THE EASTERN Regional Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Mr Kwaku Asamoah, sustained multiple wounds when he was severely beaten by armed robbers in Koforidua in the early hours of last Friday.
Asamoah who was first sent to the Regional Hospital, Koforidua, was later taken away to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
The armed robbers, numbering six with masks on their faces, attacked Asamoah and his brother, one Daniel Boateng, who was sleeping in one of the rooms in the compound house.
The robbers after molesting the two brothers took their mobile phones and fled.
According to an eyewitness, the robbers attempted to attack other occupants in the house but took to their heel when they realised that policemen were getting near the house.
When contacted, the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent John Naami, confirmed the attack and said investigations were ongoing to track down the robbers.
Superintendent Naami who was holding a meeting with the Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP David Ampah-Benni, on the issue, was hopeful that the robbers would be apprehended to face the full rigours of the law.
Monday, March 30, 2009
ABURI GIRLS RECORDS 100 PER CENT PASS IN WASSCE (PAGE 11)
Aburi Girls Senior High School last year recorded 100 per cent pass in the West Africa School Certificate Examination (WASCE) out of which 365 of the 378 presented qualified for universities and other tertiary institutions.
This remarkable performance has placed the school among the top five in the country.
The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Sylvia Asempa, made this known at the 60th speech and prize-giving day at Aburi at the weekend.
Held on the theme “Dare to dream-yes we can,” the event, which was funded by the 1984 year group, was attended by a large number of old girls and dignitaries such as the First Lady, Ernestina Naadu Mills, a member of the 1961 year group.
According to Mrs Asempa, the school, which was among the top 20 in 2003 with 91.7 per cent pass at the WASSCE, improved its performance to 99.98 per cent in 2007 and crowned it with 100 per cent last year.
According to Mrs Asempa the spectacular performance of the school was due to innovative policies, strict supervision, improved infrastructure, congenial atmosphere and commitment, and dedication and teamwork of the academic staff.
Mrs Asempa noted that there was room for improvement of the school’s academic record, and that it would at all cost double the number of grade ‘A” passes this year.
To achieve such a feat, the headmistress said the school had decided to motivate the teachers to put in their best and had, for a start, presented a brand new Opel saloon car to Madam Agnes Wendy Adu, who had taught in the school for 33 years with dedication and commitment.
She also expressed the school’s appreciation to the old girls for assisting it in diverse ways
The Senior Prefect, Miss Vida Offei-Asante, on behalf of the student body, thanked the headmistress and the teaching staff for the part they had played towards improving the academic performance of the students, and gave the assurance that the final-year students would perform excellently during this year’s WASSCE.
For her part, Mrs Naadu Mills praised the headmistress and the teaching staff for placing the school among the best in the country, adding that it had over the years produced distinguished women currently occupying responsible positions.
She also praised the Presbyterian Church for instituting discipline in its schools, such as the Aburi Girls Senior High School.
A legal practitioner, Mr Yonny Kulendi, who chaired the function, advised the students to take their studies seriously and do away with all negative traits, such as drugs and amorous relationship with boys and men, that would derail their education.
Mrs Naadu Mills later donated GH¢10,000 to the school while her husband, President J. E. A. Mills, presented an organ.
The 1984 year group also gave GH¢5,000 to the school.
Prizes were awarded to students and staff who had distinguished themselves in studies and teaching.
This remarkable performance has placed the school among the top five in the country.
The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Sylvia Asempa, made this known at the 60th speech and prize-giving day at Aburi at the weekend.
Held on the theme “Dare to dream-yes we can,” the event, which was funded by the 1984 year group, was attended by a large number of old girls and dignitaries such as the First Lady, Ernestina Naadu Mills, a member of the 1961 year group.
According to Mrs Asempa, the school, which was among the top 20 in 2003 with 91.7 per cent pass at the WASSCE, improved its performance to 99.98 per cent in 2007 and crowned it with 100 per cent last year.
According to Mrs Asempa the spectacular performance of the school was due to innovative policies, strict supervision, improved infrastructure, congenial atmosphere and commitment, and dedication and teamwork of the academic staff.
Mrs Asempa noted that there was room for improvement of the school’s academic record, and that it would at all cost double the number of grade ‘A” passes this year.
To achieve such a feat, the headmistress said the school had decided to motivate the teachers to put in their best and had, for a start, presented a brand new Opel saloon car to Madam Agnes Wendy Adu, who had taught in the school for 33 years with dedication and commitment.
She also expressed the school’s appreciation to the old girls for assisting it in diverse ways
The Senior Prefect, Miss Vida Offei-Asante, on behalf of the student body, thanked the headmistress and the teaching staff for the part they had played towards improving the academic performance of the students, and gave the assurance that the final-year students would perform excellently during this year’s WASSCE.
For her part, Mrs Naadu Mills praised the headmistress and the teaching staff for placing the school among the best in the country, adding that it had over the years produced distinguished women currently occupying responsible positions.
She also praised the Presbyterian Church for instituting discipline in its schools, such as the Aburi Girls Senior High School.
A legal practitioner, Mr Yonny Kulendi, who chaired the function, advised the students to take their studies seriously and do away with all negative traits, such as drugs and amorous relationship with boys and men, that would derail their education.
Mrs Naadu Mills later donated GH¢10,000 to the school while her husband, President J. E. A. Mills, presented an organ.
The 1984 year group also gave GH¢5,000 to the school.
Prizes were awarded to students and staff who had distinguished themselves in studies and teaching.
Friday, March 27, 2009
PHASE 11 OF KOFORIDUA WATER PROJECT READY BY DECEMBER (BACK PAGE)
THE second phase of the Koforidua water rehabilitation project will be completed by December this year to ease the perennial water problem facing the New Juaben municipality.
Under the project, which began in 2007 with a Belgian loan of €35 million, 3.5 million gallons of water will be pumped from the Volta Lake at Kpornyakope in Manya Krobo to a treatment plant at Bukonor in Yilo Krobo for distribution to the New Juaben municipality and some other areas in the East Akyem District.
The project is being undertaken by Denys Engineering of Belgium.
Although the municipality’s estimated population of 200,000 need not less than four million gallons of water per day, the current water supply from the Densu and the Suhyen rivers pumped from two small treatment plants at Suhyen and Densuagya is 1.2 million gallons.
At the moment, the first phase of the project of putting up the treatment plant has been completed, while the second phase, the laying of the pipelines in the municipality, is ongoing.
The third phase involves the extension of water supply to Tafo, Osiem and other communities in the East Akyem District.
Briefing the press and students from some second-cycle institutions last Wednesday after a tour of the Densuagya Dam and its laboratory and treatment plants as part of activities to mark World Water Day which fell on March 22, 2009, the Eastern Regional Production Manager of Aqua Vittens Rand Limited/Ghana Water Company, Mr Martin Ansah, said considering the work so far done, water would flow from the Volta to Koforidua in December this year.
“You have all seen the pipes being laid in the municipality so uninterrupted supply of water will be made available to Koforidua in nine months to end the perennial water shortage in the area,” he stated.
With regard to the third phase, which involves the extension of the facility to Tafo, Osiem and surrounding communities in the East Akyem District, Mr Ansah said that would be possible in 2011 when the project would be completed.
Under the project, which began in 2007 with a Belgian loan of €35 million, 3.5 million gallons of water will be pumped from the Volta Lake at Kpornyakope in Manya Krobo to a treatment plant at Bukonor in Yilo Krobo for distribution to the New Juaben municipality and some other areas in the East Akyem District.
The project is being undertaken by Denys Engineering of Belgium.
Although the municipality’s estimated population of 200,000 need not less than four million gallons of water per day, the current water supply from the Densu and the Suhyen rivers pumped from two small treatment plants at Suhyen and Densuagya is 1.2 million gallons.
At the moment, the first phase of the project of putting up the treatment plant has been completed, while the second phase, the laying of the pipelines in the municipality, is ongoing.
The third phase involves the extension of water supply to Tafo, Osiem and other communities in the East Akyem District.
Briefing the press and students from some second-cycle institutions last Wednesday after a tour of the Densuagya Dam and its laboratory and treatment plants as part of activities to mark World Water Day which fell on March 22, 2009, the Eastern Regional Production Manager of Aqua Vittens Rand Limited/Ghana Water Company, Mr Martin Ansah, said considering the work so far done, water would flow from the Volta to Koforidua in December this year.
“You have all seen the pipes being laid in the municipality so uninterrupted supply of water will be made available to Koforidua in nine months to end the perennial water shortage in the area,” he stated.
With regard to the third phase, which involves the extension of the facility to Tafo, Osiem and surrounding communities in the East Akyem District, Mr Ansah said that would be possible in 2011 when the project would be completed.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
PASTOR DONATES TO WIDOWS (PAGE 20)
A PASTOR of the Apostolic Church of Ghana stunned his congregation by doing the unexpected thing when he surprisingly donated the whole amount given to him by the church to widows and orphans.
