SADA- Millennium Villages Project empower rural northern communities

SADA- Millennium Villages Project empower rural northern communities Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Walewale The Team Leader of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority’s (SADA) Millennium Villages Project (MVP), Mr David Sumbo has called for a positive attitudinal change in addressing issues of poverty in the rural northern savannah belt of Ghana. Mr. Sumbo who made the call at a stakeholder’s engagement forum at Walawale in the West Mamprusi District said instead of just giving people handouts and making them dependent, poverty alleviation should be seen from an angle that is long lasting than mere handouts. “Handouts don’t change anything,” he said “As much as possible, we at SADA MVP want to change that phenomenon, Instead of just giving handouts, we want to empower people so that they would be able provide for themselves. I can say confidently that the poverty levels may be high in these parts of the country but the people are not poor. It is just that we are not using the right approaches to get our people out of poverty.’ He said. The forum was used to sensitize key stakeholders, including politicians, heads of decentralized departments on the gains made so far under the SADA MVP intervention. SADA-MVP is being implemented in 35 selected communities in the Builsa South district in the Upper East Region, and West Mamprusi and Mamprugu Moaduri districts in the Northern Region. The SADA-MVP project started in January 2012 and will end in December 2016 Giving an overview of the intervention, Mr. Sumbo said SADA-MVP is the result of collaboration between the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, Millennium Promise Alliance (MPA) and funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development. The intervention he said is guided by a partnership between the Earth Institute at Columbia University and MPA, working closely with communities, governments, companies, multilateral organizations, and non-governmental organizations around the world. He added that it is explicitly aimed at implementing the Millennium Development Goals and supporting economic development at the local level. He said overall goal of SADA-MVP is to assist a specific population in the rural northern savannah belt of Ghana in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and to help establish a robust local economy that can sustain and extend the progress made during the project. The project therefore hinged on an integrated development model which seeks to address the challenges of rural development, focusing on targeted investments in food production, nutrition, education, health services, roads, energy, communications, water, sanitation, enterprise development, environmental management and business development. The Health Sector Coordinator of SADA-MVP, Dr Samuel Ayamba in a presentation said the project is contributing to strengthen the health delivery systems in the beneficiary communities. Among several others, the Kpensenkpe Health Centre, two staff quarters and the Kunkwa Community based Health Planning Centres (CHPS) have all been fully renovated. He said an order for two new ambulances have been made due to be delivered in June and to be stationed at Fumbisi and the other at Kpasenkpe to support health service delivery. Also, 7, 777 persons have been enrolled unto the national health insurance scheme while 10 motorbikes have been distributed to health directorates in the beneficiary districts. Mr. Francis Avonsige, in charge if the Education Sector said also indicated that some schools in the cluster have been rehabilitated including the Kpasenkpe and Kasiesa primary schools. In addition, 1,000 dual desks, a number of teaching and learning materials have all been procured for distribution to schools in the cluster to enhance the quality of education. The Member of Parliament for Walewale, Dr Sagre Bambangi and his colleague for the Yagaba/Kubori Constituency Mr. Ussif Mustapha as well as the District Chief Executive for West Mamprusi, Mr Adam B, Yusif while pledging their support for the project, also expressed gratitude to management of SADA-MVP stressing that the support would help improve upon the lives of their constituents. -End- Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

VRA completes 1st solar plant in Navrongo(D/G. Wednesday May 8, 2013 Back Page)

