THE National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) has held a round-table conference with media practitioners on how best to ensure that the December general election would be peaceful in all communities in the region.
The Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr Emmanuel Quaye-Sowah, who was the principal speaker, urged journalists to be circumspect in their reportage and refrain from publishing or broadcasting issues that would inflame passion, leading to confusion or chaos.
He said the country had gone a long way in nurturing its fledgling democracy, and that it was the responsibility of journalists not to publish anything that would derail the democratic process in the country.
Mr Quaye-Sowah expressed concern over the nature of phone-in calls on political issues, especially calls that had the tendency for plunging the country into chaos.
He, therefore, appealed to the media practitioners to highlight issues that would ensure peaceful elections.
We should all be reminded of what happened in Kenya and Zimbabwe, where lives were lost just because of political power, and refrain from doing anything that would degenerate into tensions and hostilities, Mr Quaye-Sowah emphasised.
Dwelling extensively on the country’s democratic dispensation since 1992 as well as on the core functions of the media, which he said, were to inform, educate and entertain, he said journalists should, therefore educate the electorate on the dos and donts of the elections in such a way that the prevailing peaceful atmosphere would not be disturbed before, during and after the elections.
He said Ghana was at a crucial period because the two dominant political parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the main opposition party, had each won two terms in the general election to govern the country, and were therefore aggressive to win this years’ elections.
He said it was, therefore, necessary for the media not to take sides but to conduct their activities in such a way to win the confidence of the parties.
The Deputy Regional Director of the NCCE, Lord Larbi, expressed the hope that all stakeholders, especially the Electoral Commission (EC), the police as well as the political parties, would play their expected roles to ensure an incident-free election in the region.
The journalists, for their part, resolved not to feed the people with negative information that could mar the peaceful conduct of the elections.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
AKYEMANSA DISTRICT FORGES AHEAD...Despite numerous challenges (PAGE 20)
ON APRIL 4, this year, the Akyemansa District, one of the newly created political entities which for some years formed part of the vast Birim North District, was inaugurated amid fanfare and jubilation.
The creation of the new district, which initially had a problem of where to site the capital before it was finally settled with Akyem Ofoase as its headquarters, was hailed by the inhabitants as the only option to accelerate its growth in terms of social amenities and other poverty alleviation initiatives.
This is because the mother district, Birim North, which was itself created out of the former Birim District, was before then too vast to be effectively managed for all the communities to have a fair share of the national cake, although the necessary measures were taken in that respect.
The new district shares boundaries with Birim North on the north, the Asante Akyem South, Amansie East and Adansi South districts in the west, Birim Central Municipality on the south and Atiwa and Kwaebibirem districts on the east. It has a total population of 70,423.
The people, mostly farmers, are spread in about 96 communities made up of large towns such as Akyem Ofoase, Ayirebi, Akokoaso and Abenase.
Although the initial period of any new district is beset with challenges, that of Akyemansa is beyond description with virtually no infrastructure for its effective administration.
Despite the fact that some of the communities have been provided with social amenities like roads, school buildings, markets and clinics, others have not yet benefited from such amenities.
The worrying aspect of the situation is that the district administration block, which consists of hall and chamber apartments, for instance, as of now has no facilities for public convenience.
The problem makes it uncomfortable for the staff and assembly members who attend meetings to deliberate on issues that would advance the district’s development.
Such a terrible situation has compelled the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Emmanuel Nana Acquah Frempong, to initiate an elaborate infrastructural development programme to fast-track the provision of a number of amenities for both the assembly and the communities.
Prior to his appointment as the political head of the new district, Nana Acquah Frempong was the substantive DCE for the mother district.
Currently, Nana Acquah Frempong is being assisted by the District Co-ordinating Director, Mr C. Ashalley Dzane, the Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr S.G. Abrokwah, and a limited number of staff whose collaborative effort has already made a significant breakthrough in the infrastructural development of the new district.
For instance, construction work on a modern place of convenience and other facilities for the administration block of the assembly, which commenced less than a month ago, would be completed next month while other projects that had started in the various communities are, progressing steadily.
They include the tarring of the Anyinase Junction-Praso and the Akyem Ofoase-Akokoaso roads, the rehabilitation of the Otwereso Camp Junction-Zevor and the Adubiase-Kwaboadi Number One roads while preparations are underway for the tarring of the Ofoase-Ayirebi main road.
The European Union is also financing the construction of two-unit classroom blocks with offices, stores and public places of convenience for the District Assembly Primary Schools at Ayirebi and Zevor.
Classroom blocks, offices and public places of convenience have also been earmarked for other communities such as Adwafo and Otwereso Camp while five towns, namely Ayirebi, Ofoase, Chia, Abenase and Otwereso would also be provided with electricity.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Oppon Kusi, is also playing a significant role in the electrification project through the provision of some of the poles and other items needed for the project.
Other poverty alleviation measures such as a micro-finance scheme have been instituted through the Micro-Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) from which some of the people have started benefiting. Addressing the maiden meeting of the assembly at Ofoase on Friday, Nana Acquah Frempong said although a lot had been accomplished in terms of the provision of social amenities, much more needed to be done.
He, therefore, called on the assembly members to help develop the district by maximising their output at all levels.
“Although we have completed a number of projects such as water supply system funded by the German Technical organisation (GTZ) through the Community Water and Sanitation Agency at Ayirebi, teachers’ bungalow for schools at Akokoaso and Subinso, a market at Akyem Otwereso and clinics at Ayirebi, Anyinase and Adubiase, a lot remains to be done,” the DCE stressed.
He, therefore, entreated the assembly members to help develop the communities.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Abrokwah, who also addressed the meeting, stressed the need for the members, both elected and appointed, to unite and contribute their quota towards the development of their communities.
He said that could only be accomplished if they identified the challenges in their respective communities and mapped out strategies to address them.
Since inadequate funds continues to militate against the development of the area, the assembly, which also depends on internally generated revenue, has intensified education to drum home the need for the people to honour their tax obligations.
In line with the Local Government Act 1993, the assembly has imposed fees on all activities, especially commercial activities, to generate the much needed revenue to provide the necessary infrastructure to accelerate the area’s development.
With the institution of those laudable measures, coupled with the personal commitment of Nana Acquah Frempong to ensure the early completion of the infrastructural projects, it is expected that Akyemansa, which currently comprises many deprived communities, would in the near future be provided with the needed social amenities and thus improve the living standards of its people.
The creation of the new district, which initially had a problem of where to site the capital before it was finally settled with Akyem Ofoase as its headquarters, was hailed by the inhabitants as the only option to accelerate its growth in terms of social amenities and other poverty alleviation initiatives.
This is because the mother district, Birim North, which was itself created out of the former Birim District, was before then too vast to be effectively managed for all the communities to have a fair share of the national cake, although the necessary measures were taken in that respect.
The new district shares boundaries with Birim North on the north, the Asante Akyem South, Amansie East and Adansi South districts in the west, Birim Central Municipality on the south and Atiwa and Kwaebibirem districts on the east. It has a total population of 70,423.
The people, mostly farmers, are spread in about 96 communities made up of large towns such as Akyem Ofoase, Ayirebi, Akokoaso and Abenase.
Although the initial period of any new district is beset with challenges, that of Akyemansa is beyond description with virtually no infrastructure for its effective administration.
Despite the fact that some of the communities have been provided with social amenities like roads, school buildings, markets and clinics, others have not yet benefited from such amenities.
The worrying aspect of the situation is that the district administration block, which consists of hall and chamber apartments, for instance, as of now has no facilities for public convenience.
The problem makes it uncomfortable for the staff and assembly members who attend meetings to deliberate on issues that would advance the district’s development.
Such a terrible situation has compelled the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Emmanuel Nana Acquah Frempong, to initiate an elaborate infrastructural development programme to fast-track the provision of a number of amenities for both the assembly and the communities.
Prior to his appointment as the political head of the new district, Nana Acquah Frempong was the substantive DCE for the mother district.
Currently, Nana Acquah Frempong is being assisted by the District Co-ordinating Director, Mr C. Ashalley Dzane, the Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr S.G. Abrokwah, and a limited number of staff whose collaborative effort has already made a significant breakthrough in the infrastructural development of the new district.
For instance, construction work on a modern place of convenience and other facilities for the administration block of the assembly, which commenced less than a month ago, would be completed next month while other projects that had started in the various communities are, progressing steadily.
They include the tarring of the Anyinase Junction-Praso and the Akyem Ofoase-Akokoaso roads, the rehabilitation of the Otwereso Camp Junction-Zevor and the Adubiase-Kwaboadi Number One roads while preparations are underway for the tarring of the Ofoase-Ayirebi main road.
The European Union is also financing the construction of two-unit classroom blocks with offices, stores and public places of convenience for the District Assembly Primary Schools at Ayirebi and Zevor.
Classroom blocks, offices and public places of convenience have also been earmarked for other communities such as Adwafo and Otwereso Camp while five towns, namely Ayirebi, Ofoase, Chia, Abenase and Otwereso would also be provided with electricity.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Oppon Kusi, is also playing a significant role in the electrification project through the provision of some of the poles and other items needed for the project.
Other poverty alleviation measures such as a micro-finance scheme have been instituted through the Micro-Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) from which some of the people have started benefiting. Addressing the maiden meeting of the assembly at Ofoase on Friday, Nana Acquah Frempong said although a lot had been accomplished in terms of the provision of social amenities, much more needed to be done.
