THE flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given the assurance that the party has no intention of driving away Krobo settler farmers in Akyem Abuakwa or any of the Akan-speaking areas.
He has, therefore, appealed to Krobos to throw their weight behind the NPP to enable it win the December polls and continue with its development programme, particularly in the Krobo areas.
Nana Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when he addressed a large gathering of NPP supporters at Somanya and Asesewa, capitals of the Yilo Krobo and Upper Manya Krobo districts respectively, as well as Nkurakan and Oterkporlu, all in the Eastern Region on October 25.
The NPP presidential candidate, who was on the second day of a campaign tour of the region, was accompanied by Messrs Kwabena Agyepong, Felix Owusu Agyepong, Boakye Agyarko, Yaw Osafo-Maafo and Professor Mike Oquaye who competed with him for the party’s presidential slot; the Eastern Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng, as well as other senior party executives.
He also used the occasion to introduce Sub Lt. Christian Kofi Tettey (retd) and Mr Gustav Narh-Dometey, the party’s parliamentary candidates for Yilo Krobo and Upper Manya constituencies respectively and appealed to the electorate to support them to win the constituency seats, which had never been occupied by the NPP.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had for some time been peddling the lies that the NPP would drive away Krobo settler farmers on Akyem Abuakwa lands or in any Akan-speaking areas and as a result, the Krobos had always supported the NDC.
Nana Akufo-Addo who said the NPP was not tribalistic and that Ghanaians were one people with a common destiny, explained that the party had never on any occasion planned to drive away Krobos and, therefore, appealed to them as well other Dangbe-speaking people to throw in their weight behind the NPP to enable it continue with its development programme, particularly in their areas.
“I am an Akyem from Kyebi and Akyems have for generations been living with Krobos who had not been driven out or had their farms taken away from them, so do not let the NDC deceive you”, Nana Akufo-Addo told the gatherings, to a thunderous applause.
He said although Krobos had supported the NDC over the years, that party had not been able to cater for their infrastructural and other needs and that it was rather the NPP that had provided a number of social amenities in their areas. He also said more of such facilities such as roads, school buildings and electricity would be provided if the NPP retained power.
The NPP flag bearer also told the people that education at the senior high school level would be free if the NPP was retained.
Nana Akufo-Addo again gave the assurance that the NPP would look for investors to establish a processing plant for mangoes as well as provide silos for the storage of perishable food crops in the area.
For his part, Mr Osafo-Maafo said NDC’s mal-administration nearly collapsed the economy which was revived by the NPP and that it would be suicidal for Ghanaians to vote the NDC back into office.
“You just compare the NDC’s 19 years rule when it could not do anything for the people and the NPP’s eight years where a lot of social amenities and poverty alleviation packages have been instituted and decide which party deserves to rule the country,” Mr Osafo-Maafo stated.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
NPP COMMITTED TO BUILDING HEALTHIER NATION — AKUFO-ADDO (PAGE 16)
THE presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has said the party’s commitment to build a healthier nation where everybody would have access to quality health care was on course.
To achieve that objective, he said, a number of projects and programmes had been instituted in addition to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which he said had made a positive impact on the people, especially the poor.
Nana Akufo-Addo made the statement when he addressed the staff of the Koforidua Regional Hospital on Monday.
The NPP presidential candidate, who was on the last leg of a four-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region, was accompanied by Mr Alan Kyeremanten, , the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, and other executive of the party.
Nana Akufo-Addo said the party was of the view that every Ghanaian, no matter his or her financial position, should be able to access quality health care.
He said the programmes or projects which had already started in different parts of the country included the Begoro Hospital, a medical school at Cape Coast, a polyclinic at Koforidua, state-of-the- art hospital at Gushiegu, an accident centre which would be the largest in the West African sub-region at the Komfo Anokye Hospital as well as accident centres on the highways, especially in the Winneba area.
Nana Akufo-Addo further stated that a number of health facilities would be built at places such as Salaga, Tepa and Konongo-Odumase, adding that private universities would be encouraged to establish medical schools while medical professionals and other health workers would be better paid and housed.
A national ambulance service, he said, would soon be launched while steps were being taken to improve the sanitation sector.
Nana Akufo-Addo who dwelt extensively on the NHIS which he said had been embraced by over 11 million Ghanaians, said despite its successes, it was encountering challenges such as delay in the processing of applications and payment to health providers,and stated that steps were being taken to address them.
He condemned a proposal by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to make the health insurance scheme a one-time premium which he said would endanger it, adding that the cost of such a system would be too high for the people and that would be a reversal to the cash-and-carry system.
Nana Akufo-Addo who stated that the good policies of the NPP had made it possible for more medical professionals to stay at post in Ghana, said on the whole the NPP performed better than the NDC in the health sector.
With regard to the December elections, he called on all Ghanaians to make it peaceful.
Earlier, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Obeng Apori, took Nana Akufo-Addo round some of the wards and the Out-Patients Department where he urged the patients to embrace the health insurance scheme.
Dr Apori said that most of the patients had insured with the health insurance scheme.
To achieve that objective, he said, a number of projects and programmes had been instituted in addition to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which he said had made a positive impact on the people, especially the poor.
Nana Akufo-Addo made the statement when he addressed the staff of the Koforidua Regional Hospital on Monday.
The NPP presidential candidate, who was on the last leg of a four-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region, was accompanied by Mr Alan Kyeremanten, , the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, and other executive of the party.
Nana Akufo-Addo said the party was of the view that every Ghanaian, no matter his or her financial position, should be able to access quality health care.
He said the programmes or projects which had already started in different parts of the country included the Begoro Hospital, a medical school at Cape Coast, a polyclinic at Koforidua, state-of-the- art hospital at Gushiegu, an accident centre which would be the largest in the West African sub-region at the Komfo Anokye Hospital as well as accident centres on the highways, especially in the Winneba area.
Nana Akufo-Addo further stated that a number of health facilities would be built at places such as Salaga, Tepa and Konongo-Odumase, adding that private universities would be encouraged to establish medical schools while medical professionals and other health workers would be better paid and housed.
A national ambulance service, he said, would soon be launched while steps were being taken to improve the sanitation sector.
Nana Akufo-Addo who dwelt extensively on the NHIS which he said had been embraced by over 11 million Ghanaians, said despite its successes, it was encountering challenges such as delay in the processing of applications and payment to health providers,and stated that steps were being taken to address them.
He condemned a proposal by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to make the health insurance scheme a one-time premium which he said would endanger it, adding that the cost of such a system would be too high for the people and that would be a reversal to the cash-and-carry system.
Nana Akufo-Addo who stated that the good policies of the NPP had made it possible for more medical professionals to stay at post in Ghana, said on the whole the NPP performed better than the NDC in the health sector.
With regard to the December elections, he called on all Ghanaians to make it peaceful.
Earlier, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Obeng Apori, took Nana Akufo-Addo round some of the wards and the Out-Patients Department where he urged the patients to embrace the health insurance scheme.
Dr Apori said that most of the patients had insured with the health insurance scheme.
Monday, October 27, 2008
ROUSING WELCOME FOR NANA AKUFO-ADDO (PAGE 16)
THOUSANDS of people, mostly members and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Friday converged in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, to welcome Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party’s flag bearer, who was on a campaign tour of the region.
The big crowd jammed the main Koforidua street with people trying desperately to catch a glimpse of Nana Akufo-Addo who rode in an open top Landcruiser to acknowledge cheers from them.
Vehicular traffic on the main passageway of the Nana Asafo Adjei Street, where Nana Akufo-Addo’s convoy passed, virtually came to a standstill, and it took the NPP flag bearer nearly one and half hours to cover the one kilometer stretch to the Jackson Park to address the crowd.
Nana Akufo-Addo who was accompanied by Messrs Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Hackman Owusu Agyeman, all of who competed for the party’s flagbearership with him, Madam Grace Omaboe, a radio and television talk show presenter, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Gyekye Amoabeng, and other party officials, said he was overwhelmed by the size of the crowd.
He said he was not surprised about the huge turn out because of the good works of the NPP Government headed by President Kufour, which according to him had won the confidence of the people and had therefore decided to rally behind the party to win the December elections.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, 19 years of bad administration of the National Democratic Congress nearly collapsed Ghana’s economy which had now been revived by the NPP within a short period of seven years.
He stated that it would therefore be in the interest of the people to vote for the retention of the NPP to enable the party to complete its development agenda.
“At the time we took over in January 2001, the country’s foreign exchange reserve was only $235 million and the economy was on the verge of collapse but we have managed within a seven-year period to increase the figure to $2.6 billion”, he stated to a thunderous applause from the gathering.
On education, he debunked a statement by officials of the NDC that his administration would not be able to make it free at the senior high school level, and explained that since the Kufour Administration had been able to make it free at both the primary and junior high school level, he would also be able to do that at the senior high level.
“Never again will children of poor parentage be deprived of education, and our policies will make it possible for such children to climb the academic ladder to develop their full talents to move society forward”, he stated.
Earlier, Nana Akufo Addo addressed similar gatherings at Nsawam and Suhum, where he said his administration would continue to give the necessary assistance to cocoa farmers to increase production which currently stood at about 700,000 tons to one million tons within a short period.
Nana Akufo-Addo who introduced all the party’s parliamentary candidates in the areas he visited called on the people to vote for them to win their seats.
He also promised to institute a pension scheme for cocoa farmers.
Messrs Yaw Osafo Maafo, Felix Owusu Agyepong, Kwabena Agyepong as well as Madam Grace Omaboe took turns to canvass votes for the party.
The big crowd jammed the main Koforidua street with people trying desperately to catch a glimpse of Nana Akufo-Addo who rode in an open top Landcruiser to acknowledge cheers from them.
Vehicular traffic on the main passageway of the Nana Asafo Adjei Street, where Nana Akufo-Addo’s convoy passed, virtually came to a standstill, and it took the NPP flag bearer nearly one and half hours to cover the one kilometer stretch to the Jackson Park to address the crowd.
Nana Akufo-Addo who was accompanied by Messrs Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Hackman Owusu Agyeman, all of who competed for the party’s flagbearership with him, Madam Grace Omaboe, a radio and television talk show presenter, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Gyekye Amoabeng, and other party officials, said he was overwhelmed by the size of the crowd.
He said he was not surprised about the huge turn out because of the good works of the NPP Government headed by President Kufour, which according to him had won the confidence of the people and had therefore decided to rally behind the party to win the December elections.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, 19 years of bad administration of the National Democratic Congress nearly collapsed Ghana’s economy which had now been revived by the NPP within a short period of seven years.
He stated that it would therefore be in the interest of the people to vote for the retention of the NPP to enable the party to complete its development agenda.
