A GH¢134,432.00 modern school block has been inaugurated for the St Stephen’s Roman Catholic Primary School at Kpetoe in the Volta Region.
The building comprises six classrooms, offices, stores, a computer laboratory, a library and assembly hall.
It also has an adjoining six-seater water closet toilet, urinals for boys and girls and a six-shower bathroom for boys and girls.
The project was funded by the Diocese Assistance Corporation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in California, USA, in collaboration with the Ho-Catholic Diocese Development Office.
The dedication rites were performed by the Right Rev. Francis Anani Lodonu, the Bishop of the Ho Diocese, who also cut the tape to inaugurate the project.
In his inaugural address, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Adaklau-Anyigbe, Mr Michael Kobla Adzaho, expressed gratitude to the Catholic Church for its commitment to the development of education in the country.
He expressed the hope that the school authorities and pupils would take very good care of the building to ensure its long lifespan.
Mr Adzaho said the assembly had purchased three digital cameras for the Ghana Education Service (GES) to relieve the burden on parents by paying photograph fees for Basic Education Certificate Examinations registration for students. “During the just ended registration of the final-year students, the photographs were provided freely,” he said.
Mr Adzaho gave the assurance that the assembly would always co-operate with the Ho Diocese to improve the lot of humanity.
The outgoing Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho East, Mrs Juliana Mensah, donated 10 computers and accessories to the school.
She added that she would take care of other facilities, as well as teaching and learning materials, in due course.
Mrs Mensah, who is also an old student of the school, promised to use part of her share of the MPs’ common fund to renovate the kindergarten for the St Stephen’s Roman Catholic Primary School.
She urged parents to invest their resources in the education of their children to ensure a bright future for them.
A retired educationist and son of the area, Mr Albert Agbovi, also donated a computer and accessories to the school.
Mr Agbovi, who is also the national instructor of the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG), commended the school authorities and the students for their exemplary behaviour in spite of the challenges faced by the school.
Rt. Rev. Lodonu called on the affluent in society to offer assistance to their communities.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
RICE PRODUCTION TO BE LESS LABORIOUS IN HOHOE (PAGE 20, FEB 10, 2010)
Harvesting and threshing of rice by small-scale rice farmers in nine communities in the Hohoe Municipality, which is gradually becoming the biggest rice-producing area in the Volta Region, promises to be less laborious and time consuming, thanks to Green Shield Agro-Chemicals, suppliers of agricultural inputs.
According to projections by Green Shield, it would soon introduce tractor-mounted threshers to reduce the toil of the rice farmers at Ve-Golokuati, Koloenu, Gbi Wegbe, Akpafu Odomi, Mempeasem, Wli Afegame, Lolobi, Likpe and Santrokofi.
Speaking during a rice farmers forum at Hohoe last Thursday, the Operations Manager of Green Shield, Efo Kumah Ameyibor, said the company was collaborating with an Indian firm to bring in 20 of the tractor-mounted threshers worth GH¢5,200 each during the current farming season.
He said the machines had been specially designed to suit the needs of marshland farmers who had all along been manually harvesting and threshing their rice.
He said from what the company observed in the past year, it realised that the laborious harvesting and threshing processes the farmers had to undergo to bring their produce to the market negatively affected the yield they should have recorded.
A Senior Agronomist and Value Chain Specialist of the Agricultural Co-operative Development International and the Volunteers Overseas Co-operation (ACDI/VOCA), Dr Ben Dadzie, said last year, the implementing agency of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) mobilised 84 rice farmers, comprising 75 out-growers and nine nucleus farmers to cultivate 438 acres of lowland rice in the municipality.
“Through the assistance received under the agricultural component of the Millennium Challenge Account being managed by the MiDA, the farmers were given two weeks’ training in good agricultural practices,” he stated.
Dr Dadzie said in addition, the farmers were assisted through special interventions such as credit facilities provided by the Gbi Rural Bank, as well as inputs from the Green Shield Agro-Chemical Company like fertilisers, seeds, weedicides and pesticides, to increase their yields.
According to the senior agronomist, out of a target of 2,000 tonnes set for the season, a total of 1,604 tonnes of the paddy rice harvested had been transported to the Prairie Volta Limited at Aveyime for milling and onward delivery to the FINATRADE.
He said more tonnes of the harvest were yet to be delivered.
Dr Dadzie said during the 2010 season, which begins in July, the MiDA and FINATRADE, in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), would increase the number of farmers under the project.
He said 2,500 acres would be put under rice cultivation in support of the government’s policy of increasing local rice production and reducing rice imports.
The only setback, he stated, was the numerous tree stumps on the rice fields, which made it impossible for machines like tractors, power tillers and combine harvesters to be used.
Dr Dadzie said to address the problem, which accounted for the high cost of labour and post-harvest losses, the MiDA, in collaboration with FINATRADE, was able to acquire some rice reapers and threshers for the farmers, “but these efforts were hampered by the numerous tree stumps on the rice fields”.
Dr Dadzie appealed to the government to address their constraints and help resolve some of the challenges faced by the farmers in order to increase their acreage and yields.
The ACDI/VOCA is implementing the Commercial Development of Farmer–based Organisation (CDFO), a component of the agriculture project in 16 districts of the southern zone of the country, with focus on five major crops, namely rice, maize, vegetables, pineapples and mangoes.
