THE Seventh Volta Regional Delegates’ Conference of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ended calmly at the St Teresa’s College of Education campus, HoHoe, after a hectic election which went deep into the night.
Mr Kwasi Aboagye, a former Volta Regional Deputy Minister was retained as the Regional Chairman of the party. He polled 109 to beat Mr John Kudjo Gyapong, a former two–time NDC Member of Parliament for the Akan Constituency who had 94 votes.
Emmanuel Modey & Victor Kwawukume, report from Hohoe that after the closely fought election, delegates who were happily singing NDC songs hailed the winner, expressed satisfaction at the outcome, tapped each other back and shook hands happily to demonstrate the strength of the party.
The victor and the vanquished also shook hands and embraced each other warmly to demonstrate that in every competition, there is a winner and a loser.
The election was conducted by the officials of the Volta Regional Electoral Commission.
Others elected at the congress are Mr Edwin Aklobortu and Mr Kosi Kedem as Vice-Chairmen; Mr Simon Amegashie Viglo, Secretary , with Ms Mary Agbenyenu as his deputy.
Mr Henry Ametefe, a former Ketu District Chief Executive and now the Volta Regional Coordinator of NADMO, was elected the Organiser with Mr Daniel Attipoe as his vice; while Nicholas Fatu won the position of Propaganda Secretary with Mr Samuel Lumor as his vice.
Mr Myles Simon Baka was elected Treasurer, whilst Madam Seline Hotor became the vice.
In the pre-election message, the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, called on the delegates to display a high sense of discipline to elect only the best people who could be trusted to carry their wishes and aspirations to the desired goal.
In the message read on his behalf, he said, “ dedication, commitment, loyalty, accountability and intergrity should be the qualification to be sought for in whoever got elected to any of the positions being sought for”.
Former President, Ft Lt John Jerry Rawlings also said the Volta Region which is always called the “ World Bank” of the party should have leaders who would move the region and its people forward.
He said that “they should not allow empty sloganeering, wishful promises and the lure of money to pick candidates for positions.”
Tim Dzamboe, reports from Ho that the incumbent Volta Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Ken-Wuud Nuworsu, was re-elected at the regional delegates conference held at the Ho Polytechnic Auditorium last Wednesday.
He was challenged by the former Regional Organiser, Mr Johnson Avuletey. Other elected executives were Mr Charles Tettey as First Vice-chairman; Dr Archibald Letsa, who was elected unopposed as Second Vice-chairman; Mr George Kofi Boateng as Regional Secretary; Mr Peter Akottey as Regional Treasurer; Mr Ken Kodzo Ayim as Regional Organiser; Mr Maxwell Coffie as Regional Youth Organiser and Mrs Fidelia Dorleku, as Regional Women Organiser. Ms Doris Ama Bansah was elected unopposed as Assistant Regional Secretary, and Alhaji Issa, the Regional Coordinator of the Nasara Club.
Addressing delegates, the First National Vice-Person, Mrs Agnes Okudzeto, said it was embarrassing to her for the region to be described as a “weak region” during party meetings.
She therefore urged members of the party in the region to work hard to change the tide by voting for the NPP in the next election.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkwanta-South, Mr Joseph Nayan, said the NPP was the minority party in Parliament but the Volta Region was in “aggravated minority” because he was the only candidate from the party among 22 MPs from the region.
Mr Nayan, therefore, stressed the need for the party in the region to put its house in order with the view to going into the next election with a united front.
In a welcoming address, the Regional Chairman, Mr Nuworsu, said the party was growing from strength to strength in the region, not withstanding difficulties that came their way.
He said their loss in the last election was most regrettable and attributed it to internal lapses and not the strength or supremacy of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to him, the record performance of the NPP government was being acclaimed and acknowledged by the NDC, adding that many people had missed the NPP government.
Mr Nuworsu said applications for membership into the party was growing in the region and that the issuing of party cards would be decentralised to eliminate the frustration at the centralised level.
He said as a party in opposition, the challenge facing members was to maintain a united party in order to withstand vicious propaganda and harmonise intra-party relations.
Other speakers were Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Mr Yaw Buabeng –Asamoah, Captain Effah-Dartey (retd), Mr John Buadu and Alhaji Tango who were given the opportunity to canvass for votes for the next national congress.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
ST AGARTHA GETS CADET CORPS (PAGE 3, JUNIOR GRAPHIC, APRIL 28, 2010)
A 50-member Army Cadet Corps has been inaugurated for the Saint Agartha's Commercial School Complex at Hohoe.
The cadet, which was trained by Mr J.D Agbley, the Commanding Officer of the Evangelical Presbyterian SHS Army corps, comprises five officers and 45 members.
The inauguration was supervised by the Hohoe Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Appiah.
