Story: Emmanuel Modey
THE Physiotherapy Department of the Hohoe Hospital in the Volta Region has held a week-long awareness programme to open its door to the people in the district and the surrounding areas.
The department, which was started in 2004, has modern equipment comparable to any hospital with such department in the country.
According to the Physiotherapist in charge of the hospital, Ms Nancy Alifo, the department worked on referred cases such as hypertension, diabetes and stroke.
She said the staff at the hospital used both physical and mechanical means to bring back dead or paralysed nerves to life.
For his part, the pharmacist in charge of the hospital, Mr Hopson Djakpasu, who spoke on the effects of diabetes, said the disease could be managed by oral medication, regular exercises and proper diet.
He said diet maintained sugar at a particular point whereas exercises increased sugar utilisation.
According to him, diabetes had no cure but the symptoms could be managed.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Modey, Likpe Mate
A three-classroom pre-school block with toilet facilities for the Likpe Mate E.P. Pre-school was inaugurated at Mate in the Hohoe District in the Volta Region last Wednesday.
The project — which was funded by PLAN Ghana at the cost of GH¢65,544.00 — was completed within two months.
The occasion coincided with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between PLAN Ghana and the Hohoe District Assembly aimed at promoting child development and reducing poverty in the district.
The National Director, PLAN USA, Mr W. Ahuma Adodoadji, and the Hohoe District Chief Executive, Mr John Peter Amewu, signed on behalf of their respective institutions.
At the function, the Country Director of PLAN Ghana, Mr Samuel Paulos Fayed, said the inauguration showed that they had set their foot in the Hohoe District.
He said PLAN Ghana was now operating in two districts, namely Hohoe and South Tongu, where they were covering 30 communities.
He said apart from the pre-school, they were also sponsoring 50 needy, bright students in senior high schools.
The country director noted that their entry into the region was through the PLAN USA National Office, which is now headed by a Ghanaian, Mr Ahuma Adodoadji.
Mr Adodoadji said PLAN was supported by the people of the USA, who were passionate about children.
He said they always wanted to let these children have what theirs had hence their support for the project.
He commended the people for not letting him down in the early completion of the job.
The Hohoe DCE, Mr John Peter Amewu, welcomed PLAN into the district and cautioned that their continued stay would depend on the readiness of the people to abide by their conditions.
He said the project was in line with the government’s educational programme, which it could not carry out alone.
"That is why the intervention of NGOs like PLAN are very welcomed," he said.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Chief of Likpe Mate, Nana Oforite Dzahene, commended PLAN for the block, which he described as the best in the country.
He thanked the DCE for listening to their cry after their old block was destroyed through a rain disaster.
A three-classroom pre-school block with toilet facilities for the Likpe Mate E.P. Pre-school was inaugurated at Mate in the Hohoe District in the Volta Region last Wednesday.
The project — which was funded by PLAN Ghana at the cost of GH¢65,544.00 — was completed within two months.
The occasion coincided with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between PLAN Ghana and the Hohoe District Assembly aimed at promoting child development and reducing poverty in the district.
The National Director, PLAN USA, Mr W. Ahuma Adodoadji, and the Hohoe District Chief Executive, Mr John Peter Amewu, signed on behalf of their respective institutions.
At the function, the Country Director of PLAN Ghana, Mr Samuel Paulos Fayed, said the inauguration showed that they had set their foot in the Hohoe District.
He said PLAN Ghana was now operating in two districts, namely Hohoe and South Tongu, where they were covering 30 communities.
He said apart from the pre-school, they were also sponsoring 50 needy, bright students in senior high schools.
The country director noted that their entry into the region was through the PLAN USA National Office, which is now headed by a Ghanaian, Mr Ahuma Adodoadji.
Mr Adodoadji said PLAN was supported by the people of the USA, who were passionate about children.
He said they always wanted to let these children have what theirs had hence their support for the project.
He commended the people for not letting him down in the early completion of the job.
The Hohoe DCE, Mr John Peter Amewu, welcomed PLAN into the district and cautioned that their continued stay would depend on the readiness of the people to abide by their conditions.
He said the project was in line with the government’s educational programme, which it could not carry out alone.
"That is why the intervention of NGOs like PLAN are very welcomed," he said.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Chief of Likpe Mate, Nana Oforite Dzahene, commended PLAN for the block, which he described as the best in the country.
