The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament hearing audited reports on metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions have urged audit report implementation committees in the various districts to sanction all public officers who continue to misapply funds.
According to the committee, failure to do so will mean harming the public purse and bleeding the coffers of the state. The Chairman of the committee, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, expressed worries about the trend of misconduct on the part of officers of the assemblies and their failure to apply the rules to the letter.
“When government gives you money, it also gives you guidelines on how to spend it, it is therefore very important to be abreast of the rules and regulations to avoid such corrupt practices,” he said.
“As members of the audit implementation committee, when you fail to apply sanctions, you become liable to sanctions,” he warned.
Most of the report heard by the committee bordered on failures to recoup monies disbursed under the Poverty Alleviation Fund and lack of commitment by those currently in office to trace the addresses of those who benefited from such programmes to recover those monies.
“What is more worrying is that last year in Tamale during our hearings, the same observations were made and officers were tasked to work on it but here we are with the same story been repeated. It appears, assemblies are not taking audit reports seriously,” he added.
During the hearing, representatives of the Yendi Municipal Assembly for instance told the committee that persons who benefited from loans disbursed under the Poverty Alleviation Fund mistook it for gifts and therefore failed to repay the money owed the state.
They told the committee that although they had records of those who benefited; the assembly was finding it difficult to trace the addresses of those on the list, a response that did not go down well with members of the committee.
The committee members lashed the Yendi Municipal Assembly for failing to show enough commitment to protect government funds. They directed the assemblies to make use of the state agencies such as the Police and the CID to identify those who have defaulted and prosecute them.
In the case of Sisala East District, out of GH¢31,050 unrecovered loans only GH¢2, 700 had been paid and the chairman of the committee asked the district chief executive, Madam Alijata Sulemana, to extend her recent heroic act of solely arresting a vehicle carrying 700 bags of subsidised government fertiliser beingsmuggled into the Republic of Burkina Faso by a notorious smuggler in the district to recover unpaid loans from beneficiaries.
http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/page.php?news=15251
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
PAC Holds Hearings In Upper East(31st August 2011 05:24:41 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
The ranking member of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Alhaji Amadu Siedu, has disclosed that over GH c 2.561 million was lost to government due to irregularities in management of public funds by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA) in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions mainly through violation of financial regulations and other unapproved spending.
Alhaji Siedu, who announced this at the hearing of the Auditor-General’s Report of 2005-2007 for MMDAs in the three Northern regions, in Bolgatanga on Monday said most of the losses were due to contract irregularities, tax irregularities, procurement and cash irregularities.
The ranking member, who is also the NDC Member of Parliament for Yapei/Kusawgu,mentioned that in the Northern region, over GH c1.2 million was lost while in the Upper East Region GH c 388.000 was lost. In the Upper West Region, GH c 973,000 was lost during the period under review.
He said those funds were disbursed on defined projects and programmes but were not properly accounted for in terms of documentation.
The Committee, apart from hearing reports for the three financial years ending December 2007, will also consider the management and utilisation of the statutory and other earmarked funds for district assemblies for the period.
Thirty-one assemblies in the three regions would appear before the committee. The assemblies include; Zabzugu Tatale, Gusheigu, Saboba/ Chereponi, Tamale Metropolitan, East Mamprusis, Salaga, Savelugu Nanton, East Gonja, Bole, Nanumba South, and Nunumba North District Assemblies. Others are West Gonja, Yendi, Central Gonja, Karaga, Sawla/Tuna/Kalba, Bawku West, Garu Tempane, Bongo, Kasena Nankana, Bawku Municipality. The rest are Talensi, Bolgatanga Municipality, Builsa, Nadowli, Wa East, Wa Municipality, Sisala East, Lawra, Jirapa Lambussie, Sisala West, Wa West district assemblies.
Alhaji Seidu said most of those irregularities was as a result of failure to adhere to the Financial Administration Act and therefore called on duty bearers to stick to the regulations.
Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, said the aim of the hearing was to ensure that MMDAs addressed issues raised in the Auditor-General’s report.
He urged public officers to enforce sanctions for those found culpable of misapplying public funds.
