THERE was jubilation during the annual general meeting of the Lower Manya Krobo District Assembly at Odumase-Krobo last Thursday when it was announced that Akuse had been confirmed to be part of the district.
The controversy over the once flourishing town near the Volta River, which had for a long time been the bone of contention between the Manya Krobo District in the Eastern Region and Dangbe West in the Greater Accra, with both claiming it, was settled by a Supreme Court ruling on July 23, this year, ceding it to Manya Krobo.
As soon as the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr David Sackitey Asare, announced the ruling of the court, which was confirmed by the Presiding Member (PM), Mr Emmanuel Agyarko, the assembly members went into jubilation, making it difficult for the PM to control the proceedings.
Most of the assembly members, in their happy mood, expressed their satisfaction about the court’s ruling and called on the House to organise a victory parade in the town on September 27, this year.
The House also suggested that the people whose efforts led to the declaration of Akuse’s new status should be acknowledged and possibly rewarded.
They were the late Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Mate Kole; the present Konor, Nene Sakitey; Nene Sasraku 1V, acting Konor; Nene Asada Ahor, the Chief of Akuse; Mr Sackitey Asare, the DCE; Mr Agyarko and the six assembly members from the Akuse area, who, despite the problem, continued to attend the assembly meetings.
In his speech, Mr Sackitey Asare said now that the issue of Akuse had been resolved, all revenues that the Volta River Authority should have paid to the district assembly, but had been withheld due to the uncertainty over the status of the town, would now flow in to the assembly.
That, he stated, would make it possible to develop the district, especially communities that were adversely affected by the construction of the Kpong Dam.
For his part, Nene Sasraku expressed happiness over the court ruling and stated that the Manya Traditional Council would partner the assembly to bring development to Akuse, which, he said, had suffered over the years as a result of the unfortunate incident.
Addressing the House later, Mr Sackitey Asare said apart from a number of social amenities that had been provided, construction work on additional ones would soon begin.
The projects include extension of electricity to five communities, the tarring of Asite town roads, Atua Hospital-Mount Mary, Nuaso town, Airport-Agbom-Ablotsi, and Odumase-Junction-Public Cemetery roads, Akuse town roads and the Kpong Kotokoli-Ahudzo road.
Other projects, which would be funded by the European Union, are teachers’ bungalows at Obelemanya and Oborpa East, a culvert at Abanse, a modern public place of convenience at Lorlornyo and a school building at Kpong.
Mr Sackitey Asare said the assembly had also taken delivery of 12 skip-loader refuse containers to augment 10 others to improve sanitation in the area.
With regard to the financial standing of the assembly, Mr Sackitey stated that although it had received its quarter allocation of the District Assemblies Common Fund of GH¢42,556.29, the situation was still a serious one, because from January to July, this year, a total revenue of GH¢68,517.21, out of a projected figure of GH¢155,018.46, representing 44 per cent had been collected.
He, however, stated that the assembly had expended GH¢115,000.63 out of its budget of GH¢188,777.48, adding that such a precarious situation had led to the assembly’s indebtedness to a number of service providers, workers and other institutions.
The DCE, therefore, implored the revenue collectors to intensify their activities.
As regards the report on the dispute over the limestone-rich deposits along the common border between Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo, which were being claimed by both traditional areas, he stated that it had not been accepted by the two parties, and, therefore, appealed to them to passionately study it to ensure a lasting solution to the problem.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
FIGHTING CRIME IN THE EASTERN REGION...Police on the warpath (PAGE 20)
EASTERN Region, the third most populous political entity after the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions, has for some time now been experiencing crime.
Its thriving municipalities such as Koforidua, the capital, Akyem Oda, Nkawkaw, Asamankese as well as towns like Suhum, Somanya, Akropong-Akuapem, which have large concentration of people, are associated with all sorts of crimes.
These include armed robbery, murder, rape and defilement, fraud and petty thefts involving food crops such as plantain, cassava, livestock and poultry.
Another crime in the region that normally occurs in the municipalities involves tricksters, popularly known as “419”, who manage to trick people to part with various sums of money.
The crime-prone areas include Okorase, Mile 50, Asokorekuma, Nyamekrom, all new settlements within the New Juaben Municipality, Nsukwao and the business area of Koforidua, also in New Juaben, and big towns such as Oda, Somanya, Akropong and Nkawkaw.
Other worrying issues are chieftaincy disputes in some of the traditional areas, disputes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen, especially in the Kwahu area and fatal motor accidents that continue to claim life.
Differences that occasionally arise among the Muslim community, especially during this year’s Ramadan, are also some of the problems in the area.
Another factor that has led to the increase in the crime rate is the large number of ex-convicts from other parts of the country who are periodically released from the country’s premier prison at Nsawam, and other prisons at Akuse, Koforidua and in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains), all located within the region.
These ex-convicts, who do not normally go to their home towns after gaining their freedom, continue to live in the region to involve in more criminal activities.
Such issues have, therefore, been a big challenge to the police in the region whose ratio per inhabitant is not far from the national ratio of one policeman to about 1,000 people, thus putting severe pressure on the force.
To effectively tackle the crime wave, the Police Administration in the region under the command of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Anko-Bil, has instituted a number of measures to rid the communities of criminals and make the area safe for habitation.
The measures, which were vigorously enforced, particularly from April, this year, include intensification of police patrols, especially at night, mounting of barriers at entry points to Koforidua and periodic raids in the hideouts of suspected criminals.
The recent acquisition of the Gota, a special communication gadget (walkie-talkie), for the police officers to enhance communication, and the inauguration of a rapid police deployment force, have contributed significantly in tracking down criminals and reduced crime in the communities.
For instance, in the first half of 2007, 48 people were murdered as against 30 this year, while narcotic cases (wee) went down from 72 to 48, rape from 74 to 23, defilement from 122 to 72, all within the same period.
Armed robbery, however, increased slightly from 32 to 36 within the stipulated period. The most interesting aspect of such a heinous crime such as the armed robbery is that most of the robbers have been arrested and are being tried at the law courts.
“Apart from this, we recently resolved the differences between the traditional authorities and the Saviour Church at Osiem, as well as trying to resolve the impasse among the Moslem community in Koforidua which occurred during this Ramadan. Both parties are, however, co-operating on the issue,” ACP Anko-Bil stated.
With regard to motor accidents, the region continues to encounter such problems. Between January and August, 2007, as many as 790 accidents, involving 1,038 vehicles were recorded, during which 168 people lost their lives, with 1,038 sustaining various degrees of injury.
The figure increased within the same period this year with 807 motor accidents, involving 1,038 vehicles, of which 166 died and 1,055 injured.
According to ACP Anko-Bil, the unfortunate situation could be attributed to a significant increase in the number of vehicles in the region and others from various parts of the country, which use the region’s stretch of the main Accra-Kumasi highway.
To reduce such traffic accidents to the barest minimum, the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police Service has been vigorously conducting checks on the roads. It also teams up with the Road Safety Commission to periodically organise durbars to educate drivers and the general public on road safety.
On political activities, the police have made the necessary preparations to deal with any situation that has the potential to disturb the relative peace being enjoyed in the country before, during and after the December 7 general election.
“There are 500 policemen on standby, ready to go to identified flash points or trouble spots in the area, and with the assistance of other security agencies, we can double or even triple the number of our men in such places,” ACP Anko-Bil said.
“Although we have made a significant breakthrough in fighting crime, we are not resting at all, both officers and men are on the alert ready to flush out the criminals in their hideouts at any time. So we appeal to members of the public to bear with us whenever we conduct unexpected operations in their communities,” ACP Anko-Bil stated.
To complement efforts being made by the police, ACP Anko-Bil is of the view that neighbourhood watch committees should be formed in all the communities with active participation from the youth.
He stressed the need for people to be prepared to volunteer information on criminals to the police who would treat the issue confidential in order not to expose such informants to danger.
The municipal and district assemblies must also come to the rescue of their people by improving the lighting system in the communities, especially the crime-prone areas, while landlords and workers must also team up to engage watchmen in their areas.
ACP Anko-Bil emphasised that if such measures were adhered to coupled with the able manner in which the commanders in the six divisions, namely Akosombo, Akropong, Nkawkaw, Kyebi, Koforidua and Akyem Oda, were discharging their duties, the region would in the near future become one of the safest places in the country.
Its thriving municipalities such as Koforidua, the capital, Akyem Oda, Nkawkaw, Asamankese as well as towns like Suhum, Somanya, Akropong-Akuapem, which have large concentration of people, are associated with all sorts of crimes.
These include armed robbery, murder, rape and defilement, fraud and petty thefts involving food crops such as plantain, cassava, livestock and poultry.
Another crime in the region that normally occurs in the municipalities involves tricksters, popularly known as “419”, who manage to trick people to part with various sums of money.