The undisclosed amount of about GH¢2,000 or more was raised during a church service organised last Sunday at Aburi to honour Pastor Kwabena Ankamah.
Pastor Ankamah, a lawyer by profession, who was ordained about two years ago to be in charge of the Aburi local assembly was elevated to the status of district pastor in charge of four assemblies in the area.
In appreciation of his elevation, the church organised a mini convention attended by pastors and representatives of the various churches within the Koforidua area during which the money was raised for him.
But as soon as the money which was in a big plastic bowl was given to Pastor Ankamah, he gave it to his wife, Agnes who in turn, handed it over to a member of the church to be shared among widows, orphans and vulnerable children of the congregation.
Pastor Ankamah, who is also associated with the prison ministries, said it had all along been his desire to help the poor and the needy and that he would periodically offer financial and material support in that respect.
“I have always been thinking of the difficulties facing widows, orphans and other vulnerable people among the congregation so after consulting my wife, both of us decided to give the money out to make life worth living for them”, Pastor Ankamah stated.
Pastor Ankamah suggested that part of the money should be set aside as seed capital for the needy.
He added that he would regularly contribute to the fund and appealed to others with means to help, to assist the needy.
Earlier in a sermon based on the theme: “For the master’s use only”, the Koforidua Area Apostle of the church, Pastor J.A. Addy was hopeful that God would use Pastor Ankamah as a shepherd to direct the congregation in line with the tenets of the church.
Quoting from the second book of Timothy chapter 2, Apostle Addy said the best way Pastor Ankamah could properly direct the congregation was to preach the truth without fear or favour and must be fair but firm in that respect.
Pastor Ankamah’s experience as a lawyer would go a long way in administering the Aburi district of the church and urged the congregation to cooperate with him.
The undisclosed amount of about GH¢2,000 or more was raised during a church service organised last Sunday at Aburi to honour Pastor Kwabena Ankamah.
Pastor Ankamah, a lawyer by profession, who was ordained about two years ago to be in charge of the Aburi local assembly was elevated to the status of district pastor in charge of four assemblies in the area.
In appreciation of his elevation, the church organised a mini convention attended by pastors and representatives of the various churches within the Koforidua area during which the money was raised for him.
But as soon as the money which was in a big plastic bowl was given to Pastor Ankamah, he gave it to his wife, Agnes who in turn, handed it over to a member of the church to be shared among widows, orphans and vulnerable children of the congregation.
Pastor Ankamah, who is also associated with the prison ministries, said it had all along been his desire to help the poor and the needy and that he would periodically offer financial and material support in that respect.
“I have always been thinking of the difficulties facing widows, orphans and other vulnerable people among the congregation so after consulting my wife, both of us decided to give the money out to make life worth living for them”, Pastor Ankamah stated.
Pastor Ankamah suggested that part of the money should be set aside as seed capital for the needy.
He added that he would regularly contribute to the fund and appealed to others with means to help, to assist the needy.
Earlier in a sermon based on the theme: “For the master’s use only”, the Koforidua Area Apostle of the church, Pastor J.A. Addy was hopeful that God would use Pastor Ankamah as a shepherd to direct the congregation in line with the tenets of the church.
Quoting from the second book of Timothy chapter 2, Apostle Addy said the best way Pastor Ankamah could properly direct the congregation was to preach the truth without fear or favour and must be fair but firm in that respect.
Pastor Ankamah’s experience as a lawyer would go a long way in administering the Aburi district of the church and urged the congregation to cooperate with him.
ZOOMLION TRAINS 60 SANITATION GUARDS (PAGE 20)
ZOOMLION, a private refuse collection organisation has started training 60 young men and women it has engaged as sanitation guards.
Personnel from the environmental health and sanitation unit of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating council are taking the trainees through the rudiments of refuse collection while zoomlion provides the logistics.
Addressing the trainees at Koforidua, the Programme Officer of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Akwei Allotey, stressed the need for cleanliness to eradicate diseases such as malaria, typhoid, dysentery and diarrhoea from our communities.
That, he said, would go a long way in reducing the burden on the health insurance scheme since such diseases could be prevented through clean environment.
Mr Allotey said although the sanitation guards would be in most of the communities in the region to ensure their cleanliness, the inhabitants should desist from loitering the environment with filth, adding that a clean environment should be the responsibility of all.
He asked environmental health officers and the sanitation guards to intensify public education on sanitation to keep the environment clean at all times.
The Regional Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Ernest Kusi said with the training of the guards, his outfit would be able to significantly improve refuse collection within its operational areas to make the communities tidy.
He said that had been the goal of zoomlion.
In a speech read on behalf of the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo by the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr S. Bawa, he said the deteriorating sanitary situation in towns and communities in the region had led to the collaboration between zoomlion, a private entity and the local government and rural development, to address the issue.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo called on the people to adopt a lifestyle that would make the communities free from refuse.
He also solicited for support for the guards to enable them to properly discharge their duties.
The regional minister expressed his appreciation to zoomlion for its immense contribution towards the improvement of sanitation in the region.
Personnel from the environmental health and sanitation unit of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating council are taking the trainees through the rudiments of refuse collection while zoomlion provides the logistics.
Addressing the trainees at Koforidua, the Programme Officer of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Akwei Allotey, stressed the need for cleanliness to eradicate diseases such as malaria, typhoid, dysentery and diarrhoea from our communities.
That, he said, would go a long way in reducing the burden on the health insurance scheme since such diseases could be prevented through clean environment.
Mr Allotey said although the sanitation guards would be in most of the communities in the region to ensure their cleanliness, the inhabitants should desist from loitering the environment with filth, adding that a clean environment should be the responsibility of all.
He asked environmental health officers and the sanitation guards to intensify public education on sanitation to keep the environment clean at all times.
The Regional Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Ernest Kusi said with the training of the guards, his outfit would be able to significantly improve refuse collection within its operational areas to make the communities tidy.
He said that had been the goal of zoomlion.
In a speech read on behalf of the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo by the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr S. Bawa, he said the deteriorating sanitary situation in towns and communities in the region had led to the collaboration between zoomlion, a private entity and the local government and rural development, to address the issue.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo called on the people to adopt a lifestyle that would make the communities free from refuse.
He also solicited for support for the guards to enable them to properly discharge their duties.
The regional minister expressed his appreciation to zoomlion for its immense contribution towards the improvement of sanitation in the region.
DEVELOPING EASTERN REGION'S TOURIST FACILITIES ...Ofosu-Ampofo shows the way (PAGE 20)
EASTERN Region, the third most populous political area after the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions, has a heterogeneous population of 2.1 million (according to the 2000 Population and Housing Census).
The people can be classified in three main groups — the Krobos, the Guans and the Akans comprising the Akyems, Akwamus, Kwahus, Akuapems and Juabens. All of them have peculiar ways of life and rich divergent cultures mostly exhibited during festivals.
While the Krobos celebrate the Ngmayem and Kloyosikplem festivals in remembrance of severe famine and forceful ejection from their ancestral home on the Krobo Mountains by the British colonialists centuries ago, the Akuapems celebrate the Odwira with the Boso Guans celebrating the Odwedji.
The Akyem Abuakwas, the largest of the three Akyem groups celebrate the Ohum while the other two, Kotoku and Bosome have different festivals.
Although the Kwahus have no specific festival, the Easter festivities have become a period when the Kwahus both at home and abroad, visit their ancestral homes to undertake many activities which draw a number of tourists to the area.
The Juabens, descendants of Ashantis who migrated from old Juaben to the region centuries ago, also celebrate Akwasidae, climaxing it with the Akwantukese Festival in remembrance of the difficulties their ancestors went through during the exodus.
The festivals are celebrated annually at different periods in the traditional capitals such as Kyebi in Akyem Abuakwa, Akropong in Akuapem and Akwamufie in Akwamu.
Apart from hosting the Kloyosiplem and Ngmayem festivals, the people of Somanya in Yilo Krobo and Odumase in Manya Krobo are also noted for the picturesque Dipo puberty rites which prepare adolescent girls adorned in beads and other traditional cloths for womanhood.
Apart from those festivals which draw a number of both domestic and foreign tourists to the region, there are also numerous tourist attractions in different parts of the area that also bring in a lot of visitors.
Some of the tourist facilities are the Boti, Arkaa and Tini falls in Yilo Krobo, Akuapem North and Atiwa Districts, respectively, the Butterfly Sanctuary within the Atiwa Mountains which contains a lot of ancient caves that have become habitats of bats and different species of animals.
There is also the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong-Akuapem where the offspring of the original cocoa tree planted by the man who brought the golden pod from Fernando Po nearly 200 years ago is still flourishing.
Other tourist attractions are the Big Tree at Aprokumase near Akyem Oda, which is supposed to be the biggest in West Africa and the Dwarf and Dodi Islands on the Volta Lake.