They include North Dayi, Hohoe, Ketu North, Ketu South, Tongu and Akatsi, all in the Volta Region.
Dr Dadzie said the project was boosted with an agreement which also brought in the FINATRADE, a trading organisation, to offer ready market for the rice farmers.
A senior official of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Bessa Akpalu, advised the farmers to see agriculture as a big venture, adding that he was proud the region had seen a boost in rice production since last year.
Mr Akpalu said last year, 250 farming groups were given a two-week training and financial assistance to go into rice production with loans through the Gbi Rural Bank for their farming activities.
According to projections by Green Shield, it would soon introduce tractor-mounted threshers to reduce the toil of the rice farmers at Ve-Golokuati, Koloenu, Gbi Wegbe, Akpafu Odomi, Mempeasem, Wli Afegame, Lolobi, Likpe and Santrokofi.
Speaking during a rice farmers forum at Hohoe last Thursday, the Operations Manager of Green Shield, Efo Kumah Ameyibor, said the company was collaborating with an Indian firm to bring in 20 of the tractor-mounted threshers worth GH¢5,200 each during the current farming season.
He said the machines had been specially designed to suit the needs of marshland farmers who had all along been manually harvesting and threshing their rice.
He said from what the company observed in the past year, it realised that the laborious harvesting and threshing processes the farmers had to undergo to bring their produce to the market negatively affected the yield they should have recorded.
A Senior Agronomist and Value Chain Specialist of the Agricultural Co-operative Development International and the Volunteers Overseas Co-operation (ACDI/VOCA), Dr Ben Dadzie, said last year, the implementing agency of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) mobilised 84 rice farmers, comprising 75 out-growers and nine nucleus farmers to cultivate 438 acres of lowland rice in the municipality.
“Through the assistance received under the agricultural component of the Millennium Challenge Account being managed by the MiDA, the farmers were given two weeks’ training in good agricultural practices,” he stated.
Dr Dadzie said in addition, the farmers were assisted through special interventions such as credit facilities provided by the Gbi Rural Bank, as well as inputs from the Green Shield Agro-Chemical Company like fertilisers, seeds, weedicides and pesticides, to increase their yields.
According to the senior agronomist, out of a target of 2,000 tonnes set for the season, a total of 1,604 tonnes of the paddy rice harvested had been transported to the Prairie Volta Limited at Aveyime for milling and onward delivery to the FINATRADE.
He said more tonnes of the harvest were yet to be delivered.
Dr Dadzie said during the 2010 season, which begins in July, the MiDA and FINATRADE, in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), would increase the number of farmers under the project.
He said 2,500 acres would be put under rice cultivation in support of the government’s policy of increasing local rice production and reducing rice imports.
The only setback, he stated, was the numerous tree stumps on the rice fields, which made it impossible for machines like tractors, power tillers and combine harvesters to be used.
Dr Dadzie said to address the problem, which accounted for the high cost of labour and post-harvest losses, the MiDA, in collaboration with FINATRADE, was able to acquire some rice reapers and threshers for the farmers, “but these efforts were hampered by the numerous tree stumps on the rice fields”.
Dr Dadzie appealed to the government to address their constraints and help resolve some of the challenges faced by the farmers in order to increase their acreage and yields.
The ACDI/VOCA is implementing the Commercial Development of Farmer–based Organisation (CDFO), a component of the agriculture project in 16 districts of the southern zone of the country, with focus on five major crops, namely rice, maize, vegetables, pineapples and mangoes.
They include North Dayi, Hohoe, Ketu North, Ketu South, Tongu and Akatsi, all in the Volta Region.
Dr Dadzie said the project was boosted with an agreement which also brought in the FINATRADE, a trading organisation, to offer ready market for the rice farmers.
A senior official of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Bessa Akpalu, advised the farmers to see agriculture as a big venture, adding that he was proud the region had seen a boost in rice production since last year.
Mr Akpalu said last year, 250 farming groups were given a two-week training and financial assistance to go into rice production with loans through the Gbi Rural Bank for their farming activities.
Friday, February 26, 2010
THRILLS AT FIRST EVER GHAPSA GAMES (PAGE 63, FEB 4, 2010)
The 22nd edition of the Ghana Polytechnic Sports Association (GHAPSA) games has opened at Ho on the theme, “Uniting Polytechnics Through Sports for National Development”.
The week-long games have brought together sportsmen and women from the 10 polytechnics in the country to compete for trophies and medals in soccer, volleyball, basketball, handball, table tennis, tennis, badminton, judo, taekwondo, track and field athletics to be participated by both men and women except chess for only men.
In an opening address, the rector of Ho Polytechnic, Dr Komla Agbeko Dzisi, announced that the government had voted GH¢ 70,000 towards the games and that it demonstrated the full recognition accorded the GHAPSA games by the National Sports Council.
He said two volleyball and basketball courts were to be constructed at the polytechnic and expressed the hope they would go a long way to engage students in fruitful sporting activities.
Opening the games, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the Academicals in tertiary institutions which once served as a platform for grooming sports men for national teams would be revived and supported to enable sports to develop effectively for the country’s benefit.
He said the achievements of the Satellites and the splendid performance of the Black Stars at the recently held African Cup of Nations tournament in Angola should inspire the youth and all Ghanaians to achieve honour and good names for themselves and the state.