‘The days of non accountability of public funds are gone forever. Our work as members of the committee is to institute the culture of transparency and accountability’, he said and added that the concerns of the ordinary Ghanaian tax payerwere for public office holders to account for how they spent public funds and they as representatives of the people were dedicated to ensuring that monies given to MMDAs were properly accounted for.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, in an address read on his behalf by his deputy, Madam Lucy Awuni, said the fact that the Parliamentary Committee on Public Account had been empowered to move out to the regions as part of exercising its oversight responsibility over the executive was a clear demonstration of government’s avowed commitment to ensuring that the principles of probity and accountability were vigorously pursued to the letter.
Mr Woyongo said the hearing apart from serving as a wakeup call to public officials and duty bearers to properly manage public funds, it would also help the people in the region to know much about how funds allocated to the various assemblies were managed.
Alhaji Siedu, who announced this at the hearing of the Auditor-General’s Report of 2005-2007 for MMDAs in the three Northern regions, in Bolgatanga on Monday said most of the losses were due to contract irregularities, tax irregularities, procurement and cash irregularities.
The ranking member, who is also the NDC Member of Parliament for Yapei/Kusawgu,mentioned that in the Northern region, over GH c1.2 million was lost while in the Upper East Region GH c 388.000 was lost. In the Upper West Region, GH c 973,000 was lost during the period under review.
He said those funds were disbursed on defined projects and programmes but were not properly accounted for in terms of documentation.
The Committee, apart from hearing reports for the three financial years ending December 2007, will also consider the management and utilisation of the statutory and other earmarked funds for district assemblies for the period.
Thirty-one assemblies in the three regions would appear before the committee. The assemblies include; Zabzugu Tatale, Gusheigu, Saboba/ Chereponi, Tamale Metropolitan, East Mamprusis, Salaga, Savelugu Nanton, East Gonja, Bole, Nanumba South, and Nunumba North District Assemblies. Others are West Gonja, Yendi, Central Gonja, Karaga, Sawla/Tuna/Kalba, Bawku West, Garu Tempane, Bongo, Kasena Nankana, Bawku Municipality. The rest are Talensi, Bolgatanga Municipality, Builsa, Nadowli, Wa East, Wa Municipality, Sisala East, Lawra, Jirapa Lambussie, Sisala West, Wa West district assemblies.
Alhaji Seidu said most of those irregularities was as a result of failure to adhere to the Financial Administration Act and therefore called on duty bearers to stick to the regulations.
Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, said the aim of the hearing was to ensure that MMDAs addressed issues raised in the Auditor-General’s report.
He urged public officers to enforce sanctions for those found culpable of misapplying public funds.
‘The days of non accountability of public funds are gone forever. Our work as members of the committee is to institute the culture of transparency and accountability’, he said and added that the concerns of the ordinary Ghanaian tax payerwere for public office holders to account for how they spent public funds and they as representatives of the people were dedicated to ensuring that monies given to MMDAs were properly accounted for.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, in an address read on his behalf by his deputy, Madam Lucy Awuni, said the fact that the Parliamentary Committee on Public Account had been empowered to move out to the regions as part of exercising its oversight responsibility over the executive was a clear demonstration of government’s avowed commitment to ensuring that the principles of probity and accountability were vigorously pursued to the letter.
Mr Woyongo said the hearing apart from serving as a wakeup call to public officials and duty bearers to properly manage public funds, it would also help the people in the region to know much about how funds allocated to the various assemblies were managed.
Friday, 26 August 2011
Flood waters kill one person in Upper East(25th August 2011 04:55:22 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)
One person is reported dead in Timonde in the Bawku West District in the Upper East Region after he was swept away by flood waters.
Identified as Nehemia Apakiba Akolgo, 14, and a nephew of a former MP for Zebilla, John Ndebugre, the boy was carried away by flood waters after he was alleged to have fallen into the White Volta.
Reports indicated that Nehemia, in the company of others who were herding cattle, had gone into their farmlands along the White Volta to harvest some corn when the incident occurred.
The body has since been retrieved and buried after an autopsy.
Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Patrick Akake, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that his office was still conducting an assessment of the extent of damage caused by the floods in the Bolgatanga municipality.