The Volta River Authority (VRA) is about to inaugurate its first solar power plant at Navrongo in the Upper East Region as part of its corporate policy to develop renewable energy resources to augment its power generation. The Navrongo Solar Power Plant is a two-MW facility, the largest grid PV plant in West Africa apart from those in Cape Verde. The plant will ultimately be expanded to 2.5 MW. Built at a cost of US$8,082,025 million, the Navrongo solar plant fits into the long-term strategic policy of the VRA to diversify into renewable power generation in an efficient, cost effective and environmentally sustainable manner. A top official of the VRA told the Daily Graphic that in support of this policy the authority had since 2010 set in motion various measures. These include the setting up of a five-year renewable capacity project, deployment of renewable plants at both the national and mini-grid (isolated) systems based on local need, resource availability and cost effectiveness. The authority has established a mix of renewable portfolio — wind, mini hydro, solar — in various locations within the country covering renewable resources in those locations. Also, consistent with this policy, the VRA has set as a target, the development of about 160 MW of installed renewable energy capacity systems over a five-year period (2010-2015). At the end of the period, the VRA is expected to generate 150 MW from wind power and 14 MW from solar energy. There are feasibility studies for small hydro plants by tapping into available water resources. “Ghana needs energy that is secure, reliable, sustainable, improved public health, protects the environment ,addresses climate change and provides technological leadership”, the official emphasised . Speaking on Ghana Television’s Breakfast show programme last Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer of the VRA, Mr Kweku Awotwi, said in addition to the Pungu site, three other sites had been identified and acquired in the Upper West Region for the construction of the next phase of 12 MW PV plants to complement power generation. He stressed that funding had already been secured and work would start later this year. Story: Benjamin Glover Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

SSNIT prosecutes defaulting employers(D/G. Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Page 22)

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has taken legal action against some establishments operating in Upper East Region for defaulting in the payments of their workers’ contribution to the Trust. Eleven companies who were indebted to the Trust to the tune of GH¢60,806.00 were served with criminal summons by the Bolgatanga Municipal Court. Eight companies, upon the receipt of their sermons, immediately dashed to the Trust offices in Bolgatanga to pay a total of GH¢20,448.32 Mr. Foster Adjei, a prosecutor of the Trust, who briefed the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga after the court hearing said Edern Security Services Limited had defaulted in the payment of GH¢39,664.88 being workers’ contribution to the Trust, while Simak Investments had not also paid the GH¢692.80 deducted from its workers salaries as their contribution to the Trust. Mr Foster Adjei explained that SSNIT did not take delight in prosecuting organisations that had defaulted in the payment of their workers contributions, but would do so if such organisation refused to act promptly to its demand notice letters served them. He warned that SSNIT would not relent in its efforts to compel organisations, departments and agencies through legal actions to retrieve all unpaid workers contributions to the fund. The Bolgatanga Branch Manager, Mr Prosper Yao Gavu said his outfit would intensify educational programmes on the need for employers to pay the social security contributions to the SSNIT. He also expressed the resolve of the trust in the region to compel all employers to abide by the law and ensure prompt payment of workers contribution to the Trust. -END- Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh http://graphic.com.gh/General-News/ssnit-prosecutes-defaulting-employers.html

Dialogue on TB prevention(D/G. Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Page 22)

