The Bolgatanga Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has elected new executive to steer the affairs of the party.
At the end of the gruelling session, which officials of the Municipal office of the Electoral Commission (EC) supervised, Mr Abdulai Akono Aduko polled 149 votes to defeat Mr Abubakari Atongo Salifu and Mr Orondo Samari, who polled 109 and four votes respectively.
Mr Thomas Amare, who had 152 votes, captured the post of Vice-Chairman. His contender, Mr David Apea, polled 111 votes.
The incumbent Secretary, Mr Roland Ayoo, secured 173 votes to retain his post, while the post of Assistant Secretary went to Mr George Abane, who polled 153 votes.
The post of Organiser went to Mr Philip Aboore Adongo, while Mr Francis Asare became the Deputy Organiser. The post of Propaganda Secretary went to Mr Huudu Yahaya and that of Deputy Propaganda Secretary went to Mr Kassim Azika.
Messrs Adamu Aganda and Fuseini Ayaah were elected Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer respectively.
Ahead of the main congress, the constituency had elected Mr Rockson Atamale as its Youth Organiser, with Mr Abdallah Salifu as Deputy Youth Organiser, while the position of Women’s Organiser and Deputy Women’s Organiser went to Madam Regina Aboteneeriba and Madam Elizabeth Akugre respectively.
The newly elected executive of the party were inducted into office by Alhaji Awudu Gariba, a member of the regional executive.
Mr Aduko pledged to work with all to entrench the party in the constituency.
Present at the event were leading members of the NDC in the region, including Mr Donald Adabre, Ghana’s Ambassador- designate to Mali; the immediate past constituency Chairman and current Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Mr Epsona H. Ayamga; the Regional NADMO Co-ordinator, Mr Patrick Akake; and the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Mr Emmanuel Akolbire Opam-Brown.
Mr Ayamga commended the 250 delegates from the 125 polling stations in the constituency for electing new leaders and expressed the hope that the new team would lift the party to greater heights and help it retain the seat in the 2012 elections.
Mr Opam-Brown also commended the new team and pledged to work with them to win the seat for the party in the next elections.
He conceded that with the elections now over a lot of work remained to be done to heal wounds and build bridges to ensure intra-party unity.
Friday, 30 October 2009
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
POOR FACILITIES AFFECT NAVRONGO CAMPUS OF UDS (PAGE 11, OCT 28)
THE lack of residential facilities for both staff and students, poor road network and lack of space for expansion have been identified as some of the major challenges facing the Navrongo Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS).
The Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the University, Dr Kenneth B. Pelig-Ba, made these observations at the 17th matriculation of freshmen and women admitted to the University at Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana East District of the Upper East Region.
According to him, the lack of residential facilities for both staff and students, had forced a majority of the personnel who should have been accommodated on campus to seek shelter far away from the campus.
Apart from the inconvenience of commuting long distances to school, the situation had also exposed them to landlords who charged exorbitant fees far above what the students and lecturers and other members of the university community could afford.
He has therefore appealed to the government to channel more resources towards the provision of residential accommodation for both staff and students to enhance teaching and learning in the university.
According to the acting Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Sagary K. Nokoe, for the 2009/2010 academic year, the university received a total of 12,450 applications for its undergraduate degree programmes but the university was able to offer admission to 8,743 applicants, representing about 80 per cent of those who qualified, adding that another 847 applicants were offered admission to pursue diploma programmes.
Professor Nokoe said to ensure that brilliant students who failed to get their first choices of study did not miss out; the university offered them their second and third choice programmes.
He disclosed that during this year’s admission, the university was, as usual, guided by its policy of providing applicants from deprived communities access to university education, stressing that the university was steadfast in demonstrating its commitment to providing more access to female applicants to pursue the university’s programmes.
“For the medical programmes, a deliberate strategy was adopted to ensure higher admission numbers from the three deprived northern regions”, Prof. Nokoe said.
While commending the government and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for their support, Prof. Nokoe expressed the hope that the pledge by the GETFund to construct a 1,000 capacity students hostel at the Tamale and Navrongo campus will soon be fulfilled.