He thanked the DCE for listening to their cry after their old block was destroyed through a rain disaster.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
UPGRADE KPANDO HEALTH CENTRE TO POLYCLINIC (FEB 28, PAGE 35)
Story: Emmanuel Modey, Kpando
THE Kpando District Director of Health Services, Dr Komla Ofosu, has appealed to the government to upgrade the District Health Centre to the status of polyclinic.
He said that would enable the facility to provide other services like dental, ear, nose and throat treatment for its clients.
Dr Ofosu made the appeal at the health directorate’s 2007 Performance Review Conference at Kpando.
He stated that as a result of the success of the roll out of the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (DMHIS) in the area, out-patient attendance at the Kpando Health Centre shot up from 12,469 in 2006 to 33,449 at the end of 2007, showing an increase of 168 per cent.
Dr Ofosu said malaria, the major cause of concern in the district, declined by 10 per cent last year.
He attributed the success story of the health directorate to the hard work of all stakeholders, including health personnel, the district assembly, WHO, the Global Fund and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
In an annual report, a nurse of the Kpando Health Centre, Mr Emmanuel Adu, mentioned some of the constraints facing the facility as inadequate staff, especially medical assistants and nurses, the lack of accommodation, facilities and equipment, as well as the lack of vehicles for the Psychiatric and Disease Surveillance units.
He appealed for motorbikes for the District Health Management Team and mosquito nets for clients.
THE Kpando District Director of Health Services, Dr Komla Ofosu, has appealed to the government to upgrade the District Health Centre to the status of polyclinic.
He said that would enable the facility to provide other services like dental, ear, nose and throat treatment for its clients.
Dr Ofosu made the appeal at the health directorate’s 2007 Performance Review Conference at Kpando.
He stated that as a result of the success of the roll out of the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (DMHIS) in the area, out-patient attendance at the Kpando Health Centre shot up from 12,469 in 2006 to 33,449 at the end of 2007, showing an increase of 168 per cent.
Dr Ofosu said malaria, the major cause of concern in the district, declined by 10 per cent last year.
He attributed the success story of the health directorate to the hard work of all stakeholders, including health personnel, the district assembly, WHO, the Global Fund and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
In an annual report, a nurse of the Kpando Health Centre, Mr Emmanuel Adu, mentioned some of the constraints facing the facility as inadequate staff, especially medical assistants and nurses, the lack of accommodation, facilities and equipment, as well as the lack of vehicles for the Psychiatric and Disease Surveillance units.
He appealed for motorbikes for the District Health Management Team and mosquito nets for clients.
GES UNABLE TO PROVIDE DATA ON RETIRED TEACHERS (PAGE 11)
Story: Emmanuel Modey, Hohoe
MANY teachers who retired between 2005 and 2007 have not been able to source their pension benefits.
This is due to the inability of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to furnish the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) with the requisite information on them.
The Deputy Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr James Agyeman Fokuoh, made this known to the Daily Graphic at Hohoe, when the newly elected five national officers of GNAT paid a familiarisation visit to the Volta Region.
They were in the region to update their members on their conditions of service.
According to Mr Fokuoh, currently only five per cent of teachers, for example, had personal files with their employers, GES.
He has, therefore, advised teachers to take a personal interest in their official documents to prevent any problems from occurring during their retirement from active service.
Addressing members of GNAT, the National President, Mr Joseph Kwaku Adjei, said since the association was established some 75 years ago, it had continued to be one of the most vibrant associations on the continent.
Teachers, he said, remained a critical segment of the human resource for economic and political development of the country, so he asked teachers to contact them whenever they did not understand any issue to avert misinformation.
That, he noted, would ensure that they addressed thorny issues which, would in the long run, lead to improvement.
“We see constructive criticisms as positive inputs to re-invigorate the GNAT; so members were invited to submit memoranda to the committee through their district and regional executives,” Mr Adjei said.
The National President mentioned some challenges facing the association as the New Labour Act 2003 (Act 651), the changing composition of membership in terms of age, qualification, levels of operation and their implications for union policies and programmes.
For his part, the Hohoe District GNAT Secretary, Mr Kwabena Bediako, noted that following the introduction of the new Integrated Personnel Payroll Database (IPPD2) system, many teachers had not been able to pay their dues.