Mr Amenowode advised participants to take care of themselves in order to overcome temptations on experimenting with drugs, casual sex, occultism and other vices that might come their way.
“ Let us use this opportunity to break new grounds by making new friends. Sports is essentially about togetherness and oneness. Let us therefore make new friends and establish positive relationships that would eventually work to our mutual benefit,” he said.
The president of GHAPSA, Dr Ben E. Kwesi Prah, announced that Ghana was to host the West Africa Polytechnics Games this year and asked stakeholders in polytechnic sports to streamline their budgets to promote sports to the highest level.
Dr Prah, who is the Rector of Kumasi polytechnic, advised the participants to play the games diligently to become role models in the country and to gain inclusion into various national teams.
The Secretary General of the WAPOGA based in Nigeria, Mr Femi Abdul Rahim, reaffirmed the staging of the West Africa games in the country this year and said countries involved were Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Mali.
The Chairman of the GHAPSA technical committee, Mr Ebenezer Mensah advised that nobody should do anything to mar the beauty of the games because the cardinal aim was to compete in a friendly atmosphere.
The Paramount chief of Ziavi Traditional Area, Togbe Kwaku Ayim chaired the function
Present was the Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council, Mr Worlanyo Agrah.
Ho Polytechnic women beat Accra Polytechnic women in the first round of the women’s volleyball while their male counterparts beat Wa Polytechnic in the first round of the men’s volleyball division.
The lads from Accra Polytechnic had beaten their counterparts from Ho Polytechnic in the men’s basketball division at the time of going to press.
The week-long games have brought together sportsmen and women from the 10 polytechnics in the country to compete for trophies and medals in soccer, volleyball, basketball, handball, table tennis, tennis, badminton, judo, taekwondo, track and field athletics to be participated by both men and women except chess for only men.
In an opening address, the rector of Ho Polytechnic, Dr Komla Agbeko Dzisi, announced that the government had voted GH¢ 70,000 towards the games and that it demonstrated the full recognition accorded the GHAPSA games by the National Sports Council.
He said two volleyball and basketball courts were to be constructed at the polytechnic and expressed the hope they would go a long way to engage students in fruitful sporting activities.
Opening the games, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said the Academicals in tertiary institutions which once served as a platform for grooming sports men for national teams would be revived and supported to enable sports to develop effectively for the country’s benefit.
He said the achievements of the Satellites and the splendid performance of the Black Stars at the recently held African Cup of Nations tournament in Angola should inspire the youth and all Ghanaians to achieve honour and good names for themselves and the state.
Mr Amenowode advised participants to take care of themselves in order to overcome temptations on experimenting with drugs, casual sex, occultism and other vices that might come their way.
“ Let us use this opportunity to break new grounds by making new friends. Sports is essentially about togetherness and oneness. Let us therefore make new friends and establish positive relationships that would eventually work to our mutual benefit,” he said.
The president of GHAPSA, Dr Ben E. Kwesi Prah, announced that Ghana was to host the West Africa Polytechnics Games this year and asked stakeholders in polytechnic sports to streamline their budgets to promote sports to the highest level.
Dr Prah, who is the Rector of Kumasi polytechnic, advised the participants to play the games diligently to become role models in the country and to gain inclusion into various national teams.
The Secretary General of the WAPOGA based in Nigeria, Mr Femi Abdul Rahim, reaffirmed the staging of the West Africa games in the country this year and said countries involved were Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Mali.
The Chairman of the GHAPSA technical committee, Mr Ebenezer Mensah advised that nobody should do anything to mar the beauty of the games because the cardinal aim was to compete in a friendly atmosphere.
The Paramount chief of Ziavi Traditional Area, Togbe Kwaku Ayim chaired the function
Present was the Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council, Mr Worlanyo Agrah.
Ho Polytechnic women beat Accra Polytechnic women in the first round of the women’s volleyball while their male counterparts beat Wa Polytechnic in the first round of the men’s volleyball division.
The lads from Accra Polytechnic had beaten their counterparts from Ho Polytechnic in the men’s basketball division at the time of going to press.
'JUJU' CASE HEARD BY CRIMINAL ASSIZES (PAGE 35, FEB 4, 2010)
A CASE in which Christian Adzakro, a 16-year-old boy, allegedly slashed his 19-year-old cousin to death due to the failure of a juju protection they acquired was heard when the Criminal Assizes was opened in Ho in the Volta Region last Monday.
The two teenagers, Adzakro now 20 and Bright Addo, now deceased, approached a herbalist, Moses Tsitey, to seek protection against machete wounds at Lomnava, near Tsito in the Ho Municipality on October 16, 2006.
After the juju man, Tsitey, had pronounced them protected, he gave a machete to Addo to slash Adzakro. The machete bounced off showing that the protection was effective. The operation was reversed and when Adzakro slashed Addo, his right upper arm was completely severed with blood gushing out.
Addo was then rushed to the Ho Municipal Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Adzakro and Tsitey were subsequently arrested by the police and have since been on remand at the Ho Prisons for four years.
Both suspects pleaded not guilty to two charges of abetment to manslaughter and manslaughter before the Ho High Court, presided over by Justice Essel Kofi Mensah, and were granted bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 to re-appear on February 22, 2010.
The suspects were represented by the president of the Volta Regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association, Mr Ernest Yao Gaewu.