“At the time we took over in January 2001, the country’s foreign exchange reserve was only $235 million and the economy was on the verge of collapse but we have managed within a seven-year period to increase the figure to $2.6 billion”, he stated to a thunderous applause from the gathering.
On education, he debunked a statement by officials of the NDC that his administration would not be able to make it free at the senior high school level, and explained that since the Kufour Administration had been able to make it free at both the primary and junior high school level, he would also be able to do that at the senior high level.
“Never again will children of poor parentage be deprived of education, and our policies will make it possible for such children to climb the academic ladder to develop their full talents to move society forward”, he stated.
Earlier, Nana Akufo Addo addressed similar gatherings at Nsawam and Suhum, where he said his administration would continue to give the necessary assistance to cocoa farmers to increase production which currently stood at about 700,000 tons to one million tons within a short period.
Nana Akufo-Addo who introduced all the party’s parliamentary candidates in the areas he visited called on the people to vote for them to win their seats.
He also promised to institute a pension scheme for cocoa farmers.
Messrs Yaw Osafo Maafo, Felix Owusu Agyepong, Kwabena Agyepong as well as Madam Grace Omaboe took turns to canvass votes for the party.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
ASSETS, DEPOSITS OF ADONTEN BANK RISE (PAGE 20)
THE Adonten Community Bank in the East Akyem District of the Eastern Region last year witnessed a significant growth in assets and deposits.
While total assets rose from GH¢1,660,931 in 2006 to GH¢2,075.930 in 2007, showing an increase of 30 per cent, deposits also went up from GH¢1,250,140 to GH¢1,595,244 within the same period.
During the same period, the bank granted loans and overdrafts amounting to GH¢894.505, compared to the GH¢751,651 given out in 2006.
The Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Dr Edward Owusu-Manu, made this known at the annual general meeting of the bank at Tafo.
According to Dr Owusu-Manu, the share capital of the bank, which stood at GH¢56,500 in 2006, shot up to GH¢65,885 in 2007 but was far below the Bank of Ghana’s statutory requirement of GH¢150,000.
He, therefore, appealed to shareholders to increase their share capital.
The bank’s profit, he said, dropped considerably from GH¢52,265 in 2006 to GH¢20,685 in 2007 and attributed the situation to the non-payment of bad and doubtful loans and overdrafts, as well as the redenomination exercise, during which a number of items were purchased.
Dr Owusu-Manu appealed to loan defaulters to pay up to avoid legal action being taken against them to retrieve the loans.
To broaden its operations, he said the bank would soon open agencies at Abomosu and Ehiamankyene, while plans were underway to computerise the Tafo headquarters of the bank with its branches at Kukurantumi, Anyinam and Koforidua.
The Head of the Inspection and Audit Department of the ARB Apex Bank, Mr Hyginus S. Zon, who read the speech of the Managing Director, Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, expressed dissatisfaction at the fall in the bank’s profit and implored the board, management and staff of the bank to work assiduously to reverse the trend in order to maximise shareholder value.
Mr Zon also urged the board to strengthen the internal control system of the bank to prevent fraud that might lead to its liquidation.
While total assets rose from GH¢1,660,931 in 2006 to GH¢2,075.930 in 2007, showing an increase of 30 per cent, deposits also went up from GH¢1,250,140 to GH¢1,595,244 within the same period.
During the same period, the bank granted loans and overdrafts amounting to GH¢894.505, compared to the GH¢751,651 given out in 2006.
The Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Dr Edward Owusu-Manu, made this known at the annual general meeting of the bank at Tafo.
According to Dr Owusu-Manu, the share capital of the bank, which stood at GH¢56,500 in 2006, shot up to GH¢65,885 in 2007 but was far below the Bank of Ghana’s statutory requirement of GH¢150,000.
He, therefore, appealed to shareholders to increase their share capital.
The bank’s profit, he said, dropped considerably from GH¢52,265 in 2006 to GH¢20,685 in 2007 and attributed the situation to the non-payment of bad and doubtful loans and overdrafts, as well as the redenomination exercise, during which a number of items were purchased.
Dr Owusu-Manu appealed to loan defaulters to pay up to avoid legal action being taken against them to retrieve the loans.
To broaden its operations, he said the bank would soon open agencies at Abomosu and Ehiamankyene, while plans were underway to computerise the Tafo headquarters of the bank with its branches at Kukurantumi, Anyinam and Koforidua.
The Head of the Inspection and Audit Department of the ARB Apex Bank, Mr Hyginus S. Zon, who read the speech of the Managing Director, Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, expressed dissatisfaction at the fall in the bank’s profit and implored the board, management and staff of the bank to work assiduously to reverse the trend in order to maximise shareholder value.
Mr Zon also urged the board to strengthen the internal control system of the bank to prevent fraud that might lead to its liquidation.
APOSTOLIC WOMEN'S CONVENTION ENDS (PAGE 20)
THE annual women’s convention of the Koforidua Area of the Apostolic Church of Ghana has ended at Jumapo.
The five-day convention, on the theme, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit”, was also attended by men from the 13 districts constituting the Koforidua Area.
Addressing the congregation, the National President of the church, Apostle John Adotey, called on Christians to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to withstand challenges in life, draw more souls to Christ and assist in the development of society.
Basing his sermon on Ephesians 5:5-18, he said it was time for Pentecostals to be filled with the Holly Spirit for guidance to be able to withstand societal challenges, instead of only speaking in tongues.
Apostle Adotey said the modern world had brought in its wake negative traits which could easily mislead Christians, saying unless they were filled with the Holy Spirit, there was no way they could withstand such temptations.
He, therefore, urged Christians not to speak only in tongues but also be filled with the Holy Spirit for protection and guidance.
Apostle Adotey also implored the women to be supportive of their husbands to be able to nurture their children on Christian principles and also properly cater for their material needs.
In his sermon, the Koforidua Area Head of the church, Apostle J.K. Addey, said as true believers, members of the congregation should study the Word of God in order to claim the power of the Holy Spirit which was their birthright.
Concentrating his sermon on I Corinthians 3:2 and Psalm 62:11, Apostle Addey highlighted the various ways in which the Holy Spirit influenced man, including enabling them to live a renewed life, guidance, differentiating right from wrong and guiding Christians on whatever they did.
Other speakers at the function included Pastor E.A. Ampah and Deaconess (Mrs) Janet Obeng, Pastor and Women’s Leader, respectively, at Jumapo.
Prior to the convention, Elder Jacob Okoh Okantey of the Koforidua Central Assembly had been inducted into the pastoral service.
The five-day convention, on the theme, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit”, was also attended by men from the 13 districts constituting the Koforidua Area.
Addressing the congregation, the National President of the church, Apostle John Adotey, called on Christians to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to withstand challenges in life, draw more souls to Christ and assist in the development of society.
Basing his sermon on Ephesians 5:5-18, he said it was time for Pentecostals to be filled with the Holly Spirit for guidance to be able to withstand societal challenges, instead of only speaking in tongues.
Apostle Adotey said the modern world had brought in its wake negative traits which could easily mislead Christians, saying unless they were filled with the Holy Spirit, there was no way they could withstand such temptations.
He, therefore, urged Christians not to speak only in tongues but also be filled with the Holy Spirit for protection and guidance.
Apostle Adotey also implored the women to be supportive of their husbands to be able to nurture their children on Christian principles and also properly cater for their material needs.
In his sermon, the Koforidua Area Head of the church, Apostle J.K. Addey, said as true believers, members of the congregation should study the Word of God in order to claim the power of the Holy Spirit which was their birthright.
Concentrating his sermon on I Corinthians 3:2 and Psalm 62:11, Apostle Addey highlighted the various ways in which the Holy Spirit influenced man, including enabling them to live a renewed life, guidance, differentiating right from wrong and guiding Christians on whatever they did.
Other speakers at the function included Pastor E.A. Ampah and Deaconess (Mrs) Janet Obeng, Pastor and Women’s Leader, respectively, at Jumapo.
Prior to the convention, Elder Jacob Okoh Okantey of the Koforidua Central Assembly had been inducted into the pastoral service.
YENSI LANDSLIDE VICTIMS CALL FOR HELP (PAGE 20)
ADUKROM-YENSI is a small village which lies below the lofty Akuapem Ridge, about two kilometres off the main Adukrom-Koforidua highway.
The tiny village, comprising about 10 houses with a population of about 100 people is approximately six kilometres away from Adukrom, the traditional capital of the Okere people who constitute nearly 90 per cent of the population.
As a typical rural community, the people as expected, are farmers on small holdings, cultivating food crops with cassava as the main crop. The other food crops are maize, plantain, cocoyam and yam.
While the cassava is processed into cassava dough and sent to the marketing centres at Koforidua and Accra, the remaining foodstuffs are consumed locally and as a result the farmers generate very little income; too meagre for their livelihood.
To make matters worse, the entire area which some years ago was a thick forest, has been reduced to bushes with virtually no trees due to the improper farming practices and activities of illegal chainsaw operators, especially on the mountains.
The indiscriminate destruction of the vegetation, particularly on the mountains, has exposed the rocks to the vagaries of the weather and some of rocks roll down onto the settlements underneath during a heavy downpour.
Such a situation resulted in landslides at Yensi in 1942 and 1987 but with no loss of human life, although some of the farms and property were destroyed.
The severest of the landslides, however, occurred in the afternoon of Tuesday, October 7, this year which claimed the lives of three persons.
The deceased, Doris Asantewa, 55, Yaa Oforiwaa, 72, and an infant, Kwasi Mantey, were buried alive and their bodies were retrieved by a combined task force comprising personnel of the Ghana Police and Fire Services with support from the people after nearly 48 hours of operation.
The tragedy threw the entire community into a state of mourning and also turned the village into a tourist attraction.
Many commuters along the Adukrom-Koforidua highway who had not seen a landslide of such magnitude before, rushed to the village for first hand information.
Shortly after the tragedy, a number of dignitaries and government officials also rushed to the scene to see how best to bring relief to the people.
The top officials included Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akuapem North and Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, a former Minister of State and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant for Okere.
The Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, who was on an official visit to the Kwahu area on the day of the tragedy, had to cut short the visit and return to the scene to offer the necessary assistance.
While Mr Adu Aboagye personally supervised the removal of the bodies, Mr Dan Botwe who had just returned to the country after a foreign tour, followed up the next day together with Mr Kwabena Agyepong, a representative of the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Mr Botwe initially presented GH¢200 to the bereaved family and also offered to single-handedly provide coffins for the burial of the victims as well as cater for other funeral expenses.
That aside, the prospective Okere MP further indicated his willingness to offer the necessary assistance that would help alleviate the suffering of the community.
That included the relocation of the village, which according to officials of the Geological Survey Department, is prone to landslide.
