Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Benjamin
A number of office equipment, including computers and photocopiers, as well as vital research files and documents, were destroyed when fire swept through one of the offices of the Navrongo Health Research Institute in the Kassena-Nankana District of the Upper East Region in the early hours of Friday.
So intense was the blaze that it took the joint effort of personnel of the Fire Service in Navrongo and Bolgatanga to bring the situation under control. Sources told the Daily Graphic that it took them about two and half hours to bring the situation under control.
The cause of the fire was not known at the time of filing this report.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on phone, the Director of the institute, Dr Abraham Hodgeson, said the fire started at 3.00 a.m. According to him, initially watchmen on duty attempted to fight the fire with the aid of fire extinguishers, while efforts were made to call in the District Fire Service.
He said the Regional Fire Office was also informed and the men arrived a short while later to complement the efforts of the District Fire Service.
Dr Hodgeson said the fire had caused great loss to the centre. He, however, gave the assurance that every necessary effort had been made to mitigate the effect it might have on the work of the centre.
He said officials of the Fire Service who had been to the scene had commenced investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire and estimate the total cost of destruction.
The Regional Fire Officer, Mr Johnson Abu, said his office received a distress call at 4.15 a.m. on Friday and immediately a fire engine was dispatched to Navrongo to assist in the fire fighting.
He said the absence of a hydrant at the centre and the faulty fire engine at the Navrongo Fire Station posed big challenges to the output of his men who eventually managed to bring the situation under control.
In a related development, another fire outbreak occurred at the Cotton Factory at Pusunamongo in the early hours of Friday.
According to Mr Abu, his office received a distress call at 4.30 a.m., just about the same time that the only fire engine had gone to assist fight the fire at Navrongo.
The service, therefore, had to rely on the fire engine at Bongo, which, unfortunately, developed a fault and broke down while it was on its way to Bolgatanga.
He said the only option left was to recall the Bolgatanga fire engine which had gone to Navrongo to return to Bolgatanga to help fight the fire, while contact was made with the Walewale Fire Service to help contain the situation.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
BAWKU ASSEMBLY CONFIRMS NOMINEE (Page 15)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover,
The Bawku Municipal Assembly in the Upper East Region on Thursday confirmed the President's nominee, Mr Abdulai Abanga, as the new Municipal Chief Executive. He replaces Mr Abdul Rahman Gumah, who was recently relieved of his post by the President.
Mr Abanga, who until his nomination served as the Management Accountant with the Millennium Challenge Authority (MCA), polled 44 votes out of the total of 47 votes cast, representing 93 per cent in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission.
The Assembly Hall went into wild jubilation as soon as the results were declared.
Mr Abanga, was led by Mr Alex Owusu-Ofori, a Circuit Court Judge, to take the oath of office and allegiance.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Abanga promised to implement an open-door policy, indicating that as an assembly member of the municipality, he would not hesitate to consult members of the House and anybody who mattered in taking critical decisions that would affect the municipality.
He said his administration would be transparent and pledged to promote peace, unity and development in the area.
The 38-year-old chartered accountant said he would put his expertise to bear to improve on the assembly’s internal revenue generation while still ensuring that the revenue did not land in individual’s pockets.
He called on national and international organisations to come to the aid of the innocent people in the municipality who were victims of the recent ethnic conflict, indicating that most of them lost everything and were living with shattered hopes.
Prior to the elections, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr John Agobre, expressed regret at the recent conflict that rocked the municipality, which, he said, claimed so many lives and properties.
The Bawku Municipal Assembly in the Upper East Region on Thursday confirmed the President's nominee, Mr Abdulai Abanga, as the new Municipal Chief Executive. He replaces Mr Abdul Rahman Gumah, who was recently relieved of his post by the President.
Mr Abanga, who until his nomination served as the Management Accountant with the Millennium Challenge Authority (MCA), polled 44 votes out of the total of 47 votes cast, representing 93 per cent in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission.
