MORE than GH¢8,000 was realised at a fund-raising ceremony in aid of development projects at Jasikan in the Volta Region at the weekend.
It was organised by the Jasikan Town Development Committee under the auspices of Mr Henry Ford Kamel, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Buem, and his friends.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Kamel urged the people to be ready to complement the government’s efforts by contributing generously towards the development of the area.
He said the resources of the nation could not meet all the needs of the people at the same time.
The MP commended the people for their initiative in organising the ceremony and expressed the hope that whatever was realised would be put to good use.
The Chairman of the Town Development Committee, Mr Edwin Asiamah, said it was high time Jasikan marched alongside the other district capitals in the country.
Mr Asiamah stated that Jasikan was an old town and one of the most developed in the region, but its development had been retarded when the cocoa boom collapsed some 20 years ago.
“Now is the time for us to position ourselves to take the development of the town into our own hands,” he stressed.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
HEALTH INSURANCE STAFF WARNED AGAINST DEALS (BACK PAGE, DEC 15, 2010)
THE Volta Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr Elliot Nestor Akototse, has cautioned officials of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) who collaborate with staff of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to engage in fraudulent deals to desist from that act.
Mr Akototse called for a plan between the two organisations to flush out cheating officials to save the image of the organisations and ensure the sustenance of the scheme.
The regional manager gave the caution in Ho last Tuesday during a regional review meeting of stakeholders, including district co-ordinating directors and insurance officials, to find out the challenges facing the scheme and map out effective strategies to tackle them for sustainability of the NHIS.
Mr Akototse said the two organisations were symbiotic in relationship in the service of the common client and noted that the service of the GHS had improved tremendously since the NHIS came into operation but conceded that there were lapses in the operations.
He announced that this year, the NHIA had released GH¢7,590,000 to Members of Parliament (MPs) through the GHS District Director’s Fund for health-related projects in the region.
Mr Akototse said the late submission of claims by service providers was the bane of the operations of the NHIS, noting that late submissions delayed payment.
The Volta Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Timothy Letsa, expressed satisfaction at the turn up of the officials which he hoped would assist remove the malfeasance which had engulfed the scheme over the years.
He said as of the end of last year, 80 per cent of internally generated funds had come from insured clients and that the NHIS had been of immense assistance to the operations of the GHS.
He called on the participants to take the workshop seriously, since it would be beneficial to all.
Mr Akototse called for a plan between the two organisations to flush out cheating officials to save the image of the organisations and ensure the sustenance of the scheme.
The regional manager gave the caution in Ho last Tuesday during a regional review meeting of stakeholders, including district co-ordinating directors and insurance officials, to find out the challenges facing the scheme and map out effective strategies to tackle them for sustainability of the NHIS.
Mr Akototse said the two organisations were symbiotic in relationship in the service of the common client and noted that the service of the GHS had improved tremendously since the NHIS came into operation but conceded that there were lapses in the operations.
He announced that this year, the NHIA had released GH¢7,590,000 to Members of Parliament (MPs) through the GHS District Director’s Fund for health-related projects in the region.
Mr Akototse said the late submission of claims by service providers was the bane of the operations of the NHIS, noting that late submissions delayed payment.
The Volta Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Timothy Letsa, expressed satisfaction at the turn up of the officials which he hoped would assist remove the malfeasance which had engulfed the scheme over the years.
He said as of the end of last year, 80 per cent of internally generated funds had come from insured clients and that the NHIS had been of immense assistance to the operations of the GHS.
He called on the participants to take the workshop seriously, since it would be beneficial to all.
Friday, December 10, 2010
TSIBU YOUTH ACADEMY TRAINS 31 (PAGE 46, DEC 8, 2010)
A skills training centre, Tsibu Youth Academy has trained 31 youth from Dededo, a farming community in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region with employable skills.
This was done with the sponsorship of Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, the Member of Parliament for Ho-West in addition to self-support by the participants.
The participants comprising 24 females and seven males who are mostly farmers received training in catering, hairdressing, dress and batik making, soap making, basic electrical and entrepreneurship.
Togbe Azadagli Dededo I, Chief of Dededo commended the MP, Mr Bedzrah for his immense financial assistance to the participants in acquiring skills.
Togbe Dededo I further although that was necessary, the community of Dededo also needed adequate and decent educational infrastructure for their schools, health centre, sanitation facilities and above all a police station to maintain peace and order in the area.
Mr Bedzrah, the MP for the area hoped that the graduates can now improve upon their lots by applying the skills they have acquired.
Mr Bedzrah said he was seeking for financial assistance for them to put them on their feet. He called on them to remain united and rally behind the government to ensure the success of the “Better Ghana Agenda” of the government.
The MP assured them that very soon the electrification they have been calling for all these years would come to them.