He said initial information gathered by his staff in the various zones in the Bolgatanga municipality as of Wednesday, August 24, 2011 showed that 3,047 persons had been displaced in the Bolgatanga municipality as a result of the floods.
He said NADMO had also distributed relief items, mainly bags of maize and mattresses to the affected persons while personnel of the department had been put on stand-by to assist residents who would be in need.
Identified as Nehemia Apakiba Akolgo, 14, and a nephew of a former MP for Zebilla, John Ndebugre, the boy was carried away by flood waters after he was alleged to have fallen into the White Volta.
Reports indicated that Nehemia, in the company of others who were herding cattle, had gone into their farmlands along the White Volta to harvest some corn when the incident occurred.
The body has since been retrieved and buried after an autopsy.
Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Patrick Akake, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that his office was still conducting an assessment of the extent of damage caused by the floods in the Bolgatanga municipality.
He said initial information gathered by his staff in the various zones in the Bolgatanga municipality as of Wednesday, August 24, 2011 showed that 3,047 persons had been displaced in the Bolgatanga municipality as a result of the floods.
He said NADMO had also distributed relief items, mainly bags of maize and mattresses to the affected persons while personnel of the department had been put on stand-by to assist residents who would be in need.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Politicians Must Engage In Clean Campaign - PCG(Daily Graphic, 28th April 2011)
The first Presbytery Conference of the Upper Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has ended in Garu with a call on politicians to engage in a clean contest, devoid of insults and other vices that could plunge Ghana into chaos.
“Election 2012 promises to be yet another political contest. We as Christians cannot wait or defer prayer and exhortation till the time comes. We wish to entreat all actors and aspirants in this election to engage in the contest with every sense of decency, knowing that since the earth is the Lord’s, the mathematics of governance and the equation thereof are in His supreme hands,” the Chairperson of the Presbytery, Reverend Esmund Wasau Nagba, declared.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a five-day Presbytery conference of the Upper Presbytery of PCG which, among other things, took stock of activities of the church in order to adopt new strategies to improve on the church's growth.
The Upper Presbytery comprises districts of the church in the Upper East and Upper West regions and is the 16th Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). It was inaugurated in November last year.
The Chairperson of the Presbytery, while underscoring the need for the Christian community to amplify their gratitude to God for the relative peace prevailing in the country, pleaded with all to endeavour to keep the peace and work at ensuring the consolidation of this state of relative peace.
Rev. Esmund Wasau Nagba reminded chiefs, elders and traditional authorities, political functionaries and party faithful and media practitioners to continue to be mindful of their gate keeping roles when it came to peace and harmony and endeavour to let their responses and reactions to issues promote social cohesion and peace.
He said the church was particularly grateful to God for the wind of peace currently prevailing in Bawku and commended the various entities and agencies that worked tirelessly to restore some measure of peace in Bawku and encourage all to work assiduously to maintain the peace.
The Presbytery, he said, was unhappy with the withdrawal of the Mamprusis side from the Inter Ethnic Peace Committee deliberation and called on the Mamprusis faction to return to the negotiation table.
On the education front, Rev. Nagba said the church had noted with concern the standards of education, especially in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, with a high percentage of senior high school leavers not qualifying for tertiary institutions and expressed the need for a collective awakening so that, together with the appropriate agencies, solution could be found to the problem.
“The Presbytery wishes to appeal to policy makers to ensure that the policy fluctuation on education, especially with regard to the duration of the senior high school is stabilised as a continuation of this fluctuation may not be good for the future of our young ones,” the communiqué noted.
On the Ecumenical front, Rev. Nagba congratulated the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church on its nomination of a new Bishop.
While praying for the successful installation of the Bishop, Rev. Nagba said the Upper Presbytery of PCG would look forward to a healthy ecumenical relationship so that, together with other church entities within and beyond the presbytery, they would work to deepen the faith.
“Election 2012 promises to be yet another political contest. We as Christians cannot wait or defer prayer and exhortation till the time comes. We wish to entreat all actors and aspirants in this election to engage in the contest with every sense of decency, knowing that since the earth is the Lord’s, the mathematics of governance and the equation thereof are in His supreme hands,” the Chairperson of the Presbytery, Reverend Esmund Wasau Nagba, declared.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a five-day Presbytery conference of the Upper Presbytery of PCG which, among other things, took stock of activities of the church in order to adopt new strategies to improve on the church's growth.