“It is unfortunate that some people have died from such a natural disaster and I will do my best to alleviate the situation in the short term as well as take steps to relocate you from the area if you so wish,” Mr Botwe stated.
Mr Botwe’s relief package followed a request by Mr Daniel Henaku, a relative of the victims and spokesman for the community who asked for support and relocation of the village.
For his part, Mr Afram Asiedu presented various relief items to the people and gave the assurance that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would follow up with concrete measures that would permanently alleviate their plight.
To put meaning to the promises, the almost impassable two-kilometre road linking Adukrom-Yensi to the main Koforidua-Adukrom road which had not been rehabilitated for years, has in the interim been reconditioned. It has also been planned to rehabilitate it periodically to make it motorable at all times.
The assistance and assurances as expected, have brought partial relief to the people with the hope that soon all that they were promised would be delivered at least before the onset of the next rainy season.
This would not only enable such unfortunate inhabitants to enjoy at least some of the basic necessities of life, but also make it possible for them to be permanently settled at safer locations in the area so that they would continue with food crops cultivation that have been the only economic venture in the area.
The tiny village, comprising about 10 houses with a population of about 100 people is approximately six kilometres away from Adukrom, the traditional capital of the Okere people who constitute nearly 90 per cent of the population.
As a typical rural community, the people as expected, are farmers on small holdings, cultivating food crops with cassava as the main crop. The other food crops are maize, plantain, cocoyam and yam.
While the cassava is processed into cassava dough and sent to the marketing centres at Koforidua and Accra, the remaining foodstuffs are consumed locally and as a result the farmers generate very little income; too meagre for their livelihood.
To make matters worse, the entire area which some years ago was a thick forest, has been reduced to bushes with virtually no trees due to the improper farming practices and activities of illegal chainsaw operators, especially on the mountains.
The indiscriminate destruction of the vegetation, particularly on the mountains, has exposed the rocks to the vagaries of the weather and some of rocks roll down onto the settlements underneath during a heavy downpour.
Such a situation resulted in landslides at Yensi in 1942 and 1987 but with no loss of human life, although some of the farms and property were destroyed.
The severest of the landslides, however, occurred in the afternoon of Tuesday, October 7, this year which claimed the lives of three persons.
The deceased, Doris Asantewa, 55, Yaa Oforiwaa, 72, and an infant, Kwasi Mantey, were buried alive and their bodies were retrieved by a combined task force comprising personnel of the Ghana Police and Fire Services with support from the people after nearly 48 hours of operation.
The tragedy threw the entire community into a state of mourning and also turned the village into a tourist attraction.
Many commuters along the Adukrom-Koforidua highway who had not seen a landslide of such magnitude before, rushed to the village for first hand information.
Shortly after the tragedy, a number of dignitaries and government officials also rushed to the scene to see how best to bring relief to the people.
The top officials included Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akuapem North and Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, a former Minister of State and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant for Okere.
The Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, who was on an official visit to the Kwahu area on the day of the tragedy, had to cut short the visit and return to the scene to offer the necessary assistance.
While Mr Adu Aboagye personally supervised the removal of the bodies, Mr Dan Botwe who had just returned to the country after a foreign tour, followed up the next day together with Mr Kwabena Agyepong, a representative of the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Mr Botwe initially presented GH¢200 to the bereaved family and also offered to single-handedly provide coffins for the burial of the victims as well as cater for other funeral expenses.
That aside, the prospective Okere MP further indicated his willingness to offer the necessary assistance that would help alleviate the suffering of the community.
That included the relocation of the village, which according to officials of the Geological Survey Department, is prone to landslide.
“It is unfortunate that some people have died from such a natural disaster and I will do my best to alleviate the situation in the short term as well as take steps to relocate you from the area if you so wish,” Mr Botwe stated.
Mr Botwe’s relief package followed a request by Mr Daniel Henaku, a relative of the victims and spokesman for the community who asked for support and relocation of the village.
For his part, Mr Afram Asiedu presented various relief items to the people and gave the assurance that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would follow up with concrete measures that would permanently alleviate their plight.
To put meaning to the promises, the almost impassable two-kilometre road linking Adukrom-Yensi to the main Koforidua-Adukrom road which had not been rehabilitated for years, has in the interim been reconditioned. It has also been planned to rehabilitate it periodically to make it motorable at all times.
The assistance and assurances as expected, have brought partial relief to the people with the hope that soon all that they were promised would be delivered at least before the onset of the next rainy season.
This would not only enable such unfortunate inhabitants to enjoy at least some of the basic necessities of life, but also make it possible for them to be permanently settled at safer locations in the area so that they would continue with food crops cultivation that have been the only economic venture in the area.
MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE POTABLE WATER — Says Minister (BACK PAGE)
MORE than half of rural communities in the country at the end of last year had access to potable water, the Minister of State for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has announced.
Madam Dapaah said the 54.86 per cent of rural communities which now enjoyed potable water exceeded the government’s target of 54.73 per cent.
She said at the current rate, the country was on course to achieve the 75 per cent target set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) water supply target for the year 2015.
Madam Cecilia Dapaah was speaking at the 11th Government of Ghana/development partners annual review conference on the water and sanitation sector at Akosombo.
The three-day conference, with the theme: “Taking Ownership: A critical step for sustainable water resources management and water and sanitation service delivery”, was organised by the Water Directorate of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, with the support of the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA).
The conference, which was being attended by representatives of stakeholders in the water sector, was among others, to take stock of the past year’s and current status of the water and sanitation sector, as well as to take a decision on how Ghana can take ownership of the water sector.
According to the minister, there had also been improvement in the provision of potable water for urban centres, which currently stood at 60 per cent.
She added that with the completion of water supply systems in urban areas such as the Accra East-West Inter-connection, Cape Coast, Koforidua and Tamale, 65 per cent of the urban population would be covered by the end of next year.
The minister further mentioned Ghana’s collaboration with its development partners in the water sector in three districts, namely, Dangbe West and Dangbe East in Greater Accra as well as North Tongu in the Volta Region,and that the implementation would help in the design and management of future rural projects of such magnitude for the benefit of the communities.
She also stated that bye laws to govern the management of water systems at the community and small towns level had been approved and adopted by the district and municipal assemblies where such facilities existed for the assemblies to monitor their operations, which she said would strengthen their ownership.
To protect water bodies, she stated that a Buffer Zone Policy was being prepared by the Water Resources Commission to regulate activities near water bodies, and that basin boards established to manage river basins were already functioning.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Alhaji Yeremia Awudu, asked landlords to provide places of convenience in their homes.
He also stated that the ministry would institute an award scheme on sanitation for practising journalists next year.
For his part, the Ambassador of the Danish Embassy in Ghana, Mr Stig Barlyng, gave the assurance that development partners, especially Denmark, would continue to assist to improve the water and sanitation sector in the country.
In his welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, said the region had benefited immensely from various water and sanitation programmes under the New Patriotic Party Administration, and expressed the government’s appreciation to development partners who supported the expansion work on the Koforidua Municipality Water System which is underway.
Madam Dapaah said the 54.86 per cent of rural communities which now enjoyed potable water exceeded the government’s target of 54.73 per cent.
She said at the current rate, the country was on course to achieve the 75 per cent target set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) water supply target for the year 2015.
Madam Cecilia Dapaah was speaking at the 11th Government of Ghana/development partners annual review conference on the water and sanitation sector at Akosombo.
The three-day conference, with the theme: “Taking Ownership: A critical step for sustainable water resources management and water and sanitation service delivery”, was organised by the Water Directorate of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, with the support of the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA).
The conference, which was being attended by representatives of stakeholders in the water sector, was among others, to take stock of the past year’s and current status of the water and sanitation sector, as well as to take a decision on how Ghana can take ownership of the water sector.
According to the minister, there had also been improvement in the provision of potable water for urban centres, which currently stood at 60 per cent.
She added that with the completion of water supply systems in urban areas such as the Accra East-West Inter-connection, Cape Coast, Koforidua and Tamale, 65 per cent of the urban population would be covered by the end of next year.
The minister further mentioned Ghana’s collaboration with its development partners in the water sector in three districts, namely, Dangbe West and Dangbe East in Greater Accra as well as North Tongu in the Volta Region,and that the implementation would help in the design and management of future rural projects of such magnitude for the benefit of the communities.
She also stated that bye laws to govern the management of water systems at the community and small towns level had been approved and adopted by the district and municipal assemblies where such facilities existed for the assemblies to monitor their operations, which she said would strengthen their ownership.
To protect water bodies, she stated that a Buffer Zone Policy was being prepared by the Water Resources Commission to regulate activities near water bodies, and that basin boards established to manage river basins were already functioning.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Alhaji Yeremia Awudu, asked landlords to provide places of convenience in their homes.
He also stated that the ministry would institute an award scheme on sanitation for practising journalists next year.
For his part, the Ambassador of the Danish Embassy in Ghana, Mr Stig Barlyng, gave the assurance that development partners, especially Denmark, would continue to assist to improve the water and sanitation sector in the country.
In his welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, said the region had benefited immensely from various water and sanitation programmes under the New Patriotic Party Administration, and expressed the government’s appreciation to development partners who supported the expansion work on the Koforidua Municipality Water System which is underway.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
GHANA NEEDS MORE POWER (SPREAD)
GHANA needs an additional supply of 4,000 megawatts of energy within the next four years if the country is to meet its middle-income target by 2015.
In addition, electricity tariffs within the same period must be accessible and affordable throughout the country for both domestic and industrial use.
The Minister of Energy, Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, made this known when he addressed the sixth annual conference of the Society of Volta River Authority Engineers at the Kpong Hydro-electric Dam site at Akuse at the weekend.
The conference, on the theme, “Power supply security for the West African sub-region in the face of dwindling energy sources”, was to identify the challenges in energy production to ensure uninterrupted power supply, not only in Ghana but also the entire West African sub-region, with the view to moving countries in the region into a middle-income status by the 2015 target.
Mr Owusu-Adjapong said although the country had managed to come out of the difficulties of inadequate power supply it faced last year due to natural causes, many communities still could not be connected to the national grid because of a number of reasons.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the country’s power generating plants to produce, within the next four years, more electricity, at least 4,000 megawatts, for the communities and also for industrial use.
That, he stated, would make it possible for Ghana to move into a middle-income status.
Mr Owusu-Adjapong also called for the enhancement of technology for energy production to ensure its security in the country.
Regarding regional integration, he said over the past decade energy offered the best mechanism in that respect and that the West African Gas Pipeline and the West African Power Pool Project would together contribute to the development of the economies of the countries concerned.
He, however, stressed the need for the sub-region to be guided by the failure of the CIMAO Project which was undertaken jointly by some countries in the sub-region.
