The Afadjato-Agumatsa Conservation Project in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region has changed the lives of people living in the two traditional areas.
Visitors to the place, which is one of the fastest growing eco-tourism sites in the country, feel they are in touch with nature.
This is because the atmosphere is so serene, relaxed and the vegetation so lush. There is also the Wli Water Falls, the highest fall in the West Africa, a few kilometres away, which is a place of relaxation for many.
The 10-year project, which was started in 1999 with lands donated by the chiefs and people of two traditional areas - the Gbledi and Fodome Ahor - focuses on the conservation of biodiversity.
It also ensures sustainable supply of forest resources on the Afadjato range.
It was initiated by the Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS) and sponsored by the Royal Netherlands Embassy.
To add to the beauty at the background of the Agumatsa range is the Mount Afadja, the highest mountain in the country, which provides two developed trails to the summit for those who want to hike.
To ensure the comfort of tourists to the place, various facilities, such as visitor centre, summer hats, potable water, recreational park, restaurant and toilet facilities, have been constructed.
And for tourists who want to sleep overnight, a 10–bed room guest house, funded by the British High Commission, is at their service.
The guest house is located at Fodome Ahor, which is seven kilometres from the project site at Gbogame.
The visitor centre is located at Gbledi Gbogame, 24 kilometres Southeast of Hohoe and about 250 kilometres from Accra.
The 12-kilometre square area is home to over 33 mammals, 150 bird species and 350 butterflies and about 430 plant species of various socio-economic values.
And to prevent the degradation of the forest, the people have benefited from various micro-finance schemes and engage in income-generating activities to improve their livelihood.
According to the Project Manager, Mr Hanson Agboso, last year, the project generated over GH¢4,500 from tourists. The amount has been disbursed among the three stakeholders, namely the traditional authorities, land lords and the Hohoe Municipal Assembly.
This year, he projected that they were expecting between 75,000 and 100,000 visitors, and urged the people to be more interested in eco-tourism since the country is endowed with beautiful and educational tourist sites.
The only setback to the development of tourism in the municipality is the poor road network from Liati Agbonyra to the tourist spots of Afadjato, Agumatsa Range and the Wli Waterfalls, which is impassable.
This is due to the shoddy work done by the contractor, who has abandoned the project for more than a year now.
During a fact-finding tour of the area by the Daily Graphic, it was observed that although the drains and some of the culverts had been constructed, the road had not been surfaced.
As a result of this, the recent rains have had their toll on the road, because of the deep gullies and trenches.
What is even more worrying is that the tax payer’s money so far expended on the abandoned projects far exceeds what is left to complete it.
The situation has resulted in motorbike owners doing brisk business and charging GH¢3 per pillion rider for a short journey.
The road was to open up the tourist sites located in the area. It is, however, alarming that the Hohoe Municipality, which has the highest tourist centres in the country, has very poor road network leading.
These centres include the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary,the Likpe caves, just to mention a few.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
NDC ON COURSE (PAGE 16, DEC 15)
The government is on course to achieving the goals it set itself, the Volta Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has declared.
It said after a critical observation of its achievements over the past 11 months, it could conclude that the government of the NDC had not detracted from its set goals.
In a statement signed by Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Volta Regional Secretary of the party, it stated that "The NDC having examined progress so far made by Professor John Evans Atta Mills’s administration in the past 11 months, can say that things are on course toward the achievement of the Better Ghana Agenda as espoused in the NDC’s 2008 manifesto" .
The regional branch did not see why some members of the party could not see eye to eye with the government and appealed to all such people to close their ranks and use their channels of communication to redress any grievances instead of opening up the party to detractors.
"The regional branch will like to appeal to all protagonists in the supreme interest of the party to close their ranks and support President Mills to deliver on the promise," it sated.
"Consequently, the Volta Regional NDC is appealing to any member who has any reservation about any development in the party to first use the existing and appropriate channels of communications to put their message across instead of rushing to the media."
The statement assured the President of their unflinching support of the party in the region at all times and also wish him, the party leadership and the rank and file a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
It said after a critical observation of its achievements over the past 11 months, it could conclude that the government of the NDC had not detracted from its set goals.
In a statement signed by Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Volta Regional Secretary of the party, it stated that "The NDC having examined progress so far made by Professor John Evans Atta Mills’s administration in the past 11 months, can say that things are on course toward the achievement of the Better Ghana Agenda as espoused in the NDC’s 2008 manifesto" .
The regional branch did not see why some members of the party could not see eye to eye with the government and appealed to all such people to close their ranks and use their channels of communication to redress any grievances instead of opening up the party to detractors.
"The regional branch will like to appeal to all protagonists in the supreme interest of the party to close their ranks and support President Mills to deliver on the promise," it sated.
"Consequently, the Volta Regional NDC is appealing to any member who has any reservation about any development in the party to first use the existing and appropriate channels of communications to put their message across instead of rushing to the media."
The statement assured the President of their unflinching support of the party in the region at all times and also wish him, the party leadership and the rank and file a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Friday, December 11, 2009
JASIKAN, KADJEBI DISTRICTS FROM WATCHDOG C'TTEES (PAGE 20, DEC 11)
Ten watchdog committees have been formed in 10 communities on the fringes of the Kabo River Forest Reserve within the Jasikan and Kadjebi districts of the Volta Region.
This is to help control the spread of bush fires and uncontrolled exploitation of the forest resources.
The formation of the watchdog committees is in line with the bye-laws adopted by the Association of Jasikan District Civil Society Organisations (AJADSCO), in collaboration with the KASA Project, to forestall the massive degradation of the eco-system and to conserve the forest and the wildlife.
According to the Co-ordinator of the KASA Project, Mr George Gyapong, AJDASCO, in collaboration with CARE International, had instituted the KASA Project with the aim of implementing a natural resource and environmental governance (NREG) programme to reduce the incidence of bush fires and illegal harvesting of forest resources.
He said the communities are Atonkor, Kudje, Worawora, Apesokubi, Kabosu, Asukwakwa, Guaman, Wawaso and Katanga.
Mr Gyapong said the watchdog committees were formed out of the existing three groups in the communities, namely the Fire Volunteer Squads, the Forest Management Committees and the School-based Environmental Clubs.
He said it formed part of the efforts being made by AJADSCO to sensitise stakeholders in the northern part of the Volta Region to reduce the rate of environmental degradation and improve governance of the natural resources on a sustainable basis.
In line with this, he said a one-day sensitisation workshop on natural resources and environmental governance for selected stakeholders was recently held at Jasikan.
It brought together 50 participants, including officials of the Jasikan District Assembly, churches, traditional authorities, chain saw operators and saw mill owners.
According to Mr Gyapong, the committees would ensure effective reduction of human-induced factors such as bush fires, indiscriminate harvesting of wood and hunting of animals, leading to environmental degradation.
This is to help control the spread of bush fires and uncontrolled exploitation of the forest resources.
The formation of the watchdog committees is in line with the bye-laws adopted by the Association of Jasikan District Civil Society Organisations (AJADSCO), in collaboration with the KASA Project, to forestall the massive degradation of the eco-system and to conserve the forest and the wildlife.
According to the Co-ordinator of the KASA Project, Mr George Gyapong, AJDASCO, in collaboration with CARE International, had instituted the KASA Project with the aim of implementing a natural resource and environmental governance (NREG) programme to reduce the incidence of bush fires and illegal harvesting of forest resources.
He said the communities are Atonkor, Kudje, Worawora, Apesokubi, Kabosu, Asukwakwa, Guaman, Wawaso and Katanga.
Mr Gyapong said the watchdog committees were formed out of the existing three groups in the communities, namely the Fire Volunteer Squads, the Forest Management Committees and the School-based Environmental Clubs.
He said it formed part of the efforts being made by AJADSCO to sensitise stakeholders in the northern part of the Volta Region to reduce the rate of environmental degradation and improve governance of the natural resources on a sustainable basis.
In line with this, he said a one-day sensitisation workshop on natural resources and environmental governance for selected stakeholders was recently held at Jasikan.
It brought together 50 participants, including officials of the Jasikan District Assembly, churches, traditional authorities, chain saw operators and saw mill owners.
According to Mr Gyapong, the committees would ensure effective reduction of human-induced factors such as bush fires, indiscriminate harvesting of wood and hunting of animals, leading to environmental degradation.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
GBI TRADITIONAL AREAS MARK GBIDIKORZA (PAGE 21, DEC 9)
The chiefs and people of Gbi, comprising the people of Hohoe and Peki traditional areas in the Volta Region, have held a grand durbar to climax their annual unification festival - “Gbi-dukorza”.
The festival, which is held on rotational basis in each of the towns, was initiated in 1995 to mark the unification of the two traditional areas after their split on the journey out of Notsie, while escaping from the tyrannical rule of King Agokorli around the 17th century.
History has it that the people broke through a part of the walled city and started their journey to their present location.
In 1995, the two traditional areas decided to come together and celebrate the festival at one place and this year, it was held at Hohoe.
This year’s celebration was on the theme: “The Development of Tourist Sites; The Future of Gbidukor”.
Addressing the festival, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azuma Mensah, expressed satisfaction and gratitude to the people for their hospitality. She said the municipality was endowed with major tourists attractions.
The minister said tourists visiting Afadjato would now enjoy decent visitor facilities with a gift-shop, training and exhibition halls at the foot of the mountain at Gbledi-Gbogame.
Other identified and developed centres are the Wli waterfall, the highest in West Africa, the Monkey Sanctuary at Tafi Atome and the ancient caves at Likpe.
She said the involvement of the people in tourism development was impressive and reiterated that the Government, having noted the vast potential in the industry had provided a congenial environment for tourism development and promoting private investment in the industry.
She said the construction of the tourist village at Peki to promote handicrafts should be taken seriously. She called for serious attention to be given to education on environmental protection with the view to harnessing the enormous potential.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, reaffirmed the determination of the Government to improve infrastructure such as roads to facilitate investment by the private sector in the tourism industry.
He said the eastern corridor from Asikuma through Hohoe to the northern part of the country was one of the highways the Government was determined to improve and said everything was being done to commence the project.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Paramount Chief of Gbi Dzigbe (Hohoe Traditional Area), Togbega Gabusu VI, expressed satisfaction that for the past 15 years, the two sister areas had preserved the peace and unity and expressed the hope that the heritage would be cherished for years to come.
For his part, the Deiga of Gbi Anyigbe (Peki Traditional Area) Togbe Kwadzo Dei XI, prayed that the “Gbidukorza” Gbi festival would be well packaged and promoted because of its potential to propel the development of tourism.
The festival, which is held on rotational basis in each of the towns, was initiated in 1995 to mark the unification of the two traditional areas after their split on the journey out of Notsie, while escaping from the tyrannical rule of King Agokorli around the 17th century.
History has it that the people broke through a part of the walled city and started their journey to their present location.
In 1995, the two traditional areas decided to come together and celebrate the festival at one place and this year, it was held at Hohoe.
This year’s celebration was on the theme: “The Development of Tourist Sites; The Future of Gbidukor”.
Addressing the festival, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azuma Mensah, expressed satisfaction and gratitude to the people for their hospitality. She said the municipality was endowed with major tourists attractions.
The minister said tourists visiting Afadjato would now enjoy decent visitor facilities with a gift-shop, training and exhibition halls at the foot of the mountain at Gbledi-Gbogame.
Other identified and developed centres are the Wli waterfall, the highest in West Africa, the Monkey Sanctuary at Tafi Atome and the ancient caves at Likpe.
She said the involvement of the people in tourism development was impressive and reiterated that the Government, having noted the vast potential in the industry had provided a congenial environment for tourism development and promoting private investment in the industry.
She said the construction of the tourist village at Peki to promote handicrafts should be taken seriously. She called for serious attention to be given to education on environmental protection with the view to harnessing the enormous potential.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, reaffirmed the determination of the Government to improve infrastructure such as roads to facilitate investment by the private sector in the tourism industry.
He said the eastern corridor from Asikuma through Hohoe to the northern part of the country was one of the highways the Government was determined to improve and said everything was being done to commence the project.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Paramount Chief of Gbi Dzigbe (Hohoe Traditional Area), Togbega Gabusu VI, expressed satisfaction that for the past 15 years, the two sister areas had preserved the peace and unity and expressed the hope that the heritage would be cherished for years to come.
For his part, the Deiga of Gbi Anyigbe (Peki Traditional Area) Togbe Kwadzo Dei XI, prayed that the “Gbidukorza” Gbi festival would be well packaged and promoted because of its potential to propel the development of tourism.
Friday, November 20, 2009
HEALTH, ALLIED SCIENCES VARSITY FOR VOLTA REGION (PAGE 11, NOV 20)
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has given an assurance that the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho with a campus at Hohoe in the Volta Region will soon take off.
He announced that a high-powered interim committee had been put in place and work was progressing smoothly.
Mr Mahama gave the assurance at a durbar to climax the Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebration of Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School (KASEC) which was on the theme, “Quality Education: The Key to Socio-Economic Development- The Role of KASEC”.
He said the establishment was in line with the Government’s manifesto of bringing education to the doorstep of the people and to ensure the equitable distribution of the nation’s resources among all the educational institutions.
In view of this, the Vice-President said the Government was revamping all science resource centres throughout the country by providing further training for teachers, as well as making funds available for the shuttling of buses at the centres and replacing and refurbishing the existing equipment.
The Vice-President advised students of the school to aspire to be the pioneers of the university through hard work and discipline.
The Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, deplored the exploitative school fees charged by some schools in the country.
Mr Tettey-Enyo expressed concern over the rate at which some schools charged exploitative fees, cautioning that schools which would not comply with rates approved by the Ministry would be brought to book, since this was to the disadvantage of parents who could not afford.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, expressed regret that landowners who gave out lands for the construction of the school were now taking up arms in order to take back their lands as no compensation was paid to them.
He assured them that they were taking serious view of the situation and pleaded for patience, since they would not like any part of the land to be taken away.
In his report, the outgoing Headmaster, Mr Musah Yambah Issahaku, noted that through determination and hard work, the school had moved from the 247th position at the end of the 2003 academic year to 150th, out of 545 senior high schools in the country.
He said the record would have been much better if the academic league results, which recorded these achievements, had not been discontinued after 2005.
The incoming Headmaster, Mr Thomas F. Ababio, said over the last four years, the school had achieved 100 per cent performance in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
He announced that a high-powered interim committee had been put in place and work was progressing smoothly.
Mr Mahama gave the assurance at a durbar to climax the Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebration of Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School (KASEC) which was on the theme, “Quality Education: The Key to Socio-Economic Development- The Role of KASEC”.
He said the establishment was in line with the Government’s manifesto of bringing education to the doorstep of the people and to ensure the equitable distribution of the nation’s resources among all the educational institutions.
In view of this, the Vice-President said the Government was revamping all science resource centres throughout the country by providing further training for teachers, as well as making funds available for the shuttling of buses at the centres and replacing and refurbishing the existing equipment.
The Vice-President advised students of the school to aspire to be the pioneers of the university through hard work and discipline.
The Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, deplored the exploitative school fees charged by some schools in the country.
Mr Tettey-Enyo expressed concern over the rate at which some schools charged exploitative fees, cautioning that schools which would not comply with rates approved by the Ministry would be brought to book, since this was to the disadvantage of parents who could not afford.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, expressed regret that landowners who gave out lands for the construction of the school were now taking up arms in order to take back their lands as no compensation was paid to them.
He assured them that they were taking serious view of the situation and pleaded for patience, since they would not like any part of the land to be taken away.
In his report, the outgoing Headmaster, Mr Musah Yambah Issahaku, noted that through determination and hard work, the school had moved from the 247th position at the end of the 2003 academic year to 150th, out of 545 senior high schools in the country.
He said the record would have been much better if the academic league results, which recorded these achievements, had not been discontinued after 2005.
The incoming Headmaster, Mr Thomas F. Ababio, said over the last four years, the school had achieved 100 per cent performance in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Thursday, November 19, 2009
GHANA'S DEMOCARACY LAUDED (PAGE 16, NOV 19)
The Deputy Mayor in Charge of Finance and Administration of Kaag en Braassem, a Municipality of Holland, Mr Frans Schoonderwoerd, has lauded Ghana’s democratic dispensation which saw a peaceful change of government during the 2008 Election.
Speaking at the launch of a street-naming and house-numbering project at Kadjebi in the Volta Region last Monday, he said Ghana had an enviable democratic dispensation. “Ghana has an adult democracy”, he noted.
According to him, Ghana had proved that it had a matured democracy and the whole of Europe was proud of Ghana, especially where in many African countries, civil wars and other political struggles followed elections.
The Deputy Governor expressed the hope that the project would enable the Kadjebi District to have its own addresses based on street names and house numbers.
Launching the project, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Alifui, said the project would open up the district for effective development planning and easier revenue estimation.
He said their sister–city relationship with Alkamade, now Kaag en Braassem since 2003, had resulted in the district securing a solid waste management project.
The district now has one skip loader,15 refuse containers and 79 litter bins.
Another project, he said, was the liquid waste management project under which the district was provided with a cesspool emptier, a dumping site, latrine, and support for 46 households to own household latrines, whilst pipe-borne water had been extended to the Low Cost area in the town.
Under the relationship, a number of hospital beds and beddings were supplied to the Kadjebi Health Centre, there was also the construction of the Alkamade school, the renovation of the Kadjebi District Assembly Primary School and the Out-Patient Department(OPD) of the St Mary Teresa’s Hospital at Dodi Papase, as well as the provision of an 80-bed boys’ hostel for the Dodi Papase Senior High School.
Mr Alifui said the launch also coincided with the receipt of 89 computers for distribution to junior and senior high schools in the district.
The DCE said the street-naming and house-numbering project was part of the Assembly’s third project which was the establishment of the District Database System (DDS) to assist in effective planning , budgeting and revenue mobilisation.
He was, therefore, displeased with reports that some unscrupulous people had started stealing poles erected to hold the street names and some house numbers. He urged them to put an immediate stop to the practice or face the full rigours of the law when caught.
Mr Alifui said the names of the streets bore the names of some important personalities who had helped in the development of the district and their partners from Holland.