The guest of honour for the occasion, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said the government was committed to breaking the chain of poverty by establishing the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) through which people in the north would be provided with good roads, hospitals, educational facilities and farm inputs to help bridge the development imbalance between the north and south.
He said this could not be achieved if people in the north continued with the unnecessary conflicts which were retarding development in the area.
Mr Woyongo gave the assurance that the government for its part, would in collaboration with other stakeholders, remain committed to designing programmes to provide unemployed graduates with entrepreneurial skills and employment opportunities.
The regional minister said in line with this, the government would soon be undertaking a comprehensive review of the curricula of all educational institutions, including both second cycle and tertiary levels in consultation with all stakeholders with the view to making the school system relevant to the labour market and industry in general.
The Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the University, Dr Kenneth B. Pelig-Ba, made these observations at the 17th matriculation of freshmen and women admitted to the University at Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana East District of the Upper East Region.
According to him, the lack of residential facilities for both staff and students, had forced a majority of the personnel who should have been accommodated on campus to seek shelter far away from the campus.
Apart from the inconvenience of commuting long distances to school, the situation had also exposed them to landlords who charged exorbitant fees far above what the students and lecturers and other members of the university community could afford.
He has therefore appealed to the government to channel more resources towards the provision of residential accommodation for both staff and students to enhance teaching and learning in the university.
According to the acting Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Sagary K. Nokoe, for the 2009/2010 academic year, the university received a total of 12,450 applications for its undergraduate degree programmes but the university was able to offer admission to 8,743 applicants, representing about 80 per cent of those who qualified, adding that another 847 applicants were offered admission to pursue diploma programmes.
Professor Nokoe said to ensure that brilliant students who failed to get their first choices of study did not miss out; the university offered them their second and third choice programmes.
He disclosed that during this year’s admission, the university was, as usual, guided by its policy of providing applicants from deprived communities access to university education, stressing that the university was steadfast in demonstrating its commitment to providing more access to female applicants to pursue the university’s programmes.
“For the medical programmes, a deliberate strategy was adopted to ensure higher admission numbers from the three deprived northern regions”, Prof. Nokoe said.
While commending the government and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for their support, Prof. Nokoe expressed the hope that the pledge by the GETFund to construct a 1,000 capacity students hostel at the Tamale and Navrongo campus will soon be fulfilled.
The guest of honour for the occasion, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, said the government was committed to breaking the chain of poverty by establishing the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) through which people in the north would be provided with good roads, hospitals, educational facilities and farm inputs to help bridge the development imbalance between the north and south.
He said this could not be achieved if people in the north continued with the unnecessary conflicts which were retarding development in the area.
Mr Woyongo gave the assurance that the government for its part, would in collaboration with other stakeholders, remain committed to designing programmes to provide unemployed graduates with entrepreneurial skills and employment opportunities.
The regional minister said in line with this, the government would soon be undertaking a comprehensive review of the curricula of all educational institutions, including both second cycle and tertiary levels in consultation with all stakeholders with the view to making the school system relevant to the labour market and industry in general.
Friday, 23 October 2009
334 BAGS OF MAIZE LEFT TO ROT ...In NADMO stores (BACK PAGE, OCT 23)
About 334 bags of maize stockpiled in the stores of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the Kassena-Nankana East District have been left to rot.
The maize, meant to be food aid for the 2007 flood victims in the district, was not distributed.
The newly appointed District Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Roland Ayalazoya, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic at Navrongo, said he only became aware that the grain was rotting after he took over the running of the office in September, this year.
According to him, he took over the office from the previous officer, Mr Sylvester Navrose, on September 17, this year, adding that the following day he went with the storekeeper to the stores only to see the 334 bags of maize which were meant for the needy rotting and having been evaded by weevils.
Mr Ayalazoya said the matter was reported to the District Assembly, which directed the District Environmental Health Officer to inspect it. He added that after the inspection, the maize was declared unwholesome for human consumption.
The District NADMO officer said though the maize was declared unwholesome for human consumption, it was recommended for feeding animals, so the assembly directed that it should be sold to farmers as animal feed.
