Deputy Minister tours schools

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni on Tuesday toured a number of schools in the Bolgatanga Municipality to joined pupils in observed "My First day at school". The toured offered an opportunity for new pupils to be welcomed and encouraged to attend school at the beginning of a new school year. The Deputy Regional Minister was accompanied by the Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Mr. Edward Ayagle and officials of the Municipal education directorate. At the Durugu Primary School, a total of 113 newly admitted primary one pupil comprising 56 boys and 57 girls reported for school. Welcoming them, the Deputy Regional Minister urged the teachers to create a good atmosphere for the children since it was only through that that the children will be motivated to come to school regularly. Drinks and concessionaries were distributed to the newly admitted students to motivate them. In a related development, AfriKids Ghana, a child rights organization working in Upper East to alleviate child suffering and povertya has distributed 210 pairs of footwear to pupils of the school. The donations were made possible by a United States based footwear manufacturing company, TOMS SHOES as part of their social responsibility to provide shoes to children in many developing countries, who walk barefoot for miles to school. The gesture is to prevent children from injury, infection and soil-transmitted diseases The Director of Programme, Mr. David Pwalua said the gesture extends schools in communities in the NGO’s operational area in the region including, Bolgatanga, Talensi-Nabdam. Bongo and Kassena Nankana West districts “We believe that this is supposed to be the beginning of a brighter future for all the children. In the past, efforts were not made to ensure that children came to school on the very first day. We are working together with the community leaders and education campaigners to ensure that children are in school and stay in school. He expressed the hope that the gesture will go a long way to encourage the children to stay in school, learn hard and become responsible adults in future. -End-

Revive interest in Agric in schools(Saturday September 8, 2012) page 19

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Agriculture Educators and Trainers’ Association Of Ghana (AETAG), has called for the re-examination of the declining interest in agriculture at Senior High Schools, Colleges of Education, polytechnics and university faculties. The National President of AETAG, Mr Isaac Asiegbor said this at the association’s 24th annual general conference and workshop held at Bolgatanga in the upper east region. AETAG is a professional association of agriculture teachers at all levels. “One wonders why the interests of our youth in agriculture are not aroused at the basic and secondary school levels in our institutions but delayed to National Service time when some youth are made to go into farming as a business through the Youth In Agriculture Programme”, he said “Why are we ‘killing’ agricultural skill acquisition at the Basic and Senior High school levels only to re-surface at the time when our youth should be adopting the skills for large scale agri-business to create employment for themselves and others?”, He said although the national development plan identifies agriculture as a tool for poverty reduction and wealth creation, there appears to be no policy backing agricultural education and training to provide the type of training that will enable graduates from various levels of the education to participate in the agricultural economic activities effectively to reduce poverty. “Agricultural education deals directly with the development of agricultural human capital. But in order to do that effectively, human capital roles need to be apportioned to the various levels of the education and training system. Again society must change attitude to careers in the agricultural sector, invest capital in it for young people and consume the agricultural products emanating from the process. The absence of such a national vision produces unskilled graduates which is the recipe for unemployment”. He said Mr. Asiegbor suggested that for Agricultural Education and Training in Ghana to contribute to eradicating youth unemployment, there is the need for establishment of a National Development Plan which will spell out clearly the employment avenues and career paths at every level of agricultural training and education. He also called for the initiation of a Youth In Agriculture programme involving in-school youth to sustain their interest in profession even after school. Mr. Cletus Achaab, Upper East Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, in a speech read on his behalf by Alhaji Musbahn Ahmed, Bongo District Director of Agriculture Parental and societal attitudes also count a lot in attracting the youth into agriculture. He said there is therefore, the need for social-engineering programmes in agriculture for in-school young people to enable them generate and sustain interest in agriculture. The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni said that government is investing in the agriculture sector through programmes such as the Youth in Agriculture programme but although the programme has demonstrated successes in block farming and tended to increase the interest of young university graduates in farming, youth unemployment in rural areas is on the increase while rural-urban migration is on the increase. She said agriculture is not seen as business by most farmers, while agricultural production is full of drudgery and associated with low productivity. To reduce some of these constraints, she said the implementation strategies such as the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA), 2O1O – 2013 plan has indentified the need to conduct human resource surveys and prepare human resource plans at all levels, improve and produce labour market and human resources statistics, provide adequate resources and incentives for human resource development and finally, improve remuneration structure. She therefore expressed the hope that the implementation of the above policy and many others in the GSGDA will help drive the agricultural development programmes in Ghana. -End-

SSNIT gets though on Directors for establishments who have defaulted in payment of workers' contribution

