THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mr Adamu Daramani, has made a passionate appeal to his constituents to stop the violence in the Bawku municipality.
Relatedly, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, has also condemned the clashes in the Bawku municipality, saying “the task of developing the region is always hampered by the incessant fighting in the Bawku area and other hot spots in the region.”
The MP described as most unfortunate the recent eruption of conflict in the area and said the time had come for all to join forces for the re-building of the town which, for a greater part of last year, witnessed several deaths and loss of property.
In a telephone interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Daramani emphasised that conflict in the area could not solve any problem and cautioned all those behind the dastardly acts in Bawku to put a stop to them.
He condemned the setting ablaze of a house belonging to his mother, Madam Agnes Azumah Osumanu, at Gigange, a suburb of Bawku, and that of the vice-chairman of the Bawku Central branch of the NPP at Mognori.
He said at the time his mother’s house was attacked, the 70-year-old pensioner was away in Accra for medical check-up.
Mr Daramani solicited the support of opinion leaders and the leaders of political parties to address the latest conflict that had erupted in the municipality.
He also pledged his commitment to any attempt by the government to restore peace in the Bawku area.
“From what I have heard so far, this is not a Mamprusi-Kusasi affair. This is an NPP-NDC violence and we must all act now to avert any further loss of human lives and property,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the presence of the police and the military in Bawku would reduce the uneasy calm prevailing in Bawku and lead to the restoration of peace in the area.
Addressing his maiden meeting with staff of the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council in Bolgatanga, the Regional Minister condemned the latest clashes in the Bawku municipality.
He said the task of developing the region was constantly hampered by the incessant fighting in the Bawku area.
“Comments made by people in other parts of the country are not complementary at all. We should, therefore, strive to ensure lasting peace in the region,” he said.
In a related development, the Upper East Regional Police Command has commenced the screening of the 27 people arrested in connection with last Monday’s unrest in Bawku.
Those found culpable will later be arraigned.
A police source hinted that over 100 policemen selected from other parts of the country were due to arrive in the region to beef up peacekeeping operations in the Bawku area.
Five people were confirmed dead in renewed fighting in the Bawku municipality last Monday.
A police constable, Peter Ayivie, was also shot in the leg at the hostel where security men on peacekeeping operations were lodging.
The cause of the violence is not yet known.
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
5 KILLED IN RENEWED FIGHTING IN BAWKU (D/G Tuesday, March 3 2009. PAGE 3)
FIVE persons were killed and two others, including a police constable who was identified as Peter Ayivie, seriously wounded in renewed fighting in some parts of the Bawku municipality of the Upper East Region.
The dead, one of whom was identified only as Azay, with the others yet to be known, have been deposited at the mortuary. The name of the other person who was seriously injured has been given as Rahim Alhassan, who is reported to be on admission at a private medical facility in Bawku and said to be in critical condition.
The cause of the latest incident was not known at the time of filing this report but both the police and the military have intensified their patrols in the area.
An uneasy calm reigned over the area and every activity was at a standstill, with people staying indoors.
Information gathered by the Daily Graphic had it that Azay, who is about 30, was killed near the offices of the Ghana National Fire Service in Bawku about 10 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2009.
According to a source close to the police, Azay was allegedly shot in the stomach at close range, resulting in his intestines gushing out.
About 10 a.m. yesterday, fighting erupted again and it was alleged that Alhassan was severely wounded with a machete around the Total Filling Station, right in the centre of town, resulting in renewed fighting in the town.
The source said in the process, another person, whose identity is yet to be known, was killed and the body found around the new lorry park.
Meanwhile, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, has said the police and the military are in control of the situation.
He indicated that some arrests had been made, adding that investigations were underway to arrest all those connected to the latest clashes.
In a related development, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, has convened an emergency Regional Security Council meeting to address the latest crisis in Bawku.
Mr Woyongo, who assumed duty only yesterday, had, on Saturday, immediately after arriving in the region to assume duty, announced that his primary concern was to restore lasting peace to Bawku.