The Upper Presbytery comprises districts of the church in the Upper East and Upper West regions and is the 16th Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). It was inaugurated in November last year.
The Chairperson of the Presbytery, while underscoring the need for the Christian community to amplify their gratitude to God for the relative peace prevailing in the country, pleaded with all to endeavour to keep the peace and work at ensuring the consolidation of this state of relative peace.
Rev. Esmund Wasau Nagba reminded chiefs, elders and traditional authorities, political functionaries and party faithful and media practitioners to continue to be mindful of their gate keeping roles when it came to peace and harmony and endeavour to let their responses and reactions to issues promote social cohesion and peace.
He said the church was particularly grateful to God for the wind of peace currently prevailing in Bawku and commended the various entities and agencies that worked tirelessly to restore some measure of peace in Bawku and encourage all to work assiduously to maintain the peace.
The Presbytery, he said, was unhappy with the withdrawal of the Mamprusis side from the Inter Ethnic Peace Committee deliberation and called on the Mamprusis faction to return to the negotiation table.
On the education front, Rev. Nagba said the church had noted with concern the standards of education, especially in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, with a high percentage of senior high school leavers not qualifying for tertiary institutions and expressed the need for a collective awakening so that, together with the appropriate agencies, solution could be found to the problem.
“The Presbytery wishes to appeal to policy makers to ensure that the policy fluctuation on education, especially with regard to the duration of the senior high school is stabilised as a continuation of this fluctuation may not be good for the future of our young ones,” the communiqué noted.
On the Ecumenical front, Rev. Nagba congratulated the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church on its nomination of a new Bishop.
While praying for the successful installation of the Bishop, Rev. Nagba said the Upper Presbytery of PCG would look forward to a healthy ecumenical relationship so that, together with other church entities within and beyond the presbytery, they would work to deepen the faith.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
'Award Minor Construction Projects To Technical Schools'( D/G Wednesday, June 8, 2011)
The Chairman of the Association of Principals of Technical Institutes, Alhaji Alhassan Umar, has appealed to the government to consider awarding minor construction projects to technical institutes.
Such contracts, he explained, would provide an avenue for students of technical institutes to gain practical experience before completing their education.
According to him, such opportunity would also address the challenge of lack of training materials facing technical institutes, and ultimately lead to the generation of funds internally for the institutes.
“Such training will make the products of technical institutes more confident in setting up their own businesses after completion, thereby reducing youth unemployment,” he contended.
Alhaji Umar, who is also the Principal of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute, made the appeal at the launch of the maiden food bazaar and exhibition organised by the Catering Department of the institute.
The bazaar, which was on the theme: “Enhancing indigenous food for healthy life,”showcased varieties of food.
He said the concession would reduce the government’s high budgetary constraints and help the technical and vocational education and training sector to thrive.
“Eventually, the poor perception of society of technical and vocational education will give way for individuals to specialise in careers with practical skills and attitudes for the socio-economic development of the country,” he added.
He expressed appreciation to the government for granting the Bolgatanga Technical Institute its fair share of infrastructural development by constructing a six-unit classroom block, and rehabilitating a two-storey classroom block at the institute.
Alhaji Umar said construction of an administration block, which would include a library, a computer laboratory as a 24-unit three storey classroom block and a science laboratory, was also ongoing.
He, however, appealed to the Regional Coordinating Council to bring pressure to bear on the consultants and the contractor to speed up work on the project.
Through its own internally generated funds, he said, the school, with support from the PTA had started constructing a wall to ward off intruders, and called on the government to support the institute to renovate the boys’ dormitory which he described as a death trap.
He also appealed for support for the catering department of the institute since it lacked basic logistics such as refrigerators and microwave ovens.
Speaking on the theme, a retired educationist, Madam Florence Bobi commended the management of the institute for initiating the programme to highlight the need for people to consume indigenous foods and promote healthy lifestyles.
She noted with conmcern that due to education, cultural influences, foreign trade and technological advancement, people were moving away from their own self sustaining, local food systems to industrially derived food supplies with all its attendant health challenges.