Traditionally, efforts to stop the spread of TB has been left to only health professionals in spite of the fact that local communities and people who are directly affected by TB but have been cured have important roles to play as active partners to help halt the spread of the disease. Every year the Upper East Region records about 700 cases of TB, with less than 1 per cent of the reported cases being multi drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). This should be a major cause of concern for all since most cases also go undetected due to stigma and ignorance. The fight to Stop TB, TB/HIV and Multi Drug Resistant TB can only be won when interventions are designed, planned, implemented and evaluated jointly with people with TB and their communities from the very start. As part of efforts to create spaces for dialogue and give a voice to Persons Living with TB (PLTBs), Rural Initiatives For Self Empowerment-Ghana (RISE Ghana), a Bolgatanga based NGO as part of a Stop TB Partnership project dubbed “Mobilising and Strengthening Civil Society and Organisations of TB Affected People to Demand Accountability and Stop TB in the Upper East Region,” has organized a series of capacity building and advocacy programmes. The programmes are aimed at increasing awareness, duty bearer responsiveness and reducing stigma by targeting people affected by TB, health administrators, community leaders, traditional leaders and the media. The meeting was part of efforts to give a voice to local communities and local people to influence the way TB programmes are run, for them to demand increase funding for TB and reduction of stigma. Stakeholders, including directors of health, TB Coordinators, Traditional Leaders and Persons Living with TB (PLTBs), participated in the meeting not only to interface but also strategise to end TB in the region. Giving a presentation in one of such meetings in Bolgatanga, Mr Awal Ahmed, Project Manager RISE Ghana said scaling up antiretroviral therapy and improving access to TB services posed a formidable challenge to health services. He said community members could complement the efforts of health institutions, with their closeness to the people living with TB and HIV, by providing greater support and care. Mr Awal advised that community involvement should increase the range of treatment support options for people receiving treatment for TB/HIV, including the involvement of family members, people who have had TB, community volunteers and neighbors. Mr Samuel Angyogdem, Upper East Regional TB Focal Person said the key challenges of the TB programme in the region were identified as the weak supervision at district and sub district levels; the inadequate lab services at some districts-notably Garu Tempane district, weak participation by private service providers, TB care in prisons and high risk areas not given much attention, as well as funding gaps. For the outlook for 2013, he said some activities will be carried out vigorously, such as the training of service providers at public and private health facilities, as well as the pursuit of high external quality assessment of TB microscopy centers. Other activities would be to conduct TB case search in prisons and high risk areas and the provision of leadership role in monitoring and supporting visits and quarterly review meetings. He gave the assurance that with a little bit more, so much could be achieved. writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh http://graphic.com.gh/Health/dialogue-on-tb-prevention.html

Ghanaians must pay realistic tariffs for power — Mahama(D/G, Friday, May 10, 2013. Back Page) http://graphic.com.gh/General-News/ghanaians-must-pay-realistic-tariffs-for-power-mahama.html

President John Mahama has urged Ghanaians to agree to pay realistic prices for electricity to guarantee a reliable and stable supply of power. “If we want reliable power, then, as a people, we must be prepared to pay for it. Our power tariffs have remained at a certain level for the past several years and the problem that we face is that at the time those tariffs were set, we were using gas to generate the power. Gas is much cheaper than light crude oil,” he said. The President noted that as a result of the destruction of the West African Gas Pipeline, currently a greater of the country’s power was being produced with light crude oil which is selling higher on the world market. President Mahama made the call at the inauguration of Ghana’s first solar power plant to be integrated into the national grid at Pungu near Navrongo in the Upper East Region on Wednesday. The two-megawatt Pungu project is part of the Volta River Authority’s (VRA) policy to develop renewable energy resources to augment its power generation. It is the largest grid photo voltaic (PV) plant in mainland West Africa, apart from those in Cape Verde. The plant will ultimately be expanded to 2.5 MW. Work on the plant began on March 16, 2012 and was completed in February 2013 at a cost of US$8 million. President Mahama noted that one of the major problems that had created stress for the energy companies was the fact that they were producing power at a higher cost, while users were paying for it at low prices. He said another issue that ought to be addressed was the need to increase private sector investment in electricity generation and distribution, noting that the government alone could not raise the capital needed to provide the energy that the country required. “It is our intention to stop the use of kerosene as a source of lighting. In the 21st century, to continue to use a fossil fuel like kerosene is unacceptable. Solar solutions are available and cheaper and so the government will continue to distribute these solar-powered lamps to off-grid communities and when we have done this we will increase the price of kerosene to be at par with that of diesel, so that it creates no incentive for people to mix it with diesel for use in vehicles,” he said. President Mahama said as the economy continued to grow at a rapid pace, the demand for power increased at an even faster pace, saying it was estimated that Ghana must put in place at least 200 MW of generation every year if it was to stay ahead of demands for electricity. He said with the VRA developing an additional 10 MW solar plant in the Upper West Region, a 50 MW hydro power plant at Pwalugu on the drawing board and 150 MW of wind power being planned, it was time for the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and all the relevant ministries to expedite action to finalise the renewable energy feed in tariffs to enable private sector investors to take full advantage of the provision in the Renewable Energy Act. The Minister for Energy and Petroleum, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the ministry had embarked on an initiative to promote and increase the utilisation of renewable energy in the national energy mix to ensure a 10 per cent increase in renewable energy sources by 2020. The Chief Executive Officer of the VRA, Mr Kweku A. Awotwi, said Ghana’s first solar plant was not just about being the first or about blazing the trail in sub-Saharan Africa but it signified the VRA’s commitment to diversify its energy portfolio from its current hydro and thermal sources to include solar, wind and biomass, the new “renewables”. Story: Benjamin Glover and Musah Yahaya Jafaru, Pungu