The District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana East, Mr Emmanuel Andema, who confirmed the story, said after the recent flood, it was decided that authorities take stock of the stores in order to reach out to the affected persons only to realise that the food aid in stock since 2007 had gone rotten.
He said the decision was taken by management to sell the maize at a token price of GHc 5.00 per bag.
He said the previous officers had been negligent in handling the food aid but failed to say what action would be instituted against them.
The DCE disclosed that among those who purchased the spoilt maize was the MP for Navrongo Central, who bought 100 bags.
When contacted on phone, Mr Navrose conceded that the food items were received in 2007. He said some of the maize was distributed but as part of their operation, some of it was kept as emergency stock.
According to Mr Navrose, when the NDC party assumed power, the current National Co-ordinator of NADMO wrote to him that no items in NADMO stores should be distributed.
He indicated that at the time of leaving office, he was unaware that some reserved stock of maize had gone bad.
The maize, meant to be food aid for the 2007 flood victims in the district, was not distributed.
The newly appointed District Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Roland Ayalazoya, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic at Navrongo, said he only became aware that the grain was rotting after he took over the running of the office in September, this year.
According to him, he took over the office from the previous officer, Mr Sylvester Navrose, on September 17, this year, adding that the following day he went with the storekeeper to the stores only to see the 334 bags of maize which were meant for the needy rotting and having been evaded by weevils.
Mr Ayalazoya said the matter was reported to the District Assembly, which directed the District Environmental Health Officer to inspect it. He added that after the inspection, the maize was declared unwholesome for human consumption.
The District NADMO officer said though the maize was declared unwholesome for human consumption, it was recommended for feeding animals, so the assembly directed that it should be sold to farmers as animal feed.
The District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana East, Mr Emmanuel Andema, who confirmed the story, said after the recent flood, it was decided that authorities take stock of the stores in order to reach out to the affected persons only to realise that the food aid in stock since 2007 had gone rotten.
He said the decision was taken by management to sell the maize at a token price of GHc 5.00 per bag.
He said the previous officers had been negligent in handling the food aid but failed to say what action would be instituted against them.
The DCE disclosed that among those who purchased the spoilt maize was the MP for Navrongo Central, who bought 100 bags.
When contacted on phone, Mr Navrose conceded that the food items were received in 2007. He said some of the maize was distributed but as part of their operation, some of it was kept as emergency stock.
According to Mr Navrose, when the NDC party assumed power, the current National Co-ordinator of NADMO wrote to him that no items in NADMO stores should be distributed.
He indicated that at the time of leaving office, he was unaware that some reserved stock of maize had gone bad.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
MMT TAKES STEPS TO CHECK CHEATING PASSENGERS (PAGE 20, OCT 20, 2009)
THE Management of Metro Mass Bus Transit (MMT) has started an exercise to ensure that passengers boarding the company’s buses pay for the service they enjoy.
Dubbed: “Operation show your ticket”, the exercise is targeted at limiting the rate of stealing on the bus.
According to the Upper East Regional Manager of MMT, Mr Stephen Abubakari, of late, most passengers virtually sneak into the buses on the blind side of the crew members, that is, the conductor and the drivers.
He explained that this time round, management was shifting the responsibility for obtaining tickets to the passengers, adding that it was the right of passengers to insist on their tickets when boarding any metro mass bus.
"When we are on inspection duty, we would not say it is the conductor who has refused to issue the passenger with a ticket , but rather the passenger has sneaked into the bus.
Mr Abubakari said to ensure the success of sensitisation exercise, some project team members in the company, namely Mrs Adjoa Akyere Bondzie, Ms Juliet Molisha Ofori and Mr Kwame Korang had toured the bus terminus of the MMT in the region to educate their clients on the new measures being adopted by management to ensure transparency.
The team told the passengers that MMT had come to stay and, therefore, urged them to support the company to generate more revenue in order to acquire more strong buses to serve them better.
Members of the team entreated the passengers to support management in its efforts at minimising fraud on their routes.
