Sissala Union congratulate Alhaji Hamidu Sulemana on his confirmation as Minister of Roads and Highways

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Sissala Union has congratulated the Alhaji Hamidu Sulemana on his nomination, vetting and subsequent swearing in as the substantive Minister for Roads and Highways. A statement signed by Dr. Roger A. L. Kanton, President of the Union and copied to the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga, the union also expressed their gratitude to the President, Mr John Dramani Mahama for choosing their son to head this rather important and heavy demanding Ministry. "Your choice for the job we sincerely believe is driven by your commitment to duty, hard work coupled with the Presidents desire to get the very deplorable roads in the Upper West Region fixed during his tenure of office." The Union said. They recalled, the recent armed robbery incident, which the Minister was unfortunately a victim of and said it could be traced to the highly unmotorable nature of the roads in the region, thereby making the roads of the region a haven for criminal elements who have now taken over the road network of the entire region. They therefore tasked the minister to "on behalf of your brothers and sisters in the Upper West Region to give your top most priority to the Bolgatanga-Tumu-Wa highway, which though the umbilical cord of the two Upper Regions yet the most impassable in the country." They expressed the hope that given background of Alhaji Hamidu Sulemana, who is the member of Parliament for the Sissala West Constituency and also the immediate past Upper West Regional Minister, he will use his training as a Mechanical Engineer to rise to the task given him by assisting the President in his pursuit of the Better Ghana Agenda of the National Democratic Congress Party. "The Union would also like to use this medium to assure you of the unflinching support of all Sissala both in and outside Ghana in every way we possibly can in making your work at this very demanding Ministry a memorable one." They assured. -END-

MTTU Commander unhappy about road crashes

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Commanding Officer of the Motto Transport and Traffic Unit,(MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP) Mr Angwubutoge Awuni has expressed regret about the increase in road crashes and its attendant loss of life on the Bolgatanga-Tamale road and demanded that officers of the unit in the Upper East and Northern Regions take step up their performance to halt the unnecessary death and maiming of road users He said if his men and women live up to expectation and also union executives at the various transport terminals act as safety agents by upholding discipline, the rampant cases of roads accidents will be curtailed. "We have just started the new year 2013 but nationwide provisional fatality figures collated by the National MTTU as at January 25 exceeds 100 deaths. Obviously this cannot be acceptable and we should therefore intensify our enforcement activities to help reverse the negative." He said. ACP Awuni said this when he addressed transport union executives and drivers at the main Bolgatanga lorry terminal after he led a team of MTTU personnel and officers of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority as well as National Road Safety Commission to interact and sensitized drivers on the new road traffic legislative instrument (L.I. 2180). The sensitization programmers for drivers followed an earlier road safety seminar held for personnel of the MTTU at the Pwalugu police training School. ACP Awuni cautioned drivers to stop overloading and wrong overtaking and urged them to undertake regular maintenance of their vehicles to curtail carnage on the roads. He instructed personnel of the unit in the region not to spare drivers who flout the law on the road. "I cannot be arresting people elsewhere in the country while right here at my doorstep, we have drivers who infringe on the law but allowed to go scot free." A stern looking ACP Awuni who hails from the Upper East Region said. Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP), Mr Alexander K. Obeng in-charge of Education, Research and Training urged drivers to refrain from drink driving which was against rules and regulations of driving. The Deputy Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Road Safety Commission, Mr Rudolph Beckley reminded the drivers and their leaders that they owe it a responsibility as frontline stakeholders to ensure road safety. The Industrial Relation Officer of the Upper East Regional Branch of the GPRTU, Mr A. M. Nashiru said it was the share responsibility of the drivers, passengers and the police to ensure safety on the road and pledged that the union would do everything possible to assist MTTU to work effectively to control traffic crashes. He expressed concern about the spate of bad roads in the region and urged government to step up the rehabilitation of the roads to encourage vehicle owners put fairly new and stronger vehicles on the road to reduce the accidents. He said a good road infrastructure will also discourage the use of rickety cars and busses. End Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Mr Fynn and his lotto school.

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga It is often described as a game of chance. Others perceived it as a type of gambling where the winner is chosen based on a drawing. For many others it is a game that require critical thinking and intense calculation in order to arrive at that magic digits to hit a jackpot or make a huge fortune. During my local rounds in the Bolgatanga Municipality, I came across Mr Aggrey Fynn popular known as "Senior Lecturer Hot Lotto" taking a group of people he referred to as students sitted under a neem tree with a large board taking them through serious "lessons" on possible sure bankers likely to drop on the next draw date. So intense was the class that all the 'students' were seen paying rapt attention to series of permutation and calculation just to derived the next sure banker. The lotto school, as it is known have been operating for a long time and according to some of the 'students' they have made big hits from the lectures of Mr Fynn, the lotto doctor Mr. Fynn in an interview told the Mirror that he started the business of working lotto in 1963. He said his trade has seen him travel the country from Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and now Bolgatanga. He said his intense 'workings' has seen several people become millionaires overnight with digits derived from his circulations. He said that gift of correcting working figures and predicting lotto numbers was given to him by God. He said he has used that gift to enrich a number of people. According to him, he does not charge for the class he organizes but people who attend are at liberty to show whatever form of appreciation after they attend the class or win a draw. Lottery have been considered to be a very important source of revenue generation for the states in several countries. Lotteries offer a chance of winning to the purchaser along with a thrill and excitement from the possibility of being selected as a winner and becoming wealthy. There is an entertainment value attached to the lotteries which is why they have always been so popular with people. End Writer's email : benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