The crime-prone areas include Okorase, Mile 50, Asokorekuma, Nyamekrom, all new settlements within the New Juaben Municipality, Nsukwao and the business area of Koforidua, also in New Juaben, and big towns such as Oda, Somanya, Akropong and Nkawkaw.
Other worrying issues are chieftaincy disputes in some of the traditional areas, disputes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen, especially in the Kwahu area and fatal motor accidents that continue to claim life.
Differences that occasionally arise among the Muslim community, especially during this year’s Ramadan, are also some of the problems in the area.
Another factor that has led to the increase in the crime rate is the large number of ex-convicts from other parts of the country who are periodically released from the country’s premier prison at Nsawam, and other prisons at Akuse, Koforidua and in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains), all located within the region.
These ex-convicts, who do not normally go to their home towns after gaining their freedom, continue to live in the region to involve in more criminal activities.
Such issues have, therefore, been a big challenge to the police in the region whose ratio per inhabitant is not far from the national ratio of one policeman to about 1,000 people, thus putting severe pressure on the force.
To effectively tackle the crime wave, the Police Administration in the region under the command of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Anko-Bil, has instituted a number of measures to rid the communities of criminals and make the area safe for habitation.
The measures, which were vigorously enforced, particularly from April, this year, include intensification of police patrols, especially at night, mounting of barriers at entry points to Koforidua and periodic raids in the hideouts of suspected criminals.
The recent acquisition of the Gota, a special communication gadget (walkie-talkie), for the police officers to enhance communication, and the inauguration of a rapid police deployment force, have contributed significantly in tracking down criminals and reduced crime in the communities.
For instance, in the first half of 2007, 48 people were murdered as against 30 this year, while narcotic cases (wee) went down from 72 to 48, rape from 74 to 23, defilement from 122 to 72, all within the same period.
Armed robbery, however, increased slightly from 32 to 36 within the stipulated period. The most interesting aspect of such a heinous crime such as the armed robbery is that most of the robbers have been arrested and are being tried at the law courts.
“Apart from this, we recently resolved the differences between the traditional authorities and the Saviour Church at Osiem, as well as trying to resolve the impasse among the Moslem community in Koforidua which occurred during this Ramadan. Both parties are, however, co-operating on the issue,” ACP Anko-Bil stated.
With regard to motor accidents, the region continues to encounter such problems. Between January and August, 2007, as many as 790 accidents, involving 1,038 vehicles were recorded, during which 168 people lost their lives, with 1,038 sustaining various degrees of injury.
The figure increased within the same period this year with 807 motor accidents, involving 1,038 vehicles, of which 166 died and 1,055 injured.
According to ACP Anko-Bil, the unfortunate situation could be attributed to a significant increase in the number of vehicles in the region and others from various parts of the country, which use the region’s stretch of the main Accra-Kumasi highway.
To reduce such traffic accidents to the barest minimum, the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police Service has been vigorously conducting checks on the roads. It also teams up with the Road Safety Commission to periodically organise durbars to educate drivers and the general public on road safety.
On political activities, the police have made the necessary preparations to deal with any situation that has the potential to disturb the relative peace being enjoyed in the country before, during and after the December 7 general election.
“There are 500 policemen on standby, ready to go to identified flash points or trouble spots in the area, and with the assistance of other security agencies, we can double or even triple the number of our men in such places,” ACP Anko-Bil said.
“Although we have made a significant breakthrough in fighting crime, we are not resting at all, both officers and men are on the alert ready to flush out the criminals in their hideouts at any time. So we appeal to members of the public to bear with us whenever we conduct unexpected operations in their communities,” ACP Anko-Bil stated.
To complement efforts being made by the police, ACP Anko-Bil is of the view that neighbourhood watch committees should be formed in all the communities with active participation from the youth.
He stressed the need for people to be prepared to volunteer information on criminals to the police who would treat the issue confidential in order not to expose such informants to danger.
The municipal and district assemblies must also come to the rescue of their people by improving the lighting system in the communities, especially the crime-prone areas, while landlords and workers must also team up to engage watchmen in their areas.
ACP Anko-Bil emphasised that if such measures were adhered to coupled with the able manner in which the commanders in the six divisions, namely Akosombo, Akropong, Nkawkaw, Kyebi, Koforidua and Akyem Oda, were discharging their duties, the region would in the near future become one of the safest places in the country.
PNC TO PATNER TRADITIONAL RULERS FOR DEVELOPMENT ...Pledges Dr Mahama (PAGE 16)
THE flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has said when voted into power, his government will partner traditional rulers in all aspects for the development of the communities.
That, he said, had become necessary, since traditional rulers were endowed with the requisite knowledge to be tapped for the development of the communities to improve the living condition of the people.
The PNC flag bearer made the statement when he paid a courtesy call on Osabarima Awua Kotoko II, the Begorohene and Benkumhene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, at his palace on Monday.
During the call, Dr Mahama introduced Mr William Nkansah, the party’s parliamentary aspirant for the area, to the gathering.
Dr Mahama, who was on a campaign tour of the Eastern Region, was accompanied by the General Secretary of the party, Mr Bernard Mornah; the National Women’s Organiser, Hajia Hajara Boya; the Publicity Chairman, Mr Henry Asante, and the Eastern Regional Vice-Chairman,, Mr Godwin Tay.
According to Dr Mahama, although chiefs were good statesmen who assisted the colonial administrators to govern the country, successive governments after independence relegated them to the background and that had imparted negatively on the development of the communities.
What had worsened the situation, he stated, was the inability of successive governments to offer the necessary assistance to chiefs in the form of logistics.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that he would reverse the situation when voted into power and called on the chiefs and the people for their support.
“A PNC government will partner chiefs, give them the necessary assistance, especially means of transport, to undertake activities to improve the lot of the people,” he said.
On education, Dr Mahama stated that although the government had implemented the School Feeding Programme and free transport for schoolchildren, only a limited number of schoolchildren were currently benefiting, leaving out majority of them, especially those in the rural areas where poverty was the order of the day.
Dr Mahama, who indicated that his administration would make it possible for all schoolchildren of poor parentage to be covered by the School Feeding Programme and free transportation and also improve the Capitation Grant, gave the assurance that a public university would be put up in the region to make tertiary education accessible to students in the area.
He also promised to improve farming by promoting the cultivation of food crops such as cassava, yam, plantain and maize, in addition to cocoa and other cash crops.
For his part, Osabarima Awua Kotoko advised the PNC leader to conduct his campaign peacefully and wished him well.
Mr Mornah, who addressed the people shortly before the PNC leader called on Osabarima Awua Kotoko, condemned the NPP administration for selling viable state assets and called on the people to rally behind the PNC to win the election to reverse that trend.
Hajia Hajara Boya also called on the women to support the PNC, which she said had a lot of initiatives to be implemented to improve their lot.
The PNC flag bearer had earlier in the day paid a courtesy call on the Krontihene of Kwabeng, Baffuor Twum Ampofo, to solicit the support of the chiefs and people of Kwabeng and also addressed a gathering at New Tafo.
That, he said, had become necessary, since traditional rulers were endowed with the requisite knowledge to be tapped for the development of the communities to improve the living condition of the people.
The PNC flag bearer made the statement when he paid a courtesy call on Osabarima Awua Kotoko II, the Begorohene and Benkumhene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, at his palace on Monday.
During the call, Dr Mahama introduced Mr William Nkansah, the party’s parliamentary aspirant for the area, to the gathering.
Dr Mahama, who was on a campaign tour of the Eastern Region, was accompanied by the General Secretary of the party, Mr Bernard Mornah; the National Women’s Organiser, Hajia Hajara Boya; the Publicity Chairman, Mr Henry Asante, and the Eastern Regional Vice-Chairman,, Mr Godwin Tay.
According to Dr Mahama, although chiefs were good statesmen who assisted the colonial administrators to govern the country, successive governments after independence relegated them to the background and that had imparted negatively on the development of the communities.
What had worsened the situation, he stated, was the inability of successive governments to offer the necessary assistance to chiefs in the form of logistics.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that he would reverse the situation when voted into power and called on the chiefs and the people for their support.
“A PNC government will partner chiefs, give them the necessary assistance, especially means of transport, to undertake activities to improve the lot of the people,” he said.
On education, Dr Mahama stated that although the government had implemented the School Feeding Programme and free transport for schoolchildren, only a limited number of schoolchildren were currently benefiting, leaving out majority of them, especially those in the rural areas where poverty was the order of the day.
Dr Mahama, who indicated that his administration would make it possible for all schoolchildren of poor parentage to be covered by the School Feeding Programme and free transportation and also improve the Capitation Grant, gave the assurance that a public university would be put up in the region to make tertiary education accessible to students in the area.