This was done with the sponsorship of Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, the Member of Parliament for Ho-West in addition to self-support by the participants.
The participants comprising 24 females and seven males who are mostly farmers received training in catering, hairdressing, dress and batik making, soap making, basic electrical and entrepreneurship.
Togbe Azadagli Dededo I, Chief of Dededo commended the MP, Mr Bedzrah for his immense financial assistance to the participants in acquiring skills.
Togbe Dededo I further although that was necessary, the community of Dededo also needed adequate and decent educational infrastructure for their schools, health centre, sanitation facilities and above all a police station to maintain peace and order in the area.
Mr Bedzrah, the MP for the area hoped that the graduates can now improve upon their lots by applying the skills they have acquired.
Mr Bedzrah said he was seeking for financial assistance for them to put them on their feet. He called on them to remain united and rally behind the government to ensure the success of the “Better Ghana Agenda” of the government.
The MP assured them that very soon the electrification they have been calling for all these years would come to them.
NEW BOARD OF KASHS INAUGURATED (PAGE 42, DEC 8, 2010)
A THIRTEEN-MEMBER reconstituted Board of Governors of the Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School (KASHS) to manage the affairs of the school for a three-year term, has been inaugurated at Kadjebi in the Volta Region.
The new board, which is yet to choose its chairperson, replaces the former one which has been in existence for the past six years.
Inaugurating the board, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive, Mr Seth Alifo charged the members to get in touch with the old boys and girls to contribute their quota to the rehabilitation of the school.
Mr Alifo expressed gratitude to the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the school which was assisting to accommodate the fresh intake of students this academic year.
The outgoing chairman of the board, Mr Anthony Gyambiby said during their tenure of office, the school moved from Grade ‘B’ to Grade B+.
He, therefore, commended the members for working hard with the school authorities towards the achievement of that status.
Mr Gyambiby expressed the hope that the new board would keep the flame burning to ensure that the school moved a step further to Grade ‘A’ in the near future.
He called on the Regional Minister to consider using part of the vast land given to the school for the establishment of satellite campus of the proposed Volta Regional University.
According to Mr Gyambiby, the 569 acres of land at the disposal of the school would be more profitably used if the suggestion was considered.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Thomas Fordjour-Ababio in a welcoming address, said the school was making good use of the land available to go into agriculture.
Mr Fordjour-Ababio said last year, the school cropped 20 acres of maize from which it harvested 100 maxi bags.
He said they also cultivated six acres of rice which were yet to be harvested, adding that the school could also boast of 19 pigs and 11 piglets.
The headmaster said apart from the 100 per cent pass the institution chalked in the 2009 West Africa Senior High School Certificate Eamination, 295 out of the 350 students presented for the examination, passed in six or more subjects.
He said in sports, the school had been taking the first position in all disciplines at zonal levels in the region.
The new board, which is yet to choose its chairperson, replaces the former one which has been in existence for the past six years.
Inaugurating the board, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive, Mr Seth Alifo charged the members to get in touch with the old boys and girls to contribute their quota to the rehabilitation of the school.
Mr Alifo expressed gratitude to the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the school which was assisting to accommodate the fresh intake of students this academic year.
The outgoing chairman of the board, Mr Anthony Gyambiby said during their tenure of office, the school moved from Grade ‘B’ to Grade B+.
He, therefore, commended the members for working hard with the school authorities towards the achievement of that status.
Mr Gyambiby expressed the hope that the new board would keep the flame burning to ensure that the school moved a step further to Grade ‘A’ in the near future.
He called on the Regional Minister to consider using part of the vast land given to the school for the establishment of satellite campus of the proposed Volta Regional University.
According to Mr Gyambiby, the 569 acres of land at the disposal of the school would be more profitably used if the suggestion was considered.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Thomas Fordjour-Ababio in a welcoming address, said the school was making good use of the land available to go into agriculture.
Mr Fordjour-Ababio said last year, the school cropped 20 acres of maize from which it harvested 100 maxi bags.
He said they also cultivated six acres of rice which were yet to be harvested, adding that the school could also boast of 19 pigs and 11 piglets.
The headmaster said apart from the 100 per cent pass the institution chalked in the 2009 West Africa Senior High School Certificate Eamination, 295 out of the 350 students presented for the examination, passed in six or more subjects.
He said in sports, the school had been taking the first position in all disciplines at zonal levels in the region.
KADJEBI-ASATO SHIS BOARD RECONSTITUTED (PAGE 11, DEC 8, 2010)
A 13-MEMBER reconstituted Board of Governors of the Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School (KASHS), to steer the affairs of the school for a three-year term, has been inaugurated at Kadjebi in the Volta Region.
The new board, which is yet to choose its chairperson, replaces the former one which had been in existence for the past six years.