The dead, one of whom was identified only as Azay, with the others yet to be known, have been deposited at the mortuary. The name of the other person who was seriously injured has been given as Rahim Alhassan, who is reported to be on admission at a private medical facility in Bawku and said to be in critical condition.
The cause of the latest incident was not known at the time of filing this report but both the police and the military have intensified their patrols in the area.
An uneasy calm reigned over the area and every activity was at a standstill, with people staying indoors.
Information gathered by the Daily Graphic had it that Azay, who is about 30, was killed near the offices of the Ghana National Fire Service in Bawku about 10 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2009.
According to a source close to the police, Azay was allegedly shot in the stomach at close range, resulting in his intestines gushing out.
About 10 a.m. yesterday, fighting erupted again and it was alleged that Alhassan was severely wounded with a machete around the Total Filling Station, right in the centre of town, resulting in renewed fighting in the town.
The source said in the process, another person, whose identity is yet to be known, was killed and the body found around the new lorry park.
Meanwhile, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, has said the police and the military are in control of the situation.
He indicated that some arrests had been made, adding that investigations were underway to arrest all those connected to the latest clashes.
In a related development, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, has convened an emergency Regional Security Council meeting to address the latest crisis in Bawku.
Mr Woyongo, who assumed duty only yesterday, had, on Saturday, immediately after arriving in the region to assume duty, announced that his primary concern was to restore lasting peace to Bawku.
Monday, 2 March 2009
WOYONGO TARGETS PEACE IN BAWKU (D/G, Monday, March 2, 2009 PAGE 16)
THE new Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, has described conflicts in Bawku as a blot to the development of the region and pledged to bring a closure to the recurrent conflicts in the region.
Promising to work with both factions in the conflict, the regional house of chiefs, and other stakeholders to end the crisis, he emphasised that without peace, there could not be any meaningful development.
“Once peace is attained, there will be speedy development and the economic life of the area, which has stalled will bounce back to life,” he said.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Residency to officially welcome him to the region, Mr Woyongo promised to work with everybody no matter their political party affiliation, religious background or tribe to turn the fortunes of the region round.
He therefore admonished the people of the region to lend their support and encouragement to his administration.
“We are condemned to working together. My enemy is not the man or woman on the other side of the political divide. My enemy is the poverty that is staring us in the face. That poverty does not discriminate and that is why we have to put our shoulders to the wheel to make sure that we drive poverty out of this region,” he said.
Mr Woyongo arrived in Bolgatanga on Saturday to a rousing welcome. A procession of regional executive and supporters of the National Democratic Congress, the chief director and staff of the Regional Coordinating Council, district coordinating directors, heads of security agencies, heads of departments and scores of people were at Pwalugu, about 20 kilometres outside Bolgatanga to meet the minister who arrived from Tamale by road.
The procession drove into Bolgatanga amidst the tooting of car horns and ended at the Residency where Mr Woyongo addressed the crowd. He expressed gratitude to the people of the Upper East Region for the warm reception accorded him.
”Ever since my name was mentioned, I have enjoyed tremendous support from the people and I am very grateful,” he said.
He promised to work with all who are prepared to join him in his efforts to bridge the development gap between the north and south and committed to helping to improve the living condition of the people.
He was unhappy that in spite of all the numerous economic potential that exists, the region still lagged behind the rest of the country in terms of development and promised to work hard to attract investors into the region.
“We are poor in the midst of plenty. We have too many resources which are yet to be tapped and I am sure if we get the correct investors, we will be on the road to driving out poverty”.
“We are about to begin a new chapter in our development agenda and I appeal to you all to put your hands on deck. We should put politics on the back burner and put the development of the region on the front burner. That is the only way forward,” he said.
Mr Woyongo said he had earlier met with all MPs from the region prior to his departure from Accra to solicit their support and promised to constitute a committee to plan the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the Region, which falls next year, to showcase the region’s potential to the international committee.
Mr Woyongo, accompanied by Mr Donald Adabire, a former Regional Minister, and the Deputy Regional Minister designate, Mrs Lucy Awuni had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Bolgatanga, Naba Martin Abilba and the Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Lucas Abadamloora.