In view of that, he advised them to regularise their payments in order to access the benefits of the association.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Hohoe District Chairman of GNAT, Mr Samuel Alobuia, said some of the common concerns faced by teachers were confusion about their present salary structure, the new pension scheme and the new Education Reform, which had made the classroom teacher technically bankrupt.
He cited others as salary adjustment when personnel were promoted, transfer grants and the delay in accessing deaths and retirement benefits.
The meeting was attended by teachers from the Kpando, Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi and Nkwanta districts.
MANY teachers who retired between 2005 and 2007 have not been able to source their pension benefits.
This is due to the inability of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to furnish the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) with the requisite information on them.
The Deputy Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr James Agyeman Fokuoh, made this known to the Daily Graphic at Hohoe, when the newly elected five national officers of GNAT paid a familiarisation visit to the Volta Region.
They were in the region to update their members on their conditions of service.
According to Mr Fokuoh, currently only five per cent of teachers, for example, had personal files with their employers, GES.
He has, therefore, advised teachers to take a personal interest in their official documents to prevent any problems from occurring during their retirement from active service.
Addressing members of GNAT, the National President, Mr Joseph Kwaku Adjei, said since the association was established some 75 years ago, it had continued to be one of the most vibrant associations on the continent.
Teachers, he said, remained a critical segment of the human resource for economic and political development of the country, so he asked teachers to contact them whenever they did not understand any issue to avert misinformation.
That, he noted, would ensure that they addressed thorny issues which, would in the long run, lead to improvement.
“We see constructive criticisms as positive inputs to re-invigorate the GNAT; so members were invited to submit memoranda to the committee through their district and regional executives,” Mr Adjei said.
The National President mentioned some challenges facing the association as the New Labour Act 2003 (Act 651), the changing composition of membership in terms of age, qualification, levels of operation and their implications for union policies and programmes.
For his part, the Hohoe District GNAT Secretary, Mr Kwabena Bediako, noted that following the introduction of the new Integrated Personnel Payroll Database (IPPD2) system, many teachers had not been able to pay their dues.
In view of that, he advised them to regularise their payments in order to access the benefits of the association.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Hohoe District Chairman of GNAT, Mr Samuel Alobuia, said some of the common concerns faced by teachers were confusion about their present salary structure, the new pension scheme and the new Education Reform, which had made the classroom teacher technically bankrupt.
He cited others as salary adjustment when personnel were promoted, transfer grants and the delay in accessing deaths and retirement benefits.
The meeting was attended by teachers from the Kpando, Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi and Nkwanta districts.
Friday, February 22, 2008
MATERNAL, INFANT MORTALITY RATES REDUCE ...In Kadjebi District (PAGE 21)
Story: Emmanuel Modey, Wawaso
SINCE the Ministry of Health opened the Community-Based Health Planning and Service (CHPS) in the Kadjebi District about three years ago, maternal and infant mortality rate has reduced drastically in the CHPS area.
That was the outcome of a research conducted by Dr Kobina Bainson, the Project Co-ordinator of CHPS.
Inaugurating a CHPS zone at Wawaso in the Kadjebi District of the Volta Region, Dr Bainson attributed the success story to the commitment of the nurses to the community and their preparedness to work in remote areas.
Dr Bainson stated that most health problems were created by the people themselves, such as poor eating habits, lack of exercises, drinking contaminated water, refusing to sleep in treated mosquito nets and leaving surroundings unclean.
He called on all stakeholders to join the fight against diseases by intensifying education to ensure healthy life for the people.
Dr Bainson advised the nurses not to impose themselves on the people, since they also had their traditional methods of healing themselves.
“You should see yourselves as learners and not teachers”, he said.
The Kadjebi District Director of Health Services, Ms Joan Eleeza, was happy that two CHPS zones had been opened in the Wawaso CHPS area, the first being the Pepesu zone which was inaugurated in 2003.
She explained that instead of the former system where nurses sat in state health facilities and waited for their clients to visit them, under the CHPS programme, the nurses visited the clients in their homes to provide preventable services.
Ms Eleeza called for a change in lifestyle of the people in order to be free from diseases such as heart problems, stroke, obesity, diabetes and cancer.
She expressed the hope that death from preventable or treatable causes would reduce to the barest minimum.
The Kadjebi District Chief Executive, Mr Kofi Adjei Ntim, assured the District Health Directorate that the assembly would do everything possible to ensure that health initiatives succeeded in the district.
He urged the health service providers to make a lot of sacrifices, be committed to their duties and strive to establish a healthy relationship with the people.