Inaugurating the 13-member board, Mr Seth Alifo, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive, charged the members of the committee to get in touch with the old boys and girls to contribute their quota to the rehabilitation of the school.
Mr Alifo expressed his profound gratitude to the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the school which was assisting them to accommodate fresh students this academic year.
The out going chairman of the old board, Mr Anthony Gyambiby, said during their tenure of office, the school moved from Grade B to Grade B+, and therefore, commended the members for working hard with the school authorities towards the achievement of that status.
Mr Gyambiby hoped the new board “will keep the flame burning” to ensure that the school moves a step further to Grade A in the near future.
He called on Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Regional Minister, to consider using part of the vast land given to the school for the establishment of a Satellite campus of the proposed Volta Regional University.
According to Mr Gyambiby, the 569 acres of land at the disposal of the school would be more profitably used if the suggestion was considered.
Mr Thomas Fordjour-Ababio, the Headmaster of the school, in a welcoming address, said the school was making good use of the land available to them by going into agriculture.
Mr Fordjour-Ababio said last year, they cropped 20 acres of land with maize from where they harvested 100 maxi bags. They also cropped six acres with rice which they have not yet harvested. They are also into animal husbandry; rearing 19 pigs and 11 piglets.
That, the headmaster said, was not at the expense of academic performance. He said apart from the 100 per cent pass they scored in 2009 WASCE, 295 out of the 350 students they presented passed in six or more subjects. “That meant that about 84 per cent of them could gained outright admission to tertiary institutions,” the headmaster pointed out. He said the school’s objective was to move from category B to A, step up their performance in Mathematics and also work towards the Head of State Award.
He said in sports, the school continued to take the first position in all disciplines in the zone and in the region. He said, at the moment, the school was confronted with problems of infrastructure, particularly inadequate classroom accommodation, classroom furniture and the dining hall, following the intake of new SSS 1 students.
He said the school was challenged with inadequate staff, inadequate classroom and furniture and water supply and power. Due to the inadequate academic staff, some of them teach as many as 30 or 40 periods a week instead of the maximum 25 for a graduate teacher.
The new board, which is yet to choose its chairperson, replaces the former one which had been in existence for the past six years.
Inaugurating the 13-member board, Mr Seth Alifo, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive, charged the members of the committee to get in touch with the old boys and girls to contribute their quota to the rehabilitation of the school.
Mr Alifo expressed his profound gratitude to the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the school which was assisting them to accommodate fresh students this academic year.
The out going chairman of the old board, Mr Anthony Gyambiby, said during their tenure of office, the school moved from Grade B to Grade B+, and therefore, commended the members for working hard with the school authorities towards the achievement of that status.
Mr Gyambiby hoped the new board “will keep the flame burning” to ensure that the school moves a step further to Grade A in the near future.
He called on Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Regional Minister, to consider using part of the vast land given to the school for the establishment of a Satellite campus of the proposed Volta Regional University.
According to Mr Gyambiby, the 569 acres of land at the disposal of the school would be more profitably used if the suggestion was considered.
Mr Thomas Fordjour-Ababio, the Headmaster of the school, in a welcoming address, said the school was making good use of the land available to them by going into agriculture.
Mr Fordjour-Ababio said last year, they cropped 20 acres of land with maize from where they harvested 100 maxi bags. They also cropped six acres with rice which they have not yet harvested. They are also into animal husbandry; rearing 19 pigs and 11 piglets.
That, the headmaster said, was not at the expense of academic performance. He said apart from the 100 per cent pass they scored in 2009 WASCE, 295 out of the 350 students they presented passed in six or more subjects. “That meant that about 84 per cent of them could gained outright admission to tertiary institutions,” the headmaster pointed out. He said the school’s objective was to move from category B to A, step up their performance in Mathematics and also work towards the Head of State Award.
He said in sports, the school continued to take the first position in all disciplines in the zone and in the region. He said, at the moment, the school was confronted with problems of infrastructure, particularly inadequate classroom accommodation, classroom furniture and the dining hall, following the intake of new SSS 1 students.
He said the school was challenged with inadequate staff, inadequate classroom and furniture and water supply and power. Due to the inadequate academic staff, some of them teach as many as 30 or 40 periods a week instead of the maximum 25 for a graduate teacher.
ANFOETA-TSEBI INAUGURATES WATER PROJECT (BACK PAGE, DEC 7, 2010)
THE people of Anfoeta Tsebi in the Ho municipality of the Volta Region have, through self-help, provided themselves with pipe-borne water at an estimated cost of GH¢45,000.
The project was inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Ativor.
Through the industry of the people, water has been directed from a gravity water facility provided them by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) some 14 years ago through a piped system to 11 standpipes in the town.