He, therefore, called on the assembly members to help develop the district by maximising their output at all levels.
“Although we have completed a number of projects such as water supply system funded by the German Technical organisation (GTZ) through the Community Water and Sanitation Agency at Ayirebi, teachers’ bungalow for schools at Akokoaso and Subinso, a market at Akyem Otwereso and clinics at Ayirebi, Anyinase and Adubiase, a lot remains to be done,” the DCE stressed.
He, therefore, entreated the assembly members to help develop the communities.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Abrokwah, who also addressed the meeting, stressed the need for the members, both elected and appointed, to unite and contribute their quota towards the development of their communities.
He said that could only be accomplished if they identified the challenges in their respective communities and mapped out strategies to address them.
Since inadequate funds continues to militate against the development of the area, the assembly, which also depends on internally generated revenue, has intensified education to drum home the need for the people to honour their tax obligations.
In line with the Local Government Act 1993, the assembly has imposed fees on all activities, especially commercial activities, to generate the much needed revenue to provide the necessary infrastructure to accelerate the area’s development.
With the institution of those laudable measures, coupled with the personal commitment of Nana Acquah Frempong to ensure the early completion of the infrastructural projects, it is expected that Akyemansa, which currently comprises many deprived communities, would in the near future be provided with the needed social amenities and thus improve the living standards of its people.
SUHUM CASE: COURT FREES COP, 2 SOLDIERS ...State to Appeal (PAGE 3)
A HIGH Court at Koforidua yesterday acquitted and discharged two soldiers and a policeman who were tried over the death of a mini bus driver, one George Atua, alias Maclean, at Suhum on August 3, last year.
The three — Lance Corporal Kwasi Dagadu, the policeman, Corporal Ibrahim Bukari and Staff Sergeant Robert Adama, the soldiers — who were charged with conspiracy and murder, pleaded not guilty while another policeman, General Constable David Darko, said to be an accomplice, is on the run.
As soon as the judge, Justice Francis Mieza Anyimah, pronounced judgement, the relatives of the late Atua, particularly the mother, Madam Akosua Takyiwa, started weeping uncontrollably.
Mr Anthony Gyambiby, a Chief State Attorney, who led a four-man prosecution team, told the Daily Graphic outside the courtroom that the state would appeal against the verdict.
In all seven prosecution witnesses came to testify in the case, which started in March this year, with most of them telling the court that they saw the accused persons assaulting Atua.
Just before the seven-member jury retired to decide the fate of the accused persons at yesterday’s sitting, Justice Mieza Anyimah gave the members the directions of the court and told them to come out with proofs beyond all reasonable doubt or proofs that all or any of the accused persons caused the death of Atua.
Summing up, Justice Mieza Anyimah referred to similar cases in the Ghana Law Report and said Atua had actually died and that the cause of his death was unnatural.
He, therefore, asked the jury to examine the whole issue, taking into consideration facts of the case as presented to the court and come out with its verdict.
The jury after retiring for almost 45 minutes came with a unanimous verdict declaring all the three accused persons not guilty after which the judge set them free.
Presenting the facts of the case at an earlier sitting, Mr Gyambiby told the court that on August 3, last year at about 7 p.m. the three accused persons together with four others on a joint military/police patrol driving in a police vehicle from Kyebi were overtaken by a Hyundai mini bus with registration number GR 3690 M being driven by the late Atua.
He said when the patrol team signalled Atua to stop, he did not and drove away after which the patrol team chased him and managed to arrest him at Ayekotse, a suburb of Suhum, where they severely beat him, hitting him several times with their guns.
According to Mr Gyambiby, the accused first sent Atua who was very weak to the Suhum Police Station and then to the Suhum Government Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
He said a doctor’s report indicated that Atua died from assault.
The three — Lance Corporal Kwasi Dagadu, the policeman, Corporal Ibrahim Bukari and Staff Sergeant Robert Adama, the soldiers — who were charged with conspiracy and murder, pleaded not guilty while another policeman, General Constable David Darko, said to be an accomplice, is on the run.
As soon as the judge, Justice Francis Mieza Anyimah, pronounced judgement, the relatives of the late Atua, particularly the mother, Madam Akosua Takyiwa, started weeping uncontrollably.
Mr Anthony Gyambiby, a Chief State Attorney, who led a four-man prosecution team, told the Daily Graphic outside the courtroom that the state would appeal against the verdict.
In all seven prosecution witnesses came to testify in the case, which started in March this year, with most of them telling the court that they saw the accused persons assaulting Atua.
Just before the seven-member jury retired to decide the fate of the accused persons at yesterday’s sitting, Justice Mieza Anyimah gave the members the directions of the court and told them to come out with proofs beyond all reasonable doubt or proofs that all or any of the accused persons caused the death of Atua.
Summing up, Justice Mieza Anyimah referred to similar cases in the Ghana Law Report and said Atua had actually died and that the cause of his death was unnatural.
He, therefore, asked the jury to examine the whole issue, taking into consideration facts of the case as presented to the court and come out with its verdict.
The jury after retiring for almost 45 minutes came with a unanimous verdict declaring all the three accused persons not guilty after which the judge set them free.
Presenting the facts of the case at an earlier sitting, Mr Gyambiby told the court that on August 3, last year at about 7 p.m. the three accused persons together with four others on a joint military/police patrol driving in a police vehicle from Kyebi were overtaken by a Hyundai mini bus with registration number GR 3690 M being driven by the late Atua.
He said when the patrol team signalled Atua to stop, he did not and drove away after which the patrol team chased him and managed to arrest him at Ayekotse, a suburb of Suhum, where they severely beat him, hitting him several times with their guns.
According to Mr Gyambiby, the accused first sent Atua who was very weak to the Suhum Police Station and then to the Suhum Government Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
He said a doctor’s report indicated that Atua died from assault.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
ROAD SAFETY COMMISSION, POLICE BLAMED...For unauthorised ramps on highways (PAGE 23)
THE Ghana Road Safety Commission and the police came under severe criticism for their inability to clear unauthorised traffic ramps along the highways in the Eastern Region, which have hindered traffic flow and destroyed a number of vehicles in the region.
The control of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in new districts from Accra and the rehabilitation of old school buildings with funds from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), were also criticised.
The criticisms were levelled by Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the region at the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council meeting at Koforidua last Wednesday.
The meeting brought together MDCEs, presiding members of the 21 assemblies, and heads of departments in the region, as well as some traditional rulers.
The event was to enable the assemblies and heads of departments to brief the Co-ordinating Council on measures they were taking to improve the living conditions of the people.
The MDCEs came up with the criticism after the Chairman of the Road Safety Commission, Mr Stephen Anokye and the Kwahu North District Chief Executive, Mr Solomon Yaw Fordwor, had given presentations to the gathering.
In his presentation, Mr Anokye, among other things, mentioned indiscipline among drivers and other road users as the cause of rampant motor accidents in the region.
He called on donors to support the commission to enable it to carry out a number of educational programmes to curb the motor accidents.
As soon as he completed reading his statement, the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, took the floor and said it was unfortunate that there were numerous unauthorised traffic ramps on almost all the roads in the region, particularly within the Kwaebibirem District, and wondered why the Road Safety Commission and the police could not do anything about the situation.
A number of MDCEs in their speeches, also condemned the commission and the police for their inability to clear the ramps and called on the two bodies to act on the issue as soon as possible.
Mr Fordwor, whose presentation dwelt on a number of development projects in the Kwahu North District, one of the 23 political entities to benefit from the MCA initiative, said the inclusion of the district, as well as others in the region, would be beneficial to the people.
Nana Onwona Asante, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kwahu South, another beneficiary district of the MCA, followed up by telling the gathering that a number of dilapidated school buildings in the district were being rehabilitated with funds from the MCA and that drew condemnation from the gathering.
Most of those who spoke on the issue, stated that it would be appropriate if new school buildings would be constructed instead of rehabilitating the old ones, something which they explained, took the form of plastering.
The Chief of Koforidua Ada, Odeefuo Boadi Asiedu, condemned the control of the health insurance scheme in the new districts from its headquarters in Accra, which he said was against the new local government regulations.
That was after the Regional Manager of the scheme, Mr Collins Danso Akuamoah, had briefed the gathering on the scheme, which, he said, had made significant progress in the region, and disclosed that the schemes in the newly created districts were being operated from the national headquarters in Accra.
Early on, the Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, had told the gathering that despite the rise in the world price of petroleum products and their attendant hike in food prices, the Kufuor Administration was able to weather the storm through good governance and prudent economic policies.
He, therefore, asked the MDCEs to effectively and efficiently manage the limited resources transferred by the central government to departments, agencies and the assemblies to ensure that the best results were obtained.
Mr Afram Asiedu traced the history of Ghana’s democracy, and described the past eight years as very fruitful.
He also dwelt extensively on other aspects in the region such as security, stating that although the spate of murders that occurred in Suhum sometime ago seemed to have re-surfaced with two of such deaths reported recently, the security services were on alert to tackle the issue.
The regional minister said the security agencies had been able to prevent disturbances associated with chieftaincy disputes in the region.
He, however, expressed his dissatisfaction about the Yilo Krobos’ rejection of the Government White Paper that dealt with the limestone-rich lands of Odugblase, which was being claimed by both the Yilos and Manya Krobos, who also condemned the report but accepted part of its recommendations.