The Assembly Hall went into wild jubilation as soon as the results were declared.
Mr Abanga, was led by Mr Alex Owusu-Ofori, a Circuit Court Judge, to take the oath of office and allegiance.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Abanga promised to implement an open-door policy, indicating that as an assembly member of the municipality, he would not hesitate to consult members of the House and anybody who mattered in taking critical decisions that would affect the municipality.
He said his administration would be transparent and pledged to promote peace, unity and development in the area.
The 38-year-old chartered accountant said he would put his expertise to bear to improve on the assembly’s internal revenue generation while still ensuring that the revenue did not land in individual’s pockets.
He called on national and international organisations to come to the aid of the innocent people in the municipality who were victims of the recent ethnic conflict, indicating that most of them lost everything and were living with shattered hopes.
Prior to the elections, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr John Agobre, expressed regret at the recent conflict that rocked the municipality, which, he said, claimed so many lives and properties.
PREZ COMMENDED FOR APPOINTING BUGBILLA (Page 15)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Zebilla
THE people of the Bawku West District in the Upper East Region have commended the President for appointing a youth as the political head of the district.
Mr Desmond Bugbilla, 32, replaces Mr Moses Abaare Appiah, who was recently relieved of his post by the President.
He polled 38 votes out of a total of 43 votes cast, representing 83 per cent in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Rev. Jacob Ayeebo, said this at Zebilla during a ceremony to confirm the President's nominee, and indicated that the appointment of a relatively young person to head the assembly was to set a good example for the youth in the area to aspire to greater heights.
"For the youth to be good leaders, they should be exposed to more than abstract concept, but must also be given responsibilities and allowed to make mistakes along the way as part of their overall learning process," he said
Rev. Ayeebo explained that the district had not got just an accountant with impeccable credentials as the DCE, but also a caring individual who would use his many skills and talents to serve the citizens of the district. He, therefore, called for total support for his administration.
He paid tribute to the immediate past DCE, Mr Moses Appiah Abaare, for his dedicated services to the assembly during his tenure of office and urged Mr Bugbilla to keep pace with the state of affairs.
Mr Bugbilla, in his acceptance speech, expressed his appreciation to members of the assembly for the confidence reposed in him, and said he was confident that with their support, he would succeed in moving the district development agenda forward.
"As your DCE, I will personally lead our district in promoting unity, tolerance, peace and harmony among all the people in the district to facilitate a speedy development, and I appeal to you to do same," he said.
Continuing, Mr Bugbilla said his leadership as the DCE had the challenge of sustaining the wonderful work done by his predecessor. "To sustain that progress, we must continue to work together on all fronts. We should tackle this challenge daily, working to make sure that our structures and sub-structures are functioning very well," he said.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, commended the assembly members for confirming the President's nominee, and expressed the hope that the DCE would work hard to enhance the development of the area.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Agnes Chigabatia; Chief Director of the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council, Mr Samuel N'laari, and MP for Zebilla, Hon. John Ndebugre were among the dignitaries who witnessed the occasion.
THE people of the Bawku West District in the Upper East Region have commended the President for appointing a youth as the political head of the district.
Mr Desmond Bugbilla, 32, replaces Mr Moses Abaare Appiah, who was recently relieved of his post by the President.
He polled 38 votes out of a total of 43 votes cast, representing 83 per cent in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Rev. Jacob Ayeebo, said this at Zebilla during a ceremony to confirm the President's nominee, and indicated that the appointment of a relatively young person to head the assembly was to set a good example for the youth in the area to aspire to greater heights.
"For the youth to be good leaders, they should be exposed to more than abstract concept, but must also be given responsibilities and allowed to make mistakes along the way as part of their overall learning process," he said
Rev. Ayeebo explained that the district had not got just an accountant with impeccable credentials as the DCE, but also a caring individual who would use his many skills and talents to serve the citizens of the district. He, therefore, called for total support for his administration.