Before the pipe system, the people had to travel about three kilometres to fetch water from the source.
In an address, Mrs Ativor reiterated the government’s intention to extend its better Ghana agenda to every nook and cranny of the country.
She asked the youth to embrace the youth-in-agriculture programme with all their strength, since it would stop them from trooping to the urban areas to add up to the unemployment there.
Mrs Ativor told them that whatever they produced on their farms would be bought by the Buffer Stock Company set up by the government to ensure that they had access to markets.
The deputy minister announced that the Dzolokpuita-Bume road which passes through the town had been awarded on contract to Messrs Muudu Construction and that work would start soon.
In his keynote address, Mr E. F. Boateng, the Volta Regional Director of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), commended the people for keeping the facility provided them 14 years ago functioning and improving upon it. “This speaks for itself the value you place on what has been given to you,” he said.
He was sure that once the facility had been inaugurated and handed over to them, they would assume full responsibility for it and manage it as they had done the gravity facility.
“The facility has to be operated in a sustainable way for generations yet unborn to come and enjoy it,” he urged them.
Mr Boateng advised that since the components of the facility would surely break down one day, it was necessary to generate revenue for repairs and maintenance for continuous access.
Consequently, he commended them for adopting a pay-as-you–fetch system which was the best way to manage the system.
He noted that as the provision of water meant improvement in health, they should practise personal hygiene and observe basic sanitation rules to make the package complete.
“Let us go a step further from drinking potable water to washing our hands with soap at critical times,” he admonished.
In his welcoming address, Mr Nelson Bright Klu, the Assembly Member for the area, commended the self-help spirit of the people.
Through that spirit, he said, they had constructed a day-care centre, a three-unit classroom block for the primary school and an electrification project.
The project was inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Ativor.
Through the industry of the people, water has been directed from a gravity water facility provided them by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) some 14 years ago through a piped system to 11 standpipes in the town.
Before the pipe system, the people had to travel about three kilometres to fetch water from the source.
In an address, Mrs Ativor reiterated the government’s intention to extend its better Ghana agenda to every nook and cranny of the country.
She asked the youth to embrace the youth-in-agriculture programme with all their strength, since it would stop them from trooping to the urban areas to add up to the unemployment there.
Mrs Ativor told them that whatever they produced on their farms would be bought by the Buffer Stock Company set up by the government to ensure that they had access to markets.
The deputy minister announced that the Dzolokpuita-Bume road which passes through the town had been awarded on contract to Messrs Muudu Construction and that work would start soon.
In his keynote address, Mr E. F. Boateng, the Volta Regional Director of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), commended the people for keeping the facility provided them 14 years ago functioning and improving upon it. “This speaks for itself the value you place on what has been given to you,” he said.
He was sure that once the facility had been inaugurated and handed over to them, they would assume full responsibility for it and manage it as they had done the gravity facility.
“The facility has to be operated in a sustainable way for generations yet unborn to come and enjoy it,” he urged them.
Mr Boateng advised that since the components of the facility would surely break down one day, it was necessary to generate revenue for repairs and maintenance for continuous access.
Consequently, he commended them for adopting a pay-as-you–fetch system which was the best way to manage the system.
He noted that as the provision of water meant improvement in health, they should practise personal hygiene and observe basic sanitation rules to make the package complete.
“Let us go a step further from drinking potable water to washing our hands with soap at critical times,” he admonished.
In his welcoming address, Mr Nelson Bright Klu, the Assembly Member for the area, commended the self-help spirit of the people.
Through that spirit, he said, they had constructed a day-care centre, a three-unit classroom block for the primary school and an electrification project.
Monday, December 6, 2010
CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE ...ASSURES MAHAMA (PAGE 11, DEC 6, 2010)
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has assured boards and managements of senior high schools that contracts have been awarded for the construction of critical infrastructure in schools to ensure that all their needs were met.
He has, therefore, urged them to endeavour to manage with their existing facilities till the government is able to address their infrastructural needs.
Mr Mahama said this in an address read on his behalf by Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Bueman Senior High School (BUSEC) at Jasikan in the Volta Region.
The Vice-President expressed his satisfaction at the fact that BUSEC had benefited from the construction of a seven-classroom block valued at GH¢26,000 and noted that the necessary documentation was being made to extend similar facilities to more schools.
“I strongly believe that human resource development is the surest way to the attainment of accelerated economic development”, he said.
And because of BUSEC’s contribution to the human resource base of the country, their physical facilities are being improved to promote further educational development, the Vice-President stated.
He was enthused by the theme of the celebration “50 years of academic excellence: success and challenges in a deprived environment”, and called on all stakeholders to remain dedicated to the goals of the school’s founding fathers.
