leaders that they owe it a responsibility as frontline stakeholders to ensure road safety. The Industrial Relation Officer of the Upper East Regional Branch of the GPRTU, Mr A. M. Nashiru said it was the share responsibility of the drivers, passengers and the police to ensure safety on the road and pledged that the union would do everything possible to assist MTTU to work effectively to control traffic crashes. He expressed concern about the spate of bad roads in the region and urged government to step up the rehabilitation of the roads to encourage vehicle owners put fairly new and stronger vehicles on the road to reduce the accidents. He said a good road infrastructure will also discourage the use of rickety cars and busses. End Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Mr Fynn and his lotto school.

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga It is often described as a game of chance. Others perceived it as a type of gambling where the winner is chosen based on a drawing. For many others it is a game that require critical thinking and intense calculation in order to arrive at that magic digits to hit a jackpot or make a huge fortune. During my local rounds in the Bolgatanga Municipality, I came across Mr Aggrey Fynn popular known as "Senior Lecturer Hot Lotto" taking a group of people he referred to as students sitted under a neem tree with a large board taking them through serious "lessons" on possible sure bankers likely to drop on the next draw date. So intense was the class that all the 'students' were seen paying rapt attention to series of permutation and calculation just to derived the next sure banker. The lotto school, as it is known have been operating for a long time and according to some of the 'students' they have made big hits from the lectures of Mr Fynn, the lotto doctor Mr. Fynn in an interview told the Mirror that he started the business of working lotto in 1963. He said his trade has seen him travel the country from Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and now Bolgatanga. He said his intense 'workings' has seen several people become millionaires overnight with digits derived from his circulations. He said that gift of correcting working figures and predicting lotto numbers was given to him by God. He said he has used that gift to enrich a number of people. According to him, he does not charge for the class he organizes but people who attend are at liberty to show whatever form of appreciation after they attend the class or win a draw. Lottery have been considered to be a very important source of revenue generation for the states in several countries. Lotteries offer a chance of winning to the purchaser along with a thrill and excitement from the possibility of being selected as a winner and becoming wealthy. There is an entertainment value attached to the lotteries which is why they have always been so popular with people. End Writer's email : benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

PM of Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly detained

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga THE Bolgatanga Police have in their custody,the Presiding Member of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, Mr John Nyaaba who allegedly defrauded a colleague assemblyman of the sum of GH c 8,500 under the pretext of securing him a contract. The suspect was arrested on Monday night and detained overnight after the complainant, Mr Sanke Azumah Abire had lodged a compliant with the police. Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Bolgatanga, Mr Abire said somewhere in 2011 during the confirmation of the current MCE, Mr Edward Ayagle, the PM approached him knowing to well that he the complainant sympathizes with the opposition NPP, solicit his support to make confirmation process smooth. Later, the PM approached him and informed him that they were considering him (the complainant) for the award of contract. Mr Abire said the PM told him they needed some money to process the documentation of the contract so he advanced an initial amount of GH c 5,000 which was allergy sent to the MCE, Mr Edward Ayagle. Mr Abire said later, the PM later approached the complainant with the explanation the office of the then Vice President, Mr John Mahama was sponsoring some projects in the municipality and that he the PM had been given one so he needed some extra money to secure another one. He said it was then that he advanced an additional GH c 3,500 to the PM but since April last year, the promised contract was not been fulfilled. Mr Abire said several follow ups have not yielded any positive response. He therefore became frustrated and decided to report the matter to the police. Mr Abire said he will pursue the matter till it gets to court in order to retrieve his money. When the Daily Graphic visited the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Station, the PM was spotted writing his statements at the office of the CID. Neither the PM or the The Municipal Police Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Mr Godson Letsyo were ready to comment on the issue. End

St John Bosco's College of Education holds Matriculation(DG Monday Feb 18, 2012 Page 22)

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Navrongo. The St. John Bosco's College of Education at Navrongo in the Upper East Region has held its 6th matriculation ceremony for two hundred and eight-six newly admitted students. The ceremony was to usher in fresh students who would undertake a three year Diploma in Education Programme. The Principal of the College, Mr. Alfred Ndago said the ceremony was a key academic procedure to welcome newly enrolled students into institutes of higher learning, as qualified to undertake higher education. The college for this academic year admitted a total 170 males and 116 females to undertake general education courses, science and mathematics and well technical programmes. Mr Ndago said the selection of the students was based on inter alia on their academic qualification, abilities and aptitudes, and was therefore hopeful they would uphold the standards of personal conducts, sincerity of purpose, honesty and integrity to sustain the image of the college. "We expert every trainee would apply himself or herself effectively to the rules and regulations of the college and be ready to protect and defend the hard won credibility and status of the institution." He said. Mr Ndago urged the students to study hard to improve upon their work performance, and take advantage of every available facility to enable them acquire the knowledge, skills and competence they need for their careers in order to become good teachers and role models to the pupils they will be handling after their training. He said the important function of tertiary education was to equip students to solve their challenges by analyzing problems and finding solutions to them, saying this opportunity would form the basis for the future of the students. Mr Ndago touched on wha he termed 'three demons' on the college campus and urged students to avoid them if they are to succeed in their academic pursuit. These are money, lust and laziness. He said the payment of allowance to students and how each student manages the quantum of money received is a direct result of the care-free, unserious or lackadaisical attitude do some students. Again, he said the rate at which pregnancies are occurring among female trainees is a source of worry. "Pregnant women pursuing a professional course such as teaching suffer the effects of work pressure on academic achievement. The creeping in of laziness stems from the perceived comfort of life which may be resulting from lightened financial burden and loss of focus or aspiration. To solve these challenges, it would take guidance and counseling expert to do individual as well as group counseling. The best caution is that you take your time." He cautioned the trainees. He urged the students to be disciplined in the area of time management and adhere to all rules and regulations. he further advised the trainees to choose dialogue in solving their grievances by using the appropriate channels of communication without resorting to violence and mischief which have negative effects on the individual and the institution. End Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Northern Ghanaians Association in Belgium donates ICT equipment to rural schools(D/G Monday February 18, 2013 Page 22)