He paid tribute to the immediate past DCE, Mr Moses Appiah Abaare, for his dedicated services to the assembly during his tenure of office and urged Mr Bugbilla to keep pace with the state of affairs.
Mr Bugbilla, in his acceptance speech, expressed his appreciation to members of the assembly for the confidence reposed in him, and said he was confident that with their support, he would succeed in moving the district development agenda forward.
"As your DCE, I will personally lead our district in promoting unity, tolerance, peace and harmony among all the people in the district to facilitate a speedy development, and I appeal to you to do same," he said.
Continuing, Mr Bugbilla said his leadership as the DCE had the challenge of sustaining the wonderful work done by his predecessor. "To sustain that progress, we must continue to work together on all fronts. We should tackle this challenge daily, working to make sure that our structures and sub-structures are functioning very well," he said.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, commended the assembly members for confirming the President's nominee, and expressed the hope that the DCE would work hard to enhance the development of the area.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Agnes Chigabatia; Chief Director of the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council, Mr Samuel N'laari, and MP for Zebilla, Hon. John Ndebugre were among the dignitaries who witnessed the occasion.
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Ghanaians Celebrate Quarter-Final Berth.......(D/G Centre Spread)
......From Bolga, Benjamin Xornam Glover reports that soccer fans in the Bolgatanga municipality poured into the streets in wild jubilation after the Black Stars victory.
Some drinking spots in town were filled to capacity with taxis and private cars displaying the national flag as they joyously tooted their horns loudly whilst shouting praises for the Stars for their splendid performance.
A few motorcyclists were seen speeding on the streets dangerously while tooting their horns in celebration of the victory.
Some of the people the Daily Graphic spoke to commended the players for putting behind them all the criticisms raised against them by a section of Ghanaians and securing a win on the day that it mattered most
Some drinking spots in town were filled to capacity with taxis and private cars displaying the national flag as they joyously tooted their horns loudly whilst shouting praises for the Stars for their splendid performance.
A few motorcyclists were seen speeding on the streets dangerously while tooting their horns in celebration of the victory.
Some of the people the Daily Graphic spoke to commended the players for putting behind them all the criticisms raised against them by a section of Ghanaians and securing a win on the day that it mattered most
SOLDIERS INJURE CIVILIAN AND BOLT (Page 21)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
A group of military men are said to have knocked down a middle-aged man on the Bolgatanga-Navrongo highway and bolted.
The accident occurred around 6.00 p.m. last Saturday at the SSNIT traffic lights intersection in Bolgatanga. Instead of stopping to convey the victim to hospital, the soldiers, who had initially attempted to speed off, returned to the accident spot, did a few maneuverings and took off again, leaving the victim at the spot where he fell.
The victim was later identified as Azure Amere, a farmer. He sustained injuries on his forehead, upper lip, right shoulder and left ankle and was taken to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital by by-standers who looked on helpless as the soldiers sped off.
An eyewitness told the Daily Graphic that the victim was crossing the road on a bicycle when the military vehicle with registration number 37 GA 86, which was moving at top speed, knocked him off his bike.
He said initially the soldiers attempted to speed off, but they were booed by onlookers and this forced them to return to the spot.
He said the soldiers alighted from the vehicle, but instead of conveying the victim to hospital, they only took a look at him and sped off again towards Tamale.
When this reporter arrived at the scene, a crowd had gathered around the traffic lights, which had not been functioning for quite some time.
A check at the hospital revealed that the victim, who did not have a health insurance card, was being attended to.
Checks at the Bolgatanga Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) later in the evening, indicated that the soldiers had not reported the accident to the police.
The MTTU officials said any person operating a motor vehicle and was involved in an accident, was required by law to stop at a safe place, provide information to the owner of whatever property might have been damaged, whether it be a car, a person or property and render aid to anyone thus injured, if necessary.