The Vice-President gave the reminder that the success of the “Better Ghana Agenda” needed a commitment to a superior educational delivery.
He commended the founding fathers of the school and successive boards of management for imbuing in the students the sense of academic excellence, moral uprightness and hard work.
Mr Mahama urged the present crop of students to also endeavour to take up these qualities as key to their individual and collective advancement.
Mr Henry Ford Kamel, Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency and Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry, commended the school for its achievement over the years.
“You have contributed your quota to national development through the very personalities engaged in various endeavours countrywide”, Mr Ford Kamel said.
The MP called on the school authorities to aspire to make the school a centre of excellence and thus compete with the well-endowed schools, which calls for hard work and dedication to realise the vision of the school.
In his report, Mr Francis Ametefe, the Headmaster of BUSEC, said whereas some schools were finding it a problem to absorb the present first year students, BUSEC could absorb up to 500 of them. “But as of now, only 215 freshers have reported”, he lamented.
The school, he said, started in 1960 by the late Mr Christopher Kwaku Nayo of Old Baika in 1960 with 12 students and a staff of five, now has 1,173 students.
He said from rented premises, the school was fortunate to benefit from the government’s model status policy.
He noted that the school had over the past eight years moved up in its academic achievements.
“From a 79 per cent pass in 2001 in the WASCE, there has been a steady progress to 99 per cent in 2009”, he said.
On challenges facing the school, Mr Ametefe mentioned the delays in the payment of government scholarships and GETFund subsidies.
“Students under our care should be catered for and their needs cannot be suspended until funds are available”, he said.
He also mentioned the lack of accommodation for the staff, pointing out that there were only five bungalows on the compound to accommodate 60 teaching and non-teaching staff.
He regretted that though they had an ICT laboratory, it was not equipped with computers.
He therefore, appealed to the government to assist them with computers.
He has, therefore, urged them to endeavour to manage with their existing facilities till the government is able to address their infrastructural needs.
Mr Mahama said this in an address read on his behalf by Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Bueman Senior High School (BUSEC) at Jasikan in the Volta Region.
The Vice-President expressed his satisfaction at the fact that BUSEC had benefited from the construction of a seven-classroom block valued at GH¢26,000 and noted that the necessary documentation was being made to extend similar facilities to more schools.
“I strongly believe that human resource development is the surest way to the attainment of accelerated economic development”, he said.
And because of BUSEC’s contribution to the human resource base of the country, their physical facilities are being improved to promote further educational development, the Vice-President stated.
He was enthused by the theme of the celebration “50 years of academic excellence: success and challenges in a deprived environment”, and called on all stakeholders to remain dedicated to the goals of the school’s founding fathers.
The Vice-President gave the reminder that the success of the “Better Ghana Agenda” needed a commitment to a superior educational delivery.
He commended the founding fathers of the school and successive boards of management for imbuing in the students the sense of academic excellence, moral uprightness and hard work.
Mr Mahama urged the present crop of students to also endeavour to take up these qualities as key to their individual and collective advancement.
Mr Henry Ford Kamel, Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency and Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry, commended the school for its achievement over the years.
“You have contributed your quota to national development through the very personalities engaged in various endeavours countrywide”, Mr Ford Kamel said.
The MP called on the school authorities to aspire to make the school a centre of excellence and thus compete with the well-endowed schools, which calls for hard work and dedication to realise the vision of the school.
In his report, Mr Francis Ametefe, the Headmaster of BUSEC, said whereas some schools were finding it a problem to absorb the present first year students, BUSEC could absorb up to 500 of them. “But as of now, only 215 freshers have reported”, he lamented.
The school, he said, started in 1960 by the late Mr Christopher Kwaku Nayo of Old Baika in 1960 with 12 students and a staff of five, now has 1,173 students.
He said from rented premises, the school was fortunate to benefit from the government’s model status policy.
He noted that the school had over the past eight years moved up in its academic achievements.
“From a 79 per cent pass in 2001 in the WASCE, there has been a steady progress to 99 per cent in 2009”, he said.
On challenges facing the school, Mr Ametefe mentioned the delays in the payment of government scholarships and GETFund subsidies.
“Students under our care should be catered for and their needs cannot be suspended until funds are available”, he said.
He also mentioned the lack of accommodation for the staff, pointing out that there were only five bungalows on the compound to accommodate 60 teaching and non-teaching staff.
He regretted that though they had an ICT laboratory, it was not equipped with computers.
He therefore, appealed to the government to assist them with computers.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
BRIBING THE GODS...A tale of culture-induced calamities at Atimpoku (SHOWBIZ, DEC 2, 2010, PAGE 20)
By Emmanuel Modey
It is 6 o’clock in the morning on May 8, 2010. The youth of Atimpoku are aggrieved. They are on the street, some wielding sticks and machetes. And why not? The previous farming and fishing seasons have not been favourable to them. They think the gods have been bribed.