He also promised to improve farming by promoting the cultivation of food crops such as cassava, yam, plantain and maize, in addition to cocoa and other cash crops.
For his part, Osabarima Awua Kotoko advised the PNC leader to conduct his campaign peacefully and wished him well.
Mr Mornah, who addressed the people shortly before the PNC leader called on Osabarima Awua Kotoko, condemned the NPP administration for selling viable state assets and called on the people to rally behind the PNC to win the election to reverse that trend.
Hajia Hajara Boya also called on the women to support the PNC, which she said had a lot of initiatives to be implemented to improve their lot.
The PNC flag bearer had earlier in the day paid a courtesy call on the Krontihene of Kwabeng, Baffuor Twum Ampofo, to solicit the support of the chiefs and people of Kwabeng and also addressed a gathering at New Tafo.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
MRS AKUFO-ADDO TOURS OKERE, TARKWA (PAGE 15)
THE wife of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo was given a hilarious welcome when she visited Adukrom, headquarters of the Okere Constituency in the Eastern Region.
So huge was the crowd that the few security men present had it tough controlling the gathering, most of who were clad in NPP colours and lined up the main Adukrom-Somanya road, partially blocking it.
To save the situation, the main road had to be blocked and vehicles directed through different routes.
Mrs Akufo-Addo who was accompanied by the wives of some of the NPP presidential aspirants who contested with her husband, as well as some deputy ministers and the party’s parliamentary aspirant for Okere, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, was in the area to interact with the women and also introduce herself to the Okerehene, Nana Otutu Kono III.
The Okerehene, who together with his sub chiefs received Mrs Akufo-Addo at his palace, simply remarked, “This huge crowd is a clear indication that you will definitely be the First Lady.”
Nana Otutu Kono, however, called for peaceful elections in December and said he would ensure that nothing would mar the conduct of the polls in the Okere Traditional Area.
Mrs Akufo-Addo thanked the chiefs for the reception and later visited Mamfe where she met a similar gathering.
She had early on been to some parts of the Asuogyaman, Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and the Yilo Krobo districts.
Before then, Mrs Akufo-Addo, had taken her campaign to the Western Region to formally introduce herself to the people in the region and solicit their votes for her husband in the December election.
Last Tuesday she visited Tarkwa Hospital where she was taken round the female and children’s wards.
At the wards she wished the sick a speedy recovery and presented items including toilet rolls, diapers, detergents and soap worth GH¢3,000.00 to the inmates.
Mrs Akufo-Addo tasked the staff to explain the benefits of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to unregistered patients and people in the community for them to have access to quality and affordable health care.
She also assured the staff of efforts by the NPP government to improve the living conditions of workers in the country and promised that her husband would build a new hospital for the community when he was given the mandate in the December general election.
Mrs Akufo-Addo and her entourage later addressed a gathering that followed them to the community centre.
She outlined some of the innovative plans, including free secondary education, enhanced social services, improved salaries for workers and creation of an enabling environment for socio-economic growth,which her husband would pursue to accelerate Ghana’s development when he is given the mandate.
She also visited the acting Chief of the Denkyira Traditional Area, Nana Kwame Kuma, the queen, Nana Fosuama, and their sub-chiefs.
Mrs Akufo-Addo told them that her mission was to introduce herself to them, seek advice, support and prayers for victory in the December elction.
Mrs Horner Sam asked the people not to vote for parties that are violent, inhuman and unproductive.
As a caring and a responsible party, the NPP created the women and Children’s Ministry to give extra attention to the vulnerable in society.
She mentioned the School Feeding Programme, Free Busing and Free Maternal care for pregnant women as laudable programmes that needed to be continued adding that it was only the NPP which had the right development plan to accelerate the country’s development.
Mrs. Horner-Sam also asked the people to vote massively for the NPP in the December poll.
Mrs. Horner Sam said NPP had entrenched democracy, enhanced provision of infrastructure, educational health and social services.
She urged the people to vote in their numbers for the NPP in December to warrant continued enjoyment of more development.
Mrs. Horner-Sam also tasked women to educate their children and husbands and relatives to vote massively for the NPP in the December elections.
Nana Kwame Kuma asked the team to embark on a clean campaign.
The entourage were made up of Mrs. Addo Kufuor, Mrs. Oquaye, Mrs. Frimpong, Mrs Boateng, Mrs. Horner Sam, Mrs. Addo Yobo, Mrs Newman, Mrs. Cecelia Banahene, Madam Winifred Asiedu, Nana Adomaa and many other leading members of the party.
Attention: Takyi Boateng has already sent the pictures accompanying the story.
So huge was the crowd that the few security men present had it tough controlling the gathering, most of who were clad in NPP colours and lined up the main Adukrom-Somanya road, partially blocking it.
To save the situation, the main road had to be blocked and vehicles directed through different routes.
Mrs Akufo-Addo who was accompanied by the wives of some of the NPP presidential aspirants who contested with her husband, as well as some deputy ministers and the party’s parliamentary aspirant for Okere, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, was in the area to interact with the women and also introduce herself to the Okerehene, Nana Otutu Kono III.
The Okerehene, who together with his sub chiefs received Mrs Akufo-Addo at his palace, simply remarked, “This huge crowd is a clear indication that you will definitely be the First Lady.”
Nana Otutu Kono, however, called for peaceful elections in December and said he would ensure that nothing would mar the conduct of the polls in the Okere Traditional Area.
Mrs Akufo-Addo thanked the chiefs for the reception and later visited Mamfe where she met a similar gathering.
She had early on been to some parts of the Asuogyaman, Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and the Yilo Krobo districts.
Before then, Mrs Akufo-Addo, had taken her campaign to the Western Region to formally introduce herself to the people in the region and solicit their votes for her husband in the December election.
Last Tuesday she visited Tarkwa Hospital where she was taken round the female and children’s wards.
At the wards she wished the sick a speedy recovery and presented items including toilet rolls, diapers, detergents and soap worth GH¢3,000.00 to the inmates.
Mrs Akufo-Addo tasked the staff to explain the benefits of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to unregistered patients and people in the community for them to have access to quality and affordable health care.
She also assured the staff of efforts by the NPP government to improve the living conditions of workers in the country and promised that her husband would build a new hospital for the community when he was given the mandate in the December general election.
Mrs Akufo-Addo and her entourage later addressed a gathering that followed them to the community centre.
She outlined some of the innovative plans, including free secondary education, enhanced social services, improved salaries for workers and creation of an enabling environment for socio-economic growth,which her husband would pursue to accelerate Ghana’s development when he is given the mandate.
She also visited the acting Chief of the Denkyira Traditional Area, Nana Kwame Kuma, the queen, Nana Fosuama, and their sub-chiefs.
Mrs Akufo-Addo told them that her mission was to introduce herself to them, seek advice, support and prayers for victory in the December elction.
Mrs Horner Sam asked the people not to vote for parties that are violent, inhuman and unproductive.
As a caring and a responsible party, the NPP created the women and Children’s Ministry to give extra attention to the vulnerable in society.
She mentioned the School Feeding Programme, Free Busing and Free Maternal care for pregnant women as laudable programmes that needed to be continued adding that it was only the NPP which had the right development plan to accelerate the country’s development.
Mrs. Horner-Sam also asked the people to vote massively for the NPP in the December poll.
Mrs. Horner Sam said NPP had entrenched democracy, enhanced provision of infrastructure, educational health and social services.
She urged the people to vote in their numbers for the NPP in December to warrant continued enjoyment of more development.
Mrs. Horner-Sam also tasked women to educate their children and husbands and relatives to vote massively for the NPP in the December elections.
Nana Kwame Kuma asked the team to embark on a clean campaign.
The entourage were made up of Mrs. Addo Kufuor, Mrs. Oquaye, Mrs. Frimpong, Mrs Boateng, Mrs. Horner Sam, Mrs. Addo Yobo, Mrs Newman, Mrs. Cecelia Banahene, Madam Winifred Asiedu, Nana Adomaa and many other leading members of the party.
Attention: Takyi Boateng has already sent the pictures accompanying the story.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
MRS AKUFO-ADDO TOURS OKERE, TARKWA (PAGE 15)
THE wife of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo was given a hilarious welcome when she visited Adukrom, headquarters of the Okere Constituency in the Eastern Region.
So huge was the crowd that the few security men present had it tough controlling the gathering, most of who were clad in NPP colours and lined up the main Adukrom-Somanya road, partially blocking it.
To save the situation, the main road had to be blocked and vehicles directed through different routes.
Mrs Akufo-Addo who was accompanied by the wives of some of the NPP presidential aspirants who contested with her husband, as well as some deputy ministers and the party’s parliamentary aspirant for Okere, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, was in the area to interact with the women and also introduce herself to the Okerehene, Nana Otutu Kono III.