Addressing the gathering, he said the army was an embodiment of disciplined and as such, the cadets should exude discipline for their colleagues to emulate.
He noted that, at a time when students were engaging in all forms of indisciplined and anti-social acts, he was happy that some students were trying to learn to be disciplined.
He urged the students to abide by the rules and regulations of the school and take their studies seriously in order to become responsible citizens.
He commended the cadet corps for the effort they put into their training and urged them to aim high in all their endeavours.
The cadet, which was trained by Mr J.D Agbley, the Commanding Officer of the Evangelical Presbyterian SHS Army corps, comprises five officers and 45 members.
The inauguration was supervised by the Hohoe Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Appiah.
Addressing the gathering, he said the army was an embodiment of disciplined and as such, the cadets should exude discipline for their colleagues to emulate.
He noted that, at a time when students were engaging in all forms of indisciplined and anti-social acts, he was happy that some students were trying to learn to be disciplined.
He urged the students to abide by the rules and regulations of the school and take their studies seriously in order to become responsible citizens.
He commended the cadet corps for the effort they put into their training and urged them to aim high in all their endeavours.
KRACHI SHS GETS POLICE CADET CORPS (PAGE 3, JUNIOR GRAPHIC, MARCH 17, 2010)
A Police Cadet Corps, attached with a regimental band valued at GH¢2,000 for the Krachi Senior High School in the Krachi West District of the Volta Region has been inaugurated at Kete-Krachi.
The corps, comprising 49 female and male students and three officers, was inaugurated at an impressive parade that was reviewed by Chief Superintendent Paul Gyempe, the Krachi Divisional Police Commander.
That was after the cadet corps and the bandsmen had been trained for two months at the Police Training School in Ho under the leadership of Lance Corporal Philip Lomotey and Constable Michael Adzablatu.
This brings to six the number of senior high schools (SHSs) with Police Cadet Corps in the Volta Region and the second in the country with a regimental band attached.
Addressing the parade, Mr Musah Issahaku Yamba, the Headmaster of Krachi SHS, said the idea of the cadet corps in the school was to instil discipline in the students.
That, he said, would also ensure security, since the police was like a coin, with its two sides being discipline and security.
“The school, with a population of 1,090 students, cannot grow without introducing these young ones to some form of professionalism,” he said.
For his part, Chief Superintendent Gyempe urged the students to abide by the rules and regulations of the school and take their studies seriously in order to become responsible men and women in future.
Prizes were awarded to four students who excelled during the training in drills, academics, best behaved, hard work and instrumentalist.
Famous Agbesi was adjudged the Overall Best Cadet for excelling in drills and academics, while Reverend Sister Agnes Dzifa Agbeli, a tutor of the school, received a Special Award for Foresight which led to the inauguration of the Police Cadet Corps.
The corps, comprising 49 female and male students and three officers, was inaugurated at an impressive parade that was reviewed by Chief Superintendent Paul Gyempe, the Krachi Divisional Police Commander.
That was after the cadet corps and the bandsmen had been trained for two months at the Police Training School in Ho under the leadership of Lance Corporal Philip Lomotey and Constable Michael Adzablatu.
This brings to six the number of senior high schools (SHSs) with Police Cadet Corps in the Volta Region and the second in the country with a regimental band attached.
Addressing the parade, Mr Musah Issahaku Yamba, the Headmaster of Krachi SHS, said the idea of the cadet corps in the school was to instil discipline in the students.
That, he said, would also ensure security, since the police was like a coin, with its two sides being discipline and security.
“The school, with a population of 1,090 students, cannot grow without introducing these young ones to some form of professionalism,” he said.
For his part, Chief Superintendent Gyempe urged the students to abide by the rules and regulations of the school and take their studies seriously in order to become responsible men and women in future.
Prizes were awarded to four students who excelled during the training in drills, academics, best behaved, hard work and instrumentalist.
Famous Agbesi was adjudged the Overall Best Cadet for excelling in drills and academics, while Reverend Sister Agnes Dzifa Agbeli, a tutor of the school, received a Special Award for Foresight which led to the inauguration of the Police Cadet Corps.
41 BUILDINGS DAMAGED AT JASIKAN (PAGE 39, MARCH 15, 2010)
A RAINSTORM last Sunday damaged 41 buildings at Jasikan and some surrounding communities in the Volta Region.
The worst affected buildings were the Jasikan College of Education and the Nuruyyah Islamic Junior High School also at Jasikan, which had its roofs being ripped off.
According to the School Management Committee Chairman of the Nuruyyah Islamic JHS, Mr Salisu Mohammed, the three-classroom block and its office were so badly damaged that the 88 pupils had no place to attend classes.
He said the disaster also destroyed the school’s textbooks, exercise books, registers and other teaching and learning materials.
Mr Salisu appealed to the government for immediate assistance to enable the pupils, especially the final-years’ to attend classes.