In his welcoming address, the Chief Executive Officer of the VRA, Owura K. Sarfo, said more than 75 per cent of electricity demand was not met in the West African sub-region, although it had extremely low penetration rate.
According to Owura Sarfo, the VRA had taken steps to transform itself into an excellent energy utility provider to meet both domestic requirements and at the same time export to Togo, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso and other countries in the sub-region.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the VRA, Mr Kirk Koffi, chaired the function.
In addition, electricity tariffs within the same period must be accessible and affordable throughout the country for both domestic and industrial use.
The Minister of Energy, Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, made this known when he addressed the sixth annual conference of the Society of Volta River Authority Engineers at the Kpong Hydro-electric Dam site at Akuse at the weekend.
The conference, on the theme, “Power supply security for the West African sub-region in the face of dwindling energy sources”, was to identify the challenges in energy production to ensure uninterrupted power supply, not only in Ghana but also the entire West African sub-region, with the view to moving countries in the region into a middle-income status by the 2015 target.
Mr Owusu-Adjapong said although the country had managed to come out of the difficulties of inadequate power supply it faced last year due to natural causes, many communities still could not be connected to the national grid because of a number of reasons.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the country’s power generating plants to produce, within the next four years, more electricity, at least 4,000 megawatts, for the communities and also for industrial use.
That, he stated, would make it possible for Ghana to move into a middle-income status.
Mr Owusu-Adjapong also called for the enhancement of technology for energy production to ensure its security in the country.
Regarding regional integration, he said over the past decade energy offered the best mechanism in that respect and that the West African Gas Pipeline and the West African Power Pool Project would together contribute to the development of the economies of the countries concerned.
He, however, stressed the need for the sub-region to be guided by the failure of the CIMAO Project which was undertaken jointly by some countries in the sub-region.
In his welcoming address, the Chief Executive Officer of the VRA, Owura K. Sarfo, said more than 75 per cent of electricity demand was not met in the West African sub-region, although it had extremely low penetration rate.
According to Owura Sarfo, the VRA had taken steps to transform itself into an excellent energy utility provider to meet both domestic requirements and at the same time export to Togo, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso and other countries in the sub-region.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the VRA, Mr Kirk Koffi, chaired the function.
Monday, October 20, 2008
AKROPONG MARKS ODWIRA FESTIVAL (SPREAD)
A GRAND durbar to mark this year’s Odwira Festival of the chiefs and people of Akuapem has been held at Mpaniase, the forecourt of the Akropong palace of the Okuapehene, Oseadeoyo Addo Dankwa III.
The event, which had the theme “A Peaceful Environment is a Fulcrum for Growth and Development”, was attended by thousands of people from all walks of life, including chiefs and dignitaries such as the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Others were the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu; some ministers of state and the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr Edward Adu Aboagye.
Addressing the gathering, the guest speaker, Mr Asiedu, reiterated the call on the people of Akuapem to resolve their chieftaincy problems as well as ethnic rivalry and ethnocentrism which had continued to create serious misunderstanding among the people in the area.
He said the situation where security personnel had to be deployed from other places to maintain peace at an annual celebration with resources that could have otherwise gone into development projects, did not give the people in the area good image. He therefore asked them to bury their differences and smoke the peace pipe.
With regard to the achievements of the NPP Government since it assumed power in 2001, he stated that it had endeavoured to create the necessary enabling environment for human resource development, private sector competitiveness and civil responsibility, which, according to him, had been the pillars of its development agenda.
He said such good governance had made it possible to provide classroom blocks and health facilities as well as other poverty alleviation packages such as the Micro and Small Loans Scheme that had improved the lot of the people in all parts of the country. He cited the Akuapem North District as one of the districts that had benefited tremendously in that respect.
The National Youth Employment Programme, he also stated, had provided jobs for 451 people in the Akuapem area and added that these initiatives had gone a long way to improve the living standards of the people.
Nana Akufo-Addo, for his part, said despite belonging to different tribes, Ghanaians were one people and, therefore, should not consider the forthcoming general elections as a fight but rather as an event to select leaders capable of administering the country.
He, therefore, called for peaceful elections to prove to the outside world that Ghanaians were capable of electing their leaders peacefully through the ballot box.
The NPP flag bearer pledged to continue with the good work of President Kufuor and called on the people to support the party to retain power.
He also asked Akuapems to unite.
Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa whose speech was read on his behalf, acknowledged with satisfaction the relative peace the country was enjoying under the NPP Administration, which he said had facilitated the provision of many development projects in all parts of the country.
He further stated that since Akuapems were peaceful people they would adhere to that principle to resolve their internal chieftaincy disputes to help bring development to the area.
“We in this traditional area are noted for our proverbial peaceful attributes and we endeavour to maintain the respect accorded us by all and sundry while trying to resolve our internal chieftaincy disputes.
On education, the Okuapehene said the Akuapem Community Foundation initiated by Nana Oye Mansa Yeboaa, Dompimhene of the area, was addressing some of the challenges at the basic level.
Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa stated that two tertiary educational institutions, the Akrofi-Christaller Memorial Institute of Theology, Missions and Culture, and the Presbyterian University College were currently operating in the area and the North-eastern University would start enrolling students in August 2009. He also indicated that the traditional council would embrace any programme that would further enhance education in the area.
He expressed his gratitude to President Kufuor and the government for the numerous development projects executed in the area, especially the Adenta-Mamfe Road, which according to him had become one of the best highways in West Africa.
He also thanked the President for honouring some citizens of Akuapem for their invaluable contribution to the development of the country.
Those honoured included Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr Dan Botwe, one-time General Secretary of the NPP, who also was the Minister of Information; Mr Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, a journalist; Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa and Mrs Mercy Bampoe Addo, a Minister of State.
The event, which had the theme “A Peaceful Environment is a Fulcrum for Growth and Development”, was attended by thousands of people from all walks of life, including chiefs and dignitaries such as the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Others were the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu; some ministers of state and the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr Edward Adu Aboagye.
Addressing the gathering, the guest speaker, Mr Asiedu, reiterated the call on the people of Akuapem to resolve their chieftaincy problems as well as ethnic rivalry and ethnocentrism which had continued to create serious misunderstanding among the people in the area.
He said the situation where security personnel had to be deployed from other places to maintain peace at an annual celebration with resources that could have otherwise gone into development projects, did not give the people in the area good image. He therefore asked them to bury their differences and smoke the peace pipe.
With regard to the achievements of the NPP Government since it assumed power in 2001, he stated that it had endeavoured to create the necessary enabling environment for human resource development, private sector competitiveness and civil responsibility, which, according to him, had been the pillars of its development agenda.
He said such good governance had made it possible to provide classroom blocks and health facilities as well as other poverty alleviation packages such as the Micro and Small Loans Scheme that had improved the lot of the people in all parts of the country. He cited the Akuapem North District as one of the districts that had benefited tremendously in that respect.
The National Youth Employment Programme, he also stated, had provided jobs for 451 people in the Akuapem area and added that these initiatives had gone a long way to improve the living standards of the people.
Nana Akufo-Addo, for his part, said despite belonging to different tribes, Ghanaians were one people and, therefore, should not consider the forthcoming general elections as a fight but rather as an event to select leaders capable of administering the country.
He, therefore, called for peaceful elections to prove to the outside world that Ghanaians were capable of electing their leaders peacefully through the ballot box.
The NPP flag bearer pledged to continue with the good work of President Kufuor and called on the people to support the party to retain power.
He also asked Akuapems to unite.
Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa whose speech was read on his behalf, acknowledged with satisfaction the relative peace the country was enjoying under the NPP Administration, which he said had facilitated the provision of many development projects in all parts of the country.
He further stated that since Akuapems were peaceful people they would adhere to that principle to resolve their internal chieftaincy disputes to help bring development to the area.
“We in this traditional area are noted for our proverbial peaceful attributes and we endeavour to maintain the respect accorded us by all and sundry while trying to resolve our internal chieftaincy disputes.
On education, the Okuapehene said the Akuapem Community Foundation initiated by Nana Oye Mansa Yeboaa, Dompimhene of the area, was addressing some of the challenges at the basic level.
Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa stated that two tertiary educational institutions, the Akrofi-Christaller Memorial Institute of Theology, Missions and Culture, and the Presbyterian University College were currently operating in the area and the North-eastern University would start enrolling students in August 2009. He also indicated that the traditional council would embrace any programme that would further enhance education in the area.
He expressed his gratitude to President Kufuor and the government for the numerous development projects executed in the area, especially the Adenta-Mamfe Road, which according to him had become one of the best highways in West Africa.
He also thanked the President for honouring some citizens of Akuapem for their invaluable contribution to the development of the country.
Those honoured included Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr Dan Botwe, one-time General Secretary of the NPP, who also was the Minister of Information; Mr Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, a journalist; Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa and Mrs Mercy Bampoe Addo, a Minister of State.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
AFFRAM ASIEDU PRESENTS KITS TO NEEDY PUPIL (PAGE 22)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, has presented school items worth GH¢200 to Master Emmanuel Djoka, a Class One pupil of the Anoff Primary School in the Akuapem North District.
The items included two sets of uniforms, a pair of sandals, a school bag and stationery.
The regional minister came in contact with the boy who was not properly dressed when he visited schools during the first day of the basic schools academic year, popularly known as “My First Day in School”.
Mr Affram Asiedu, who said he was touched by the plight of the pupil, decided to assist him, since he had the potential for climbing the academic ladder.
Messrs Daniel Owiafe, the Headmaster of the school, and Manu Baffour, a member of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), expressed their appreciation to the regional minister for the gesture, and appealed for logistical support for the school to enhance teaching and learning.
In another development, Mr Affram Asiedu with the support of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council, has donated cash of GH¢750 and stationery to 15 brilliant financially constrained students in two schools in the Kwahu South District.
Each of the students from the Kwahu Ridge and Mpraeso Senior High schools received GH¢50, a school uniform, a pair of sandals, a school bag and other stationery items.
Early on, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Ghana had through the World Health Organisation presented similar items to 300 needy students and pupils in the region.
The items included two sets of uniforms, a pair of sandals, a school bag and stationery.
The regional minister came in contact with the boy who was not properly dressed when he visited schools during the first day of the basic schools academic year, popularly known as “My First Day in School”.
Mr Affram Asiedu, who said he was touched by the plight of the pupil, decided to assist him, since he had the potential for climbing the academic ladder.
Messrs Daniel Owiafe, the Headmaster of the school, and Manu Baffour, a member of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), expressed their appreciation to the regional minister for the gesture, and appealed for logistical support for the school to enhance teaching and learning.