With the exception of the Aburi Botanical Garden which has to some extent been developed to attract visitors as well as the Akosombo Dam where a number of foreign visitors including dignitaries visit while in the country, the rest of the tourist sites have not seen any improvement.
There has not also been any elaborate plan to showcase the various traditional festivals to the outside world to draw more visitors to the areas which would rake in foreign exchange revenue and also create jobs for the unemployed.
Realising that such festivals and tourist facilities when properly developed could accelerate the region’s development, the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo on assumption of office, took steps to improve such tourist sites.
He first toured two of the facilities, the Boti and Arkaah falls to be followed by other trips in a bid to add value to the sites and place in the region on the tourism map of the world.
Accompanied by the Eastern Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Sampson Donkor, the regional minister met with some of the landowners and operators of the facilities last week.
They discussed a wide range of issues from land compensation and the construction of first-class reception centres with facilities such as water, electricity, public places of convenience and mini restaurants and bars for relaxation.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who was overwhelmed by the beauty of the two water falls, immediately unveiled a number of initiatives and tasked the Yilo and Akuapem North District assemblies to come out with programmes for their development.
Some of Mr Ofosu-Ampofo’s novelties are the involvement of private participation in the development of the sites, training of local people as tour guides as well as creation of websites on the tourist facilities and festivals which must also have brochures to serve as bait to tourists.
To hasten the development of the tourist sites, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stated that the regional co-ordinating council would be collaborating with the ministries of tourism, transport and highways which would ensure that roads leading to the sites are in good condition at all times.
According to him, the Ministry of Education would also be roped in for a systematic and sustained programme during which pupils and students from basic, second cycle and tertiary educational institutions would visit the sites during holidays.
With regard to traditional festivals, the regional minister has also indicated his outfit’s preparedness to collaborate with the traditional authorities for their celebrations.
The Ofosu-Ampofo’s tourism development initiative although very laudable, could only succeed if stakeholders, especially owners of the land in which the tourist sites are located are compensated to avoid litigation.
Furthermore, the various district assemblies must place tourism development on their agenda and collaborate with the Regional Co-ordinating Councils which should in turn get in touch with the relevant sector ministries on the issue.
That would attract a lot of domestic and foreign tourists who would also be provided with good services in many of the newly-constructed hotels with all the necessary facilities, especially at Koforidua, the regional capital, the gateway to the tourist sites.
The people can be classified in three main groups — the Krobos, the Guans and the Akans comprising the Akyems, Akwamus, Kwahus, Akuapems and Juabens. All of them have peculiar ways of life and rich divergent cultures mostly exhibited during festivals.
While the Krobos celebrate the Ngmayem and Kloyosikplem festivals in remembrance of severe famine and forceful ejection from their ancestral home on the Krobo Mountains by the British colonialists centuries ago, the Akuapems celebrate the Odwira with the Boso Guans celebrating the Odwedji.
The Akyem Abuakwas, the largest of the three Akyem groups celebrate the Ohum while the other two, Kotoku and Bosome have different festivals.
Although the Kwahus have no specific festival, the Easter festivities have become a period when the Kwahus both at home and abroad, visit their ancestral homes to undertake many activities which draw a number of tourists to the area.
The Juabens, descendants of Ashantis who migrated from old Juaben to the region centuries ago, also celebrate Akwasidae, climaxing it with the Akwantukese Festival in remembrance of the difficulties their ancestors went through during the exodus.
The festivals are celebrated annually at different periods in the traditional capitals such as Kyebi in Akyem Abuakwa, Akropong in Akuapem and Akwamufie in Akwamu.
Apart from hosting the Kloyosiplem and Ngmayem festivals, the people of Somanya in Yilo Krobo and Odumase in Manya Krobo are also noted for the picturesque Dipo puberty rites which prepare adolescent girls adorned in beads and other traditional cloths for womanhood.
Apart from those festivals which draw a number of both domestic and foreign tourists to the region, there are also numerous tourist attractions in different parts of the area that also bring in a lot of visitors.
Some of the tourist facilities are the Boti, Arkaa and Tini falls in Yilo Krobo, Akuapem North and Atiwa Districts, respectively, the Butterfly Sanctuary within the Atiwa Mountains which contains a lot of ancient caves that have become habitats of bats and different species of animals.
There is also the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong-Akuapem where the offspring of the original cocoa tree planted by the man who brought the golden pod from Fernando Po nearly 200 years ago is still flourishing.
Other tourist attractions are the Big Tree at Aprokumase near Akyem Oda, which is supposed to be the biggest in West Africa and the Dwarf and Dodi Islands on the Volta Lake.
With the exception of the Aburi Botanical Garden which has to some extent been developed to attract visitors as well as the Akosombo Dam where a number of foreign visitors including dignitaries visit while in the country, the rest of the tourist sites have not seen any improvement.
There has not also been any elaborate plan to showcase the various traditional festivals to the outside world to draw more visitors to the areas which would rake in foreign exchange revenue and also create jobs for the unemployed.
Realising that such festivals and tourist facilities when properly developed could accelerate the region’s development, the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo on assumption of office, took steps to improve such tourist sites.
He first toured two of the facilities, the Boti and Arkaah falls to be followed by other trips in a bid to add value to the sites and place in the region on the tourism map of the world.
Accompanied by the Eastern Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Sampson Donkor, the regional minister met with some of the landowners and operators of the facilities last week.
They discussed a wide range of issues from land compensation and the construction of first-class reception centres with facilities such as water, electricity, public places of convenience and mini restaurants and bars for relaxation.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who was overwhelmed by the beauty of the two water falls, immediately unveiled a number of initiatives and tasked the Yilo and Akuapem North District assemblies to come out with programmes for their development.
Some of Mr Ofosu-Ampofo’s novelties are the involvement of private participation in the development of the sites, training of local people as tour guides as well as creation of websites on the tourist facilities and festivals which must also have brochures to serve as bait to tourists.
To hasten the development of the tourist sites, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stated that the regional co-ordinating council would be collaborating with the ministries of tourism, transport and highways which would ensure that roads leading to the sites are in good condition at all times.
According to him, the Ministry of Education would also be roped in for a systematic and sustained programme during which pupils and students from basic, second cycle and tertiary educational institutions would visit the sites during holidays.
With regard to traditional festivals, the regional minister has also indicated his outfit’s preparedness to collaborate with the traditional authorities for their celebrations.
The Ofosu-Ampofo’s tourism development initiative although very laudable, could only succeed if stakeholders, especially owners of the land in which the tourist sites are located are compensated to avoid litigation.
Furthermore, the various district assemblies must place tourism development on their agenda and collaborate with the Regional Co-ordinating Councils which should in turn get in touch with the relevant sector ministries on the issue.
That would attract a lot of domestic and foreign tourists who would also be provided with good services in many of the newly-constructed hotels with all the necessary facilities, especially at Koforidua, the regional capital, the gateway to the tourist sites.
CORRUPTION ENDEMIC IN GHANA — PARTICIPANTS (PAGE 16)
Participants at a round-table seminar on corruption have said unless members of the public were bold to report on corruption related issues, there was no way it could be minimised or eliminated from the country.
According to them, the Ghanaian society had now become so endemic with corruption that one had to offer money, material or their bodies in the case of young women before being offered any form of assistance.
The seminar which was held at Koforidua last Monday was organised by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) in collaboration with the National Catholic Secretariat, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission and the Christian Council.
It was attended by about 50 participants made up of Christian leaders and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in the Eastern Region.
The participants said corruption was now synonymous with the Ghanaian society and unless people were bold to point out corrupt officials, there was no way it could be eliminated or minimised from the system.
Setting the ball rolling for the discussions, a member of the Council of State, Nana Owusu Gyamadu III, said it was unfortunate that almost every person in the country had to pay bribe before being assisted, a situation he said was negatively affecting the country’s development.
“People are bribed on enstoolment, destoolment, employment, admissions to schools, colleges and tertiary institutions, contracts and even for the transfer of reverend ministers and the best way to fight the canker is to boldly report those involved,” Nana Gyamadu stated.
He called on all especially, the participants, to use the word of God to help minimise it.
For his part, the Executive Secretary of the GII, Mr Vitus A. Azeem, said corruption was impeding Ghana’s economic growth and that his outfit would continue to organise similar seminars to create the awareness on the canker as a way of eliminating it from society.
He said although the fight against corruption would not be easy, he was hopeful that the high rate of corruption would reduce in due course.
He called on religious leaders to join the crusade against the canker.
The Project Support Officer of GII, Mrs Sandra Gakson, said apart from hosting workshops on corruption, her outfit had also been carrying out periodic social auditing on the canker.
The Very Rev. J.K.B Appiah-Acheampong, Supt Minister of the Methodist Church in charge of Mampong-Akuapem, chaired the function.