The Jasikan District Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr John Opoku, told the Daily Graphic that 472 people were rendered homeless by the storm.
The worst affected buildings were the Jasikan College of Education and the Nuruyyah Islamic Junior High School also at Jasikan, which had its roofs being ripped off.
According to the School Management Committee Chairman of the Nuruyyah Islamic JHS, Mr Salisu Mohammed, the three-classroom block and its office were so badly damaged that the 88 pupils had no place to attend classes.
He said the disaster also destroyed the school’s textbooks, exercise books, registers and other teaching and learning materials.
Mr Salisu appealed to the government for immediate assistance to enable the pupils, especially the final-years’ to attend classes.
The Jasikan District Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr John Opoku, told the Daily Graphic that 472 people were rendered homeless by the storm.
DODI PAPASE HOSPITAL GETS OPERATING THEATRE (BACK PAGE, FEBRUARY 19, 2010)
A US$332,000 operating theatre has been inaugurated at the St Mary Theresa Hospital at Dodi Papase in the Kadjebi District of the Volta Region.
The theatre houses various facilities, including an X-ray, a water purification equipment, laundry equipment, an incinerator, borehole drilling equipment, an oxygen concentrator and its auxiliary equipment and a storage facility.
Funding for the project was made possible through a partnership between the Rotary Club of Accra and its counterparts in Ludenscheid (Germany), Canterbury (England), Leuven (Belgium), Utrecht (The Netherlands) and St Quentin (France).
The German Government, through the Ludenscheid Rotary Club, provided funding for the construction of the operating theatre, while the Rotary Foundation of the Rotary International made available funds for the equipment.
To further enhance health delivery at the hospital, the Rotary Club of Accra and its partners also donated a multi-purpose ambulance while, sponsoring seven nurses to acquire specialist skills to augment the human resource base of the hospital, in addition to providing German Rotary volunteer doctors.
Recently, the Rotary Club of Accra, in partnership with its counterparts in Argentina and Scotland, initiated the setting up of the Plastic and Reconstruction Burns Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the donation of medical equipment to the Child and Maternal Health Department and the Cardio Unit of the same hospital.
It is also the chief financier of polio eradication in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Nii Oakley Quaye-Kumah, who unveiled the plaque to inaugurate the operating theatre at the St Mary Theresa Hospital, said several hospitals in the country had benefited from the Rotary Club’s initiative which had contributed to improving health delivery in the country.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, urged health institutions in the country to contribute their quota to address the human resource base of the health sector by sponsoring individual health workers for further studies in relevant areas the hospitals deemed fit.
The President of the Rotary Club of Accra, Mr Frank Gadzekpo, in his remarks, said the club remained committed to making life better for the less fortunate in society.
A trustee of the Rotary Foundation, Mr Sam Okudzeto, observed that rural dwellers, like their counterparts in the cities, had the right to medical care and other opportunities and so every effort should be made to promote that.
The acting Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Timothy Letsa, indicated that the “operating theatre has come at an opportune time to save the lives of mothers, children and accident victims who were hitherto sent to the Nkwanta or Hohoe hospitals for surgical and obstetric emergency services”.
The theatre houses various facilities, including an X-ray, a water purification equipment, laundry equipment, an incinerator, borehole drilling equipment, an oxygen concentrator and its auxiliary equipment and a storage facility.
Funding for the project was made possible through a partnership between the Rotary Club of Accra and its counterparts in Ludenscheid (Germany), Canterbury (England), Leuven (Belgium), Utrecht (The Netherlands) and St Quentin (France).
The German Government, through the Ludenscheid Rotary Club, provided funding for the construction of the operating theatre, while the Rotary Foundation of the Rotary International made available funds for the equipment.
To further enhance health delivery at the hospital, the Rotary Club of Accra and its partners also donated a multi-purpose ambulance while, sponsoring seven nurses to acquire specialist skills to augment the human resource base of the hospital, in addition to providing German Rotary volunteer doctors.
Recently, the Rotary Club of Accra, in partnership with its counterparts in Argentina and Scotland, initiated the setting up of the Plastic and Reconstruction Burns Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the donation of medical equipment to the Child and Maternal Health Department and the Cardio Unit of the same hospital.
It is also the chief financier of polio eradication in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Nii Oakley Quaye-Kumah, who unveiled the plaque to inaugurate the operating theatre at the St Mary Theresa Hospital, said several hospitals in the country had benefited from the Rotary Club’s initiative which had contributed to improving health delivery in the country.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, urged health institutions in the country to contribute their quota to address the human resource base of the health sector by sponsoring individual health workers for further studies in relevant areas the hospitals deemed fit.
The President of the Rotary Club of Accra, Mr Frank Gadzekpo, in his remarks, said the club remained committed to making life better for the less fortunate in society.