Mr Afram Asiedu stated that the Regional Co-ordinating Council was monitoring a number of projects in the region, and urged the managers to ensure that they were well managed.
The control of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in new districts from Accra and the rehabilitation of old school buildings with funds from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), were also criticised.
The criticisms were levelled by Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the region at the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council meeting at Koforidua last Wednesday.
The meeting brought together MDCEs, presiding members of the 21 assemblies, and heads of departments in the region, as well as some traditional rulers.
The event was to enable the assemblies and heads of departments to brief the Co-ordinating Council on measures they were taking to improve the living conditions of the people.
The MDCEs came up with the criticism after the Chairman of the Road Safety Commission, Mr Stephen Anokye and the Kwahu North District Chief Executive, Mr Solomon Yaw Fordwor, had given presentations to the gathering.
In his presentation, Mr Anokye, among other things, mentioned indiscipline among drivers and other road users as the cause of rampant motor accidents in the region.
He called on donors to support the commission to enable it to carry out a number of educational programmes to curb the motor accidents.
As soon as he completed reading his statement, the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, took the floor and said it was unfortunate that there were numerous unauthorised traffic ramps on almost all the roads in the region, particularly within the Kwaebibirem District, and wondered why the Road Safety Commission and the police could not do anything about the situation.
A number of MDCEs in their speeches, also condemned the commission and the police for their inability to clear the ramps and called on the two bodies to act on the issue as soon as possible.
Mr Fordwor, whose presentation dwelt on a number of development projects in the Kwahu North District, one of the 23 political entities to benefit from the MCA initiative, said the inclusion of the district, as well as others in the region, would be beneficial to the people.
Nana Onwona Asante, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kwahu South, another beneficiary district of the MCA, followed up by telling the gathering that a number of dilapidated school buildings in the district were being rehabilitated with funds from the MCA and that drew condemnation from the gathering.
Most of those who spoke on the issue, stated that it would be appropriate if new school buildings would be constructed instead of rehabilitating the old ones, something which they explained, took the form of plastering.
The Chief of Koforidua Ada, Odeefuo Boadi Asiedu, condemned the control of the health insurance scheme in the new districts from its headquarters in Accra, which he said was against the new local government regulations.
That was after the Regional Manager of the scheme, Mr Collins Danso Akuamoah, had briefed the gathering on the scheme, which, he said, had made significant progress in the region, and disclosed that the schemes in the newly created districts were being operated from the national headquarters in Accra.
Early on, the Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, had told the gathering that despite the rise in the world price of petroleum products and their attendant hike in food prices, the Kufuor Administration was able to weather the storm through good governance and prudent economic policies.
He, therefore, asked the MDCEs to effectively and efficiently manage the limited resources transferred by the central government to departments, agencies and the assemblies to ensure that the best results were obtained.
Mr Afram Asiedu traced the history of Ghana’s democracy, and described the past eight years as very fruitful.
He also dwelt extensively on other aspects in the region such as security, stating that although the spate of murders that occurred in Suhum sometime ago seemed to have re-surfaced with two of such deaths reported recently, the security services were on alert to tackle the issue.
The regional minister said the security agencies had been able to prevent disturbances associated with chieftaincy disputes in the region.
He, however, expressed his dissatisfaction about the Yilo Krobos’ rejection of the Government White Paper that dealt with the limestone-rich lands of Odugblase, which was being claimed by both the Yilos and Manya Krobos, who also condemned the report but accepted part of its recommendations.
Mr Afram Asiedu stated that the Regional Co-ordinating Council was monitoring a number of projects in the region, and urged the managers to ensure that they were well managed.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
GOVT TO REHABILITATE SCHOOLS IN EASTERN REGION (PAGE 43)
A SODCUTTING ceremony for the rehabilitation of five dilapidated primary school buildings in very deprived areas of the Kwahu South District in the Eastern Region was performed at Kotoso on Saturday.
The project, which is being funded from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), covers the Kotoso D/A Primary School, Ahinase R/C Primary, Nketepa L/A Primary, Oframase L/A Primary and the Asuboni Primary School which would all be provided with offices, teachers’ bungalows and other ancillary facilities.
The project which is the first phase of the MCA initiative in the Kwahu South District, one of the 23 beneficiaries districts in the country, is aimed at improving the quality of education in such deprived communities to produce good pupils who would be able to climb the academic ladder to become professionals to help reduce abject poverty in the area.
Addressing a large gathering of the people of Kotoso and its surrounding hamlets, including the chief of Kwahu Beponghene, Nana Nyarko Bawuah 11, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Mr Martin Esson-Benjamin, outlined goals of MiDA which he said is to reduce poverty with the rehabilitation or provision of some vital social amenities.
These, he said included schools, water and sanitation facilities, roads and electricity, adding that the people in such areas who were mostly farmers and fishermen would also be assisted with funds to expand their ventures to generate more income for their livelihood and that of their families.
Mr Esson-Benjamin who therefore advised parents in the area to send their children to school further asked the farmers to form associations or groups to make it easy for them to obtain financial assistance from the MDA.
“The government is concerned about the poor living condition in deprived areas and this is why it is using the MDA to improve the lot of the people in this areas so you must take the opportunity to improve your lot”, Mr Esson-Benjamin told the gathering.
Earlier, the Kwahu South District Chief Executive (DCE), Nana Onwona Asante, who was happy that the district had been included in the MCA programme, said about 2, 400 farmers would be covered.
To ensure the success of the programme in the district, the DCE gave the assurance that the assembly would do its best in that respect, and expressed his gratitude to President Kufuor for the MCA initiative which according to him would go a long way to reduce poverty in the area.
The project, which is being funded from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), covers the Kotoso D/A Primary School, Ahinase R/C Primary, Nketepa L/A Primary, Oframase L/A Primary and the Asuboni Primary School which would all be provided with offices, teachers’ bungalows and other ancillary facilities.
The project which is the first phase of the MCA initiative in the Kwahu South District, one of the 23 beneficiaries districts in the country, is aimed at improving the quality of education in such deprived communities to produce good pupils who would be able to climb the academic ladder to become professionals to help reduce abject poverty in the area.
Addressing a large gathering of the people of Kotoso and its surrounding hamlets, including the chief of Kwahu Beponghene, Nana Nyarko Bawuah 11, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Mr Martin Esson-Benjamin, outlined goals of MiDA which he said is to reduce poverty with the rehabilitation or provision of some vital social amenities.
These, he said included schools, water and sanitation facilities, roads and electricity, adding that the people in such areas who were mostly farmers and fishermen would also be assisted with funds to expand their ventures to generate more income for their livelihood and that of their families.
Mr Esson-Benjamin who therefore advised parents in the area to send their children to school further asked the farmers to form associations or groups to make it easy for them to obtain financial assistance from the MDA.
“The government is concerned about the poor living condition in deprived areas and this is why it is using the MDA to improve the lot of the people in this areas so you must take the opportunity to improve your lot”, Mr Esson-Benjamin told the gathering.
Earlier, the Kwahu South District Chief Executive (DCE), Nana Onwona Asante, who was happy that the district had been included in the MCA programme, said about 2, 400 farmers would be covered.
To ensure the success of the programme in the district, the DCE gave the assurance that the assembly would do its best in that respect, and expressed his gratitude to President Kufuor for the MCA initiative which according to him would go a long way to reduce poverty in the area.
Friday, August 15, 2008
DECIDE FATE OF PROF AMOAKO NOW (PAGE 17)
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) executive in the Abuakwa North Constituency of the Eastern Region has given the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party a one-week ultimatum to decide whether Professor Samuel Kwadwo Amoako is qualified to be the parliamentary candidate for the constituency.
This, according to the executive, was due to his dual citizenship status, which, according to them, was contrary to the party’s constitution.
The 65-year-old professor, who beat the incumbent MP, Mr Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu, by 35 votes to 31 at the primaries in May this year, was until then domiciled in the United States of America.
At a press conference at Akyem Tafo, which was attended by six out of the nine executive members, the Constituency Chairman, Mr Douglas Asare, said Professor Amoako was not qualified to enter Parliament because he was a citizen of both the United States of America and Ghana.
He stated that Professor Amoako naturalised as an American citizen on March 10, 1995 in York City in New York State and that under such a condition, there was no way out for him to be a legislator.
This, he said, had been clearly stipulated in the NPP Constitution.
According to Mr Asare, shortly after Professor Amoako had been given the nod to contest the constituency seat, the incumbent MP and another member of the party raised the issue of his dual citizenship status, which the Professor admitted.
He said the constituency executive then notified the NEC about Professor Amoako’s status, which was confirmed by the legal committee of the party.
Mr Asare said although it was expected that the NEC would clearly state its position on the matter, as of now that could not be done, putting the whole constituency in limbo.
“Professor Amoako in the first place does not qualify to apply for forms to contest for the primaries, let alone enter Parliament and we the executive give NEC one week to state its position on the matter or we will advise ourselves,” Mr Amoako stated.
Mr Amoako, who alleged that there were some leading figures in the NPP who were delaying the disqualification of Professor Amoako to enable him to renounce his American citizenship before the NEC could determine the issue, said such a situation could enable Professor Amoako’s friends in the party to lobby in his favour.