In another development, Mr Affram Asiedu with the support of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council, has donated cash of GH¢750 and stationery to 15 brilliant financially constrained students in two schools in the Kwahu South District.
Each of the students from the Kwahu Ridge and Mpraeso Senior High schools received GH¢50, a school uniform, a pair of sandals, a school bag and other stationery items.
Early on, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Ghana had through the World Health Organisation presented similar items to 300 needy students and pupils in the region.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
KOFORIDUA WATER PROJECT TO BE READY NEXT FEBRUARY (PAGE 21)
THE Koforidua Water Project, with its treatment plant currently under construction at Bukonor, would start pumping treated water to the Koforidua Municipality in February, next year.
The facility would bring to an end the problem of perennial water shortage associated with the municipality.
Construction work on the project, which was started in August, last year by, a Belgian firm, Denys Construction, would draw raw water from the Volta Lake to the treatment plant to make available about four million gallons of water a day to supplement the 1.2 million gallons per day currently being provided by the Densu and Okomen rivers.
The municipality’s daily requirement of water is about four million gallons a day.
The Project Manager, Mr Okomen Mensah, made this known when the Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Professor Frempong Boateng, and his team visited the site .
The PURC team was in Koforidua for first-hand information on the project as well as find out problems facing Acqua Vittens Rand (Ghana Water Company) and the Electricity Company of Ghana in the Eastern Region.
Mr Okomen Mensah said 70 per cent of construction had been completed, adding that with the current rate of work, the project would be completed within the scheduled three-year period.
He said when the project was completed, water would be supplied to New Juaben and some parts of the East Akyem Municipality such as New Tafo and Osiem as well as other communities along the pipeline.
“By the end of December, this year, phase one of the project involving the construction of the treatment plant would have been completed after which the pipelines currently being laid, would also be in the finishing stages for water to flow to Koforidua,” Mr Okomen Mensah stated.
Professor Frimpong Boateng, who was impressed about the work being done by Denys Construction, with the support of Acqua Vittens Rand (Ghana Water Company), praised the two bodies for their collaboration that had hastened the work.
Prof Frimpong Boateng called on Acqua Vittens Rand to continue to offer good services to the people, and also advised consumers to promptly pay their bills.
Early on, the PURC team visited the regional offices of Acqua Vittens Rand and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) where their respective regional directors, Messrs H.D.K. Bansah and R. Arthur-Forson, briefed the members on the activities and challenges facing the two companies in the region.
Mr Arthur-Forson stated that pilfering of the company’s cables and the difficulties in collecting bills from consumers in rural communities were some of the problems facing his outfit.
He also said customers at Akyem Oda would soon be supplied with pre-paid meters.
For his part, Mr Bansah told the team that old pipelines which often burst made it impossible for some communities to enjoy regular water supply.
He, however, stated that his outfit was doing its best to make water available for the people.
The facility would bring to an end the problem of perennial water shortage associated with the municipality.
Construction work on the project, which was started in August, last year by, a Belgian firm, Denys Construction, would draw raw water from the Volta Lake to the treatment plant to make available about four million gallons of water a day to supplement the 1.2 million gallons per day currently being provided by the Densu and Okomen rivers.
The municipality’s daily requirement of water is about four million gallons a day.
The Project Manager, Mr Okomen Mensah, made this known when the Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Professor Frempong Boateng, and his team visited the site .
The PURC team was in Koforidua for first-hand information on the project as well as find out problems facing Acqua Vittens Rand (Ghana Water Company) and the Electricity Company of Ghana in the Eastern Region.
Mr Okomen Mensah said 70 per cent of construction had been completed, adding that with the current rate of work, the project would be completed within the scheduled three-year period.
He said when the project was completed, water would be supplied to New Juaben and some parts of the East Akyem Municipality such as New Tafo and Osiem as well as other communities along the pipeline.
“By the end of December, this year, phase one of the project involving the construction of the treatment plant would have been completed after which the pipelines currently being laid, would also be in the finishing stages for water to flow to Koforidua,” Mr Okomen Mensah stated.
Professor Frimpong Boateng, who was impressed about the work being done by Denys Construction, with the support of Acqua Vittens Rand (Ghana Water Company), praised the two bodies for their collaboration that had hastened the work.
Prof Frimpong Boateng called on Acqua Vittens Rand to continue to offer good services to the people, and also advised consumers to promptly pay their bills.
Early on, the PURC team visited the regional offices of Acqua Vittens Rand and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) where their respective regional directors, Messrs H.D.K. Bansah and R. Arthur-Forson, briefed the members on the activities and challenges facing the two companies in the region.
Mr Arthur-Forson stated that pilfering of the company’s cables and the difficulties in collecting bills from consumers in rural communities were some of the problems facing his outfit.
He also said customers at Akyem Oda would soon be supplied with pre-paid meters.
For his part, Mr Bansah told the team that old pipelines which often burst made it impossible for some communities to enjoy regular water supply.
He, however, stated that his outfit was doing its best to make water available for the people.
DAN BOTWE ASSISTS BEREAVED FAMILY (PAGE 17)
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant for the Okere Constituency in the Eastern Region, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, has decided to personally provide coffins for the three persons, Doris Asantewa, 55, Yaa Oforiwa, 72, and Kwasi Mantey, a three-year-old boy who lost their lives through landslide at Adukrom-Yensi, a farming village in the constituency, last Monday.
Mr Botwe, who initially presented GH¢200 to the bereaved family, also indicated that he would in addition cater for other funeral expenses.
He gave the assurance when he visited the bereaved family at Adukrom-Yensi recently.
He was accompanied by Mr Kwabena Agyepong, a member of the campaign team of the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, who represented the flag bearer.
Mr Dan Botwe, who was outside the country when the incident occurred, said he would in addition assist the community in diverse ways to make life worth living for the people.
He expressed his condolence to the bereaved family.
Mr Kwabena Agyepong, for his part, expressed Nana Akufo-Addo’s condolence to the bereaved family.
The District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, who was also present, stated that construction work on the trunk-road linking Adukrom-Yensi with the main Adukrom-Koforidua highway would start by the weekend to facilitate the movement of the people.
Earlier, a relative of the victims, Mr Daniel Henaku, briefed Mr Botwe and his team about the incident and thanked the DCE and all those who promptly came to their aid to retrieve the bodies of the victims.
Mr Henaku who also spoke on behalf of the community appealed to Mr Botwe to assist relocate them since their present abode had been declared to be not too safe by officials of the Geological Service.
Mr Botwe, who initially presented GH¢200 to the bereaved family, also indicated that he would in addition cater for other funeral expenses.
He gave the assurance when he visited the bereaved family at Adukrom-Yensi recently.
He was accompanied by Mr Kwabena Agyepong, a member of the campaign team of the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, who represented the flag bearer.
Mr Dan Botwe, who was outside the country when the incident occurred, said he would in addition assist the community in diverse ways to make life worth living for the people.
He expressed his condolence to the bereaved family.
Mr Kwabena Agyepong, for his part, expressed Nana Akufo-Addo’s condolence to the bereaved family.
The District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, who was also present, stated that construction work on the trunk-road linking Adukrom-Yensi with the main Adukrom-Koforidua highway would start by the weekend to facilitate the movement of the people.
Earlier, a relative of the victims, Mr Daniel Henaku, briefed Mr Botwe and his team about the incident and thanked the DCE and all those who promptly came to their aid to retrieve the bodies of the victims.
Mr Henaku who also spoke on behalf of the community appealed to Mr Botwe to assist relocate them since their present abode had been declared to be not too safe by officials of the Geological Service.
EDUCATION REFORM DEMAND HIGHLY TRAINED TEACHERS — REV AFO BLAY (PAGE 14(
A FORMER Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Very Reverend Ama Afo Blay, has suggested that all the teacher training colleges which were upgraded recently to the tertiary status of colleges of education, should rather be made university colleges.
This, she said, would make it possible for such university colleges to turn out the required first degree holders to staff educational institutions at the primary, junior and senior high schools.
The Very Rev Afo Blay made the suggestion when she addressed the 34th annual conference of Managers of Educational Units (COMEU) at Koforidua at the weekend.
The three-day meeting under the theme, “Religious Bodies in Education, Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward,” was to take stock of COMEU’s activities for the year and see how to address problems associated with educational institutions under its umbrella.
According to the Very Rev Afo Blay, the current educational reform programme calls for highly trained teachers who should be degree holders at the primary, junior high and senior high schools and that those holding diplomas, awarded by the colleges of education, lack certain qualities for the job.
The situation demanded that degree holders teach in all educational institutions, she noted, and therefore urged teachers to upgrade themselves to better take care of pupils and students who should be well trained to meet the challenges of the country.
The Very Rev Afo Blay dwelt extensively on various aspects of education and called on the authorities to appoint qualified and competent heads for schools run by religious bodies but not unqualified and incompetent ones who belonged to such religions.
Technical educational institutions, she stated, must also be equipped to produce personnel needed in industry, especially those to take care of the oil industry, otherwise foreigners would have to be recruited at the expense of Ghanaians.
She also stressed the need for managers and directors to co-operate, instead of seeing one another as enemies for the educational reforms to be successful.
The National President of COMEU, Rev S.K. Mensah said, over the years, his outfit had been discussing key issues on education and that it had promoted discipline and academics in school run by religious organisations, as a result of which the schools had become the preferred choices for parents and guardians seeking admission for their children or wards.
COMEU, he further said, had strengthened partnership between the government and the religious bodies for the effective running of the schools.
The acting Co-ordinator, Education Unit Management of the GES, Mrs Comfort Arthur, who represented the Director-General, called on school managers to collaborate with parents to curb occultism and other vices in schools and colleges.
The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Adjei Boateng, who also represented the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, appealed to the managers to collaborate with the government on educational matters, especially issues affecting teachers, to help avert strikes by the teachers, since such preventable strikes had had negative impacts on the academic performance of pupils and students.
He also called on the managers to help make this year’s elections violent-free.
Mrs Rene O. Boakye Boateng, Eastern Regional Director of Education, who chaired the function, expressed the hope that COMEU would continue to live up to expectation by improving the standard of education.
This, she said, would make it possible for such university colleges to turn out the required first degree holders to staff educational institutions at the primary, junior and senior high schools.
The Very Rev Afo Blay made the suggestion when she addressed the 34th annual conference of Managers of Educational Units (COMEU) at Koforidua at the weekend.
The three-day meeting under the theme, “Religious Bodies in Education, Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward,” was to take stock of COMEU’s activities for the year and see how to address problems associated with educational institutions under its umbrella.
According to the Very Rev Afo Blay, the current educational reform programme calls for highly trained teachers who should be degree holders at the primary, junior high and senior high schools and that those holding diplomas, awarded by the colleges of education, lack certain qualities for the job.