A trustee of the Rotary Foundation, Mr Sam Okudzeto, observed that rural dwellers, like their counterparts in the cities, had the right to medical care and other opportunities and so every effort should be made to promote that.
The acting Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Timothy Letsa, indicated that the “operating theatre has come at an opportune time to save the lives of mothers, children and accident victims who were hitherto sent to the Nkwanta or Hohoe hospitals for surgical and obstetric emergency services”.
HELP HALT COCOA SMUGGLING (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.
ASUBONTEN RURAL BANK WINS AWARD (PAGE 29, JAN 9, 2010)
THE Asubonten Rural Bank Ltd at Worawora in the Jasikan District in the Volta Region emerged the proud recipient of the Gold Award at the 2nd Ghana Business and Financial Services Excellence Awards held in Accra.
The award was conferred on the bank by the Ministry of Trade and Industry under the Rural Banking Category.
The Excellence Awards has been instituted under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry to honour enterprises that are deemed to have made outstanding contributions to the development of the nation.
In a citation following the award, Asubonten was commended for various qualities such as exceeding the Bank of Ghana’s (GoB’s) minimum requirements and having met several social responsibilities to the communities in their catchment area.
It noted that the bank was incorporated on November 1, 1996 and started business on June 22, 1998.
At the moment, the citation said the bank had three agencies at Kpando, Hohoe and Dambai, with two mobilisation centres at Ve-Golokuati in the Hohoe Municipality and Katanga in the Krachi East District.
“The bank, which started with a capital of GH¢ 3,000, now has grown to GH¢ 153,365.00, exceeding GoB’s minimum requirement of GH¢ 150,000.00,” it said.
As part of its social responsibilities, “the bank has provided a borehole for Worawora Senior High School, contributed towards construction of a fence for the Worawora Government Hospital, renovated the district headquarters of the Worawora Police Station and donated machetes to various district assemblies in its catchment area during National Farmers Day celebration,” the citation read.
The award was conferred on the bank by the Ministry of Trade and Industry under the Rural Banking Category.
The Excellence Awards has been instituted under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry to honour enterprises that are deemed to have made outstanding contributions to the development of the nation.
In a citation following the award, Asubonten was commended for various qualities such as exceeding the Bank of Ghana’s (GoB’s) minimum requirements and having met several social responsibilities to the communities in their catchment area.
It noted that the bank was incorporated on November 1, 1996 and started business on June 22, 1998.
At the moment, the citation said the bank had three agencies at Kpando, Hohoe and Dambai, with two mobilisation centres at Ve-Golokuati in the Hohoe Municipality and Katanga in the Krachi East District.
“The bank, which started with a capital of GH¢ 3,000, now has grown to GH¢ 153,365.00, exceeding GoB’s minimum requirement of GH¢ 150,000.00,” it said.
As part of its social responsibilities, “the bank has provided a borehole for Worawora Senior High School, contributed towards construction of a fence for the Worawora Government Hospital, renovated the district headquarters of the Worawora Police Station and donated machetes to various district assemblies in its catchment area during National Farmers Day celebration,” the citation read.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
ASSEMBLY TO WAGE WAR ON REVENUE GENERATION (PAGE 35, MAY 17, 2010)
The Kpando District Assembly is to wage a total war on revenue mobilisation to ensure that the assembly stands on its feet.
All the leakage and loopholes which have affected revenue generation in the past will be tightly plugged so that any revenue collected will go where it should go.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Francis Komla Ganyaglo, announced this in his sessional address at the first ordinary meeting of the assembly this year at Kpando.
Mr Ganyaglo noted with concern that as of the end of March, this year, the assembly had generated a gross revenue of GH¢10,570.700, constituting 20 per cent of the first quarter’s target.
The first step in this revenue mobilisation drive is to take over the collection of the Torkor market where “we have good evidence of pilfering, under invoicing and many others, to ensure the proper collection of tolls,” he said.
On education, the DCE suggested that some steps should be taken to halt the shrinking image of the district.
He called for stakeholder participation, including children, traditional rulers, religious bodies and parent-teacher associations in creating the proper environment for teaching and learning.
On infrastructural development, Mr Ganyaglo said the assembly was constructing six-unit classroom blocks for six communities under the school under tree projects and also connect the 11 remaining schools already wired to the national grid.
Mr Ganyaglo said the Kpando District Library would be refurbished and a new Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre constructed at the Bishop Herman College.
On security, the DCE expressed concern about the spate of chieftaincy disputes which are not only casting a slur on the image of the district, but also affecting development in the area.
He, therefore, appealed to those who wanted to use the noble chieftaincy institution to foment trouble to desist from that negative attitude.
In agriculture, Mr Ganyaglo said their quest to support the youth with farming inputs had been given a major boost with the introduction of three agricultural programmes in the district.