He said since the December elections were drawing nearer, it was necessary for the NEC to act now so that the appropriate person would be known to start serious campaign to retain the constituency seat, adding that the situation was giving opponents of the party a field day to campaign at the expense of the NPP.
“We are awaiting the pronouncement of the judgement by the NEC that should lead to the proclamation or otherwise of the incumbent MP, J.B. Danquah Adu.
“With this situation, the party suffers because there is no parliamentary candidate to lead political electioneering or activity to market our successes as a party and government,” Mr Asare intoned.
With regard to Professor Amoako’s conduct as parliamentary candidate, Mr Amoako stated that the Professor neither had any working relationship with the constituency executive, nor was he able to go round the constituency with the executive.
He said it was only last week during the Ohum Festival when Professor Amoako went to Tafo and Anyinasin with six armed policemen, which he said was a waste of state resources.
Mr Amoako also stated that since 2004 when Professor Amoako donated a computer and accessories to the constituency office, his contribution to the party in the constituency was about GH¢18 in terms of dues.
This, according to the executive, was due to his dual citizenship status, which, according to them, was contrary to the party’s constitution.
The 65-year-old professor, who beat the incumbent MP, Mr Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu, by 35 votes to 31 at the primaries in May this year, was until then domiciled in the United States of America.
At a press conference at Akyem Tafo, which was attended by six out of the nine executive members, the Constituency Chairman, Mr Douglas Asare, said Professor Amoako was not qualified to enter Parliament because he was a citizen of both the United States of America and Ghana.
He stated that Professor Amoako naturalised as an American citizen on March 10, 1995 in York City in New York State and that under such a condition, there was no way out for him to be a legislator.
This, he said, had been clearly stipulated in the NPP Constitution.
According to Mr Asare, shortly after Professor Amoako had been given the nod to contest the constituency seat, the incumbent MP and another member of the party raised the issue of his dual citizenship status, which the Professor admitted.
He said the constituency executive then notified the NEC about Professor Amoako’s status, which was confirmed by the legal committee of the party.
Mr Asare said although it was expected that the NEC would clearly state its position on the matter, as of now that could not be done, putting the whole constituency in limbo.
“Professor Amoako in the first place does not qualify to apply for forms to contest for the primaries, let alone enter Parliament and we the executive give NEC one week to state its position on the matter or we will advise ourselves,” Mr Amoako stated.
Mr Amoako, who alleged that there were some leading figures in the NPP who were delaying the disqualification of Professor Amoako to enable him to renounce his American citizenship before the NEC could determine the issue, said such a situation could enable Professor Amoako’s friends in the party to lobby in his favour.
He said since the December elections were drawing nearer, it was necessary for the NEC to act now so that the appropriate person would be known to start serious campaign to retain the constituency seat, adding that the situation was giving opponents of the party a field day to campaign at the expense of the NPP.
“We are awaiting the pronouncement of the judgement by the NEC that should lead to the proclamation or otherwise of the incumbent MP, J.B. Danquah Adu.
“With this situation, the party suffers because there is no parliamentary candidate to lead political electioneering or activity to market our successes as a party and government,” Mr Asare intoned.
With regard to Professor Amoako’s conduct as parliamentary candidate, Mr Amoako stated that the Professor neither had any working relationship with the constituency executive, nor was he able to go round the constituency with the executive.
He said it was only last week during the Ohum Festival when Professor Amoako went to Tafo and Anyinasin with six armed policemen, which he said was a waste of state resources.
Mr Amoako also stated that since 2004 when Professor Amoako donated a computer and accessories to the constituency office, his contribution to the party in the constituency was about GH¢18 in terms of dues.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
COME OUT WITH ACCEPTABLE VOTERS' REGISTER — NAGRAT
THE NATIONAL Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has added its voice to the call on the Electoral Commission (EC) to come out with an acceptable voters register for the December election.
This, according to NAGRAT, would make the results of the elections acceptable to all the competing political parties.
The association made the call at its 7th national delegates conference at Koforidua on Tuesday.
The three-day event that was on the theme: “Sustaining Democracy, the Role of Teacher Unions”, brought together delegates from all over the country to deliberate on issues affecting the association.
Key among the issues were the implementation of a fair and equitable salary structure promised by the government, delayed implementation of the new pension scheme, unexplained deductions from the salaries of NAGRAT members, non-payment of salaries and arrears, as well as the conduct of the Best Teacher Award Scheme.
Mr Kwame Alorvi, President of the association, who made the call on behalf of the association, said the long queues at the registration centres and the large number of minors registering, coupled with the paucity of registration materials and equipment, were signs of threats to the country’s democracy.
To prevent any unfortunate situation, he said NAGRAT would continue to play its part by educating the youth both at school and at home so that they would not be manipulated by politicians.
Mr Alorvi also called on political actors and their activists to conform to the rules of the elections to make the event fair and violence-free for the sustenance of the country’s democracy.
With regard to the welfare of teachers, he said although the government had promised that a new salary scheme would be implemented after the teachers had gone on an industrial action in 2006, that had not been done and the union leaders who had persistently been informing their members on different periods had been branded as liars.
Mr Alorvi, cautioned the government that teachers’ tolerance had been over-stretched and that they would no longer accept any further delay in the implementation of the new salary structure beyond January, 2009.
He also called on the Ghana Education Service to conclude negotiations on responsibility allowances for all categories of teachers by August 31, this year.
The government, Mr Alorvi said, must also pay the teachers their October 2006 salaries, which were frozen when they embarked on an industrial action.
Mr Alorvi, who also dwelt extensively on various issues affecting teachers such as the conduct of the Best Teacher Awards, which he said had not been satisfactory, called on the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to ensure that the scheme reflected the national character.
On the provision of private vehicles for members of NAGRAT, Mr Alorvi commended President Kufuor for his initiative, which he said had started yielding good results, adding that “some of the cars will be arriving in September from South Korea, The Netherlands, and the United States”.
He expressed the association’s appreciation to the Amalgamated Bank for granting it GH¢5,000,000 for the acquisition of the vehicles.
A lecturer of the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA), Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, who also spoke at the function, traced the history of the political development of the country and stated that for the country to be truly democratic, its leaders must understand both local and international issues, have vision for the future and that there should be discipline in the system.
Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, commended the NPP Administration for ensuring a prudent economy by washing out the chunk of the country’s external debts and asked the teachers who he described as very knowledgeable to help educate the populace on all issues affecting the country.
Touching on agitations of teachers for better salaries, he said what they needed were long-term benefits such as housing schemes after working for so many years and that no amount of salary increases would better their lot.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, chaired the function.
This, according to NAGRAT, would make the results of the elections acceptable to all the competing political parties.
The association made the call at its 7th national delegates conference at Koforidua on Tuesday.
The three-day event that was on the theme: “Sustaining Democracy, the Role of Teacher Unions”, brought together delegates from all over the country to deliberate on issues affecting the association.
Key among the issues were the implementation of a fair and equitable salary structure promised by the government, delayed implementation of the new pension scheme, unexplained deductions from the salaries of NAGRAT members, non-payment of salaries and arrears, as well as the conduct of the Best Teacher Award Scheme.
Mr Kwame Alorvi, President of the association, who made the call on behalf of the association, said the long queues at the registration centres and the large number of minors registering, coupled with the paucity of registration materials and equipment, were signs of threats to the country’s democracy.
To prevent any unfortunate situation, he said NAGRAT would continue to play its part by educating the youth both at school and at home so that they would not be manipulated by politicians.
Mr Alorvi also called on political actors and their activists to conform to the rules of the elections to make the event fair and violence-free for the sustenance of the country’s democracy.
With regard to the welfare of teachers, he said although the government had promised that a new salary scheme would be implemented after the teachers had gone on an industrial action in 2006, that had not been done and the union leaders who had persistently been informing their members on different periods had been branded as liars.
Mr Alorvi, cautioned the government that teachers’ tolerance had been over-stretched and that they would no longer accept any further delay in the implementation of the new salary structure beyond January, 2009.
He also called on the Ghana Education Service to conclude negotiations on responsibility allowances for all categories of teachers by August 31, this year.
The government, Mr Alorvi said, must also pay the teachers their October 2006 salaries, which were frozen when they embarked on an industrial action.
Mr Alorvi, who also dwelt extensively on various issues affecting teachers such as the conduct of the Best Teacher Awards, which he said had not been satisfactory, called on the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to ensure that the scheme reflected the national character.
On the provision of private vehicles for members of NAGRAT, Mr Alorvi commended President Kufuor for his initiative, which he said had started yielding good results, adding that “some of the cars will be arriving in September from South Korea, The Netherlands, and the United States”.
He expressed the association’s appreciation to the Amalgamated Bank for granting it GH¢5,000,000 for the acquisition of the vehicles.
A lecturer of the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA), Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, who also spoke at the function, traced the history of the political development of the country and stated that for the country to be truly democratic, its leaders must understand both local and international issues, have vision for the future and that there should be discipline in the system.
Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, commended the NPP Administration for ensuring a prudent economy by washing out the chunk of the country’s external debts and asked the teachers who he described as very knowledgeable to help educate the populace on all issues affecting the country.
Touching on agitations of teachers for better salaries, he said what they needed were long-term benefits such as housing schemes after working for so many years and that no amount of salary increases would better their lot.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, chaired the function.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
SCHOOL HOLDS GRADUATION (PAGE 20)
THE King of Glory Early Childhood Development Centre at Adweso, a suburb of Koforidua in the New Juaben Municipality, has held its graduation ceremony during which 90 kids from the nursery and the kindergarten passed out.