“There are countless reasons why buying indigenous or local food is rewarding. This includes enjoying the taste of fresh food, improved health and nutrition, environmental stewardship, support for family farms and rural communities,” she said.
She said consuming indigenous food would also bring significant peace of mind as knowing where one’s food came from was very vital. Buying locally or directly from farmers can dramatically increase a farmer’s income and boost their capacity to take care of their families,” she emphasised.
Madam Bobi tasked the management of the institution to train the students to develop innovative skills which will enable them to become creative in the presentation of meals or dishes to attract consumers when they graduated.
The Deputy Regional Coordinating Director, Mr Gilbert Nuru Teg, who deputised for the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, commended the school for its efforts, stressing that Ghana needed more such skilled men and women at all levels for national development.
Such contracts, he explained, would provide an avenue for students of technical institutes to gain practical experience before completing their education.
According to him, such opportunity would also address the challenge of lack of training materials facing technical institutes, and ultimately lead to the generation of funds internally for the institutes.
“Such training will make the products of technical institutes more confident in setting up their own businesses after completion, thereby reducing youth unemployment,” he contended.
Alhaji Umar, who is also the Principal of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute, made the appeal at the launch of the maiden food bazaar and exhibition organised by the Catering Department of the institute.
The bazaar, which was on the theme: “Enhancing indigenous food for healthy life,”showcased varieties of food.
He said the concession would reduce the government’s high budgetary constraints and help the technical and vocational education and training sector to thrive.
“Eventually, the poor perception of society of technical and vocational education will give way for individuals to specialise in careers with practical skills and attitudes for the socio-economic development of the country,” he added.
He expressed appreciation to the government for granting the Bolgatanga Technical Institute its fair share of infrastructural development by constructing a six-unit classroom block, and rehabilitating a two-storey classroom block at the institute.
Alhaji Umar said construction of an administration block, which would include a library, a computer laboratory as a 24-unit three storey classroom block and a science laboratory, was also ongoing.
He, however, appealed to the Regional Coordinating Council to bring pressure to bear on the consultants and the contractor to speed up work on the project.
Through its own internally generated funds, he said, the school, with support from the PTA had started constructing a wall to ward off intruders, and called on the government to support the institute to renovate the boys’ dormitory which he described as a death trap.
He also appealed for support for the catering department of the institute since it lacked basic logistics such as refrigerators and microwave ovens.
Speaking on the theme, a retired educationist, Madam Florence Bobi commended the management of the institute for initiating the programme to highlight the need for people to consume indigenous foods and promote healthy lifestyles.
She noted with conmcern that due to education, cultural influences, foreign trade and technological advancement, people were moving away from their own self sustaining, local food systems to industrially derived food supplies with all its attendant health challenges.
“There are countless reasons why buying indigenous or local food is rewarding. This includes enjoying the taste of fresh food, improved health and nutrition, environmental stewardship, support for family farms and rural communities,” she said.
She said consuming indigenous food would also bring significant peace of mind as knowing where one’s food came from was very vital. Buying locally or directly from farmers can dramatically increase a farmer’s income and boost their capacity to take care of their families,” she emphasised.
Madam Bobi tasked the management of the institution to train the students to develop innovative skills which will enable them to become creative in the presentation of meals or dishes to attract consumers when they graduated.
The Deputy Regional Coordinating Director, Mr Gilbert Nuru Teg, who deputised for the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, commended the school for its efforts, stressing that Ghana needed more such skilled men and women at all levels for national development.
Friday, 15 April 2011
'Group Calls For Speedy Appointment Of MCE'(Daily Graphic,Fri, 08 Apr 2011)
Story:Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
A group calling itself ‘Upper East Youth Association’ has appealed to President J.E.A. Mills to appoint a substantive municipal chief executive for the Bolgatanga Municipality.
This, the group says, would facilitate the continuation of development activities and programmes drawn up for the municipality.
A release issued in Bolgatanga said, the absence of a substantive MCE for the Upper East Regional Capital, following the removal of the Mr Epsona Ayamga in March 2011 had created a huge power vacuum within the local government system in the municipality.
It said the situation had brought a number of development activities to a standstill, notwithstanding the fact that the regional minister was acting in that capacity.