The situation demanded that degree holders teach in all educational institutions, she noted, and therefore urged teachers to upgrade themselves to better take care of pupils and students who should be well trained to meet the challenges of the country.
The Very Rev Afo Blay dwelt extensively on various aspects of education and called on the authorities to appoint qualified and competent heads for schools run by religious bodies but not unqualified and incompetent ones who belonged to such religions.
Technical educational institutions, she stated, must also be equipped to produce personnel needed in industry, especially those to take care of the oil industry, otherwise foreigners would have to be recruited at the expense of Ghanaians.
She also stressed the need for managers and directors to co-operate, instead of seeing one another as enemies for the educational reforms to be successful.
The National President of COMEU, Rev S.K. Mensah said, over the years, his outfit had been discussing key issues on education and that it had promoted discipline and academics in school run by religious organisations, as a result of which the schools had become the preferred choices for parents and guardians seeking admission for their children or wards.
COMEU, he further said, had strengthened partnership between the government and the religious bodies for the effective running of the schools.
The acting Co-ordinator, Education Unit Management of the GES, Mrs Comfort Arthur, who represented the Director-General, called on school managers to collaborate with parents to curb occultism and other vices in schools and colleges.
The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Adjei Boateng, who also represented the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, appealed to the managers to collaborate with the government on educational matters, especially issues affecting teachers, to help avert strikes by the teachers, since such preventable strikes had had negative impacts on the academic performance of pupils and students.
He also called on the managers to help make this year’s elections violent-free.
Mrs Rene O. Boakye Boateng, Eastern Regional Director of Education, who chaired the function, expressed the hope that COMEU would continue to live up to expectation by improving the standard of education.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
CRIG MAKES POSITIVE STRIDES ...As it marks 70th anniversary (PAGE 23)
IN June, 1938, the British Colonial Administration established a research institute, the Tafo Central Cocoa Research Station, in the then Eastern Province (Eastern Region) to research primarily into cocoa production.
The station, which was placed within the then Gold Coast Department of Agriculture, was given the responsibility to investigate pest and disease control of cocoa, primarily in the Eastern Province.
In 1944 when the colonial administration realised the huge income cocoa was generating into the national economy, it upgraded the station and renamed it West Africa Cocoa Research Institute (WACRI) with additional responsibility to research into soil fertility and agricultural practices with the view to increasing cocoa yield.
Its activities at the same period were also widened to research into other crops such as coffee, kola, shea-nut and cashew, as well as the processing of cocoa and the mandated crops and also to provide information and advice on all matters relating to the production and processing of by-products of the crops.
Currently, CRIG’s seven research divisions comprising of Agronomy/Soil Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Physiology/Biochemistry, Social Science and Statistics and New Products Development altogether have a labour force of about 1,200.
They include scientists and other category of workers, majority of them unskilled, helping in research work and also assisting farmers, especially those cultivating cocoa, with modern farming practices.
Some of the workers, especially the extension officers, could be found in most of the cocoa-growing areas such as Eastern, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo and the Western regions where virgin forests are being cleared for new farms, guiding the farmers on modern agronomical practices.
The institute has also developed seedlings of the new high-yielding hybrid cocoa that start bearing pods after two-and-a-half years of planting, to replace the Amelonado and Amezonia types. They have been made available to the farmers for planting.
Such initiatives as expected led to a rise in cocoa production, which increased from 300,000 metric tonnes in 2002 to more than 700,000 tonnes in 2004.
With the spraying of cocoa farms free of charge by the government, production of the crop has been projected to hit over a million tonnes at the end of the 2008/2009 cocoa season.
It is further anticipated that a financial package offered by the government to cocoa farmers to rehabilitate old farms with the high-yielding hybrid cocoa would in the next three years double production that would make the country to possibly regain its premier position in the production of cocoa in the world.
Apart from producing the raw cocoa, researchers at CRIG have been able to use cocoa husks, juice and the bad beans that under normal circumstances would have gone waste, to produce finished goods such as cocoa butter, soap (alata samina), liquid soap, pomade and alcoholic beverages, such as gin, brandy and wine.
Other products that have been extracted from cocoa waste are animal feed and potash fertiliser.
However, the inability to secure local and foreign entrepreneurs to invest in the mass production of the finished products for both home consumption and export, is one of the biggest challenges of CRIG.
Despite its numerous activities and significant contribution, especially to the production and processing of cocoa, a large segment of the population seems to be unaware of such activities. In order to create awareness of such activities, CRIG, as part of its 70th anniversary, carried out an exhibition on its premises at New Tafo last week.
The activities, which started from the nursing, planting, harvesting and drying of the cocoa beans, also highlighted the processes by which finished goods such as cocoa butter and alcoholic beverages are extracted from the raw cocoa beans.
It brought together pupils and students of first and second-cycle educational institutions and the universities to have first-hand information on the various aspects of cocoa production and processing.
One significant aspect of the celebration was a quiz competition for 12 junior high schools (JHS) in the New Tafo area, namely CRIG JHS, Presbyterian JHS, Gifpraise JHS, Feeden JHS, Catholic JHS, Methodist JHS, all at Tafo, and Amponfi JHS at Osiem, OPASS JHS and Methodist JHS, both at Kukurantumi and the SOS JHS at Asiakwa.
Questions for the keenly competed competition which was won by OPASS JHS with CRIG JHS and Feeden JHS respectively taking the second and third positions were based on all aspects of cocoa production.
According to the Executive Director of CRIG, Dr Adu Ampomah, the competition was to enable the students to know more about cocoa and to generate interest in its cultivation.
At the open day to commemorate the 70th anniversary celebration of the institute on its New Tafo premises, Dr Adu Ampomah stated that it had been the aim of the institute to open its doors to enable people to know of its various activities that had gone a long way to boost cocoa production, as well as the processing of its by-products into consumables.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that the open day would provide a unique opportunity for all stakeholders comprising farmers, processors, agro chemical dealers, cocoa licensed buying companies, students, extension officers and the academia both from near and afar, to share ideas on the cocoa industry.
The achievements of CRIG have indeed won the admiration of many people including investors, the academia and officials of the Cocoa Producers Alliance, especially its Secretary General, Mr Sona Ebai, who was in the country for the 70th anniversary celebration.
Mr Sona Ebai simply remarked that CRIG had really contributed to cocoa production in Ghana and must therefore be given the necessary assistance to continue with its research works.
With the successes so far chalked up within its 70 years of existence, coupled with the increase foreign and local investment in the processing of cocoa beans in the country for the manufacture of various consumer goods, it is anticipated that CRIG would continue to live up to expectation to help increase production of the crop to meet the ever increasing demand for the produce both at home and abroad.
The station, which was placed within the then Gold Coast Department of Agriculture, was given the responsibility to investigate pest and disease control of cocoa, primarily in the Eastern Province.
In 1944 when the colonial administration realised the huge income cocoa was generating into the national economy, it upgraded the station and renamed it West Africa Cocoa Research Institute (WACRI) with additional responsibility to research into soil fertility and agricultural practices with the view to increasing cocoa yield.
Its activities at the same period were also widened to research into other crops such as coffee, kola, shea-nut and cashew, as well as the processing of cocoa and the mandated crops and also to provide information and advice on all matters relating to the production and processing of by-products of the crops.
Currently, CRIG’s seven research divisions comprising of Agronomy/Soil Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Physiology/Biochemistry, Social Science and Statistics and New Products Development altogether have a labour force of about 1,200.
They include scientists and other category of workers, majority of them unskilled, helping in research work and also assisting farmers, especially those cultivating cocoa, with modern farming practices.
Some of the workers, especially the extension officers, could be found in most of the cocoa-growing areas such as Eastern, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo and the Western regions where virgin forests are being cleared for new farms, guiding the farmers on modern agronomical practices.
The institute has also developed seedlings of the new high-yielding hybrid cocoa that start bearing pods after two-and-a-half years of planting, to replace the Amelonado and Amezonia types. They have been made available to the farmers for planting.
Such initiatives as expected led to a rise in cocoa production, which increased from 300,000 metric tonnes in 2002 to more than 700,000 tonnes in 2004.
With the spraying of cocoa farms free of charge by the government, production of the crop has been projected to hit over a million tonnes at the end of the 2008/2009 cocoa season.
It is further anticipated that a financial package offered by the government to cocoa farmers to rehabilitate old farms with the high-yielding hybrid cocoa would in the next three years double production that would make the country to possibly regain its premier position in the production of cocoa in the world.
Apart from producing the raw cocoa, researchers at CRIG have been able to use cocoa husks, juice and the bad beans that under normal circumstances would have gone waste, to produce finished goods such as cocoa butter, soap (alata samina), liquid soap, pomade and alcoholic beverages, such as gin, brandy and wine.
Other products that have been extracted from cocoa waste are animal feed and potash fertiliser.
However, the inability to secure local and foreign entrepreneurs to invest in the mass production of the finished products for both home consumption and export, is one of the biggest challenges of CRIG.
Despite its numerous activities and significant contribution, especially to the production and processing of cocoa, a large segment of the population seems to be unaware of such activities. In order to create awareness of such activities, CRIG, as part of its 70th anniversary, carried out an exhibition on its premises at New Tafo last week.
The activities, which started from the nursing, planting, harvesting and drying of the cocoa beans, also highlighted the processes by which finished goods such as cocoa butter and alcoholic beverages are extracted from the raw cocoa beans.
It brought together pupils and students of first and second-cycle educational institutions and the universities to have first-hand information on the various aspects of cocoa production and processing.
One significant aspect of the celebration was a quiz competition for 12 junior high schools (JHS) in the New Tafo area, namely CRIG JHS, Presbyterian JHS, Gifpraise JHS, Feeden JHS, Catholic JHS, Methodist JHS, all at Tafo, and Amponfi JHS at Osiem, OPASS JHS and Methodist JHS, both at Kukurantumi and the SOS JHS at Asiakwa.
Questions for the keenly competed competition which was won by OPASS JHS with CRIG JHS and Feeden JHS respectively taking the second and third positions were based on all aspects of cocoa production.
According to the Executive Director of CRIG, Dr Adu Ampomah, the competition was to enable the students to know more about cocoa and to generate interest in its cultivation.
At the open day to commemorate the 70th anniversary celebration of the institute on its New Tafo premises, Dr Adu Ampomah stated that it had been the aim of the institute to open its doors to enable people to know of its various activities that had gone a long way to boost cocoa production, as well as the processing of its by-products into consumables.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that the open day would provide a unique opportunity for all stakeholders comprising farmers, processors, agro chemical dealers, cocoa licensed buying companies, students, extension officers and the academia both from near and afar, to share ideas on the cocoa industry.