The ceremony that was on the theme: “Developing Healthy Mind in a Healthy Environment; Our Collective Responsibility”, was the highlight of the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the centre.
Addressing a large number of parents and other dignitaries who patronised the function, the proprietress of the institution, Mrs Georgina Obeng, entreated parents to take good care of their children in their formative years.
She said the centre, which was set up in 1992 with only two children, now had a population of 200. Mrs Obeng attributed the institution’s steady growth to its ability to turn out good products for the best basic schools in the municipality.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Director of Environmental Health Services Department, Mr Edward Shardey, who was the guest speaker at the function, dwelt extensively on environmental cleanliness.
He urged parents to ensure that their children washed their hands with soap before eating, after school, or after playing with pets.
Mr Shardey also implored adults to wash their hands after visiting public places of convenience, shaking hands with people at hospitals, and after funerals or festivals.
The ceremony that was on the theme: “Developing Healthy Mind in a Healthy Environment; Our Collective Responsibility”, was the highlight of the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the centre.
Addressing a large number of parents and other dignitaries who patronised the function, the proprietress of the institution, Mrs Georgina Obeng, entreated parents to take good care of their children in their formative years.
She said the centre, which was set up in 1992 with only two children, now had a population of 200. Mrs Obeng attributed the institution’s steady growth to its ability to turn out good products for the best basic schools in the municipality.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Director of Environmental Health Services Department, Mr Edward Shardey, who was the guest speaker at the function, dwelt extensively on environmental cleanliness.
He urged parents to ensure that their children washed their hands with soap before eating, after school, or after playing with pets.
Mr Shardey also implored adults to wash their hands after visiting public places of convenience, shaking hands with people at hospitals, and after funerals or festivals.
PALMER-BUCKLE VACATION CAMP OPENS (PAGE 20)
AN educational and cultural retreat dubbed “Palmer-Buckle Vacation Camp” is currently underway in Koforidua.
The two-week programme under which pupils drawn from basic schools in the New Juaben Municipality are schooled in all aspects of the Ghanaian culture in addition to academic programmes, was initiated 10 years ago by the then Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, who is now the Accra Metropolitan Archbishop.
The programme, which has been organised by the Eastern Regional office of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) for the past 10 years, is usually supported by the Archbishop and some individuals.
They are Mr Tsibu Gyan, Messrs Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah and Richard Okrah, managing directors of Sharp Pharmaceuticals and of Intravenous Infusions, respectively, as well as corporate bodies such as the Eastern Regional offices of MTN and tiGO, Unimax Macmillan, Aunt Nancy Foundation, Holland; and the Cocoa Processing Company in Tema.
This year’s programme, which is on the theme: “Discovering the Potential Within You to Make a Difference”, brought together 200 pupils and students from junior and senior high schools in the municipality.
Some of the schools are Nana Kwaku Boateng, Presbyterian Trinity, Wesley International, Catholic junior high schools, the Koforidua Senior High School (KOSEC) and the Pentecost Senior High School.
In his address, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle asked parents to attach special importance to the education of their children.
The archbishop was grateful for the commitment of the CNC for the programme. He suggested that the programme should be residential.
The Regional Director of the CNC, Mr F. Kingsley Obeng, asked the participants to make good use of the programme to make them useful citizens in the future.
The New Juaben Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Christiana Agyare Boateng, expressed regret that the current educational system the country mainly focused on schoolchildren passing their examinations, with little room to identify their true potential.
An alumna of the camp, Miss Edith Abrefa, who is now a university student, shared her experiences at the camp, which she said had been very beneficial to her.
She appealed to other regional directors of the CNC to organise similar programmes in their areas.
The two-week programme under which pupils drawn from basic schools in the New Juaben Municipality are schooled in all aspects of the Ghanaian culture in addition to academic programmes, was initiated 10 years ago by the then Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, who is now the Accra Metropolitan Archbishop.
The programme, which has been organised by the Eastern Regional office of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) for the past 10 years, is usually supported by the Archbishop and some individuals.
They are Mr Tsibu Gyan, Messrs Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah and Richard Okrah, managing directors of Sharp Pharmaceuticals and of Intravenous Infusions, respectively, as well as corporate bodies such as the Eastern Regional offices of MTN and tiGO, Unimax Macmillan, Aunt Nancy Foundation, Holland; and the Cocoa Processing Company in Tema.
This year’s programme, which is on the theme: “Discovering the Potential Within You to Make a Difference”, brought together 200 pupils and students from junior and senior high schools in the municipality.
Some of the schools are Nana Kwaku Boateng, Presbyterian Trinity, Wesley International, Catholic junior high schools, the Koforidua Senior High School (KOSEC) and the Pentecost Senior High School.
In his address, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle asked parents to attach special importance to the education of their children.
The archbishop was grateful for the commitment of the CNC for the programme. He suggested that the programme should be residential.
The Regional Director of the CNC, Mr F. Kingsley Obeng, asked the participants to make good use of the programme to make them useful citizens in the future.
The New Juaben Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Christiana Agyare Boateng, expressed regret that the current educational system the country mainly focused on schoolchildren passing their examinations, with little room to identify their true potential.
An alumna of the camp, Miss Edith Abrefa, who is now a university student, shared her experiences at the camp, which she said had been very beneficial to her.
She appealed to other regional directors of the CNC to organise similar programmes in their areas.
MANYA KROBO RURAL BANK BREAKS NEW GROUNDS (PAGE 20)
THE Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo districts, as well as some parts of the Asuogyaman District, constitute one big area in terms of land size and population.
These four political entities put together have an estimated population of 500,000, mostly people engaged in subsistence agriculture with small holdings.
A large segment of the population is also in the fishing industry, plying their vocation primarily on the Volta Lake while others engage in petty trading.
Despite the resourcefulness of the people in such vocations, they are unable to make any meaningful headway in terms of income generation.
The reason is that for some time now there had not been any banking institution that could offer the necessary financial assistance for such small-scale businesses, especially in agriculture, aquaculture and commerce.
As a result, businesses could not thrive and poverty was the order of the day with its attendant problems, notably the inability of most parents to cater for their children’s education.
To break the cycle of poverty in the area, the Association of Krobo Women in Accra came up with the idea of setting up a financial institution in the area to offer the required financial support for the people.
The bank, christened Manya Krobo Rural Bank with its headquarters at Odumase-Krobo, which started operations about 27 years ago, has, in line with its objectives, rendered tremendous assistance to the people in terms of loans. The beneficiaries are properly schooled in business management not only for the sustenance of such businesses, but also to enable them to pay back the loans in time for others to enjoy the facility.
One significant aspect of the operations of the bank is its ability to assist community projects with a number of donations, as well as providing scholarships for the education of brilliant, needy students in second-cycle, vocational and tertiary institutions in its catchment areas.
The bank, which has agencies at Somanya, Kpong and Akuse, has added another novelty to its operations with the introduction of a new package this year.
The package, known as a community-based micro finance scheme, makes it possible for any member of the community to access loans up to GH¢2,000 after the community leaders, namely, the chiefs, clergymen, assembly members or opinion leaders, had identified the prospective borrower as a member of the community and were prepared to hold brief for them.
This package, which has commenced in the Ashiyie community in the nearby Greater Accra Region, has been planned to cover other areas such as Adenta and Atomic Junction where a GH¢100,000 first-class banking hall with all the necessary facilities is being built.
According to the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Emmanuel Antwi, although the bank was primarily to serve the Krobo area, it had to extend its operations to some semi-rural/urban communities in Greater Accra due to four main reasons.
First, to provide banking facilities, which were not available at such places, to the people, especially micro-finance loans, to reduce poverty and offer salary credits and other financial packages to workers.
Those initiatives, Mr Antwi said, would create a corporate image for the bank to accelerate its growth to the status of a full-fledged universal bank to generate funds to support people and communities in the catchment areas, especially the three Krobo districts.
“The original operational areas, which are Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo and parts of Asuogyaman, are now saturated and we have to expand to new areas to grow more money to assist the people to reduce poverty in the system,” the managing director stated.
To rope in more customers, especially operators of small-scale businesses, in the new operational areas, the bank, which is one of the three rural banks to embrace the e-zwich system of banking, has decided to make that facility available to commercial enterprises such as fuel filling stations.
Mr Antwi, who recently addressed members of some of the communities to drum home the benefits of banking, stated that the bank was prepared to assist them only if they would honour their obligations to regularly pay back the loans.
The people in the new operational areas, as expected, have hailed the bank’s initiatives, which they consider as the only way to boost their businesses and generate appreciable incomes for their livelihood.
The Chief of Ashiyie, Nii Emmanuel Annang, who was appreciative of the bank’s financial packages, advised the people to promptly repay their loans to enable others to also benefit from the facility.
The bank’s expansion programme can be attributed to its successes over the years, which had placed it in Club 100 (the 100 most viable commercial enterprises in the country).
At its recent annual general meeting at Odumase-Krobo, during which the brain behind its establishment, Mrs Elsie Sowah, who also served on the board for a number of years, was honoured, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr B.T. Apo, said the bank’s deposits increased from GH¢3,197,504 in 2006 to GH¢4,306.671 in 2007.