That was the first of the 32 cases before the Criminal Assizes. They are made up of 21 murder, eight rape and three manslaughter cases.
The Volta Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) David Ampah Benin, said at the opening ceremony that it was pathetic the Volta Region should be leading in murder cases throughout the country.
He was happy that the Assizes had opened to relieve the police, who had been over-stretched in their duties.
He gave the example of his men having to carry suspects from Jasikan to the Kpando Prisons, a distance of about 50 kilometres, amid transport difficulties whenever the criminals were arraigned.
Mr Al-Hassan Legibo, the Volta Regional Commander of the Ghana Prisons Service, was also happy that the assizes would relieve them of remand cases, which constituted three quarters of their inmates.
Mr Gaewu said they would give as much assistance as possible to the cases in the light of scarcity of their members, mentioning that at the moment, they were only seven in the region.
Opening the session, Justice Anthony Abada, the Supervising High Court Judge, enjoined the jurors to put in their best to ensure the smooth running of the period.
He cautioned that their deliberations should be devoid of acrimony, vindictiveness, and malice, adding, “You should rather be fair and fearless by ensuring that justice is done to all the cases before me”.
The two teenagers, Adzakro now 20 and Bright Addo, now deceased, approached a herbalist, Moses Tsitey, to seek protection against machete wounds at Lomnava, near Tsito in the Ho Municipality on October 16, 2006.
After the juju man, Tsitey, had pronounced them protected, he gave a machete to Addo to slash Adzakro. The machete bounced off showing that the protection was effective. The operation was reversed and when Adzakro slashed Addo, his right upper arm was completely severed with blood gushing out.
Addo was then rushed to the Ho Municipal Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Adzakro and Tsitey were subsequently arrested by the police and have since been on remand at the Ho Prisons for four years.
Both suspects pleaded not guilty to two charges of abetment to manslaughter and manslaughter before the Ho High Court, presided over by Justice Essel Kofi Mensah, and were granted bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 to re-appear on February 22, 2010.
The suspects were represented by the president of the Volta Regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association, Mr Ernest Yao Gaewu.
That was the first of the 32 cases before the Criminal Assizes. They are made up of 21 murder, eight rape and three manslaughter cases.
The Volta Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) David Ampah Benin, said at the opening ceremony that it was pathetic the Volta Region should be leading in murder cases throughout the country.
He was happy that the Assizes had opened to relieve the police, who had been over-stretched in their duties.
He gave the example of his men having to carry suspects from Jasikan to the Kpando Prisons, a distance of about 50 kilometres, amid transport difficulties whenever the criminals were arraigned.
Mr Al-Hassan Legibo, the Volta Regional Commander of the Ghana Prisons Service, was also happy that the assizes would relieve them of remand cases, which constituted three quarters of their inmates.
Mr Gaewu said they would give as much assistance as possible to the cases in the light of scarcity of their members, mentioning that at the moment, they were only seven in the region.
Opening the session, Justice Anthony Abada, the Supervising High Court Judge, enjoined the jurors to put in their best to ensure the smooth running of the period.
He cautioned that their deliberations should be devoid of acrimony, vindictiveness, and malice, adding, “You should rather be fair and fearless by ensuring that justice is done to all the cases before me”.
BEST CHILI FARM THREATENED BY WILT DISEASE (PAGE 21, FEB 3, 2010)
The biggest Bird’s Eye Chilli farm in the country is being threatened by the wilt disease.
The 25-acre farm cultivated along the banks of the Volta Lake at Kpando Tokor in the Volta Region will no longer exist if immediate assistance is not given to the farmers in the form of floating watering pumps, as the three pumping machine stations have been submerged.
Twenty-five farmers are cultivating an acre of farm each under the Kpando Tokor Irrigation Project.
The project, initiated by the Irrigation Development Authority (IDA) some 15 years ago, originally had 109 farmers working under it. They cultivated vegetables, especially okra and garden eggs, for the local market.
Last year, the farmers could not get good market for their produce, which compelled them to abandon the farms.
The ACDI/VOCA, under the Millennium Development Authority (MIDA) and headed by Dr Ben Dadzie, intervened. Dr Dadzie was masterminding the MIDA-sponsored rice project in the Hohoe Municipality and the Kpando District.
He introduced the farmers to the Bird’s Eye Chilli project and some of the farmers got interested. According to Dr Dadzie, he educated them on the importance of the produce and the worldwide demand for it, which made some of the farmers to develop interest in it.
A recent visit to the farms showed that the farmers were happily harvesting their crops, which had ready market.
According to one of the farmers, Mr Samuel Ebili, the customers came to buy the produce straight from their farms for export.
He said Chilli, which had a very high medicinal value, was also used as pepper spray for tear-gas used in self-defence.
Mr Ebili said their biggest challenge was the lack of a pumping machine, adding that the only one available had to be moved from one place to another, which he described as a laborious venture.
He said the Volta Lake had submerged the three pumping stations the IDA had constructed.
The 25-acre farm cultivated along the banks of the Volta Lake at Kpando Tokor in the Volta Region will no longer exist if immediate assistance is not given to the farmers in the form of floating watering pumps, as the three pumping machine stations have been submerged.
Twenty-five farmers are cultivating an acre of farm each under the Kpando Tokor Irrigation Project.