The achievements of CRIG have indeed won the admiration of many people including investors, the academia and officials of the Cocoa Producers Alliance, especially its Secretary General, Mr Sona Ebai, who was in the country for the 70th anniversary celebration.
Mr Sona Ebai simply remarked that CRIG had really contributed to cocoa production in Ghana and must therefore be given the necessary assistance to continue with its research works.
With the successes so far chalked up within its 70 years of existence, coupled with the increase foreign and local investment in the processing of cocoa beans in the country for the manufacture of various consumer goods, it is anticipated that CRIG would continue to live up to expectation to help increase production of the crop to meet the ever increasing demand for the produce both at home and abroad.
CIBA EXECUTIVES TO GO SCHOOL (PAGE 23)
FORTY executive members of the Council of Indigenous Business Association (CIBA), a body of operators of small-scale businesses such as bakeries, “chop” and drinking bars, as well as traders of various merchandise, have attended a two-day seminar at Koforidua.
The seminar, which was organised by the Employers Association with sponsorship from the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA), was aimed at equipping the participants with the rudiments of business management for the sustenance of such businesses.
In an address, the Executive Secretary of CIBA, Mr Ralph Ameyaw, said it had become necessary for owners or operators of small-scale businesses to keep abreast of the rudiments in business management to enable them to properly manage such concerns.
According to him, most of CIBA’s members did not have the required skills to properly manage their businesses and therefore the businesses could not survive after limited periods of operation.
“We have to properly school owners of these businesses on business management and how to source for funds from the financial institutions because they constitute the biggest segment of the private sector,” Mr Ameyaw stated.
He said the initiative, which would in the long term alleviate poverty in the region, was in line with Ghana’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, which highlights capacity building for job creation.
According to Mr Ameyaw, the participants would also be educated on pension schemes, adding that the overall programme would be beneficial to the country, since a large segment of the population would not only be able to either manage their businesses, but would also have pension to rely on at old age.
In his welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Chairman of CIBA, Mr Stephen Kwabla, stressed the need for the participants to add value to their services.
That, he said, would enable them to better serve their customers to generate more income for their sustenance.
The seminar, which was organised by the Employers Association with sponsorship from the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA), was aimed at equipping the participants with the rudiments of business management for the sustenance of such businesses.
In an address, the Executive Secretary of CIBA, Mr Ralph Ameyaw, said it had become necessary for owners or operators of small-scale businesses to keep abreast of the rudiments in business management to enable them to properly manage such concerns.
According to him, most of CIBA’s members did not have the required skills to properly manage their businesses and therefore the businesses could not survive after limited periods of operation.
“We have to properly school owners of these businesses on business management and how to source for funds from the financial institutions because they constitute the biggest segment of the private sector,” Mr Ameyaw stated.
He said the initiative, which would in the long term alleviate poverty in the region, was in line with Ghana’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, which highlights capacity building for job creation.
According to Mr Ameyaw, the participants would also be educated on pension schemes, adding that the overall programme would be beneficial to the country, since a large segment of the population would not only be able to either manage their businesses, but would also have pension to rely on at old age.
In his welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Chairman of CIBA, Mr Stephen Kwabla, stressed the need for the participants to add value to their services.
That, he said, would enable them to better serve their customers to generate more income for their sustenance.
WEST AKYEM CARPENTERS APPEAL FOR CONTRACTS (PAGE 23)
MEMBERS of the New Generation Carpenters Association (NEGCA) in the West Akyem District have appealed to the West Akyem Municipal Assembly and other government agencies to award the contracts to the association.
The association, which also urged the assembly to employ its members, stated that such a gesture would enable the association and its members to generate income for their livelihood.
Messrs Daniel Okoh and Emmanuel Marfo, the Chairman and Secretary respectively of NEGCA, made the appeal when the association recently met officials of the Municipal Assembly at Asamankese, the municipal capital.
The event, which was organised by the Business Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC), was to drum home the challenges of the carpenters and to see how best to assist the carpenters in their vocation.
According to Messrs Okoh and Marfo, although the association’s members were capable of producing any type of furniture, the production of desks for schools in the municipality were often made by carpenters outside the area.
They noted with concern that such a practice had virtually rendered them redundant, making it almost impossible for them to honour their tax obligations.
They, therefore, appealed to the assembly and other government agencies to award them contracts for the production of school furniture for schools in the municipality.
“We want the municipal assembly to see us as partners in development and award us contracts for the production of furniture to enable us to generate income, pay taxes and cater for ourselves and families,” they stressed.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kwabena Sintim Aboagye, who was present at the meeting, gave the assurance that the assembly would see how best to address the problem facing the carpenters.
The association, which also urged the assembly to employ its members, stated that such a gesture would enable the association and its members to generate income for their livelihood.
Messrs Daniel Okoh and Emmanuel Marfo, the Chairman and Secretary respectively of NEGCA, made the appeal when the association recently met officials of the Municipal Assembly at Asamankese, the municipal capital.
The event, which was organised by the Business Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC), was to drum home the challenges of the carpenters and to see how best to assist the carpenters in their vocation.
According to Messrs Okoh and Marfo, although the association’s members were capable of producing any type of furniture, the production of desks for schools in the municipality were often made by carpenters outside the area.
They noted with concern that such a practice had virtually rendered them redundant, making it almost impossible for them to honour their tax obligations.
They, therefore, appealed to the assembly and other government agencies to award them contracts for the production of school furniture for schools in the municipality.
“We want the municipal assembly to see us as partners in development and award us contracts for the production of furniture to enable us to generate income, pay taxes and cater for ourselves and families,” they stressed.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kwabena Sintim Aboagye, who was present at the meeting, gave the assurance that the assembly would see how best to address the problem facing the carpenters.
Friday, October 10, 2008
NATIONAL MATHS COMPETITION LAUNCHED (PAGE 14)
THE EASTERN Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, has reiterated the call on polytechnics to design appropriate programmes to help address the country’s technological challenges.
Mr Affram Asiedu made the call at the 13th matriculation of the Koforidua Polytechnic in Koforidua last Saturday. In all, 1,757 out of 2,029 applicants were offered admission to pursue various programmes.
The Regional Minister stressed the need for the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) to nurture, protect, guide and encourage the polytechnics to take full advantage of the autonomy that had been granted them to offer their own degrees in areas such as manufacturing, commerce, science, technology, applied social science and applied arts.
He said the National Accreditation Board (NAB) must also be proactive rather than being reactionary in its dealings with the polytechnics on programmes of accreditation as such institutions geared up to start degree programmes to update the skills of Higher National Diploma (HND) holders.
He stated that the government recognised the need for polytechnic education and that was why it was assisting polytechnics in various ways, particularly in infrastructure and logistics, and advised the students to make good use of the opportunity offered them
The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr George Afrane, said the polytechnic would introduce summer modular programmes next year to provide access for more applicants and to enhance internally generated funds.
Dr Afrane said the polytechnic would introduce a B.Tech programme next academic year, adding that other degree programmes in accountancy, procurement and waste management would also start soon.
Mr Affram Asiedu made the call at the 13th matriculation of the Koforidua Polytechnic in Koforidua last Saturday. In all, 1,757 out of 2,029 applicants were offered admission to pursue various programmes.
The Regional Minister stressed the need for the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) to nurture, protect, guide and encourage the polytechnics to take full advantage of the autonomy that had been granted them to offer their own degrees in areas such as manufacturing, commerce, science, technology, applied social science and applied arts.
He said the National Accreditation Board (NAB) must also be proactive rather than being reactionary in its dealings with the polytechnics on programmes of accreditation as such institutions geared up to start degree programmes to update the skills of Higher National Diploma (HND) holders.
He stated that the government recognised the need for polytechnic education and that was why it was assisting polytechnics in various ways, particularly in infrastructure and logistics, and advised the students to make good use of the opportunity offered them
The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr George Afrane, said the polytechnic would introduce summer modular programmes next year to provide access for more applicants and to enhance internally generated funds.
Dr Afrane said the polytechnic would introduce a B.Tech programme next academic year, adding that other degree programmes in accountancy, procurement and waste management would also start soon.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
LOW ATTENDANCE AT VOTING CENTRES (PAGE 17)
RESPONSE to the exhibition of the voters register has been slow at the various centres in the New Juaben Municipality in the Eastern Region.
In all the centres visited so far, only a handful of people have trickled in at an average interval of 10 minutes per person.
This has made the exhibition officers idle.
At the St Dominic Polling Centre at Adweso, out of the 757 people in the register, only 55 had checked their names as of 11 a.m. on Monday.
At the Anglican Primary Centre at Ohemma Park, Betspoom, only 48 people had come to check on their names, and according to the Exhibition Officer, Miss Hilda A Boateng, with the low patronage, it would be difficult for registered voters to check on their names within the seven-day period of the exhibition.
At the St Mary’s KG Centre, also at Bettspom one Godfred Austen Boateng was identified to have registered double and the exhibition officers at the two centres where Austen Boateng’s name had appeared had sent for him to indicate which of the two centres he would like to vote so that his name would be deleted from one of the registers.
The name of another person who was said to be dead was also identified at the centre.
The situation was not different at the Legion Hall Centre and according to the official, Mr Manfold Emmanuel, only 65 out of the 655 persons who registered had visited the centre to check on their names.
When contacted on the issue, the Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Paul Boateng, said although the initial response to the exercise had been very low, the situation would reverse, and that by the end of the seven-day exercise, most of those registered would be able to check on their names.
In Takoradi, Kwame Asiedu Marfo reports that there was also very low patronage of the exhibition of the voters register for people who had registered to check on their names.
A total of 41 registered voters had gone to check on their names at the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘A’ polling station when the Daily Graphic went round some of the polling stations on Sunday.
Seventeen people checked their names on Sunday when the exhibition began, while 24 had gone to check on their names as of 12 noon on Monday.
The polling station has 765 registered voters on the old list of the registered voters and 228 on the new list of the limited registered voters.
At the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘B’ polling station 36 registered voters had checked on their names, 17 on Sunday, while 19 as of 12 noon on Monday. The polling station has 761 registered voters on the old list and 283 voters on the new list.
The story was the same at the Police Canteen polling station where a total of 24 registered voters had so far checked on their names. Fourteen people checked on their names on Sunday, with 10 people checking theirs on Monday.
The polling station has 616 registered voters on the old list and 200 voters on the new list.
An Exhibition Officer for the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘A’ and ‘B’ Polling Stations, Mr Columbus Brace was not happy about the pace at which the people were trickling in to check their names.
"They are not coming. They come one after the other", he said.
An Exhibition Officer at the Police Canteen polling station, Mr Slyvester Ankomah also expressed similar concern since nobody had been there to check on his or her name.