They warned that people with no valid tickets caught on the buses would be made to pay a fine of 15 times the face value of the ticket or in default, will be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“We hope to limit the incidence of fraud and increase revenue for the company which will be ploughed back into maintaining the buses and put us in the position to serve the public well”, Mr Abubakari stressed.
He said fares charged by the MMT were very reliable and the company needed more revenue in order to render better services.
While soliciting support of the passengers to assist management to improve , Mr Abubakari advised staff of the company to be professional, adding that any staff who was found wanting in terms of service delivery would be sanctioned.
He urged the staff to be customer friendly and keep to the orientation that had been provided them prior to their engagement.
Earlier, the team paid a courtesy call on the paramount Chief of Bolgatanga, Naba Martin Abilba, the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, some Municipal and District Chief Executives as well as the Deputy Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Tuffour, to solicit their support for the success of the latest exercise by MMT to check fraud on the buses.
Dubbed: “Operation show your ticket”, the exercise is targeted at limiting the rate of stealing on the bus.
According to the Upper East Regional Manager of MMT, Mr Stephen Abubakari, of late, most passengers virtually sneak into the buses on the blind side of the crew members, that is, the conductor and the drivers.
He explained that this time round, management was shifting the responsibility for obtaining tickets to the passengers, adding that it was the right of passengers to insist on their tickets when boarding any metro mass bus.
"When we are on inspection duty, we would not say it is the conductor who has refused to issue the passenger with a ticket , but rather the passenger has sneaked into the bus.
Mr Abubakari said to ensure the success of sensitisation exercise, some project team members in the company, namely Mrs Adjoa Akyere Bondzie, Ms Juliet Molisha Ofori and Mr Kwame Korang had toured the bus terminus of the MMT in the region to educate their clients on the new measures being adopted by management to ensure transparency.
The team told the passengers that MMT had come to stay and, therefore, urged them to support the company to generate more revenue in order to acquire more strong buses to serve them better.
Members of the team entreated the passengers to support management in its efforts at minimising fraud on their routes.
They warned that people with no valid tickets caught on the buses would be made to pay a fine of 15 times the face value of the ticket or in default, will be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“We hope to limit the incidence of fraud and increase revenue for the company which will be ploughed back into maintaining the buses and put us in the position to serve the public well”, Mr Abubakari stressed.
He said fares charged by the MMT were very reliable and the company needed more revenue in order to render better services.
While soliciting support of the passengers to assist management to improve , Mr Abubakari advised staff of the company to be professional, adding that any staff who was found wanting in terms of service delivery would be sanctioned.
He urged the staff to be customer friendly and keep to the orientation that had been provided them prior to their engagement.
Earlier, the team paid a courtesy call on the paramount Chief of Bolgatanga, Naba Martin Abilba, the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, some Municipal and District Chief Executives as well as the Deputy Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Tuffour, to solicit their support for the success of the latest exercise by MMT to check fraud on the buses.
Monday, 19 October 2009
USE EXPERTISE TO DEVELOP ASSEMBLIES (PAGE 30, OCT 17)
APPOINTED members of municipal and district assemblies in the Upper East Region have been tasked to deploy their expertise in their various fields of endeavour to ensure that the assemblies function effectively.
A Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Mr Eric Oduro Osae, made the call during a two-day training programme for appointed assembly members and Presiding Members in the region.
The forum was organised by the Institute of Local Government Studies with support from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The programme was aimed at building the capacity of the appointed assembly members, some of whom are new to the local governance system.
Mr Osae, who is also a legal practitioner, called on the participants to demand accountability from all stakeholders in the district assembly structure to ensure greater transparency and efficiency.
He bemoaned the fact that most assembly members were ignorant of the enormous power they wielded, which, if properly utilised, could fast-track development at the local level.
Mr Osae urged the assembly members to acquaint themselves with the relevant laws and legislation that would make them efficient in their work.
Mr Osae expressed regret at the inability of most assemblies to raise locally generated revenue, saying one of the areas the assemblies could source funds to support the District Assembly Common Fund was to recruit persons who could write good proposals and reports as well as effective internal auditors.
He said they could source assistance from several development partners, who are all committed to helping the assemblies with the needed development.