“What!”
“Yes, they have bribed the gods.”
“How?”
“Why should there be a funeral for that man?”
“Which man?”
“ Kofi Puni (not real name) of course!”
“And why not? He’s one of us!”
“Don’t you remember he died through an accident?”
That was Jackson Darko, the organiser of the Atimpoku Youth Association, who is also a popular herbalist, linking the recent calamities of deaths, accidents and poor harvests to the disregard of the laid-down traditions and customs for a deceased who died through drowning.
Atimpoku, located in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, is a predominantly fishing community, said to have been founded by three prominent personalities, including Komfo Adu, a renowned fetish priest who lived in the 1870’s
According to Kofi Asare, also known as Wone-kele, a great grandson of Komfo Adu, the natives are strongly attached to their customs and traditions, particularly those related to funerals. Like many other ethnic groups in the country and elsewhere, the people of Atimpoku consider as a taboo, accidental or unnatural deaths, which they call in their local parlance Atofowuo, and therefore, no proper funerals are not organised for such victims.
But same cannot be said about such funerals in recent times, because of a vacuum created in the traditional leadership of the town by the death of the paramount chief about four years ago. As a result, some of the traditions regarding funerals are said to have been ignored.
Some youth in the town who believe that some elders are exploiting the situation to their advantage, are accusing them (the elders) of “bribing the gods.”
“These unscrupulous elders collect huge amounts of money from the families of deceased persons on the pretext of soliciting the permission of the gods to organize such funerals” said Jackson
“But these turn out to be hoax, as the messages of the gods are misinterpreted to suit their whims and caprices. The demands by these elders which are purported to have been that of the gods, are usually a clever way of extorting money from the innocent.”
As in the case of most Akan communities, the people of Atimpoku organise their funerals on Thursdays and Saturdays. On the death of a person, his/her family informs the chief and elders of the town with a bottle of schnapps, two bottles of ‘akpetshie” and five bottles of soft drinks. A date is thus set by the family members for the organisation of the funeral.
During the funeral which usually starts at noon after the burial had taken place in the morning, the leaders and members of the deceased’s family sit at the funeral grounds known as the bedwam for sympathisers and well-wishers to mourn with them.
Traditional forms of music, dance and drumming, such as Adowa and Kete, are used to entertain the mourners. In this funeral, mourners usually put on black and red clothes to signify their state of grief. However, in the event of the death of an elder person of 70 years and above, black and white clothes are usually preferred, as a form of celebrating his or her longevity.
In all of these cases, mourners are served with all kinds of drinks and food, whilst they also show their appreciation by making donations (normally monetary) to defray part of the cost that may have been incurred in the organisation of the funerals.
In the situation of accidental deaths or atofowuo which is deemed as a taboo, the above-mentioned rites are not permissible. In this scenario, the family members, after taking the body from the morgue are not allowed to bring it home, but rather to the burial ground or the cemetery where the coffin is opened briefly for people to look at the body.
Family members, after the burial, go back to the chief’s palace for the necessary rituals to be performed to appease the gods, whom they deem to be angry at the death.
Jackson’s view about this is that; “Culture at Atimpoku is being adulterated by “bribing” the gods who are supposed to be the spiritual custodians of customs and traditions.” The big question is, Can the gods be bribed?
It is 6 o’clock in the morning on May 8, 2010. The youth of Atimpoku are aggrieved. They are on the street, some wielding sticks and machetes. And why not? The previous farming and fishing seasons have not been favourable to them. They think the gods have been bribed.
“What!”
“Yes, they have bribed the gods.”
“How?”
“Why should there be a funeral for that man?”
“Which man?”
“ Kofi Puni (not real name) of course!”
“And why not? He’s one of us!”
“Don’t you remember he died through an accident?”
That was Jackson Darko, the organiser of the Atimpoku Youth Association, who is also a popular herbalist, linking the recent calamities of deaths, accidents and poor harvests to the disregard of the laid-down traditions and customs for a deceased who died through drowning.
Atimpoku, located in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, is a predominantly fishing community, said to have been founded by three prominent personalities, including Komfo Adu, a renowned fetish priest who lived in the 1870’s
According to Kofi Asare, also known as Wone-kele, a great grandson of Komfo Adu, the natives are strongly attached to their customs and traditions, particularly those related to funerals. Like many other ethnic groups in the country and elsewhere, the people of Atimpoku consider as a taboo, accidental or unnatural deaths, which they call in their local parlance Atofowuo, and therefore, no proper funerals are not organised for such victims.