The DCE called on chiefs and churches to assist in spreading the message of healthy lifestyles to their members.
SINCE the Ministry of Health opened the Community-Based Health Planning and Service (CHPS) in the Kadjebi District about three years ago, maternal and infant mortality rate has reduced drastically in the CHPS area.
That was the outcome of a research conducted by Dr Kobina Bainson, the Project Co-ordinator of CHPS.
Inaugurating a CHPS zone at Wawaso in the Kadjebi District of the Volta Region, Dr Bainson attributed the success story to the commitment of the nurses to the community and their preparedness to work in remote areas.
Dr Bainson stated that most health problems were created by the people themselves, such as poor eating habits, lack of exercises, drinking contaminated water, refusing to sleep in treated mosquito nets and leaving surroundings unclean.
He called on all stakeholders to join the fight against diseases by intensifying education to ensure healthy life for the people.
Dr Bainson advised the nurses not to impose themselves on the people, since they also had their traditional methods of healing themselves.
“You should see yourselves as learners and not teachers”, he said.
The Kadjebi District Director of Health Services, Ms Joan Eleeza, was happy that two CHPS zones had been opened in the Wawaso CHPS area, the first being the Pepesu zone which was inaugurated in 2003.
She explained that instead of the former system where nurses sat in state health facilities and waited for their clients to visit them, under the CHPS programme, the nurses visited the clients in their homes to provide preventable services.
Ms Eleeza called for a change in lifestyle of the people in order to be free from diseases such as heart problems, stroke, obesity, diabetes and cancer.
She expressed the hope that death from preventable or treatable causes would reduce to the barest minimum.
The Kadjebi District Chief Executive, Mr Kofi Adjei Ntim, assured the District Health Directorate that the assembly would do everything possible to ensure that health initiatives succeeded in the district.
He urged the health service providers to make a lot of sacrifices, be committed to their duties and strive to establish a healthy relationship with the people.
The DCE called on chiefs and churches to assist in spreading the message of healthy lifestyles to their members.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
MP DONATES AMBULANCE TO HEALTH CENTRE (PAGE 20)
Story: Emmanuel Modey, Hohoe
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for the Binduri Constituency in the Upper East Region, Mr Mark Anthony Awuni, has handed over an ambulance to the Binduri Health Centre.
The ambulance, worth GH¢20,000, was acquired by the MP from his share of the constituency development fund.
Mr Awuni also donated two hospital beds and other disposables to the health centre.
At a brief ceremony to hand over the items, Mr Awuni said the donation became necessary because the Binduri Health Centre had over the years, handled health problems with extreme difficulties, especially when it came to referrals.
He noted with concern that in some cases, patients who needed immediate medical attention at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital had to be transported on bicycles, motorbikes and donkey carts, which was dangerous to the health of the victims.
Mr Awuni expressed the hope that with the donation of the new ambulance, emergency cases would be responded to swiftly to prevent untimely deaths or complications due to delays in transporting patients.
He said plans were far advanced to present another ambulance to meet the health needs of the people in the Zawse-Bansi area.
Touching on some development projects for the constituency, the MP said through his share of the common fund, some schools had been rehabilitated to enhance teaching and learning.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bawku, Mr Abdulai Abanga, thanked the MP for the gesture and urged the people to make maximum use of the facility.
The Municipal Director of Health Services, Dr William Doudu, also expressed his appreciation to the MP for the donation.
He implored the people to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme in order to benefit from free but quality health care.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for the Binduri Constituency in the Upper East Region, Mr Mark Anthony Awuni, has handed over an ambulance to the Binduri Health Centre.
The ambulance, worth GH¢20,000, was acquired by the MP from his share of the constituency development fund.
Mr Awuni also donated two hospital beds and other disposables to the health centre.
At a brief ceremony to hand over the items, Mr Awuni said the donation became necessary because the Binduri Health Centre had over the years, handled health problems with extreme difficulties, especially when it came to referrals.
He noted with concern that in some cases, patients who needed immediate medical attention at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital had to be transported on bicycles, motorbikes and donkey carts, which was dangerous to the health of the victims.
Mr Awuni expressed the hope that with the donation of the new ambulance, emergency cases would be responded to swiftly to prevent untimely deaths or complications due to delays in transporting patients.
He said plans were far advanced to present another ambulance to meet the health needs of the people in the Zawse-Bansi area.