They are the youth in agricultural programme, ex-convicts rehabilitation project and the national afforestation programme.
The DCE appealed to the people to release land for the construction of an international workshop in the Kpando District which would serve the West African sub-region.
He was happy that the chief of Gbefi, Togbe Danku Yao V, had decided to release 12 acres at Gbefi for the project, adding that the people of Aveme had also agreed to release land for the ex-convicts rehabilitation project.
“Additionally, the Vakpo and Wusuta communities have also decided to release at least 50 acres of land each for the government’s afforestation project,” Mr Ganyaglo said.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Joseph Kudzo Adigbli, called on the members to pay special attention to the deliberations to ensure the success of the assembly’s work.
He called on the assembly members to pay particular attention to revenue collection in their electoral areas to promote development.
All the leakage and loopholes which have affected revenue generation in the past will be tightly plugged so that any revenue collected will go where it should go.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Francis Komla Ganyaglo, announced this in his sessional address at the first ordinary meeting of the assembly this year at Kpando.
Mr Ganyaglo noted with concern that as of the end of March, this year, the assembly had generated a gross revenue of GH¢10,570.700, constituting 20 per cent of the first quarter’s target.
The first step in this revenue mobilisation drive is to take over the collection of the Torkor market where “we have good evidence of pilfering, under invoicing and many others, to ensure the proper collection of tolls,” he said.
On education, the DCE suggested that some steps should be taken to halt the shrinking image of the district.
He called for stakeholder participation, including children, traditional rulers, religious bodies and parent-teacher associations in creating the proper environment for teaching and learning.
On infrastructural development, Mr Ganyaglo said the assembly was constructing six-unit classroom blocks for six communities under the school under tree projects and also connect the 11 remaining schools already wired to the national grid.
Mr Ganyaglo said the Kpando District Library would be refurbished and a new Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre constructed at the Bishop Herman College.
On security, the DCE expressed concern about the spate of chieftaincy disputes which are not only casting a slur on the image of the district, but also affecting development in the area.
He, therefore, appealed to those who wanted to use the noble chieftaincy institution to foment trouble to desist from that negative attitude.
In agriculture, Mr Ganyaglo said their quest to support the youth with farming inputs had been given a major boost with the introduction of three agricultural programmes in the district.
They are the youth in agricultural programme, ex-convicts rehabilitation project and the national afforestation programme.
The DCE appealed to the people to release land for the construction of an international workshop in the Kpando District which would serve the West African sub-region.
He was happy that the chief of Gbefi, Togbe Danku Yao V, had decided to release 12 acres at Gbefi for the project, adding that the people of Aveme had also agreed to release land for the ex-convicts rehabilitation project.
“Additionally, the Vakpo and Wusuta communities have also decided to release at least 50 acres of land each for the government’s afforestation project,” Mr Ganyaglo said.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Joseph Kudzo Adigbli, called on the members to pay special attention to the deliberations to ensure the success of the assembly’s work.
He called on the assembly members to pay particular attention to revenue collection in their electoral areas to promote development.
HOHOE ASSEMBLY HOLDS MEETING (PAGE 42, MAY 17, 2010)
THE Hohoe Municipal Assembly has held its fourth general meeting at Hohoe with a call on the people in the Volta Region to refrain from negative tendencies that have the potential of retarding their development.
At the meeting, the assembly members viewed with displeasure certain pull-him-down attitudes of the people in the region which impacted negatively on their development.
The members described as unprogressive, acts of mudslinging on their leaders who are striving to bring development to the region.
They said a publication on the front page of the Daily Searchlight dated April 26, 2010 by some anonymous youth calling on the President to remove from office, Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister and Mr Victor Hermann Condobery, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, as a stab in their back.
The members said no one could dismiss the regional minister for non-performance, since within his 14 months of being in office, he had visited almost all the districts and honoured invitations on official duties.
According to them, Mr Amenowode was ensuring that all the roads in the region that had been neglected by past governments were tackled. They also said Mr Condobery was also on course.
The assembly members said the projects being undertaken in the municipality within the year that Mr Condobery had been in office were more than what had been done in several years. They, therefore, pledged their unflinching support for the two officials.
In his sessional address, Mr Condobery mentioned some of the projects the assembly had awarded on contract as the construction of a District Magistrate’s Court at Hohoe, a headmaster’s bungalow at Gbi Atabu and a three-unit classroom block each at Leklebi and Alavanyo Agoxoe.
He expressed concern about the falling standards of education in the area and called on the assembly to find a lasting solution to the problem.
At the meeting, the assembly members viewed with displeasure certain pull-him-down attitudes of the people in the region which impacted negatively on their development.
The members described as unprogressive, acts of mudslinging on their leaders who are striving to bring development to the region.