Promising to work with both factions in the conflict, the regional house of chiefs, and other stakeholders to end the crisis, he emphasised that without peace, there could not be any meaningful development.
“Once peace is attained, there will be speedy development and the economic life of the area, which has stalled will bounce back to life,” he said.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Residency to officially welcome him to the region, Mr Woyongo promised to work with everybody no matter their political party affiliation, religious background or tribe to turn the fortunes of the region round.
He therefore admonished the people of the region to lend their support and encouragement to his administration.
“We are condemned to working together. My enemy is not the man or woman on the other side of the political divide. My enemy is the poverty that is staring us in the face. That poverty does not discriminate and that is why we have to put our shoulders to the wheel to make sure that we drive poverty out of this region,” he said.
Mr Woyongo arrived in Bolgatanga on Saturday to a rousing welcome. A procession of regional executive and supporters of the National Democratic Congress, the chief director and staff of the Regional Coordinating Council, district coordinating directors, heads of security agencies, heads of departments and scores of people were at Pwalugu, about 20 kilometres outside Bolgatanga to meet the minister who arrived from Tamale by road.
The procession drove into Bolgatanga amidst the tooting of car horns and ended at the Residency where Mr Woyongo addressed the crowd. He expressed gratitude to the people of the Upper East Region for the warm reception accorded him.
”Ever since my name was mentioned, I have enjoyed tremendous support from the people and I am very grateful,” he said.
He promised to work with all who are prepared to join him in his efforts to bridge the development gap between the north and south and committed to helping to improve the living condition of the people.
He was unhappy that in spite of all the numerous economic potential that exists, the region still lagged behind the rest of the country in terms of development and promised to work hard to attract investors into the region.
“We are poor in the midst of plenty. We have too many resources which are yet to be tapped and I am sure if we get the correct investors, we will be on the road to driving out poverty”.
“We are about to begin a new chapter in our development agenda and I appeal to you all to put your hands on deck. We should put politics on the back burner and put the development of the region on the front burner. That is the only way forward,” he said.
Mr Woyongo said he had earlier met with all MPs from the region prior to his departure from Accra to solicit their support and promised to constitute a committee to plan the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the Region, which falls next year, to showcase the region’s potential to the international committee.
Mr Woyongo, accompanied by Mr Donald Adabire, a former Regional Minister, and the Deputy Regional Minister designate, Mrs Lucy Awuni had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Bolgatanga, Naba Martin Abilba and the Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Lucas Abadamloora.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
AFRIKIDS GHANA HOLDS REVIEW CONFERENCE (D/G, Monday, March 2, 2009. PAGE 40)
AFRIKIDS Ghana, a child welfare non-governmental organisation based in the Upper East Region, has held a stakeholders conference in Bolgatanga to assess its performance over the years.
Afrikids runs a number of projects one of them being “Operation Fresh Start”, which is an innovative child rights project that tackles child trafficking and the associated problems of child streetism and child labour in the Upper East Region.
The short-term aim of the organisation is to reduce the levels of child trafficking while the long-term one is to stamp it out altogether.
The day’s conference was on the theme: “Fashioning out a realistic resettlement package for project beneficiaries; the role of stakeholders”.
It attracted participants from a cross-section of society, including local authorities drawn from the Bolgatanga, Bongo, Talensi,Nabdam and Kassena Nankana West District assemblies, and representatives of the regional coordinating council, the department of community development, the department of social welfare and trade associations.
In a welcoming address, the Country Director of Afrikids Ghana, Mr Nicholas Kumah, acknowledged the collaboration his organisation enjoyed with the district assemblies, stressing that they had been of immense help to the organisation in the running of its projects.
He noted that 95 per cent of the 160 children engaged in various dehumanising labour repatriated from Kumasi to the Upper East region by Afrikids Ghana had been retained with some of them being trained in various vocations.
The country director stated that although the initial thinking of the people was that the project would not be possible, "we of Afrikids have made it a reality".
He said the first batch of trainees were due for graduation while the rest were also making progress in their respective courses and would also graduate by the end of the year.