Touching on some development projects for the constituency, the MP said through his share of the common fund, some schools had been rehabilitated to enhance teaching and learning.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bawku, Mr Abdulai Abanga, thanked the MP for the gesture and urged the people to make maximum use of the facility.
The Municipal Director of Health Services, Dr William Doudu, also expressed his appreciation to the MP for the donation.
He implored the people to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme in order to benefit from free but quality health care.
TEACHER TRAINING MATRICULATE AT HOHOE (PAGE 20)
Story: Emmanuel Modey, Hohoe
TEACHER trainees who are the first batch of the Diploma in Education programme have matriculated at the Saint Francis College of Education at Hohoe.
The three-year Diploma in Education programme has replaced the Certificate ‘A’ post-secondary teacher training course.
The 630 students, admitted since the inception of the programme three years ago, were matriculated by the Catholic Bishop of the Ho Diocese, the Right Reverend Francis A.K. Lodonu.
Bishop Lodonu did not mince words when he told the students not to look down on their profession because graduates from the universities also taught.
“You should drop the ‘I don’t want to be a teacher’ syndrome and do what you have learnt properly as your profession,” he stressed.
Bishop Lodonu wondered why “the big men” who should do something about the educational system had sent their children to schools outside the country.
“Currently, there is shortage of teachers in the country, so don’t shy away from your profession,” he stressed, adding that the transformation of the country was in their hands, so they must accept and be proud of the profession.
A lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Norbert Kofi Nti, who is the Board Chairman of the college, urged the students to maintain a high sense of discipline and professionalism in order to impart good morals to the children they would handle.
In his welcoming address, the Principal of the college, Mr Dennis Agbenuvor, was grateful to the government for upgrading the institution and also providing it with additional infrastructure.
He said the institution was one of the 15 training colleges in the country that had been upgraded to diploma-awarding institutions.
In a related development, 305 students, comprising first and second-year teacher trainees of the Diploma in Education programme, were matriculated at the St Theresa’s College of Education, Hohoe in the Volta Region.
The matriculation rites were performed by the Catholic Bishop of the Ho Diocese, the Rt Rev Francis Lodonu.
The Principal of the college, Ms Josephine Rita Yempew, commended the government for its commitment to supporting quality education in the country through the provision of infrastructure and logistics such as modern libraries and vehicles.
TEACHER trainees who are the first batch of the Diploma in Education programme have matriculated at the Saint Francis College of Education at Hohoe.
The three-year Diploma in Education programme has replaced the Certificate ‘A’ post-secondary teacher training course.
The 630 students, admitted since the inception of the programme three years ago, were matriculated by the Catholic Bishop of the Ho Diocese, the Right Reverend Francis A.K. Lodonu.
Bishop Lodonu did not mince words when he told the students not to look down on their profession because graduates from the universities also taught.
“You should drop the ‘I don’t want to be a teacher’ syndrome and do what you have learnt properly as your profession,” he stressed.
Bishop Lodonu wondered why “the big men” who should do something about the educational system had sent their children to schools outside the country.
“Currently, there is shortage of teachers in the country, so don’t shy away from your profession,” he stressed, adding that the transformation of the country was in their hands, so they must accept and be proud of the profession.
A lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Norbert Kofi Nti, who is the Board Chairman of the college, urged the students to maintain a high sense of discipline and professionalism in order to impart good morals to the children they would handle.
In his welcoming address, the Principal of the college, Mr Dennis Agbenuvor, was grateful to the government for upgrading the institution and also providing it with additional infrastructure.
He said the institution was one of the 15 training colleges in the country that had been upgraded to diploma-awarding institutions.
In a related development, 305 students, comprising first and second-year teacher trainees of the Diploma in Education programme, were matriculated at the St Theresa’s College of Education, Hohoe in the Volta Region.
The matriculation rites were performed by the Catholic Bishop of the Ho Diocese, the Rt Rev Francis Lodonu.
The Principal of the college, Ms Josephine Rita Yempew, commended the government for its commitment to supporting quality education in the country through the provision of infrastructure and logistics such as modern libraries and vehicles.
ALAVANYO-WUDIDI PROVIDED WITH POTABLE WATER (PAGE 20)
Story: Emmanuel Mordey, Alavanyo
A GH¢100,000-community water project financed by Dr Evans Fiakpui, a Chicago-based medical practitioner, has been handed over to the Alavanyo-Wudidi community in the Hohoe District in the Volta Region.