The Okerehene, who together with his sub chiefs received Mrs Akufo-Addo at his palace, simply remarked, “This huge crowd is a clear indication that you will definitely be the First Lady.”
Nana Otutu Kono, however, called for peaceful elections in December and said he would ensure that nothing would mar the conduct of the polls in the Okere Traditional Area.
Mrs Akufo-Addo thanked the chiefs for the reception and later visited Mamfe where she met a similar gathering.
She had early on been to some parts of the Asuogyaman, Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and the Yilo Krobo districts.
Before then, Mrs Akufo-Addo, had taken her campaign to the Western Region to formally introduce herself to the people in the region and solicit their votes for her husband in the December election.
Last Tuesday she visited Tarkwa Hospital where she was taken round the female and children’s wards.
At the wards she wished the sick a speedy recovery and presented items including toilet rolls, diapers, detergents and soap worth GH¢3,000.00 to the inmates.
Mrs Akufo-Addo tasked the staff to explain the benefits of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to unregistered patients and people in the community for them to have access to quality and affordable health care.
She also assured the staff of efforts by the NPP government to improve the living conditions of workers in the country and promised that her husband would build a new hospital for the community when he was given the mandate in the December general election.
Mrs Akufo-Addo and her entourage later addressed a gathering that followed them to the community centre.
She outlined some of the innovative plans, including free secondary education, enhanced social services, improved salaries for workers and creation of an enabling environment for socio-economic growth,which her husband would pursue to accelerate Ghana’s development when he is given the mandate.
She also visited the acting Chief of the Denkyira Traditional Area, Nana Kwame Kuma, the queen, Nana Fosuama, and their sub-chiefs.
Mrs Akufo-Addo told them that her mission was to introduce herself to them, seek advice, support and prayers for victory in the December elction.
Mrs Horner Sam asked the people not to vote for parties that are violent, inhuman and unproductive.
As a caring and a responsible party, the NPP created the women and Children’s Ministry to give extra attention to the vulnerable in society.
She mentioned the School Feeding Programme, Free Busing and Free Maternal care for pregnant women as laudable programmes that needed to be continued adding that it was only the NPP which had the right development plan to accelerate the country’s development.
Mrs. Horner-Sam also asked the people to vote massively for the NPP in the December poll.
Mrs. Horner Sam said NPP had entrenched democracy, enhanced provision of infrastructure, educational health and social services.
She urged the people to vote in their numbers for the NPP in December to warrant continued enjoyment of more development.
Mrs. Horner-Sam also tasked women to educate their children and husbands and relatives to vote massively for the NPP in the December elections.
Nana Kwame Kuma asked the team to embark on a clean campaign.
The entourage were made up of Mrs. Addo Kufuor, Mrs. Oquaye, Mrs. Frimpong, Mrs Boateng, Mrs. Horner Sam, Mrs. Addo Yobo, Mrs Newman, Mrs. Cecelia Banahene, Madam Winifred Asiedu, Nana Adomaa and many other leading members of the party.
Attention: Takyi Boateng has already sent the pictures accompanying the story.
So huge was the crowd that the few security men present had it tough controlling the gathering, most of who were clad in NPP colours and lined up the main Adukrom-Somanya road, partially blocking it.
To save the situation, the main road had to be blocked and vehicles directed through different routes.
Mrs Akufo-Addo who was accompanied by the wives of some of the NPP presidential aspirants who contested with her husband, as well as some deputy ministers and the party’s parliamentary aspirant for Okere, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, was in the area to interact with the women and also introduce herself to the Okerehene, Nana Otutu Kono III.
The Okerehene, who together with his sub chiefs received Mrs Akufo-Addo at his palace, simply remarked, “This huge crowd is a clear indication that you will definitely be the First Lady.”
Nana Otutu Kono, however, called for peaceful elections in December and said he would ensure that nothing would mar the conduct of the polls in the Okere Traditional Area.
Mrs Akufo-Addo thanked the chiefs for the reception and later visited Mamfe where she met a similar gathering.
She had early on been to some parts of the Asuogyaman, Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and the Yilo Krobo districts.
Before then, Mrs Akufo-Addo, had taken her campaign to the Western Region to formally introduce herself to the people in the region and solicit their votes for her husband in the December election.
Last Tuesday she visited Tarkwa Hospital where she was taken round the female and children’s wards.
At the wards she wished the sick a speedy recovery and presented items including toilet rolls, diapers, detergents and soap worth GH¢3,000.00 to the inmates.
Mrs Akufo-Addo tasked the staff to explain the benefits of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to unregistered patients and people in the community for them to have access to quality and affordable health care.
She also assured the staff of efforts by the NPP government to improve the living conditions of workers in the country and promised that her husband would build a new hospital for the community when he was given the mandate in the December general election.
Mrs Akufo-Addo and her entourage later addressed a gathering that followed them to the community centre.
She outlined some of the innovative plans, including free secondary education, enhanced social services, improved salaries for workers and creation of an enabling environment for socio-economic growth,which her husband would pursue to accelerate Ghana’s development when he is given the mandate.
She also visited the acting Chief of the Denkyira Traditional Area, Nana Kwame Kuma, the queen, Nana Fosuama, and their sub-chiefs.
Mrs Akufo-Addo told them that her mission was to introduce herself to them, seek advice, support and prayers for victory in the December elction.
Mrs Horner Sam asked the people not to vote for parties that are violent, inhuman and unproductive.
As a caring and a responsible party, the NPP created the women and Children’s Ministry to give extra attention to the vulnerable in society.
She mentioned the School Feeding Programme, Free Busing and Free Maternal care for pregnant women as laudable programmes that needed to be continued adding that it was only the NPP which had the right development plan to accelerate the country’s development.
Mrs. Horner-Sam also asked the people to vote massively for the NPP in the December poll.
Mrs. Horner Sam said NPP had entrenched democracy, enhanced provision of infrastructure, educational health and social services.
She urged the people to vote in their numbers for the NPP in December to warrant continued enjoyment of more development.
Mrs. Horner-Sam also tasked women to educate their children and husbands and relatives to vote massively for the NPP in the December elections.
Nana Kwame Kuma asked the team to embark on a clean campaign.
The entourage were made up of Mrs. Addo Kufuor, Mrs. Oquaye, Mrs. Frimpong, Mrs Boateng, Mrs. Horner Sam, Mrs. Addo Yobo, Mrs Newman, Mrs. Cecelia Banahene, Madam Winifred Asiedu, Nana Adomaa and many other leading members of the party.
Attention: Takyi Boateng has already sent the pictures accompanying the story.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
CONSIDER ECONOMIC PROBLEMS BEFORE VOTING ...John Mahama urges (PAGE 14)
THE running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, has asked Ghanaians to consider the economic difficulties they are currently going through before casting their votes in December.
According to him, the economic difficulties called for a change of government.
He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration which took over the government from the NDC about eight years ago, had almost collapsed the economy as a result of which majority of Ghanaians were now suffering.
He therefore asked the people to support the NDC to win the December elections to revamp the economy to make life worth living for them.
Mr Mahama made the call when he addressed a rally at the main lorry park in Koforidua. The rally was attended by a large crowd of people.
Mr Mahama who was on a campaign tour of the region, was in the regional capital where he introduced Mr Ransford Owusu Boakye, the party’s parliamentary aspirant for the New Juaben South Constituency, to the people. He also solicited support for the party’s flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
Recounting the economic difficulties of the people, Mr Mahama said the NDC did a lot in the economic transformation of the country before handing over to the NPP and added that the clock of progress had been turned back through massive corruption.
“The country has a lot of resources and if the NPP had been able to live up to its slogan of ‘zero tolerance for corruption’, the country would not have been in this unfortunate situation”, Mr Mahama pointed out.
“The NDC did far better than the NPP but we are not blowing our horns, but if the NPP is saying it has performed better than us, then it is advisable to compare and contrast the performances of the two parties”, he stated.
On public transport, Mr Mahama said an NDC administration would come out with a policy in which private transport operators and the Metro Mass Transport would operate in such a way that it would not have any negative impacts.
As regards education, he stated that since the GH¢3 Capitation Grant instituted by the NPP had accounted for the mass failure at the BECE because it could not provide quality education, the NDC would come out with a realistic amount that would have a positive impact on the performance of the pupils.
Teachers, he also indicated, would be given the necessary incentives that would make them give their best.
Other executive of the NDC, including Messrs Julius Debra and Tawia Boateng, the Eastern Regional Chairman and Secretary respectively, as well as the MP for Tamale South, Mr Haruna Idrissu, took turns to address the gathering.
According to him, the economic difficulties called for a change of government.