The project, initiated by the Irrigation Development Authority (IDA) some 15 years ago, originally had 109 farmers working under it. They cultivated vegetables, especially okra and garden eggs, for the local market.
Last year, the farmers could not get good market for their produce, which compelled them to abandon the farms.
The ACDI/VOCA, under the Millennium Development Authority (MIDA) and headed by Dr Ben Dadzie, intervened. Dr Dadzie was masterminding the MIDA-sponsored rice project in the Hohoe Municipality and the Kpando District.
He introduced the farmers to the Bird’s Eye Chilli project and some of the farmers got interested. According to Dr Dadzie, he educated them on the importance of the produce and the worldwide demand for it, which made some of the farmers to develop interest in it.
A recent visit to the farms showed that the farmers were happily harvesting their crops, which had ready market.
According to one of the farmers, Mr Samuel Ebili, the customers came to buy the produce straight from their farms for export.
He said Chilli, which had a very high medicinal value, was also used as pepper spray for tear-gas used in self-defence.
Mr Ebili said their biggest challenge was the lack of a pumping machine, adding that the only one available had to be moved from one place to another, which he described as a laborious venture.
He said the Volta Lake had submerged the three pumping stations the IDA had constructed.
EMPLOYERS ATTEND WORKSHOP ON NEW PENSION SCHEME (PAGE 21. FEB 2, 2010)
THE Hohoe branch of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has held a one-day sensitisation seminar on the new pension law, Act 766, at Hohoe in the Volta Region for employers drawn from four districts in the region.
The seminar attracted more than 150 participants from the Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi and Kpando districts.
Addressing the participants, the Hohoe Branch Manager of SSNIT, Mr Richard Setsoafia, said under the three-tier pension scheme(the National Pensions Act, Act 766), self-employed workers could also contribute to one of the schemes and benefit from it when they were old and unable to work.
Mr Setsoafia said the new pension scheme would ensure that every Ghanaian worker, whether in the formal or informal sector, was assured of a bright future.
He said for workers to be covered under the scheme, all employers must first register with SSNIT and have all their workers also registered.
Mr Setsoafia added that all contributions would be based on the new minimum daily wage of GH¢3.11 and, therefore, advised employers to be guided by the guidelines.
He assured workers of prompt payment of their pensions if they provided the right information to any of the SSNIT branch offices.
Mr Setsoafia told them that under the new scheme, workers would have to work for 180 months and not 240 months to qualify for pension payment.
He urged workers to periodically update their records with the SSNIT to be assured of trouble free payment to their survivors.
The resource persons were Messrs David Torkornoo and Alhassan Mahamadu, Kade and Somanya Branch Managers of the SSNIT respectively.
The seminar attracted more than 150 participants from the Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi and Kpando districts.
Addressing the participants, the Hohoe Branch Manager of SSNIT, Mr Richard Setsoafia, said under the three-tier pension scheme(the National Pensions Act, Act 766), self-employed workers could also contribute to one of the schemes and benefit from it when they were old and unable to work.
Mr Setsoafia said the new pension scheme would ensure that every Ghanaian worker, whether in the formal or informal sector, was assured of a bright future.
He said for workers to be covered under the scheme, all employers must first register with SSNIT and have all their workers also registered.
Mr Setsoafia added that all contributions would be based on the new minimum daily wage of GH¢3.11 and, therefore, advised employers to be guided by the guidelines.
He assured workers of prompt payment of their pensions if they provided the right information to any of the SSNIT branch offices.
Mr Setsoafia told them that under the new scheme, workers would have to work for 180 months and not 240 months to qualify for pension payment.
He urged workers to periodically update their records with the SSNIT to be assured of trouble free payment to their survivors.
The resource persons were Messrs David Torkornoo and Alhassan Mahamadu, Kade and Somanya Branch Managers of the SSNIT respectively.
NEW JUSAG EXECUTIVE SWORN IN AT HOHOE (PAGE 21, FEB 2, 2010)
A SEVEN-MEMBER executive of the Volta Regional branch of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has been sworn into office at a ceremony at Hohoe for a three-year term.
The executive has Mr Francis Dimake, a court registrar at Hohoe, as its Chairman.
The other members are Mr Robert Fiadzoe, Vice-chairman; Mr Leonard Agbobli, Secretary and Mr Richard Tordzro; Assistant Secretary.
Mr George Bush Seddoh, Treasurer; Ms Bridget Tsigbe and Mr John Otoo as executive members.
Addressing the delegates, the General Secretary of JUSAG, Mr Felix Eddie Quansah, called on the government to come out with measures to cushion workers till the time the Single Spine Salary Structure is implemented.
He stated that although it was on paper that the scheme would be paid in June, this year, it had been realised the actual payment would be made in July.
“If this is so, then as prices of goods will not wait for the scheme to be implemented before jumping up,the government should move in to save workers who would be at the mercy of traders,” he stressed.
Mr Quansah touched on the deplorable conditions of service in the Judicial Service, stressing that retired workers found it difficult to go home with the little packages they got for many years of service.
He expressed the hope that the launching of the Provident Fund would put more money into their pockets.
Mr Quansah commended the new executive members who would be in office for the next three years for taking up the tasks to champion the cause of their fellow workers.
The newly elected chairman of the association, appealed to the workers to give the executive the necessary support in the execution of their duties.