The project is connected to a borehole drilled by DANIDA and it serves a population of more than 5,000.
Dr Fiakpui, a native of the town, realising the acute water shortage facing the community, especially during the dry season, decided to assist.
Early in 2000, Dr Fiakpui decided to extend water from a borehole to the town at an initial cost of GH¢3,500. The amount was increased to GH¢47,000 and finally rose to GH¢100,000 on completion at the end of 2007.
The community provided communal labour towards the project, which has 15 standpipes.
Dr Fiakpui said with the water problem of the people solved, the next step was to provide the youth of the area with access to income-generating ventures.
In that regard, he said, he would consult the youth to determine the type of income-generating activity he should bring to the area.
Dr Fiakpui later presented office equipment, including computers and their accessories valued at over GH¢10,000, to the Alavanyo Evangelical Presbyterian Technical Training Centre at Alavanyo-Kpeme.
He said the centre must be equipped with modern facilities to train the youth in various skills to make them self-employed.
Inaugurating the project, the Hohoe District Chief Executive, Mr John Peter Amewu, commended the people for being the first in the district to plan and execute such a viable project.
He asked them to regularly maintain the project for it to operate always.
A GH¢100,000-community water project financed by Dr Evans Fiakpui, a Chicago-based medical practitioner, has been handed over to the Alavanyo-Wudidi community in the Hohoe District in the Volta Region.
The project is connected to a borehole drilled by DANIDA and it serves a population of more than 5,000.
Dr Fiakpui, a native of the town, realising the acute water shortage facing the community, especially during the dry season, decided to assist.
Early in 2000, Dr Fiakpui decided to extend water from a borehole to the town at an initial cost of GH¢3,500. The amount was increased to GH¢47,000 and finally rose to GH¢100,000 on completion at the end of 2007.
The community provided communal labour towards the project, which has 15 standpipes.
Dr Fiakpui said with the water problem of the people solved, the next step was to provide the youth of the area with access to income-generating ventures.
In that regard, he said, he would consult the youth to determine the type of income-generating activity he should bring to the area.
Dr Fiakpui later presented office equipment, including computers and their accessories valued at over GH¢10,000, to the Alavanyo Evangelical Presbyterian Technical Training Centre at Alavanyo-Kpeme.
He said the centre must be equipped with modern facilities to train the youth in various skills to make them self-employed.
Inaugurating the project, the Hohoe District Chief Executive, Mr John Peter Amewu, commended the people for being the first in the district to plan and execute such a viable project.
He asked them to regularly maintain the project for it to operate always.
Monday, February 11, 2008
RAPIST MURDERED ...After raping friend's wife (Mirror, Lead story)
From Emmanuel Modey, Hohoe
Arikim Passenger, 21, on three occasions raped his closest friend's wife with whom he lived in the same village, culminating in the couple divorcing, and went away free.
It became an open secret and the people of Adumadum in the East Krachi District pointed derisive fingers at the divorcee.
Again, Arikim, whether intentionally or otherwise, threatened to do the same to his friend’s second wife, whether he liked it or not.
This time, the friend, Salifu Tsrikpe, 27, could not contain it. He murdered Arikim on a farm and scornfully left the body to rot, while he travelled about 50 kilometres away from the scene.
According to Chief Superintendent William Akpese, the Hohoe Divisional Police Commander, the suspect was identified by a group of traders, led by Messrs David Daaso and Michael Asanyo, who spotted him loitering on the streets of Hohoe.
When he was arrested and handed over to the police, Salifu confessed to the crime before Chief Supt Akpese and pleaded for forgiveness.
Salifu said he had been happily married to Ms Akua Abdulai, with whom he had a boy in Togo, until they decided to move to Adumadum with his friend Arikim four years ago to work as farm labourers.
He said as friends, they stayed together, but while he was away on the farm, Akua Abdulai informed him that Arikim had raped her three times and that she had bitten him at the back.
The act, which became an open secret, brought some enmity between the two friends, leading to Salifu divorcing his wife Akua in Togo.
On his return, he married a new wife, Lydis Yaa Alpha at Adumadum, with whom he had a three-month-old daughter.
Arikim, who could not marry, threatened Salifu that he would have sex with his new wife, whether he liked it or not.
The quarrel was heightened when the two of them went to harvest maize for their landlord, Mr Kofi Asante, on February 1, this year.