According to them, the Ghanaian society had now become so endemic with corruption that one had to offer money, material or their bodies in the case of young women before being offered any form of assistance.
The seminar which was held at Koforidua last Monday was organised by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) in collaboration with the National Catholic Secretariat, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission and the Christian Council.
It was attended by about 50 participants made up of Christian leaders and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in the Eastern Region.
The participants said corruption was now synonymous with the Ghanaian society and unless people were bold to point out corrupt officials, there was no way it could be eliminated or minimised from the system.
Setting the ball rolling for the discussions, a member of the Council of State, Nana Owusu Gyamadu III, said it was unfortunate that almost every person in the country had to pay bribe before being assisted, a situation he said was negatively affecting the country’s development.
“People are bribed on enstoolment, destoolment, employment, admissions to schools, colleges and tertiary institutions, contracts and even for the transfer of reverend ministers and the best way to fight the canker is to boldly report those involved,” Nana Gyamadu stated.
He called on all especially, the participants, to use the word of God to help minimise it.
For his part, the Executive Secretary of the GII, Mr Vitus A. Azeem, said corruption was impeding Ghana’s economic growth and that his outfit would continue to organise similar seminars to create the awareness on the canker as a way of eliminating it from society.
He said although the fight against corruption would not be easy, he was hopeful that the high rate of corruption would reduce in due course.
He called on religious leaders to join the crusade against the canker.
The Project Support Officer of GII, Mrs Sandra Gakson, said apart from hosting workshops on corruption, her outfit had also been carrying out periodic social auditing on the canker.
The Very Rev. J.K.B Appiah-Acheampong, Supt Minister of the Methodist Church in charge of Mampong-Akuapem, chaired the function.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
COUNCIL OF MUSLIM CHIEFS LAUDS BABA JAMAL (PAGE 14)
The Council of Muslim Chiefs in the Eastern Region has expressed its gratitude to the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, for appointing Mr Baba Jamal Muhamed Ahmed as the Deputy Minister for the Eastern Region.
It said Baba Jamal, a Muslim from the Zongo Community, was an influential hardworking opinion leader who could effectively collaborate with the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, to develop the region that had one of the largest Muslim populations.
A statement signed by the Secretary of the council, Mr Yusif Ibrahim, and dated March 19 said Baba Jamal was capable of using his influence to bear on Muslim parents to send their children, especially girls, to school since it believed that would impact positively on the development of Muslim communities.
Baba Jamal, the statement said, would also be able to educate Muslims on the dangers of female genital mutilation and HIV/AIDS to help save their communities from such health hazards.
With regard to the settlement of disputes in areas in the region inhabited by Muslims, the statement indicated that Baba Jamal was the potential man in that respect, adding that his appointment was in the right direction.
The statement also congratulated Professor Mills for occupying the high office as President of the Republic of Ghana.
It said Baba Jamal, a Muslim from the Zongo Community, was an influential hardworking opinion leader who could effectively collaborate with the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, to develop the region that had one of the largest Muslim populations.
A statement signed by the Secretary of the council, Mr Yusif Ibrahim, and dated March 19 said Baba Jamal was capable of using his influence to bear on Muslim parents to send their children, especially girls, to school since it believed that would impact positively on the development of Muslim communities.
Baba Jamal, the statement said, would also be able to educate Muslims on the dangers of female genital mutilation and HIV/AIDS to help save their communities from such health hazards.
With regard to the settlement of disputes in areas in the region inhabited by Muslims, the statement indicated that Baba Jamal was the potential man in that respect, adding that his appointment was in the right direction.
The statement also congratulated Professor Mills for occupying the high office as President of the Republic of Ghana.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
ASSEMBLIES MUST IDENTIFY REAL PROBLEMS (PAGE 15)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has said the government’s priority of enhancing living standards could materialise if various assemblies identify real problems facing the communities.
He has, therefore, appealed to assembly members to ensure that every community is included in the sharing of the national cake — the provision of infrastructural amenities and other poverty alleviation programmes.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo made the remarks when he paid an unannounced working visits to four district assemblies in the region, namely Akuapem North, Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo and Asuogyaman, last Saturday.
The regional minister, who is also the acting district chief executive for the 21 political entities in the region, was accompanied by the Eastern Regional Manager of Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Sampson Donkoh.
The visit, the first to be undertaken by the regional minister since he assumed office about two weeks ago, was to acquaint himself with the problems facing the assemblies to see how best to address them to improve the living condition of the people in the various communities.
The tour, which also took Mr Ofosu Ampofo to tourist sites such as the Boti Falls near Huhunya in the Yilo Krobo District and Arkaa Falls in Akuapem North District, was to see how best to develop such attractions to create employment for the local people and also generate income for development.
According to Mr Ofosu Ampofo, the cardinal point as contained in the National Democratic Congress Manifesto was the development of the various communities to raise the living standards of the people and that such an initiative could only be achieved if the assemblies could work hard by increasing revenue generation to support the central government in that respect.
“The government has a mission to accomplish to make life worth living for all and this can be accomplished with the provision of infrastructural amenities and other poverty alleviation initiatives,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo told the assembly members and staff at the four places, Akropong, Somanya, Odumase-Krobo and Atimpoku, capitals of Akuapem North, Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo and Asuogyaman respectively.
He advised the coordinating directors in the districts to help increase revenue generation and also ensure that the assemblies were not plunged into debts particularly in the award of contracts.
The assemblies, he further suggested, should involve private investors to improve the receptive centres at the Boti and Arkaa Falls to attract more local and foreign tourists.
This, he stated, could bring in more revenue for the development of the communities.
At Akropong, the first place of call, Mr Ofosu Ampofo asked the assembly to assist women engaged in gari processing, as well as help add value to citrus fruits which were in abundance in the area.
At Somanya in Yilo Krobo and Krobo Odumase in Lower Manya Krobo, Mr Ofosu Ampofo directed the coordinating directors of the two assemblies to put in a mechanism to ensure that their outfits were not plunged into debt.
That was after Mr Ofosu Ampofo was told that the Yilo Krobo Assembly last year recorded a budget deficit of GH¢130,000 while that of Lower Manya was GH¢70,000 for the same period.
The regional minister also asked the two assemblies to judiciously use the revenue from the limestone mining at Odugblase for the development of the two areas.
At Atimpoku in the Asuogyaman District, the Coordinating Director, Mr Kudjoe Dekpor, said the main problems of the assembly were chieftaincy disputes in the Akwamu Traditional Area, particularly at Adjena where Ghacem, which was about to mine limestone, had decided to pull out due to disputes.
In response, Mr Ofosu Ampofo gave the assurance that he would do his best to resolve the problems.
He also gave the assurance that he would contact the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs to embark on girl-child education campaign in the area after Nana Kesewa II, Queen of Nnudu in Akwamu, had told him about the unwillingness of parents to send girls to school.
He has, therefore, appealed to assembly members to ensure that every community is included in the sharing of the national cake — the provision of infrastructural amenities and other poverty alleviation programmes.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo made the remarks when he paid an unannounced working visits to four district assemblies in the region, namely Akuapem North, Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo and Asuogyaman, last Saturday.
The regional minister, who is also the acting district chief executive for the 21 political entities in the region, was accompanied by the Eastern Regional Manager of Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Sampson Donkoh.
The visit, the first to be undertaken by the regional minister since he assumed office about two weeks ago, was to acquaint himself with the problems facing the assemblies to see how best to address them to improve the living condition of the people in the various communities.
The tour, which also took Mr Ofosu Ampofo to tourist sites such as the Boti Falls near Huhunya in the Yilo Krobo District and Arkaa Falls in Akuapem North District, was to see how best to develop such attractions to create employment for the local people and also generate income for development.
According to Mr Ofosu Ampofo, the cardinal point as contained in the National Democratic Congress Manifesto was the development of the various communities to raise the living standards of the people and that such an initiative could only be achieved if the assemblies could work hard by increasing revenue generation to support the central government in that respect.
“The government has a mission to accomplish to make life worth living for all and this can be accomplished with the provision of infrastructural amenities and other poverty alleviation initiatives,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo told the assembly members and staff at the four places, Akropong, Somanya, Odumase-Krobo and Atimpoku, capitals of Akuapem North, Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo and Asuogyaman respectively.
He advised the coordinating directors in the districts to help increase revenue generation and also ensure that the assemblies were not plunged into debts particularly in the award of contracts.
The assemblies, he further suggested, should involve private investors to improve the receptive centres at the Boti and Arkaa Falls to attract more local and foreign tourists.
This, he stated, could bring in more revenue for the development of the communities.
At Akropong, the first place of call, Mr Ofosu Ampofo asked the assembly to assist women engaged in gari processing, as well as help add value to citrus fruits which were in abundance in the area.
At Somanya in Yilo Krobo and Krobo Odumase in Lower Manya Krobo, Mr Ofosu Ampofo directed the coordinating directors of the two assemblies to put in a mechanism to ensure that their outfits were not plunged into debt.