It also recorded a pre-tax profit of GH¢121,308 in 2007 as against GH¢144,456 the previous year while investments hiked from GH¢949,852 to GH¢1,376,825 within the same period.
Mr Apo stated that during the same period, it honoured its social responsibility by offering scholarships valued at GH¢18,513 to a number of brilliant, needy students.
The Manager of the Finance Department of the ARB Apex Bank, Mr Kwaku Ababio, who deputised for the Managing Director, Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, was appreciative of the successes chalked up by the bank.
He, however, appealed to the directors, management and staff of the bank to work extra hard to achieve its targets.
Despite such a remarkable achievement, the bank is faced with some challenges, namely, refusal of loan beneficiaries to repay and poaching of its trained staff by other well-established financial institutions.
It also needs more shareholders, especially institutional investors, to boost its equity and to be on its feet to cater well for the people, especially in respect of social responsibility.
These four political entities put together have an estimated population of 500,000, mostly people engaged in subsistence agriculture with small holdings.
A large segment of the population is also in the fishing industry, plying their vocation primarily on the Volta Lake while others engage in petty trading.
Despite the resourcefulness of the people in such vocations, they are unable to make any meaningful headway in terms of income generation.
The reason is that for some time now there had not been any banking institution that could offer the necessary financial assistance for such small-scale businesses, especially in agriculture, aquaculture and commerce.
As a result, businesses could not thrive and poverty was the order of the day with its attendant problems, notably the inability of most parents to cater for their children’s education.
To break the cycle of poverty in the area, the Association of Krobo Women in Accra came up with the idea of setting up a financial institution in the area to offer the required financial support for the people.
The bank, christened Manya Krobo Rural Bank with its headquarters at Odumase-Krobo, which started operations about 27 years ago, has, in line with its objectives, rendered tremendous assistance to the people in terms of loans. The beneficiaries are properly schooled in business management not only for the sustenance of such businesses, but also to enable them to pay back the loans in time for others to enjoy the facility.
One significant aspect of the operations of the bank is its ability to assist community projects with a number of donations, as well as providing scholarships for the education of brilliant, needy students in second-cycle, vocational and tertiary institutions in its catchment areas.
The bank, which has agencies at Somanya, Kpong and Akuse, has added another novelty to its operations with the introduction of a new package this year.
The package, known as a community-based micro finance scheme, makes it possible for any member of the community to access loans up to GH¢2,000 after the community leaders, namely, the chiefs, clergymen, assembly members or opinion leaders, had identified the prospective borrower as a member of the community and were prepared to hold brief for them.
This package, which has commenced in the Ashiyie community in the nearby Greater Accra Region, has been planned to cover other areas such as Adenta and Atomic Junction where a GH¢100,000 first-class banking hall with all the necessary facilities is being built.
According to the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Emmanuel Antwi, although the bank was primarily to serve the Krobo area, it had to extend its operations to some semi-rural/urban communities in Greater Accra due to four main reasons.
First, to provide banking facilities, which were not available at such places, to the people, especially micro-finance loans, to reduce poverty and offer salary credits and other financial packages to workers.
Those initiatives, Mr Antwi said, would create a corporate image for the bank to accelerate its growth to the status of a full-fledged universal bank to generate funds to support people and communities in the catchment areas, especially the three Krobo districts.
“The original operational areas, which are Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo and parts of Asuogyaman, are now saturated and we have to expand to new areas to grow more money to assist the people to reduce poverty in the system,” the managing director stated.
To rope in more customers, especially operators of small-scale businesses, in the new operational areas, the bank, which is one of the three rural banks to embrace the e-zwich system of banking, has decided to make that facility available to commercial enterprises such as fuel filling stations.
Mr Antwi, who recently addressed members of some of the communities to drum home the benefits of banking, stated that the bank was prepared to assist them only if they would honour their obligations to regularly pay back the loans.
The people in the new operational areas, as expected, have hailed the bank’s initiatives, which they consider as the only way to boost their businesses and generate appreciable incomes for their livelihood.
The Chief of Ashiyie, Nii Emmanuel Annang, who was appreciative of the bank’s financial packages, advised the people to promptly repay their loans to enable others to also benefit from the facility.
The bank’s expansion programme can be attributed to its successes over the years, which had placed it in Club 100 (the 100 most viable commercial enterprises in the country).
At its recent annual general meeting at Odumase-Krobo, during which the brain behind its establishment, Mrs Elsie Sowah, who also served on the board for a number of years, was honoured, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr B.T. Apo, said the bank’s deposits increased from GH¢3,197,504 in 2006 to GH¢4,306.671 in 2007.
It also recorded a pre-tax profit of GH¢121,308 in 2007 as against GH¢144,456 the previous year while investments hiked from GH¢949,852 to GH¢1,376,825 within the same period.
Mr Apo stated that during the same period, it honoured its social responsibility by offering scholarships valued at GH¢18,513 to a number of brilliant, needy students.
The Manager of the Finance Department of the ARB Apex Bank, Mr Kwaku Ababio, who deputised for the Managing Director, Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, was appreciative of the successes chalked up by the bank.
He, however, appealed to the directors, management and staff of the bank to work extra hard to achieve its targets.
Despite such a remarkable achievement, the bank is faced with some challenges, namely, refusal of loan beneficiaries to repay and poaching of its trained staff by other well-established financial institutions.
It also needs more shareholders, especially institutional investors, to boost its equity and to be on its feet to cater well for the people, especially in respect of social responsibility.
CONDUCT BRIEF SERVICES ON ELECTION DAY — ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH (PAGE 17)
ALL branches of the Assemblies of God Church have been directed to conduct brief services on election day, to enable its members to exercise their franchise.
The directive, according to the church, was being given in the interest of the nation.
The Parliamentary and Presidential elections fall on December 7, Sunday.
The General Superintendent of the church, the Rev W.W. Dontoh, gave this directive at the 24th Biennial General Council meeting of the church in Koforidua.
The event, which was on the theme “I Will Pour Out My Spirit Upon All Flesh”, was attended by delegates throughout the country to take stock of the church’s activities and plan for the future.
According to Rev Dontoh, although the church would have wished that the voting date which falls on a Sunday be changed, it was also prepared to adjust its activities for that day to enable its members to vote in the national interest.
“This is an important exercise, so the church’s activities should be conducted in such a way that they will not conflict with this all-important day,” Rev Dontoh stated.
He asked all members of the church to fast and pray for peaceful elections and appealed to them to take the opportunity to cast their votes.
He further called on political parties, the government and all stakeholders to observe the rules of the elections, especially political campaigns, which, according to him, must be devoid of insults, acrimony and violence.
With regard to the activities of the church, he said it had taken a number of initiatives to improve both the spiritual and physical well-being of not only its members but also the well-being of society as a whole.
Some of the initiatives include a pension fund for its ministers, an insurance company, and the establishment of a university college, for which work should start soon.
Rev Dontoh stated that the church had also taken steps to enhance human resource development and congratulated Her Ladyship, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, a member of the church, on her appointment as the first female Chief Justice of Ghana.
In an address, Mrs Georgina Wood asked all those seeking leadership positions through the December elections to exert a strong influence on their followers to abstain from divisive and inflammatory speeches.
With regard to the elections on Sunday, a sacred day for Christians, she said participation on that day could not be regarded as sinful and explained that the elections were important national exercises. She called on all, especially Christians, to go out in their numbers to vote on that day.
The Chief Justice quoted a number of Biblical texts and asked members of the church to take up the role of teaching priests to teach society, especially political parties that must participate and manage the electioneering process in a peaceful manner before, during and after the elections.
Mrs Georgina Wood expressed her appreciation to members of the church, especially the women, for their support that enabled her to attain her current high position.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Superintendent of the church, Rev Alex Ofori Amankwa, expressed the hope that the meeting would impact positively not only on the region but also on the country as a whole.
The directive, according to the church, was being given in the interest of the nation.
The Parliamentary and Presidential elections fall on December 7, Sunday.
The General Superintendent of the church, the Rev W.W. Dontoh, gave this directive at the 24th Biennial General Council meeting of the church in Koforidua.
The event, which was on the theme “I Will Pour Out My Spirit Upon All Flesh”, was attended by delegates throughout the country to take stock of the church’s activities and plan for the future.
According to Rev Dontoh, although the church would have wished that the voting date which falls on a Sunday be changed, it was also prepared to adjust its activities for that day to enable its members to vote in the national interest.
“This is an important exercise, so the church’s activities should be conducted in such a way that they will not conflict with this all-important day,” Rev Dontoh stated.
He asked all members of the church to fast and pray for peaceful elections and appealed to them to take the opportunity to cast their votes.
He further called on political parties, the government and all stakeholders to observe the rules of the elections, especially political campaigns, which, according to him, must be devoid of insults, acrimony and violence.
With regard to the activities of the church, he said it had taken a number of initiatives to improve both the spiritual and physical well-being of not only its members but also the well-being of society as a whole.
Some of the initiatives include a pension fund for its ministers, an insurance company, and the establishment of a university college, for which work should start soon.
Rev Dontoh stated that the church had also taken steps to enhance human resource development and congratulated Her Ladyship, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, a member of the church, on her appointment as the first female Chief Justice of Ghana.
In an address, Mrs Georgina Wood asked all those seeking leadership positions through the December elections to exert a strong influence on their followers to abstain from divisive and inflammatory speeches.