It led to a quarrel and Arikim decided to end it all by finishing his friend with a machete.
But Salifu managed to defend himself with a club he picked on the farm.
According to him, after clubbing Arikim to death, he buried him secretly on the farm and went home to inform the wife.
But Lydis, a native of the town, tricked him to take her to see the grave.
Salifu showed the grave to his wife, who in turn reported to the elders, after which Salifu fled the town.
It was only by sheer coincidence that he was found in Hohoe and handed to the police.
Arikim Passenger, 21, on three occasions raped his closest friend's wife with whom he lived in the same village, culminating in the couple divorcing, and went away free.
It became an open secret and the people of Adumadum in the East Krachi District pointed derisive fingers at the divorcee.
Again, Arikim, whether intentionally or otherwise, threatened to do the same to his friend’s second wife, whether he liked it or not.
This time, the friend, Salifu Tsrikpe, 27, could not contain it. He murdered Arikim on a farm and scornfully left the body to rot, while he travelled about 50 kilometres away from the scene.
According to Chief Superintendent William Akpese, the Hohoe Divisional Police Commander, the suspect was identified by a group of traders, led by Messrs David Daaso and Michael Asanyo, who spotted him loitering on the streets of Hohoe.
When he was arrested and handed over to the police, Salifu confessed to the crime before Chief Supt Akpese and pleaded for forgiveness.
Salifu said he had been happily married to Ms Akua Abdulai, with whom he had a boy in Togo, until they decided to move to Adumadum with his friend Arikim four years ago to work as farm labourers.
He said as friends, they stayed together, but while he was away on the farm, Akua Abdulai informed him that Arikim had raped her three times and that she had bitten him at the back.
The act, which became an open secret, brought some enmity between the two friends, leading to Salifu divorcing his wife Akua in Togo.
On his return, he married a new wife, Lydis Yaa Alpha at Adumadum, with whom he had a three-month-old daughter.
Arikim, who could not marry, threatened Salifu that he would have sex with his new wife, whether he liked it or not.
The quarrel was heightened when the two of them went to harvest maize for their landlord, Mr Kofi Asante, on February 1, this year.
It led to a quarrel and Arikim decided to end it all by finishing his friend with a machete.
But Salifu managed to defend himself with a club he picked on the farm.
According to him, after clubbing Arikim to death, he buried him secretly on the farm and went home to inform the wife.
But Lydis, a native of the town, tricked him to take her to see the grave.
Salifu showed the grave to his wife, who in turn reported to the elders, after which Salifu fled the town.
It was only by sheer coincidence that he was found in Hohoe and handed to the police.
25 QUEENS ATTEND WORKSHOP ON HIV/AIDS (Page 34)
Story: Emmanuel Modey, Alavanyo-Dzodezegbe
A sensitisation workshop aimed at intensifying HIV/AIDS education and support for people living with the disease has been held at Alavanyo-Dzogbedze in the Hohoe District in the Volta Region.
African Women Development Fund sponsored the workshop, which was organised by the Alavanyo Centre for Women Empowerment, for 25 queens and opinion leaders from the Alavanyo Traditional Area.
The participants shared ideas on how to sensitise their communities to the prevention of HIV, as well as providing the needed care and support for people living with the disease in the area.
Addressing the participants, Mrs Georgina Kpende, a focal person on HIV/AIDS, urged parents to discuss adolescent reproductive health issues with their children to encourage safer sex among the youth and thereby reduce the incidence of the disease.
She urged the participants to educate the people on the need to show compassion to those who had contracted the disease, reduce stigmatisation and discrimination as well as urge those who could not abstain from casual sex to use condom.
Topics treated at the workshop included HIV/AIDS in the district, the effects of the disease on women and children, stigmatisation and discrimination, condom usage and the benefits of voluntary counselling and testing.
A sensitisation workshop aimed at intensifying HIV/AIDS education and support for people living with the disease has been held at Alavanyo-Dzogbedze in the Hohoe District in the Volta Region.
African Women Development Fund sponsored the workshop, which was organised by the Alavanyo Centre for Women Empowerment, for 25 queens and opinion leaders from the Alavanyo Traditional Area.
The participants shared ideas on how to sensitise their communities to the prevention of HIV, as well as providing the needed care and support for people living with the disease in the area.