That was after Mr Ofosu Ampofo was told that the Yilo Krobo Assembly last year recorded a budget deficit of GH¢130,000 while that of Lower Manya was GH¢70,000 for the same period.
The regional minister also asked the two assemblies to judiciously use the revenue from the limestone mining at Odugblase for the development of the two areas.
At Atimpoku in the Asuogyaman District, the Coordinating Director, Mr Kudjoe Dekpor, said the main problems of the assembly were chieftaincy disputes in the Akwamu Traditional Area, particularly at Adjena where Ghacem, which was about to mine limestone, had decided to pull out due to disputes.
In response, Mr Ofosu Ampofo gave the assurance that he would do his best to resolve the problems.
He also gave the assurance that he would contact the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs to embark on girl-child education campaign in the area after Nana Kesewa II, Queen of Nnudu in Akwamu, had told him about the unwillingness of parents to send girls to school.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
BEGORO STUDENTS GET REPLACEMENT FOR BURNT ITEM (BACK PAGE)
ALL the 120 female students of the Presbyterian Senior High School at Begoro who had their personal effects destroyed when fire gutted parts of their dormitory on March 1, 2009, had been provided with the items free of charge.
The items comprising trunks, buckets, chop boxes, wax prints and dresses together with school properties, such as, mattresses, beds and roofing sheets, valued at GH¢20,000, were donated by Akosombo Textiles, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Fanteakwa District Assembly.
There was no human casualty because at the time of the disaster, the students were on mid-term holidays.
The provision of the items followed an urgent appeal for assistance by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, who visited the scene immediately after the disaster.
Presenting the items to the students and the school authorities on Thursday, Mr Ofosu Ampofo expressed gratitude to the donors for responding promptly to the needs of the students some of whom would be writing their final examination (WASSEC) next month.
He said such an assistance would reverse the psychological trauma that the students had to go through and expressed the hope that the affected students would do well in the examinations.
The regional minister, who also asked the Fanteakwa District Assembly to form a committee to come up with proposals on how to prevent similar disasters in future, was hopeful that the committee’s report would be ready on time.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr E. O. Charway, who received the items, assured the regional minister that each of the affected students would have her share of the items.
The girls’ dormitory, he said, would be renovated on time to enable the girls who were currently being sheltered in one of the structures in the school to re-occupy it.
Mr Charway also enumerated a number of problems facing the school such as inadequate classrooms and staff accommodation and lack of a fence to prevent intruders from entering the premises and appealed to the authorities for assistance.
The items comprising trunks, buckets, chop boxes, wax prints and dresses together with school properties, such as, mattresses, beds and roofing sheets, valued at GH¢20,000, were donated by Akosombo Textiles, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Fanteakwa District Assembly.
There was no human casualty because at the time of the disaster, the students were on mid-term holidays.
The provision of the items followed an urgent appeal for assistance by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, who visited the scene immediately after the disaster.
Presenting the items to the students and the school authorities on Thursday, Mr Ofosu Ampofo expressed gratitude to the donors for responding promptly to the needs of the students some of whom would be writing their final examination (WASSEC) next month.
He said such an assistance would reverse the psychological trauma that the students had to go through and expressed the hope that the affected students would do well in the examinations.
The regional minister, who also asked the Fanteakwa District Assembly to form a committee to come up with proposals on how to prevent similar disasters in future, was hopeful that the committee’s report would be ready on time.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr E. O. Charway, who received the items, assured the regional minister that each of the affected students would have her share of the items.
The girls’ dormitory, he said, would be renovated on time to enable the girls who were currently being sheltered in one of the structures in the school to re-occupy it.
Mr Charway also enumerated a number of problems facing the school such as inadequate classrooms and staff accommodation and lack of a fence to prevent intruders from entering the premises and appealed to the authorities for assistance.
Friday, March 13, 2009
PORTRAY POSITIVE ASPECTS OF EASTERN REGION (PAGE 14)
THE EASTERN Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has asked media practitioners in the region to highlight the positive aspects of the region to enhance its development.
According to him, there were a lot of natural resources such as minerals and beautiful tourist attractions that had not been exploited or developed due to the lack of information on them especially their locations and that it would be ideal for the media to bring them to the limelight.
This, he said, would attract both local and foreign investors to develop or tap them for the benefit of the region.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made the call when he organised a press soiree for the Eastern regional press corps at his residence in Koforidua last Friday.
The meeting afforded the regional minister the opportunity to acquaint himself with the problems facing the media practitioners with the view of seeing how best to resolve them.
The regional minister said over the past years, most of the natural or economic potentials in the region could not be tapped due to inadequate information on them and that it was the obligation of the media to let people especially entrepreneurs to know where the natural resources were and the benefits of their exploitation.
This, he said, would bring in a lot of investments with the positive corresponding result of employment opportunities that would enable the unemployed to secure jobs to earn a living to reduce poverty.
“The region abounds in natural resources, we have beautiful waterfalls and other tourist attractions but they are not being developed and this is the time that the press must assist so that the region would be developed,” Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stated.
With regard to the problems facing journalists in the region, he gave the assurance that he would do his best to make it possible for the media practitioners to carry out their duties.
Earlier, the Head of the news team of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in the region, Mr Emmanuel Sarfo advised young reporters in the region to drink from the fountain of wisdom from those who had been in the journalistic field for years so that they would succeed.
On his part, the Acting Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Edmund Quarnor on behalf of the association assured the regional minister of the cooperation of the media to move the region forward.
He also advised those who had just entered the journalistic field not to do anything that would tarnish the reputation of the profession.
According to him, there were a lot of natural resources such as minerals and beautiful tourist attractions that had not been exploited or developed due to the lack of information on them especially their locations and that it would be ideal for the media to bring them to the limelight.
This, he said, would attract both local and foreign investors to develop or tap them for the benefit of the region.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made the call when he organised a press soiree for the Eastern regional press corps at his residence in Koforidua last Friday.
The meeting afforded the regional minister the opportunity to acquaint himself with the problems facing the media practitioners with the view of seeing how best to resolve them.
The regional minister said over the past years, most of the natural or economic potentials in the region could not be tapped due to inadequate information on them and that it was the obligation of the media to let people especially entrepreneurs to know where the natural resources were and the benefits of their exploitation.
This, he said, would bring in a lot of investments with the positive corresponding result of employment opportunities that would enable the unemployed to secure jobs to earn a living to reduce poverty.
“The region abounds in natural resources, we have beautiful waterfalls and other tourist attractions but they are not being developed and this is the time that the press must assist so that the region would be developed,” Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stated.
With regard to the problems facing journalists in the region, he gave the assurance that he would do his best to make it possible for the media practitioners to carry out their duties.
Earlier, the Head of the news team of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in the region, Mr Emmanuel Sarfo advised young reporters in the region to drink from the fountain of wisdom from those who had been in the journalistic field for years so that they would succeed.
On his part, the Acting Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Edmund Quarnor on behalf of the association assured the regional minister of the cooperation of the media to move the region forward.
He also advised those who had just entered the journalistic field not to do anything that would tarnish the reputation of the profession.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
OTI BOATENG PROTESTS AGAINST GOVT APPOINTMENTS (PAGE 15)
THE Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Oti Boateng, has strongly protested against the manner in which the government appointed people to the New Juaben Municipal Assembly.
That is because neither he nor the New Juaben Traditional Council was consulted before the appointments were made.
In line with constitutional provisions, the government is to appoint one-third of assembly members in consultation with the traditional authorities.
The New Juaben Omanhene raised the objection when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu- Ampofo, visited him in his palace in Koforidua to introduce himself to the Omanhene.
The visit, which coincided with the Akwasidae Festival of the people of New Juaben, also saw Madam Bernice Beatrice Boateng, the Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben South, visiting the place.
Both the minister and the MP presented drinks to the Omanhene.
According to Daasebre Oti Boateng, it was totally unacceptable for the government to appoint people to the assemblies without consulting the traditional rulers who were the custodians of the land.
“It has been clearly stipulated in the Constitution that such appointments can only be made after due consultation with Nananom, but in the case of New Juaben and other traditional areas this has not been done so we the chiefs here object to the appointments because they are a misrepresentation,” he stated.
The Omanhene, who indicated that President John Evans Atta Mills had personally assured him and some traditional leaders at a recent meeting that he would consult them, said he would take up the matter for redress.
“If President Mills assured us that we would be consulted on such matters, why should people sit in a political party office to select others to represent us without consulting us?” he asked.
The Eastern Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Tawia Boateng, who responded to Daasebre’s objection, gave the assurance that anything that was wrongly done would be corrected.
Earlier, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo had indicated his administration’s preparedness to tap the knowledge of the Omanhene and also collaborate with all to develop the region, which he said had a lot of human and natural resources such as gold, diamond, arable land and tourist attractions.
For her part, Madam Boateng indicated the NPP’s readiness to co-operate with the NDC to move the region forward.