Mr Simon Bokor, Head of Education and Training Department of the ILGS, explained that the training had become necessary considering the fact that as new members were appointed by the President, there was the need to build their capacity so that they would be on top of whatever they were expected to do.
He expressed the hope that the participants would make good use of the lessons learnt by making useful contributions in the deliberations and workings of their respective assemblies.
In a presentation, Mr Richard Kambootah, Head of Programmes, ILGS, Tamale campus, said district assemblies were the highest political, administrative, planning and budgeting, as well as the rallying authority at the local level.
He said in the performance of its deliberative, legislative and executive functions, the district assembly worked through the committee systems and noted that the systems were not functioning effectively.
Mr Kambootah, therefore, charged the appointed members, as professionals from varied backgrounds, to assert themselves for the benefit of the citizens.
"You were selected because the President knew you have special abilities that can help the assembly. It, therefore, behoves you to work hard to justify your selection," he said.
He also advised the assembly members to separate partisan politics from development issues within the district assembly system.
"When a policy is targeted at development, we should all stand for it and refrain from reading political meanings into it. That way, the citizen will benefit from it," he assured.
A Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Mr Eric Oduro Osae, made the call during a two-day training programme for appointed assembly members and Presiding Members in the region.
The forum was organised by the Institute of Local Government Studies with support from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The programme was aimed at building the capacity of the appointed assembly members, some of whom are new to the local governance system.
Mr Osae, who is also a legal practitioner, called on the participants to demand accountability from all stakeholders in the district assembly structure to ensure greater transparency and efficiency.
He bemoaned the fact that most assembly members were ignorant of the enormous power they wielded, which, if properly utilised, could fast-track development at the local level.
Mr Osae urged the assembly members to acquaint themselves with the relevant laws and legislation that would make them efficient in their work.
Mr Osae expressed regret at the inability of most assemblies to raise locally generated revenue, saying one of the areas the assemblies could source funds to support the District Assembly Common Fund was to recruit persons who could write good proposals and reports as well as effective internal auditors.
He said they could source assistance from several development partners, who are all committed to helping the assemblies with the needed development.
Mr Simon Bokor, Head of Education and Training Department of the ILGS, explained that the training had become necessary considering the fact that as new members were appointed by the President, there was the need to build their capacity so that they would be on top of whatever they were expected to do.
He expressed the hope that the participants would make good use of the lessons learnt by making useful contributions in the deliberations and workings of their respective assemblies.
In a presentation, Mr Richard Kambootah, Head of Programmes, ILGS, Tamale campus, said district assemblies were the highest political, administrative, planning and budgeting, as well as the rallying authority at the local level.
He said in the performance of its deliberative, legislative and executive functions, the district assembly worked through the committee systems and noted that the systems were not functioning effectively.
Mr Kambootah, therefore, charged the appointed members, as professionals from varied backgrounds, to assert themselves for the benefit of the citizens.
"You were selected because the President knew you have special abilities that can help the assembly. It, therefore, behoves you to work hard to justify your selection," he said.
He also advised the assembly members to separate partisan politics from development issues within the district assembly system.
"When a policy is targeted at development, we should all stand for it and refrain from reading political meanings into it. That way, the citizen will benefit from it," he assured.
ZOOMLION, ASSEMBLY COLLABORATE TO MANAGE LANDFILL SITE (PAGE 35, OCT 17)
WASTE Management appears to be a major headache facing most city authorities in Ghana and the Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region is no exception.
The Revised Environmental Sanitation Policy stipulates that waste management, including solid, liquid and industrial waste, health-care and other hazardous waste; storm water drainage, cleansing of thoroughfares, markets and other public spaces, should be carried out by waste management Departments within Metropolitan and municipal assemblies or by district environmental health and management departments of district assemblies.
The policy also stipulates that all district assemblies shall be required to among other things, ensure that the sites are managed to satisfy approved environmental protection. But sadly to note, the landfill site at Sherigu which serves as the final disposal site for waste in the Bolgatanga Municipality appears not to be receiving the best of treatment.
Both solid and liquid waste is dumped indiscriminately and the site has become a breeding ground for disease causing organisms.