Speaking at the launch of a street-naming and house-numbering project at Kadjebi in the Volta Region last Monday, he said Ghana had an enviable democratic dispensation. “Ghana has an adult democracy”, he noted.
According to him, Ghana had proved that it had a matured democracy and the whole of Europe was proud of Ghana, especially where in many African countries, civil wars and other political struggles followed elections.
The Deputy Governor expressed the hope that the project would enable the Kadjebi District to have its own addresses based on street names and house numbers.
Launching the project, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Alifui, said the project would open up the district for effective development planning and easier revenue estimation.
He said their sister–city relationship with Alkamade, now Kaag en Braassem since 2003, had resulted in the district securing a solid waste management project.
The district now has one skip loader,15 refuse containers and 79 litter bins.
Another project, he said, was the liquid waste management project under which the district was provided with a cesspool emptier, a dumping site, latrine, and support for 46 households to own household latrines, whilst pipe-borne water had been extended to the Low Cost area in the town.
Under the relationship, a number of hospital beds and beddings were supplied to the Kadjebi Health Centre, there was also the construction of the Alkamade school, the renovation of the Kadjebi District Assembly Primary School and the Out-Patient Department(OPD) of the St Mary Teresa’s Hospital at Dodi Papase, as well as the provision of an 80-bed boys’ hostel for the Dodi Papase Senior High School.
Mr Alifui said the launch also coincided with the receipt of 89 computers for distribution to junior and senior high schools in the district.
The DCE said the street-naming and house-numbering project was part of the Assembly’s third project which was the establishment of the District Database System (DDS) to assist in effective planning , budgeting and revenue mobilisation.
He was, therefore, displeased with reports that some unscrupulous people had started stealing poles erected to hold the street names and some house numbers. He urged them to put an immediate stop to the practice or face the full rigours of the law when caught.
Mr Alifui said the names of the streets bore the names of some important personalities who had helped in the development of the district and their partners from Holland.
GHANA'S DEMOCARACY LAUDED (PAGE 16, NOV 19)
The Deputy Mayor in Charge of Finance and Administration of Kaag en Braassem, a Municipality of Holland, Mr Frans Schoonderwoerd, has lauded Ghana’s democratic dispensation which saw a peaceful change of government during the 2008 Election.
Speaking at the launch of a street-naming and house-numbering project at Kadjebi in the Volta Region last Monday, he said Ghana had an enviable democratic dispensation. “Ghana has an adult democracy”, he noted.
According to him, Ghana had proved that it had a matured democracy and the whole of Europe was proud of Ghana, especially where in many African countries, civil wars and other political struggles followed elections.
The Deputy Governor expressed the hope that the project would enable the Kadjebi District to have its own addresses based on street names and house numbers.
Launching the project, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Alifui, said the project would open up the district for effective development planning and easier revenue estimation.
He said their sister–city relationship with Alkamade, now Kaag en Braassem since 2003, had resulted in the district securing a solid waste management project.
The district now has one skip loader,15 refuse containers and 79 litter bins.
Another project, he said, was the liquid waste management project under which the district was provided with a cesspool emptier, a dumping site, latrine, and support for 46 households to own household latrines, whilst pipe-borne water had been extended to the Low Cost area in the town.
Under the relationship, a number of hospital beds and beddings were supplied to the Kadjebi Health Centre, there was also the construction of the Alkamade school, the renovation of the Kadjebi District Assembly Primary School and the Out-Patient Department(OPD) of the St Mary Teresa’s Hospital at Dodi Papase, as well as the provision of an 80-bed boys’ hostel for the Dodi Papase Senior High School.
Mr Alifui said the launch also coincided with the receipt of 89 computers for distribution to junior and senior high schools in the district.
The DCE said the street-naming and house-numbering project was part of the Assembly’s third project which was the establishment of the District Database System (DDS) to assist in effective planning , budgeting and revenue mobilisation.
He was, therefore, displeased with reports that some unscrupulous people had started stealing poles erected to hold the street names and some house numbers. He urged them to put an immediate stop to the practice or face the full rigours of the law when caught.
Mr Alifui said the names of the streets bore the names of some important personalities who had helped in the development of the district and their partners from Holland.
Speaking at the launch of a street-naming and house-numbering project at Kadjebi in the Volta Region last Monday, he said Ghana had an enviable democratic dispensation. “Ghana has an adult democracy”, he noted.
According to him, Ghana had proved that it had a matured democracy and the whole of Europe was proud of Ghana, especially where in many African countries, civil wars and other political struggles followed elections.
The Deputy Governor expressed the hope that the project would enable the Kadjebi District to have its own addresses based on street names and house numbers.
Launching the project, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Alifui, said the project would open up the district for effective development planning and easier revenue estimation.
He said their sister–city relationship with Alkamade, now Kaag en Braassem since 2003, had resulted in the district securing a solid waste management project.
The district now has one skip loader,15 refuse containers and 79 litter bins.
Another project, he said, was the liquid waste management project under which the district was provided with a cesspool emptier, a dumping site, latrine, and support for 46 households to own household latrines, whilst pipe-borne water had been extended to the Low Cost area in the town.
Under the relationship, a number of hospital beds and beddings were supplied to the Kadjebi Health Centre, there was also the construction of the Alkamade school, the renovation of the Kadjebi District Assembly Primary School and the Out-Patient Department(OPD) of the St Mary Teresa’s Hospital at Dodi Papase, as well as the provision of an 80-bed boys’ hostel for the Dodi Papase Senior High School.
Mr Alifui said the launch also coincided with the receipt of 89 computers for distribution to junior and senior high schools in the district.
The DCE said the street-naming and house-numbering project was part of the Assembly’s third project which was the establishment of the District Database System (DDS) to assist in effective planning , budgeting and revenue mobilisation.
He was, therefore, displeased with reports that some unscrupulous people had started stealing poles erected to hold the street names and some house numbers. He urged them to put an immediate stop to the practice or face the full rigours of the law when caught.
Mr Alifui said the names of the streets bore the names of some important personalities who had helped in the development of the district and their partners from Holland.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
GBI RURAL BANK RECEIVES COMMENDATION (PAGE 29, NOV 14)
THE Bank of Ghana (BOG) has commended the Gbi Rural Bank Limited at Hohoe in the Volta Region for performing so well as of the end of its first year of operations in spite of the global financial crisis that hit the economy last year.
At the first annual general meeting of the bank at Hoho , Dr Kofi Wampah, First Deputy Governor of the BOG, said the bank was able to increase its deposit base from an initial GH¢350,648 to GH¢1,833,000, constituting an increase of 44 per cent.
He said its total assets also increased by 217 per cent from the GH¢580,000 it began operations with to GH¢1,833,282, and described it as a remarkable achievement for a new bank.
The bank went into operations in March 2008. As of the end of December 2008, its total assets stood at GH¢580,000.00 with a mobilised deposit of GH¢351,000.00. A total of GH¢282,000.00 was granted as loans.
Dr Wampah challenged the board and management to strive hard to achieve more glory and commended the staff for their commitment and dedication to duty. The Deputy Governor however urged the bank to ensure that the beneficiaries of the enlarged loan portfolio which rose by 280 per cent from GH¢282,000 to GH¢1,071,000 to repay their loans on schedule to ensure that the bank remained strong.
He cautioned the bank to remain dedicated in their service to their customers and come out with products that are customer focused in order not to be left out of the current keen competition in the banking industry.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Eric Osei Bonsu, Managing Director of ARP Apex Bank Ltd, commended the bank for having rated 70th out of the 130 rural banks in the country, and urged them to step up their performance since there was more room for improvement.
“This will require innovative approach to banking, quality customer service delivery, enhanced deposit mobilisation drive and pursuance of aggressive but prudent credit operations”, he said.
Mr Osei Bonsu stressed that they should strive to adopt marketing strategies by creating products that would enable them to “ go where the clients are stationed and speak their language”.
He urged the bank to increase its share capital base which now stood at GH¢177,000 even though it was above the BOG minimum capital requirement.
The Manager of the Gbi Rural Bank, Mr Kwame Dzotsi, said the staff and management were challenged by the ever increasing competition in the banking industry and the global financial crisis to continue to adopt appropriate strategies to enhance competitiveness and survival in the industry.
At the first annual general meeting of the bank at Hoho , Dr Kofi Wampah, First Deputy Governor of the BOG, said the bank was able to increase its deposit base from an initial GH¢350,648 to GH¢1,833,000, constituting an increase of 44 per cent.
He said its total assets also increased by 217 per cent from the GH¢580,000 it began operations with to GH¢1,833,282, and described it as a remarkable achievement for a new bank.
The bank went into operations in March 2008. As of the end of December 2008, its total assets stood at GH¢580,000.00 with a mobilised deposit of GH¢351,000.00. A total of GH¢282,000.00 was granted as loans.
Dr Wampah challenged the board and management to strive hard to achieve more glory and commended the staff for their commitment and dedication to duty. The Deputy Governor however urged the bank to ensure that the beneficiaries of the enlarged loan portfolio which rose by 280 per cent from GH¢282,000 to GH¢1,071,000 to repay their loans on schedule to ensure that the bank remained strong.
He cautioned the bank to remain dedicated in their service to their customers and come out with products that are customer focused in order not to be left out of the current keen competition in the banking industry.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Eric Osei Bonsu, Managing Director of ARP Apex Bank Ltd, commended the bank for having rated 70th out of the 130 rural banks in the country, and urged them to step up their performance since there was more room for improvement.
“This will require innovative approach to banking, quality customer service delivery, enhanced deposit mobilisation drive and pursuance of aggressive but prudent credit operations”, he said.
Mr Osei Bonsu stressed that they should strive to adopt marketing strategies by creating products that would enable them to “ go where the clients are stationed and speak their language”.
He urged the bank to increase its share capital base which now stood at GH¢177,000 even though it was above the BOG minimum capital requirement.
The Manager of the Gbi Rural Bank, Mr Kwame Dzotsi, said the staff and management were challenged by the ever increasing competition in the banking industry and the global financial crisis to continue to adopt appropriate strategies to enhance competitiveness and survival in the industry.
162 CURED LEPERS UNDERGO EYE SCREENING (PAGE 39, NOV 16)
ONE hundred and sixty-two cured lepers residing at the Ghana Leprosy Village in Ho in the Volta Region have undergone eye screening aimed at saving them from an added plight — blindness.
Some of them are now strong but are gradually going blind as a result of the leprosy they contracted some years ago.
The Life for the Living Medical Centre and Unite for Sight, two Ho-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs), organised the exercise, which was sponsored by an Irish NGO, Cross Cause Charity.
According to the Executive Director of the Life for the Living Medical Centre, Reverend Benjamin Bankas, out of the 162 cured lepers, 68 were identified with various eye problems, for which they were supplied with medicated glasses valued at GH¢1,400.
He said 20 others, who were diagnosed of cataract, had been referred to the Crystal Eye Clinic in Accra for further treatment before the end of the year.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Kwakuvi Kualyawo, who said he had lived at the village for 30 years, expressed happiness that his sight was now better than before.
He commended the NGOs for coming to their aid.
The Assembly Member for the area, Madam Joycelyn Akorfa Ochlich, appealed to the government to establish a craft centre at the village to keep the inmates occupied and provide them with a means of livelihood.
Some of them are now strong but are gradually going blind as a result of the leprosy they contracted some years ago.
The Life for the Living Medical Centre and Unite for Sight, two Ho-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs), organised the exercise, which was sponsored by an Irish NGO, Cross Cause Charity.
According to the Executive Director of the Life for the Living Medical Centre, Reverend Benjamin Bankas, out of the 162 cured lepers, 68 were identified with various eye problems, for which they were supplied with medicated glasses valued at GH¢1,400.
He said 20 others, who were diagnosed of cataract, had been referred to the Crystal Eye Clinic in Accra for further treatment before the end of the year.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Kwakuvi Kualyawo, who said he had lived at the village for 30 years, expressed happiness that his sight was now better than before.
He commended the NGOs for coming to their aid.
The Assembly Member for the area, Madam Joycelyn Akorfa Ochlich, appealed to the government to establish a craft centre at the village to keep the inmates occupied and provide them with a means of livelihood.
WORKSHOP HELD ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE (PAGE 32, NOV 16)
A one-day sensitisation workshop on natural resource and environmental governance for some selected stakeholders has taken place at Jasikan in the Volta Region.
It attracted 50 participants, including officials of the Jasikan District Assembly, churches, traditional authorities, chain-saw operators and saw millers, who discussed and shared ideas on issues to check environmental degradation and the massive destruction of forest resources in the area.
It was organised by the Association of Jasikan District Civil Society ( AJADSCO), under the KASA project, in collaboration with CARE International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to promote the effective implementation of a natural resource and environmental governance (NREG) programme.
Briefing the participants on the need for the workshop, Mr George Gyapong, Manager of KASA project, said it was to educate them on bye-laws on the preservation of the environment and how to make them operational.
He introduced them to the KASA project, which is aimed at reducing illegal harvesting of forest resources as a means of addressing environmental degradation in the northern part of the Volta Region.
That, he said, would focus on the degraded forest areas stretching from the Jasikan District to the Nkwanta District.
“In this area, apart from cocoa, coffee and food crops cultivation, the forest resources were harvested for construction, medicinal plants, ornamental plants by various stakeholders such as farmers, palm wine tapers, hunters, chainsaw operators, among others,” he said.
Mr Gyapong said the project would focus on the degraded forest reserve and in the communities fringing the Kabo River Forest Reserve.
He mentioned the beneficiary communities as Jasikan, Kudje, Worawora, Kabosu, Apesokubi, Wawaso, Asukawkaw, Katanga, Guama, Kadjebi, Bodada, Kute and Ayoma.
In the light of this, a bye-law education team was constituted, in collaboration with the chiefs and churches, to create awareness and knowledge of natural resources and environmental laws in order to enhance compliance and enforcement of the laws at the community level.
The team comprised representatives from the National Commission for Civic Education, assembly members, the Information Services Department, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Non Formal Education Division, the Forestry Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission, the Environmental, Health and Sanitation Department and AJADSCO.
The committee has been tasked to sensitise the chiefs and opinion leaders to, as well as train community members on, the sound management of natural resources and the environment through focused group discussions.
In his welcoming address, the Jasikan District Chief Executive, Nana Barima Bonsy II, commended the initiatives of AJADSCO in addressing the problem of environmental degradation in the area.
He urged all stakeholders to show commitment to the crusade for the sustainable use of natural resources, noting that environmental degradation was a worry to humanity and that if steps were not taken to address it, it would turn the country into a desert.
The resource persons were selected from the FSD, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the GNFS.
It attracted 50 participants, including officials of the Jasikan District Assembly, churches, traditional authorities, chain-saw operators and saw millers, who discussed and shared ideas on issues to check environmental degradation and the massive destruction of forest resources in the area.
It was organised by the Association of Jasikan District Civil Society ( AJADSCO), under the KASA project, in collaboration with CARE International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to promote the effective implementation of a natural resource and environmental governance (NREG) programme.
Briefing the participants on the need for the workshop, Mr George Gyapong, Manager of KASA project, said it was to educate them on bye-laws on the preservation of the environment and how to make them operational.
He introduced them to the KASA project, which is aimed at reducing illegal harvesting of forest resources as a means of addressing environmental degradation in the northern part of the Volta Region.
That, he said, would focus on the degraded forest areas stretching from the Jasikan District to the Nkwanta District.
“In this area, apart from cocoa, coffee and food crops cultivation, the forest resources were harvested for construction, medicinal plants, ornamental plants by various stakeholders such as farmers, palm wine tapers, hunters, chainsaw operators, among others,” he said.
Mr Gyapong said the project would focus on the degraded forest reserve and in the communities fringing the Kabo River Forest Reserve.
He mentioned the beneficiary communities as Jasikan, Kudje, Worawora, Kabosu, Apesokubi, Wawaso, Asukawkaw, Katanga, Guama, Kadjebi, Bodada, Kute and Ayoma.
In the light of this, a bye-law education team was constituted, in collaboration with the chiefs and churches, to create awareness and knowledge of natural resources and environmental laws in order to enhance compliance and enforcement of the laws at the community level.
The team comprised representatives from the National Commission for Civic Education, assembly members, the Information Services Department, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Non Formal Education Division, the Forestry Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission, the Environmental, Health and Sanitation Department and AJADSCO.
The committee has been tasked to sensitise the chiefs and opinion leaders to, as well as train community members on, the sound management of natural resources and the environment through focused group discussions.
In his welcoming address, the Jasikan District Chief Executive, Nana Barima Bonsy II, commended the initiatives of AJADSCO in addressing the problem of environmental degradation in the area.
He urged all stakeholders to show commitment to the crusade for the sustainable use of natural resources, noting that environmental degradation was a worry to humanity and that if steps were not taken to address it, it would turn the country into a desert.
The resource persons were selected from the FSD, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the GNFS.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS VOW TO PROTECT FORESTS (NOV 3, PAGE 14)
A Coalition of civil society organisations in the Kadjebi and Jasikan districts of the Volta Region have resolved to take stringent steps to protect the remaining forest reserves and the biological diversity in the two areas from all forms of abuse and exploitation.
This was as a result of the fact that various factors had over the years contributed to the fast depletion of the forest resources and the excessive degradation of the vegetation.
These were contained in a 12-point resolution issued after a three-day capacity building workshop on natural resources and environmental governance for some selected members of the various organisations .
The workshop, which attracted about 50 participants, including 12 females, was organised by the Jasikan District Civil Society Organisation (ADJASCO), in collaboration with CARE International.
The participants discussed various human activities, including over-exploitation of the forest and wildlife, indiscriminate disposal of waste materials, stone quarrying, sand winning, as well as the menace of bushfires, which were fast destroying the environment.
The resolution urged the two district assemblies to rigidly enforce existing bye-laws on chainsaw operations, hunting, charcoal burning and sand winning, and review them periodically.
It also called for the enforcement of bye-laws on hunting during the gestation period of animals, from July to September, and the use of unauthorised fishing nets, including use of poisonous chemicals in fishing in the area.