They said those who caused property damage and were unable to identify or contact the property’s owner, were required to leave a note with contact information and file an accident report with the police.
A group of military men are said to have knocked down a middle-aged man on the Bolgatanga-Navrongo highway and bolted.
The accident occurred around 6.00 p.m. last Saturday at the SSNIT traffic lights intersection in Bolgatanga. Instead of stopping to convey the victim to hospital, the soldiers, who had initially attempted to speed off, returned to the accident spot, did a few maneuverings and took off again, leaving the victim at the spot where he fell.
The victim was later identified as Azure Amere, a farmer. He sustained injuries on his forehead, upper lip, right shoulder and left ankle and was taken to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital by by-standers who looked on helpless as the soldiers sped off.
An eyewitness told the Daily Graphic that the victim was crossing the road on a bicycle when the military vehicle with registration number 37 GA 86, which was moving at top speed, knocked him off his bike.
He said initially the soldiers attempted to speed off, but they were booed by onlookers and this forced them to return to the spot.
He said the soldiers alighted from the vehicle, but instead of conveying the victim to hospital, they only took a look at him and sped off again towards Tamale.
When this reporter arrived at the scene, a crowd had gathered around the traffic lights, which had not been functioning for quite some time.
A check at the hospital revealed that the victim, who did not have a health insurance card, was being attended to.
Checks at the Bolgatanga Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) later in the evening, indicated that the soldiers had not reported the accident to the police.
The MTTU officials said any person operating a motor vehicle and was involved in an accident, was required by law to stop at a safe place, provide information to the owner of whatever property might have been damaged, whether it be a car, a person or property and render aid to anyone thus injured, if necessary.
They said those who caused property damage and were unable to identify or contact the property’s owner, were required to leave a note with contact information and file an accident report with the police.
Monday, 28 January 2008
CHILD LABOUR: AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM IN UPPER EAST (PAGE 34)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
CHILD labour in the Upper East Region is an endemic problem. It begins from the homes, where girls are taken as domestic slaves, and on the farms where boys are taken to work as farm hands or to herd sheep at the expense of their education.
In the Talensi-Nabdan District, where gold is mined illegally (galamsey), the miners employ the services of children to sift the pounded rock extracted from the mines to get the gold dust.
The masters then sell the gold dust to international gold mining companies.
Even though child labour is illegal in Ghana, it is very difficult to clamp down on the perpetrators.
One organisation which is trying very hard to curb the phenomenon, at least in the Upper East Region, is Afrikids Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) engaged Afrikids Ghana to undertake a World Bank-funded project to tackle child labour in the small-scale gold mines at Talensi-Nabdam, especially in the area where the children’s rights were greatly abused in the region.
The Project Manager of the project, which has been code-named “Operation Sunlight”, Mr Raymond Ayine, told the Daily Graphic that initially the offer was to implement a child labour project in the Bolga municipality and another district of its choice.
“We thought that since the Talensi-Nabdam District was a new one, it had a lot of developmental challenges so we saw it as an opportunity to be one of the first NGOs to make a positive impact in the district. We, therefore, decided to take the project on board," he stated.
Mr Ayine said Afrikids Ghana was chosen to run the project because of its wide range of experience, adding that the project would work with all the local stakeholder organisations, including the district assembly, the Ghana Education Service and the Department of Social Welfare, to tackle the problem.
According to him, the project would prevent children from getting into mining through community awareness, advocacy and educational programmes, in addition to providing parents with micro-finance loans and skills training for them to increase their family incomes in order to take the pressure off the children.
Mr Ayine stated that the project would also manage the withdrawal, placement and rehabilitation of the children who were already working in the mines.
He said the programme to get the children out of the mines commenced in 2006, adding that since June 2007 about 150 children from 10 communities, namely, Gbani, Nangdi, Duusi, Accra, Tarkwa, Yaale, Datuko, Obuasi, Kulpelga and Kejetia had been profiled.