According to Mr Kumah, international organisations had developed interest in Afrikids’ activities and wanted to be part of the success story.
"It will, therefore, not be fair that the assemblies in which the project has been successful, are not fully on board to share in the glory," he noted.
Mr Kumah, therefore, called on the assemblies to show practicalcommitment to the operations of Afrikids by contributing their part to reduce to the minimum the menace of streetism, child labour and child trafficking.
He acknowledged the interest shown by Barclays Bank Ghana in Afrikids’ projects and expressed the hope that the new- found partnership would yield the desired results.
Mr Richard Amoah, the Project Manager of Operation Fresh Start, a wing of Afrikids Ghana that deals with resettlement of repatriated children, took stakeholders through the various stages of the project.
He said those children had been on their various vocations since their integration and some of them would graduate some time this year.
Mr Amoah stated that the first batch of trainees who sat for their apprenticeship examinations passed, adding that one of them obtained a distinction.
"The belief therefore that that it would be impossible to resettle
these category of people is being proven incorrect by the works of Afrikids, because the trainees have for the past years been still at post eager to complete their respective vocations," he said.
Recounting some of the achievements chalked up by the project so far, Mr Amoah disclosed that one of the beneficiaries was now continuing her education at the Gbewaa Teacher Training College while more than 120 parents were engaged in some livelihood activities due to the extended microfinance support the project had given them.
He threw a challenge to the stakeholders that the trainees needed to be resettled with a start-up package, which demanded their commitment to practically support Afrikids in that direction.
Afrikids runs a number of projects one of them being “Operation Fresh Start”, which is an innovative child rights project that tackles child trafficking and the associated problems of child streetism and child labour in the Upper East Region.
The short-term aim of the organisation is to reduce the levels of child trafficking while the long-term one is to stamp it out altogether.
The day’s conference was on the theme: “Fashioning out a realistic resettlement package for project beneficiaries; the role of stakeholders”.
It attracted participants from a cross-section of society, including local authorities drawn from the Bolgatanga, Bongo, Talensi,Nabdam and Kassena Nankana West District assemblies, and representatives of the regional coordinating council, the department of community development, the department of social welfare and trade associations.
In a welcoming address, the Country Director of Afrikids Ghana, Mr Nicholas Kumah, acknowledged the collaboration his organisation enjoyed with the district assemblies, stressing that they had been of immense help to the organisation in the running of its projects.
He noted that 95 per cent of the 160 children engaged in various dehumanising labour repatriated from Kumasi to the Upper East region by Afrikids Ghana had been retained with some of them being trained in various vocations.
The country director stated that although the initial thinking of the people was that the project would not be possible, "we of Afrikids have made it a reality".
He said the first batch of trainees were due for graduation while the rest were also making progress in their respective courses and would also graduate by the end of the year.
According to Mr Kumah, international organisations had developed interest in Afrikids’ activities and wanted to be part of the success story.
"It will, therefore, not be fair that the assemblies in which the project has been successful, are not fully on board to share in the glory," he noted.
Mr Kumah, therefore, called on the assemblies to show practicalcommitment to the operations of Afrikids by contributing their part to reduce to the minimum the menace of streetism, child labour and child trafficking.
He acknowledged the interest shown by Barclays Bank Ghana in Afrikids’ projects and expressed the hope that the new- found partnership would yield the desired results.
Mr Richard Amoah, the Project Manager of Operation Fresh Start, a wing of Afrikids Ghana that deals with resettlement of repatriated children, took stakeholders through the various stages of the project.
He said those children had been on their various vocations since their integration and some of them would graduate some time this year.
Mr Amoah stated that the first batch of trainees who sat for their apprenticeship examinations passed, adding that one of them obtained a distinction.
"The belief therefore that that it would be impossible to resettle
these category of people is being proven incorrect by the works of Afrikids, because the trainees have for the past years been still at post eager to complete their respective vocations," he said.