The Omanhene, who was happy that both officials and the members of the NDC and the NPP had agreed to work hand in hand to develop the municipality and the region, also gave the assurance that he would offer the necessary assistance that would accelerate the development of the area.
That is because neither he nor the New Juaben Traditional Council was consulted before the appointments were made.
In line with constitutional provisions, the government is to appoint one-third of assembly members in consultation with the traditional authorities.
The New Juaben Omanhene raised the objection when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu- Ampofo, visited him in his palace in Koforidua to introduce himself to the Omanhene.
The visit, which coincided with the Akwasidae Festival of the people of New Juaben, also saw Madam Bernice Beatrice Boateng, the Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben South, visiting the place.
Both the minister and the MP presented drinks to the Omanhene.
According to Daasebre Oti Boateng, it was totally unacceptable for the government to appoint people to the assemblies without consulting the traditional rulers who were the custodians of the land.
“It has been clearly stipulated in the Constitution that such appointments can only be made after due consultation with Nananom, but in the case of New Juaben and other traditional areas this has not been done so we the chiefs here object to the appointments because they are a misrepresentation,” he stated.
The Omanhene, who indicated that President John Evans Atta Mills had personally assured him and some traditional leaders at a recent meeting that he would consult them, said he would take up the matter for redress.
“If President Mills assured us that we would be consulted on such matters, why should people sit in a political party office to select others to represent us without consulting us?” he asked.
The Eastern Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Tawia Boateng, who responded to Daasebre’s objection, gave the assurance that anything that was wrongly done would be corrected.
Earlier, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo had indicated his administration’s preparedness to tap the knowledge of the Omanhene and also collaborate with all to develop the region, which he said had a lot of human and natural resources such as gold, diamond, arable land and tourist attractions.
For her part, Madam Boateng indicated the NPP’s readiness to co-operate with the NDC to move the region forward.
The Omanhene, who was happy that both officials and the members of the NDC and the NPP had agreed to work hand in hand to develop the municipality and the region, also gave the assurance that he would offer the necessary assistance that would accelerate the development of the area.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
FIREMEN'S QUICK RESPONSE SAVES K'DUA HOUSEHOLD (PAGE 39)
THE swift action by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) at Koforidua on Tuesday saved a 16-room compound house and its occupants at Koforidua Zongo from being destroyed in a fire outbreak.
The blaze which occurred in the evening, was put out within a few minutes by the firemen who immediately rushed to the scene after a distress call from the occupants.
It, however, caused slight damage to two of the rooms whose roofs were burnt.
The action of the firemen earned them commendation from the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo when he on behalf of the regional office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), presented roofing sheets and other items such as buckets, mattresses and blankets to the victims.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo who was accompanied by Mr Ekwow Blankson, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer incharge of the Eastern Region, the New Juaben Municipal Director of NADMO, Mr Peter Kwadwo Oppong and other officials from the Regional Coordination Council (RCC), said the immediate response of the firemen averted a catastrophe.
He gave the assurance that the RCC would do its best to ensure that fire fighting equipment was made available in the region to manage fire outbreaks.
He said such a high sense of responsibility exhibited by the firemen was worth of emulation by all those placed in responsible positions to avert disasters.
One of the two occupants of the house, Madam Fati Aliu who had the roof of her rooms burnt, was happy that NADMO came to their rescue to enable them to re-roof their room without delay.
An opinion leader of the Koforidua Zongo Community, Alhaji Ibrahim Buruhua expressed his satisfaction at the quick response of the fire personnel and said they should be given the necessary assistance to perform creditably.
Present at the ceremony was the chief of the Moshie community, Mr Ahmadu Mamah.
The blaze which occurred in the evening, was put out within a few minutes by the firemen who immediately rushed to the scene after a distress call from the occupants.
It, however, caused slight damage to two of the rooms whose roofs were burnt.
The action of the firemen earned them commendation from the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo when he on behalf of the regional office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), presented roofing sheets and other items such as buckets, mattresses and blankets to the victims.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo who was accompanied by Mr Ekwow Blankson, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer incharge of the Eastern Region, the New Juaben Municipal Director of NADMO, Mr Peter Kwadwo Oppong and other officials from the Regional Coordination Council (RCC), said the immediate response of the firemen averted a catastrophe.
He gave the assurance that the RCC would do its best to ensure that fire fighting equipment was made available in the region to manage fire outbreaks.
He said such a high sense of responsibility exhibited by the firemen was worth of emulation by all those placed in responsible positions to avert disasters.
One of the two occupants of the house, Madam Fati Aliu who had the roof of her rooms burnt, was happy that NADMO came to their rescue to enable them to re-roof their room without delay.
An opinion leader of the Koforidua Zongo Community, Alhaji Ibrahim Buruhua expressed his satisfaction at the quick response of the fire personnel and said they should be given the necessary assistance to perform creditably.
Present at the ceremony was the chief of the Moshie community, Mr Ahmadu Mamah.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
FIRE DESTROYS GIRLS DORMITORY AT BEGORO SCHOOL (PAGE 11)
FIRE has destroyed parts of the girls dormitory block of the Presbyterian Senior High School (SHS) at Begoro in the Eastern Region.
Two of the rooms were completely burnt down together with trunks, chop boxes, mattresses, books and other personal effects of about 120 students who were on mid-term break.
The timely intervention of firemen from Koforidua however prevented the fire from destroying the entire storey building.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known but the cost of the property destroyed, runs into several thousands of Ghana Cedis.
There were no casualties, because at the time of the fire outbreak the students, some of whom are in their final year preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) scheduled for next month, were on mid-term holidays.
Due to the situation, the school authorities have extended the mid-term holidays, which should have ended on Tuesday, March 3, to Tuesday, March 10, while the affected students have been requested to come with their parents.
The Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, had to set aside his busy schedule to visit the scene together with the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rene Boakye Boateng, the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah and personnel from the police service and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), to ascertain to the situation.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who was shocked at the magnitude of destruction, immediately directed the Fanteakwa District Assembly to form a committee to assist the students with trunks, mattresses, pieces of cloth , some of the items destroyed in the fire, as well as how best to rehabilitate the building.
He also called on the Guidance and Counselling Unit of the Ministry of Education to assist the students to overcome the trauma.
Additionally, Mr Ofosu Ampofo made an urgent appeal to NADMO to provide relief items while the Akosombo Textiles company consider supporting the affected students with two pieces of cloth each.
“Most of these girls are traumatised, so all of us should help them to overcome the trauma because they will soon be writing their final examinations,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
Earlier, the Headmaster of the School, Mr E. O. Charway, who briefed the Regional Minister, said when he was informed about the fire outbreak, which, he said, started at 7 p.m he informed the Koforidua Fire Station, which is the nearest to Begoro, and firemen were immediately sent to control the blaze, adding that the prompt response by the firemen to the call saved the entire storey block from total destruction.
He expressed the hope that the building would be rehabilitated on time to enable the students to re-occupy it.
Mr Asiamah, who also gave the assurance that he would do his best for the school and the students, expressed his happiness at the prompt manner in which Mr Ofosu Ampofo had responded to the disaster.
Two of the rooms were completely burnt down together with trunks, chop boxes, mattresses, books and other personal effects of about 120 students who were on mid-term break.
The timely intervention of firemen from Koforidua however prevented the fire from destroying the entire storey building.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known but the cost of the property destroyed, runs into several thousands of Ghana Cedis.
There were no casualties, because at the time of the fire outbreak the students, some of whom are in their final year preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) scheduled for next month, were on mid-term holidays.
Due to the situation, the school authorities have extended the mid-term holidays, which should have ended on Tuesday, March 3, to Tuesday, March 10, while the affected students have been requested to come with their parents.
The Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, had to set aside his busy schedule to visit the scene together with the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rene Boakye Boateng, the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah and personnel from the police service and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), to ascertain to the situation.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who was shocked at the magnitude of destruction, immediately directed the Fanteakwa District Assembly to form a committee to assist the students with trunks, mattresses, pieces of cloth , some of the items destroyed in the fire, as well as how best to rehabilitate the building.
He also called on the Guidance and Counselling Unit of the Ministry of Education to assist the students to overcome the trauma.
Additionally, Mr Ofosu Ampofo made an urgent appeal to NADMO to provide relief items while the Akosombo Textiles company consider supporting the affected students with two pieces of cloth each.
“Most of these girls are traumatised, so all of us should help them to overcome the trauma because they will soon be writing their final examinations,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
Earlier, the Headmaster of the School, Mr E. O. Charway, who briefed the Regional Minister, said when he was informed about the fire outbreak, which, he said, started at 7 p.m he informed the Koforidua Fire Station, which is the nearest to Begoro, and firemen were immediately sent to control the blaze, adding that the prompt response by the firemen to the call saved the entire storey block from total destruction.