He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration which took over the government from the NDC about eight years ago, had almost collapsed the economy as a result of which majority of Ghanaians were now suffering.
He therefore asked the people to support the NDC to win the December elections to revamp the economy to make life worth living for them.
Mr Mahama made the call when he addressed a rally at the main lorry park in Koforidua. The rally was attended by a large crowd of people.
Mr Mahama who was on a campaign tour of the region, was in the regional capital where he introduced Mr Ransford Owusu Boakye, the party’s parliamentary aspirant for the New Juaben South Constituency, to the people. He also solicited support for the party’s flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
Recounting the economic difficulties of the people, Mr Mahama said the NDC did a lot in the economic transformation of the country before handing over to the NPP and added that the clock of progress had been turned back through massive corruption.
“The country has a lot of resources and if the NPP had been able to live up to its slogan of ‘zero tolerance for corruption’, the country would not have been in this unfortunate situation”, Mr Mahama pointed out.
“The NDC did far better than the NPP but we are not blowing our horns, but if the NPP is saying it has performed better than us, then it is advisable to compare and contrast the performances of the two parties”, he stated.
On public transport, Mr Mahama said an NDC administration would come out with a policy in which private transport operators and the Metro Mass Transport would operate in such a way that it would not have any negative impacts.
As regards education, he stated that since the GH¢3 Capitation Grant instituted by the NPP had accounted for the mass failure at the BECE because it could not provide quality education, the NDC would come out with a realistic amount that would have a positive impact on the performance of the pupils.
Teachers, he also indicated, would be given the necessary incentives that would make them give their best.
Other executive of the NDC, including Messrs Julius Debra and Tawia Boateng, the Eastern Regional Chairman and Secretary respectively, as well as the MP for Tamale South, Mr Haruna Idrissu, took turns to address the gathering.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
K'DUA POLY ASSURES SMALL-SCALE OPERATORS (PAGE 20)
THE Rector of the Koforidua Polytechnic, Dr George Afranie, has given the assurance that the polytechnic will continue to offer consultancy services to owners of small-scale businesses in its catchment area to enable them to operate profitably and serve the public well.
He said the gesture was in line with the institution’s social obligation of improving the lot of the people.
Dr Afranie gave the assurance at a three-day workshop for 61 members of the Ghana Bar Operators Association (GHABOA) in the New Juaben Municipality at Koforidua.
The workshop, on the theme: “Improving Business and Financial Management Skills” organised and funded by the Business Development Centre of the polytechnic, was to upgrade the skills of the drinking bar operators not only to operate profitably, but also to ensure that the services offered at the bars conformed to standard to boost tourism.
Dr Afranie said most often operators of small-scale businesses such as drinking bars, did not properly manage their records, resulting in poor functioning.
He stated that since most of the operators had at least basic education, his outfit would offer them the necessary training to keep them on course.
According to the rector, the polytechnic would continue to offer consultancy services to the business sector and, therefore, appealed to the public to award consultancy contracts to it to enable it to generate funds for its activities.
That, he said, would improve the lot of the people in the municipality.
Dr Afranie dwelt extensively on polytechnic education, which he said, was to produce middle-level management personnel for the country.
He stated that his outfit would continue to assist people in its catchment area and advised the participants to make good use of the workshop to upgrade their skills.
The National President of GHABOA, Mr Olando Vincent Quarcoo, said although the association had 75,000 members, only 15,000 had registered with it.
He, therefore, called on all those who had not yet registered with it to do so in order to benefit from its skill training programmes.
Mr Quarcoo also appealed to the Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations to offer financial support to GHABOA to enable it to organise training programmes for its members to improve their skills to offer good services to the people.
He expressed his appreciation to the polytechnic and other organisations such as the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) for their immense contribution to members of GHABOA.
He said the gesture was in line with the institution’s social obligation of improving the lot of the people.
Dr Afranie gave the assurance at a three-day workshop for 61 members of the Ghana Bar Operators Association (GHABOA) in the New Juaben Municipality at Koforidua.
The workshop, on the theme: “Improving Business and Financial Management Skills” organised and funded by the Business Development Centre of the polytechnic, was to upgrade the skills of the drinking bar operators not only to operate profitably, but also to ensure that the services offered at the bars conformed to standard to boost tourism.
Dr Afranie said most often operators of small-scale businesses such as drinking bars, did not properly manage their records, resulting in poor functioning.
He stated that since most of the operators had at least basic education, his outfit would offer them the necessary training to keep them on course.
According to the rector, the polytechnic would continue to offer consultancy services to the business sector and, therefore, appealed to the public to award consultancy contracts to it to enable it to generate funds for its activities.
That, he said, would improve the lot of the people in the municipality.
Dr Afranie dwelt extensively on polytechnic education, which he said, was to produce middle-level management personnel for the country.
He stated that his outfit would continue to assist people in its catchment area and advised the participants to make good use of the workshop to upgrade their skills.
The National President of GHABOA, Mr Olando Vincent Quarcoo, said although the association had 75,000 members, only 15,000 had registered with it.
He, therefore, called on all those who had not yet registered with it to do so in order to benefit from its skill training programmes.
Mr Quarcoo also appealed to the Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations to offer financial support to GHABOA to enable it to organise training programmes for its members to improve their skills to offer good services to the people.
He expressed his appreciation to the polytechnic and other organisations such as the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) for their immense contribution to members of GHABOA.
AKUAPEM RURAL BANK GIVES MORE LOANS (PAGE 20)
THE Akuapem Rural Bank with its headquarters at Mamfe in the Eastern Region, gave out GH¢2,009,531 as loans and advances last year as against GH¢801,491 in 2006, showing a rise by 150.72 per cent.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Mr Edward Ofei Bekoe, announced the significant increase in the loan portfolio at the 27th annual general meeting of shareholders at Mamfe.
He said the bank decided to increase its financial assistance to its customers as a way of boosting economic activities in the area, and that it would continue to intensify micro finance activities to ensure that more customers would be covered.
That, he said, would reduce poverty in the area which he explained was the main reason of setting up the bank.
To improve on its services for customers, Mr Bekoe said, the computerisation of the head office, which was under renovation, was being extended to its agencies at Nsawam and Adukrom while a building was being constructed at Aburi to offer banking services to the people in the town.
He stated that all those activities had become possible due to the significant improvement in its operations over the years.
According to Mr Bekoe, the bank declared a profit of GH¢281,109 before tax in 2007, as against GH¢237,364 in 2006, an increase of 18.43 per cent while the total income was hiked by 35 per cent, from GH¢771,278 to GH¢1,041,616 during the same period.
Total assets of the bank, he further stated, increased by 29.63 per cent, that was, from GH¢5,489,389 to GH¢7,116,934 while deposits also hiked by 34.10 per cent, from GH¢3,864,464 to GH¢5,182,162, all within the stipulated period.
With regard to share capital, Mr Bekoe said, the payment of high dividend had continued to attract more investors and as a result, the bank’s paid up capital had increased from GH¢90,995 to GH¢179,897 as at the end of 2007.
He, however, appealed to shareholders to buy more shares.
The Head of the Training Department of the ARB Apex Bank, Mr Richard M. Addo, who read the speech on behalf of the Managing Director, Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, congratulated the bank for its achievements.
He, however, called on its management and board to put in an effective internal control system in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Mr Addo also announced that the ARB Apex Bank had entered into partnership with Western Union Money Transfer for inward foreign remittances and that all rural banks would be brought on board by the end of the year.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Mr Edward Ofei Bekoe, announced the significant increase in the loan portfolio at the 27th annual general meeting of shareholders at Mamfe.
He said the bank decided to increase its financial assistance to its customers as a way of boosting economic activities in the area, and that it would continue to intensify micro finance activities to ensure that more customers would be covered.
That, he said, would reduce poverty in the area which he explained was the main reason of setting up the bank.
To improve on its services for customers, Mr Bekoe said, the computerisation of the head office, which was under renovation, was being extended to its agencies at Nsawam and Adukrom while a building was being constructed at Aburi to offer banking services to the people in the town.
He stated that all those activities had become possible due to the significant improvement in its operations over the years.
According to Mr Bekoe, the bank declared a profit of GH¢281,109 before tax in 2007, as against GH¢237,364 in 2006, an increase of 18.43 per cent while the total income was hiked by 35 per cent, from GH¢771,278 to GH¢1,041,616 during the same period.
Total assets of the bank, he further stated, increased by 29.63 per cent, that was, from GH¢5,489,389 to GH¢7,116,934 while deposits also hiked by 34.10 per cent, from GH¢3,864,464 to GH¢5,182,162, all within the stipulated period.
With regard to share capital, Mr Bekoe said, the payment of high dividend had continued to attract more investors and as a result, the bank’s paid up capital had increased from GH¢90,995 to GH¢179,897 as at the end of 2007.