Recounting some of the achievements chalked up by the project so far, Mr Amoah disclosed that one of the beneficiaries was now continuing her education at the Gbewaa Teacher Training College while more than 120 parents were engaged in some livelihood activities due to the extended microfinance support the project had given them.
He threw a challenge to the stakeholders that the trainees needed to be resettled with a start-up package, which demanded their commitment to practically support Afrikids in that direction.
WORKSHOP TO ENHANCE WORK TO CRAFTSMEN ENDS IN BOLGA (D/G, Monday, March 2, 2009. PAGE 40)
A DAY’s training workshop on arts and craft to sensitise craftsmen and women to upgrade their skills and knowledge through the adoption of improved technologies to enhance the quality of work has ended in Bolgatanga.
The workshop was also aimed at motivating the participants not only to increase productivity, but also come out with customer-friendly products.
It was attended by selected craftsmen and women as well as cultural officers from the Centre for National Culture throughout the country. The workshop was organised under the European Union (EU) Cultural Initiative Support Programme (CISP).
Since the project was launched in August, 2007, a number of activities had been organised to transform the cultural landscape of the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Coordinator of the CISP, Mr Kwesi Gyan-Apenteng, noted that the craft industry was one of the most vibrant sectors, which was often described as the informal economy.
He stated that the crafts played a major part of the broad tourism and hospitality industries that enhanced the image of Ghana internationally.
Mr Gyan-Apenteng, however, said unfortunately Ghanaian crafts and artefacts often failed to compete favourably against those from other countries because of poor finishing and sometimes faulty designs.
Those challenges, he said, had been identified under the project resulting in the deployment of strategies to address the problem.
“The time has come to introduce innovation through new thinking, technologies and international best practices to the development of these crafts for the betterment of the local and national economies,” Mr Gyan-Apenteng stressed.
He bemoaned the disappearance of the local architecture, mostly the round huts systems, and called on the local authorities and some business concerns to realise the potential of the traditional designs.
The leading consultant of the CISP, Mr John Osei Bobie Boahin, expressed concern about the demise of the local architecture.
He noted that in warm climatic situations as the one prevailing in northern Ghana, it was necessary for the people to maximise the use of the straw in their design to minimise the effects of the heat instead of relying on metal roofing sheets.
Mr Boahin, who is also the Head of the Department of Integrated Rural Art Industry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi , appealed to the government to pay special attention to the arts industry.
The workshop was also aimed at motivating the participants not only to increase productivity, but also come out with customer-friendly products.
It was attended by selected craftsmen and women as well as cultural officers from the Centre for National Culture throughout the country. The workshop was organised under the European Union (EU) Cultural Initiative Support Programme (CISP).
Since the project was launched in August, 2007, a number of activities had been organised to transform the cultural landscape of the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Coordinator of the CISP, Mr Kwesi Gyan-Apenteng, noted that the craft industry was one of the most vibrant sectors, which was often described as the informal economy.
He stated that the crafts played a major part of the broad tourism and hospitality industries that enhanced the image of Ghana internationally.
Mr Gyan-Apenteng, however, said unfortunately Ghanaian crafts and artefacts often failed to compete favourably against those from other countries because of poor finishing and sometimes faulty designs.
Those challenges, he said, had been identified under the project resulting in the deployment of strategies to address the problem.
“The time has come to introduce innovation through new thinking, technologies and international best practices to the development of these crafts for the betterment of the local and national economies,” Mr Gyan-Apenteng stressed.
He bemoaned the disappearance of the local architecture, mostly the round huts systems, and called on the local authorities and some business concerns to realise the potential of the traditional designs.
The leading consultant of the CISP, Mr John Osei Bobie Boahin, expressed concern about the demise of the local architecture.
He noted that in warm climatic situations as the one prevailing in northern Ghana, it was necessary for the people to maximise the use of the straw in their design to minimise the effects of the heat instead of relying on metal roofing sheets.
Mr Boahin, who is also the Head of the Department of Integrated Rural Art Industry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi , appealed to the government to pay special attention to the arts industry.
WOMEN URGED TO REPORT CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (D/G, Monday, March 2, 2009. PAGE 40)
THE acting Upper East Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Kenneth Adabayire, has urged women to report cases of domestic violence to the security agencies for appropriate action.