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Four cluster of schools at Kantia in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region have received educational materials worth Euros 8,000 from the Northern Ghanaians Association in Belgium to ensure effective teaching and learning. The beneficiary schools, namely Kantia Primary, Grace Preparatory Animoa Primary and Afega No. 1 Junior High Schools were given 30 flat screen desktop computers, two laptops, two overhead projectors, three multifunctional prints, I multifunctional photocopier, and a 12000 VA UPS . The gadgets will be installed at a central pointe to facilitate the teaching and learning of information, communication and technology in the beneficial schools. Mr Lawrence Abagnaba, a member of the Ghana Council in Belgium who handed over the items to the community members at a brief ceremony said te donation was facilitated buy the City of Antwerp and was meant to complement government’s efforts towards promoting the teaching and learning of ICT education especially among the youth in deprived communities in Northern Ghana. He said council would continue to support initiatives such as this to help improve livelihoods of the less privilege and also to reduce poverty. He advised the various school management committees to take good care of the facilities and provide the necessary security at the central ICT centre to be created in order to derive the desired benefit from the gesture. The Deputy Director, Supervision at the Bolgatanga Municipal Office of the Ghana Education Service, Mr Mark Nabia who received the items on behalf of the schools, thanked the donor for the kind gesture. He said the items will go a long way to boost the teaching and learning of ICT seeing that government has rolled our an intense programme to provide each child with a computer. He said said given the critical role of ICT in today’s globalized world the Ghanaian youth could not afford to be left behind.The nation, he said, has therefore to put in a programme to provide schools with ICT infrastructure and gestures like this goes to complement government's effort at helping students acquire the requisite skills to compete favourably with their counterparts, elsewhere across the world. He also stressed on the effective and efficient use of the gadgets to ensure that it utilize for the purpose for which they were presented. The MP for Bolgatanga East, Dr Dominic Ayine who was present at the presentation ceremony, advices the pupils to ate their studies seriously in to become well informed and better educated citizens in the future. The Headmaster of Kantia Primary School, Mr Yakubu Alhassan on behalf of the beneficiary School, expressed appreciation to the donor to for the items and pledged to ensure the proper use of the gadgets to advance the teaching and learning of ICT in the schools.

Bongo theatre burnt

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bongo The Medical Superintendent of the Bongo Hospital, Dr. William has appealed to individuals, NGOs , philanthropists and government for the supply of surgery equipments to the district facility to enable them to resume surgical services to the people. The appeal follows a major fire outbreak on Saturday afternoon that razed down the only theatre and vital surgical equipment worth several thousands of cedis crippling surgical activities at the hospital. Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Bongo, Dr. Gudu said the hospital conducts elective and emergency cases on several people from the entire district and adjourning districts and that the damage caused by the fire was so enormous that clients requiring surgeries will have to visit other facilities in the region. The theatre and adjoining rooms was totally razed on Saturday at about 3pm. Items destroyed the theatre included two anesthetic machines, an incubator, surgical equipments, a refrigerators and other medical equipments. There were no casualties according to Dr Gudu as personnel of the fire Service in Bongo responded swiftly to assist put quench the blaze. He said on the said day, he had reported to the facility at about 7 am and conducted ward rounds till about 12 pm when he retired to the house.. Dr. Gudu while at home, he received call from the hospital that a female nurse had detected a smoke coming from the main operating room. he said he instructed that the main electric switch be put off while attempts were made to call the electrician in charge to fix the problem. he added that simultaneously, a call was placed on the Emergency line, 192 which went to the Accra where the operator directed that they call the ECG and quickly hang up. At that point, he said a staff rode a motorbike to the offices of the Ghana National Fire Service in Bongo and while he followed p with his car, a distnace that took about three minutes. Dr Gudu said on reaching the offices of the Fire Service, he saw them racing to the scene so he followed up to the facility where with the assistance of the personnel, some community members and staff of the hospital helped in quenching the blaze, an exercise that latest for about an hour. He said it was too early to state the cause of the fire since the theatre had not been used the whole day and as such no electrical gadget was in use. "The only gadget in use was to table top fridges, one containing anesthetic drugs and another water" he said adding that even those where in an adjourning room and not the operating room, where the billow of smoke was coming from. Dr. Gudu said following the disaster, a report has been sent to the Regional Director of Health Services to see what immediate measures can be put in place. Also, he indicated that the District Chief Executive for Bongo, Mr Clement Akugre Tia has visited the facility in the company of officials of NADMO. The DCE he disclosed has instructed NADMO to liaise with the District Fire Service to investigate the cause of the fire and what form of assistance can be offered. Dr. Gudu disclosed that the Bongo hospital which used to be a health post is not properly structured, adding that it’s lay out do not befit a status of a district hospital and requires expansion work to be able to function as expected. He said since the facility was upgraded from a health post to a hospital status, the facility has not witnessed any major expansion and has placed intense pressure on the limited available resources. "Nobody is prepared to help with land for the construction of a new facility. When the issue of expansion cropped up again recently, the assembly with the help of the Paramount Chief of Bongo offered us a vast stretch of land. we are currently going though the proper documentation processes while we await the payment of appropriate compensation to pave way for the construction of a new facility for the district."He said. Meanwhile, the Medical Superintendent recalled an earlier appeal by the MP for the area, Mr. Albert Abongo to support the construction of children's ward to help deal will the serious congestion at the Bongo District Hospital and appeal to him to fulfill the promise. End

NGO lauds Prez for appionting PWD

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Rural Initiatives for Self Empowerment-Ghana (RISE-Ghana), a Bolgatanga based NGO whose objectives include empowering the vulnerable including Persons With Disability(PWD's) in communities to live dignified lives and become self-relient, has lauded the President for appointing Dr. Henry Seidu Daannaa, as Minister designate for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs. Mr Awal Ahmed, Project Manager of RISE Ghana in interview said the President's appointment represents a major leap for disability rights in Ghana and Africa as a whole and that must be commended. Mr. Ahmed said "this is also a great motivation for NGOs and activists like us" but was quick to add that more needs to be done. "we expect more appointments in other ministries and board of director positions." Asked what this appointment add to the fight for equity , he said Mr. Danna" His appoint will go a long way to motivate PWDs across Ghana to have a positive attitude and high self esteem. "The added advantage is that, it has the potential of breaking that cultural barrier that PWDs cannot serve as Chiefs," he said. Mr Awal Ahmed, a human rights and social justice activist recently called on the President to use his first 100 days to ensure the passage of a Legislative Instrument to fully operationalize the Persons With Disability, PWD Act passed in 2006. He also urged the government under the leadership of President Mahama to commit itself and allocate adequate resources to the various special schools and rehabilitation centers (some of which have been closed down) located across the country. He described Mr Daannaa's appointment as best so far and the most strategic and expressed the hope that this will be an indication of good things to come for PWDs. -end-

Yorogo gets Eye Clinic(D/G Saturday January 26, 2013)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga An eye clinic has been inaugurated at the Yorogo. The project, an Out Patience Department was constructed at the cost of GH¢ 209, 742.01 and funded by internally generated funds with support from Dutch based NGO, Geeze through the facilitation of Dr Jan Oosterink, a Dutch Philanthropists who worked in Bawku in the 1970s The facility has an improvised theatre, three consulting rooms, visual acuity room, staff common room, a pharmacy and offices for the Ophthalmologist in charge. A training centre estimated at GH ¢ 251,000.00 is also under construction. The clinic was established in 2008 housed in the Bolgatanga Presbyterian Health Centre premises. The initiative was that of the then Ophthalmologist in-charge, Dr Michael Gyasi who thought that the best way to increase access to eye patients was to have an annex of the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital Eye Clinic in Bolgatanga, especially following the 2007/2008 Bawku conflict that scared people from the rest of the region and beyond to visit the Bawku Hospital. Following an increase in attendance, management thought it wise to raise funds for the construction of a permanent site hence the acquisition of a 16 plots of Yorogo for that purpose. The Chairperson of the Upper Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Esmund Wasau Nagba, the Chief of Yorogo, Naba Johnson A. Awuni, the Deputy Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Ernest Opoku, The General Manager of the Presbyterian Health Service- Northern Sector, Mr. John Abugri, Dr Jan Oosterink and the Ophthalmologist in charge, Dr. Hornametor Afake were among the dignitaries who graced the occasion when the eye clinic was commissioned. The Ophthalmologist in-charge, Dr Hornametor Afake said the completion of a first phase of the project, which is an OPD, is the first step towards attaining the vision of becoming a centre of excellence not only for Ghana but on the West African Sub-region considering the successes chalked by the Bawku Eye Clinic which is renowned in Ghana. The General Manager of the Presbyterian Health Service- Northern Sector, Mr. John Abugri in his welcoming address, commended Dr Jan Oosterink for his invaluable contributions towards the development of the eye programmes in the region. He said it also signifies the churches commitment to provide social services to the society in addition to meeting their spiritual needs. The Chairperson of the Upper Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Esmund Wasau Nagba who inaugurated the facility said considering the fact that the centre is seeking to assume the role of a sub-regional facility, the church will welcome any assistance from will be very grateful to welcome and assistance from benevolent institutions and individuals, ad the government to uplift the centre. “This appeal notwithstanding, the church does not lose sight of the support by the by the Government by way of the salaries paid to the staff of the centre, just like all the other health workers of the Presbyterian Health Services-North numbering over 600,” he said. The Chief of Chief of Yorogo, Naba Johnson A. Awuni urged the people of area to see the centre as their own and contribute to it’s regular maintenance to ensure a long lifespan or the facilities. He also urged management to pay attention to sanitation and protect the environment. The Deputy Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Ernest Opoku Dr Oduro said since quality health care delivery depended on the facilities and equipment at the hospital, the management to should people centered through the provision of the best of services to patients to improve their health. He also encourage the people to enroll on the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable residents at the catchment’s area enjoy better health care delivery. Dr Jan Oosterink, expressed appreciation to the chiefs and people of the area for their contribution towards the establishment the Yorogo clinic in addition to that of Bawku and Garu and expressed optimism that by the year 2020, fully fledged training center will be established in the region to service the needs of the various eye clinics in the region to serve Ghana and West Africa.

Nominations for Council of State ends

The filling of nominations for the election of regional representatives to the Council of State closed Tuesday. The Electoral Commission (EC) has fixed February 6, 2013 for the election. Nominations were opened from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on January 21 and 22. The metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the 10 regions are expected to nominate two representatives each to constitute the Electoral College to elect one person to represent each region. Three prominent opinion leaders in the Upper East Region filed their nominations to contest and represent the region on the Council of State, reports Benjamin Xornam Glover from Bolgatanga. They are the Very Reverend Dr Jacob Ayeebo, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale; Mr Clement Abavana and Naba Sigri Bewong, the Paramount Chief of the Sekoti Traditional Area and President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs. In an interview, the Deputy Upper East Regional Director of the EC, Mr Azu Bosco Anyigire, said five persons had picked nominations forms but as of 4 p.m. Tuesdayday, only three had completed the forms and submitted them to the offices of the EC.

PWDS calls for speedy passage of LI to operationalize PWD Act passed in 2006

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga. Mr Awal Ahmed, a human rights and social Justice activist with Rural Initiatives for Self Empowerment Ghana, (RISE GHANA), a Bolgatanga based NGO has urged the President to use his first 100 days to ensure the passage of a Legislative Instrument to fully operationalize the Persons With Disability, PWD Act passed in 2006. This, he explained will bring an end to the gross violation of the provisions from the construction to health sectors with impunity. He has also called for the amendment of the disbursement procedure to make PWDs signatories to the three percent District Assembly Common Fund, DACF account. Mr Ahmed, who is also the Project Manager of RISE Ghana made the call in Bolgatanga where he also admonished the government under the leadership of president Mahama to commit itself and allocate adequate resources to the various special schools and rehabilitation centers (some of which have been closed down) located across the country. "PWDs have been coping with various forms of abuse and discrimination since the passage of PWD Act in 2006," he said and called for action to address issues bordering on issues that create an enabling environment for PWDSs. “I wish to use this occasion to speak up and demand increase promotion and advancement of disability rights from his Excellency, who have a mandate to promote, protect and fulfill our rights as contained in the 1992 Constitution and various Human Rights Instruments Ghana has ratified."He said. While congratulating the President, Mr John Dramani Mahama on his election to the high office of the country and his numerous support to PWDs such as the directive to increase the DACF allocation from 2 per cent to 3 per cent, he urged the president and his government and to commit resources to ensure a sustainable peace and development in the upper East Region focusing on youth-led initiatives. In a related development, the Polytechnic Teachers’ Association of Ghana (POTAG) has also extended a message of congratulations to the President, Mr John Dramani Mahama on his election and subsequent inauguration. In an interview with Mr Oswald Atiga, General Secretary of POTAG,he said the group while congratulating the President, would also like to take this opportunity to remind him of the strategic and forward thinking policy statement he made about turning Polytechnics into Technical Universities. He said "the association eagerly awaits and hopes this policy will be realized within the four years of your administration. We are ready and open for any kind of dialogue that will facilitate the quick implementation of this policy". -End- Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Who becomes the next Upper East Regional Minister?

Persons within the top echelons of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region have started lobbying to replace the outgoing regional minister who is now a Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo. Mr Woyongo has indicated the end of his tenure as regional minister. In his new year message to the people of the region, he expressed the hope that the chiefs and people, civil society, non-governmental organisations, the business community in the region, the security agencies and civil and public servants as well as all other persons and groups will continue to cooperate with and give their unflinching support to whoever will succeed him as the Upper East Regional Minister, after almost four years in office and on account of his elections as MP. Consequently, there have been intense jostling and lobbying among party members for the job. Informed sources told the Daily Graphic that some powerful lobbyists are scheming for their cronies to have the job as President John Dramani Mahama has kept his plans close to his chest. Given the diverse ethnic composition of the region, a number of considerations come to play before appointments such as this is made. Aside, loyalty, competence and ability to deliver, sources within the party told this reporter that the choice of individual who gets appointment into cabinet at the national level has bearing on who gets or does not get appointed as regional minister. Party sources said in the case of the NDC, in appointment such as these, the region is demarcated into three, namely; East, Central and West. The east caters for districts such as Bawku West, Bawku Municipal, Garu-Tempane, Pusiga and Binduri. The Central zone covers the Bolgatanga, Tongo, Bongo, Nangodi area while the West spans the Kassena-Nankana East and West and Biulsa area. The source further said “it will interest you to know that since 1992, we in the NDC have had two persons coming from the East zone occupying the position. The same can be said of the West zone. The Central zone, he said, have produced one person so far, so naturally, the situation presently favours a candidate from the central zone to occupy the seat as regional minister. The source mentioned the late Sherif A. Guma (1993 – 1994) as well as Mr Cletus Avoka (1995 – 1997) as persons from the east zone who held the position as regional minister under the previous NDC administration. For the West zone, he mentioned Mr Godfrey Abulu (1994 – 1995), the immediate past Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo. The only persons from the central zone to have served as Regional Minister, was Mr Donald Adabire Adabere (1997 – 1998). According to the source, the mantle from the look of things now falls on a candidate from the central zone to occupy the seat just to balance the equation. With the appointment of Mr Mahama Ayariga as minister for information designate, it rules out an appointment of a person from the east zone to the position of regional minister. Mr Woyongo also completed his tenure as regional minister so it is unlikely that a candidate will emerge from the west as regional minister. There is therefore the likely possibility that the mandate will fall on someone from the central zone. Information stumbled on by the Daily Graphic have it that the following persons have been penciled down out of which one will be considered for the position of regional minister. They are: Mr. Atanga Donatus Akamugri, the current regional secretary of the NDC, Mrs Lucy Awuni, current acting Deputy Regional Minister, and Mr John Akologu Tia, immediate past Member of parliament for Talensi constituency. The rest are Dr Atinga Mba, Rector of Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Dr Avea Ephraim Nsoh, Lecturer, University of Winniba, Mr Daniel Syme, a former District Chief Executive for Builsa, Mr Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem, Mr John Alale Abugri and Mr Francis Kambila Awindago. For the position of Deputy Regional Minister, the proposed names as stumbled on by the Daily Graphic out of which one person is to be selected are: Mrs Lucy Awuni, Mr Edward Akolgo Adimazoya, Mr Thomas Dalu Addah, and Mr Simon Nabia. The rest are Mr Clement Akasoba Anabire, Mr Adongo Solomon Aduko, Sampson T. Cherigea, Seidu Mahamdu and Mr Ali Mumuni In a related development, a youth group from Bongo has also issued a press statement appealing to the President to consider appointing a person from the Bongo district to the position of the regional minister. The statement signed by Messrs Emmanuel Ayire, Mathias Aboba and Mohammed Issaka, Chairman, Secretary, and Organising Secretary respectively of the Bongo District Youth Consensus for Development (BDYCD), said they were making the demand, taking into account the fact that “the district like all others in the region has competent people who can perform creditably well when given that office and also considering that the ruling governing party has enjoyed the full support of the people of the district since 1992. Despite this unflinching support, the party has never appointed a person from the district to that high office in the region”. “We the youth make this request in the spirit of fairness, equity and balance in the distribution of political appointment for the unity and development of the area and political support for the party. We the youth of Bongo wish to assure His Excellency the President and everybody in the NDC party that we are not by this request seeking to play down the critical factor of competence and other important factors that constitute the criteria for appointments of such nature but, we are seeking for fairness. Again we are not also seeking to sow seed of division. We are seeking to draw attention to a worrying gap we believe deserves to be closed. We urge the good people of the Upper East Region to see wisdom in our request and support our call for the right thing to be done” The ball is now in the court of the appointing authority as to who becomes the next regional minister for the Upper East Region. By Benjamin Xornam Glover

CCFC presents drugs to UE Health Directorate

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Health Directorate has received a quantity of assorted medicines to enable it offer healthcare services to the large number of especially people children and pregnant mothers. The medicines were provided by the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) and included one million tablets of Abendazole, (400mg), 480,000 tablets of Ferrous Sulphate, 750,000 tablets of Vitamins A, and two million tablets of multivitamins. According to UNICEF, every year, estimated 11 million children under the age of five in developing countries die from illness such as diarrhoeal, dehydration, Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), measles and malaria. “This is not any parent or government’s dream for children,” said Mrs Gifty Akosua Baka, Country Director of CCFC when she led a team to present the medicines to officials of the regional health directorate at a brief ceremony at Bolgatanga. “CCFC is very much concerned about child protection and believes that a healthy child is the basic per-requisite not only for healthy growth but also for the peace of mind to pursue interests in education and other endeavours.” she added Mrs Baka explained that the presentation of vitamins, dewormers and other health promotion medicines to the Ghana Health Service in the region for the first time expands her organisation’s outreach to many more children beyond the Northern Region where they have operated for the past 16 years. She noted that one of the major challenges in their organisation’s intervention to children and communities in the northern region was poor water and sanitation conditions, lack of access to safe drinking water for rural communities remain major cause of disease infection especially diarrhoea and other water borne diseases and worm infestation among children. This challenge, she said, coupled with malnutrition, increase conditions of anaemia in children and pregnant women which worsen or result in death where access to health care facility is difficult. She expressed the hope that the medicines will go a long way to help the children in the region grow healthy and live to achieve their dreams. Receiving the items on behalf of the Regional Health Directorate management, Mr Lucio Dery, Deputy Director in charge of Administration thanked the CCFC for the support and said they would ensure the judicious use the items, especially in the area of antenatal care for both babies and care of pregnant mothers. “Malnutrition is a major challenge in this region and we are happy to have this support from CCFC”, he added. -End- Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Bawku - MUSEC pledges GH¢3,000. for information on weapons

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Bawku Municipal Security Council, (MUSEC) in the Upper East Region have warned they will take a tougher actions against persons found to be disturbing the relative peace prevailing in the area. The warming comes at the heels of recent a spate of pockets of violence that has rocked the Bawku municipality. One person was shot dead on Monday night while another three sustained injuries after parts of the municipality came under sporadic gunshots. Speaking to the Daily Graphic after members of the MUSEC held an emergency meeting in the wake of the recent clashes, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Musah Abdulai condemned the emerging violence in the municipality but was quick to add that the trend has no links with ethnicity. “The problems in Bawku as we have recorded in recent times are purely criminal and not related to the ethnicity,” he insisted. He added that ‘what we need to do sensitise our people to know that the recent spate of violence is an action of criminals who what to take advantage of the prevailing peace of the area to create confusion”. Mr. Abdulai said analysing the trend in the area, it appears some people are unhappy at the prevailing peace to the extent that they will want to destabilize the relative peace in the area and therefore appealed to the public to cooperate with the security agencies to weed such people out of the system. He said when there is conflicts in Bawku, there are a group of people who go round soliciting funds for the purchase arms and ammunition, to the extent that when there is peace, such people are out of business and will also what to create confusion in town. Again, he said conflict leads to imposition of curfew during which period people go about looting so for such people, peace seems unattractive. “We need to bring all the people in Bawku together and work hand in hand to weed out such miscreants from our midst,” the MCE said. On some short term measures taken, Mr. Abdulai said the assembly has decided as a matter of urgency to install street lights on some stretches of road in the municipality to increase illumination at night to curtail such violent attacks. He said the MUSEC meeting also realised that some communities have no access roads and that a decision has been taken for the construction of those vital roads linking communities in municipality to facilitate easy patrols by the security agencies. Mr Abdulai said the assembly has instituted a programme to reward any individual who furnishes the security agencies with information leading to the arrest or conviction of persons in possession of weapons adding that an amount of GH c 3,000 will be given to such individual who provides information. -End- Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Two arrested in Bawku over shooting incident( D/G, Tuesday, January 15, 2013, Page 3)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku Some residents of Bawku in the Upper East Region are worried about recent incidents of intermittent shooting incidents, sometimes overnight and appealed to the security agencies to live up to their responsibilities and arrest persons behind the act. Some residents of Bawku who spoke to the Daily Graphic said the intermittent shooting incidents occasional experienced in parts of the municipality poses a threat to the fragile security of the area. “I think it will possibly add to the stigma and poor reputation that has come to be associated with Bawku in the past” asserted one resident. The appeal follows a shooting incident around Kariama in Bawku in which one person was injured. The incident is reported to have occurred at 8:30 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013. The victim at at press time was recuperating at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital. It was unclear what might have triggered the incident as police said investigations were ongoing. Bawku has in the recent past witnessed clashes that has brought socio-economic life to a virtual standstill. Following several interventions put in place by central government and other stakeholders, the municipality is gradually recovering from these years of protracted ethnic violence. Some residents who spoke to the Daily Graphic after the latest shooting incident said such incidents, though very minute and remote if not subdued as early as possible, could result in something undesirable. “We have had enough, this is time for peace. Our greatest fear is that if activities of the few miscreants are not check. Bawku will go back to its old state, which we are all against,” said Rashid Musah, a resident of the area. Sumaila Alhassan, another resident said having witnessed successful violent free elections, it was the hope of the people that Bawku had put the past behind it and ready to embrace a more peaceful environment and therefore called on all who are bent on ruining the peace efforts to put a stop to it. Meanwhile the police in Bawku are also calling on the people to volunteer information on activities of criminals among their midst to help the security agencies apprehend the bad nuts in the society. -End- wrier's email:benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Doctor 'angry ' with police(The Mirror, Saturday, January 12, 2013. Page 24)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Koku Awoonor-Williams, has called for justice to prevail to all manner of persons irrespective of their status. Dr. Awoonor-Williams’ was angry that in spite of abundant evidence of defilement of an eight year old girl, the Police are yet to put the case before court to seek justice several months after the matter was reported to them. The Regional Director, just as authorities of the St John Bosco’s Primary School in Navrongo in the Upper East region, said he is shocked and dismayed regarding the decision of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service to release a young man who is reported as having kept an 8 years old class 3 pupil of the school in sexual bondage for four years. In September 2012, the class teacher of the little girl, (name withheld) having observed over a period of time noted that the pupil was always complaining of abdominal pains tried to find out the possible cause of the problem but the girl resisted her attempts. But the teacher suspecting strongly that something serious was wrong with the girl reported the incident to the head teacher and together with some teachers managed to persuade the girl into telling them her ordeal. According to the teachers, the girl narrated vividly how a young man who lives in her neighborhood in Janania, a farming community near Navrongo took advantage of the absence of her grandparents to forcefully have sex with her and threatened to kill her if she revealed it to anyone. From the girl’s narration, the first episode took place some four years ago when she was four years old in kindergarten and since then the young man has continued to sexually abuse her up to date. The alleged culprit according to the girl forcefully had sex with her several occasions, sometimes forcing her to do unimaginable things by an eight year old. He also repeated his threat anytime he had sex with her. The girl narrated that her grandfather once suspected the action of the young man and reported him to his father and for some time he ceased but before long he resumed and has continued since. Further interviews with the girl by the teachers revealed that her parents are divorced and her father took her to live with her grandfather while he migrated to southern Ghana in search of work. Upon hearing the agony of the girl, the school authorities sent for the grandfather of the pupil and when the old man was questioned whether he was aware his granddaughter was being abused sexually by a young man in the neighborhood he responded in the affirmative but added that he reported the action of the young man to his father whom he described as a son and he promised to make sure he gets his son to put a stop to the act. He was however not aware if the gentle man had stopped or not. Given that the old man confirmed the little girl’s story, the school authorities decided to report the matter to the Kassena-Nankana East District Police. The girl was subsequently issued with a medical form to go for medical examination following which the young man in question, Master Blaise Ada-enge Akannamse; a 17 years old JHS graduate was arrested. The case was quickly transferred to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service in Bolgatanga. Information however, has it that the culprit was released the same day and has since being left to roam as a free man in the community. In an interview with some staff of the school, the teachers expressed shock at the twist of events and said the speedy disposal of the case and the release of the suspect leaves them at a lost. , As one of them put it “We have no idea what happened and the case has been dismissed, no one has come to tell us anything not even something we should all do to help the little girl. We are afraid." "Before making the report to the Police, we thought the perpetrator when found will be made to face the full rigors of the law and something deterrent done to save the innocent girl and other potential victims, surprisingly however, the case has taken a different turn. Now if the gentleman has been freed for whatever reason, how can we guarantee the safety and security of this little girl and other girls in the community? Perhaps something is wrong somewhere”, the teacher lamented. The officer in charge of Girls Education at the Ghana Education Service, Kassena-Nankana East District Directorate, Madam Mary Rose Abachele, who was apparently not aware of the dismissal of the case also expressed shock and surprise and fear about the outcome of the case and said her office was not informed of the action of the police. When the DOVVSU office was contacted the Officer in charge, ASP Kojo Apiah-Kubi, confirmed the case and said they had to discontinue the case for lack of evidence. He said the alleged case took place more than six months ago and was not immediately reported and when they issued a medical report, the Doctor could not established that there was rape. The decision of the Police however has not gone down well with health and humans rights experts. The Upper East Regional Director of Health speaking on the matter in an interview expressed anger, shock and dismay at the action of the Police and called for justice for rape and defiled victims. He lamented “This is a sad and shocking story. If the Police cannot protect innocent victims and ensure justice prevails and people are safe, then we are heading for “Animal Farm”. Dr. Awoonor-Williams called on the police administration to do the right thing and restore hope to vulnerable people who seek justice. He indicated his intentions to follow every development relating to the case just to be sure that it is not swept under the carpet promising to back the course of justice for the little girl whatever it may take. -end-

Three NPP candidates challenges Parliamentary results( D/G, January 12, 2013. Page 14)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Bawku Central in the Upper East Region, Mr. Alhassan Haruna has filed a petition at the Bolgatanga High Court challenging the declaration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Mr Mahama Ayariga as winner of the 2012 parliamentary election in the constituency. The petition was filed on Friday, January 11, 2013 at the Bolgatanga High Court. In an interview with the Daily Graphic via telephone, Mr Alhassan, a former Deputy Managing Director for Metro TV said decision to challenge the parliamentary results in the Bawku Central Constituency was based on what he term ‘fraudulent acts’ and irregularities practiced by the EC officials who were in charge of elections in the constituency that in the long run affected the authenticity of the elections and therefore rendered the outcome null and void. He confirmed that other respondents in the case are the Electoral Commission (EC). Mr Mahama Ayariga, a former Deputy Minister of Education polled 24,071 representing 54.86 per cent to win the seat while Mr Haruna Alhassan polled 19,082 votes, representing 43.49 per cent. The PNC’s Joseph Awini Aguuda garnered 303 representing 0.69 per cent while Iddrisu Mubarak of the PPP and Madam Ibrahim Zaliya of the CPP polled 269 and 151 representing 0.61 per cent and 0.34 per cent respectively. In a separate interview, the Bawku Central NPP Constituency Secretary, Hamza Amadu backed the petitioner stressing that it was his legitimate and constitutional right to seek the courts interpretation on what they deemed were irregularities at the polls. -END- benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

360 Burkinabe refugees repatraited(Daily Graphic, Saturday, January 12, 2012. Back Page)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga 360 out of the 600 persons who fled from conflict in their communities in Burkina Faso to Sapelliga in Bawku West district in the Upper East Region on the eve of the New Year, have been repatriated taken back to Yuuga in Burkina-Faso, where a temporal camp have been established. Authorities of Central East Province in Burkina-Faso with support from their Ghanaian counterparts started the repatriation of the Burkinabes from Sapelliga with state sponsored buses from Burkina-Faso on Sunday, January 6, 2013. The Bawku West District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (A.S.P.) Mr Christian Dogbatse in an interview on the progress of the repatriation exercise which was started on Sunday said it has been a smooth exercise so far. He said most of the 240 refugees left have opted to leave voluntarily since the distance between Sapelliga and Yuuga is about 18 kilometers. Some of them are said to have come into the country with their cattle and were said not to be comfortable sending the herd to the Yuuga refugee camp but were making alternate arrangement to go back. He said so far the process has been peaceful so far with no major incidence recorded. He expressed the hope that the remaining leg of the repatriation exercise will be as smooth as the initial phase. It will be recalled that a conflict between Busangas and Fulanis in the Barigunse, Yarikor and Zaabire communities in neighboring Burkina Faso from December 31, 2012 to January 2, 2013, led to the influx of some 600 refugees into Sapelliga in the Bawku West District. Authorities of both countries quickly mobilized to find lasting solutions to the problems and ensured that the displaced persons were quickly assisted and repatriated back to their communities. -End- writer's email:benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Fuel Shortage hits Upper East Region(D/G, Wednesday, January 9, 2013. Page 42)

Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga There has been shortage of fuel in the Bolgatanga municipality of the Upper East Region over the past three days. A visit to a number of fuel filling stations in the regional capital saw fuel attendants confirming the shortage. Clients who visited the pumps were met with the "No Patrol inscriptions" mounted at the entrance. At Yikene Total filling station, the Daily Graphic chanced a long queue of clients accessing super as that was the only brand available. The staion had ran out of diesel. The attendant said the station ran out of the products at the close of last week but luckily, super arrived later which was been sold to clients. A source however told the Daily Graphic that fuel tankers have left for the Buipe Depot with the hope of lifting some fresh stock for sale to clients by close of the week. writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Providing ART therapy-Human Resource major impediment in Upper East Region(D/G, Tuesday, January 8, 2013 Page 11)

Repatriation of stranded Burkinabes begins(D/G, Monday, January 7, 2013. Page 38)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Officials from Ghana and Burkina Faso have commenced an exercise to repatriate a total of 600 displaced burkinabes seeking refuge at Sapelliga in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region. The influx of the refugees into Ghana is said to have been fueled by a conflict between some Busangas and Fulanis in the Baringunse community in Burkina Faso and later spilled over to Yorikor and Zaabire on December 31, 2012.The refugees later into Sapelliga in Ghana which is about about 7 kilometers from their respective communities. The first batch of 266 out of the total of 600 were repatriated on Sunday while officials from both countries put in place measures to have all the displaced person freighted back home. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Bawku West District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Christian Dogbatse said buses were brought in by the burkinabe authorities on Sunday to pick the first batch of 266 from Sapelliga in Ghana to Nayuuga innBurkina Faso on Sunday. He said the exercise will continue until such time that all the refugee depart Sapelliga He said NADMO and other security agencies such as the Ghana Immigration Service were on hand to supervise the repatriation exercise. Last week, the Upper East Regional Coordinator of NADMO, Mr Alfred Saawug led officials of the agency to Sapelliga to hand over some relief items to the displaced persons. The Bawku West by the District Chief Executive Alhaji Anaba Adam Moro, on behalf of the assembly also presented some food and toiletry items to be distributed among the registered refugees. The Governor in of the Central East Province in Burkina-Faso, Allahidi Diallo, who also visited the refugees and said arrangements were far advanced to create shelters at Nayuuga Community in Burkina-Faso to accommodate the refugees while steps taken very soon, while steps taken towards a peaceful resolution of the problem. He expressed appreciation to the people of the chiefs and elders as well as the people of Sapelliga for playing host to the refugees, while efforts are made for them to return home. benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Ghana Tourist Authority closes two facilities(The Mirror, Saturday, January 5, 2013. Page 24)

The Ghana Tourist Authority, (GTA) has closed down some guest houses in the Bolgatanga municipality of the Upper East Region for operating either illegally or under poor conditions. The two facilities affected under the first phase on an exercise to enforce standards were the Ghana National Association of Teachers, (GNAT) hostels and Gumah lodge on the Bolgatanga -Bawku Highway. The 10 room GNAT Hostel has operating been operating for several years despite the fact that it was yet to receive license from the GTA. The security set up of the facility is not sound while operators do not have approve GTA receipts books. Gumah Lodge on the other hand was not structurally sound and occupants were exposed to danger with crack walls and steep stairways which could easily collapse.Bed in some rooms were broken, while mattresses had sunk. Some mattresses were uncovered while electric switches were also broken down. Officials of the GTA said the facility has not met all the needed Board not to operate in their own interest.Alhaji Hakim Ishmael, acting Regional Manager of GTA , who led a team of GTA officials and policemen to lock up those facilities, said this was part of measures to enforce acceptable standards. He expressed concern about the situation where some of the hospitality facilities, without approved licenses from the Board, were doing brisk business and under sub-standard conditions adding a number of hotels and restaurants had been marked out for closure in the region. He was particularly worried about the unhygienic conditions under which some of the hotels and restaurants worked, saying that, the GTA would never allow them to operate with impunity. Alhaji Ishmael said the exercise would be sustained to bring sanity through best practices and maintenance of high standards in the industry. He called on owners and managers of hotels and restaurants to co-operate with the Board to raise standards and attract more tourists. writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Bazua farmers get grain storage facility(D/G, Thursday, January 3, 2013)

A former Upper East Regional Best farmer, Mr. Martin Ariku has advised the youth in the region to embrace agriculture and dedicate their time and energies to it, if the battle against poverty is to be won. According to the 2012 Regional Best farmer, the region posses a lot of potential and with the right attitude and the needed support, the youth can reap the desired benefit and curb the rising cases of unemployment and migration to the southern parts of the country in search of non-existent jobs. Mr. Ariku gave the advice at the inauguration and handing over of an 80 metric tome warehouse for the storage of grains and other farm produce for sale later by farmers at prices that will help them make profit. The facility is also to curb the difficult challenges of post harvest losses farmers has to endure. The warehouse facility is part of the Ghana Arzakinmu Programme designed to increase smallholder participation in certified warehouses by expanding the provision and use of improvised aggregation, post –harvest handling and storage services in the Volta, Northern, Upper West and Upper East Regions. The programme is funded by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa and is being implemented by the Agribusiness Systems International in partnership with the Ghana Grains Council. The project has trained a total of 12, 327 small holder farmers comprising 7, 996 men and 4,331 women within the project implementation area in best practices in post –harvest handling and storage of grains and have also been introduced to the basics of the warehouse receipt system, which is being piloted by Ghana Grains Council. In all 18 community storage warehouses of 80 metric tons capacity have been provided for progressive farmer based organizations, nucleus farmers and community aggregators within the implementation area to improve grain storage and also ensure access to higher value markets and timely financing through the warehouse receipt system. The programme is also collaborating with partners to improve market linkages between smallholder farmers and profitable markets. Speaking at the handing over of one of the community storage warehouses at Bazua, Mr. Ariku who is also the 2008 Bawku Municipal Best Farmer, said from an initial stage of a small holder farmer with just 2 acres of land, he has matured into a farmer who can now assist others to produce to feed themselves and the nation as a whole and expressed appreciation to the Ghana Arzakinmu Programme, the Agriculture Development Value Chain Enhancement(ADVANCE) Programme, Agribusiness Systems International and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. He said apart from the storage facility, the project has also aided him and his colleagues in developing a management model to help them maintain the warehouse adding that the warehouse receipt system introduced by the Ghana Grains Council will now help farmers grow and really make faring a business. While calling on the youth in the region to embrace agriculture a vehicle to escape from the excruciating pain of poverty, he also appealed to the government to initiate policies that will make the venture more viable. The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grains Council, Dr. Alfa Kadri advice managers of the facility to adhere to standard practices and accepted protocols on how to receive grains, processing and proper storage methods as well as efficient documentation processes among others in order to derive the desired benefits. He also encourages the farmers to embrace the warehouse receipt system. He disclosed that the Ghana Grains Council has been able to issues the first warehouse receipt the first of its kind not only in here in Ghana but West Africa and second in Africa. “What it means it that farmers will be able to use those warehouse receipts as collaterals for example to source funds from financial institutions and inputs dealers to support their businesses”, he explained. Mr. Hlupeki Phiri, of the Ghana Arzakinmu Project said it is important for the farmers to uphold and enforce appropriate management systems that will generate enough resources for the maintenance and upkeep of the facility.