To ensure adequate hygienic standards, Zoomlion Ghana, a private waste management company has entered into a partnership with the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to level and compact the pile of refuse at the final disposal sites to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
Hitherto, the exercise huge piles of refuse were left unattended to. The entrance was filled with refuse to the extent that the entire entrance to the site was blocked, making access to the site very difficult.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Upper East Regional Landfill Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Jonathan Ameyibor, said solid waste management could not be effectively carried out if those responsible only collected waste and did not know where to dump it.
“When you do that you create environmental problems. The waste generated creates germs that can result in the outbreak of an epidemic. This, therefore, calls for proper management of the filth,” he said.
According to Mr Ameyibor, as an institution concerned with the environmental protection, Zoomlion found it necessary to bring in a landfill dozer to push the refuse, level and compact it.
“We believe that when we do this, we limit the breeding of organisms and also reduce the volume on waste and increase the lifespan of the landfill,” he said.
Mr Ameyibor said apart from that measure, the company was considering acquiring a land for well designed engineered land fill site with all the necessary equipment.
He said if possible, his outfit would also have an on-site recycling plant to recycle the materials, and generate energy using the gas from the refuse for domestic use or to support the national electricity grid.
Mr Ameyibor gave the assurance that Zoomlion would continue with its programme to educate the populace until they changed their poor attitude towards environmental sanitation.
“People do not seem to understand the need to manage waste. They just dump things indiscriminately. Our major task is to appeal to the people not to litter the environment because they would end up spending their resources to treat themselves of environmental related diseases," he stressed.
The Revised Environmental Sanitation Policy stipulates that waste management, including solid, liquid and industrial waste, health-care and other hazardous waste; storm water drainage, cleansing of thoroughfares, markets and other public spaces, should be carried out by waste management Departments within Metropolitan and municipal assemblies or by district environmental health and management departments of district assemblies.
The policy also stipulates that all district assemblies shall be required to among other things, ensure that the sites are managed to satisfy approved environmental protection. But sadly to note, the landfill site at Sherigu which serves as the final disposal site for waste in the Bolgatanga Municipality appears not to be receiving the best of treatment.
Both solid and liquid waste is dumped indiscriminately and the site has become a breeding ground for disease causing organisms.
To ensure adequate hygienic standards, Zoomlion Ghana, a private waste management company has entered into a partnership with the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to level and compact the pile of refuse at the final disposal sites to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
Hitherto, the exercise huge piles of refuse were left unattended to. The entrance was filled with refuse to the extent that the entire entrance to the site was blocked, making access to the site very difficult.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Upper East Regional Landfill Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Jonathan Ameyibor, said solid waste management could not be effectively carried out if those responsible only collected waste and did not know where to dump it.
“When you do that you create environmental problems. The waste generated creates germs that can result in the outbreak of an epidemic. This, therefore, calls for proper management of the filth,” he said.
According to Mr Ameyibor, as an institution concerned with the environmental protection, Zoomlion found it necessary to bring in a landfill dozer to push the refuse, level and compact it.
“We believe that when we do this, we limit the breeding of organisms and also reduce the volume on waste and increase the lifespan of the landfill,” he said.
Mr Ameyibor said apart from that measure, the company was considering acquiring a land for well designed engineered land fill site with all the necessary equipment.
He said if possible, his outfit would also have an on-site recycling plant to recycle the materials, and generate energy using the gas from the refuse for domestic use or to support the national electricity grid.
Mr Ameyibor gave the assurance that Zoomlion would continue with its programme to educate the populace until they changed their poor attitude towards environmental sanitation.
“People do not seem to understand the need to manage waste. They just dump things indiscriminately. Our major task is to appeal to the people not to litter the environment because they would end up spending their resources to treat themselves of environmental related diseases," he stressed.
THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND RESEARCH IN REDUCING POVERTY IN UE (PAGE 35)
BRIDGING the developmental gap between northern and southern Ghana has been the tune song by most governments since time immemorial. But those who rise to the tune appear to be oblivious of the role science and research could play in unlocking the potential of the northern part of Ghana.