But same cannot be said about such funerals in recent times, because of a vacuum created in the traditional leadership of the town by the death of the paramount chief about four years ago. As a result, some of the traditions regarding funerals are said to have been ignored.
Some youth in the town who believe that some elders are exploiting the situation to their advantage, are accusing them (the elders) of “bribing the gods.”
“These unscrupulous elders collect huge amounts of money from the families of deceased persons on the pretext of soliciting the permission of the gods to organize such funerals” said Jackson
“But these turn out to be hoax, as the messages of the gods are misinterpreted to suit their whims and caprices. The demands by these elders which are purported to have been that of the gods, are usually a clever way of extorting money from the innocent.”
As in the case of most Akan communities, the people of Atimpoku organise their funerals on Thursdays and Saturdays. On the death of a person, his/her family informs the chief and elders of the town with a bottle of schnapps, two bottles of ‘akpetshie” and five bottles of soft drinks. A date is thus set by the family members for the organisation of the funeral.
During the funeral which usually starts at noon after the burial had taken place in the morning, the leaders and members of the deceased’s family sit at the funeral grounds known as the bedwam for sympathisers and well-wishers to mourn with them.
Traditional forms of music, dance and drumming, such as Adowa and Kete, are used to entertain the mourners. In this funeral, mourners usually put on black and red clothes to signify their state of grief. However, in the event of the death of an elder person of 70 years and above, black and white clothes are usually preferred, as a form of celebrating his or her longevity.
In all of these cases, mourners are served with all kinds of drinks and food, whilst they also show their appreciation by making donations (normally monetary) to defray part of the cost that may have been incurred in the organisation of the funerals.
In the situation of accidental deaths or atofowuo which is deemed as a taboo, the above-mentioned rites are not permissible. In this scenario, the family members, after taking the body from the morgue are not allowed to bring it home, but rather to the burial ground or the cemetery where the coffin is opened briefly for people to look at the body.
Family members, after the burial, go back to the chief’s palace for the necessary rituals to be performed to appease the gods, whom they deem to be angry at the death.
Jackson’s view about this is that; “Culture at Atimpoku is being adulterated by “bribing” the gods who are supposed to be the spiritual custodians of customs and traditions.” The big question is, Can the gods be bribed?
KRASEC LAUNCHES 40 YEARS ANNIVERSARY (PAGE 11, DEC 1, 2010)
THE 40th anniversary celebration of the Krachi Senior High School (KRASEC), which comes off in November next year, has been launched at a ceremony in Kete Krachi in the Volta Region.
Nana Mprah Besemuna III, Paramount Chief of the Krachi Traditional Area, launched the anniversary programme which includes a home-coming activity, sporting activities, clean-up campaign and a procession through the principal streets of the town.
The Paramount Chief advised the students that discipline had been the hallmark of success and that their presence there was to be equipped with knowledge and skills necessary to make them live a responsible life in future.
“You must know that your being in this school is to make you a useful citizen for the future development of the country, hence the need to take your studies seriously”, Nana Besemuna said.
He said that the school could now boast as being one of the most endowed in the region, saying that even if it might not be the best, it could be among the best.
“The school now has computer facility and can boast of being hooked to the Internet. It, however, needs a new computer laboratory to accommodate the 50 computers and two printers it has at the moment,” he said.
He was happy with the level of discipline that had been introduced and assured the headmaster that they would stand by him to ensure that discipline was maintained to the highest standard.
The Paramount Chief called on the staff to rally behind the new headmaster to ensure that the school improved further.
Mr Musah Issahaku Yamba, the Headmaster of KRASEC commended the board and staff for allowing him the peace of mind to work to improve upon teaching and learning in the school he met.
“The attitude of teachers has changed for the better due to the democratic method of education that has been instituted, where teachers see themselves as part of the decision-making process with the determination to turn out well-behaved students, ” he said.
The determination, together with staff motivation had enhanced academic work and to ensure strict discipline in the school, the headmaster said he felt it necessary to introduce a police cadet corps fully equipped with a regimental band.
Mr Yamba said to incorporate the school into the society, the administration together with the board decided to name the dormitories after prominent persons in the Krachi community.
Thus, names of houses like House one, two, three and four had been substituted with Nana Mprah III, Nana Asetena, Nana Denteh and Nana Obridjow, respectively.
On agriculture, he said, the school cultivated six acres of maize but due to unfavourable weather conditions, they could not make any profitable yield. But 3,000 trees planted around the school were doing very well.
Mr Yamba said one of the major successes of the school was that they were connected to the Internet and expressed the school’s appreciation to Nana Mprah III.
He mentioned challenges facing the school which included both academic and non-academic accommodation such as girls’ dormitory, classrooms and dormitories for first year students, potable water and the need to complete infrastructure such as the assembly hall, gate and the computer laboratory.