Navrongo Health Research Centre faces challenge (D/G. Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Page 22)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, NavrongoDespite the success of the Navrongo Health Research Centre, (NHRC) and its place in the forefront of research on diseases such as Malaria, the centre is not without challenges. The Director of the NHRC, Dr Abraham R. Oduro said lack of funding for research, maintenance of basic research infrastructure, competition and diminishing of research grants and non retention and absorption of staff is drastically affecting research efforts. Dr. Oduro said this when the Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru and his deputy, Mr Daniel Syme paid a familiarization visit to the NHRC at Navrongo. Dr. Oduro said the NHRC was set up to conduct research into major national and international health problems with the aim of informing policy for the improvement of health, adding that this is being achieved by focusing primarily on basic and intervention research, social and demographic research, and human resource development. According to him, NHRC is one of three research centres of the Ghana Health Service and its operation areas covers the three regions in the north of Ghana. He said the centre since its establishment in 1988 has carried out a significant number of scientific projects and continues to engage stakeholders in formulating new projects adding that some of its projects has driven some key national policy. This inclide the Vitamin A supplementation Trail (Ghana VAST) which has reduced hospitalization and death by 20 per cent and the permethrin impregnated bednets study which has led to a reduction of 17 percent mortality in children. He also added that the centre also pioneered the Community Health and Family Planning Projects (CHFP) and the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) that ensured that nurses or trained locally based volunteers are placed within communities. By so doing, it reduces the distance between patients and primary health care services which increases the uptake of family planning services, reduction in fertility level, improved immunization coverage and other health outcomes. The Director of the NHRC said apart from research; the centre has also contributed to employment generation, human resource development, health care and education and promoted health research tourism. In spite of all these successes, he maintained the centre still faces challenges due to inadequate funding and advocated for increase support. The Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru commended NHRC for its contribution to health delivery system through the various research projects, emphasizing that research was key to development. He said his administration believes that research must be given the recognition and attention. “We think the research centres must be given the necessary attention because there is lot that you do and we think when we give you all the support that you need, you will be able to help shape policies in this country,” he said. The Regional Minister said in his other capacity as Minister of state in Charge of Human Resource Development and Scholarships, he is ready to help identify a few scholarships opportunities so that the centre can also benefit. writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh http://graphic.com.gh/Health/navrongo-health-research-centre-faces-challenge.html