They said a publication on the front page of the Daily Searchlight dated April 26, 2010 by some anonymous youth calling on the President to remove from office, Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister and Mr Victor Hermann Condobery, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, as a stab in their back.
The members said no one could dismiss the regional minister for non-performance, since within his 14 months of being in office, he had visited almost all the districts and honoured invitations on official duties.
According to them, Mr Amenowode was ensuring that all the roads in the region that had been neglected by past governments were tackled. They also said Mr Condobery was also on course.
The assembly members said the projects being undertaken in the municipality within the year that Mr Condobery had been in office were more than what had been done in several years. They, therefore, pledged their unflinching support for the two officials.
In his sessional address, Mr Condobery mentioned some of the projects the assembly had awarded on contract as the construction of a District Magistrate’s Court at Hohoe, a headmaster’s bungalow at Gbi Atabu and a three-unit classroom block each at Leklebi and Alavanyo Agoxoe.
He expressed concern about the falling standards of education in the area and called on the assembly to find a lasting solution to the problem.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
MMDAS CHARGED TO PREPARE GENDER RESPONSIVE BUDGET (PAGE 11, MAY 13, 2010)
Ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and the Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assemblies (MMDAs) have been charged to formulate gender responsive budgeting with effect from this year and set aside funds to address gender inequality in the country.
They are also to obtain gender certificates to enable them access their sectoral budgets.
This was announced by Mrs Juliana Azuma-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC), when she opened a three-day training workshop on Gender Responsive Budgeting for selected MMDAs in Ho last Monday.
The workshop, which attracted 30 participants, was aimed at deepening the knowledge of policy makers and budget and accounting staff of MMDAs in gender mainstreaming and gender-responsive budgeting.
The participants in the United Nation Population Fund-sponsored workshop, were drawn from the ministries of Justice, Employment and Social Welfare, Water Resources, Works and Housing, Local Government and Rural Development, MOWAC, Foreign Affairs, Roads and Highways, Transport and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
She announced that the Cabinet had given approval for MMDAs to formulate the gender policies, implement gender responsive budgeting and set aside funds to address gender inequality in their sectors.
The minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Ho-East Constituency, underscored the role of women in national development and said gender mainstreaming had been recognised as a global development strategy which was very relevant to facilitate economic growth and development.
She explained gender as the role, responsibilities and relationships that were socially assigned to men, women, boys and girls in a given culture, adding that mainstreaming was the incorporation of gender perspectives at all levels of policy making, as well as restructuring the political, economic and social systems to promote gender equality at national and local levels.
Mrs Azumah-Mensah said due to its importance, the government was committed to its advancement by finding efficient ways in which public resources were disbursed to ensure equity for accelerated development.
“MOWAC is committed to gender mainstreaming to ensure the integration of gender perspectives into all programmes and policies of ministries, departments and agencies and even in the private sector,” she said.
In his welcome address, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, urged the participants to take the training seriously by putting in maximum efforts towards deriving maximum benefits from the programme.
They are also to obtain gender certificates to enable them access their sectoral budgets.
This was announced by Mrs Juliana Azuma-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC), when she opened a three-day training workshop on Gender Responsive Budgeting for selected MMDAs in Ho last Monday.
The workshop, which attracted 30 participants, was aimed at deepening the knowledge of policy makers and budget and accounting staff of MMDAs in gender mainstreaming and gender-responsive budgeting.
The participants in the United Nation Population Fund-sponsored workshop, were drawn from the ministries of Justice, Employment and Social Welfare, Water Resources, Works and Housing, Local Government and Rural Development, MOWAC, Foreign Affairs, Roads and Highways, Transport and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
She announced that the Cabinet had given approval for MMDAs to formulate the gender policies, implement gender responsive budgeting and set aside funds to address gender inequality in their sectors.
The minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Ho-East Constituency, underscored the role of women in national development and said gender mainstreaming had been recognised as a global development strategy which was very relevant to facilitate economic growth and development.
She explained gender as the role, responsibilities and relationships that were socially assigned to men, women, boys and girls in a given culture, adding that mainstreaming was the incorporation of gender perspectives at all levels of policy making, as well as restructuring the political, economic and social systems to promote gender equality at national and local levels.
Mrs Azumah-Mensah said due to its importance, the government was committed to its advancement by finding efficient ways in which public resources were disbursed to ensure equity for accelerated development.
“MOWAC is committed to gender mainstreaming to ensure the integration of gender perspectives into all programmes and policies of ministries, departments and agencies and even in the private sector,” she said.
In his welcome address, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, urged the participants to take the training seriously by putting in maximum efforts towards deriving maximum benefits from the programme.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
COALITION CHECKS DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS (PAGE 22, MAY 11, 2010)
THE Coalition of non-governmental and civil society organisations in the Jasikan and Kadjebi Districts in the Volta Region have intensified efforts to check the rampant destruction of forests.