PM of Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly detained

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga THE Bolgatanga Police have in their custody,the Presiding Member of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, Mr John Nyaaba who allegedly defrauded a colleague assemblyman of the sum of GH c 8,500 under the pretext of securing him a contract. The suspect was arrested on Monday night and detained overnight after the complainant, Mr Sanke Azumah Abire had lodged a compliant with the police. Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Bolgatanga, Mr Abire said somewhere in 2011 during the confirmation of the current MCE, Mr Edward Ayagle, the PM approached him knowing to well that he the complainant sympathizes with the opposition NPP, solicit his support to make confirmation process smooth. Later, the PM approached him and informed him that they were considering him (the complainant) for the award of contract. Mr Abire said the PM told him they needed some money to process the documentation of the contract so he advanced an initial amount of GH c 5,000 which was allergy sent to the MCE, Mr Edward Ayagle. Mr Abire said later, the PM later approached the complainant with the explanation the office of the then Vice President, Mr John Mahama was sponsoring some projects in the municipality and that he the PM had been given one so he needed some extra money to secure another one. He said it was then that he advanced an additional GH c 3,500 to the PM but since April last year, the promised contract was not been fulfilled. Mr Abire said several follow ups have not yielded any positive response. He therefore became frustrated and decided to report the matter to the police. Mr Abire said he will pursue the matter till it gets to court in order to retrieve his money. When the Daily Graphic visited the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Station, the PM was spotted writing his statements at the office of the CID. Neither the PM or the The Municipal Police Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Mr Godson Letsyo were ready to comment on the issue. End

St John Bosco's College of Education holds Matriculation(DG Monday Feb 18, 2012 Page 22)

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Navrongo. The St. John Bosco's College of Education at Navrongo in the Upper East Region has held its 6th matriculation ceremony for two hundred and eight-six newly admitted students. The ceremony was to usher in fresh students who would undertake a three year Diploma in Education Programme. The Principal of the College, Mr. Alfred Ndago said the ceremony was a key academic procedure to welcome newly enrolled students into institutes of higher learning, as qualified to undertake higher education. The college for this academic year admitted a total 170 males and 116 females to undertake general education courses, science and mathematics and well technical programmes. Mr Ndago said the selection of the students was based on inter alia on their academic qualification, abilities and aptitudes, and was therefore hopeful they would uphold the standards of personal conducts, sincerity of purpose, honesty and integrity to sustain the image of the college. "We expert every trainee would apply himself or herself effectively to the rules and regulations of the college and be ready to protect and defend the hard won credibility and status of the institution." He said. Mr Ndago urged the students to study hard to improve upon their work performance, and take advantage of every available facility to enable them acquire the knowledge, skills and competence they need for their careers in order to become good teachers and role models to the pupils they will be handling after their training. He said the important function of tertiary education was to equip students to solve their challenges by analyzing problems and finding solutions to them, saying this opportunity would form the basis for the future of the students. Mr Ndago touched on wha he termed 'three demons' on the college campus and urged students to avoid them if they are to succeed in their academic pursuit. These are money, lust and laziness. He said the payment of allowance to students and how each student manages the quantum of money received is a direct result of the care-free, unserious or lackadaisical attitude do some students. Again, he said the rate at which pregnancies are occurring among female trainees is a source of worry. "Pregnant women pursuing a professional course such as teaching suffer the effects of work pressure on academic achievement. The creeping in of laziness stems from the perceived comfort of life which may be resulting from lightened financial burden and loss of focus or aspiration. To solve these challenges, it would take guidance and counseling expert to do individual as well as group counseling. The best caution is that you take your time." He cautioned the trainees. He urged the students to be disciplined in the area of time management and adhere to all rules and regulations. he further advised the trainees to choose dialogue in solving their grievances by using the appropriate channels of communication without resorting to violence and mischief which have negative effects on the individual and the institution. End Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Northern Ghanaians Association in Belgium donates ICT equipment to rural schools(D/G Monday February 18, 2013 Page 22)