The executive has Mr Francis Dimake, a court registrar at Hohoe, as its Chairman.
The other members are Mr Robert Fiadzoe, Vice-chairman; Mr Leonard Agbobli, Secretary and Mr Richard Tordzro; Assistant Secretary.
Mr George Bush Seddoh, Treasurer; Ms Bridget Tsigbe and Mr John Otoo as executive members.
Addressing the delegates, the General Secretary of JUSAG, Mr Felix Eddie Quansah, called on the government to come out with measures to cushion workers till the time the Single Spine Salary Structure is implemented.
He stated that although it was on paper that the scheme would be paid in June, this year, it had been realised the actual payment would be made in July.
“If this is so, then as prices of goods will not wait for the scheme to be implemented before jumping up,the government should move in to save workers who would be at the mercy of traders,” he stressed.
Mr Quansah touched on the deplorable conditions of service in the Judicial Service, stressing that retired workers found it difficult to go home with the little packages they got for many years of service.
He expressed the hope that the launching of the Provident Fund would put more money into their pockets.
Mr Quansah commended the new executive members who would be in office for the next three years for taking up the tasks to champion the cause of their fellow workers.
The newly elected chairman of the association, appealed to the workers to give the executive the necessary support in the execution of their duties.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
USE REPORTAGE TO PROJECT VOLTA REGION (PAGE 22, JAN 23, 2010)
MEDIA practitioners in the Volta Region have been urged to project the image of the region in their reportage.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said this at an end-of-year get-together for media practitioners in the Volta Region in Ho.
“The general and larger interest of the region should take centre stage of whatever you do and not actions or inaction that are geared towards the personal, economic or political agenda of any particular individual,” he emphasised.
Mr Amenowode said the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) decided to organise the get-together for the media personnel to thank them for their commitment and contributions to the development of the region in the past year.
“I wish to also use this platform to earnestly call for a further renewal and strengthening of our relationship and collaboration for the year 2010. It is important for all of us to continuously appreciate the fact that we are in one boat and to remind ourselves about the need to further play our various roles efficiently and effectively, so that we would progress steadily as a people,” he said.
Touching on the achievements of the government in the first year, the regional minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Hohoe South, said the first year was dedicated to fiscal and monetary stabilisation.
Mr Amenowode expressed concern about workers’ lackadaisical attitude and urged them to see 2010 as action year during which the government would undertake many development projects in the country in general and the region in particular.
The regional minister mentioned some of the projects to be undertaken in the region as the Volta Region University, the construction of the eastern corridor road and the youth in agriculture programme.
He assured workers of the government’s commitment to promote their welfare and to ensure better remuneration for all public sector workers in the country through the implementation of the single spine salary structure this year.
Mr Amenowode, therefore, called for co-operation and support, adding, “Let us continue to use dialogue instead of confrontation to address whatever issues that may crop up during the implementation of the government’s policies.”
He expressed the VRCC’s gratitude to the media establishment for projecting the region during the past year and expressed the hope that they would do the same this year.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, said this at an end-of-year get-together for media practitioners in the Volta Region in Ho.
“The general and larger interest of the region should take centre stage of whatever you do and not actions or inaction that are geared towards the personal, economic or political agenda of any particular individual,” he emphasised.
Mr Amenowode said the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) decided to organise the get-together for the media personnel to thank them for their commitment and contributions to the development of the region in the past year.
“I wish to also use this platform to earnestly call for a further renewal and strengthening of our relationship and collaboration for the year 2010. It is important for all of us to continuously appreciate the fact that we are in one boat and to remind ourselves about the need to further play our various roles efficiently and effectively, so that we would progress steadily as a people,” he said.
Touching on the achievements of the government in the first year, the regional minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Hohoe South, said the first year was dedicated to fiscal and monetary stabilisation.
Mr Amenowode expressed concern about workers’ lackadaisical attitude and urged them to see 2010 as action year during which the government would undertake many development projects in the country in general and the region in particular.
The regional minister mentioned some of the projects to be undertaken in the region as the Volta Region University, the construction of the eastern corridor road and the youth in agriculture programme.
He assured workers of the government’s commitment to promote their welfare and to ensure better remuneration for all public sector workers in the country through the implementation of the single spine salary structure this year.
Mr Amenowode, therefore, called for co-operation and support, adding, “Let us continue to use dialogue instead of confrontation to address whatever issues that may crop up during the implementation of the government’s policies.”
He expressed the VRCC’s gratitude to the media establishment for projecting the region during the past year and expressed the hope that they would do the same this year.
LACK OF POLICE PROSECUTORS HAMPERS JUSTICE DELIVERY ...In Volta Region (PAGE 20, JAN 22, 2010)
The lack of police prosecutors at the lower courts in the Ho Municipality in the Volta Region is hampering the delivery of justice in the municipality.
The situation has also become a bonanza for some unscrupulous policemen who charge suspects huge sums of money before granting them bail.
When the suspects are unable to pay the money allegedly demanded by the police, they send them back into cells.
This came to light when the Daily Graphic visited the District Magistrate’s and Circuit courts in Ho to see what pertained there.
A suspect was heard complaining that because he could not afford the amount the police demanded from him, he was being forced back into cells. According to him, he had already given GHҐ20 he had on him to the police the previous day but they were requesting for more.