He, however, appealed to shareholders to buy more shares.
The Head of the Training Department of the ARB Apex Bank, Mr Richard M. Addo, who read the speech on behalf of the Managing Director, Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, congratulated the bank for its achievements.
He, however, called on its management and board to put in an effective internal control system in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Mr Addo also announced that the ARB Apex Bank had entered into partnership with Western Union Money Transfer for inward foreign remittances and that all rural banks would be brought on board by the end of the year.
MANYA HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME MAKES IMPACT (PAGE 20)
ONE of the most significant achievements of the Kufuor Administration in the health sector is the provision of affordable quality health care for the poor.
This initiative, which is being run through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) instituted throughout the country about four years ago, has made it possible for the sick, especially the poor and vulnerable to access quality health care services in government and other designated health facilities without virtually paying anything.
Under the system that has been acclaimed to be one of the best social service-poverty alleviation programmes in Africa, beneficiaries only pay a premium of approximately GH¢14 to qualify for free treatment for a year.
Such a laudable initiative, which has replaced the cash-and-carry system of which patients irrespective of financial standing had to pay before treatment at the state-owned hospitals, has now been made to cover the whole country with the various districts administering their own schemes but with directives from national headquarters in Accra.
Even though most of the district mutual health insurance schemes have performed creditably, that of the Manya Krobo District is beyond description, as far as its success story is concerned.
The area, which together with the newly-created Upper Manya District, constitutes one of the most densely populated political entities in the region, has so far registered 96,717 people for the scheme, representing 63 per cent of the entire population of the district. The figure exceeds the national target of 60 per cent.
Although such a high patronage of the scheme has increased hospital attendance, thus putting great pressure on the medical personnel and equipment, health facilities in the area, especially the four main ones, namely, the St Martins Hospital at Agormanya, Atua Government, Akuse Government and the Asesewa Government Hospitals, had lived up to expectation by taking care of the ever-increasing number of patients.
For instance, attendance at the Atua Government Hospital rose from 22,182 in 2006, to 33,789 in 2007, while that of St Martins Hospital hiked from 19,848 to 27,821 within the same period.
The Asesewa Government Hospital also had its attendance increased from 9,170 to 16,389 with that of the Akuse Government Hospital also increasing from 8,997 to 19,115, all within the same period.
Apart from that, the Regional Hospital at Koforidua and other health facilities in the area, also provided services to the clients, bringing the overall total attendance to 105,206 for 2007.
This significant increase in hospital attendance has led to the payment of huge medical bills to the health facilities concerned. So far GH¢1,138,399.32 out of a total of GH¢1,150,365.04 submitted by the designated health facilities for services rendered in 2007 had been paid.
Addressing the annual general meeting of beneficiaries at Agormanya at the weekend, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the scheme, Mr Francis A. Sackitey, said although the scheme had made a significant breakthrough by ensuring that the poor and vulnerable benefited from affordable quality heath care delivery, it had to do more by roping in more people, especially the poor.
He, therefore, urged the premium collectors to visit the communities regularly to explain the benefits of the scheme to them in order to rope in more people.
“We have made a significant breakthrough because many poverty-stricken patients, who in the past, could not go for treatment due to the cash-and-carry system, can now do that at the designated health facilities in the area”, Mr Sackitey stated.
The Regional Manager of the scheme, Mr Collins Akuamoah Danso, who represented the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr Ras Boateng, at the annual general meeting, was full of praise for the Board of Directors for initiating good policies and innovations that had raised the enrolment of clients.
The acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council, Nene Sasraku was also happy that most of the people, especially the poor, could now have access to quality health care.
He appealed to people in the area, who had not yet registered with the scheme to do so.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr David Sackitey Asare, gave the assurance that the assembly would offer the necessary assistance towards the sustenance of the scheme.
Although the scheme has made a significant breakthrough by bringing relief to the people, especially the poor, it is beset with a number of problems, which must be addressed for its sustenance.
The major challenge is double registration by some of the clients who manage to hop from one health facility to the other for treatment at the same period, resulting in outrageous increase in the bills presented by the designated hospitals.
Poor remuneration of staff at the scheme’s secretariat located in rented premises and the collection of unauthorised fees from beneficiaries of the scheme in some of the designated health facilities, which although had not yet been officially confirmed, are some of the challenges.
Realistic measures are being taken to deal with some of the challenges, especially double registration.
According to Mr Sackitey, a computerised system, which would soon be put in place, would deal with the issue.
“We are now computerising the system that would detect any fraudulent deal so it is in your own interest not to be involved in any malpractices,” Mr Sackitey stressed.
This initiative, which is being run through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) instituted throughout the country about four years ago, has made it possible for the sick, especially the poor and vulnerable to access quality health care services in government and other designated health facilities without virtually paying anything.
Under the system that has been acclaimed to be one of the best social service-poverty alleviation programmes in Africa, beneficiaries only pay a premium of approximately GH¢14 to qualify for free treatment for a year.
Such a laudable initiative, which has replaced the cash-and-carry system of which patients irrespective of financial standing had to pay before treatment at the state-owned hospitals, has now been made to cover the whole country with the various districts administering their own schemes but with directives from national headquarters in Accra.
Even though most of the district mutual health insurance schemes have performed creditably, that of the Manya Krobo District is beyond description, as far as its success story is concerned.
The area, which together with the newly-created Upper Manya District, constitutes one of the most densely populated political entities in the region, has so far registered 96,717 people for the scheme, representing 63 per cent of the entire population of the district. The figure exceeds the national target of 60 per cent.
Although such a high patronage of the scheme has increased hospital attendance, thus putting great pressure on the medical personnel and equipment, health facilities in the area, especially the four main ones, namely, the St Martins Hospital at Agormanya, Atua Government, Akuse Government and the Asesewa Government Hospitals, had lived up to expectation by taking care of the ever-increasing number of patients.
For instance, attendance at the Atua Government Hospital rose from 22,182 in 2006, to 33,789 in 2007, while that of St Martins Hospital hiked from 19,848 to 27,821 within the same period.
The Asesewa Government Hospital also had its attendance increased from 9,170 to 16,389 with that of the Akuse Government Hospital also increasing from 8,997 to 19,115, all within the same period.
Apart from that, the Regional Hospital at Koforidua and other health facilities in the area, also provided services to the clients, bringing the overall total attendance to 105,206 for 2007.
This significant increase in hospital attendance has led to the payment of huge medical bills to the health facilities concerned. So far GH¢1,138,399.32 out of a total of GH¢1,150,365.04 submitted by the designated health facilities for services rendered in 2007 had been paid.
Addressing the annual general meeting of beneficiaries at Agormanya at the weekend, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the scheme, Mr Francis A. Sackitey, said although the scheme had made a significant breakthrough by ensuring that the poor and vulnerable benefited from affordable quality heath care delivery, it had to do more by roping in more people, especially the poor.
He, therefore, urged the premium collectors to visit the communities regularly to explain the benefits of the scheme to them in order to rope in more people.
“We have made a significant breakthrough because many poverty-stricken patients, who in the past, could not go for treatment due to the cash-and-carry system, can now do that at the designated health facilities in the area”, Mr Sackitey stated.
The Regional Manager of the scheme, Mr Collins Akuamoah Danso, who represented the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr Ras Boateng, at the annual general meeting, was full of praise for the Board of Directors for initiating good policies and innovations that had raised the enrolment of clients.
The acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council, Nene Sasraku was also happy that most of the people, especially the poor, could now have access to quality health care.
He appealed to people in the area, who had not yet registered with the scheme to do so.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr David Sackitey Asare, gave the assurance that the assembly would offer the necessary assistance towards the sustenance of the scheme.
Although the scheme has made a significant breakthrough by bringing relief to the people, especially the poor, it is beset with a number of problems, which must be addressed for its sustenance.
The major challenge is double registration by some of the clients who manage to hop from one health facility to the other for treatment at the same period, resulting in outrageous increase in the bills presented by the designated hospitals.
Poor remuneration of staff at the scheme’s secretariat located in rented premises and the collection of unauthorised fees from beneficiaries of the scheme in some of the designated health facilities, which although had not yet been officially confirmed, are some of the challenges.
Realistic measures are being taken to deal with some of the challenges, especially double registration.
According to Mr Sackitey, a computerised system, which would soon be put in place, would deal with the issue.
“We are now computerising the system that would detect any fraudulent deal so it is in your own interest not to be involved in any malpractices,” Mr Sackitey stressed.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
NDC, NPP ONLY PARTIES WITH MP ASPIRANTS IN ER?
WITH only eight weeks to go for the December 7 general election, only the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have elected candidates for almost all the 28 constituencies in the Eastern Region.