In all the centres visited so far, only a handful of people have trickled in at an average interval of 10 minutes per person.
This has made the exhibition officers idle.
At the St Dominic Polling Centre at Adweso, out of the 757 people in the register, only 55 had checked their names as of 11 a.m. on Monday.
At the Anglican Primary Centre at Ohemma Park, Betspoom, only 48 people had come to check on their names, and according to the Exhibition Officer, Miss Hilda A Boateng, with the low patronage, it would be difficult for registered voters to check on their names within the seven-day period of the exhibition.
At the St Mary’s KG Centre, also at Bettspom one Godfred Austen Boateng was identified to have registered double and the exhibition officers at the two centres where Austen Boateng’s name had appeared had sent for him to indicate which of the two centres he would like to vote so that his name would be deleted from one of the registers.
The name of another person who was said to be dead was also identified at the centre.
The situation was not different at the Legion Hall Centre and according to the official, Mr Manfold Emmanuel, only 65 out of the 655 persons who registered had visited the centre to check on their names.
When contacted on the issue, the Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Paul Boateng, said although the initial response to the exercise had been very low, the situation would reverse, and that by the end of the seven-day exercise, most of those registered would be able to check on their names.
In Takoradi, Kwame Asiedu Marfo reports that there was also very low patronage of the exhibition of the voters register for people who had registered to check on their names.
A total of 41 registered voters had gone to check on their names at the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘A’ polling station when the Daily Graphic went round some of the polling stations on Sunday.
Seventeen people checked their names on Sunday when the exhibition began, while 24 had gone to check on their names as of 12 noon on Monday.
The polling station has 765 registered voters on the old list of the registered voters and 228 on the new list of the limited registered voters.
At the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘B’ polling station 36 registered voters had checked on their names, 17 on Sunday, while 19 as of 12 noon on Monday. The polling station has 761 registered voters on the old list and 283 voters on the new list.
The story was the same at the Police Canteen polling station where a total of 24 registered voters had so far checked on their names. Fourteen people checked on their names on Sunday, with 10 people checking theirs on Monday.
The polling station has 616 registered voters on the old list and 200 voters on the new list.
An Exhibition Officer for the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘A’ and ‘B’ Polling Stations, Mr Columbus Brace was not happy about the pace at which the people were trickling in to check their names.
"They are not coming. They come one after the other", he said.
An Exhibition Officer at the Police Canteen polling station, Mr Slyvester Ankomah also expressed similar concern since nobody had been there to check on his or her name.
Friday, October 3, 2008
IT'S TIME TO VOTE CPP — SAKARA (PAGE 12)
THE running mate of the flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Abu Sakara, has called on Ghanaians to rally behind the CPP to win this year’s general election.
He explained that since both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had had their turn to resuscitate the economy but could not do so, it was time the CPP was given the political mantle to resuscitate the economy.
He said such an opportunity to serve the nation would enable the CPP to implement its humane policies to put the economy on sound footing and bring relief to the people.
Dr Sakara made the statement when he met the party’s Eastern Regional executive members at Koforidua last Tuesday.
He also paid a courtesy call on the leaders of the Koforidua Zongo Community.
The CPP running mate, who was accompanied by Dr Kwaku Safo, a leading member of the party, and other national executive members, was in the Eastern Regional capital to confer with the executive members in the region on strategies to be adopted to convincingly win the elections.
According to Dr Sakara, although both the NPP and the NDC had the opportunity to rule the country for two consecutive terms, they could not streamline the economy to improve the living condition of the people, who, he said, should not make the unpardonable mistake of voting for any of the two parties again but rather support the CPP, which, he said, was capable of providing the necessary amenities and programmes that would make life worth living for all.
“Both the NPP and the NDC have had their time but could not do anything to alleviate the suffering of the people and it is now time for you to support the CPP to come to power to implement its humane policies to alleviate the suffering of the people,” Dr Sakara stated to a thunderous applause.
“The CPP is now rejuvenated, growing from strength to strength and poised for victory to take over from the NPP after which we shall fight for emancipation from poverty, which has been the order of the day due to the maladministration of the NPP and the NDC,” he said.
Dr Sakara, who indicated some of the measures to be taken if CPP won the elections as separation of the Attorney-General’s Department from the Ministry of Justice and the election of district chief executives instead of having them appointed, gave the assurance that the CPP had the men capable of leading the country to progress.
For his part, Dr Kwaku Safo said despite losing the presidential slot for the CPP, he decided to devote his resources to the campaign of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the flag bearer, and Dr Sakara, to enable the party to win back power, which was violently taken away from it by the military in 1966.
He gave the assurance that the CPP would come out with a lot of initiatives such as a housing programme that would make it possible for the poor to also own houses.
Dr Safo, who catalogued a number of problems such as high school fees at the secondary and tertiary levels and the sale of state property by the NPP Administration, stated that the only way to reverse such a bad trend was for every member of the party to go to the rural areas “to propagate the CPP gospel of humane policies” to get the necessary support for it to win the elections.
He explained that since both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had had their turn to resuscitate the economy but could not do so, it was time the CPP was given the political mantle to resuscitate the economy.
He said such an opportunity to serve the nation would enable the CPP to implement its humane policies to put the economy on sound footing and bring relief to the people.
Dr Sakara made the statement when he met the party’s Eastern Regional executive members at Koforidua last Tuesday.
He also paid a courtesy call on the leaders of the Koforidua Zongo Community.
The CPP running mate, who was accompanied by Dr Kwaku Safo, a leading member of the party, and other national executive members, was in the Eastern Regional capital to confer with the executive members in the region on strategies to be adopted to convincingly win the elections.
According to Dr Sakara, although both the NPP and the NDC had the opportunity to rule the country for two consecutive terms, they could not streamline the economy to improve the living condition of the people, who, he said, should not make the unpardonable mistake of voting for any of the two parties again but rather support the CPP, which, he said, was capable of providing the necessary amenities and programmes that would make life worth living for all.
“Both the NPP and the NDC have had their time but could not do anything to alleviate the suffering of the people and it is now time for you to support the CPP to come to power to implement its humane policies to alleviate the suffering of the people,” Dr Sakara stated to a thunderous applause.
“The CPP is now rejuvenated, growing from strength to strength and poised for victory to take over from the NPP after which we shall fight for emancipation from poverty, which has been the order of the day due to the maladministration of the NPP and the NDC,” he said.
Dr Sakara, who indicated some of the measures to be taken if CPP won the elections as separation of the Attorney-General’s Department from the Ministry of Justice and the election of district chief executives instead of having them appointed, gave the assurance that the CPP had the men capable of leading the country to progress.
For his part, Dr Kwaku Safo said despite losing the presidential slot for the CPP, he decided to devote his resources to the campaign of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the flag bearer, and Dr Sakara, to enable the party to win back power, which was violently taken away from it by the military in 1966.
He gave the assurance that the CPP would come out with a lot of initiatives such as a housing programme that would make it possible for the poor to also own houses.
Dr Safo, who catalogued a number of problems such as high school fees at the secondary and tertiary levels and the sale of state property by the NPP Administration, stated that the only way to reverse such a bad trend was for every member of the party to go to the rural areas “to propagate the CPP gospel of humane policies” to get the necessary support for it to win the elections.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
EX-CONVICT HELD OVER MURDER (PAGE 34)
THE Koforidua police have arrested a 30-year-old man, Abraham Narh, who is alleged to have shot dead one Stephen Tetteh at Huhunya, near Koforidua.
The deceased, who was said to have refused a request from Narh to join his armed robbery gang, was found dead in his house at Huhunya in the early hours of last Thursday, September 25.
Two others, Korkor Atteh, 25, said to be Tetteh’s sister, and Narh’s girlfriend, and Nathan Komlon, 23, suspected to be accomplices in the murder, have also been apprehended.
Briefing the press in Koforidua last Monday, the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent John Naami, said on September 24, this year, Narh asked Tetteh to join an armed robbery gang of which he (Narh) was a member.
He said Tetteh declined the request and reported the matter to a prominent person at Huhunya who advised him to report it to the police.
According to Supt Naami, Tetteh, however, did not report to the police but went home. He was found dead in the house the following day, his body riddled with bullets.
He said police investigations led to the arrest of the suspect, who had in his possession a locally manufactured gun and substances believed to be Indian hemp.
Supt Naami stated that Narh, who the police said was once a convict, told the police that he had shot Tetteh because he had been contracted to do so by a group of people who accused him (Tetteh) of being responsible for the death of their relative.
The police commander said when Narh was questioned about the Indian hemp in his possession, he said he had assisted some farmers who cultivated the plant and it was they who had given the stuff to him as payment.
The suspect later led a police contingent, under the command of ASP Manase Nyasem, who is in charge of Operations in the region, to the farm, where four persons — Joseph Tetteh, Comfort Koryo, Dawutey Emmanuel and Ben Anterkyi — were arrested.
ASP Nyasem said the four, who were apprehended while they were busily working on the farm, had also been placed in cells, while further investigations continued.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of the Regional Hospital, Koforidua, while the suspects have been put in cells at the Koforidua Central Police Station.
The deceased, who was said to have refused a request from Narh to join his armed robbery gang, was found dead in his house at Huhunya in the early hours of last Thursday, September 25.
Two others, Korkor Atteh, 25, said to be Tetteh’s sister, and Narh’s girlfriend, and Nathan Komlon, 23, suspected to be accomplices in the murder, have also been apprehended.
Briefing the press in Koforidua last Monday, the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent John Naami, said on September 24, this year, Narh asked Tetteh to join an armed robbery gang of which he (Narh) was a member.
He said Tetteh declined the request and reported the matter to a prominent person at Huhunya who advised him to report it to the police.
According to Supt Naami, Tetteh, however, did not report to the police but went home. He was found dead in the house the following day, his body riddled with bullets.
He said police investigations led to the arrest of the suspect, who had in his possession a locally manufactured gun and substances believed to be Indian hemp.
Supt Naami stated that Narh, who the police said was once a convict, told the police that he had shot Tetteh because he had been contracted to do so by a group of people who accused him (Tetteh) of being responsible for the death of their relative.
The police commander said when Narh was questioned about the Indian hemp in his possession, he said he had assisted some farmers who cultivated the plant and it was they who had given the stuff to him as payment.
The suspect later led a police contingent, under the command of ASP Manase Nyasem, who is in charge of Operations in the region, to the farm, where four persons — Joseph Tetteh, Comfort Koryo, Dawutey Emmanuel and Ben Anterkyi — were arrested.
ASP Nyasem said the four, who were apprehended while they were busily working on the farm, had also been placed in cells, while further investigations continued.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of the Regional Hospital, Koforidua, while the suspects have been put in cells at the Koforidua Central Police Station.
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