He said there was the need to protect the rights of women to enhance their development.
Mr Adabayire was speaking at a forum organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ghana to sensitise community and opinion leaders from five communities in the Bolgatanga municipality to the effects of domestic violence on families.
The participants were drawn from the Balungu, Kandiga, Sumbrungu, Zorko and Zuarungu communities.
According to Mr Adabayire, even though some men were victims of Domestic Violence, women were the worst affected.
He, therefore, urged the participants to fight for the rights of women, stressing that the passage of the Domestic Violence Act demonstrated the government’s commitment to gender equality.
“Once human rights are respected, it will help in the development and peaceful co-existence,” he said.
Mr Adabayire said although the courts were there to handle all cases of domestic violence, the best and preferred way of handling such cases was the alternative dispute resolution, and therefore urged the participants to explore that mode of solving problems.
The Regional Project Coordinator of FIDA-Ghana, Mr David Atinga, expressed worry at the high rate of domestic violence in the region, stressing that over the past two years, more than 300 of such cases had been received by his outfit.
According to him, those cases had either been handled directly by FIDA’s paralegal office in Bolgatanga or referred to other law enforcement agencies. “Eight cases ended up in court and they have sent very strong signals to perpetrators of women rights abuses that we are serious”, Mr Atinga said.
He commended organisations such as CHRAJ, Legal Aid Board and the Department of Social Welfare for their keen involvement in tackling the issues of domestic violence in the region.
The Principal Field Officer of the National Commission for Civic Education, Mr Gomez Adongo, enjoined the participants to do away with cultural practices in the region that infringed on the rights of women.
He, therefore, implored the participants to fight for the rights of women, stressing that the passage of the Domestic Violence Act demonstrated the government’s commitment to gender equality.
He said there was the need to protect the rights of women to enhance their development.
Mr Adabayire was speaking at a forum organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ghana to sensitise community and opinion leaders from five communities in the Bolgatanga municipality to the effects of domestic violence on families.
The participants were drawn from the Balungu, Kandiga, Sumbrungu, Zorko and Zuarungu communities.
According to Mr Adabayire, even though some men were victims of Domestic Violence, women were the worst affected.
He, therefore, urged the participants to fight for the rights of women, stressing that the passage of the Domestic Violence Act demonstrated the government’s commitment to gender equality.
“Once human rights are respected, it will help in the development and peaceful co-existence,” he said.
Mr Adabayire said although the courts were there to handle all cases of domestic violence, the best and preferred way of handling such cases was the alternative dispute resolution, and therefore urged the participants to explore that mode of solving problems.
The Regional Project Coordinator of FIDA-Ghana, Mr David Atinga, expressed worry at the high rate of domestic violence in the region, stressing that over the past two years, more than 300 of such cases had been received by his outfit.
According to him, those cases had either been handled directly by FIDA’s paralegal office in Bolgatanga or referred to other law enforcement agencies. “Eight cases ended up in court and they have sent very strong signals to perpetrators of women rights abuses that we are serious”, Mr Atinga said.
He commended organisations such as CHRAJ, Legal Aid Board and the Department of Social Welfare for their keen involvement in tackling the issues of domestic violence in the region.
The Principal Field Officer of the National Commission for Civic Education, Mr Gomez Adongo, enjoined the participants to do away with cultural practices in the region that infringed on the rights of women.
He, therefore, implored the participants to fight for the rights of women, stressing that the passage of the Domestic Violence Act demonstrated the government’s commitment to gender equality.
BOLGA NURSES COLLEGE LACKS INFRASTRUCTURE (D/G Monday, March 2, 2009. PAGE 40)
THE Principal of the Bolgatanga Nurses’ Training College, Mr Moonin Musah, recently expressed his frustration at the inadequate infrastructure which is hampering the training of nurses.
The college is currently being housed in temporary accommodation with limited number of classrooms and other ancillary facilities.