government attaches so much importance attention to vocational and technical - Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru has underscored government commitment to give equal attention Vocational and Technical Training Institutions to boost the interest of students. He noted that in spite of the numerous benefits that vocational training brings to the nation, Ghana had not taken this area of education very serious accounting for most Ghanaians considering it as a preserve for the unintelligent. Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said these when he interacted with final year students of Bolgatanga Technical Institute(BOLTECH) during the commencement of the National Board for Professional and Technician Examination(NABPTEX) Certificate II Examination for Vocational and Technical Institute. 971 students, comprising 628 males and 343 female from BOLTECH are writing this year’s examination. The visit of the Regional Minister who was accompanied by his Deputy, Mr Daniel Syme and the Regional Director of Education, Mr Paul Apanga was to wish the students well and motivate them. Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said government attaches so much importance attention to vocational and technical and is committed to devout more to the training institutions to enable the sector to contribute meaningfully towards national human resource development. He also encouraged the female candidates for showing courage and determination and encouraged them to pursue their vision and not be swayed by any negative comments. The Regional Minister also urged the public to discard the notion that only unintelligent students acquire vocational and technical training. The Upper East Regional Director of Education, Mr Paul Apanga said government has created the enabling environment for their children to learn and develop through the provision of classroom, workshops, and I.C.T facilities needed for practical training. He however appealed to contractors working on various infrastructural projects on campuses to fast track the pace of work to ensure early completion. -End- Pix: Upper East Regional Minister Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru in one of the examination halls for the Certificate II final examination for Vocational and Technical Institute. Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Solve chieftaincy disputes, UE Regional Minister appeals to Chiefs(D/G, May 2, 2013 Page 23)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru has appealed to the Regional House of Chiefs to work hard and resolves all pending chieftaincy disputes in the region. He said it is expected that as a sacrosanct institution, chieftaincy ought to be protected and sustained for posterity but sadly most of the chieftaincy conflicts arise as a result of lack of documentation of the lines of succession. He said it was about time a research team is constituted to come out with findings that will streamline the ascension process to any stool or skin to forestall disputes whenever a vacancy occurs. Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru gave this advice at a meeting of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs in Bolgatanga. He on behalf of the government commended the chiefs and people of the region for their co-operation and support in maintaining peace and stability and expressed the hope that chiefs during his administration would work closely with him to build on it. The Regional Minister said it is expected that chiefs would use their traditional authorities to unify their subjects and appeal to the various traditional councils to tread carefully to be ssen as neutral so that in the midst of political diversity, they can play their role as true leaders. “When such politically neutral positions are adopted, you can easily galvanize the people for self-help and other developmental projects and programmes. The President of the House, Naba Sigri Bewong, Paramount Chief of the Sakoti Traditional Area in a welcoming address said assured the Regional Minsiter and his deputy of their support in their new positions as the political leaders of the region. Naba Bewong also announced that a code of ethics for chiefs, prepared by a committee of the National House of Chiefs with funding from the Konrad Adenauer Stifung of Germany have been approved and will soon be launched during the course of the year. He explained that the Royal Code of Ethics for Chiefs will serve as a guide and any violation of any rule of the Code of Ethic per se shall not constitute grounds for disposition of a chief. “Every tradyional area has their own rules for dealing with violation of their customary practices that relate to their chief,” he said. He said although the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs has enjoyed relative peace, they have experienced a number of chieftaincy disputes with six cases currenrly pending before the Judicial Committee. “However it is gratifying to note that the Sandema case has been withdrawn by the two parties for amicable settlement. Naba Bewong appealed to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs to consider the issues of lack of lawyer for the House. He also appealed to government to reconsider the issue of rehabilitation works of the Regional House of Chiefs building which ii in a deplorable state. The House also added its voice to calls on all striking labor unions in the country to rescind their decision and resort to dialogue in the face of the crippling effect their actions have on the ordinary person. Naba Bewong said Ghana is noted to be a peaceful and a leading democratic country in Africa and “we need a collective effort to advance the development of our country” -End- Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