Addressing the participants, Mrs Georgina Kpende, a focal person on HIV/AIDS, urged parents to discuss adolescent reproductive health issues with their children to encourage safer sex among the youth and thereby reduce the incidence of the disease.
She urged the participants to educate the people on the need to show compassion to those who had contracted the disease, reduce stigmatisation and discrimination as well as urge those who could not abstain from casual sex to use condom.
Topics treated at the workshop included HIV/AIDS in the district, the effects of the disease on women and children, stigmatisation and discrimination, condom usage and the benefits of voluntary counselling and testing.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
ESTATE DEVELOPER MADE DEVELOPMENT CHIEF (Page 58)
Story: Emmanuel Modey, Hohoe
A 62-year-old Accra-based estate developer, Mr Gershon Ayikoe, has been installed the development chief of Gbi Akplamafu in the Hohoe District of the Volta Region.
Known as Togbui Adjima II, Mr Ayikoe was recently introduced to the chiefs of Gbi led by Togbuiga Gabusu VI, the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area.
Although Togbui Adjima hails from Gbi Wegbe, he was bred at Akplamafu, and has since been contributing to the progress of the town in particular and the Gbi Traditional Area at large.
Togbui Adjima has promised to construct a clinic for the community.
In the meantime, he has started a transport service from Akplamafu to Hohoe with two minibuses.
Togbui Adjima has also donated a trophy and six footballs to the planning committee of Gbidukorza festival to organise a football competition among the youth of the area during the festival.
A 62-year-old Accra-based estate developer, Mr Gershon Ayikoe, has been installed the development chief of Gbi Akplamafu in the Hohoe District of the Volta Region.
Known as Togbui Adjima II, Mr Ayikoe was recently introduced to the chiefs of Gbi led by Togbuiga Gabusu VI, the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area.
Although Togbui Adjima hails from Gbi Wegbe, he was bred at Akplamafu, and has since been contributing to the progress of the town in particular and the Gbi Traditional Area at large.
Togbui Adjima has promised to construct a clinic for the community.
In the meantime, he has started a transport service from Akplamafu to Hohoe with two minibuses.
Togbui Adjima has also donated a trophy and six footballs to the planning committee of Gbidukorza festival to organise a football competition among the youth of the area during the festival.
Friday, February 1, 2008
EC MUST ENSURE CLEAN ELECTIONS (Page 15)
Story: Emmanuel Modey, Hohoe
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has been urged to ensure that the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections are held devoid of frauds that will lead to any turmoil.
The President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbega Gabusu VI, told the Daily Graphic at Hohoe on Tuesday, that the forthcoming elections should be conducted in a clean slate manner to avoid what happened in Kenya.
Citing the recent primaries and the election for flagbearership among some political parties, Togbega Gabusu VI wondered how the coming general election would be like.
Togbega Gabusu, who is also the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, was happy at the neutral manner in which some chiefs had conducted themselves in the electoral processes, and urged them to keep up that spirit, since the major battle was in the offing.
"As a chief, you are a father to all parties, so if from time to time party functionaries visit you to introduce their leaders, that does not amount to influencing you," he pointed out.
Togbega advised the electorate to consider the interest of the nation when they entered the election booths to cast their votes.
"I call on you to exercise your mandate to the best interest of the nation and yourself by voting the person or the party you are sure will deliver the goods," he urged.
He also called on all political parties to strengthen their campaign strategies so that they could have the people’s mandate.
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has been urged to ensure that the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections are held devoid of frauds that will lead to any turmoil.
The President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbega Gabusu VI, told the Daily Graphic at Hohoe on Tuesday, that the forthcoming elections should be conducted in a clean slate manner to avoid what happened in Kenya.
Citing the recent primaries and the election for flagbearership among some political parties, Togbega Gabusu VI wondered how the coming general election would be like.
Togbega Gabusu, who is also the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, was happy at the neutral manner in which some chiefs had conducted themselves in the electoral processes, and urged them to keep up that spirit, since the major battle was in the offing.
"As a chief, you are a father to all parties, so if from time to time party functionaries visit you to introduce their leaders, that does not amount to influencing you," he pointed out.
Togbega advised the electorate to consider the interest of the nation when they entered the election booths to cast their votes.
"I call on you to exercise your mandate to the best interest of the nation and yourself by voting the person or the party you are sure will deliver the goods," he urged.
He also called on all political parties to strengthen their campaign strategies so that they could have the people’s mandate.
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