He expressed the hope that the building would be rehabilitated on time to enable the students to re-occupy it.
Mr Asiamah, who also gave the assurance that he would do his best for the school and the students, expressed his happiness at the prompt manner in which Mr Ofosu Ampofo had responded to the disaster.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
HIGHLIGHT POSITIVE ASPECTS OF EASTERN REGION (PAGE 21)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo has called on media practitioners in the region to highlight the positive aspects of the region to enhance its development.
According to him, there were a lot of natural resources such as minerals and tourist attractions that had not been exploited or developed due to lack of information on them, especially their locations and that it would be ideal for the media to bring them to the limelight.
That, he said, would attract both local and foreign investors to develop or tap them for the benefit of the region.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made the call when he organised a press soiree for the Eastern Regional Press Corps at his residence at Koforidua at the weekend.
The meeting afforded the regional minister the opportunity to acquaint himself with the problems facing the media practitioners help find solutions to them.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said over the years, most of the natural or economic potentials in the region could not be tapped due to inadequate information on them and that it was the obligation of the media to let people, especially entrepreneurs to know where the natural resources were and the benefits of their exploitation.
He said the exploitation of those resources would bring in many investments with the positive corresponding result of employment opportunities that would enable the unemployed to secure jobs to earn a living to reduce poverty.
“The region abounds in natural resources; we have beautiful waterfalls and other tourist attractions, but they are not being developed and this is the time that the press must assist in that direction so that the region would be developed”, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stated.
With regard to the problems facing journalists in the region, the regional minister gave the assurance that he would do his best to help them to carry out their duties effectively.
Earlier, the head of the news team of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in the region, Mr Emmanuel Sarfo, advised young reporters in the area to “drink from the fountain of wisdom” of those who had been in the journalistic field for years so that they would succeed.
The acting Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Edmund Quarnor, on behalf of the association, assured the regional minister of the co-operation of the media to move the region forward.
He also advised media practitioners who had just entered the journalistic field not to do anything that would tarnish the reputation of the profession.
According to him, there were a lot of natural resources such as minerals and tourist attractions that had not been exploited or developed due to lack of information on them, especially their locations and that it would be ideal for the media to bring them to the limelight.
That, he said, would attract both local and foreign investors to develop or tap them for the benefit of the region.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made the call when he organised a press soiree for the Eastern Regional Press Corps at his residence at Koforidua at the weekend.
The meeting afforded the regional minister the opportunity to acquaint himself with the problems facing the media practitioners help find solutions to them.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said over the years, most of the natural or economic potentials in the region could not be tapped due to inadequate information on them and that it was the obligation of the media to let people, especially entrepreneurs to know where the natural resources were and the benefits of their exploitation.
He said the exploitation of those resources would bring in many investments with the positive corresponding result of employment opportunities that would enable the unemployed to secure jobs to earn a living to reduce poverty.
“The region abounds in natural resources; we have beautiful waterfalls and other tourist attractions, but they are not being developed and this is the time that the press must assist in that direction so that the region would be developed”, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stated.
With regard to the problems facing journalists in the region, the regional minister gave the assurance that he would do his best to help them to carry out their duties effectively.
Earlier, the head of the news team of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in the region, Mr Emmanuel Sarfo, advised young reporters in the area to “drink from the fountain of wisdom” of those who had been in the journalistic field for years so that they would succeed.
The acting Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Edmund Quarnor, on behalf of the association, assured the regional minister of the co-operation of the media to move the region forward.
He also advised media practitioners who had just entered the journalistic field not to do anything that would tarnish the reputation of the profession.
Monday, March 2, 2009
MEDIA UNDER SEVERE CRITICISM ...For bad language (PAGE 16)
The media’s coverage of the recent general election has been severely criticised.
The criticisms which were levelled at a round-table discussion on the elections at Koforidua last week, accused journalists, most of whom were said to be unqualified and media houses of being bias, partisan and influenced by politicians.
The event which was organised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) on the theme “Towards a freer, fairer and a more credible elections 2010” was to examine all aspects of the 2008 elections with the aim of making recommendations that would do away with or reduce negative traits at the 2012 elections.
It brought together experts made up of seasoned media and legal practitioners, lecturers from the universities, top officials from various organisations such as CDD-Ghana, CODEO, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Ghana Bar Association(GBA), the National Media Commission and representatives of the European Union Election Observation Mission.
The group which pointed out Radio Gold and Oman FM for broadcasting news items that could have led to chaos called on the government to hasten the passage of a broadcasting law to regulate the activities of radio stations.
A lecturer of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, who set the ball rolling, stated that the media, before and during the elections did not perform well and that news items were based on rumours to incite the public.
She said apart from that, the reports which were partisan in nature featured prominently on the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) while the smaller parties had little coverage.
According to Dr Gadzekpo, such negative traits which nearly plunged the country into chaos must be avoided at the 2012 elections to sustain the country’s fledgling democracy which had made Ghana the beacon of hope in Africa.
“Some of the media houses, especially the FM stations such as Oman FM and Radio Gold, due to some circumstances came up with news items that heightened tension and nearly plunged the country into chaos and these must be avoided in 2012”, Dr Gadzekpo stated.
Dr Gadzekpo, however, said the media highlighted certain aspects of the elections that made the event successful and called on media houses, especially the private radio stations to recruit qualified and competent staff to be able to perform creditably.
She expressed the hope that the participants would come out with recommendations that would stand the test of time.
Mr Kofi Asante of the CDD said it was not media houses alone whose performance negatively affected the elections and that district chief executives and other public officials should also be blamed because they erected billboards for candidates of the ruling government.
He also wondered why there should be strongholds for certain political parties where others could not freely operate.
The acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Miss Anna Bossman, said a study conducted by her outfit in some constituencies during the elections brought to light abuse by the ruling government.
She was also not happy that ballot papers had to be collated or counted more than twice in some constituencies, which according to her, were recipes for chaos.
For his part, the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Dispatch, Mr Ben Ephson, Jnr. called on owners of private media houses to engage qualified staff and suggested that the editors of such media outfits must be held responsible for any lapses.
The Executive Secretary of the NMC, Mr George Sarpong said although political parties cheated in the elections, they condemned others.
The General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, who was of the view that the NMC should be well resourced to be able to do its work, said something must be done to prevent chaos during the 2012 elections.
The EU representative, Mr Nicholay Miadenov, said although the recent elections met international standard, there were some shortcomings and suggested a review of the voters’ register and that district chief executives must not campaign for the candidates of the ruling government.
Other contributors were Mr John Larbi of the CDD; Mr Afriyie Badu of Cab Governance Consult; Mr Kofi Owusu of Joy FM; Mr Kwasi Ennin, a conflict resolution expert; Mr Justice V.C.R.A.C .Crabbe, a constitutional expert, Maulvi Wahab Adam, Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, and Professor K.A. Ninsin of the University of Ghana, Legon.
The criticisms which were levelled at a round-table discussion on the elections at Koforidua last week, accused journalists, most of whom were said to be unqualified and media houses of being bias, partisan and influenced by politicians.
The event which was organised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) on the theme “Towards a freer, fairer and a more credible elections 2010” was to examine all aspects of the 2008 elections with the aim of making recommendations that would do away with or reduce negative traits at the 2012 elections.
It brought together experts made up of seasoned media and legal practitioners, lecturers from the universities, top officials from various organisations such as CDD-Ghana, CODEO, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Ghana Bar Association(GBA), the National Media Commission and representatives of the European Union Election Observation Mission.
The group which pointed out Radio Gold and Oman FM for broadcasting news items that could have led to chaos called on the government to hasten the passage of a broadcasting law to regulate the activities of radio stations.
A lecturer of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, who set the ball rolling, stated that the media, before and during the elections did not perform well and that news items were based on rumours to incite the public.
She said apart from that, the reports which were partisan in nature featured prominently on the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) while the smaller parties had little coverage.
According to Dr Gadzekpo, such negative traits which nearly plunged the country into chaos must be avoided at the 2012 elections to sustain the country’s fledgling democracy which had made Ghana the beacon of hope in Africa.
“Some of the media houses, especially the FM stations such as Oman FM and Radio Gold, due to some circumstances came up with news items that heightened tension and nearly plunged the country into chaos and these must be avoided in 2012”, Dr Gadzekpo stated.
Dr Gadzekpo, however, said the media highlighted certain aspects of the elections that made the event successful and called on media houses, especially the private radio stations to recruit qualified and competent staff to be able to perform creditably.
She expressed the hope that the participants would come out with recommendations that would stand the test of time.
Mr Kofi Asante of the CDD said it was not media houses alone whose performance negatively affected the elections and that district chief executives and other public officials should also be blamed because they erected billboards for candidates of the ruling government.
He also wondered why there should be strongholds for certain political parties where others could not freely operate.
The acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Miss Anna Bossman, said a study conducted by her outfit in some constituencies during the elections brought to light abuse by the ruling government.