Nana Mprah Besemuna III, Paramount Chief of the Krachi Traditional Area, launched the anniversary programme which includes a home-coming activity, sporting activities, clean-up campaign and a procession through the principal streets of the town.
The Paramount Chief advised the students that discipline had been the hallmark of success and that their presence there was to be equipped with knowledge and skills necessary to make them live a responsible life in future.
“You must know that your being in this school is to make you a useful citizen for the future development of the country, hence the need to take your studies seriously”, Nana Besemuna said.
He said that the school could now boast as being one of the most endowed in the region, saying that even if it might not be the best, it could be among the best.
“The school now has computer facility and can boast of being hooked to the Internet. It, however, needs a new computer laboratory to accommodate the 50 computers and two printers it has at the moment,” he said.
He was happy with the level of discipline that had been introduced and assured the headmaster that they would stand by him to ensure that discipline was maintained to the highest standard.
The Paramount Chief called on the staff to rally behind the new headmaster to ensure that the school improved further.
Mr Musah Issahaku Yamba, the Headmaster of KRASEC commended the board and staff for allowing him the peace of mind to work to improve upon teaching and learning in the school he met.
“The attitude of teachers has changed for the better due to the democratic method of education that has been instituted, where teachers see themselves as part of the decision-making process with the determination to turn out well-behaved students, ” he said.
The determination, together with staff motivation had enhanced academic work and to ensure strict discipline in the school, the headmaster said he felt it necessary to introduce a police cadet corps fully equipped with a regimental band.
Mr Yamba said to incorporate the school into the society, the administration together with the board decided to name the dormitories after prominent persons in the Krachi community.
Thus, names of houses like House one, two, three and four had been substituted with Nana Mprah III, Nana Asetena, Nana Denteh and Nana Obridjow, respectively.
On agriculture, he said, the school cultivated six acres of maize but due to unfavourable weather conditions, they could not make any profitable yield. But 3,000 trees planted around the school were doing very well.
Mr Yamba said one of the major successes of the school was that they were connected to the Internet and expressed the school’s appreciation to Nana Mprah III.
He mentioned challenges facing the school which included both academic and non-academic accommodation such as girls’ dormitory, classrooms and dormitories for first year students, potable water and the need to complete infrastructure such as the assembly hall, gate and the computer laboratory.
LIBERTY ROUT B. A. STARS (BACK PAGE, NOV 29, 2010)
Kpando Heart of Lions were held to a 1-1 drawn game by Accra Hearts of Oak in their Glo Premier League encounter at the Kpando Stadium yesterday.
Playing the greater part of the game, Lions could not take advantage of the numerous chances they created, especially in the first half.
Against the run of play, Hearts got the first goal following a blunder by defender, Kweku Andoh, who fouled Uriah Asante after dispossessing him of the ball in the Lions half.
Kumasi-based referee, Lord Vuvor, did not hesitate to whistle for an infringement which was expertly taken by Obed Ansah, only for Douglas Nkrumah to lob the ball over on-rushing Joseph Addo in post for Lions.
This was after veteran goalkeeper Sammy Adjei had saved a goal-bound shot by Lions striker Gilbert Fiamenyo in the 19th minute.
After recess, Lions, with their pride at stake, made two quick changes by bringing on Gladson Awako and Godfred Asante for Isaac Morgan and Prosper Avor respectively to strengthen the midfield. The changes paid off perfectly in the 75th minute when Asante headed home a cross from left winger, Mohammed Yakubu.
In the 80th minute, Lions had another chance to increase the tally but a goal-bound shot from the foot of Awako was headed out of the post by teammate, Fiamenyo, who wasted not less than three glorious chances.
Playing the greater part of the game, Lions could not take advantage of the numerous chances they created, especially in the first half.
Against the run of play, Hearts got the first goal following a blunder by defender, Kweku Andoh, who fouled Uriah Asante after dispossessing him of the ball in the Lions half.
Kumasi-based referee, Lord Vuvor, did not hesitate to whistle for an infringement which was expertly taken by Obed Ansah, only for Douglas Nkrumah to lob the ball over on-rushing Joseph Addo in post for Lions.
This was after veteran goalkeeper Sammy Adjei had saved a goal-bound shot by Lions striker Gilbert Fiamenyo in the 19th minute.
After recess, Lions, with their pride at stake, made two quick changes by bringing on Gladson Awako and Godfred Asante for Isaac Morgan and Prosper Avor respectively to strengthen the midfield. The changes paid off perfectly in the 75th minute when Asante headed home a cross from left winger, Mohammed Yakubu.
In the 80th minute, Lions had another chance to increase the tally but a goal-bound shot from the foot of Awako was headed out of the post by teammate, Fiamenyo, who wasted not less than three glorious chances.
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