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Bolgatanga Branch Manager of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Mr. Charles Antwi-Bosiako has asked owners of establishments to ensure regular and prompt payment of their employee’s contributions to the Trust. This he said was necessary to provide the employees with secured income on retirement. Mr. Antwi-Bosiako gave the advice in an interview with the Daily Graphic at Bolgatanga after the Trust succeeded in retrieving an amount of GH c 4, 599.68 out of a total of GH c 7,594.35 owed it by owners of eight establishments operating in Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region for defaulting in the payments of their workers' contribution to the Trust through a court action. Following the indebtedness of the establishments to SSNIT, the Trust took legal action in court against the eight establishments which led to the retrieval of the amount. However, two establishments operating in Municipality have defaulted in the payments of their workers' contribution to the Trust but failed to appear in court on Monday, September 3, 2012 had a bench warrant issued for the arrest of the directors. The two establishments are Polestar Hospitality Services and Aneden Enterprise who are alleged to have failed to pay contributions of their staff and failing to appear in court. The total indebtedness of these two defaulting establishments amounted to GH ¢1, 480.26 and they are legally responsible to pay an additional GH C 334.78 as penalty for their inaction. Mr. Antwi-Bosiako explained that SSNIT does not take delight in in prosecuting organizations that had defaulted in the payment of their workers contributions in court but would do so if such organization refused to act promptly to its demand notice letters served them. He said the interest of clients of the Trust was fundamental and supreme to its existence and appealed to organizations, departments and agencies operating under the SSNIT pension to abide by the rules and regulations of the Pensions Act,2008 (Act 766) He explained that under the current National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766), employers were obliged to pay their workers contributions to the Trust by 14th of the ensuing month to help avert the payment of penalties. Mr. Foster Adjei, a prosecutor of the Trust warned that SSNIT would not relent in its efforts to compel organizations, departments and agencies through legal actions to retrieve all unpaid workers contributions to the fund. Mr. Adjei said the Trust the Trust has put in place favorable condition of payment for defaulters to negotiate settlement of their arrears and urged all employers to take advantage of the package in order not to push the Trust to the wall to take legal action against them. -End-

UE PPP optimistic about chances in 2012 polls

Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga

The Upper East Regional Branch of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), is confident of breaking the dominance of the NDC in the region by winning a number of parliamentary seats in the 2012 elections. Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Bolgatanga, the party’s regional communication director, Mr. Raphael N. Kpinn said the PPP has parliamentary candidates in nine out of the thirteen constituencies in the region. According to him, the PPP will contest the Bolgatanga Central, Bongo, Navrongo Central, China-Paga, Builsa South, Talensi, Nabdam, Zebilla and Garu-Tempane seats. He however indicated that efforts are underway by the party to file candidates in the remaining four constituencies in the region as when as the yet to be legalize two newly created ones. Mr. Kpinn said the PPP though one of the newest parties on the block is working seriously on the ground to gain acceptance among the electorate. He said when given the nod to lead the country, the PPP will transform the development of the country. To ensure the success of the party in its quest to capture as many seats in the region as possible, Mr. Kpinn said the party has embarked on grassroots campaigning including, hut-to-hut, village to village, community-to- community to educate the elaborate on its polices, stressing that “we in PPP do not believe in massing or bussing of people to rallies and campaigns or dishing out of monies to people to attend rallies”. “We are talking to the people and selling out our campaign messages which is prosperity in peace. We believe that we are position to bring about the real change that the Ghanaian desires”., he said. “The PPP is going to administer this country with a sense of urgency. We are going to tacke issues and solve problems. These are not mere rhetoric’s but a committed on our part led by party’s founder, Paa Kwesi Nduom to ensure that this country is developed.”, he added. -End-

Bolgatanga: Low turnout characterized Day 1 and 2 of Exhibition of Biometric Voters Register

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The first two days of the ongoing exhibition of the Biometric Voters Register in the Bolgatanga central constituency of the Upper East Region was characterized by low turnout by prospective voters. A visit to about twenty exhibition centers out of the over 130 polling stations in the Bolgatanga Municipality showed an average of about 20 persons turning up to verify their details in the new voters register on day one of the exercise which is being carried out by the Electoral Commission. For instance, at about 1 pm on Saturday when the Daily Graphic got to the House of Chiefs exhibition center only 15 people out of 607 registered voters had come to check their details. Mr. Vincent Atoringe the Exhibition Officer at centre said being the first day of the 10 day exercise, such low turnout are to be anticipated. He said being the farming season,most of the people might have gone to their farms but was optimistic that as the days go by, attendance will improve. At the Presby Primary A center, the officer in charge said on day one of the exercise , 33 people out of a total of 779 registered voters had come to check their details. The situation at centre B of the same exhibition centre was rather not encouraging. Out of a total o 305 registered voters, only 7 had come to check their details. A heavy downpour on Sunday which started at dawn right through the morning to the afternoon affected turnout as a visit to some more centers saw exhibition officers in a relaxed mode due the absent of people to check their details. In spite of the low turnout in the first few days of the exercise, Mr Oscar Apemah, Bolgatanga Municipal Director of Electoral Commission, said from the point of view of his outfit, the average of 20 to 25 voters on the first day of the exercise was encouraging. He was however optimistic that the remaining days will see many people turning up to check and correct any anomaly in th new biometric voters register. -end-