According to Mr Ayine, in terms of service delivery the NGO had been able to enrol 118 children in schools, saying that one of the greatest challenges which had faced the project since its inception was the absence of a public school within its catchment area.
Mr Ayine, therefore, appealed to the government, through the district assembly, to provide the beneficiary communities with a school which was proximate to the mining areas.
He said that would enable the children to attend a public school and also enjoy other incentives such as the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme.
CHILD labour in the Upper East Region is an endemic problem. It begins from the homes, where girls are taken as domestic slaves, and on the farms where boys are taken to work as farm hands or to herd sheep at the expense of their education.
In the Talensi-Nabdan District, where gold is mined illegally (galamsey), the miners employ the services of children to sift the pounded rock extracted from the mines to get the gold dust.
The masters then sell the gold dust to international gold mining companies.
Even though child labour is illegal in Ghana, it is very difficult to clamp down on the perpetrators.
One organisation which is trying very hard to curb the phenomenon, at least in the Upper East Region, is Afrikids Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) engaged Afrikids Ghana to undertake a World Bank-funded project to tackle child labour in the small-scale gold mines at Talensi-Nabdam, especially in the area where the children’s rights were greatly abused in the region.
The Project Manager of the project, which has been code-named “Operation Sunlight”, Mr Raymond Ayine, told the Daily Graphic that initially the offer was to implement a child labour project in the Bolga municipality and another district of its choice.
“We thought that since the Talensi-Nabdam District was a new one, it had a lot of developmental challenges so we saw it as an opportunity to be one of the first NGOs to make a positive impact in the district. We, therefore, decided to take the project on board," he stated.
Mr Ayine said Afrikids Ghana was chosen to run the project because of its wide range of experience, adding that the project would work with all the local stakeholder organisations, including the district assembly, the Ghana Education Service and the Department of Social Welfare, to tackle the problem.
According to him, the project would prevent children from getting into mining through community awareness, advocacy and educational programmes, in addition to providing parents with micro-finance loans and skills training for them to increase their family incomes in order to take the pressure off the children.
Mr Ayine stated that the project would also manage the withdrawal, placement and rehabilitation of the children who were already working in the mines.
He said the programme to get the children out of the mines commenced in 2006, adding that since June 2007 about 150 children from 10 communities, namely, Gbani, Nangdi, Duusi, Accra, Tarkwa, Yaale, Datuko, Obuasi, Kulpelga and Kejetia had been profiled.
According to Mr Ayine, in terms of service delivery the NGO had been able to enrol 118 children in schools, saying that one of the greatest challenges which had faced the project since its inception was the absence of a public school within its catchment area.
Mr Ayine, therefore, appealed to the government, through the district assembly, to provide the beneficiary communities with a school which was proximate to the mining areas.
He said that would enable the children to attend a public school and also enjoy other incentives such as the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme.
Sunday, 27 January 2008
ZOOMLION DITIES UPPER EAST .... (Page 22)
Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a private waste management company, has organised clean-up exercises throughout the two municipalities and six districts in the Upper East Region to clear them of filth.
A number of sanitation agents and some organised groups, such as members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, joined in the exercise.
The Upper East Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Joseph Boakye Danquah, told the Daily Graphic that the exercise was organised to clean the communities.
He added that it was part of the company's contribution to ensure a clean environment in the region, especially at a time when the nation was hosting the Africa Cup of Nations and other international events.
Mr Danquah urged the public to adopt good environmental practices to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a private waste management company, has organised clean-up exercises throughout the two municipalities and six districts in the Upper East Region to clear them of filth.
A number of sanitation agents and some organised groups, such as members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, joined in the exercise.
The Upper East Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Joseph Boakye Danquah, told the Daily Graphic that the exercise was organised to clean the communities.
He added that it was part of the company's contribution to ensure a clean environment in the region, especially at a time when the nation was hosting the Africa Cup of Nations and other international events.
Mr Danquah urged the public to adopt good environmental practices to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
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