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Four cluster of schools at Kantia in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region have received educational materials worth Euros 8,000 from the Northern Ghanaians Association in Belgium to ensure effective teaching and learning. The beneficiary schools, namely Kantia Primary, Grace Preparatory Animoa Primary and Afega No. 1 Junior High Schools were given 30 flat screen desktop computers, two laptops, two overhead projectors, three multifunctional prints, I multifunctional photocopier, and a 12000 VA UPS . The gadgets will be installed at a central pointe to facilitate the teaching and learning of information, communication and technology in the beneficial schools. Mr Lawrence Abagnaba, a member of the Ghana Council in Belgium who handed over the items to the community members at a brief ceremony said te donation was facilitated buy the City of Antwerp and was meant to complement government’s efforts towards promoting the teaching and learning of ICT education especially among the youth in deprived communities in Northern Ghana. He said council would continue to support initiatives such as this to help improve livelihoods of the less privilege and also to reduce poverty. He advised the various school management committees to take good care of the facilities and provide the necessary security at the central ICT centre to be created in order to derive the desired benefit from the gesture. The Deputy Director, Supervision at the Bolgatanga Municipal Office of the Ghana Education Service, Mr Mark Nabia who received the items on behalf of the schools, thanked the donor for the kind gesture. He said the items will go a long way to boost the teaching and learning of ICT seeing that government has rolled our an intense programme to provide each child with a computer. He said said given the critical role of ICT in today’s globalized world the Ghanaian youth could not afford to be left behind.The nation, he said, has therefore to put in a programme to provide schools with ICT infrastructure and gestures like this goes to complement government's effort at helping students acquire the requisite skills to compete favourably with their counterparts, elsewhere across the world. He also stressed on the effective and efficient use of the gadgets to ensure that it utilize for the purpose for which they were presented. The MP for Bolgatanga East, Dr Dominic Ayine who was present at the presentation ceremony, advices the pupils to ate their studies seriously in to become well informed and better educated citizens in the future. The Headmaster of Kantia Primary School, Mr Yakubu Alhassan on behalf of the beneficiary School, expressed appreciation to the donor to for the items and pledged to ensure the proper use of the gadgets to advance the teaching and learning of ICT in the schools.

Bongo theatre burnt

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bongo The Medical Superintendent of the Bongo Hospital, Dr. William has appealed to individuals, NGOs , philanthropists and government for the supply of surgery equipments to the district facility to enable them to resume surgical services to the people. The appeal follows a major fire outbreak on Saturday afternoon that razed down the only theatre and vital surgical equipment worth several thousands of cedis crippling surgical activities at the hospital. Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Bongo, Dr. Gudu said the hospital conducts elective and emergency cases on several people from the entire district and adjourning districts and that the damage caused by the fire was so enormous that clients requiring surgeries will have to visit other facilities in the region. The theatre and adjoining rooms was totally razed on Saturday at about 3pm. Items destroyed the theatre included two anesthetic machines, an incubator, surgical equipments, a refrigerators and other medical equipments. There were no casualties according to Dr Gudu as personnel of the fire Service in Bongo responded swiftly to assist put quench the blaze. He said on the said day, he had reported to the facility at about 7 am and conducted ward rounds till about 12 pm when he retired to the house.. Dr. Gudu while at home, he received call from the hospital that a female nurse had detected a smoke coming from the main operating room. he said he instructed that the main electric switch be put off while attempts were made to call the electrician in charge to fix the problem. he added that simultaneously, a call was placed on the Emergency line, 192 which went to the Accra where the operator directed that they call the ECG and quickly hang up. At that point, he said a staff rode a motorbike to the offices of the Ghana National Fire Service in Bongo and while he followed p with his car, a distnace that took about three minutes. Dr Gudu said on reaching the offices of the Fire Service, he saw them racing to the scene so he followed up to the facility where with the assistance of the personnel, some community members and staff of the hospital helped in quenching the blaze, an exercise that latest for about an hour. He said it was too early to state the cause of the fire since the theatre had not been used the whole day and as such no electrical gadget was in use. "The only gadget in use was to table top fridges, one containing anesthetic drugs and another water" he said adding that even those where in an adjourning room and not the operating room, where the billow of smoke was coming from. Dr. Gudu said following the disaster, a report has been sent to the Regional Director of Health Services to see what immediate measures can be put in place. Also, he indicated that the District Chief Executive for Bongo, Mr Clement Akugre Tia has visited the facility in the company of officials of NADMO. The DCE he disclosed has instructed NADMO to liaise with the District Fire Service to investigate the cause of the fire and what form of assistance can be offered. Dr. Gudu disclosed that the Bongo hospital which used to be a health post is not properly structured, adding that it’s lay out do not befit a status of a district hospital and requires expansion work to be able to function as expected. He said since the facility was upgraded from a health post to a hospital status, the facility has not witnessed any major expansion and has placed intense pressure on the limited available resources. "Nobody is prepared to help with land for the construction of a new facility. When the issue of expansion cropped up again recently, the assembly with the help of the Paramount Chief of Bongo offered us a vast stretch of land. we are currently going though the proper documentation processes while we await the payment of appropriate compensation to pave way for the construction of a new facility for the district."He said. Meanwhile, the Medical Superintendent recalled an earlier appeal by the MP for the area, Mr. Albert Abongo to support the construction of children's ward to help deal will the serious congestion at the Bongo District Hospital and appeal to him to fulfill the promise. End