Most researchers are of the opinion that government’s efforts at reducing poverty in the country as a whole and the north in particular could be given a big boost if science and research were taken seriously.
The role of science and research in the area of agriculture cannot be contested but it is sad to note that institutions mandated to carry out research to support agriculture, particularly in the north do not enjoy much support from government.
One of such institutions which currently has to depend on external support due to little assistance from the government is the Manga Agricultural Research Station located in the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region.
The Manga Agricultural Research Station was opened by the colonial masters in 1936. The station was initially operated by the Germans and the English but after Ghana had attained independence in 1957, it metamorphosed into a farm mechanisation centre during the reign of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who wanted to expand agriculture and move the sector forward.
Available literature indicates that, after the overthrow of Dr Nkrumah, the station underwent a lot of metamorphosis such that the centre became an animal traction training centre from where the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) took over its running and later turned it into a research station because research was then vested in the ministry.
The Manga Agriculture Station was offloaded to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSRI) to be run as a fully-fledged research station.
According to the Senior Research Scientist in charge of the station, Dr Roger Kanton, despite the seemly gloomy picture due to the lack of support for the research facility, the centre was endowed with human resource and estates.
He said the centre currently had about 96 acres of land and an outstation in Binduri where it conducted research on dry season horticultural crops.
Dr Kanton said the station also had a number of cattle which were helping the centre in animal traction.
"We strongly believe that animal traction has the key, taking into consideration the fact that the soils in the region are fragile and it will not make sense to carry tractors everywhere trying to plough back the sub soils”, he stated.
Dr Kanton, however, emphasised that the situation did not mean that farmers in the region did not need tractors.
Back to the work of the research station, Dr Kanton said the centre was a purely crop based research station.
Some of the programmes run by the station include agronomy, insect, pest and disease control mechanisms, soils research and water conservation. The centre also has economists and rural sociologists as well post-harvest specialists, who from time to time, engage members of the community to disseminate its findings.
It was in that light that the centre recently hosted more them 40 farmers from the Garu-Tempane District in the Upper East Region where they were introduced to new varieties of maize, sorghum and sesame introduced by the centre.
The farmers were taken round maize, sesame and sorghum experimental farms where they were taught the various stages of production.
The farmers were introduced to the “Akpasoe” maize variety which has high protein content, high yielding sorghum varieties, “capala” and “dorado” as well as sesame.
The sesame was being grown on small scale for household consumption, but the crop is said to have high patronage on the international market.
Dr Kanton encouraged the farmers to go into the cultivation of crops such as sorghum since it was possible to earn higher incomes because Guinness Ghana Brewery Limited had expressed its preparedness to buy locally produced sorghum.
Sorghum is one of the major staples of the people in the three northern regions so when they sell what is rejected, the income could be used to support the households and ensure food security. Sale of the crop can be used to support education through the payment of school fees, hospital bills, among others things,” Dr Kanton said.
The leader of the farmers, Mr Solomon Atigah, reiterated the benefit of visiting the research station.
He stressed that although farmers had received training on the appropriate agronomic practices for the crops, especially sorghum and sesame, many were still reluctant to put what they had learnt into practice.
“Today they will see things for themselves and hopefully change their mind set,” Mr Atigah who is also the manager of the Garu Presbyterian Agricultural Station (GPAS) said.
He stated that GPAS was collaborating with the Association of Church Development Projects, (ACDEP), a non-governmental organisation, SARI, MOFA and other partners, to support farmers to produce and market soybeans and sorghum.
While pledging the readiness of the Manga Agricultural Research Station to provide farmers the opportunity to learn how to cultivate crops in the most efficient way to increase production and help diversify their income base, Dr Kanton also urged the government to address the many challenges facing research and science.
He mentioned lack of residential accommodation for research scientists, lack of logistics including vehicles to support field work, the inadequate financial support to carry out research, as some of the major challenges of the station.
In its determination to bridge the development gap between the northern and southern Ghana, it would be appropriate for government to invest heavily on research and science institutions regarding the agricultural sector since that would have direct impact in improving the living conditions of the people.