While the NPP has fielded candidates for all the constituencies except Suhum, the NDC has covered 23 leaving Asuogyaman, Fanteakwa, Akyem Swedru, Kade and Akyem Oda.
The People’s National Convention (PNC), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) have not come out with those contesting for the constituency seats.
The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), which stated that it had elected candidates to contest, has not even named the constituencies involved, and according to its Regional Secretary, Barimah Sarfo Kantanka, the party would make that known after a visit to the region, possibly this week.
Those contesting for the NPP are W.O. Boafo, Akropong Constituency; Kofi Osei Ameyaw, Asuogyaman; Kwasi Annor Ankamah, Atiwa, K. Amankwa Asiamah, Fanteakwa; Professor Samuel Amoako, Abuakwa North; Peter Wiafe Pepera, Abetifi; Joseph Amponsah-Bosompem, Akyem Swedru; Robert Owusu Boateng, Akyem Oda; Ofosu Asamoah, Kade; David Oppong Kusi, Ofoase-Ayirebi; Dr Kofi Asare Akwatia; Dan Botwe, Okere; and Madam Gifty Klenam, Lower West Akyem.
The rest are Madam Beatrice Bernice Boateng, New Juaben South; Seth Kwame Acheampong, Mpraeso; Esther Obeng Dapaah, Abirem; Ayeh Paye Samuel, Ayensuano; Samuel Atta Akyea, Abuakwa South; Okerchiri K. Adusah, Nkawkaw; Osei Bonsu Amoah, Aburi/Nsawam, and Hackman Owusu Agyeman, New Juaben North.
The NDC team is made up of Anthony Gyampoe, Akropong; George Opare Addo, Okere; Raymond Tawiah, Yilo Krobo; Michael Teye Nyaunu, Lower Manya Krobo; Stephen Amoanor, Upper Manya Krobo; Rev. Josef Asare Akoto, Asuogyaman; Ransford Buakyi, New Juaben South; Simon Peter Asirifi, Abuakwa North Osei, Abuakwa South; Samuel Fleicher Kwabi, Suhum; Emanuel Attah Twum, Atiwa; Joseph Kwaku Nkansa Boamah, Nkawkaw, and Sammuel Asamoah, Abetifi.
The rest are: Kofi Ahaliga, Afram Plains South; Didieye Aboagye, Afram Plains North; Mike Dompreh, Aburi/Nsawam; Joe Amanquanor, Upper West Akyem; Seth Okyere, Lower West Akyem; Baba Jamal, Akwatia; Prince Yaw Danso, Ofoase/Ayirebi; Napoleon Asiamah, Abirem, and Michael Opuni, Ayensuano.
The NPP had has problems with the Suhum seat, because after five attempts, none of the two aspirants, Mr Opare Ansah, the incumbent, and Mr Brynn Acheampong could be elected.
The first gatherings for that purpose at Adidiso, a farming community within the constituency and Koforidua, the regional capital, were disrupted by followers of the two contestants, while three other meetings in different locations for the same purpose also ended in a deadlock, with the two contestants securing 51 votes each.
To resolve the impasse, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party has taken up the issue, and according to the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Alecs Agogbo, a research team from the party’s headquarters has already visited the area to study the situation on the ground.
“The research team has acquainted itself with the problem, and will recommend to the NEC what to do to get us a candidate who will retain the seat for us,” Mr Agbobo said.
He said on the whole, the NPP would improve on both presidential and parliamentary votes that it secured in the 2004 elections, by retaining all the 22 seats it won and also make a significant breakthrough in some of the six constituencies that it always lost to the NDC.
He added that three of such constituencies, namely, Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Upper West Akyem, Afram Plains South and Afram Plains North, which he said had been the Achilles’ heel of the NPP in the region would fall to that party in December.
The Regional Secretary of the NPP further stated that although President Kufuor won more votes than some of the party’s MPs in the previous elections, Nana Akufo-Addo, the Presidential aspirant, would improve on the presidential votes and perform much better than most of the party’s parliamentary candidates, who he said, would retain their seats.
“The NPP had performed creditably in all sectors and had won the confidence of floating voters who will vote for Nana Akufo-Addo,” he stated.
Mr Agbobo, however, called on the rank and file of the party to intensify their efforts in that respect, since that could only be accomplished through dedication and hard work.
The NDC, which had also made significant inroads to improve on its fortunes in the region, had targeted 16 constituencies, which it believed, would fall to the party..
Mr Anthony Gyampoe, the Regional Secretary of the party, who is also contesting the Akropong Constituency, said NDC’s victory in the region would be due to the failure of the Kufuor Administration to address the problems of the people in the area.
“We are poised for victory, because the Kufuor administration has woefully failed to address the socio-economic problems facing the country,” Mr Gyampoe stated with confidence.
He, however, called on the rank and file of the NDC to work extra hard for a resounding victory.
While the NPP has fielded candidates for all the constituencies except Suhum, the NDC has covered 23 leaving Asuogyaman, Fanteakwa, Akyem Swedru, Kade and Akyem Oda.
The People’s National Convention (PNC), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) have not come out with those contesting for the constituency seats.
The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), which stated that it had elected candidates to contest, has not even named the constituencies involved, and according to its Regional Secretary, Barimah Sarfo Kantanka, the party would make that known after a visit to the region, possibly this week.
Those contesting for the NPP are W.O. Boafo, Akropong Constituency; Kofi Osei Ameyaw, Asuogyaman; Kwasi Annor Ankamah, Atiwa, K. Amankwa Asiamah, Fanteakwa; Professor Samuel Amoako, Abuakwa North; Peter Wiafe Pepera, Abetifi; Joseph Amponsah-Bosompem, Akyem Swedru; Robert Owusu Boateng, Akyem Oda; Ofosu Asamoah, Kade; David Oppong Kusi, Ofoase-Ayirebi; Dr Kofi Asare Akwatia; Dan Botwe, Okere; and Madam Gifty Klenam, Lower West Akyem.
The rest are Madam Beatrice Bernice Boateng, New Juaben South; Seth Kwame Acheampong, Mpraeso; Esther Obeng Dapaah, Abirem; Ayeh Paye Samuel, Ayensuano; Samuel Atta Akyea, Abuakwa South; Okerchiri K. Adusah, Nkawkaw; Osei Bonsu Amoah, Aburi/Nsawam, and Hackman Owusu Agyeman, New Juaben North.
The NDC team is made up of Anthony Gyampoe, Akropong; George Opare Addo, Okere; Raymond Tawiah, Yilo Krobo; Michael Teye Nyaunu, Lower Manya Krobo; Stephen Amoanor, Upper Manya Krobo; Rev. Josef Asare Akoto, Asuogyaman; Ransford Buakyi, New Juaben South; Simon Peter Asirifi, Abuakwa North Osei, Abuakwa South; Samuel Fleicher Kwabi, Suhum; Emanuel Attah Twum, Atiwa; Joseph Kwaku Nkansa Boamah, Nkawkaw, and Sammuel Asamoah, Abetifi.
The rest are: Kofi Ahaliga, Afram Plains South; Didieye Aboagye, Afram Plains North; Mike Dompreh, Aburi/Nsawam; Joe Amanquanor, Upper West Akyem; Seth Okyere, Lower West Akyem; Baba Jamal, Akwatia; Prince Yaw Danso, Ofoase/Ayirebi; Napoleon Asiamah, Abirem, and Michael Opuni, Ayensuano.
The NPP had has problems with the Suhum seat, because after five attempts, none of the two aspirants, Mr Opare Ansah, the incumbent, and Mr Brynn Acheampong could be elected.
The first gatherings for that purpose at Adidiso, a farming community within the constituency and Koforidua, the regional capital, were disrupted by followers of the two contestants, while three other meetings in different locations for the same purpose also ended in a deadlock, with the two contestants securing 51 votes each.
To resolve the impasse, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party has taken up the issue, and according to the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Alecs Agogbo, a research team from the party’s headquarters has already visited the area to study the situation on the ground.
“The research team has acquainted itself with the problem, and will recommend to the NEC what to do to get us a candidate who will retain the seat for us,” Mr Agbobo said.
He said on the whole, the NPP would improve on both presidential and parliamentary votes that it secured in the 2004 elections, by retaining all the 22 seats it won and also make a significant breakthrough in some of the six constituencies that it always lost to the NDC.
He added that three of such constituencies, namely, Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Upper West Akyem, Afram Plains South and Afram Plains North, which he said had been the Achilles’ heel of the NPP in the region would fall to that party in December.
The Regional Secretary of the NPP further stated that although President Kufuor won more votes than some of the party’s MPs in the previous elections, Nana Akufo-Addo, the Presidential aspirant, would improve on the presidential votes and perform much better than most of the party’s parliamentary candidates, who he said, would retain their seats.