The resolution also called on the assemblies to collaborate with the Forestry Services Division and the Forestry Commission to effectively protect forest resources and reserves, and to also encourage formation of environmental clubs in all junior high schools.
“The assemblies should empower its sub-committee responsible for bush fire prevention to revisit formation of community fire volunteer squads, and to provide logistics for their effective operation,” it noted.
It recommended that where none of such bye-laws existed, they should be put in place to act as a safeguard against a bleak future.
The participants also called on the Town and Country Planning Department to collaborate with the Town Planning Committees of the district assemblies to ensure proper planning of towns and communities in order to check excessive erosion and haphazard development.
Also, this is to ensure easy vehicular and pedestrian movement, especially in times of disaster.
This was as a result of the fact that various factors had over the years contributed to the fast depletion of the forest resources and the excessive degradation of the vegetation.
These were contained in a 12-point resolution issued after a three-day capacity building workshop on natural resources and environmental governance for some selected members of the various organisations .
The workshop, which attracted about 50 participants, including 12 females, was organised by the Jasikan District Civil Society Organisation (ADJASCO), in collaboration with CARE International.
The participants discussed various human activities, including over-exploitation of the forest and wildlife, indiscriminate disposal of waste materials, stone quarrying, sand winning, as well as the menace of bushfires, which were fast destroying the environment.
The resolution urged the two district assemblies to rigidly enforce existing bye-laws on chainsaw operations, hunting, charcoal burning and sand winning, and review them periodically.
It also called for the enforcement of bye-laws on hunting during the gestation period of animals, from July to September, and the use of unauthorised fishing nets, including use of poisonous chemicals in fishing in the area.
The resolution also called on the assemblies to collaborate with the Forestry Services Division and the Forestry Commission to effectively protect forest resources and reserves, and to also encourage formation of environmental clubs in all junior high schools.
“The assemblies should empower its sub-committee responsible for bush fire prevention to revisit formation of community fire volunteer squads, and to provide logistics for their effective operation,” it noted.
It recommended that where none of such bye-laws existed, they should be put in place to act as a safeguard against a bleak future.
The participants also called on the Town and Country Planning Department to collaborate with the Town Planning Committees of the district assemblies to ensure proper planning of towns and communities in order to check excessive erosion and haphazard development.
Also, this is to ensure easy vehicular and pedestrian movement, especially in times of disaster.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
MP ASSISTS APPRENTICE SEAMSTRESS (PAGE 23, OCT 31)
AS part of efforts to address some of the causes of under-development in rural communities in his constituency, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Buem, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, has presented 28 sewing machines to some selected apprentice seamstresses at Jasikan.
Mr Kamel, who is also the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said the machines were donated by the Chinese Embassy to give equal opportunities to women to help them earn incomes.
The 28 beneficiaries had completed six months basic training in sewing and will act as trainers for the less privileged in the constituency.
The deputy minister lauded the Chinese Embassy for giving hope to women, especially those in deprived areas.
He urged the people to unite and live in peace to create a conducive atmosphere aimed at business promotion.
Mr Kamel stressed that although most women in rural areas worked hard towards poverty reduction, they were marginalised in the decision-making process.
The MP, therefore, reaffirmed the commitment of the government to work closely with benevolent organisations and corporate bodies to assist the underprivileged in society to improve upon their living standards.
He said medium and small-scale businesses would be boosted to play significant roles in the nation’s development.
Mr Kamel cautioned the youth against migrating from the rural areas to urban centres to seek non-existent white-collar jobs.
The Jasikan District Chief Executive, Nana Barimah Kumessey Bonsy II, advised the women to use the sewing machines to create wealth rather than using them to decorate their rooms.
Mr Kamel, who is also the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said the machines were donated by the Chinese Embassy to give equal opportunities to women to help them earn incomes.
The 28 beneficiaries had completed six months basic training in sewing and will act as trainers for the less privileged in the constituency.
The deputy minister lauded the Chinese Embassy for giving hope to women, especially those in deprived areas.
He urged the people to unite and live in peace to create a conducive atmosphere aimed at business promotion.
Mr Kamel stressed that although most women in rural areas worked hard towards poverty reduction, they were marginalised in the decision-making process.
The MP, therefore, reaffirmed the commitment of the government to work closely with benevolent organisations and corporate bodies to assist the underprivileged in society to improve upon their living standards.
He said medium and small-scale businesses would be boosted to play significant roles in the nation’s development.
Mr Kamel cautioned the youth against migrating from the rural areas to urban centres to seek non-existent white-collar jobs.
The Jasikan District Chief Executive, Nana Barimah Kumessey Bonsy II, advised the women to use the sewing machines to create wealth rather than using them to decorate their rooms.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
160 BICYCLES FOR HO MUNICIPAL SANITATION GUARDS (PAGE 15 OCT 20, 2009)
The National Co-ordinator of Zoomlion Ghana Limited in charge of Environment and Sanitation, Mrs Beatrice Amponsah, has handed over 160 bicycles and uniforms to the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Isaac Kodobisah, for onward distribution to sanitations guards and health workers in the municipality.
This was during a regional review meeting held at Ho in the Volta Region on the theme: “ Attitudinal Change for Sanitation Guards: Impact to be felt to help improve sanitation in Ghana”.
The review meeting was a follow-up to weeklong training workshop held for sanitation gurads in Accra in March, this year and sponsored by Zoomlion Ghana Ltd.
Addressing the meeting, Mrs Amponsah said sanitation guards were recruited and trained to support district environmental officers in the districts.
She said 20 sanitation guards had been posted to each municipality and 10 to each district to reach out to the various communities and asked them to eschew laziness and maintain discipline in the course of their duties.
She advised them not to rush to bring sanitation offenders to book but must make serious efforts to make them appreciate why it was not in their own interest to live in filth and squalor.
Mrs Amponsah advised them against extorting money from sanitation offenders.
“ Do not extort money or engage in activities which would drive people away from you, instead endear yourselves to them, listen to them listen to their concerns in order that you can cary a message to them.”
This was during a regional review meeting held at Ho in the Volta Region on the theme: “ Attitudinal Change for Sanitation Guards: Impact to be felt to help improve sanitation in Ghana”.
The review meeting was a follow-up to weeklong training workshop held for sanitation gurads in Accra in March, this year and sponsored by Zoomlion Ghana Ltd.
Addressing the meeting, Mrs Amponsah said sanitation guards were recruited and trained to support district environmental officers in the districts.
She said 20 sanitation guards had been posted to each municipality and 10 to each district to reach out to the various communities and asked them to eschew laziness and maintain discipline in the course of their duties.
She advised them not to rush to bring sanitation offenders to book but must make serious efforts to make them appreciate why it was not in their own interest to live in filth and squalor.
Mrs Amponsah advised them against extorting money from sanitation offenders.
“ Do not extort money or engage in activities which would drive people away from you, instead endear yourselves to them, listen to them listen to their concerns in order that you can cary a message to them.”
SECURITY AGENCIES FACE ACUTE ACCOMODATION PROBLEMS (PAGE 14, OCT 20)
security agencies in the Volta Region face acute office and residential accommodation problems.
This is because lands acquired for the provision of such facilities were either not properly acquired or they have been put to other uses.
In Kpando for instance, prisoners are cultivating a 50-acre plot of land acquired for the Ghana Prisons Service while prison officers face acute accommodation problems.
In Hohoe, individuals have seriously encroached on the land acquired for the Ghana Police Service and have developed them into residential apartments.
The heads of the various security agencies made this known when they took their turns to brief members of the Parliamentary Sub-committee on Defence, Security and Interior during the committee’s two-day working visit to the region.
The Volta Regional head of the Ghana National Fire Service, said there were only two fire engines in the region, located in Ho and Denu.
The members were also told that there were many chieftaincy disputes which were hindering development in the region.
The Kpando District Chief Executive, Mr Fancis Ganyaglo, said disputes in four out of the 12 traditional areas in the district were very serious.
He mentioned the traditional areas as Awate, Sovie, Kpando and Wusuta.
In Kpando and Awate, for example, the disputes are so serious that they have polarised the people and the district chief executive cannot visit any of the divisions without any disturbances.
The Chairman of the sub-committee, Captain George Nfojoh (retd) who is also the Member of Parliament for the Ho Central Constituency, commended the security agencies for their efforts to maintaining law and order at the region, in the face of the serious challenges.
He urged municipal and district assemblies in the region to educate landowners to exercise patience since the sub- committee would convey their concerns to the appropriate quarters for the right decisions.
Capt. Nfojoh advised chiefs in the region to live at peace with one another as conflicts hindered the development of their communities.
“ You will be left behind as far as development is concerned, and you and your people, will lose out when foreign investors are looking for areas to invest in.”
“We all know the region is well endowed with tourist attractions and without peace, nobody will feel safe to come and invest in trouble prone areas,” he said
This is because lands acquired for the provision of such facilities were either not properly acquired or they have been put to other uses.
In Kpando for instance, prisoners are cultivating a 50-acre plot of land acquired for the Ghana Prisons Service while prison officers face acute accommodation problems.
In Hohoe, individuals have seriously encroached on the land acquired for the Ghana Police Service and have developed them into residential apartments.
The heads of the various security agencies made this known when they took their turns to brief members of the Parliamentary Sub-committee on Defence, Security and Interior during the committee’s two-day working visit to the region.
The Volta Regional head of the Ghana National Fire Service, said there were only two fire engines in the region, located in Ho and Denu.
The members were also told that there were many chieftaincy disputes which were hindering development in the region.
The Kpando District Chief Executive, Mr Fancis Ganyaglo, said disputes in four out of the 12 traditional areas in the district were very serious.
He mentioned the traditional areas as Awate, Sovie, Kpando and Wusuta.
In Kpando and Awate, for example, the disputes are so serious that they have polarised the people and the district chief executive cannot visit any of the divisions without any disturbances.
The Chairman of the sub-committee, Captain George Nfojoh (retd) who is also the Member of Parliament for the Ho Central Constituency, commended the security agencies for their efforts to maintaining law and order at the region, in the face of the serious challenges.
He urged municipal and district assemblies in the region to educate landowners to exercise patience since the sub- committee would convey their concerns to the appropriate quarters for the right decisions.
Capt. Nfojoh advised chiefs in the region to live at peace with one another as conflicts hindered the development of their communities.
“ You will be left behind as far as development is concerned, and you and your people, will lose out when foreign investors are looking for areas to invest in.”
“We all know the region is well endowed with tourist attractions and without peace, nobody will feel safe to come and invest in trouble prone areas,” he said
Thursday, October 15, 2009
VOLTA REGION MARKS WORLD SIGHT DAY AT HOHOE (PAGE 14, OCT 15)
The Volta Regional World Sight Day has been observed at Hohoe, with a call on the government to include drugs for the treatment of eye ailments on the National Health Insurance Drug list to enhance health care in the country.
According to Mr Yaw Asamoah, an eye patient, although most of the drugs prescribed were expensive, they had not been listed on the drug list.
" Everybody is supposed to be given equal attention and care on sight conditions. Without good sight, it is difficult to carry out our day to day activities. There is the need to have eye screening and testing exercises and changing of spectacles periodically," he said.
The region has 10 eye centres but has no ophthalmologist. The centres are at Ho, Hohoe, Kpando, Jasikan, Worawora, Nkwanta , Sogakope, Aflao, Keta and Battor.
Delivering a keynote address, a Deputy Director of Nursing Services at Hohoe, Mrs Vera Gaitu, said two ophthalmologists could man the two modern eye centres at the regional and Hohoe Municipal eye centres.
The celebration was held on the theme: " Gender And Eye Health; Equal Access to Health Care".
Mrs Gaitu also appealed to the government to provide the eye treatment centres with the requisite equipment, vehicles and other logistics to facilitate healthcare.
"In Ghana, 200,000 people are blind with two-third of the number being women and children. Eighty per cent of the causes of blindness especially cataract and glaucoma are preventable," she said.
She gave the assurance that the staff at the eye treatment centres had been trained well and were qualified to render the requisite services to their clients.
For her part, the Head of the Eye Unit of the Hohoe Municipal Hospital, Ms Agnes Ahribi, said glaucoma was the most common problem confronting the people with sight problems.
She said though glaucoma was not curable, it could be managed if reported early.
According to Mr Yaw Asamoah, an eye patient, although most of the drugs prescribed were expensive, they had not been listed on the drug list.
" Everybody is supposed to be given equal attention and care on sight conditions. Without good sight, it is difficult to carry out our day to day activities. There is the need to have eye screening and testing exercises and changing of spectacles periodically," he said.
The region has 10 eye centres but has no ophthalmologist. The centres are at Ho, Hohoe, Kpando, Jasikan, Worawora, Nkwanta , Sogakope, Aflao, Keta and Battor.
Delivering a keynote address, a Deputy Director of Nursing Services at Hohoe, Mrs Vera Gaitu, said two ophthalmologists could man the two modern eye centres at the regional and Hohoe Municipal eye centres.
The celebration was held on the theme: " Gender And Eye Health; Equal Access to Health Care".
Mrs Gaitu also appealed to the government to provide the eye treatment centres with the requisite equipment, vehicles and other logistics to facilitate healthcare.
"In Ghana, 200,000 people are blind with two-third of the number being women and children. Eighty per cent of the causes of blindness especially cataract and glaucoma are preventable," she said.
She gave the assurance that the staff at the eye treatment centres had been trained well and were qualified to render the requisite services to their clients.
For her part, the Head of the Eye Unit of the Hohoe Municipal Hospital, Ms Agnes Ahribi, said glaucoma was the most common problem confronting the people with sight problems.
She said though glaucoma was not curable, it could be managed if reported early.
Monday, October 12, 2009
ILLEGAL OCCUPANTS OF LOW COST HOUSES GIVEN ULTIMATUM
The Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (VRCC), has given a one-month ultimatum to tenants illegally occupying low cost houses and junior staff’s quarters in the Ho municipality, to quit or risk ejection.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, who gave the ultimatum, said it was the policy of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, not to sell those houses outright to the tenants.
He cautioned all those illegally occupying the said houses, originally allocated to parents or relations who had retired, resigned or were dead, to quit or be forced out by the law.
Mr Amenowode gave the ultimatum at the inauguration of the reconstituted Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council in Ho on Wednesday.
The 41-member council, which is under the chairmanship of the Volta Regional Minister, was sworn in by Dr Bernard Kwasi Glover, a member of the Council of State.
Performing the inaugural ceremony, the Regional Minister said the council did not have its full complement, since district chief executives were yet to be appointed for the Ketu North and Biakoye districts.
He said efforts were being made to resolve the Biakoye issue as promptly as possible while the confirmation of the district chief executive for Ketu North had been slated for October 8, 2009.
He said while the central government was making efforts to construct houses to accommodate staff, municipal and district assemblies should consider putting up residential and office accommodation for their staff.
The minister reminded them that the VRCC was essentially an administrative and co-ordinating body designed to monitor, co-ordinate and evaluate the performance of the district assemblies in the region.
He said the council also had a responsibility for monitoring the use of all monies internally generated or allocated to the district assemblies by any such agencies of the central government.
He hinted of a planned monitoring exercise in the region and advised the municipal and district assemblies to put their houses in order for that important assignment.
Mr Amenowode urged the members to remember that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had a manifesto and the mandate for which it would be judged and as such M/DCEs should be advised to be tactful with issues that had political undertones.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, who gave the ultimatum, said it was the policy of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, not to sell those houses outright to the tenants.
He cautioned all those illegally occupying the said houses, originally allocated to parents or relations who had retired, resigned or were dead, to quit or be forced out by the law.
Mr Amenowode gave the ultimatum at the inauguration of the reconstituted Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council in Ho on Wednesday.
The 41-member council, which is under the chairmanship of the Volta Regional Minister, was sworn in by Dr Bernard Kwasi Glover, a member of the Council of State.
Performing the inaugural ceremony, the Regional Minister said the council did not have its full complement, since district chief executives were yet to be appointed for the Ketu North and Biakoye districts.
He said efforts were being made to resolve the Biakoye issue as promptly as possible while the confirmation of the district chief executive for Ketu North had been slated for October 8, 2009.
He said while the central government was making efforts to construct houses to accommodate staff, municipal and district assemblies should consider putting up residential and office accommodation for their staff.
The minister reminded them that the VRCC was essentially an administrative and co-ordinating body designed to monitor, co-ordinate and evaluate the performance of the district assemblies in the region.
He said the council also had a responsibility for monitoring the use of all monies internally generated or allocated to the district assemblies by any such agencies of the central government.
He hinted of a planned monitoring exercise in the region and advised the municipal and district assemblies to put their houses in order for that important assignment.
Mr Amenowode urged the members to remember that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had a manifesto and the mandate for which it would be judged and as such M/DCEs should be advised to be tactful with issues that had political undertones.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
KADJEBI-ASAFO SCHOOL IS 50 YEARS (OCT 2, PAGE 17)
THE Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School (KASEC) in the Volta Region is 50 years old. The school’s motto is coined from Latin –Consilio Et Animis and this is translated into English to mean “Wisdom and Courage”,
KASEC boasts good academic laurels and sound discipline.
The academic performance of the school, since a humble and pioneering beginning of 64 per cent at the General Certificate Examinations ( GCE) Ordinary level in June 1964, has steadily improved to 100 per cent in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) as the years went by.
This was mainly due to the high level of discipline injected into the school’s fabric by the school’s administration, with Mr A.D. Addo-Yobo as the pioneer headmaster to the present, headed by Mr Musah Yamba Issahaku who took over the reigns from 2003.
The school was one of those established under the Ghana Education Trust launched by the first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
It was started in 1959 with with an initial enrolment of 66 boys after the foundation stone had been laid by the first Volta Regional Commissioner, Mr F.D.K Goka.
Located on a vast expanse of land covering 659 acres between Kadjebi and Asato, it has grown to a present population of 1,147 comprising of 687 boys and 460 girls. Its teaching staff had grown fromfive to 54 and non-teaching staff of 45.