She was also not happy that ballot papers had to be collated or counted more than twice in some constituencies, which according to her, were recipes for chaos.
For his part, the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Dispatch, Mr Ben Ephson, Jnr. called on owners of private media houses to engage qualified staff and suggested that the editors of such media outfits must be held responsible for any lapses.
The Executive Secretary of the NMC, Mr George Sarpong said although political parties cheated in the elections, they condemned others.
The General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, who was of the view that the NMC should be well resourced to be able to do its work, said something must be done to prevent chaos during the 2012 elections.
The EU representative, Mr Nicholay Miadenov, said although the recent elections met international standard, there were some shortcomings and suggested a review of the voters’ register and that district chief executives must not campaign for the candidates of the ruling government.
Other contributors were Mr John Larbi of the CDD; Mr Afriyie Badu of Cab Governance Consult; Mr Kofi Owusu of Joy FM; Mr Kwasi Ennin, a conflict resolution expert; Mr Justice V.C.R.A.C .Crabbe, a constitutional expert, Maulvi Wahab Adam, Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, and Professor K.A. Ninsin of the University of Ghana, Legon.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED NOT GLUED TO VOCATIONAL EDUCATION (PAGE 11)
THE PRO-VICE Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, (UEW), Professor Mawuto Avoke, has dismissed the perception that the visually impaired could only be glued to vocational education such as basket weaving, shoe repairs or soap and dressmaking.
He said it was important to assist the visually impaired to climb the academic ladder to enable them become professionals in the various fields since most of them were capable.
Professor Avoke made these remarks at the open day of the Akropong School for the Blind which also coincided with the 63rd anniversary of its founding at Akropong-Akuapem at the weekend.
The event which was on the theme “Diversifying Employment Opportunities for the Visually Impaired through Vocational Education,” brought together a number of old students and parents.
Also present were some dignitaries and representatives of companies such as COCOBOD and Afrodam who donated cash to the school.
The Krontihene of Akuapem, Osahene Offei Kwasi Agyeman 1V, who is also the school’s board chairman, said lack of health facilities and the prevalence of certain natural and environmental hazards had resulted in a large number of Ghanaians becoming blind.
Osahene Agyeman who is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Graphic Communications Group Limited said the seriousness of the situation was lack of facilities to cater for such unfortunate persons and that only two schools in the country, the Akropong School and another at Wa in the Upper West Region had been built to cater for them.
The School Prefect, Master Peter Ofori Amanfo in his speech expressed his appreciation to their parents and staff of the school for their dedication and able manner that had ensured discipline in the school and has made it possible for it to score 100 per cent at the BECE for the past few years.
In his report, the Headmaster, Mr J.S. Annor gave a brief history of the school since its establishment in 1945 and said with a humble beginning with only four students, it now has a student population of 315 with 53 teachers and 44 non-teaching staff.
The institution which was made up of a kindergarten, primary, junior high school, a rehabilitation center and also assists students to acquire vocations would be setting up a special center to cater for those with low vision, he assured.
He enumerated challenges such as inadequate dormitory facilities for the boys, lack of staff accommodation, water tanks, leakages of some of the buildings, and lack of a wall to ward off intruders and thieves who he said steal personal belongings of the students.
The Chief Executive Officer of Afrodam, Mr E. B. Takyi, who chaired the function appealed to parents to educate their blind children since they had retentive memory.
He said it was important to assist the visually impaired to climb the academic ladder to enable them become professionals in the various fields since most of them were capable.
Professor Avoke made these remarks at the open day of the Akropong School for the Blind which also coincided with the 63rd anniversary of its founding at Akropong-Akuapem at the weekend.
The event which was on the theme “Diversifying Employment Opportunities for the Visually Impaired through Vocational Education,” brought together a number of old students and parents.
Also present were some dignitaries and representatives of companies such as COCOBOD and Afrodam who donated cash to the school.
The Krontihene of Akuapem, Osahene Offei Kwasi Agyeman 1V, who is also the school’s board chairman, said lack of health facilities and the prevalence of certain natural and environmental hazards had resulted in a large number of Ghanaians becoming blind.
Osahene Agyeman who is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Graphic Communications Group Limited said the seriousness of the situation was lack of facilities to cater for such unfortunate persons and that only two schools in the country, the Akropong School and another at Wa in the Upper West Region had been built to cater for them.
The School Prefect, Master Peter Ofori Amanfo in his speech expressed his appreciation to their parents and staff of the school for their dedication and able manner that had ensured discipline in the school and has made it possible for it to score 100 per cent at the BECE for the past few years.
In his report, the Headmaster, Mr J.S. Annor gave a brief history of the school since its establishment in 1945 and said with a humble beginning with only four students, it now has a student population of 315 with 53 teachers and 44 non-teaching staff.
The institution which was made up of a kindergarten, primary, junior high school, a rehabilitation center and also assists students to acquire vocations would be setting up a special center to cater for those with low vision, he assured.
He enumerated challenges such as inadequate dormitory facilities for the boys, lack of staff accommodation, water tanks, leakages of some of the buildings, and lack of a wall to ward off intruders and thieves who he said steal personal belongings of the students.
The Chief Executive Officer of Afrodam, Mr E. B. Takyi, who chaired the function appealed to parents to educate their blind children since they had retentive memory.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
COME OUT WITH PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE LIVING STANDARDS — OFOSU AMPOFO (PAGE 14)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has appealed to heads of departments in the region to come out with proposals on result-oriented projects and programmes that would completely improve the living standards of the people in the region.
He stated that although the region was blessed with a lot of natural and human resources, such resources could not be effectively tapped for the benefit of the people due to some reasons and that with the proper proposals and planning, the region could be transformed as one of the best in the country.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo made the appeal when he met heads of the various departments and agencies (MDAs) in the region at Koforidua.
The meeting, the first since Mr Ampofo assumed duty last Monday, was to acquaint himself with the heads and to know the problems facing their outfits.
“The region has almost everything; minerals, timber, arable land and tourist attractions that should be fully exploited for the benefit of the people but this can be done if you come out with proposals and programmes to harness such resources,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo said
To ensure that development projects and programmes would be expeditiously executed, Mr Ofosu Ampofo suggested the setting up of a technical unit within the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), adding that the private sector would be partnered in all the projects.
He mentioned housing as one of the sectors to be covered to make available more affordable houses for the people, particularly workers in and around Koforidua and other municipalities while on farming, people in areas such as the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains) would be offered the necessary assistance to produce more food for both local consumption and export.
With regard to tourism, Mr Ampofo indicated that the tourist attractions would be developed to attract both local and foreign tourists to rake in the needed revenue and also provide jobs for the unemployed youth.
All these initiatives, the regional minister stated, when implemented would hasten the development of the communities and reduce poverty, which according to him had been the main agenda of the NDC administration.
In a speech delivered on behalf of his colleague heads of departments, the Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, Mr Emmanuel Quaye Sowah, said as public servants, they were obliged to assist the government to improve the living standards of welfare of the people and that Mr Ofosu Ampofo should count on them for total support.
Mr Quaye Sowah on behalf of his colleagues congratulated Mr Ofosu Ampofo on his appointment to head a region he (minister) was well acquainted with.
He stated that although the region was blessed with a lot of natural and human resources, such resources could not be effectively tapped for the benefit of the people due to some reasons and that with the proper proposals and planning, the region could be transformed as one of the best in the country.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo made the appeal when he met heads of the various departments and agencies (MDAs) in the region at Koforidua.
The meeting, the first since Mr Ampofo assumed duty last Monday, was to acquaint himself with the heads and to know the problems facing their outfits.
“The region has almost everything; minerals, timber, arable land and tourist attractions that should be fully exploited for the benefit of the people but this can be done if you come out with proposals and programmes to harness such resources,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo said
To ensure that development projects and programmes would be expeditiously executed, Mr Ofosu Ampofo suggested the setting up of a technical unit within the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), adding that the private sector would be partnered in all the projects.
He mentioned housing as one of the sectors to be covered to make available more affordable houses for the people, particularly workers in and around Koforidua and other municipalities while on farming, people in areas such as the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains) would be offered the necessary assistance to produce more food for both local consumption and export.
With regard to tourism, Mr Ampofo indicated that the tourist attractions would be developed to attract both local and foreign tourists to rake in the needed revenue and also provide jobs for the unemployed youth.
All these initiatives, the regional minister stated, when implemented would hasten the development of the communities and reduce poverty, which according to him had been the main agenda of the NDC administration.
In a speech delivered on behalf of his colleague heads of departments, the Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, Mr Emmanuel Quaye Sowah, said as public servants, they were obliged to assist the government to improve the living standards of welfare of the people and that Mr Ofosu Ampofo should count on them for total support.
Mr Quaye Sowah on behalf of his colleagues congratulated Mr Ofosu Ampofo on his appointment to head a region he (minister) was well acquainted with.
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