With regard to the elections on Sunday, a sacred day for Christians, she said participation on that day could not be regarded as sinful and explained that the elections were important national exercises. She called on all, especially Christians, to go out in their numbers to vote on that day.
The Chief Justice quoted a number of Biblical texts and asked members of the church to take up the role of teaching priests to teach society, especially political parties that must participate and manage the electioneering process in a peaceful manner before, during and after the elections.
Mrs Georgina Wood expressed her appreciation to members of the church, especially the women, for their support that enabled her to attain her current high position.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Superintendent of the church, Rev Alex Ofori Amankwa, expressed the hope that the meeting would impact positively not only on the region but also on the country as a whole.
ER INAUGURATES REGIONAL ENFORCEMENT BODY (PAGE 17)
A NINE-MEMBER committee that would ensure compliance with the 2008 Political Parties Code of Conduct for the December 7 election in the Eastern Region has been inaugurated.
It would, among others, monitor breaches of the code in the various constituencies in the region to be reported to the national enforcement body for redress.
The committee, with the Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Emmanuel Quaye-Sowah, as chairman, has its membership drawn from the political parties contesting for the elections as well as the Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP Ampah Bennin, and the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Paul Boateng.
A senior member of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Brigadier-General Francis Agyemfra, who inaugurated the committee, remarked that it was unfortunate that there had been some disturbances associated with the elections in some parts of the country, especially in the Western Region, which he advised, must be avoided before, during and after the elections.
This, according to the Brigadier-General, could be accomplished if leaders of the contesting political parties in the region could abide by the code, preach peace and prevail on their members and supporters not to do anything that would result in chaos or violence.
“Previous general election in the region had always been peaceful, and it is your responsibility to do your best to preserve the prevailing peace before, during and after the elections”, Brigadier-General Agyemfra urged.
He also stated that the 2008 Code was to ensure a level playing field for all the contesting political parties. He therefore asked political parties and all stakeholders to assist the committee in its deliberations to ensure violence-free elections.
Mr Quaye-Sowah, on behalf of his colleagues, gave the assurance that they would do their best to ensure that the elections came off peacefully.
A representative of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Agobo, said as the ruling party that would want to retain power, it would not do anything to disturb the relative peace enjoyed by the people of Ghana, which would impact negatively on the very people it would be governing.
For his part, Mr Anthony Gyampo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) representative, indicated that since they would definitely win the elections and rule the country, the party would not resort to violence, adding: “No political organisation well positioned to win elections would resort to violence.
Mr Paul Boateng, a representative of the EC, gave the assurance that his outfit would continue to do its best to ensure violent-free elections in the region, while Madam Esther Korbo and Barimah Yaw Sarfo Kantanka who respectively represented Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) Party and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), pledged their outfits’ support for peaceful elections.
It would, among others, monitor breaches of the code in the various constituencies in the region to be reported to the national enforcement body for redress.
The committee, with the Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Emmanuel Quaye-Sowah, as chairman, has its membership drawn from the political parties contesting for the elections as well as the Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP Ampah Bennin, and the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Paul Boateng.
A senior member of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Brigadier-General Francis Agyemfra, who inaugurated the committee, remarked that it was unfortunate that there had been some disturbances associated with the elections in some parts of the country, especially in the Western Region, which he advised, must be avoided before, during and after the elections.
This, according to the Brigadier-General, could be accomplished if leaders of the contesting political parties in the region could abide by the code, preach peace and prevail on their members and supporters not to do anything that would result in chaos or violence.
“Previous general election in the region had always been peaceful, and it is your responsibility to do your best to preserve the prevailing peace before, during and after the elections”, Brigadier-General Agyemfra urged.
He also stated that the 2008 Code was to ensure a level playing field for all the contesting political parties. He therefore asked political parties and all stakeholders to assist the committee in its deliberations to ensure violence-free elections.
Mr Quaye-Sowah, on behalf of his colleagues, gave the assurance that they would do their best to ensure that the elections came off peacefully.
A representative of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Agobo, said as the ruling party that would want to retain power, it would not do anything to disturb the relative peace enjoyed by the people of Ghana, which would impact negatively on the very people it would be governing.
For his part, Mr Anthony Gyampo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) representative, indicated that since they would definitely win the elections and rule the country, the party would not resort to violence, adding: “No political organisation well positioned to win elections would resort to violence.
Mr Paul Boateng, a representative of the EC, gave the assurance that his outfit would continue to do its best to ensure violent-free elections in the region, while Madam Esther Korbo and Barimah Yaw Sarfo Kantanka who respectively represented Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) Party and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), pledged their outfits’ support for peaceful elections.
LEADERS MUST TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR VIOLENCE (PAGE 17)
THE ASSEMBLIES of God Church has appealed to political leaders to make every effort to ensure that their supporters will not do anything that will result in violence as the country goes to the polls on December 7.
The church has also requested political leaders to take personal responsibility for any violence meted out by their supporters to innocent people before, during or after the elections, since incitement is a criminal offence and all those involved could be made to face the full rigours of the law.
These were contained in a pastoral letter issued by the church at the ongoing 24th Biennial General Council meeting of the church in Koforidua.
The 10-point letter which was signed by the General Superintendent of the church, the Rev W.W. Dontoh, asked politicians to seriously consider the interest of the country and desist from personal pursuits and partisan gain, at the expense of future generations, and that their public and private utterances must engender peace.
The letter which abhorred the use of state resources by politicians, said transparency must be the hallmark of the elections which must be free and fair to all parties. It therefore called for a level playing field for all parties.
According to the letter, Ghanaians should examine the track records of politicians and vote for true and God-fearing political leaders who would cater for their interest.
It also lauded the empowering of women.
The letter further stated that the church would continue to remain non-partisan and allow its members to make informed choices, adding that it would continue to educate the people on responsible leadership.
It added that a Ghanaian, whatever his or her political inclinations, should have the right to worship regardless of the policies or candidates he or she supports.
The church has also requested political leaders to take personal responsibility for any violence meted out by their supporters to innocent people before, during or after the elections, since incitement is a criminal offence and all those involved could be made to face the full rigours of the law.
These were contained in a pastoral letter issued by the church at the ongoing 24th Biennial General Council meeting of the church in Koforidua.
The 10-point letter which was signed by the General Superintendent of the church, the Rev W.W. Dontoh, asked politicians to seriously consider the interest of the country and desist from personal pursuits and partisan gain, at the expense of future generations, and that their public and private utterances must engender peace.
The letter which abhorred the use of state resources by politicians, said transparency must be the hallmark of the elections which must be free and fair to all parties. It therefore called for a level playing field for all parties.
According to the letter, Ghanaians should examine the track records of politicians and vote for true and God-fearing political leaders who would cater for their interest.
It also lauded the empowering of women.
The letter further stated that the church would continue to remain non-partisan and allow its members to make informed choices, adding that it would continue to educate the people on responsible leadership.
It added that a Ghanaian, whatever his or her political inclinations, should have the right to worship regardless of the policies or candidates he or she supports.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
SHORTAGE OF MATERIALS HINDERS REGISTRATION (PAGE 16)
SHORTAGE of materials, especially registration forms, is hindering the ongoing voter registration in the New Juaben Municipality in the Eastern Region.
As a result, a number of prospective voters had to be turned away, particularly on Wednesday, August 6.
Polling stations seriously affected were the Adonteng, Anglican, Asuofriso, School Town and the Ohemaa registration boots, all in the New Juaben South Constituency.
Also affected were the Aburow Dua Polling Station at Oyoko and the Yane and Ahembrom polling stations at Jumapo, both in the New Juaben North Constituency.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, August 7 when the Daily Graphic visited such registration centres, there were no registration forms and many people who had gone there to register had to go back disappointed.
At the Anglican Polling Station, the Registration Officer, Mr Bernard Ayikah Gastorn, said he had to turn away a number of people who reported to register because there were no registration forms to cater for them.
Apart from that he stated that printing materials for the pictures of those registering had all been used, a situation he described as worrying, since there was the possibility that some of those who were turned away would not come back if the materials should be available at a later date.
He, however, indicated that there had not been any disturbances at the polling station he presided over, which, together with other polling stations, namely Adonteng Anglican Asuofriso, School Town, and Ohemaa Park, had registered 510 people since the exercise began six days ago.
At the Legion Hall Polling Station, also in the New Juaben South Constituency, the Registration Officer, Mr Emmanuel Marfo, said although the exercise went on smoothly, periodic shortage of registration forms, particularly on the sixth day, had made it impossible to register a number of people who reported there.
The situation was no different at the SDA Chapel Polling Station in the Aburow Dua Electoral Area of the New Juaben North Constituency where the registration staff had to close hours before the stipulated time of 6 p.m. on Wednesday for lack of registration forms.
According to the officer-in-charge, Mr Fred Nadutey, the registration centre, which had been experiencing periodic shortage of registration forms, was only provided with 10 forms on Wednesday, which was not enough, and explained that if it had not been that problem, his outfit would have registered more than the 295 people it had registered since the exercise began.
When contacted on phone, the Municipal Electoral Officer, Miss Lydia Agyiri, denied that there was shortage of registration forms, and that they were available at some polling stations.
However, another official of the Electoral Commission who declined to be named attributed the shortage to the unexpected large number of people who turned out at the registration centres.