The release said, it is common knowledge that one of the core functions of a District Chief Executive under the Local Government system and the 1992 Constitution is to be responsible for the day-to-day performance of the executive and administrative functions of the district assembly. This means that without the district chief executive, who is the chief representative of the central government in the municipality with additional functions of presiding over meetings of the executive committee of the assembly, no meaningful development can be carried out.
It said, in such instances, it was the poor and vulnerable groups that bore the brunt of the suffering because of their over-reliance on government’s interventions and protection.
While appealing to the President to fast-track the process of appointing a substantive MCE, the release said, given the current sanitation problems bedevilling the Bolgatanga municipality, the group was pleading with the President to consider appointing a person with the capability to deal with the sanitation problems in the municipality.
The release pledged the group's commitment to work with any person appointed as MCE for Bolgatanga, adding that it would help fight against the environmental challenges confronting the municipality
A group calling itself ‘Upper East Youth Association’ has appealed to President J.E.A. Mills to appoint a substantive municipal chief executive for the Bolgatanga Municipality.
This, the group says, would facilitate the continuation of development activities and programmes drawn up for the municipality.
A release issued in Bolgatanga said, the absence of a substantive MCE for the Upper East Regional Capital, following the removal of the Mr Epsona Ayamga in March 2011 had created a huge power vacuum within the local government system in the municipality.
It said the situation had brought a number of development activities to a standstill, notwithstanding the fact that the regional minister was acting in that capacity.
The release said, it is common knowledge that one of the core functions of a District Chief Executive under the Local Government system and the 1992 Constitution is to be responsible for the day-to-day performance of the executive and administrative functions of the district assembly. This means that without the district chief executive, who is the chief representative of the central government in the municipality with additional functions of presiding over meetings of the executive committee of the assembly, no meaningful development can be carried out.
It said, in such instances, it was the poor and vulnerable groups that bore the brunt of the suffering because of their over-reliance on government’s interventions and protection.
While appealing to the President to fast-track the process of appointing a substantive MCE, the release said, given the current sanitation problems bedevilling the Bolgatanga municipality, the group was pleading with the President to consider appointing a person with the capability to deal with the sanitation problems in the municipality.
The release pledged the group's commitment to work with any person appointed as MCE for Bolgatanga, adding that it would help fight against the environmental challenges confronting the municipality
Monday, 21 March 2011
Hard Road To Travel - As 54 Ghanaians Trek Across Sahara Desert To Escape Libyan Turmoil(D/G Monday, March 21, 2011)
Fifty-four Ghanaians have arrived safely in Bolgatanga after they crossed the Sahara Desert in three weeks in their bid to flee the political turmoil in Libya.
After spending two weeks on the life-threatening journey, the returnees became stranded in Niamey, Niger, partly because they were said to have been frustrated by Nigerien border officials.
The returnees had to send a distress call to the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso, which dispatched some of its officials to Niamey to help the returnees out.
After securing the returnees’ safe passage across the Nigerien border, the Ghana Embassy officials catered for them and secured a bus for them to continue their journey home.
The returnees were received in Bolgatanga Friday by the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni; the Regional Police Commander, ACP Bright Oduro; Regional Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr Peter Defie, and some members of the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council.
Sharing their horrific experiences with journalists, the leader of the returnees, Mr Osman Saeed, said at a point during their journey they ran short of food and water but with the instinct to survive, they decided to continue the journey rather than perish in Libya.
He said they managed to survive until they got to Niamey, where a consular officer of the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso, Mr Abdul Hanan Zubero, and others were dispatched to assist them.
For his part, Mr Zubero said the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso had received a distress call that some Ghanaians were stranded in Niamey.
After consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra, some embassy officials were dispatched to the Nigerien border to aid the returnees and assist them on their trip back home to Ghana. He said arrangements were then made to cater for them and convey them from Niger to Ghana.
Mr Zubero said the returnees were given between GH¢20 and GH¢50 to pay their fares to their various destinations after the bus hired from Niger had made its final stop in Kumasi.
Welcoming the returnees, Mrs Awuni advised them to put their skills to good use and pledged the government’s assistance to integrate them into society.
She urged the returnees to contact their various district assemblies to see how best the assemblies could be of assistance to them.
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