The suspect, who was weeping, said because he could not meet their demand, the police were sending him back to the cells.
Many allegations were made against the police for misconduct or discriminatory treatment.
A judge, Mr Ernest Yao Obimpeh, said last year, three prosecutors working in his court left their jobs for various reasons including sickness, transfers and retirement.
He said since then cases had piled up at the courts without any prosecutor to present suspects thus delaying the delivery of justice.
Mr Obimpeh said currently, there was only one prosecutor working at the court who had still not recovered fully from sickness to handle cases at the two circuit courts.
He said several appeals had been made to the state prosecuting agencies — the police and the Attorney General’s Department — but to no avail.
Mr Obimpeh said most of the cases on hand were narcotic drugs related, defilement and stealing, which needed to be heard with dispatch.
The situation has also become a bonanza for some unscrupulous policemen who charge suspects huge sums of money before granting them bail.
When the suspects are unable to pay the money allegedly demanded by the police, they send them back into cells.
This came to light when the Daily Graphic visited the District Magistrate’s and Circuit courts in Ho to see what pertained there.
A suspect was heard complaining that because he could not afford the amount the police demanded from him, he was being forced back into cells. According to him, he had already given GHҐ20 he had on him to the police the previous day but they were requesting for more.
The suspect, who was weeping, said because he could not meet their demand, the police were sending him back to the cells.
Many allegations were made against the police for misconduct or discriminatory treatment.
A judge, Mr Ernest Yao Obimpeh, said last year, three prosecutors working in his court left their jobs for various reasons including sickness, transfers and retirement.
He said since then cases had piled up at the courts without any prosecutor to present suspects thus delaying the delivery of justice.
Mr Obimpeh said currently, there was only one prosecutor working at the court who had still not recovered fully from sickness to handle cases at the two circuit courts.
He said several appeals had been made to the state prosecuting agencies — the police and the Attorney General’s Department — but to no avail.
Mr Obimpeh said most of the cases on hand were narcotic drugs related, defilement and stealing, which needed to be heard with dispatch.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
CATTLE DESTROY CROPS AT ADAKLU ANYIGBE (PAGE 21, JAN 15, 2010)
The Adaklu Anyigbe District Assembly (AADA) in the Volta Region is worried about the continuous destruction of food crops by Fulani herdsmen and their cattle in the Adaklu Anyigbe District.
The assembly described these Fulani herdsmen as having taken the law into their own hands and harassing farmers who complained about their activities.
Addressing the third ordinary meeting of the AADA at Kpetoe, the Adaklu Anyigbe District Chief Executive, Mr Michael Kobla Adzaho, said the approaching harmattan season would aggravate the situation if nothing was done to put a stop to activities of the herdsmen.
He said recently two farmers and one Fulani herdsman clashed at Amuzudeve and inflicted machete wounds on one another.
The three victims were treated at the Volta Regional Hospital at Ho and later discharged.
To prevent any future recurrence, he directed that cattle owners must first register with the district assembly to receive approval to have their cattle in the district.
He asked assembly members to intensify education on the dangers and negative effects of bush fires in their electoral areas once it was another harmattan season.
“I wish to call on traditional authorities, assembly members, area council and unit committee members to form anti-bushfire squads to check unnecessary setting of bushfires, which is rampant in the district, ” he said.
Mr Adzaho said the assembly had completed two projects - the DCE’s bungalow and the provision of street lights at the residency and other bungalows.
He announced that the assembly had also opened tenders for the construction of a three–unit classroom block for the Adaklu Senior High, Agotime Amedikpui District Assembly (D.A) Primary and the Ziope Dohia D.A. Primary schools.
He said the assembly had paid for various uncompleted and completed projects handed over to his administration.
They include staff bungalows, European Union projects, KVIP places of convenience and school projects.
The assembly, the DCE said, had also paid the debts accruing from the construction of the district assembly complex and said work on the project was progressing steadily and the complex was expected to be handed over in February 2010.
Mr Adzaho also announced that apart from sponsoring students from the district, the assembly had purchased three digital cameras for the district directorate of the Ghana Education Service to provide free photographs to register students for the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
He said the feeder roads network in the district was not the best and that he and the Feeder Roads engineer had inspected the roads with the view to submitting a report on them.
He commended the Inspector General of Police for providing the police at Kpetoe with a brand new Bolero DC four wheel drive to help maintain peace and order.
The Member of Parliament for Ho-East Constituency, Mrs Juliana Azuma-Mensah, called on the assembly members to give their utmost support to the DCE to enable him to meet the hopes and aspirations of the people.
She asked the assembly members to be the eyes and ears of the communities they represented at the assembly and articulate their concerns and views in the house.
She told them tourism was now seen globally as an industry that would save economies in terms of sustainability, job creation and increase in foreign exchange earning, adding that they should take interest in their local tourist sites and products.
The Presiding Member, Ms Florence Sedode, urged the assembly members to help improve revenue generation for the assembly by intensifying education on the need for the citizens to pay their taxes promptly.
The assembly described these Fulani herdsmen as having taken the law into their own hands and harassing farmers who complained about their activities.
Addressing the third ordinary meeting of the AADA at Kpetoe, the Adaklu Anyigbe District Chief Executive, Mr Michael Kobla Adzaho, said the approaching harmattan season would aggravate the situation if nothing was done to put a stop to activities of the herdsmen.