He explained that people who registered but could not have their pictures taken during the previous exercise also reported to be registered, so additional provisions had to be made.
In doing so, he explained, the EC had to handle the issue with care to avoid double registration, which would result in the bloating of the voters register.
One worrying aspect of the exercise was that of all the political parties which would take part in the December 7 polls, only representatives of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress were monitoring the exercise in all the registration centres visited.
As a result, a number of prospective voters had to be turned away, particularly on Wednesday, August 6.
Polling stations seriously affected were the Adonteng, Anglican, Asuofriso, School Town and the Ohemaa registration boots, all in the New Juaben South Constituency.
Also affected were the Aburow Dua Polling Station at Oyoko and the Yane and Ahembrom polling stations at Jumapo, both in the New Juaben North Constituency.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, August 7 when the Daily Graphic visited such registration centres, there were no registration forms and many people who had gone there to register had to go back disappointed.
At the Anglican Polling Station, the Registration Officer, Mr Bernard Ayikah Gastorn, said he had to turn away a number of people who reported to register because there were no registration forms to cater for them.
Apart from that he stated that printing materials for the pictures of those registering had all been used, a situation he described as worrying, since there was the possibility that some of those who were turned away would not come back if the materials should be available at a later date.
He, however, indicated that there had not been any disturbances at the polling station he presided over, which, together with other polling stations, namely Adonteng Anglican Asuofriso, School Town, and Ohemaa Park, had registered 510 people since the exercise began six days ago.
At the Legion Hall Polling Station, also in the New Juaben South Constituency, the Registration Officer, Mr Emmanuel Marfo, said although the exercise went on smoothly, periodic shortage of registration forms, particularly on the sixth day, had made it impossible to register a number of people who reported there.
The situation was no different at the SDA Chapel Polling Station in the Aburow Dua Electoral Area of the New Juaben North Constituency where the registration staff had to close hours before the stipulated time of 6 p.m. on Wednesday for lack of registration forms.
According to the officer-in-charge, Mr Fred Nadutey, the registration centre, which had been experiencing periodic shortage of registration forms, was only provided with 10 forms on Wednesday, which was not enough, and explained that if it had not been that problem, his outfit would have registered more than the 295 people it had registered since the exercise began.
When contacted on phone, the Municipal Electoral Officer, Miss Lydia Agyiri, denied that there was shortage of registration forms, and that they were available at some polling stations.
However, another official of the Electoral Commission who declined to be named attributed the shortage to the unexpected large number of people who turned out at the registration centres.
He explained that people who registered but could not have their pictures taken during the previous exercise also reported to be registered, so additional provisions had to be made.
In doing so, he explained, the EC had to handle the issue with care to avoid double registration, which would result in the bloating of the voters register.
One worrying aspect of the exercise was that of all the political parties which would take part in the December 7 polls, only representatives of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress were monitoring the exercise in all the registration centres visited.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
NEW SCHOOL BUS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT (PAGE 47)
A NUMBER of people, including some invited dignitaries, escaped unhurt when one of the 26 new buses handed over to second-cycle educational institutions in the Eastern Region crashed into a garage, shattering its windscreen.
The bus, which had been allocated to the Pope John Senior High School and was being taken away by one of the drivers of the school, who was only identified as Okai, hit the roofing of the garage, parts of which were destroyed.
Also damaged was one of the driving mirrors of the vehicle.
The incident, which occurred at the forecourt of the Eastern Regional Administration in Koforidua, had some of the people present fleeing in panic.
It all started after the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, had performed the opening ceremony with the reading of his address, followed by a demonstration ride, with the deputy minister at the steering wheel.
After Mr Ofosu Asamoah had alighted from the bus, amid cheers from the crowd, including district chief executives and heads of the beneficiary institutions, drivers of those institutions were asked to take the new vehicles to their respective districts for onward delivery to the schools.
But Mr Okai, who was said to have so many years of driving experience, drove the vehicle into the people standing in front of the garage, all of whom managed to run away in panic.
The bus, however, hit the roofing of the garage, destroying its windscreen and the driving mirror.
Mr Okai, who was almost in tears, attributed the accident to the faulty hand brake of the vehicle.
Earlier in an address, Mr Ofosu Asamoah had reiterated the government’s commitment to education by providing infrastructure and other facilities to enhance teaching and learning at all levels.
He also mentioned the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme as part of the government’s initiatives to make it possible for all, especially the poor, to be educated.
Mr Ofosu Asamoah advised heads of beneficiary schools to take good care of the buses.
The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Akosua T. Adu, said the regional directorate appreciated government’s support for the educational sector with the provision of vehicles and other logistics for schools and teachers in the region.
The bus, which had been allocated to the Pope John Senior High School and was being taken away by one of the drivers of the school, who was only identified as Okai, hit the roofing of the garage, parts of which were destroyed.
Also damaged was one of the driving mirrors of the vehicle.
The incident, which occurred at the forecourt of the Eastern Regional Administration in Koforidua, had some of the people present fleeing in panic.
It all started after the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, had performed the opening ceremony with the reading of his address, followed by a demonstration ride, with the deputy minister at the steering wheel.
After Mr Ofosu Asamoah had alighted from the bus, amid cheers from the crowd, including district chief executives and heads of the beneficiary institutions, drivers of those institutions were asked to take the new vehicles to their respective districts for onward delivery to the schools.
But Mr Okai, who was said to have so many years of driving experience, drove the vehicle into the people standing in front of the garage, all of whom managed to run away in panic.
The bus, however, hit the roofing of the garage, destroying its windscreen and the driving mirror.
Mr Okai, who was almost in tears, attributed the accident to the faulty hand brake of the vehicle.
Earlier in an address, Mr Ofosu Asamoah had reiterated the government’s commitment to education by providing infrastructure and other facilities to enhance teaching and learning at all levels.
He also mentioned the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme as part of the government’s initiatives to make it possible for all, especially the poor, to be educated.
Mr Ofosu Asamoah advised heads of beneficiary schools to take good care of the buses.
The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Akosua T. Adu, said the regional directorate appreciated government’s support for the educational sector with the provision of vehicles and other logistics for schools and teachers in the region.
CPP ADOPTS STRATEGY TO ATTRACT MORE VOTERS (PAGE 15)
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) has come out with a new strategy that will attract more voters to win this year’s election.
Under a scheme, dubbed “Operation first time voters” the party has identified itself with 20 voters in each of the 21,000 polling stations in the country who are being resourced to rope in 10 or more additional voters in each polling station.
The Communications Director of the campaign team of the flag bearer of the CPP, Mr Richmond Keelson, announced this at a press briefing in Koforidua at the weekend.
Mr Keelson, who together with other officials of the party, were in the various constituencies in that respect said with the enthusiasm of the people for the CPP, there was no doubt that the party would be a force to reckon with at the December polls.
“We have now come out with this strategy and many people who have decided to join the party have been issued with ID cards, and judging by the favourable response, the party will win the elections to implement its laudable policies to improve the lot of Ghanaians”, Mr Keelson stated.
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to throw in their lot behind the CPP to win the elections convincingly.
The Communications Director of the Nduom Campaign Team who stated that there were however some initial difficulties in carrying out the strategy in some areas, such as the Afram Plains, explained that such problems were being addressed.
He expressed the hope that all those targeted would be roped in by September 21 when the party’s electioneering would have taken off, to coincide with Nkrumah’s birthday.
In answer to a question whether the CPP still drew its main support from the elderly, he said that had changed and that the youth now constituted the party’s support base, adding that with almost all of its parliamentary aspirants now under the age of 40, the party would be a force to reckon with at the polls.
Messrs Joe Teye and David Tekper, the party’s Eastern Regional First Vice Chairman and Organiser respectively, said the CPP was now very strong in the region, and called on the people to throw in their lot to enable the party to win the elections.
Under a scheme, dubbed “Operation first time voters” the party has identified itself with 20 voters in each of the 21,000 polling stations in the country who are being resourced to rope in 10 or more additional voters in each polling station.
The Communications Director of the campaign team of the flag bearer of the CPP, Mr Richmond Keelson, announced this at a press briefing in Koforidua at the weekend.
Mr Keelson, who together with other officials of the party, were in the various constituencies in that respect said with the enthusiasm of the people for the CPP, there was no doubt that the party would be a force to reckon with at the December polls.
“We have now come out with this strategy and many people who have decided to join the party have been issued with ID cards, and judging by the favourable response, the party will win the elections to implement its laudable policies to improve the lot of Ghanaians”, Mr Keelson stated.
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to throw in their lot behind the CPP to win the elections convincingly.
The Communications Director of the Nduom Campaign Team who stated that there were however some initial difficulties in carrying out the strategy in some areas, such as the Afram Plains, explained that such problems were being addressed.
He expressed the hope that all those targeted would be roped in by September 21 when the party’s electioneering would have taken off, to coincide with Nkrumah’s birthday.
In answer to a question whether the CPP still drew its main support from the elderly, he said that had changed and that the youth now constituted the party’s support base, adding that with almost all of its parliamentary aspirants now under the age of 40, the party would be a force to reckon with at the polls.
Messrs Joe Teye and David Tekper, the party’s Eastern Regional First Vice Chairman and Organiser respectively, said the CPP was now very strong in the region, and called on the people to throw in their lot to enable the party to win the elections.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)