To this end, the coalition organised a six-day advocacy training workshop on natural resource and environmental governance aimed at raising awareness among the 11 community groups on sustainable forest management practices at Kadjebi.
The communities, which were represented by six participants each from the forest management committee, fire volunteers squad and school environmental clubs were drawn from Kadjebi, Wawaso, Guaman, Jasikan, Kudze, Atonkor, Worawora, Apesokubi, Akposo-Kabo, Asukwakwa and Katanga.
It was organised by the KASA-NREG project and sponsored by CARE International, an NGO.
Opening the workshop, the Co-ordinator of KASA-NREG project, Mr George Gyapong, said it was high time that people, including chiefs and their elders, assembly members and officials of the Forest Services Division were trained to ensure that forests were not destroyed indiscriminately.
Mr Gyapong lamented that the luscious forests from Worawora through Apesokubi, Kabuso to Asukwakwa were being depleted at a fast rate by the activities of chain saw operators.
He said it was time that those illegal chain saw operators were given the chance to participate in a round table discussion so that they would be recognised and their operations controlled.
“To allow a chain saw operator to operate unchecked in the bush is a danger to the community,” he said.
Topics treated at the workshop included fire prevention education, fire control management, sustainable forest management practices, including the control of illegal chain saw operations in the area and equitable distribution of income generated from forest management.
Facilitators were drawn from the Ghana National Fire Service and the Forest Services Division.
To this end, the coalition organised a six-day advocacy training workshop on natural resource and environmental governance aimed at raising awareness among the 11 community groups on sustainable forest management practices at Kadjebi.
The communities, which were represented by six participants each from the forest management committee, fire volunteers squad and school environmental clubs were drawn from Kadjebi, Wawaso, Guaman, Jasikan, Kudze, Atonkor, Worawora, Apesokubi, Akposo-Kabo, Asukwakwa and Katanga.
It was organised by the KASA-NREG project and sponsored by CARE International, an NGO.
Opening the workshop, the Co-ordinator of KASA-NREG project, Mr George Gyapong, said it was high time that people, including chiefs and their elders, assembly members and officials of the Forest Services Division were trained to ensure that forests were not destroyed indiscriminately.
Mr Gyapong lamented that the luscious forests from Worawora through Apesokubi, Kabuso to Asukwakwa were being depleted at a fast rate by the activities of chain saw operators.
He said it was time that those illegal chain saw operators were given the chance to participate in a round table discussion so that they would be recognised and their operations controlled.
“To allow a chain saw operator to operate unchecked in the bush is a danger to the community,” he said.
Topics treated at the workshop included fire prevention education, fire control management, sustainable forest management practices, including the control of illegal chain saw operations in the area and equitable distribution of income generated from forest management.
Facilitators were drawn from the Ghana National Fire Service and the Forest Services Division.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
OLICE CAPTURE ARMED ROBBER AT TADZEWU (PAGE 22, MAY 8, 2010)
A POLICE patrol team has arrested a 30-year-old Fulani from the Republic of Togo for his involvement in armed robbery at Tadzewu in the Akatsi District in the Volta Region last Tuesday.
The suspect, Amadu Grumah, was alleged to have led a gang of armed robbers to rob travellers of various sums of money and personal effects running into thousands of Ghana cedis on the Tadzewu-Akatsi road.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at Ho last Wednesday, the Volta Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr David Ampah Bennin, said the police received a distress message at about 2.30 a.m. that five armed robbers had blocked the main road from Tadzewu to Akatsi and were terrorising travellers.
According to DCOP Ampah Bennin, the police patrol team responded quickly and on arrival at the scene, the robbers fled into the bush.
He said the community members gave the robbers a hot chase and in the process, grabbed Amadu who had sustained gunshot wounds.
He said the police rushed Amadu to the Dzodze Government Hospital in the Ketu North District from where he was referred to the Police Hospital in Accra.
DCOP Ampah–Bennin cautioned the public that the “Operation Calm Life” was still in force and that anybody involved in any criminal activity would be met with the full might of the law.
The regional commander appealed to the general public to be on the lookout for people seeking herbal treatment for gunshot wounds, since it was suspected that some of the robbers might have been wounded.
The suspect, Amadu Grumah, was alleged to have led a gang of armed robbers to rob travellers of various sums of money and personal effects running into thousands of Ghana cedis on the Tadzewu-Akatsi road.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at Ho last Wednesday, the Volta Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr David Ampah Bennin, said the police received a distress message at about 2.30 a.m. that five armed robbers had blocked the main road from Tadzewu to Akatsi and were terrorising travellers.
According to DCOP Ampah Bennin, the police patrol team responded quickly and on arrival at the scene, the robbers fled into the bush.
He said the community members gave the robbers a hot chase and in the process, grabbed Amadu who had sustained gunshot wounds.