The school was selected as one of the first batch of model schools that were upgraded in 2003, nationwide. In the field of sports and games, the school has an enviable record, both at the regional and national levels.
The school can boast some athletes such as Cecilia Mensah, Juliana Mensah and Agnes Obour and presently, national champion, Miss Grace Ofori, who represented the country at the 2008 Beijin, Olympic Youth Camp.
On December 7, 1990, KASEC emerged the best school in Agriculture during the National Farmers Day at Wenchi
The headmaster, board of governors, staff and the school are announcing the silver jubilee celebration of the school at its state of the art compound on October 3rd, 2009.
His Excellency the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills will be the guest of honour.
KASEC boasts good academic laurels and sound discipline.
The academic performance of the school, since a humble and pioneering beginning of 64 per cent at the General Certificate Examinations ( GCE) Ordinary level in June 1964, has steadily improved to 100 per cent in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) as the years went by.
This was mainly due to the high level of discipline injected into the school’s fabric by the school’s administration, with Mr A.D. Addo-Yobo as the pioneer headmaster to the present, headed by Mr Musah Yamba Issahaku who took over the reigns from 2003.
The school was one of those established under the Ghana Education Trust launched by the first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
It was started in 1959 with with an initial enrolment of 66 boys after the foundation stone had been laid by the first Volta Regional Commissioner, Mr F.D.K Goka.
Located on a vast expanse of land covering 659 acres between Kadjebi and Asato, it has grown to a present population of 1,147 comprising of 687 boys and 460 girls. Its teaching staff had grown fromfive to 54 and non-teaching staff of 45.
The school was selected as one of the first batch of model schools that were upgraded in 2003, nationwide. In the field of sports and games, the school has an enviable record, both at the regional and national levels.
The school can boast some athletes such as Cecilia Mensah, Juliana Mensah and Agnes Obour and presently, national champion, Miss Grace Ofori, who represented the country at the 2008 Beijin, Olympic Youth Camp.
On December 7, 1990, KASEC emerged the best school in Agriculture during the National Farmers Day at Wenchi
The headmaster, board of governors, staff and the school are announcing the silver jubilee celebration of the school at its state of the art compound on October 3rd, 2009.
His Excellency the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills will be the guest of honour.
SOCIETY URGED TO ACCEPT CURED LEPERS (SEPT 29, PAGE 20)
A CURED leper, Mr John Goh, who has been living at the Ho Leprosarium since he was cured 42 years ago, has pleaded with families of lepers to accept them into society after being cured.
He said they posed no danger when they were accepted into society .
Mr Goh made the passionate appeal when members of the End Time branch of the Assemblies of God Church in Ho in the Volta Region presented them with various items worth GH¢900 at a ceremony at the Ho Leprosarium.
He said he was diagnosed of the disease in 1952 at the age of 25 and after he was cured in 1957, he had continued to live in the Leprosarium since then.
“Apart from me, there are 136 other cured lepers with families who are currently residing at the Leprosarium,” Mr Goh said.
The disease was detected in the area in 1926, compelling the Leprosarium to be built in 1947 and since then, many people with leprosy have been treated at the leprosarium.
Presenting the items made up of eight bags of rice and two bales of second-hand clothing, Reverend Terry Adjah, the head pastor of the church, said the donation was in response to an appeal made by the inmates.
He urged them to have faith in the Lord and believe that with God all things are possible.
Receiving the items, Mr Anthony Adjavon, the Technical Officer in charge of the leprosarium, assured the public that leprosy was curable.
He, therefore, advised the people to report early to the nearest health facility upon seeing signs and symptoms of the illness.
Mr Adjavon promised the donors that the items would be put to good use, and appealed to benevolent organisations and individuals to emulate the gesture.
He said they posed no danger when they were accepted into society .
Mr Goh made the passionate appeal when members of the End Time branch of the Assemblies of God Church in Ho in the Volta Region presented them with various items worth GH¢900 at a ceremony at the Ho Leprosarium.
He said he was diagnosed of the disease in 1952 at the age of 25 and after he was cured in 1957, he had continued to live in the Leprosarium since then.
“Apart from me, there are 136 other cured lepers with families who are currently residing at the Leprosarium,” Mr Goh said.
The disease was detected in the area in 1926, compelling the Leprosarium to be built in 1947 and since then, many people with leprosy have been treated at the leprosarium.
Presenting the items made up of eight bags of rice and two bales of second-hand clothing, Reverend Terry Adjah, the head pastor of the church, said the donation was in response to an appeal made by the inmates.
He urged them to have faith in the Lord and believe that with God all things are possible.
Receiving the items, Mr Anthony Adjavon, the Technical Officer in charge of the leprosarium, assured the public that leprosy was curable.
He, therefore, advised the people to report early to the nearest health facility upon seeing signs and symptoms of the illness.
Mr Adjavon promised the donors that the items would be put to good use, and appealed to benevolent organisations and individuals to emulate the gesture.
Friday, October 9, 2009
SSNIT OPENS CONTACT OFFICE AT HOHOE (SEPT 28, PAGE 52)
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has opened the first contact office of the Informal Sector Fund in the Volta Region at Hohoe.
The fund, which was established in 2008, is to provide social protection for workers in the informal sector, which employs about 85 per cent of the working population of Ghana.
Inaugurating the fund on behalf of the Director General of SSNIT, Mr Kwasi Boatin, the General Manager in charge of Operations, Mrs Gifty Anterkyi, said since the trust was established 40 years ago efforts to incorporate the informal sector into the scheme had been unsuccessful.
He said, however, that after successful pilot projects the fund was established.
He said the fund had the potential to facilitate the development efforts of the Government, and urged the operators in the sector to patronise the fund in order to provide them with livelihood in their old age.
The Managing Director of the Informal Sector Fund, Dr Francis Sapara-Grant, said the fund at present was operating in 15 branches and contact offices in six regions of the country ,and that it was meant for self-employed workers like traders, drivers, hairdressers, seamstresses, farmers, among others.
He said the fund was flexible, voluntary, attractive, easy to withdraw, and could be used as collateral to secure credit from financial institutions.
He said the fund also provided such benefits as old age retirement pension, disability benefits and survivor’s benefits.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the first contact office was established at Hohoe because of the various prospects it held for the informal sector.
“ The municipality has a large population of small-scale businesses that cut across various sectors of the national economy, namely agriculture, commerce, transport, mining, industry and services.
Furthermore the municipality is home to other formal sector institutions, including banks and insurance companies, which are necessary for facilitating business transactions, ” he added.
The Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, Togbega Gabusu VI, welcomed the new scheme and gave a promise that Hohoe, the vibrant commercial centre in the region, would patronise it.
The fund, which was established in 2008, is to provide social protection for workers in the informal sector, which employs about 85 per cent of the working population of Ghana.
Inaugurating the fund on behalf of the Director General of SSNIT, Mr Kwasi Boatin, the General Manager in charge of Operations, Mrs Gifty Anterkyi, said since the trust was established 40 years ago efforts to incorporate the informal sector into the scheme had been unsuccessful.
He said, however, that after successful pilot projects the fund was established.
He said the fund had the potential to facilitate the development efforts of the Government, and urged the operators in the sector to patronise the fund in order to provide them with livelihood in their old age.
The Managing Director of the Informal Sector Fund, Dr Francis Sapara-Grant, said the fund at present was operating in 15 branches and contact offices in six regions of the country ,and that it was meant for self-employed workers like traders, drivers, hairdressers, seamstresses, farmers, among others.
He said the fund was flexible, voluntary, attractive, easy to withdraw, and could be used as collateral to secure credit from financial institutions.
He said the fund also provided such benefits as old age retirement pension, disability benefits and survivor’s benefits.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the first contact office was established at Hohoe because of the various prospects it held for the informal sector.
“ The municipality has a large population of small-scale businesses that cut across various sectors of the national economy, namely agriculture, commerce, transport, mining, industry and services.
Furthermore the municipality is home to other formal sector institutions, including banks and insurance companies, which are necessary for facilitating business transactions, ” he added.
The Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, Togbega Gabusu VI, welcomed the new scheme and gave a promise that Hohoe, the vibrant commercial centre in the region, would patronise it.
AWARDS CEREMONY FOR OLA SHS STAFF (PAGE 11, SEPT 28)
THE best teaching and non-teaching personnel awards ceremony for the Volta Region over the past three years was held at the OLA Senior High School at Ho at the weekend.
In all, 53 teachers, including 27 females selected from both first and second cycle institutions and seven non-teaching staff, were rewarded with prizes for their meritorious achievements from 2006 to 2008.
The first award winners in each of the five categories, comprising the primary, junior and senior high schools, colleges of education and vocational/technical institutes took home a refrigerator, whilst the second and third award winners received a television set and gas cooker each respectively.
The ceremony was part of a programme to present 30 laptops and their accessories to each of the three basic schools in the region.
The schools are the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Primary School at Dambai in the Krachi East District, Hohoe Roman Catholic Basic Schools and Woe Local Authority Basic Schools in the Keta Municipality.
In a keynote address, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, underscored the importance of education in this competitive global world, and said it was only a nation of educated, skilled, well informed and morally sound people that could build a just and prosperous nation.
He said it was in view of this that the government was rolling out a number of teacher-support schemes and incentive packages, including the deprived area allowance, the provision and expansion of teaching and learning facilities, in-service training and skills upgrading programmes, among others, he stated.
He gave the assurance that the government would create the enabling environment for teachers to upgrade themselves through the acquisition of knowledge and skills required for their effective performance, adding that self development should be their priority.
“Such opportunities and facilities as study leave with pay in the tertiary institutions, distance education programmes as well as scholarships for overseas studies are therefore open to our teachers to take advantage of”, he said.
Mr Amenowode, however, expressed concern that in spite of heavy investment in training teachers , performance at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West Africa Senior Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have not been encouraging.
The minister commended the award winners for their dedication and commitment and also for impacting positively the lives of many who had gone through their tutelage.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Volta Regional Director of Education, Mr Gabriel Kploanyi, appealed to communities to show interest by contributing positively to issues affecting teaching and learning in their schools.
In all, 53 teachers, including 27 females selected from both first and second cycle institutions and seven non-teaching staff, were rewarded with prizes for their meritorious achievements from 2006 to 2008.
The first award winners in each of the five categories, comprising the primary, junior and senior high schools, colleges of education and vocational/technical institutes took home a refrigerator, whilst the second and third award winners received a television set and gas cooker each respectively.
The ceremony was part of a programme to present 30 laptops and their accessories to each of the three basic schools in the region.
The schools are the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Primary School at Dambai in the Krachi East District, Hohoe Roman Catholic Basic Schools and Woe Local Authority Basic Schools in the Keta Municipality.
In a keynote address, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, underscored the importance of education in this competitive global world, and said it was only a nation of educated, skilled, well informed and morally sound people that could build a just and prosperous nation.
He said it was in view of this that the government was rolling out a number of teacher-support schemes and incentive packages, including the deprived area allowance, the provision and expansion of teaching and learning facilities, in-service training and skills upgrading programmes, among others, he stated.
He gave the assurance that the government would create the enabling environment for teachers to upgrade themselves through the acquisition of knowledge and skills required for their effective performance, adding that self development should be their priority.
“Such opportunities and facilities as study leave with pay in the tertiary institutions, distance education programmes as well as scholarships for overseas studies are therefore open to our teachers to take advantage of”, he said.
Mr Amenowode, however, expressed concern that in spite of heavy investment in training teachers , performance at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West Africa Senior Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have not been encouraging.
The minister commended the award winners for their dedication and commitment and also for impacting positively the lives of many who had gone through their tutelage.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Volta Regional Director of Education, Mr Gabriel Kploanyi, appealed to communities to show interest by contributing positively to issues affecting teaching and learning in their schools.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
HEALTH OFFICIALS DISCUSS CAUSES OF MATERNAL DEATHS (SEPT 19, PAGE 11)
Dr Eric Yao Amakpa of the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho has identified a number of problems hindering safe motherhood practices in the country.
He said apart from the deplorable conditions in some health institutions, accessibility to such facilities tended to compound the conditions of some expectant mothers, adding that some pregnant women also resort to attending prayer camps for ‘safe deliveries’ instead of visiting antenatal clinics.
Delivering a lecture on the topic, "Maternal Health Situation in the Volta Region" in Ho last Monday, Dr Amakpa said expectant women were ignorant of dangerous signs that required immediate medical attention and they tended to delay before visiting health facilities.
He said emergency services at some health facilities were also lacking, due to inadequate health personnel and equipment at the hospitals.
The one-week workshop, which attracted 20 participants including medical officers and midwives, was sponsored by the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV).
Dr Amakpa mentioned that in all parts of the country, severe bleeding, making up 25 per cent, had been identified as a major cause of maternal mortality, followed by infection (sepsis) 15 per cent, with unsafe abortions constituting 12 per cent.
The rest are, eclapsia, eight per cent; obstructed labour, eight per cen; and other causes accounting for 20 per cent.
He said in the Volta Region, eclapsia topped the list with others like sepsis, cardiac arrest and other unknown causes accounting for other cases of maternal mortality.
He said apart from the deplorable conditions in some health institutions, accessibility to such facilities tended to compound the conditions of some expectant mothers, adding that some pregnant women also resort to attending prayer camps for ‘safe deliveries’ instead of visiting antenatal clinics.
Delivering a lecture on the topic, "Maternal Health Situation in the Volta Region" in Ho last Monday, Dr Amakpa said expectant women were ignorant of dangerous signs that required immediate medical attention and they tended to delay before visiting health facilities.
He said emergency services at some health facilities were also lacking, due to inadequate health personnel and equipment at the hospitals.
The one-week workshop, which attracted 20 participants including medical officers and midwives, was sponsored by the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV).
Dr Amakpa mentioned that in all parts of the country, severe bleeding, making up 25 per cent, had been identified as a major cause of maternal mortality, followed by infection (sepsis) 15 per cent, with unsafe abortions constituting 12 per cent.
The rest are, eclapsia, eight per cent; obstructed labour, eight per cen; and other causes accounting for 20 per cent.
He said in the Volta Region, eclapsia topped the list with others like sepsis, cardiac arrest and other unknown causes accounting for other cases of maternal mortality.
BLACKSMITH ARRESTED FOR ILLEGALLY POSSESSING PISTOLS (SEPT 19, PAGE 23)
THE Ho police have arrested a 24-year-old blacksmith, Eric Adjei, for possessing four pistols and ammunition with which he was travelling to Accra.
When the vehicle stopped at the Have police barrier at about 11 a.m., the police personnel on duty who had had a tip-off about Adjei’s illegal business, searched him and found two Italian and two locally made pistols, as well as four rounds of ammunition in the smock and jeans he was wearing.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) David Nenyi Ampah Bennin, the Volta Regional Police Commander, Adjei claimed that he was sending the pistols to one Cosmos Owusu Mawuse, 37, a dealer in small arms at Adenta in Accra who gave the weapons to him for repairs.
He said Adjei, therefore, led the police to Adenta but Mawuse could not be seen.
ACP Ampah Bennin said when Adjei called Mawuse on his cellphone, he denied any knowledge of the weapons and ammunition.
He said when the police invited Mawuse to the Ho Police Station, he agreed to do so the following day.
ACP Ampah Bennin said when Mawuse was interrogated the next day, it came to light that he had a case to answer, since he was a dealer in arms at a shop known as “Cosmos Small Arms Repairs Shop”.
The two have been remanded in police custody pending further investigations into the matter.
The regional commander seized the opportunity to send a strong warning to the illegal arms dealers that the police would not sit aloof for the region to be used as a conduit for arms trafficking, especially to troubled spots.
He cautioned that anybody caught illegally possessing or manufacturing weapons would be dealt with according to the laws of the land.
When the vehicle stopped at the Have police barrier at about 11 a.m., the police personnel on duty who had had a tip-off about Adjei’s illegal business, searched him and found two Italian and two locally made pistols, as well as four rounds of ammunition in the smock and jeans he was wearing.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) David Nenyi Ampah Bennin, the Volta Regional Police Commander, Adjei claimed that he was sending the pistols to one Cosmos Owusu Mawuse, 37, a dealer in small arms at Adenta in Accra who gave the weapons to him for repairs.
He said Adjei, therefore, led the police to Adenta but Mawuse could not be seen.
ACP Ampah Bennin said when Adjei called Mawuse on his cellphone, he denied any knowledge of the weapons and ammunition.
He said when the police invited Mawuse to the Ho Police Station, he agreed to do so the following day.
ACP Ampah Bennin said when Mawuse was interrogated the next day, it came to light that he had a case to answer, since he was a dealer in arms at a shop known as “Cosmos Small Arms Repairs Shop”.
The two have been remanded in police custody pending further investigations into the matter.
The regional commander seized the opportunity to send a strong warning to the illegal arms dealers that the police would not sit aloof for the region to be used as a conduit for arms trafficking, especially to troubled spots.
He cautioned that anybody caught illegally possessing or manufacturing weapons would be dealt with according to the laws of the land.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
EP CHURCH COMMENDS GOVT (MIRROR, PAGE 42)
From Emmanuel Modey, Ho
The General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana has lauded the government on its decision to provide free uniforms for children in basic schools in the country and also provide an increase in their school feeding grant.
It however, cautioned the government to take care not to weaken the confidence of the vulnerable in the rural communities in the process.
These were contained in a 12-point message to the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, after its first general assembly session held at Ho during which the church also expressed its gratitude to the president for his acceptance to perform the opening ceremony of the Assembly.
The message expressed satisfaction at the relentless measures the government was taking to improve living conditions of the people as well as its determination to ensure good governance, rule of law, transparency, human rights, tolerance and accountability.
According to the message, signed by Right Reverend Francis Amenu, Moderator of the Church, the general assembly applauds " your Excellency for the moral and logistical support being given to the police and other security operatives in clamping down on crimes including armed robbery, drug trafficking, cyber fraud, corruption and the carnage on our roads".
" The General Assembly, however, exhort your Excellency to accelerate efforts at revamping and rehabilitating agricultural and manufacturing industries that have been left idle to enable them become operational and offer job opportunities for the large army of unemployed youth in the country".
The statement further noted that the General Assembly was concerned with the recent upheavals on the political front, that has resulted in unnecessary confrontation between the police and political activitists culminating in the destruction of property, injury and death of innocent people and appealed for dialogue and peaceful resolution in such matters".
The General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana has lauded the government on its decision to provide free uniforms for children in basic schools in the country and also provide an increase in their school feeding grant.
It however, cautioned the government to take care not to weaken the confidence of the vulnerable in the rural communities in the process.
These were contained in a 12-point message to the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, after its first general assembly session held at Ho during which the church also expressed its gratitude to the president for his acceptance to perform the opening ceremony of the Assembly.
The message expressed satisfaction at the relentless measures the government was taking to improve living conditions of the people as well as its determination to ensure good governance, rule of law, transparency, human rights, tolerance and accountability.
According to the message, signed by Right Reverend Francis Amenu, Moderator of the Church, the general assembly applauds " your Excellency for the moral and logistical support being given to the police and other security operatives in clamping down on crimes including armed robbery, drug trafficking, cyber fraud, corruption and the carnage on our roads".
" The General Assembly, however, exhort your Excellency to accelerate efforts at revamping and rehabilitating agricultural and manufacturing industries that have been left idle to enable them become operational and offer job opportunities for the large army of unemployed youth in the country".
The statement further noted that the General Assembly was concerned with the recent upheavals on the political front, that has resulted in unnecessary confrontation between the police and political activitists culminating in the destruction of property, injury and death of innocent people and appealed for dialogue and peaceful resolution in such matters".
'WEE' CONCEALED IN BAGS OF CHARCOAL IMPOUNDED (PAGE 3)
A vehicle loaded with 41 maxi bags of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, was impounded by security officials at the Asikuma barrier in the Volta Region last Thursday.
The dried leaves were hidden in a large quantity of charcoal, which the vehicle, with registration number GE 5977 Z, was conveying from Gemeni to Accra.
According to the leader of the security officials, Mr Habib Osman, Chief Collector and Officer in charge of the Asikuma barrier, the vehicle was initially allowed to pass but the policemen at the barrier became suspicious later and, therefore, gave it a chase.
The driver, who was alone in the vehicle, sensing danger, abandoned the vehicle in the middle of the town at about 3.30 a.m. and ran into the bush.
When the vehicle was searched, GH¢2,000.00 was also found in one of its compartments. Each of the bags containing the dried leaves weighed 20 kilograms.
According to Mr Habib, both the vehicle and the dried leaves have been impounded at the Asikuma barrier, pending further investigations.
The dried leaves were hidden in a large quantity of charcoal, which the vehicle, with registration number GE 5977 Z, was conveying from Gemeni to Accra.
According to the leader of the security officials, Mr Habib Osman, Chief Collector and Officer in charge of the Asikuma barrier, the vehicle was initially allowed to pass but the policemen at the barrier became suspicious later and, therefore, gave it a chase.
The driver, who was alone in the vehicle, sensing danger, abandoned the vehicle in the middle of the town at about 3.30 a.m. and ran into the bush.
When the vehicle was searched, GH¢2,000.00 was also found in one of its compartments. Each of the bags containing the dried leaves weighed 20 kilograms.
According to Mr Habib, both the vehicle and the dried leaves have been impounded at the Asikuma barrier, pending further investigations.
TWO RASTAFARIANS JAILED 10 YRS OVER WEE (BACK PAGE)
Two Rastafarians who claimed they used Indian hemp as food and medicine, have been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in hard labour by the Ho Circuit Court.
The two convicts, Priest Yaw Bobo, 38, and Priest Jah Soldier, 26, who told the court that they were priests of “The Temple of Jah”, pleaded not guilty to the two charges of conspiracy to commit crime and cultivating Indian hemp.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Frank Owusu Afriyie, however, found them guilty of the offences and convicted and sentenced them accordingly on each count to run concurrently.
The court further ordered that the Indian hemp should be destroyed in the presence of the police prosecutor and the court registrar.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwadwo Nkansah told the court that Bobo and Jah Soldier were arrested by the chiefs and elders of the Amedzofe Traditional Area on April 27, 2009 upon a tip-off.
The chiefs and elders took them and Indian hemp that the two had harvested to the Police District Command at Anyirawase where the suspects were detained for investigation.
Then on August 29, 2009, the police led a search party to their house and farm at Amedzofe where they discovered the Indian hemp the two had cultivated.
According to the prosecutor, the two priests claimed that they used the hemp as their means of livelihood, adding that they did not know that cultivation of the Indian hemp was a crime, since they and their relatives used them for food and medicine.
The two convicts, Priest Yaw Bobo, 38, and Priest Jah Soldier, 26, who told the court that they were priests of “The Temple of Jah”, pleaded not guilty to the two charges of conspiracy to commit crime and cultivating Indian hemp.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Frank Owusu Afriyie, however, found them guilty of the offences and convicted and sentenced them accordingly on each count to run concurrently.
The court further ordered that the Indian hemp should be destroyed in the presence of the police prosecutor and the court registrar.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwadwo Nkansah told the court that Bobo and Jah Soldier were arrested by the chiefs and elders of the Amedzofe Traditional Area on April 27, 2009 upon a tip-off.
The chiefs and elders took them and Indian hemp that the two had harvested to the Police District Command at Anyirawase where the suspects were detained for investigation.
Then on August 29, 2009, the police led a search party to their house and farm at Amedzofe where they discovered the Indian hemp the two had cultivated.
According to the prosecutor, the two priests claimed that they used the hemp as their means of livelihood, adding that they did not know that cultivation of the Indian hemp was a crime, since they and their relatives used them for food and medicine.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
4-DAY REFEREEES COURSE ENDS (PAGE 63)
A four–day regional course for the Volta Regional branch of the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) on the rules and regulations governing the game of football and intensive physical exercise has ended at Ho in the Volta Region.
The annual course is to provide the referees with the requisite skills and knowledge in soccer and test their fitness level to enhance their performance during the forthcoming football season, scheduled for October, this year.
This year’s course, under the auspices of Ghana Football Association, attracted 13 match commissioners and 91 referees, assistant referees, most of whom will be eligible to officiate in the 2010 premier and Division One football league matches in the country
Apart from the physical fitness test, during which participants are supposed to run a distance of 3,000 metres in 12 minutes, the referees were taken through the recent modifications of the laws of the game, methods of interpretation of the laws and the powers and duties of the referees.
They were also taken through various signals, ball positioning, movement and treatment of injured players, match report writing and co-operation between referees and their assistant referees.
In his inaugural address, Mr Godsway Glah, General Secretary of RAG, was hopeful that the referees would take the training work seriously to the best of their abilities since training before and during matches was crucial for ensuring that one kept in tune and out of trouble during officiating on the field of play.
“ As referees you will be judged by thousands of eyes through television cameras, demanding absolute accuracy in your decision-making without much considerations to any shortcomings in matches”, adding that ,they should be fair, firm but flexible with their outlook and decisions on the field of play.
He reminded the participants that officiating in the country had taken a new dimension, with the Ministry of Youth and Sports attaches a lot of importance to the game.
This is because apart from its financial benefits, the game brings friendship between countries and peoples.
“In that connection, therefore, it is quite obvious that officials designated to handle such games should be given proper training and recognition,” he noted.
Mr Harry Attutornu, Volta Regional Chairman of RAG called on the referees to reciprocate the recognition given them by the Referees Appointment Committee and RAG by giving them regular appointments to the deserving ones.
This action of theirs, he said, had given the referees life and zeal to train harder and to perform better.
The annual course is to provide the referees with the requisite skills and knowledge in soccer and test their fitness level to enhance their performance during the forthcoming football season, scheduled for October, this year.
This year’s course, under the auspices of Ghana Football Association, attracted 13 match commissioners and 91 referees, assistant referees, most of whom will be eligible to officiate in the 2010 premier and Division One football league matches in the country
Apart from the physical fitness test, during which participants are supposed to run a distance of 3,000 metres in 12 minutes, the referees were taken through the recent modifications of the laws of the game, methods of interpretation of the laws and the powers and duties of the referees.
They were also taken through various signals, ball positioning, movement and treatment of injured players, match report writing and co-operation between referees and their assistant referees.
In his inaugural address, Mr Godsway Glah, General Secretary of RAG, was hopeful that the referees would take the training work seriously to the best of their abilities since training before and during matches was crucial for ensuring that one kept in tune and out of trouble during officiating on the field of play.
“ As referees you will be judged by thousands of eyes through television cameras, demanding absolute accuracy in your decision-making without much considerations to any shortcomings in matches”, adding that ,they should be fair, firm but flexible with their outlook and decisions on the field of play.
He reminded the participants that officiating in the country had taken a new dimension, with the Ministry of Youth and Sports attaches a lot of importance to the game.
This is because apart from its financial benefits, the game brings friendship between countries and peoples.
“In that connection, therefore, it is quite obvious that officials designated to handle such games should be given proper training and recognition,” he noted.
Mr Harry Attutornu, Volta Regional Chairman of RAG called on the referees to reciprocate the recognition given them by the Referees Appointment Committee and RAG by giving them regular appointments to the deserving ones.
This action of theirs, he said, had given the referees life and zeal to train harder and to perform better.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
MISSING GIRL FOUND DEAD (BACK PAGE)
A five-year-old girl, Juliana Acquaye, who was reported missing from the grandmother’s home last Monday, was found dead in a manhole on Tuesday.
The body was found by a family member, Madam Christine Okai, just some few metres away from the family house at Ahado in Hohoe in the Volta Region.
According to the Hohoe Police, Juliana, who had been living with her grandmother, Veronica Okai, at Hohoe Ahado, near the Sankis Preparatory School, was last seen playing with other children around 8 a.m. that Monday morning before the grandmother left home for the market.
She could not be traced after then and a thorough search by the family in the neighbourhood proved futile.
The police said the search took the guardians to the house of the father, a Nigerian known as Moses, who told them he had not seen the child. The search became very frantic when they made a report to Lolonyo Radio, a local FM station, and the police around 7 p.m.
The next morning, according to the police, the search resumed in earnest and Christine found the child dead in the manhole which had been forced open.
The mother of the child, Mawufemor Adzrakor, was not in town at the time of the incident.
The police said what was shocking most was that just about 10 metres away from where Juliana was found dead, another manhole had been forced open.
The situation had caused some apprehension among the residents about the safety of their children.
The body was found by a family member, Madam Christine Okai, just some few metres away from the family house at Ahado in Hohoe in the Volta Region.
According to the Hohoe Police, Juliana, who had been living with her grandmother, Veronica Okai, at Hohoe Ahado, near the Sankis Preparatory School, was last seen playing with other children around 8 a.m. that Monday morning before the grandmother left home for the market.
She could not be traced after then and a thorough search by the family in the neighbourhood proved futile.
The police said the search took the guardians to the house of the father, a Nigerian known as Moses, who told them he had not seen the child. The search became very frantic when they made a report to Lolonyo Radio, a local FM station, and the police around 7 p.m.
The next morning, according to the police, the search resumed in earnest and Christine found the child dead in the manhole which had been forced open.
The mother of the child, Mawufemor Adzrakor, was not in town at the time of the incident.
The police said what was shocking most was that just about 10 metres away from where Juliana was found dead, another manhole had been forced open.
The situation had caused some apprehension among the residents about the safety of their children.
Monday, September 7, 2009
FARMER, 35, ARRESTED FOR MURDER (PAGE 45)
A THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-old farmer from Akpafu Todzi in the Hohoe Municipality, Frank Kwakye, has been placed in police custody for allegedly murdering a farmer, Emmanuel Adasu, aged 50.
Kwakye was alleged to have hit the head of the deceased many times with a pestle until he fell unconscious. Adasu was rushed to the Hohoe Government Hospital where he died the following day.
According to the Hohoe Police, on August 11, this year, the deceased who resided at Sokpo, a village near Todzi, visited his niece, Madam Patience Wolanyo and spent some days with her.
On August 14, while he assisted his niece to process rice, Kwakye visited them and joined their conversation.
The police quoting the deceased’s niece, said without any provocation, Kwakye seized the pestle the deceased was using to process the rice and hit his head many times rendering him unconscious.
People in the neighbourhood were attracted to the scene by the screams of Patience, who rushed Adasu to the hospital where he died the following day.
Sensing danger, Kwakye took to his heels and took refuge in the bush where he threatened the people pursuing him with a machete.
A search party of police personnel and civilians searched for him and managed to arrest him after he was shot in the leg.
According to the police, Kwakye would be prosecuted after they had completed their investigations.
Kwakye was alleged to have hit the head of the deceased many times with a pestle until he fell unconscious. Adasu was rushed to the Hohoe Government Hospital where he died the following day.
According to the Hohoe Police, on August 11, this year, the deceased who resided at Sokpo, a village near Todzi, visited his niece, Madam Patience Wolanyo and spent some days with her.
On August 14, while he assisted his niece to process rice, Kwakye visited them and joined their conversation.
The police quoting the deceased’s niece, said without any provocation, Kwakye seized the pestle the deceased was using to process the rice and hit his head many times rendering him unconscious.
People in the neighbourhood were attracted to the scene by the screams of Patience, who rushed Adasu to the hospital where he died the following day.
Sensing danger, Kwakye took to his heels and took refuge in the bush where he threatened the people pursuing him with a machete.
A search party of police personnel and civilians searched for him and managed to arrest him after he was shot in the leg.
According to the police, Kwakye would be prosecuted after they had completed their investigations.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
POLICEMAN FOUND DEAD IN BEDROOM (PAGE 35)
THE Station Officer of the Ve Golokuati Police Station in the Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region, Chief Inspector Ben Asiama, was found dead in his bedroom at Segbedeme, a suburb of Hohoe, last Wednesday morning.
The deceased’s body was found sitting in his sofa after his room had been broken into during a search for him by his colleagues.
According to a police source, Chief Inspector Asiama was taken ill under mysterious circumstances and was rushed to a healing camp at Gbi Atabu, some months ago.
He became a bit better at the camp but his case worsened when he was struck by lightning.
On the day in question, when his supper was sent to him at the prayer camp, he could not be traced, so a report was made to the Hohoe District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Daniel Abloddey, who ordered a vigorous search for him.
It was during the search that his bedroom at the police quarters in Hohoe was broken into and he was found dead there.
The body of the deceased has been deposited in the morgue at the Hohoe Municipal Hospital for autopsy.
The deceased’s body was found sitting in his sofa after his room had been broken into during a search for him by his colleagues.
According to a police source, Chief Inspector Asiama was taken ill under mysterious circumstances and was rushed to a healing camp at Gbi Atabu, some months ago.
He became a bit better at the camp but his case worsened when he was struck by lightning.
On the day in question, when his supper was sent to him at the prayer camp, he could not be traced, so a report was made to the Hohoe District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Daniel Abloddey, who ordered a vigorous search for him.
It was during the search that his bedroom at the police quarters in Hohoe was broken into and he was found dead there.
The body of the deceased has been deposited in the morgue at the Hohoe Municipal Hospital for autopsy.
Friday, September 4, 2009
FARMERS WELCOME SUBSIDY ON FERTILSERS (PAGE 15)
Farmers in the Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region have lauded the initiative of the government to subsidise the cost of fertilisers to make it affordable to farmers to ensure increased yields.
The farmers expressed their appreciation at Hohoe after collecting their fertilisers from the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company. The farmers, led by Mr George Agbemavor of Gbi-Kpoeta, said the government’s decision to absorb half the cost of the input had brought great relief, which would encourage them to increase their production this season.
Under the subsidy arrangement, the farmers were supplied with coupons by extension officers of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), to enable them to access fertilisers from some selected input dealers at half the cost.
Mr Agbemavor said they purchased the fertilisers with credit obtained from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).
The farmers, who are into rice and maize production, expressed the hope that their produce would be purchased by the Ghana School Feeding Programme to reduce the country’s over-dependence on imported rice significantly to save foreign exchange.
The Hohoe Municipal Director of MoFA, Mr Geoffrey Honu, commended the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company for keeping faith with the farmers in the area by supplying the fertilisers readily.
He said last year, 19,000 farmers benefited from the subsidy programme and this year 12,000 farmers had already submitted their coupons and expressed the hope that many more would do so.
Mr Honu expressed optimism that large scale farmers would also be roped in to enjoy the subsidy.
The Manager of the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company, Efo Kumah Ameyibor, who expressed the company’s commitment and support for the farmers, said they would always have their inputs ready at the right time to ensure that farmers maximised yields on the field.
The farmers expressed their appreciation at Hohoe after collecting their fertilisers from the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company. The farmers, led by Mr George Agbemavor of Gbi-Kpoeta, said the government’s decision to absorb half the cost of the input had brought great relief, which would encourage them to increase their production this season.
Under the subsidy arrangement, the farmers were supplied with coupons by extension officers of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), to enable them to access fertilisers from some selected input dealers at half the cost.
Mr Agbemavor said they purchased the fertilisers with credit obtained from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).
The farmers, who are into rice and maize production, expressed the hope that their produce would be purchased by the Ghana School Feeding Programme to reduce the country’s over-dependence on imported rice significantly to save foreign exchange.
The Hohoe Municipal Director of MoFA, Mr Geoffrey Honu, commended the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company for keeping faith with the farmers in the area by supplying the fertilisers readily.
He said last year, 19,000 farmers benefited from the subsidy programme and this year 12,000 farmers had already submitted their coupons and expressed the hope that many more would do so.
Mr Honu expressed optimism that large scale farmers would also be roped in to enjoy the subsidy.
The Manager of the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company, Efo Kumah Ameyibor, who expressed the company’s commitment and support for the farmers, said they would always have their inputs ready at the right time to ensure that farmers maximised yields on the field.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
CHANGE ATTITUDE TOWARDS NATION BUILDING — AMENU (PAGE 21)
THE Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Ghana, Right Reverend Francis Amenu, has challenged Ghanaians to change their attitudes as their contribution towards the transformation of the nation.
Addressing the first general assembly of the EP Church in Ho, Rt Revd Amenu said "this newness should be seen in the prompt discharge of our civic responsibilities in the expected payment of our taxes, utilities bills and in our human resource development”.
The four-day conference is on the theme: “Newness in Christ”.
Rt Revd Amenu stated that Ghana as a nation could not afford to continue to depend on the services of hired expatriates in the provision of infrastructure after 52 years of independence.
He, therefore, tasked stakeholders in the educational sector to develop human-centred programmes in the curricula of the various educational institutions to match the global trends.
Rt Revd Amenu called for the re-invigoration of defunct but viable business ventures to end the embarrassing trend of importing basic implements which could be manufactured locally.
He called on the traditional authorities to modernise such outmoded practices as callous widowhood rites, witches’ colonies, child marriages, trial by ordeal and female genital mutilation that negatively affected the human rights of the people.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, called on the church to join forces with the state to solve the growing demands of the people.
He also, commended the church’s immense contributions towards nation building, especially in the areas of education, health, agriculture and human resource development.
The regional minister, however, called on the church to venture into other areas as teaching and reshaping the youth to refrain from negative social and economic vices such as prostitution, anal sex, teenage pregnancy, high school drop out, drug abuse, occultism, armed robbery and the get-rich quick attitude.
He reminded Ghanaians that the President’s promise of building a better Ghana implied that everybody would be empowered to make meaningful contributions towards the development of the country.
Addressing the first general assembly of the EP Church in Ho, Rt Revd Amenu said "this newness should be seen in the prompt discharge of our civic responsibilities in the expected payment of our taxes, utilities bills and in our human resource development”.
The four-day conference is on the theme: “Newness in Christ”.
Rt Revd Amenu stated that Ghana as a nation could not afford to continue to depend on the services of hired expatriates in the provision of infrastructure after 52 years of independence.
He, therefore, tasked stakeholders in the educational sector to develop human-centred programmes in the curricula of the various educational institutions to match the global trends.
Rt Revd Amenu called for the re-invigoration of defunct but viable business ventures to end the embarrassing trend of importing basic implements which could be manufactured locally.
He called on the traditional authorities to modernise such outmoded practices as callous widowhood rites, witches’ colonies, child marriages, trial by ordeal and female genital mutilation that negatively affected the human rights of the people.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, called on the church to join forces with the state to solve the growing demands of the people.
He also, commended the church’s immense contributions towards nation building, especially in the areas of education, health, agriculture and human resource development.
The regional minister, however, called on the church to venture into other areas as teaching and reshaping the youth to refrain from negative social and economic vices such as prostitution, anal sex, teenage pregnancy, high school drop out, drug abuse, occultism, armed robbery and the get-rich quick attitude.
He reminded Ghanaians that the President’s promise of building a better Ghana implied that everybody would be empowered to make meaningful contributions towards the development of the country.
Friday, August 21, 2009
HOHOE GES TAKES STEPS TO IMPROVE TEACHING (PAGE 11)
THE Hohoe Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Volta Region is taking steps to improve on teaching and learning in its educational institutions.
The directorate has, accordingly, distributed 80 motorbikes to some of its teachers, including 15 circuit supervisors. One hundred more motorbikes are expected soon.
The motorbikes are expected to improve the work of the teachers and the supervisors in the circuits.
Ms Juliet Beauty Dede Kumah, the Hohoe Municipal Director of the GES, said this at the first ordinary sitting of the Hohoe Municipal Assembly at Hohoe.
The municipality placed 12th in the region in the Basic Education Examination Certificate (BECE) in 2004, but moved to the ninth position during the 2008 BECE.
Ms Kumah noted with gratification that almost all the schools in the municipality had achieved the one-to-one textbook ratio.
In sports, she said the municipality placed third at the 43rd edition of the Volta Regional Sports festival last year and in the regional cultural festival. The municipality placed first in choral music, sight reading and exhibition and fifth in poetry and drum language.
The municipal assembly has also suggested the establishment of an endowment fund to support the GES in addressing educational issues, while the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) voted GH¢882,010.00 for the construction of three education-based projects in the municipality.
These include a dormitory with a bungalow attached to the Mentally Challenged Home at Gbi Kledzo, a six-unit classroom block, office, store, staff common room and a six-seater water closet at Gbi Kpeme and a one-storey classroom block with auxiliary facilities at the Midwifery Training School in Hohoe.
Under the Community Based Rural Development Programme (CBRDP), the municipality has also benefited from a GH¢107,571.00 grant for a three-unit classroom block and a store at Fodome Amele and a six-unit classroom block with office, store and library at Nyagbo-Odumasi.
The directorate has, accordingly, distributed 80 motorbikes to some of its teachers, including 15 circuit supervisors. One hundred more motorbikes are expected soon.
The motorbikes are expected to improve the work of the teachers and the supervisors in the circuits.
Ms Juliet Beauty Dede Kumah, the Hohoe Municipal Director of the GES, said this at the first ordinary sitting of the Hohoe Municipal Assembly at Hohoe.
The municipality placed 12th in the region in the Basic Education Examination Certificate (BECE) in 2004, but moved to the ninth position during the 2008 BECE.
Ms Kumah noted with gratification that almost all the schools in the municipality had achieved the one-to-one textbook ratio.
In sports, she said the municipality placed third at the 43rd edition of the Volta Regional Sports festival last year and in the regional cultural festival. The municipality placed first in choral music, sight reading and exhibition and fifth in poetry and drum language.
The municipal assembly has also suggested the establishment of an endowment fund to support the GES in addressing educational issues, while the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) voted GH¢882,010.00 for the construction of three education-based projects in the municipality.
These include a dormitory with a bungalow attached to the Mentally Challenged Home at Gbi Kledzo, a six-unit classroom block, office, store, staff common room and a six-seater water closet at Gbi Kpeme and a one-storey classroom block with auxiliary facilities at the Midwifery Training School in Hohoe.
Under the Community Based Rural Development Programme (CBRDP), the municipality has also benefited from a GH¢107,571.00 grant for a three-unit classroom block and a store at Fodome Amele and a six-unit classroom block with office, store and library at Nyagbo-Odumasi.
IMBALANCE IN GETFUND DISBURSEMENT...Chairman raises concern (PAGE 11)
THE Chairman of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Dr Kwabena Adjei, has expressed concern over the imbalance in the disbursement of the fund since its inception.
He is also worried that most of these projects were executed by unqualified contractors.
Dr Adjei who disclosed this at the first congregation of the Jasikan College of Education in the Volta Region, held for the 2007/2008 graduates, who were awarded diplomas by the University of Cape Coast noted that certain regions benefited more than others.
He noted that 96 projects were allocated to the University of Ghana, Legon, alone and most of these projects were shoddily executed, forcing the fund to spend more money in rehabilitating them.
The college has petitioned the GETFund to provide it with an assembly hall; it has thus been given an assurance that the request and others will be provided when the GETFund is able to put things right.
He assured the students that the government would do everything in its power to enhance teaching and learning in the college,
Dr Adjei advised them to stay with their books, since any misconduct on their part would mean their investment had been in vain.
The Member of Parliament for the area, who is also the Deputy Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, expressed satisfaction that the chairman of the GETFund was around to give first-hand knowledge of what happened there.
He is also worried that most of these projects were executed by unqualified contractors.
Dr Adjei who disclosed this at the first congregation of the Jasikan College of Education in the Volta Region, held for the 2007/2008 graduates, who were awarded diplomas by the University of Cape Coast noted that certain regions benefited more than others.
He noted that 96 projects were allocated to the University of Ghana, Legon, alone and most of these projects were shoddily executed, forcing the fund to spend more money in rehabilitating them.
The college has petitioned the GETFund to provide it with an assembly hall; it has thus been given an assurance that the request and others will be provided when the GETFund is able to put things right.
He assured the students that the government would do everything in its power to enhance teaching and learning in the college,
Dr Adjei advised them to stay with their books, since any misconduct on their part would mean their investment had been in vain.
The Member of Parliament for the area, who is also the Deputy Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, expressed satisfaction that the chairman of the GETFund was around to give first-hand knowledge of what happened there.
JASIKAN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION HOLDS FIRST CONGREGATION (PAGE 11)
THE Principal of the Jasikan College of Education in the Volta Region, Mr G. P. K. Wotordzor, has appealed to Parliament to speed up the legislative process for making the various colleges of education in the country tertiary institutions.
"We have done a lot on our own to push forward the dream of ‘tertiarisation’. We are, therefore, waiting for the legislature or Parliament to pass the bill that will make the colleges of education, tertiary institutions,” he said.
Mr Wotordzor made the appeal on behalf of the 38 training colleges, now colleges of education, at the first congregation of the Jasikan College of Education at Jasikan over the weekend.
In all, diplomas were awarded to 383 newly trained teachers by the University of Cape Coast, after completing their courses of study in 2007 and 2008. One person, Mr Nelson Kotoka, had Second Class Upper, while 33 had Second Class Lower, with 188 in the Third Class and 161 scoring Passes.
He said the passage of the bill would enhance effective teaching and learning in the colleges.
Mr Wotordzor appealed to the government to allow the colleges of education to admit more students to enable them to produce more teachers to fill the existing empty classrooms.
This is because there are currently a lot of schools across the country without qualified teachers, a situation which was hindering that the development of the human resource of the country.
"Therefore, I wish to appeal that the government considers a review of the quota of 900 for the colleges," he noted.
These, the principal noted, called for the expansion of facilities of the colleges to meet the present educational challenges facing the country.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Mrs Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, said the government was equipping teacher-trainees with the knowledge to impart the necessary knowledge to their pupils in the basic schools.
This is to ensure that the pupils acquired the needed skills for the advancement of the country in this world of technology, stressing that this was in line with the objectives of the National Democratic Congress in taking the education of Information Communication Technology ( ICT) to the greatest heights.
She congratulated the graduates and told them that they were indispensable professionals in the development of the country.
"The country needs a new teacher who will be able to make use of appropriate technology in teaching,” she added.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, stressed the need to clarify the tertiary status of colleges, and said all the seven colleges in the Volta Region had received their accreditation certificates for 2007, thus placing them on probation for three years.
He pledged the government‘s commitment towards ensuring that they received their tertiary status as soon as possible.
The Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, who is also the Deputy Minister of Lands and Mineral Resources, donated two sets of jerseys and two footballs to the college.
"We have done a lot on our own to push forward the dream of ‘tertiarisation’. We are, therefore, waiting for the legislature or Parliament to pass the bill that will make the colleges of education, tertiary institutions,” he said.
Mr Wotordzor made the appeal on behalf of the 38 training colleges, now colleges of education, at the first congregation of the Jasikan College of Education at Jasikan over the weekend.
In all, diplomas were awarded to 383 newly trained teachers by the University of Cape Coast, after completing their courses of study in 2007 and 2008. One person, Mr Nelson Kotoka, had Second Class Upper, while 33 had Second Class Lower, with 188 in the Third Class and 161 scoring Passes.
He said the passage of the bill would enhance effective teaching and learning in the colleges.
Mr Wotordzor appealed to the government to allow the colleges of education to admit more students to enable them to produce more teachers to fill the existing empty classrooms.
This is because there are currently a lot of schools across the country without qualified teachers, a situation which was hindering that the development of the human resource of the country.
"Therefore, I wish to appeal that the government considers a review of the quota of 900 for the colleges," he noted.
These, the principal noted, called for the expansion of facilities of the colleges to meet the present educational challenges facing the country.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Mrs Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, said the government was equipping teacher-trainees with the knowledge to impart the necessary knowledge to their pupils in the basic schools.
This is to ensure that the pupils acquired the needed skills for the advancement of the country in this world of technology, stressing that this was in line with the objectives of the National Democratic Congress in taking the education of Information Communication Technology ( ICT) to the greatest heights.
She congratulated the graduates and told them that they were indispensable professionals in the development of the country.
"The country needs a new teacher who will be able to make use of appropriate technology in teaching,” she added.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, stressed the need to clarify the tertiary status of colleges, and said all the seven colleges in the Volta Region had received their accreditation certificates for 2007, thus placing them on probation for three years.
He pledged the government‘s commitment towards ensuring that they received their tertiary status as soon as possible.
The Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, who is also the Deputy Minister of Lands and Mineral Resources, donated two sets of jerseys and two footballs to the college.
SPECTATOR DRAWS DAGGER...In Division Two game at Hohoe (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11)
The third week fixture of the Volta Regional Division Two football league between Hohoe Holy Stars F/C and Kadjebi Great Akans at Hohoe ended abruptly in the second half when one of the spectators rushed onto the field weilding a dagger.
He was, however immediately overpowered and this led to a free for all fight and the eventual end of the match. Holy Stars were then leading by two goals to nil. It was the second goal scored around the 70th minute by the Holy Stars which brought the problem.
According to an eye witness who spoke on conditions of anonymity, the man holding the knife was rushing towards supporters of Great Akans including the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akan Constituency, Mr Joseph Kwadjo Ofori, alias Wofa Paye, a patron of the club.
In fact, the match was played under protest by the Great Akans due to the host team’s inability to provide security and for changing the venue of the match.
According to the fixtures released by the Volta Regional Football Association (VRFA), the match was supposed to have been played on the St. Francis College of Education ground. This was however changed to the Evangelical Presbyterian Junior High School Park without the consent of the visiting team.
They, therefore, registered their protest in a letter to the Chairman of the VRFA in which they stated that apart from the 11th hour change of venue against FA regulations, the lack of security, and thenfact that the referee was from Hohoe.
Due to the afore-mentioned reasons, “we appeal to the FA to declare us winners in the said match and thereby award us the three points with three goals”.
They appealed to the FA to ensure that adequate security was provided them in the fourth week match against Volta Youth at Hohoe at the same venue, which is noted for rowdyism.
He was, however immediately overpowered and this led to a free for all fight and the eventual end of the match. Holy Stars were then leading by two goals to nil. It was the second goal scored around the 70th minute by the Holy Stars which brought the problem.
According to an eye witness who spoke on conditions of anonymity, the man holding the knife was rushing towards supporters of Great Akans including the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akan Constituency, Mr Joseph Kwadjo Ofori, alias Wofa Paye, a patron of the club.
In fact, the match was played under protest by the Great Akans due to the host team’s inability to provide security and for changing the venue of the match.
According to the fixtures released by the Volta Regional Football Association (VRFA), the match was supposed to have been played on the St. Francis College of Education ground. This was however changed to the Evangelical Presbyterian Junior High School Park without the consent of the visiting team.
They, therefore, registered their protest in a letter to the Chairman of the VRFA in which they stated that apart from the 11th hour change of venue against FA regulations, the lack of security, and thenfact that the referee was from Hohoe.
Due to the afore-mentioned reasons, “we appeal to the FA to declare us winners in the said match and thereby award us the three points with three goals”.
They appealed to the FA to ensure that adequate security was provided them in the fourth week match against Volta Youth at Hohoe at the same venue, which is noted for rowdyism.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
FARMERS LAUD INITIATIVE TO SUBSIDISE FERTILISER (PAGE 23)
FARMERS in the Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region have lauded government’s initiative of subsidising fertilisers.
That policy, they said, would boost food production in the country.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic at Hohoe when collecting fertilisers from the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company, the farmers led by Mr George Agbemavor of Gbi-Kpoeta, said government’s decision to absorb half of the cost was a big relief to them to increase their production this season.
Under the subsidy arrangement, the extension division of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) gives coupons to farmers in order to get access to fertilisers from selected input dealers at half the cost.
Mr Agbemavor said farmers who were engaged in rice and maize production, expressed the hope that their produce would be purchased by the Ghana School Feeding Programme to reduce the country’s over dependence on imported rice in order to conserve foreign exchange.
The Hohoe Municipal Director of MOFA, Mr Geoffrey Honu commended the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company for keeping faith with the farmers in the area through regular supply of fertilisers.
He said last year, 19,000 farmers benefited from the subsidy programme, adding that this year, 12,000 farmers had submitted their coupons for the inputs.
Mr Honu was optimistic that large-scale farmers would also be roped into the subsidy programme.
The Manager of the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company, Efo Kumah Ameyibor, said his outfit would always get the inputs ready at the right time to encourage farmers to maximise yield.
That policy, they said, would boost food production in the country.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic at Hohoe when collecting fertilisers from the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company, the farmers led by Mr George Agbemavor of Gbi-Kpoeta, said government’s decision to absorb half of the cost was a big relief to them to increase their production this season.
Under the subsidy arrangement, the extension division of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) gives coupons to farmers in order to get access to fertilisers from selected input dealers at half the cost.
Mr Agbemavor said farmers who were engaged in rice and maize production, expressed the hope that their produce would be purchased by the Ghana School Feeding Programme to reduce the country’s over dependence on imported rice in order to conserve foreign exchange.
The Hohoe Municipal Director of MOFA, Mr Geoffrey Honu commended the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company for keeping faith with the farmers in the area through regular supply of fertilisers.
He said last year, 19,000 farmers benefited from the subsidy programme, adding that this year, 12,000 farmers had submitted their coupons for the inputs.
Mr Honu was optimistic that large-scale farmers would also be roped into the subsidy programme.
The Manager of the Green Shield Agro Chemical Company, Efo Kumah Ameyibor, said his outfit would always get the inputs ready at the right time to encourage farmers to maximise yield.
Friday, August 14, 2009
AKUAFO HALL ALUMNI MARK DAY (MIRROR, PAGE 34)
From Emmanuel Modey
The Akuafo Hall Alumni Association of the University of Ghana, Legon last Wednesday held a get-together in commemoration of the 2009 Republic Day Celebration.
Attendance at the get-together was remarkably better than the previous year.
Welcoming members, the Hall Master, Reverend Dr W.S.K. Gbewonyo, acknowledged their contributions to making the hall one of the greatest on campus.
He said positive response would be given to the association’s request for 50 more rooms as part of effort to further uplift the image of the hall.
The President of the association, Dr Frederick Acheampong, briefed members on efforts being made to upgrade the hall. Towards this end, he asked for the commitment of members towards the affairs of the association.
He announced the illness of Mr G. Owusu, the treasurer, and called for the appointment of a new one in his place. Mr George B. Kwapong was duly elected. Members contributed various amounts towards the medical bills of Mr Owusu.
In his annual report, Alhaji E.A. Mahama, the General Secretary, expressed worry at the poor attendance at meetings, as well as member’s lukewarm response to the payment of dues. These, he said, did not augur well for the improvement of the hall and the association.
He noted that the association, during the year, successfully hosted the Vice Chancellor-Friends Dinner to the tune of GH¢2,865.50 whilst members who attended the dinner pledged GH¢7,000.00
Monthly dues, he said, had been revised from GH¢2.00 to GH¢5.00 and this was to take immediate effect.
In an open forum, Dr Kofi Ahmed recommended that the association must have its own website for easy access by members.
An 81-year–old retired educationist, Mr Harry Kosi Owusu, called on members to show more interest in hall affairs by buying hall souvenirs, including clothing.
The Senior Hall Tutor, Mr George Akaling–Pare, expressed the desire of the Junior Common Room (JCR) Executive to have yearly interaction with the alumni, preferably in September of each year.
The Akuafo Hall Alumni Association of the University of Ghana, Legon last Wednesday held a get-together in commemoration of the 2009 Republic Day Celebration.
Attendance at the get-together was remarkably better than the previous year.
Welcoming members, the Hall Master, Reverend Dr W.S.K. Gbewonyo, acknowledged their contributions to making the hall one of the greatest on campus.
He said positive response would be given to the association’s request for 50 more rooms as part of effort to further uplift the image of the hall.
The President of the association, Dr Frederick Acheampong, briefed members on efforts being made to upgrade the hall. Towards this end, he asked for the commitment of members towards the affairs of the association.
He announced the illness of Mr G. Owusu, the treasurer, and called for the appointment of a new one in his place. Mr George B. Kwapong was duly elected. Members contributed various amounts towards the medical bills of Mr Owusu.
In his annual report, Alhaji E.A. Mahama, the General Secretary, expressed worry at the poor attendance at meetings, as well as member’s lukewarm response to the payment of dues. These, he said, did not augur well for the improvement of the hall and the association.
He noted that the association, during the year, successfully hosted the Vice Chancellor-Friends Dinner to the tune of GH¢2,865.50 whilst members who attended the dinner pledged GH¢7,000.00
Monthly dues, he said, had been revised from GH¢2.00 to GH¢5.00 and this was to take immediate effect.
In an open forum, Dr Kofi Ahmed recommended that the association must have its own website for easy access by members.
An 81-year–old retired educationist, Mr Harry Kosi Owusu, called on members to show more interest in hall affairs by buying hall souvenirs, including clothing.
The Senior Hall Tutor, Mr George Akaling–Pare, expressed the desire of the Junior Common Room (JCR) Executive to have yearly interaction with the alumni, preferably in September of each year.
COURT RULES AGAINST OBJECTION (MIRROR, PAGE 40)
From Emmanuel Modey Ho
A Ho High Court, presided over by Justice Kofi Essel Mensah, has ruled against the preliminary objection in a case that seeks to challenge the parliamentary elections result at the Nkwanta-North Constituency in the Volta Region on December 7, 2008.
Counsel for the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr A. K. Dabi, is contending that the applicant, Dr Joseph Manboah Rockson, who was the parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), failed to comply with the mandatory provision of section18(1) of the PNDC Law 248.
The petition filed by Dr Rockson alleges corruption against the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Joseph Nayan whom he alleged, gave money to voters in seven polling stations as inducement to vote for him in the December 2008 parliamentary election .
Mr Dabi contended that the petition was premature as it was against PNDC Law 248. According to him, the petition of Dr Rockson was filed on December 24, 2008 before the result of the parliamentary election was gazette on January 5, 2009.
He insisted that the court has no jurisdiction over the petition and so the case should be dismissed.
In his ruling, Justice Essel Mensah said that it was the result of the election in the Nkwanta North Constituency that was being challenged so the court has jurisdiction to hear it.
The judge said immediately after the result of the polling stations was released, the returning officer in the presence of the candidates and their representatives publicly declared Mr Nayan as the candidate who had won the election in compliance with the law. Therefore, the court has jurisdiction to hear it.
The MP was not in court so the court decided to serve a hearing notice to him and his counsel through the Clerk of Parliament. The case has been adjourned to September 14,2009.
A Ho High Court, presided over by Justice Kofi Essel Mensah, has ruled against the preliminary objection in a case that seeks to challenge the parliamentary elections result at the Nkwanta-North Constituency in the Volta Region on December 7, 2008.
Counsel for the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr A. K. Dabi, is contending that the applicant, Dr Joseph Manboah Rockson, who was the parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), failed to comply with the mandatory provision of section18(1) of the PNDC Law 248.
The petition filed by Dr Rockson alleges corruption against the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Joseph Nayan whom he alleged, gave money to voters in seven polling stations as inducement to vote for him in the December 2008 parliamentary election .
Mr Dabi contended that the petition was premature as it was against PNDC Law 248. According to him, the petition of Dr Rockson was filed on December 24, 2008 before the result of the parliamentary election was gazette on January 5, 2009.
He insisted that the court has no jurisdiction over the petition and so the case should be dismissed.
In his ruling, Justice Essel Mensah said that it was the result of the election in the Nkwanta North Constituency that was being challenged so the court has jurisdiction to hear it.
The judge said immediately after the result of the polling stations was released, the returning officer in the presence of the candidates and their representatives publicly declared Mr Nayan as the candidate who had won the election in compliance with the law. Therefore, the court has jurisdiction to hear it.
The MP was not in court so the court decided to serve a hearing notice to him and his counsel through the Clerk of Parliament. The case has been adjourned to September 14,2009.
Monday, August 10, 2009
FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER TO BE PROSECUTED (PAGE 17)
A FORMER government appointee of the Hohoe Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region, Mr Dennis Jordor, has been referred to the law enforcement agencies for investigation and possible prosecution for allegedly misappropriating monies due the assembly.
He was alleged to have collected various sums of money from members of the public under the pretext of allocating them store rooms at the assembly’s lorry park complex.
At its first ordinary meeting this year the municipal assembly took a serious view of the issue and directed that Mr Jordor should be made to refund every pesewa he collected from the victims before any other action is taken on the issue.
With funding from the European Union, the assembly has constructed a one-storey 40-room store complex to rent to the public as a means of generating revenue. The stores on the first floor, which are the subject of the alleged misappropriation, are to be re-allocated by the assembly.
The assembly is also taking steps to retrieve 28 motorbikes shared out to friends and foot soldiers of the former Municipal Chief Executive, Mr John Peter Amewu.
The motorbikes were among others bought with the assembly’s share of the District Assembly’s Common Fund for the assembly members and the core staff of the departments under the assembly for effective work.
To ensure continuity and avoidance of wastage of public funds, the assembly has agreed to service a debt of GH¢256,859.79 owed to contractors, suppliers, zonal council staff as well as counterpart funds.
According to the assembly, the measure was aimed at preventing court action to be taken against the contractors and suppliers by some of their debtors.
To ensure ready accommodation for workers posted to the municipality as a result of the decentralisation process, the assembly decided to provide funds to purchase low-cost houses on sale for their occupants, most of whom have retired from active service.
The assembly has also adopted imposition of rates for the current financial year.
He was alleged to have collected various sums of money from members of the public under the pretext of allocating them store rooms at the assembly’s lorry park complex.
At its first ordinary meeting this year the municipal assembly took a serious view of the issue and directed that Mr Jordor should be made to refund every pesewa he collected from the victims before any other action is taken on the issue.
With funding from the European Union, the assembly has constructed a one-storey 40-room store complex to rent to the public as a means of generating revenue. The stores on the first floor, which are the subject of the alleged misappropriation, are to be re-allocated by the assembly.
The assembly is also taking steps to retrieve 28 motorbikes shared out to friends and foot soldiers of the former Municipal Chief Executive, Mr John Peter Amewu.
The motorbikes were among others bought with the assembly’s share of the District Assembly’s Common Fund for the assembly members and the core staff of the departments under the assembly for effective work.
To ensure continuity and avoidance of wastage of public funds, the assembly has agreed to service a debt of GH¢256,859.79 owed to contractors, suppliers, zonal council staff as well as counterpart funds.
According to the assembly, the measure was aimed at preventing court action to be taken against the contractors and suppliers by some of their debtors.
To ensure ready accommodation for workers posted to the municipality as a result of the decentralisation process, the assembly decided to provide funds to purchase low-cost houses on sale for their occupants, most of whom have retired from active service.
The assembly has also adopted imposition of rates for the current financial year.
Friday, August 7, 2009
TARRING OF VR ROADS TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER (PAGE 21)
CONSTRUCTION work on the Eastern corridor road which passes through Asikuma to Damanko in the Volta Region will begin in September, this year.
The project is in fulfilment of an election promise made by the National Democratic Congress government (NDC).
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode said this when he addressed the first ordinary meeting of the Hohoe Municipal Assembly at Hohoe last Wednesday.
He gave the assurance that all pre-election promises the government made to the people in the region would be fulfilled.
Mr Amenowode mentioned some of the promises as the tarring of the Tafi Mador-Kpando Kudgra, Legba Atome-Vakpo Fu and Ve Deme-Leklebi Dafor roads, adding that the “Alavanyo-Nkonya road which is a unification road, would also be tarred”.
He gave the assurance that the Hohoe town roads including the one leading to the Hohoe Evangelical Presbyterian Senior High School as well as those going to the food growing areas, such as Ayoma, Baika and Likpe would all receive attention.
Mr Amenowode said the road projects were part of the vision of making the Volta Region the best place to visit since it was the only unique region that had all the ethnic groups as well as the forefront of the country's community-based eco-tourism destinations.
“People in authority should be highly accountable for every pesewa entrusted to them to facilitate the development process of the region,” he said.
The regional minister commended the Hohoe Municipal Assembly for being among the six districts out of the 18 in the region to reach the assessment criteria to assess the District Assemblies Development Fund.
"For this laudable achievements, you are to benefit from a grant of $400,000,” he said.
Mr Amenowode charged the people in the municipality to make education their priority, stressing that the authorities find ways of discouraging schoolchildren from patronising video shows during school hours.
The project is in fulfilment of an election promise made by the National Democratic Congress government (NDC).
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode said this when he addressed the first ordinary meeting of the Hohoe Municipal Assembly at Hohoe last Wednesday.
He gave the assurance that all pre-election promises the government made to the people in the region would be fulfilled.
Mr Amenowode mentioned some of the promises as the tarring of the Tafi Mador-Kpando Kudgra, Legba Atome-Vakpo Fu and Ve Deme-Leklebi Dafor roads, adding that the “Alavanyo-Nkonya road which is a unification road, would also be tarred”.
He gave the assurance that the Hohoe town roads including the one leading to the Hohoe Evangelical Presbyterian Senior High School as well as those going to the food growing areas, such as Ayoma, Baika and Likpe would all receive attention.
Mr Amenowode said the road projects were part of the vision of making the Volta Region the best place to visit since it was the only unique region that had all the ethnic groups as well as the forefront of the country's community-based eco-tourism destinations.
“People in authority should be highly accountable for every pesewa entrusted to them to facilitate the development process of the region,” he said.
The regional minister commended the Hohoe Municipal Assembly for being among the six districts out of the 18 in the region to reach the assessment criteria to assess the District Assemblies Development Fund.
"For this laudable achievements, you are to benefit from a grant of $400,000,” he said.
Mr Amenowode charged the people in the municipality to make education their priority, stressing that the authorities find ways of discouraging schoolchildren from patronising video shows during school hours.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
ACCOUNTANT DONATES TO ORPHANAGE (PAGE 20)
A Senior accountant of the Hohoe Municipal Hospital, Mr Valentine Fiah-Tse, has presented assorted items worth GH¢350 to the School of Hope Orphanage at Gbi Kledzo, near Hohoe in the Volta Region.
The items included two bags of rice, 10 bags of purified water, cooking oil, fruits, detergents and exercise books.
The donation is the third by Mr Fiah-Tse to assist the poor and needy in society.
Receiving the items, Madam Elizabeth Kusi Mensah, the school mother, commended Mr Fiah-Tse for also registering the children under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The items included two bags of rice, 10 bags of purified water, cooking oil, fruits, detergents and exercise books.
The donation is the third by Mr Fiah-Tse to assist the poor and needy in society.
Receiving the items, Madam Elizabeth Kusi Mensah, the school mother, commended Mr Fiah-Tse for also registering the children under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
2 SENTENCED TO DEATH (PAGE 3)
THE Ho High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Kofi Essel Mensah, has sentenced two persons to death by hanging in two separate trials.
The convicts, Klu Amewuga, alias Alometal, 32, a farmer, and Ofoi Soti, alias Abednego, 42, were both charged with murder, to which they pleaded not guilty.
But a seven-member jury overturned their pleas and returned a unanimous verdict of guilty for their heinous crimes.
In the first trial, Amewuga was said to have stabbed to death one George Duida at Live, near Akatsi in the Volta Region, on January 22, 2005 and disappeared.
According to the facts, Amewuga broke into a poultry farm and stole 10 fowls around 8.30 a.m. on the said date but luck eluded him when the owner spotted him.
The owner shouted for help and a group of people who were around gave Amewuga a hot chase.
Amewuga, who was being chased by Duida, turned and stabbed Duida three times in the chest with a knife.
The pursuers got scared and dispersed after Amewuga had dared them to come forward.
Duida was carried to the St Paul Clinic at Akatsi for treatment, where he died the following day.
On March 10, 2005, Amewuga was spotted by an eyewitness of the stabbing incident in an Aflao-bound vehicle .
When Amewuga realised that he had been identified, he made frantic efforts to escape again but this time he was overpowered, arrested and handed over to the police at Aflao.
In the second trial, Soti was charged with murdering one Thomas Yao Adamu at Kpando Torgome about 7.30 p.m. on December 26, 2005.
According to the prosecution, Soti and his wife of 14 years, Madam Julie Amagbley, had a misunderstanding, which compelled the wife to leave the house at Kpando.
She was alleged to have entered into an amorous relationship with Adamu at Torgome.
Soti, who could not bear the behaviour of the wife, began monitoring her movement.
He traced them to the house of a friend of the deceased’s, one Yao Kudedze, where a scuffle ensued.
During the fight, Soti stabbed Adamu to death and handed himself over to the police later.
The convicts, Klu Amewuga, alias Alometal, 32, a farmer, and Ofoi Soti, alias Abednego, 42, were both charged with murder, to which they pleaded not guilty.
But a seven-member jury overturned their pleas and returned a unanimous verdict of guilty for their heinous crimes.
In the first trial, Amewuga was said to have stabbed to death one George Duida at Live, near Akatsi in the Volta Region, on January 22, 2005 and disappeared.
According to the facts, Amewuga broke into a poultry farm and stole 10 fowls around 8.30 a.m. on the said date but luck eluded him when the owner spotted him.
The owner shouted for help and a group of people who were around gave Amewuga a hot chase.
Amewuga, who was being chased by Duida, turned and stabbed Duida three times in the chest with a knife.
The pursuers got scared and dispersed after Amewuga had dared them to come forward.
Duida was carried to the St Paul Clinic at Akatsi for treatment, where he died the following day.
On March 10, 2005, Amewuga was spotted by an eyewitness of the stabbing incident in an Aflao-bound vehicle .
When Amewuga realised that he had been identified, he made frantic efforts to escape again but this time he was overpowered, arrested and handed over to the police at Aflao.
In the second trial, Soti was charged with murdering one Thomas Yao Adamu at Kpando Torgome about 7.30 p.m. on December 26, 2005.
According to the prosecution, Soti and his wife of 14 years, Madam Julie Amagbley, had a misunderstanding, which compelled the wife to leave the house at Kpando.
She was alleged to have entered into an amorous relationship with Adamu at Torgome.
Soti, who could not bear the behaviour of the wife, began monitoring her movement.
He traced them to the house of a friend of the deceased’s, one Yao Kudedze, where a scuffle ensued.
During the fight, Soti stabbed Adamu to death and handed himself over to the police later.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
WELDER TO DIE FOR MURDER (PAGE 38)
Kumah Nudzifor, a 41-year-old welder based in Ho in the Volta Region, has been sentenced to death by hanging . He was found guilty of murder by a seven–member jury at the Ho High Court presided over by Justice Kofi Essel Mensah.
He committed the crime on May 16, 2002. The convict who pleaded not guilty was alleged to have stabbed his brother, Samuel Dorgbefu, 23, with a knife to death on the spot at their residence at Dome, a suburb of Ho.
According to the facts of the case, both Nudzifor and Dorgbefu were siblings of the same father living in their respective houses on the same plot of land owned by their late father, Senyo Dorgbefu at Ho- Dome, which was entrusted in the care of Nudzifor’s mother.
The two, who had been staying on the land since 2001, were always quarrelling over the ownership of the plot of land leading to the point where Nudzifor charged Dorgbefu on May 15, 2002 of planting juju on the land.
Nudzifor then went and brought in a fetish priest the following day to dig out the juju. When Dorgbefu was hinted, he did not take kindly to this so he went to demand their exit from the house.
When they refused, Dorgbefu overturned the table on which the items for the rituals were placed. This infuriated Nudzifor, who picked the knife being used for the rituals and stabbed Dorgbefu in the chest and he fell dead on the spot.
He committed the crime on May 16, 2002. The convict who pleaded not guilty was alleged to have stabbed his brother, Samuel Dorgbefu, 23, with a knife to death on the spot at their residence at Dome, a suburb of Ho.
According to the facts of the case, both Nudzifor and Dorgbefu were siblings of the same father living in their respective houses on the same plot of land owned by their late father, Senyo Dorgbefu at Ho- Dome, which was entrusted in the care of Nudzifor’s mother.
The two, who had been staying on the land since 2001, were always quarrelling over the ownership of the plot of land leading to the point where Nudzifor charged Dorgbefu on May 15, 2002 of planting juju on the land.
Nudzifor then went and brought in a fetish priest the following day to dig out the juju. When Dorgbefu was hinted, he did not take kindly to this so he went to demand their exit from the house.
When they refused, Dorgbefu overturned the table on which the items for the rituals were placed. This infuriated Nudzifor, who picked the knife being used for the rituals and stabbed Dorgbefu in the chest and he fell dead on the spot.
Friday, July 31, 2009
KASEC STUDENTS PROTEST OVER TRANSFER OF HEADMASTER (PAGE 47)
Students of the Kadjebi Asato Senior High School (KASEC) in the Volta Region have organised a peaceful demonstration to protest against the reported transfer of their Headmaster, Mr Musa Yamba Issahaku, from the school.
In a spontaneous reaction of “No” after the announcement at the morning devotion, the students numbering about 700, held placards with the inscriptions “ No Yamba, No KASEC, No Anniversary” and marched around the compound to display their disagreement with the transfer.
The staff of the school, led by the Assistant Headmaster in charge of Academic and the Chaplain, Mr Ben Owusu and Reverend A. K. Ofori, respectively, had a hard time in prevailing upon the student body not to take to the streets.
In the process, only the boys prefect and the girls prefect, the four, namely Francis Asare, Sylvester Ayivi, Leilla Abdella and Peace Avornyo, accompanied by the two teachers, Mr Owusu and Rev. Ofori, left the compound to present their petition to the Kadjebi District Director of Education, Mr D.M.K Dotse for onward transmission to the Director–General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Bernnerman Mensah.
In their petition, signed by 14 prefects, the students called on the authorities to allow the headmaster to be with them for their 50th anniversary celebration of the school which falls on October 3, 2009.
According to them, the hardworking and disciplined headmaster had been the brain behind the preparation of the celebration and it would be unfair to move him out of the school before the scheduled date.
According to the letter of transfer signed by the director-general of the GES, the headmaster was to hand over to his successor by September 1, 2009.
A cross-section of the tutors interviewed said they were not against the transfer but they pleaded for a bit of time.
The Headmaster, Mr Issahaku, who was posted to the school in 2003 and lifted the school from the doldrums to category “B”, according to the national rating, said in an interview that he was at the convenience of the director-general.
In a spontaneous reaction of “No” after the announcement at the morning devotion, the students numbering about 700, held placards with the inscriptions “ No Yamba, No KASEC, No Anniversary” and marched around the compound to display their disagreement with the transfer.
The staff of the school, led by the Assistant Headmaster in charge of Academic and the Chaplain, Mr Ben Owusu and Reverend A. K. Ofori, respectively, had a hard time in prevailing upon the student body not to take to the streets.
In the process, only the boys prefect and the girls prefect, the four, namely Francis Asare, Sylvester Ayivi, Leilla Abdella and Peace Avornyo, accompanied by the two teachers, Mr Owusu and Rev. Ofori, left the compound to present their petition to the Kadjebi District Director of Education, Mr D.M.K Dotse for onward transmission to the Director–General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Bernnerman Mensah.
In their petition, signed by 14 prefects, the students called on the authorities to allow the headmaster to be with them for their 50th anniversary celebration of the school which falls on October 3, 2009.
According to them, the hardworking and disciplined headmaster had been the brain behind the preparation of the celebration and it would be unfair to move him out of the school before the scheduled date.
According to the letter of transfer signed by the director-general of the GES, the headmaster was to hand over to his successor by September 1, 2009.
A cross-section of the tutors interviewed said they were not against the transfer but they pleaded for a bit of time.
The Headmaster, Mr Issahaku, who was posted to the school in 2003 and lifted the school from the doldrums to category “B”, according to the national rating, said in an interview that he was at the convenience of the director-general.
Friday, July 24, 2009
ASUBONTENG RURAL BANK MAINTAINS LEADERSHIP (PAGE 29)
THE Worawora Asubonten Rural Bank Limited in the Jasikan District in the Volta Region has attained a position as the best managed rural/community bank in the country.
This position was bestowed on the Bank by the ARB Apex Bank Limited, the controlling body of the rural banks, and was announced by Abusuapanin Wilson Seth Antwi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the bank at Worawora over the weekend
He said by dint of hard work and sacrifice their bank had been able to stand tall out of the 124 rural/community Banks under the ARB Apex Bank.
Abusuapanin Antwi noted that the bank had recorded a net profit of GH¢108,077 as at December 31, 2008 as compared to that of GH¢73,769 as at the end of 2007.
“This is a remarkable achievement of 47 per cent over that of 2007 in a year of stiff competition and falling interest rates, he said.”
The chairman informed the shareholders that their bank was among the few rural banks that had been able to increase their stated capital to the minimum of GH¢ 150,000 required by the Bank of Ghana.
“Your bank’s stated capital is now GH¢151,913 as compared to GH¢50,863 in 2007,” he announced. And after 10 years of operations, the bank “has decided to reward our loyal shareholders with GH¢ 0.41 per share as at the end of last year,” he added.
The Supervising Manager of the bank, Mr Joshua Odoom, expressed his gratitude to the bank’s customers and staff for their contribution to the attainment of such enviable position.
He, therefore, appealed to the bank’s customers to buy more shares even though the bank had reached where it was.
Mr Odoom commended the women at their Dambia, Kpando and Hohoe agencies for patronising their micro-finance scheme, adding that the quicker they paid back the more they would benefit.
This position was bestowed on the Bank by the ARB Apex Bank Limited, the controlling body of the rural banks, and was announced by Abusuapanin Wilson Seth Antwi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the bank at Worawora over the weekend
He said by dint of hard work and sacrifice their bank had been able to stand tall out of the 124 rural/community Banks under the ARB Apex Bank.
Abusuapanin Antwi noted that the bank had recorded a net profit of GH¢108,077 as at December 31, 2008 as compared to that of GH¢73,769 as at the end of 2007.
“This is a remarkable achievement of 47 per cent over that of 2007 in a year of stiff competition and falling interest rates, he said.”
The chairman informed the shareholders that their bank was among the few rural banks that had been able to increase their stated capital to the minimum of GH¢ 150,000 required by the Bank of Ghana.
“Your bank’s stated capital is now GH¢151,913 as compared to GH¢50,863 in 2007,” he announced. And after 10 years of operations, the bank “has decided to reward our loyal shareholders with GH¢ 0.41 per share as at the end of last year,” he added.
The Supervising Manager of the bank, Mr Joshua Odoom, expressed his gratitude to the bank’s customers and staff for their contribution to the attainment of such enviable position.
He, therefore, appealed to the bank’s customers to buy more shares even though the bank had reached where it was.
Mr Odoom commended the women at their Dambia, Kpando and Hohoe agencies for patronising their micro-finance scheme, adding that the quicker they paid back the more they would benefit.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ATTEND WORKSHOP (PAGE 39)
HEALTHCARE providers from the Jasikan and Worawora hospitals in the Jasikan District have attended a day’s workshop at Worawora.
The workshop, on the theme: “ Best practices in wound management”, was attended by about 70 participants including nurses, theatre staff, ward nurses and pharmacy staff.
The workshop sought to equip the care providers with the necessary skills and best practices in wound management.
Closing the workshop, the acting Medical Superintendent of the Worawora Government Hospital, Dr Pius Nanabanyin Mensah, said the hospital was seriously understaffed.
He said currently, there was only one medical officer and four nurses out of the required staff of 60.
According to him, the only medical officer handled about 200 outpatients daily.
Dr Mensah said infrastructure at the hospital had seen no repairs or renovation in the last 50 years.
He said to ensure that work progressed at the hospital,the management of the facility had used part of its internally generated revenue to refurbish the theatre.
Dr Mensah expressed the hope that the participants would apply what they had been taught at the workshop and ensure that their patients were healed properly within the shortest possible time.
The workshop, on the theme: “ Best practices in wound management”, was attended by about 70 participants including nurses, theatre staff, ward nurses and pharmacy staff.
The workshop sought to equip the care providers with the necessary skills and best practices in wound management.
Closing the workshop, the acting Medical Superintendent of the Worawora Government Hospital, Dr Pius Nanabanyin Mensah, said the hospital was seriously understaffed.
He said currently, there was only one medical officer and four nurses out of the required staff of 60.
According to him, the only medical officer handled about 200 outpatients daily.
Dr Mensah said infrastructure at the hospital had seen no repairs or renovation in the last 50 years.
He said to ensure that work progressed at the hospital,the management of the facility had used part of its internally generated revenue to refurbish the theatre.
Dr Mensah expressed the hope that the participants would apply what they had been taught at the workshop and ensure that their patients were healed properly within the shortest possible time.
Monday, July 20, 2009
KADJEBI HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME NEEDS CLAIMS MANAGER (PAGE 20)
THE absence of a substantive manager and a claims manager is threatening to erode the gains chalked up by the Kadjebi District Health Insurance Scheme in the Volta Region.
The scheme also has no board to provide guidelines for its operations.
This picture was painted at the Second Saints Day Celebration at the Mary Theresa Hospital at Dodi-Papase in the Kadjebi District last Wednesday, during which 17 employees were rewarded.
The Administrator of the hospital, Mr Stannard Issah Mahama, noted that if the scheme derailed, it would be a big blow to the district where about 87 per cent of the people were NHIS card holders and poor farmers.
He said the hospital, which is 46 years old, had brought succour to its clients in the rural areas, claiming that last two years the facility recorded 543 deliveries without any loss of life.
Mr Mahama expressed concern over the fact that the hospital was operating without qualified health personnel.
For its part, he said, the management of the hospital had instituted incentive packages to attract and retain such personnel and it was sponsoring midwives and nurses in nurses training colleges in the country.
The administrator expressed happiness that the management had secured the services of two doctors, a Ghanaian and a Nigerian.
He called for the early completion of the hospital mortuary and the theatre project.
The Director of the Jasikan Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Kofi Appiah, commended the staff of the hospital for offering their best in trying conditions.
He however bemoaned refusal of some doctors and nurses to accept posting to the rural areas and assured them that although they might not be confortable and rich in such deprived communities, the patients they served would carry them in their hearts as treasures for generations.
The 17 workers who were rewarded for their dedicated services and hard work received various items, ranging from table-top fridges, cooking utensils and blenders.
Mr Charles Gadzeah, a Laboratory Technician, was adjudged the overall best worker.
The scheme also has no board to provide guidelines for its operations.
This picture was painted at the Second Saints Day Celebration at the Mary Theresa Hospital at Dodi-Papase in the Kadjebi District last Wednesday, during which 17 employees were rewarded.
The Administrator of the hospital, Mr Stannard Issah Mahama, noted that if the scheme derailed, it would be a big blow to the district where about 87 per cent of the people were NHIS card holders and poor farmers.
He said the hospital, which is 46 years old, had brought succour to its clients in the rural areas, claiming that last two years the facility recorded 543 deliveries without any loss of life.
Mr Mahama expressed concern over the fact that the hospital was operating without qualified health personnel.
For its part, he said, the management of the hospital had instituted incentive packages to attract and retain such personnel and it was sponsoring midwives and nurses in nurses training colleges in the country.
The administrator expressed happiness that the management had secured the services of two doctors, a Ghanaian and a Nigerian.
He called for the early completion of the hospital mortuary and the theatre project.
The Director of the Jasikan Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Kofi Appiah, commended the staff of the hospital for offering their best in trying conditions.
He however bemoaned refusal of some doctors and nurses to accept posting to the rural areas and assured them that although they might not be confortable and rich in such deprived communities, the patients they served would carry them in their hearts as treasures for generations.
The 17 workers who were rewarded for their dedicated services and hard work received various items, ranging from table-top fridges, cooking utensils and blenders.
Mr Charles Gadzeah, a Laboratory Technician, was adjudged the overall best worker.
74 PASS OUT OF TRADES SCHOOL (PAGE 14)
Seventy-Four young men and women have passed out of the Evangelical Presbyterian Trades Training Centre (EPTTC) at Alavanyo Kpeme in the Hohoe District of the Volta Region to join the job market this year.
This was after undergoing a three-year course in various vocational subjects.
Some of the courses were Electrical, Engineering and Installation, Building/Construction, Dressmaking/Fashion Designing, Catering, Office Practice/Computer Studies and Carpentry/Joinery.
At the passing-out ceremony, the Manager of EPTTC, Mr Seth Yeboah, said after their training, the graduates had acquired the necessary skills to stand on their own, form co-operatives or join various industries.
He lamented that apart from the salaries of the staff which the government paid, the cost of funding the provision of all other infrastructure for academic work was borne by the E. P. Church and the students themselves.
The manager of the centre said apart from the dormitories for both males and females, the classrooms and a bungalow for the manager, the centre was constructing an administrative office complex, which is nearing completion.
About GH¢25,000 has been spent so far on the complex, which contains an administration block, a library and a computer laboratory.
Mr Yeboah said the E. P. Church provided part of the cost, while the centre also used part of its internally generated funds to support the project.
He explained that the centre generated funds from jobs undertaken by the various departments.
The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Victor Herman Condobbrey, extolled the vital role of technical and vocational education towards the development of the nation.
In view of this, he said, the government had restructured the educational system emphasising technical and vocational education in order that by the time the students were out of school, they would have acquired a vocation that would make them employable.
“Tradesmen and artisans were regarded highly in society until formal education was introduced but they are not valued now,” he regretted.
He said technical/vocational education could not be underestimated in the country’s development, since the quest to attain a middle-income status by 2015 depended on it.
An appeal for funds to complete the administrative complex yielded GH¢350.
Deserving graduates were presented with various prizes.
This was after undergoing a three-year course in various vocational subjects.
Some of the courses were Electrical, Engineering and Installation, Building/Construction, Dressmaking/Fashion Designing, Catering, Office Practice/Computer Studies and Carpentry/Joinery.
At the passing-out ceremony, the Manager of EPTTC, Mr Seth Yeboah, said after their training, the graduates had acquired the necessary skills to stand on their own, form co-operatives or join various industries.
He lamented that apart from the salaries of the staff which the government paid, the cost of funding the provision of all other infrastructure for academic work was borne by the E. P. Church and the students themselves.
The manager of the centre said apart from the dormitories for both males and females, the classrooms and a bungalow for the manager, the centre was constructing an administrative office complex, which is nearing completion.
About GH¢25,000 has been spent so far on the complex, which contains an administration block, a library and a computer laboratory.
Mr Yeboah said the E. P. Church provided part of the cost, while the centre also used part of its internally generated funds to support the project.
He explained that the centre generated funds from jobs undertaken by the various departments.
The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Victor Herman Condobbrey, extolled the vital role of technical and vocational education towards the development of the nation.
In view of this, he said, the government had restructured the educational system emphasising technical and vocational education in order that by the time the students were out of school, they would have acquired a vocation that would make them employable.
“Tradesmen and artisans were regarded highly in society until formal education was introduced but they are not valued now,” he regretted.
He said technical/vocational education could not be underestimated in the country’s development, since the quest to attain a middle-income status by 2015 depended on it.
An appeal for funds to complete the administrative complex yielded GH¢350.
Deserving graduates were presented with various prizes.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
BODY SET UP ON CHILDREN'S SURVIVAL IN HOHOE (PAGE 35)
THE Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region has set up a nine-member body to address issues relating to the survival of children,in view of the upsurge of child abuse cases in the area.
The nine-member committee will champion the “Learn without fear campaign” set in motion with the assistance of PLAN Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to gradually combat the phenomenon.
Members of the committee, under the Chairmanship of the Hohoe Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Bridget Dede Kumah, were inducted into office at a ceremony to commemorate this year’s African Union Day of the African Child at Hohoe.
Speaking at the durbar, the Volta Regional Officer of PLAN Ghana, Mr Eric Ayamba, said children in schools were subjected to all forms of sexual abuse which negatively affected their education.
The sexual harassment or abuse of girls, who are the most vulnerable, is being attacked globally under the theme: “Stop Child Sexual Abuse Now, Let Kids be Kids”.
Mr Ayamba expressed regret that most of the girls were compelled by poverty and lack of parental control to surrender to those forms of abuse leading to premature sex.
He, therefore, called on all allied forces in the municipality to join in the fight till the menace was completely eradicated from the area.
The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Herman Condoberry, in his inaugural address, said the day was set aside by the former Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the Africa Union (AU), in 1971, in memory of the children who lost their lives in Soweto, South Africa while protesting against the inequality in standards of their education, compared with their white peers.
He said the rights of children had been abused and relegated to the background or ignored in spite of several legislation passed to that effect.
“The incessant flogging as well as inadequate and improper care given to our children have negative effects on their health, mental capacity and physical development,” he said.
Mr Condoberry called on all and sundry to ensure that children, who were expected to develop into responsible adults, were given all the necessities for their development.
He promised that the municipal assembly would collaborate with the committee.
The nine-member committee will champion the “Learn without fear campaign” set in motion with the assistance of PLAN Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to gradually combat the phenomenon.
Members of the committee, under the Chairmanship of the Hohoe Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Bridget Dede Kumah, were inducted into office at a ceremony to commemorate this year’s African Union Day of the African Child at Hohoe.
Speaking at the durbar, the Volta Regional Officer of PLAN Ghana, Mr Eric Ayamba, said children in schools were subjected to all forms of sexual abuse which negatively affected their education.
The sexual harassment or abuse of girls, who are the most vulnerable, is being attacked globally under the theme: “Stop Child Sexual Abuse Now, Let Kids be Kids”.
Mr Ayamba expressed regret that most of the girls were compelled by poverty and lack of parental control to surrender to those forms of abuse leading to premature sex.
He, therefore, called on all allied forces in the municipality to join in the fight till the menace was completely eradicated from the area.
The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Herman Condoberry, in his inaugural address, said the day was set aside by the former Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the Africa Union (AU), in 1971, in memory of the children who lost their lives in Soweto, South Africa while protesting against the inequality in standards of their education, compared with their white peers.
He said the rights of children had been abused and relegated to the background or ignored in spite of several legislation passed to that effect.
“The incessant flogging as well as inadequate and improper care given to our children have negative effects on their health, mental capacity and physical development,” he said.
Mr Condoberry called on all and sundry to ensure that children, who were expected to develop into responsible adults, were given all the necessities for their development.
He promised that the municipal assembly would collaborate with the committee.
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