“The NPP had performed creditably in all sectors and had won the confidence of floating voters who will vote for Nana Akufo-Addo,” he stated.
Mr Agbobo, however, called on the rank and file of the party to intensify their efforts in that respect, since that could only be accomplished through dedication and hard work.
The NDC, which had also made significant inroads to improve on its fortunes in the region, had targeted 16 constituencies, which it believed, would fall to the party..
Mr Anthony Gyampoe, the Regional Secretary of the party, who is also contesting the Akropong Constituency, said NDC’s victory in the region would be due to the failure of the Kufuor Administration to address the problems of the people in the area.
“We are poised for victory, because the Kufuor administration has woefully failed to address the socio-economic problems facing the country,” Mr Gyampoe stated with confidence.
He, however, called on the rank and file of the NDC to work extra hard for a resounding victory.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
JOHN MAHAMA GETS ROUSING WELCOME AT SOMANYA (PAGE 13)
Commercial activities in Somanya, the district capital of Yilo Krobo of the Eastern Region, came to a halt last Thursday, when thousands of people thronged the town to welcome Mr John Mahama, the vice presidential aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mr Mahama, MP for Bole Bamboi, who was accompanied by some executive members of the party was in the area to formally present himself to the people and solicit their support for the NDC flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and the party to win the December 7 elections.
The ecstatic crowd, most of them in NDC paraphernalia, lined up the main streets of the town, almost blocking the road trying desperately to have a glimpse of Mr Mahama who acknowledged cheers from an open vehicle.
So huge was the gathering that it took Mr Mahama's entourage, comprising five vehicles, about one and half hours to cover the one-kilometer-Odumase Krobo-Junction-Somanya Road. Security men were on hand to contain the situation.
Mr Mahama who addressed the crowd at the main lorry park said the days of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration would definitely come to an end on December 7, 2008.
Mr Mahama who recounted the difficulties Ghanaians went through and the effective manner the NDC tackled the problems said the NPP brought back the clock of progress when it took over from NDC in 2000, and called for support for the NDC to win the elections to continue with its good policies which were abrogated when it lost power.
He, however, gave the assurance that any good policy of the NPP would be continued while the negative ones would be discontinued.
The NDC vice-presidential aspirant who introduced the party's parliamentary aspirant for the Yilo Krobo Constituency, Mr Raymond Tawiah, to the people, also paid courtesy calls on the Konor of Yilo Krobo, Kpetekple Narh Dawutey Ologo and the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sackitey, both of whom wished him well.
He also addressed the people of Huhunya and Nkurakan, foodstuff-producing and marketing centres, where he gave the assurance that the NDC would revamp agriculture for the benefit of the people.
Mr Mahama is on a 10- day campaign tour of the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The tour started from Asuogyaman Constituency and would end on September 12, 2008.
The tour which would take him to 16 out of the 28 constituencies of the region would take him to Asuogyaman, Lower Manya, Yilo Krobo, Upper Manya, Okere, Akropong, New Juabeng North and South, Aburi/Nsawam, Upper West Akyim, Fanteakwa, Suhum, Lower West Akyim, Ayensuano, Afram Plains North and South.
It forms the first leg of his Eastern Regional tour.
The main objective of the tour is to explain to Ghanaians and the voting populace in general the key thematic areas of the NDC campaign pillars, thus investing in jobs, people and the economy.
He would also explain the reasons why at this stage of our nationhood, it is very important for the people to vote for a social –democratic party as opposed to a property owning democratic oriented party.
Mr Mahama, MP for Bole Bamboi, who was accompanied by some executive members of the party was in the area to formally present himself to the people and solicit their support for the NDC flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and the party to win the December 7 elections.
The ecstatic crowd, most of them in NDC paraphernalia, lined up the main streets of the town, almost blocking the road trying desperately to have a glimpse of Mr Mahama who acknowledged cheers from an open vehicle.
So huge was the gathering that it took Mr Mahama's entourage, comprising five vehicles, about one and half hours to cover the one-kilometer-Odumase Krobo-Junction-Somanya Road. Security men were on hand to contain the situation.
Mr Mahama who addressed the crowd at the main lorry park said the days of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration would definitely come to an end on December 7, 2008.
Mr Mahama who recounted the difficulties Ghanaians went through and the effective manner the NDC tackled the problems said the NPP brought back the clock of progress when it took over from NDC in 2000, and called for support for the NDC to win the elections to continue with its good policies which were abrogated when it lost power.
He, however, gave the assurance that any good policy of the NPP would be continued while the negative ones would be discontinued.
The NDC vice-presidential aspirant who introduced the party's parliamentary aspirant for the Yilo Krobo Constituency, Mr Raymond Tawiah, to the people, also paid courtesy calls on the Konor of Yilo Krobo, Kpetekple Narh Dawutey Ologo and the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sackitey, both of whom wished him well.
He also addressed the people of Huhunya and Nkurakan, foodstuff-producing and marketing centres, where he gave the assurance that the NDC would revamp agriculture for the benefit of the people.
Mr Mahama is on a 10- day campaign tour of the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The tour started from Asuogyaman Constituency and would end on September 12, 2008.
The tour which would take him to 16 out of the 28 constituencies of the region would take him to Asuogyaman, Lower Manya, Yilo Krobo, Upper Manya, Okere, Akropong, New Juabeng North and South, Aburi/Nsawam, Upper West Akyim, Fanteakwa, Suhum, Lower West Akyim, Ayensuano, Afram Plains North and South.
It forms the first leg of his Eastern Regional tour.
The main objective of the tour is to explain to Ghanaians and the voting populace in general the key thematic areas of the NDC campaign pillars, thus investing in jobs, people and the economy.
He would also explain the reasons why at this stage of our nationhood, it is very important for the people to vote for a social –democratic party as opposed to a property owning democratic oriented party.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
NPP WON'T TAKE KROBO LANDS (PAGE 16)
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant for the Yilo Krobo Constituency in the Eastern Region, Sub Lt Christian Kofi Tettey, has assured Krobos that the NPP has no intention of taking over land from Krobos who have settled in the Akan-speaking areas.
He has, therefore, asked for their support to enable him win the constituency seat, which has never been won by the party.
Sub Lt Tettey, who is also the immediate past District Chief Executive for the Yilo Krobo District, gave the assurance when he launched his campaign for the constituency seat at a grand durbar at Somanya.
The event, the largest NPP gathering in the area in recent times, was attended by some regional executive members of the party, including the party’s Eastern Regional Vice Chairman, Alhaji Omar Bodinga, the NPP parliamentary aspirant for New Juaben South, Madam Beatrice Bernice Boateng, and Messrs David Sackitey Asare, Joe Sam and Joseph Adu Tawia, District Chief Executives respectively for Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo respectively, some of whom took turns to solicit support for the party.
According to Sub Lt Tettey, the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), had for a long time been telling Krobos that the NPP Administration would take over their lands in the Akan-speaking areas as a result of which they had not been supporting the party.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that the NPP government would not under any circumstance take over their lands from them, so they should rather support the party to continue with its good works of providing social amenities as well as initiating poverty alleviation measures to improve the lot of the people in the constituency.
Sub Lt Tettey said the NPP Administration, having the interest of Krobos at heart, had provided a number of social amenities such as roads, markets and school buildings in almost all the communities in the Yilo Constituency, as well as initiated poverty alleviation measures to improve the lot of the people.
He has, therefore, asked for their support to enable him win the constituency seat, which has never been won by the party.
Sub Lt Tettey, who is also the immediate past District Chief Executive for the Yilo Krobo District, gave the assurance when he launched his campaign for the constituency seat at a grand durbar at Somanya.
The event, the largest NPP gathering in the area in recent times, was attended by some regional executive members of the party, including the party’s Eastern Regional Vice Chairman, Alhaji Omar Bodinga, the NPP parliamentary aspirant for New Juaben South, Madam Beatrice Bernice Boateng, and Messrs David Sackitey Asare, Joe Sam and Joseph Adu Tawia, District Chief Executives respectively for Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo respectively, some of whom took turns to solicit support for the party.
According to Sub Lt Tettey, the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), had for a long time been telling Krobos that the NPP Administration would take over their lands in the Akan-speaking areas as a result of which they had not been supporting the party.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that the NPP government would not under any circumstance take over their lands from them, so they should rather support the party to continue with its good works of providing social amenities as well as initiating poverty alleviation measures to improve the lot of the people in the constituency.
Sub Lt Tettey said the NPP Administration, having the interest of Krobos at heart, had provided a number of social amenities such as roads, markets and school buildings in almost all the communities in the Yilo Constituency, as well as initiated poverty alleviation measures to improve the lot of the people.
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