He said the police rushed Amadu to the Dzodze Government Hospital in the Ketu North District from where he was referred to the Police Hospital in Accra.
DCOP Ampah–Bennin cautioned the public that the “Operation Calm Life” was still in force and that anybody involved in any criminal activity would be met with the full might of the law.
The regional commander appealed to the general public to be on the lookout for people seeking herbal treatment for gunshot wounds, since it was suspected that some of the robbers might have been wounded.
Friday, May 7, 2010
NDC HOHOE NORTH, SOUTH SUPPORT AMENOWODE OTHERS (PAGE 14, MAY 7, 2010)
Members of the Hohoe North and South constituencies of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have expressed their unflinching support for Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, the Member of Parliament for Hohoe South Constituency, and Mr Victor Hermann Condobery, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).
The members said they were ready to work with them to ensure that the far-reaching development programmes they had initiated became successful.
They said this at a press conference at Hohoe to debunk a publication in a local daily newspaper calling on the President to remove the said personalities from office.
The members described the publication as highly unfortunate and coming from people they described as “selfish stomach politicians who are using the media to seek their greedy ends”.
The press conference addressed by Mr Wonder Boasilenu, the Hohoe North Constituency Chairman, and Mr Godfred Agbeke, Hohoe South Constituency Secretary, said the publication came at a time when the two men were working peacefully to put meaning to the government’s concept of a “Better Ghana Agenda”.
They described Mr Amenowode as the best thing that had happened to the region in recent times. He was described as hardworking and for the 14 months that he had been in office, he had visited almost every district in the region, responding to their invitations and explaining the government’s policies to them.
According to them, Mr Amenowode had made sure that roads which had been left untouched by other governments over the years, notably the Adidome-Adaklu–Ho Road and the Eastern Corridor Road had been started.
On Mr Condobery, they saw him as a young and self-disciplined MCE who worked diligently and added that “the MCE is our man who can lead the party to victory in the 2012 general election and, therefore, cannot countenance any act of character assassination and vandalism against him”.
The members said they were ready to work with them to ensure that the far-reaching development programmes they had initiated became successful.
They said this at a press conference at Hohoe to debunk a publication in a local daily newspaper calling on the President to remove the said personalities from office.
The members described the publication as highly unfortunate and coming from people they described as “selfish stomach politicians who are using the media to seek their greedy ends”.
The press conference addressed by Mr Wonder Boasilenu, the Hohoe North Constituency Chairman, and Mr Godfred Agbeke, Hohoe South Constituency Secretary, said the publication came at a time when the two men were working peacefully to put meaning to the government’s concept of a “Better Ghana Agenda”.
They described Mr Amenowode as the best thing that had happened to the region in recent times. He was described as hardworking and for the 14 months that he had been in office, he had visited almost every district in the region, responding to their invitations and explaining the government’s policies to them.
According to them, Mr Amenowode had made sure that roads which had been left untouched by other governments over the years, notably the Adidome-Adaklu–Ho Road and the Eastern Corridor Road had been started.
On Mr Condobery, they saw him as a young and self-disciplined MCE who worked diligently and added that “the MCE is our man who can lead the party to victory in the 2012 general election and, therefore, cannot countenance any act of character assassination and vandalism against him”.
Monday, May 3, 2010
RETIRED EDUCATIONIST MADE CHIEF (PAGE 23, MAY 3, 2010)
A SIXTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD retired educationist, Mr John K. Hobenu, has been installed the chief of Tsakpe Atsia Fume in the Kpando District under the stool name Togbe Dake IV.
He succeeded his uncle, Togbe Dake III, who died about a year ago.
Togbe Dake IV retired as the Northern Regional Director of Education in 2008, having previously served as the Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Before then, he had served variously as the Hohoe and Kadjebi District Director of Education.
Togbe Dake also served as the Kpando District Secretary during the provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era.
Swearing the oath of allegiance to Togbe Kwaku Tatse V, the chief of Kpando Tsakpi, Togbe Dake said as an educationist, he would make it his priority to promote educational opportunities for the youth.
He said he would co-operate with the Kpando District Assembly to ensure the success of the street lighting and drainage projects being undertaken in the town.
He succeeded his uncle, Togbe Dake III, who died about a year ago.
Togbe Dake IV retired as the Northern Regional Director of Education in 2008, having previously served as the Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Before then, he had served variously as the Hohoe and Kadjebi District Director of Education.
Togbe Dake also served as the Kpando District Secretary during the provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era.
Swearing the oath of allegiance to Togbe Kwaku Tatse V, the chief of Kpando Tsakpi, Togbe Dake said as an educationist, he would make it his priority to promote educational opportunities for the youth.
He said he would co-operate with the Kpando District Assembly to ensure the success of the street lighting and drainage projects being undertaken in the town.
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