He said recently two farmers and one Fulani herdsman clashed at Amuzudeve and inflicted machete wounds on one another.
The three victims were treated at the Volta Regional Hospital at Ho and later discharged.
To prevent any future recurrence, he directed that cattle owners must first register with the district assembly to receive approval to have their cattle in the district.
He asked assembly members to intensify education on the dangers and negative effects of bush fires in their electoral areas once it was another harmattan season.
“I wish to call on traditional authorities, assembly members, area council and unit committee members to form anti-bushfire squads to check unnecessary setting of bushfires, which is rampant in the district, ” he said.
Mr Adzaho said the assembly had completed two projects - the DCE’s bungalow and the provision of street lights at the residency and other bungalows.
He announced that the assembly had also opened tenders for the construction of a three–unit classroom block for the Adaklu Senior High, Agotime Amedikpui District Assembly (D.A) Primary and the Ziope Dohia D.A. Primary schools.
He said the assembly had paid for various uncompleted and completed projects handed over to his administration.
They include staff bungalows, European Union projects, KVIP places of convenience and school projects.
The assembly, the DCE said, had also paid the debts accruing from the construction of the district assembly complex and said work on the project was progressing steadily and the complex was expected to be handed over in February 2010.
Mr Adzaho also announced that apart from sponsoring students from the district, the assembly had purchased three digital cameras for the district directorate of the Ghana Education Service to provide free photographs to register students for the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
He said the feeder roads network in the district was not the best and that he and the Feeder Roads engineer had inspected the roads with the view to submitting a report on them.
He commended the Inspector General of Police for providing the police at Kpetoe with a brand new Bolero DC four wheel drive to help maintain peace and order.
The Member of Parliament for Ho-East Constituency, Mrs Juliana Azuma-Mensah, called on the assembly members to give their utmost support to the DCE to enable him to meet the hopes and aspirations of the people.
She asked the assembly members to be the eyes and ears of the communities they represented at the assembly and articulate their concerns and views in the house.
She told them tourism was now seen globally as an industry that would save economies in terms of sustainability, job creation and increase in foreign exchange earning, adding that they should take interest in their local tourist sites and products.
The Presiding Member, Ms Florence Sedode, urged the assembly members to help improve revenue generation for the assembly by intensifying education on the need for the citizens to pay their taxes promptly.
HELP HALT SMUGGLING OF COCOA (PAGE 23, JAN 9, 2010)
The Hohoe Municipal Assembly has held its third general ordinary meeting at Hohoe with a call on the assembly members to educate people on the negative consequences of cocoa smuggling on the economy.
In his sessional address, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Herman Victor Condobrey, expressed concern about cocoa smuggling in the municipality and urged them to expose the smugglers in their midst, since the act was sabotaging the economy.
The MCE also appealed to those involved in the smuggling to desist from the act or face the consequences when they were caught.
“ Let me say that from this year, a proper monitoring mechanism will be put in place to ensure that farmers who will benefit from the mass cocoa spraying exercise sell their produce to the buying agencies in the country,” he warned.
He reminded the assembly members to educate the people on the effects of bushfires in their electoral areas.
The MCE said the assembly would soon award nine projects on contract. These projects, whose bids have already been opened, include the paving of the Hohoe Lorry Park and the construction of 16 stores at the lorry park.
Other projects to be funded from the District Assembly’s Common Fund (DACF) include the construction of classroom blocks at Leklebi Dafour and Alavanyo Agorxoe, construction of the Hohoe Municipal Magistrate’s Court and a headmaster’s bungalow at Ve Koloenu.
Under the National Youth Employment Programme, he said, 34 youth in the municipality were to be trained as tailors and seamstresses, while another batch of 18 were to be trained under the community protection model of the programme.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Ms Edith Akpoto, commended the assembly members for their cooperation.
The women caucus in the assembly presented a package to the Presiding Member and described her as very hardworking and dependable, though she was the first female to hold that post.
In his sessional address, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Herman Victor Condobrey, expressed concern about cocoa smuggling in the municipality and urged them to expose the smugglers in their midst, since the act was sabotaging the economy.
The MCE also appealed to those involved in the smuggling to desist from the act or face the consequences when they were caught.
“ Let me say that from this year, a proper monitoring mechanism will be put in place to ensure that farmers who will benefit from the mass cocoa spraying exercise sell their produce to the buying agencies in the country,” he warned.
He reminded the assembly members to educate the people on the effects of bushfires in their electoral areas.
The MCE said the assembly would soon award nine projects on contract. These projects, whose bids have already been opened, include the paving of the Hohoe Lorry Park and the construction of 16 stores at the lorry park.
Other projects to be funded from the District Assembly’s Common Fund (DACF) include the construction of classroom blocks at Leklebi Dafour and Alavanyo Agorxoe, construction of the Hohoe Municipal Magistrate’s Court and a headmaster’s bungalow at Ve Koloenu.
Under the National Youth Employment Programme, he said, 34 youth in the municipality were to be trained as tailors and seamstresses, while another batch of 18 were to be trained under the community protection model of the programme.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Ms Edith Akpoto, commended the assembly members for their cooperation.
The women caucus in the assembly presented a package to the Presiding Member and described her as very hardworking and dependable, though she was the first female to hold that post.
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