Stick to elections rules and regulations

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Nurses and Midwives in the Upper East Region have called on all stakeholders in this year’s general elections to play their respective roles according to the rules of the game to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections. The Regional Chairman of the of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association, (GRNA), Mr. Samuel A. Akolgo who made the call a forum to mark international Nurses Week Celebration at Bolgatanga said it was important for Ghanaians to tread cautiously in order not to plunge the nation into chaos. “Politicians must be reminded that even if they win an election in a war torn country, it will be extremely difficult for them to implement their manifestoes and that is why tolerance and genuine commitment to peace must be the guiding principle for all”, he said. The theme for the celebration was “Nurses and Midwifes advocating for peaceful election”, and had in attendance representatives of political parties who all pledge to pursue a peaceful campaign to keep the unity of the region in particular and the nation as a whole. Touching on the contribution of nurse to health delivery in the region, Mr. Samuel Akolgo commended members for contributing to the health delivery system and making basic quality healthcare accessible to all citizens. While commending the Regional Health Directorate, heads of training institution for their contribution to the improvement of the health sector, he bemoaned the lack of basic things such as proper demonstration rooms as well as teaching and learning aids in training institution which he said poses a threat to the track record of excellence and called for a redress. Mr. Akolgo also encourage members be mindful of the Patient Charter and uphold the highest level of professionalism and patient dignity in the discharge of your duties at the various stations. The Regional Chairman of the GRNA also complained about what he said was some unfair labour practice and abuse of the rights of its members adding that this infringement are in contravention of the labour law and industrial relations in Ghana. Some of these infringement he said included denial of annual leave, unequal opportunity for members to develop their human resources by way of training and retaining of workers, therefore, appealed to managers of the health system to critically look at the situation. “We as an association have over the years overlooked some of these infringements because the leadership also appreciates the difficulties managers to go through trying make do of the few nurse and midwives. This time round we will resist any attempt to disregard our rights as workers”, he said. He disclosed that the association in the region has a plot of land at Pusu-Namongo at a cost of GH c 11,000 for a regional hostel project. The Upper East Regional Director of the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice, (CHRAJ), Mr. Kenneth Adabayeri who also spoke on the role of nurses and midwives in caring and advocating for a peaceful elections said in order to ensure a peaceful elections, nurses and midwifes as an enviable group would have to live above partisanship and stick to their pledge of non-discrimination and care for the sick and wounded. -End-

Water Resources Commission(WRC) trains Police Prosectors

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Water Resources Commission(WRC) has organized a day’s training programme for police prosecutors on Integrated Water Resource Management and Water Laws and Regulations. The training which was attended by 30 police prosecutors selected from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, was organized to provide the relevant information to law enforcers with the view to equipping them with the relevant laws that govern the use and management of the White Volta basin. The Volta basin is the main and largest shared water resource between Ghana and Burkina Faso. The Water Resources Commission (WRC) was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 522 of 1996) as the overall body responsible for water resources management (governance) in Ghana. The commission is specifically to regulate and manage the utilization of water resources, and co-ordinate relevant government policies. Mr. Ben Ampomah, Executive Secretary of the Water Resources Commission (WRC) said in the past the commission has sought to embark on public education to sensitize people along the basin not to engage in acts that could pose a threat to the water resources. He said in a bid to help improve the shared responsibility for managing the resource, the commission thought it wise to build a partnership with the law enforcement officers and equip them with the relevant legal instrument for the management and use of the water body. “We have come to a point where we think that we have to bring in an element of enforcement to ensure the protection, conservation, restoration and rational use of water resources”, he said. Mrs. Bernadette Araba Adjei, Legal Officer of the WRC took the participants through the Water Resource Commission laws and regulations, Act 522 of 1996 and the Water Use Regulations 2001, LI 1692. She explained that among many other provisions, under Section 13 of Act 522, no person shall, divert, dam store abstract or use water resources or construct or maintain any works for the use of water resources except on accordance with the WRC Act. This, she explained is a crucial part of the Act that needs strict enforcement and therefore appealed for the cooperation of the police prosecutors in the effort to prosecute offenders of the Ghana’s water resources management laws. Resource persons at the workshop included Mrs. Adwoa Dako, Public Relation Officer of the Water Resource Commission and Mr. Aaron Aduna, White Volta Basin Officer. -End-