“Well, it appears there is light at the end of the long tunnel. The poor state of infrastructure in the region’s health training schools, which adversely affects effective teaching and learning as well as the quality of nurses trained, will soon be a thing of the past,” Mr Musah stated.
According to the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Koku Awoonor-Williams, the region was working with the ministries of Health and Finance and the Ghana Health Service on a proposal for $6 million Kuwaiti government support to rehabilitate the nurses’ training colleges.
Dr Awoonor-Williams made this known at this year’s annual regional health sector performance review meeting at Bolgatanga.
The regional director expressed the hope that the proposal when approved, would go a long way to enhance the quality of nurses turned out from the training institutions.
He said until then there was the need for the management of nurses’ training institutions to step up discipline among students and improve internal management systems to ensure that the health staff strive to promote the corporate image of the service.
According to Dr Awoonor-Williams, apart from the inadequate infrastructure at the various health facilities, most of the existing structures were poor.
He said there were a number of dilapidated health facilities and residential accommodation, inadequate staff accommodation and several uncompleted capital projects.
Dr Awoonor-Williams cited for instance that Bolgatanga, the regional capital, had no municipal hospital and the current state of the health centre serving the municipality did not befit it status.
He noted with concern that a project started in the late 1970’s to provide a municipal polyclinic for Bolgatanga had been abandoned.
“The lack of a municipal hospital or polyclinic in the area put pressure on the regional hospital,” he said.
The regional director, however, stated that in a bid to address the challenges, his administration had put in place some innovative measures including the renovation of dilapidated staff residential and office accommodation to improve the working and living environments of the staff.
He added that some projects that were unduly delayed had been completed in the Bongo and Garu-Tempane districts and the Bolgatanga Municipality to provide accommodation for the staff.
Dr Awoonor-Willians also mentioned the $12 million Saudi Fund secured for the second phase of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital rehabilitation project.
He expressed his appreciation to the regional coordinating council and the municipal and district assemblies in the region for their continuous support and cooperation towards infrastructure development and general health issues.
The college is currently being housed in temporary accommodation with limited number of classrooms and other ancillary facilities.
“Well, it appears there is light at the end of the long tunnel. The poor state of infrastructure in the region’s health training schools, which adversely affects effective teaching and learning as well as the quality of nurses trained, will soon be a thing of the past,” Mr Musah stated.
According to the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Koku Awoonor-Williams, the region was working with the ministries of Health and Finance and the Ghana Health Service on a proposal for $6 million Kuwaiti government support to rehabilitate the nurses’ training colleges.
Dr Awoonor-Williams made this known at this year’s annual regional health sector performance review meeting at Bolgatanga.
The regional director expressed the hope that the proposal when approved, would go a long way to enhance the quality of nurses turned out from the training institutions.
He said until then there was the need for the management of nurses’ training institutions to step up discipline among students and improve internal management systems to ensure that the health staff strive to promote the corporate image of the service.
According to Dr Awoonor-Williams, apart from the inadequate infrastructure at the various health facilities, most of the existing structures were poor.
He said there were a number of dilapidated health facilities and residential accommodation, inadequate staff accommodation and several uncompleted capital projects.
Dr Awoonor-Williams cited for instance that Bolgatanga, the regional capital, had no municipal hospital and the current state of the health centre serving the municipality did not befit it status.
He noted with concern that a project started in the late 1970’s to provide a municipal polyclinic for Bolgatanga had been abandoned.
“The lack of a municipal hospital or polyclinic in the area put pressure on the regional hospital,” he said.
The regional director, however, stated that in a bid to address the challenges, his administration had put in place some innovative measures including the renovation of dilapidated staff residential and office accommodation to improve the working and living environments of the staff.
He added that some projects that were unduly delayed had been completed in the Bongo and Garu-Tempane districts and the Bolgatanga Municipality to provide accommodation for the staff.
Dr Awoonor-Willians also mentioned the $12 million Saudi Fund secured for the second phase of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital rehabilitation project.
He expressed his appreciation to the regional coordinating council and the municipal and district assemblies in the region for their continuous support and cooperation towards infrastructure development and general health issues.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