AgDevCo to support food production at Tono (D/G, Thursday, May 2,2013 page 23)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tono Agriculture plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of every nation. Apart from fielding the population, it serves as a source of foreign exchange through the export of produce. The sector also provides raw material which feed industries and offers employment to many including the youth. In the Upper East Region, the sector has want it takes to generate employment for the populace considering the fact that not many industries exist to absolve the youth especially who out of frustration are forced to migrate to the southern parts of Ghana in search of menial jobs. Although governments both past and present have put in so much, more remain to be done to fully exploit the potentials that the sector offers. It is in this light that private participation in the agriculture sector is very much needed. One of such private institutions to have partnered government to venture into the sector to contribute to food security in the Upper East Region is the African Agricultural Development Company (AgDevCo). AgDevCo exists to help farmers grow their profit to its maximum potential by developing projects that improve access to their goods and services farmers need to get better yields and to get better prices for their produce. AgDevCo does this in partnership with governments in many African countries including Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi. In each of these countries, they have helped build and grow farming businesses and are also developing large irrigation projects for both small and large farmers. According to available literature, many of these projects have been very successful. In order to tap into the potential that exists in the Upper East Region, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture invited AgDevCo to Ghana to look at developing irrigated farming projects. The team from AgDevCo spent six months studying the whole country and chose Navrongo with the belief that the potential of the farmers here is a big as farmers in any country where they have worked. AgDevCo was asked by its partners, MoFA, DFID and USAID to develop a new project like that of the Irrigation Company of Upper Region (ICOUR) that expands the services provided and add new services. Mr. Yasser U. Toor, West Africa Director of AgDevCo at a farmers’ field day at Tono near Navrongo said the project will expand grain production by providing irrigation for farmers to grow aromatic rice and also other crops like maize, sorghum and soyabean. He added that they will also include milling and marketing services to ensure farmers get the best prices for the production. He noted that the first step to setting up a profitable project is to prove the potential of the area. He stressed that every area has its own soils, climate and agronomy. That is why AgDevCo have set up a demonstration farm to prove what results are possible. In Tono, AgDevCo is developing a new 2 to 3,000 hectare irrigated farm next to the existing Tono Irrigation Scheme. The farm will be jointly farmed by a commercial company and a large number of local farmers. A rice mill, storage facilities, inputs, equipment and technical advice will be provided to the local farmers. AgDevCo for a start have piloted a maize and sorghum farm. Working in partnership with the best scientists from the crop research institute and the Savannah Agriculture Institute, they have brought in seed varieties from other countries as far away as Zimbabwe and South Africa to demonstrate the potential of the Upper East Region. “Many people told us that maize would not germinate or pollinate in the heat of the dry season. We are very happy that we did not listen to them. The results are before you.” Mr. Toor said. He said it is a sad fact that Ghanaian farmers have fewer choices when choosing seed than farmers in any other country where AgDevCo have worked. He said through the efforts of Ghana’s leading scientists like Dr. Musharak Abdulai and Dr. Obeng Antwi and a few pioneering seed companies like Agriserve and Wienco, great improvements have been made. “Today, farmers can buy hybrid maize seed from these companies that have the potential to give 6 to 8 tonnes per hectare. This is something to be applauded.” He said. In his view. Everything starts with seed but does not end with the seed. Therefore to get the best from their seed, farmers need other services such as fertilizers, herbicide and pesticide. Also farmers need irrigation, modern machinery for land preparation, plowing, harvesting and modern milling and marketing services so their paddy can be sold at fair price. “Why should farmers sell paddy for GH c 50.00 per maxi bag when in Tema, the same rice sells for three times more after it is milled?’ he asked It is for these reasons that Mr. Toor said MoFA has tasked them to explore the potential of the Tono area and expand irrigated grain production. The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Daniel Syme who participated in the field tour opined that t he project if well developed would not only offer employment to the people in the region but also has the potential to transform the lives of the people in the region by attracting further private investment and expertise to contribute to poverty reduction and local food security. He further stated that the project will improve access to needed infrastructure such as irrigation, processing, grain storage and other services, adding that it will develop supply and markets services by attracting businesses to the region through the creation of reliable supply and demand conditions that make these business opportunities economically feasible. To Mr Syme, the project will also improve market access for farmers and small enterprise especially for our women. With all this optimism expresses, one can only hope that all the stakeholders such as chiefs, landlords, individual families, ordinary farmers will work together with AgDevCo to ensure that this project is successful. -End- Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh