President John Evans Attah Mills has entreated Christians to be steadfast in their intercession for the leadership of the country so that the actions and inaction of government will be a reflection of the will of God.
He said God could not be left out in the quest for national development, since He gives the power to become prosperous.
President Mills said the fear of God must be the standard for every government, adding that without that, there could be no meaningful development.
He said this when he gave an address at an inter-denominational church service held yesterday at the Ho Jubilee Park to climax his three-day visit to the Volta Region.
The prayers of Ghanaians, he said, had made the nation peaceful for the past years, adding that God, who had been the help of the nation in times past, must continue to be the hope and anchor for the years to come.
“It is only when we bank our hopes on God and continue to intercede for this nation and its leaders for them to do what God pleases, can we achieve what we all crave for,” he stressed.
Preaching the sermon, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P.) Church, Rt. Rev. Francis Amenu, said every nation and its leaders had challenges that they had to contend with.
He said there was the need therefore to remember that it was in remaining focused and resolute that success could be achieved.
He entreated the President to remain focused and committed to the promises made to Ghanaians even in the face of stiff opposition.
Rev. Amenu stressed the need for Ghanaians to be united despite the diversity in order to harness a common force towards the achievement of the national cause.
He also called on the clergy to provide the needed support and spiritual guidance that would push the nation forward rather than resorting to parochialism and acts that did not work in the national interest.
He called on the government to support the genuine effort of churches in development and warned against the culture of seeking ad-hoc solutions to the problems that confronted the nation.
Prayers were said for the prosperity of the nation, against road accidents and armed robbery and against the drug menace.
Monday, April 20, 2009
LET'S UPHOLD PROBITY ...Prez urges Ghanaians (LEAD STORY)
President John Evans Atta Mills has charged all Ghanaians to uphold the virtues of probity, accountability, justice and fairness, saying that “we need to uphold these virtues and qualities that make a nation”.
He reiterated his resolve to deal swiftly and decisively with any member of his administration who fell foul of the law.
Addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Volta Region in Ho as part of his three-day working visit to the region, the President also made it clear that he would not shield any member of the previous regime from justice if it was found that anyone had breached the laws governing the office that he or she occupied as a custodian of the nation.
The tour was also meant to thank the people of the region for voting for him and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the December 2008 polls.
Chiefs from all over the region converged on the Jubilee Park in Ho last Saturday in what appeared to be one of the most colourful durbars held in recent times, with a varied display of rich tradition and culture through dressing, music and dance.
President Mills underscored the need to restore the trust that the populace had in government back to where it belonged, saying it was a duty that a conscientious
He reiterated his resolve to deal swiftly and decisively with any member of his administration who fell foul of the law.
Addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Volta Region in Ho as part of his three-day working visit to the region, the President also made it clear that he would not shield any member of the previous regime from justice if it was found that anyone had breached the laws governing the office that he or she occupied as a custodian of the nation.
The tour was also meant to thank the people of the region for voting for him and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the December 2008 polls.
Chiefs from all over the region converged on the Jubilee Park in Ho last Saturday in what appeared to be one of the most colourful durbars held in recent times, with a varied display of rich tradition and culture through dressing, music and dance.
President Mills underscored the need to restore the trust that the populace had in government back to where it belonged, saying it was a duty that a conscientious
Sunday, April 19, 2009
TWO REMANDED FOR POSSESSING HUMAN PARTS (MIRROR, PAGE 34)
From: Emmanuel Modey, Kadjebi
Two suspects found in possession of human parts were last Thursday remanded in prison custody by the Kadjebi District Magistrate’s Court in the Volta Region presided over by Mr Stanilaus Amaniepo.
Reuben Kofi Angmor, 63, and Togbe Goka, 67, pleaded not guilty and are to re-appear before the court on April 23.
Prosecuting, Inspector Lawrence Awuku of the Kadjebi Police said the two confessed that the parts were to be used for curative purposes.
According to the prosecutor, Angmor, from Krobo-Odumase in the Eastern Region, who was suffering from the Parkinson’s disease, was introduced by one John to Goka, a herbalist at Dodi Aboabo, for treatment.
Inspector Awuku said Goka requested for a dove to commence treatment but later Angmor requested the herbalist to perform some other rituals again for him to become rich in addition to the treatment.
To this request, Inspector Awuku said Angmor stated that Goka asked for human parts, which he could not provide. However, he said, Goka assured him of getting some for him through "Maame Water" from India, from whom he gets his powers.
Consequently, on March 14, 2009, when Angmor came to Dodi Amanfrom in the Kadjebi District to ascertain whether Goka had got the parts from India, the people around became suspicious of the clandestine moves of the two and arrested them, and together with a travelling bag they were holding they were handed over to the Dodi-Papase Police.
Inspector Awuku said when the bag was opened it was found to contain human skulls and dried bones.
During interrogation, Angmor claimed that the contents, to be used for ritual purposes, belonged to Goka whilst Goka also said the bag was brought to him by Angmor from Accra.
Two suspects found in possession of human parts were last Thursday remanded in prison custody by the Kadjebi District Magistrate’s Court in the Volta Region presided over by Mr Stanilaus Amaniepo.
Reuben Kofi Angmor, 63, and Togbe Goka, 67, pleaded not guilty and are to re-appear before the court on April 23.
Prosecuting, Inspector Lawrence Awuku of the Kadjebi Police said the two confessed that the parts were to be used for curative purposes.
According to the prosecutor, Angmor, from Krobo-Odumase in the Eastern Region, who was suffering from the Parkinson’s disease, was introduced by one John to Goka, a herbalist at Dodi Aboabo, for treatment.
Inspector Awuku said Goka requested for a dove to commence treatment but later Angmor requested the herbalist to perform some other rituals again for him to become rich in addition to the treatment.
To this request, Inspector Awuku said Angmor stated that Goka asked for human parts, which he could not provide. However, he said, Goka assured him of getting some for him through "Maame Water" from India, from whom he gets his powers.
Consequently, on March 14, 2009, when Angmor came to Dodi Amanfrom in the Kadjebi District to ascertain whether Goka had got the parts from India, the people around became suspicious of the clandestine moves of the two and arrested them, and together with a travelling bag they were holding they were handed over to the Dodi-Papase Police.
Inspector Awuku said when the bag was opened it was found to contain human skulls and dried bones.
During interrogation, Angmor claimed that the contents, to be used for ritual purposes, belonged to Goka whilst Goka also said the bag was brought to him by Angmor from Accra.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
ADOPT MORE USEFUL, IMAGINATIVE TEACHING METHODS — Teachers urged (PAGE 11)
THE Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Mawutor Avoke, has called on teachers to adopt more useful and imaginative methods of teaching in the face of rapid technological advancement to match the learning styles of the students they are handling today.
He observed that the 20th century approaches, styles of teaching and assessment regimes were different and these should not be imposed on the mode of learning of the 21st century student since that resulted in a situation where the students became disinterested in the learning processes in class and consequently that promoted behavioral problems.
Professor Avoke was delivering a speech as the guest of honour at the second congregation of the Saint Francis College of Education at Hohoe in the Volta Region. It was on the theme "Modern Approaches to Teaching: The Role of the Basic School Teacher".
In all, 193 newly trained teachers graduated after completing their three-year courses with the best grade being 2nd Class Upper.
Professor Avoke noted that "what teachers fail to realise is that the learning style of students today is different from what it used to be 20 years ago because their approaches and strategies of learning had changed considerably but what had not changed was their mode of assessment and the teaching styles adopted by many teachers who are products of earlier generation".
He noted that teachers had to adapt very quickly to methods which would be relevant in the classrooms in the face of the rapid technological advancement.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor, therefore, noted that the training given to the teachers at the College of Education level should be structured in a manner capable of equipping newly trained teachers with the best preparation for supporting the learning needs of the students.
Prof. Avoke said the introduction of new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the classroom was stressful to some teachers who had fallen out of step owing to their reluctance to move with the pace of development.
"As such, that knowledge about technology has ramification for teaching and learning," he said, adding that, it was becoming increasingly clear that today’s teachers require a different set of skills to be relevant, particularly to ICT related learning environment where teachers have a responsibility to facilitate learning".
“He said, as teachers, you had the responsibilities of nurturing and moulding the students to be open-minded and inquisitive since in this era, the teachers traditional role of imparting knowledge alone has now become an archaic model.’’
For his part, the Bishop of the Ho Diocese, His Lordship Bishop Francis Anani Lodonu, stressed that education was a tool needed to establish the social values which govern the security of lives and property of individuals.
"The essence of education is the transmission of values but values are useful only when they become a part of our mental make-up", he added.
He therefore said teachers should be trained to be the bastion of morality and as such train the students to come out as role models in society. According to him in a world which is bedeviled with all manner of immorality and corrupt practices, it behoves teachers to ensure that their products are guided in such a manner that they would shy away from such negative tendencies.
The Principal of the St. Francis College of Education, Mr Dennis K. Agbenuvor, happily noted that the college continued to give good tuition to its students which was the reason why eight out of the 75 students nationwide, who had Second Class Upper in their examination came from the college.
He however appealed to the Universities of Cape Coast (UCC) and Education, Winneba (UEW) to come out with a clear progression guideline after the Diploma in Basic Education course so that their products that are eager to continue their studies would see their way forward.
He noted that the upgrading of their staff was very crucial for a tertiary institution and as such appealed to the UCC and UEW to design a programme for the tutors to pursue their post-graduate studies while teaching as was being done in the polytechnics.
He appealed to the Ho-Diocese and benevolent organisations to quickly come to their aid to complete the college’s assembly hall complex which was started in January 2006. He mentioned that accommodation for the staff was also inadequate, coupled with a deplorable road network, just to mention a few.
In the face of these challenges, he assured parents that the college was ready to offer their children who wanted to become teachers creative, holistic, innovative and relevant teacher education since " in FRANCO, learning is our passion".
He observed that the 20th century approaches, styles of teaching and assessment regimes were different and these should not be imposed on the mode of learning of the 21st century student since that resulted in a situation where the students became disinterested in the learning processes in class and consequently that promoted behavioral problems.
Professor Avoke was delivering a speech as the guest of honour at the second congregation of the Saint Francis College of Education at Hohoe in the Volta Region. It was on the theme "Modern Approaches to Teaching: The Role of the Basic School Teacher".
In all, 193 newly trained teachers graduated after completing their three-year courses with the best grade being 2nd Class Upper.
Professor Avoke noted that "what teachers fail to realise is that the learning style of students today is different from what it used to be 20 years ago because their approaches and strategies of learning had changed considerably but what had not changed was their mode of assessment and the teaching styles adopted by many teachers who are products of earlier generation".
He noted that teachers had to adapt very quickly to methods which would be relevant in the classrooms in the face of the rapid technological advancement.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor, therefore, noted that the training given to the teachers at the College of Education level should be structured in a manner capable of equipping newly trained teachers with the best preparation for supporting the learning needs of the students.
Prof. Avoke said the introduction of new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the classroom was stressful to some teachers who had fallen out of step owing to their reluctance to move with the pace of development.
"As such, that knowledge about technology has ramification for teaching and learning," he said, adding that, it was becoming increasingly clear that today’s teachers require a different set of skills to be relevant, particularly to ICT related learning environment where teachers have a responsibility to facilitate learning".
“He said, as teachers, you had the responsibilities of nurturing and moulding the students to be open-minded and inquisitive since in this era, the teachers traditional role of imparting knowledge alone has now become an archaic model.’’
For his part, the Bishop of the Ho Diocese, His Lordship Bishop Francis Anani Lodonu, stressed that education was a tool needed to establish the social values which govern the security of lives and property of individuals.
"The essence of education is the transmission of values but values are useful only when they become a part of our mental make-up", he added.
He therefore said teachers should be trained to be the bastion of morality and as such train the students to come out as role models in society. According to him in a world which is bedeviled with all manner of immorality and corrupt practices, it behoves teachers to ensure that their products are guided in such a manner that they would shy away from such negative tendencies.
The Principal of the St. Francis College of Education, Mr Dennis K. Agbenuvor, happily noted that the college continued to give good tuition to its students which was the reason why eight out of the 75 students nationwide, who had Second Class Upper in their examination came from the college.
He however appealed to the Universities of Cape Coast (UCC) and Education, Winneba (UEW) to come out with a clear progression guideline after the Diploma in Basic Education course so that their products that are eager to continue their studies would see their way forward.
He noted that the upgrading of their staff was very crucial for a tertiary institution and as such appealed to the UCC and UEW to design a programme for the tutors to pursue their post-graduate studies while teaching as was being done in the polytechnics.
He appealed to the Ho-Diocese and benevolent organisations to quickly come to their aid to complete the college’s assembly hall complex which was started in January 2006. He mentioned that accommodation for the staff was also inadequate, coupled with a deplorable road network, just to mention a few.
In the face of these challenges, he assured parents that the college was ready to offer their children who wanted to become teachers creative, holistic, innovative and relevant teacher education since " in FRANCO, learning is our passion".
Ensuring reliable data on private schools...GES, GNAPS TO UNDERTAKE CENSUS (PAGE 11)
THE Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) have initiated moves to carry out a national census of private schools in the country.
This is to enable the government and other educational agencies to have concise and reliable data on private schools.
Another area that would be looked at is the decentralisation of the Private Schools unit and the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The President of GNAPS, Mr Godwin Sowah, made this known at a meeting of the Conference of Heads of Private Schools (CHOPS) in Accra.
He disclosed that the GES had embarked on reorganisation and restructuring of the Private Schools Unit at its headquarters so the unit was being upgraded into a division to enable it have the needed personnel and logistics to carry out its duties very effectively.
“The GES headquarters is working in close consultation with GNAPS and it’s hoped that within the shortest possible time and before the next academic year starts in September 2009, Ghanaians would have an educational structure and system to boast of especially in the private sector,” he said.
For some time now, Mr Sowah said, a section of the public had been critical of the GES for dragging its feet in the bid to find solutions to key problems in the private sector of the educational system.
He indicated that the registration and licensing of schools had never been properly done and that had led to the mushrooming of all manner of schools from crèche through senior high school to diploma awarding institutions.
Mr Sowah said some people had established schools without following GES rules and regulations, and that a “number of public senior high schools and teachers, especially in the regional capitals have established their own private senior high schools and are using GES buildings and facilities”.
“Parents are made to believe that their wards are being admitted into the mainstream of the school, but for various reasons had to come to school in the afternoon,” he said.
He said although there had been a long-standing GES directive against such practice, the GES itself had never pursued the matter and had allowed monetary gains to becloud the minds of some heads of schools.
Mr Sowah said the get-rich-quick syndrome had taken precedence over professional commitment and that the energies of teachers, time for preparation, marking of exercices, and examinations as well as school resources were abused.
“This is one of the reasons why standards are falling and cheating in examination is on the ascendancy. It is the hope of well-meaning Ghanaians that with a new government and a dedicated minister, the GES would have the courage to stop the practice immediately,” he said.
This is to enable the government and other educational agencies to have concise and reliable data on private schools.
Another area that would be looked at is the decentralisation of the Private Schools unit and the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The President of GNAPS, Mr Godwin Sowah, made this known at a meeting of the Conference of Heads of Private Schools (CHOPS) in Accra.
He disclosed that the GES had embarked on reorganisation and restructuring of the Private Schools Unit at its headquarters so the unit was being upgraded into a division to enable it have the needed personnel and logistics to carry out its duties very effectively.
“The GES headquarters is working in close consultation with GNAPS and it’s hoped that within the shortest possible time and before the next academic year starts in September 2009, Ghanaians would have an educational structure and system to boast of especially in the private sector,” he said.
For some time now, Mr Sowah said, a section of the public had been critical of the GES for dragging its feet in the bid to find solutions to key problems in the private sector of the educational system.
He indicated that the registration and licensing of schools had never been properly done and that had led to the mushrooming of all manner of schools from crèche through senior high school to diploma awarding institutions.
Mr Sowah said some people had established schools without following GES rules and regulations, and that a “number of public senior high schools and teachers, especially in the regional capitals have established their own private senior high schools and are using GES buildings and facilities”.
“Parents are made to believe that their wards are being admitted into the mainstream of the school, but for various reasons had to come to school in the afternoon,” he said.
He said although there had been a long-standing GES directive against such practice, the GES itself had never pursued the matter and had allowed monetary gains to becloud the minds of some heads of schools.
Mr Sowah said the get-rich-quick syndrome had taken precedence over professional commitment and that the energies of teachers, time for preparation, marking of exercices, and examinations as well as school resources were abused.
“This is one of the reasons why standards are falling and cheating in examination is on the ascendancy. It is the hope of well-meaning Ghanaians that with a new government and a dedicated minister, the GES would have the courage to stop the practice immediately,” he said.
Ensuring reliable data on private schools...GES, GNAPS TO UNDERTAKE CENSUS (PAGE 11)
THE Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) have initiated moves to carry out a national census of private schools in the country.
This is to enable the government and other educational agencies to have concise and reliable data on private schools.
Another area that would be looked at is the decentralisation of the Private Schools unit and the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The President of GNAPS, Mr Godwin Sowah, made this known at a meeting of the Conference of Heads of Private Schools (CHOPS) in Accra.
He disclosed that the GES had embarked on reorganisation and restructuring of the Private Schools Unit at its headquarters so the unit was being upgraded into a division to enable it have the needed personnel and logistics to carry out its duties very effectively.
“The GES headquarters is working in close consultation with GNAPS and it’s hoped that within the shortest possible time and before the next academic year starts in September 2009, Ghanaians would have an educational structure and system to boast of especially in the private sector,” he said.
For some time now, Mr Sowah said, a section of the public had been critical of the GES for dragging its feet in the bid to find solutions to key problems in the private sector of the educational system.
He indicated that the registration and licensing of schools had never been properly done and that had led to the mushrooming of all manner of schools from crèche through senior high school to diploma awarding institutions.
Mr Sowah said some people had established schools without following GES rules and regulations, and that a “number of public senior high schools and teachers, especially in the regional capitals have established their own private senior high schools and are using GES buildings and facilities”.
“Parents are made to believe that their wards are being admitted into the mainstream of the school, but for various reasons had to come to school in the afternoon,” he said.
He said although there had been a long-standing GES directive against such practice, the GES itself had never pursued the matter and had allowed monetary gains to becloud the minds of some heads of schools.
Mr Sowah said the get-rich-quick syndrome had taken precedence over professional commitment and that the energies of teachers, time for preparation, marking of exercices, and examinations as well as school resources were abused.
“This is one of the reasons why standards are falling and cheating in examination is on the ascendancy. It is the hope of well-meaning Ghanaians that with a new government and a dedicated minister, the GES would have the courage to stop the practice immediately,” he said.
This is to enable the government and other educational agencies to have concise and reliable data on private schools.
Another area that would be looked at is the decentralisation of the Private Schools unit and the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The President of GNAPS, Mr Godwin Sowah, made this known at a meeting of the Conference of Heads of Private Schools (CHOPS) in Accra.
He disclosed that the GES had embarked on reorganisation and restructuring of the Private Schools Unit at its headquarters so the unit was being upgraded into a division to enable it have the needed personnel and logistics to carry out its duties very effectively.
“The GES headquarters is working in close consultation with GNAPS and it’s hoped that within the shortest possible time and before the next academic year starts in September 2009, Ghanaians would have an educational structure and system to boast of especially in the private sector,” he said.
For some time now, Mr Sowah said, a section of the public had been critical of the GES for dragging its feet in the bid to find solutions to key problems in the private sector of the educational system.
He indicated that the registration and licensing of schools had never been properly done and that had led to the mushrooming of all manner of schools from crèche through senior high school to diploma awarding institutions.
Mr Sowah said some people had established schools without following GES rules and regulations, and that a “number of public senior high schools and teachers, especially in the regional capitals have established their own private senior high schools and are using GES buildings and facilities”.
“Parents are made to believe that their wards are being admitted into the mainstream of the school, but for various reasons had to come to school in the afternoon,” he said.
He said although there had been a long-standing GES directive against such practice, the GES itself had never pursued the matter and had allowed monetary gains to becloud the minds of some heads of schools.
Mr Sowah said the get-rich-quick syndrome had taken precedence over professional commitment and that the energies of teachers, time for preparation, marking of exercices, and examinations as well as school resources were abused.
“This is one of the reasons why standards are falling and cheating in examination is on the ascendancy. It is the hope of well-meaning Ghanaians that with a new government and a dedicated minister, the GES would have the courage to stop the practice immediately,” he said.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
GHS LAUNCHES FAMILY PLANNING CAMPAIGN AT ASATO (PAGE 21)
THE Kadjebi District Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Volta Region has launched a family planning promotional campaign at Asato with a call on parents to have children by choice and not by chance.
The Kadjebi District Director of Health Services, Ms Joan Eleeza, who made the call, said family planning was one of the most powerful ways of ensuring the good health of the mother and child and also to reduce the incidence of maternal and infant mortality.
“It has been observed that over the years, many people are shying away from family planning services and are continuing to have unplanned children with inadequate provision to cater for them,” he added.
The GHS in collaboration with Quality Health Partners, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), launched the campaign.
Ms Eleeza advised women not to have children at close intervals since it had been proven in many countries that birth spacing could prevent one in every five infant deaths and the reduction in maternal mortality would be substantial as well.
She said her outfit had adopted a strategy to ensure that majority of parents had the knowledge and the means to plan their families.
Ms Eleeza said the opportunities to decide on the number of children one should have was a basic human right and that the objective of family planning was the enrichment of human life and not its restriction.
She, therefore, said it was the responsibility of both men and women to plan their families from untoward hardships in life.
Talking about the trend of performance in the district over the past three years, Ms Eleeza said in 2006, it achieved 18 per cent and 16 per cent in 2007 while in 2008, it achieved 26 per cent.
Ms Eleeza appealed to the traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders to support the programme.
The Kadjebi District Director of Health Services, Ms Joan Eleeza, who made the call, said family planning was one of the most powerful ways of ensuring the good health of the mother and child and also to reduce the incidence of maternal and infant mortality.
“It has been observed that over the years, many people are shying away from family planning services and are continuing to have unplanned children with inadequate provision to cater for them,” he added.
The GHS in collaboration with Quality Health Partners, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), launched the campaign.
Ms Eleeza advised women not to have children at close intervals since it had been proven in many countries that birth spacing could prevent one in every five infant deaths and the reduction in maternal mortality would be substantial as well.
She said her outfit had adopted a strategy to ensure that majority of parents had the knowledge and the means to plan their families.
Ms Eleeza said the opportunities to decide on the number of children one should have was a basic human right and that the objective of family planning was the enrichment of human life and not its restriction.
She, therefore, said it was the responsibility of both men and women to plan their families from untoward hardships in life.
Talking about the trend of performance in the district over the past three years, Ms Eleeza said in 2006, it achieved 18 per cent and 16 per cent in 2007 while in 2008, it achieved 26 per cent.
Ms Eleeza appealed to the traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders to support the programme.
LACK OF FUNDS HALTS COMMITTEE'S WORK (PAGE 20)
WORK by the committee on the Alavanyo–Nkonya Peace Mediation which began in 2005 has come to a halt due to lack of funds.
So far, the committee has finished demarcating the 10 miles square disputed land between the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya and is only left to serve the people with copies of the land plan to bring an end to the over 85-year-old conflict which has claimed many lives and destroyed property.
The immediate past Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Rev. Dr Livingstone Buama, who is the chairman of the committee, made this known when he led a six- member delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, at Ho last Thursday.
He said the committee needed more resources to engage qualified people to draw the boundary lines in a way that would be accepted by the two communities.
Dr Buama was happy about the co- operation being offered by the people to the committee since anything contrary could have marred the success of the process, adding that through their efforts, peace had been restored and economic activities had resumed.
He expressed gratitude to the government, the Catholic Relief Services and the Ho Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church for their immense support in efforts to bring lasting peace to the area.
The Bishop of Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Francis Kofi Anani Lodonu, called for more resources since the committee’s finances had been depleted by the demarcating process.
The Regional Minister, Mr Amenowode commended members of the committee for their yeoman’s job and said the government would do everything possible to give them the necessary support to ensure that by the end of the year, permanent peace would prevail in the area.
He also promised to collaborate with the committee to ensure that a lasting solution was found to enable them to use the Alavanyo-Nkonya Peace process as a point to solve the rest of the conflicts in the region such as the Tsito-Peki conflict, the Apostles Revelation Society (ARS) Church and the Anlo chieftaincy dispute, among others.
So far, the committee has finished demarcating the 10 miles square disputed land between the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya and is only left to serve the people with copies of the land plan to bring an end to the over 85-year-old conflict which has claimed many lives and destroyed property.
The immediate past Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Rev. Dr Livingstone Buama, who is the chairman of the committee, made this known when he led a six- member delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, at Ho last Thursday.
He said the committee needed more resources to engage qualified people to draw the boundary lines in a way that would be accepted by the two communities.
Dr Buama was happy about the co- operation being offered by the people to the committee since anything contrary could have marred the success of the process, adding that through their efforts, peace had been restored and economic activities had resumed.
He expressed gratitude to the government, the Catholic Relief Services and the Ho Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church for their immense support in efforts to bring lasting peace to the area.
The Bishop of Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Francis Kofi Anani Lodonu, called for more resources since the committee’s finances had been depleted by the demarcating process.
The Regional Minister, Mr Amenowode commended members of the committee for their yeoman’s job and said the government would do everything possible to give them the necessary support to ensure that by the end of the year, permanent peace would prevail in the area.
He also promised to collaborate with the committee to ensure that a lasting solution was found to enable them to use the Alavanyo-Nkonya Peace process as a point to solve the rest of the conflicts in the region such as the Tsito-Peki conflict, the Apostles Revelation Society (ARS) Church and the Anlo chieftaincy dispute, among others.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
NGOS INITIAE FUNDRAISING PROJECTS FOR HOHOE (PAGE 53)
Plan Ghana and the Rural Action for the Poor (RAP), both non-governmental organisations, have initiated a project on how to mobilise adequate funds through community-based savings for 10 communities in the Hohoe municipality.
Under the project, dubbed: "The Village Savings and Loans Association" (VSLA), these communities which have formed 20 groups have been trained to mobilise their resources to finance local micro enterprises of their own choice.
The communities are Fodome Amli, Kodzeto, Kpeve Tornu, Alavanyo Abeyinase, Santrokofi Bume, Likpe Mate, Abrani, Liati Wote, Ve Wudome and Nyagbo Odumase.
To assess the capabilities of the groups, RAP, which is implementing the project, has organised a day’s review workshop for members of the groups at Hohoe to find out whether they were making enough profits from their businesses to support their children’s development.
From the workshop, it was realised that the groups, for the past six months, had been able to develop to such an extent that on their own they could sustain their operations.
Some of them have been able to register their members under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Through their own resources, the groups are able to borrow from funds mobilised to expand their businesses such as trading, palm oil extraction and farming and are repaying in accordance with the constitutions of the groups.
They commended Plan Ghana for the assistance and expressed the hope that they would be able to use the opportunity to improve on their livelihood.
The Volta Regional Programme Area Manager of Plan Ghana, Mr Eric Ayaba, said it was part of Plan Ghana’s expectation that apart from the VSLA groups becoming vibrant and sustainable, they could use funds they had generated to expand their businesses and to repay them for the group’s survival and growth.
He said Plan Ghana intended to support two local NGOs in the Volta Region to increase VSLA groups to 800 with a total membership of 20,000 in the next three years.
For his part, the Executive Director of RAP, Mr George Gyapong, said their aim was to train the groups to collectively save their own money to grant loans among themselves for any development programme that they wished to undertake.
He said after their training, it was the desire of RAP to link the groups to financial institutions to access loans.
Under the project, dubbed: "The Village Savings and Loans Association" (VSLA), these communities which have formed 20 groups have been trained to mobilise their resources to finance local micro enterprises of their own choice.
The communities are Fodome Amli, Kodzeto, Kpeve Tornu, Alavanyo Abeyinase, Santrokofi Bume, Likpe Mate, Abrani, Liati Wote, Ve Wudome and Nyagbo Odumase.
To assess the capabilities of the groups, RAP, which is implementing the project, has organised a day’s review workshop for members of the groups at Hohoe to find out whether they were making enough profits from their businesses to support their children’s development.
From the workshop, it was realised that the groups, for the past six months, had been able to develop to such an extent that on their own they could sustain their operations.
Some of them have been able to register their members under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Through their own resources, the groups are able to borrow from funds mobilised to expand their businesses such as trading, palm oil extraction and farming and are repaying in accordance with the constitutions of the groups.
They commended Plan Ghana for the assistance and expressed the hope that they would be able to use the opportunity to improve on their livelihood.
The Volta Regional Programme Area Manager of Plan Ghana, Mr Eric Ayaba, said it was part of Plan Ghana’s expectation that apart from the VSLA groups becoming vibrant and sustainable, they could use funds they had generated to expand their businesses and to repay them for the group’s survival and growth.
He said Plan Ghana intended to support two local NGOs in the Volta Region to increase VSLA groups to 800 with a total membership of 20,000 in the next three years.
For his part, the Executive Director of RAP, Mr George Gyapong, said their aim was to train the groups to collectively save their own money to grant loans among themselves for any development programme that they wished to undertake.
He said after their training, it was the desire of RAP to link the groups to financial institutions to access loans.
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