Most researchers are of the opinion that government’s efforts at reducing poverty in the country as a whole and the north in particular could be given a big boost if science and research were taken seriously.
The role of science and research in the area of agriculture cannot be contested but it is sad to note that institutions mandated to carry out research to support agriculture, particularly in the north do not enjoy much support from government.
One of such institutions which currently has to depend on external support due to little assistance from the government is the Manga Agricultural Research Station located in the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region.
The Manga Agricultural Research Station was opened by the colonial masters in 1936. The station was initially operated by the Germans and the English but after Ghana had attained independence in 1957, it metamorphosed into a farm mechanisation centre during the reign of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who wanted to expand agriculture and move the sector forward.
Available literature indicates that, after the overthrow of Dr Nkrumah, the station underwent a lot of metamorphosis such that the centre became an animal traction training centre from where the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) took over its running and later turned it into a research station because research was then vested in the ministry.
The Manga Agriculture Station was offloaded to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSRI) to be run as a fully-fledged research station.
According to the Senior Research Scientist in charge of the station, Dr Roger Kanton, despite the seemly gloomy picture due to the lack of support for the research facility, the centre was endowed with human resource and estates.
He said the centre currently had about 96 acres of land and an outstation in Binduri where it conducted research on dry season horticultural crops.
Dr Kanton said the station also had a number of cattle which were helping the centre in animal traction.
"We strongly believe that animal traction has the key, taking into consideration the fact that the soils in the region are fragile and it will not make sense to carry tractors everywhere trying to plough back the sub soils”, he stated.
Dr Kanton, however, emphasised that the situation did not mean that farmers in the region did not need tractors.
Back to the work of the research station, Dr Kanton said the centre was a purely crop based research station.
Some of the programmes run by the station include agronomy, insect, pest and disease control mechanisms, soils research and water conservation. The centre also has economists and rural sociologists as well post-harvest specialists, who from time to time, engage members of the community to disseminate its findings.
It was in that light that the centre recently hosted more them 40 farmers from the Garu-Tempane District in the Upper East Region where they were introduced to new varieties of maize, sorghum and sesame introduced by the centre.
The farmers were taken round maize, sesame and sorghum experimental farms where they were taught the various stages of production.
The farmers were introduced to the “Akpasoe” maize variety which has high protein content, high yielding sorghum varieties, “capala” and “dorado” as well as sesame.
The sesame was being grown on small scale for household consumption, but the crop is said to have high patronage on the international market.
Dr Kanton encouraged the farmers to go into the cultivation of crops such as sorghum since it was possible to earn higher incomes because Guinness Ghana Brewery Limited had expressed its preparedness to buy locally produced sorghum.
Sorghum is one of the major staples of the people in the three northern regions so when they sell what is rejected, the income could be used to support the households and ensure food security. Sale of the crop can be used to support education through the payment of school fees, hospital bills, among others things,” Dr Kanton said.
The leader of the farmers, Mr Solomon Atigah, reiterated the benefit of visiting the research station.
He stressed that although farmers had received training on the appropriate agronomic practices for the crops, especially sorghum and sesame, many were still reluctant to put what they had learnt into practice.
“Today they will see things for themselves and hopefully change their mind set,” Mr Atigah who is also the manager of the Garu Presbyterian Agricultural Station (GPAS) said.
He stated that GPAS was collaborating with the Association of Church Development Projects, (ACDEP), a non-governmental organisation, SARI, MOFA and other partners, to support farmers to produce and market soybeans and sorghum.
While pledging the readiness of the Manga Agricultural Research Station to provide farmers the opportunity to learn how to cultivate crops in the most efficient way to increase production and help diversify their income base, Dr Kanton also urged the government to address the many challenges facing research and science.
He mentioned lack of residential accommodation for research scientists, lack of logistics including vehicles to support field work, the inadequate financial support to carry out research, as some of the major challenges of the station.
In its determination to bridge the development gap between the northern and southern Ghana, it would be appropriate for government to invest heavily on research and science institutions regarding the agricultural sector since that would have direct impact in improving the living conditions of the people.
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