THE Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar District Assembly in the Eastern Region has taken a number of measures to apprehend the people behind the spate of murders that have occurred at Suhum within a period of five years.
The measures include a GH¢2,000 ransom for anybody who arrests suspects or gives information leading to the arrest of the criminals, engagement of more night watchmen, intensification of police/military patrols, formation of watch committees in all communities and questioning any person found at odd hours in the town.
Since 2005, about 10 innocent persons, some of them being watchmen, had been killed under mysterious circumstances.
This month, two watchmen who were on duty in different parts of the town nearly bled to death when attackers smashed their heads with cement blocks while at post at their workplaces.
They are Mustapha Osmanu, who was attacked on May 12, and Jacob Agbemasu, who was attacked on May 15.
The Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Samuel Fleicher-Kwabi, announced the measures at an emergency meeting with security/night watchmen engaged by various organisations and individuals at Suhum.
He said apart from putting fear in the inhabitants, the mysterious killings were also gradually driving investors away from the town which was once noted for its peaceful atmosphere.
Mr Fleicher-Kwabi said although the assembly, with the support of the police and the military, had managed to curtail the attacks and killings, the criminals struck again this month during which the two watchmen, Agbemasu and Osmanu had their heads smashed with cement blocks.
He called on the watchmen to do away with “the bottle” and be vigilant while at post, stressing that the residents should question all suspicious characters found in communities.
The Suhum District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anane Appiah, advised the watchmen to go to work with dogs and weapons, especially bows and arrows, adding that they should always be at a hidden place while at post.
In his contribution, Mr Felix Koranteng, a night watchman, said the frequent power cuts in the area contributed to the killings since the criminals operated under the cover of darkness.
He therefore urged the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to do its best to curtail the power cuts.
Another night watchman, Mr T. Kwaku Grunshie, suggested that the assembly should provide them with guns because most of them could not afford to purchase them.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
HOSPITALS DONATE TO ASIAKWA ORPHANAGE (PAGE 22, MAY 29, 2010)
PEACE and Love Hospitals based in Accra and Kumasi, in conjunction with Breast Care International (BCI), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to breast cancer awareness, diagnosis, treatment, counselling and rehabilitation of patients, at the weekend donated various food items and educational materials to the Herman Gmeiner Orphanage and School at Asiakwa.
The items, worth GH¢3,000, included clothes, schoolbags, footwear, learning materials, cooking oil and three bags of rice.
Making the presentation, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Peace and Love Hospitals, Dr (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe Addai, said the donation was in line with her outfit’s social responsibility to ensure the happiness of children, who should also benefit from formal education.
She said apart from that, the two organisations had been conducting breast cancer awareness campaigns and screening exercises in the communities to assist less privileged women, especially those in the rural areas.
Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the Headteacher, Mr Felix Ntiamoah Kyeremeh, expressed appreciation to the two organisations for coming to the aid of the orphanage and school.
He said the items would further improve the lot of the inmates and the pupils and appealed to other organisations for support.
The items, worth GH¢3,000, included clothes, schoolbags, footwear, learning materials, cooking oil and three bags of rice.
Making the presentation, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Peace and Love Hospitals, Dr (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe Addai, said the donation was in line with her outfit’s social responsibility to ensure the happiness of children, who should also benefit from formal education.
She said apart from that, the two organisations had been conducting breast cancer awareness campaigns and screening exercises in the communities to assist less privileged women, especially those in the rural areas.
Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the Headteacher, Mr Felix Ntiamoah Kyeremeh, expressed appreciation to the two organisations for coming to the aid of the orphanage and school.
He said the items would further improve the lot of the inmates and the pupils and appealed to other organisations for support.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
SCHOOL FEEDING MAKES POSITIVE IMPACT...But most deprived schools left out (PAGE 35, MAY 25, 2010)
The Executive Director of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Mr Noble Appiah, has entreated station managers and branch executives of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) at the Aboabu Lorry Station in Tamale to be vigilant and check drivers and their vehicles to reduce accidents on the roads.
He stated that the Ministry of Roads and Transport had instituted an awards scheme for station managers and drivers as a way of encouraging them to play effective roles in the curbing of accidents on the roads.
Mr Appiah gave the advice at a meeting with station managers and branch executives of the GPRTU at the Aboabu Lorry Station in Tamale.
The meeting was aimed at educating drivers on the need to take precautionary measures to avoid accidents.
Mr Appiah said it was important for executives of the GPRTU to ensure that drivers complied with road safety measures.
“You must assert yourselves and ensure that your drivers avoid thinking so much about their profit, to the detriment of the safety of passengers,” he added.
He expressed regret that 70 per cent of all accidents recorded in Ghana occurred on good roads.
“Road traffic accidents are not acceptable and passengers must also assert themselves if their lives are put in jeopardy,” he observed.
He pointed out that “station managers must know drivers who are competent”.
He also lamented the fact that about a month ago 21 people died when two vehicles from Tamale got involved in an accident at Dawadawa on the Tamale-Kintampo road.
“This is unacceptable and we must ensure that this does not happen again. We all have a responsibility to ensure effective road safety measures,” Mr Appiah stressed.
He stated that the Ministry of Roads and Transport had instituted an awards scheme for station managers and drivers as a way of encouraging them to play effective roles in the curbing of accidents on the roads.
Mr Appiah gave the advice at a meeting with station managers and branch executives of the GPRTU at the Aboabu Lorry Station in Tamale.
The meeting was aimed at educating drivers on the need to take precautionary measures to avoid accidents.
Mr Appiah said it was important for executives of the GPRTU to ensure that drivers complied with road safety measures.
“You must assert yourselves and ensure that your drivers avoid thinking so much about their profit, to the detriment of the safety of passengers,” he added.
He expressed regret that 70 per cent of all accidents recorded in Ghana occurred on good roads.
“Road traffic accidents are not acceptable and passengers must also assert themselves if their lives are put in jeopardy,” he observed.
He pointed out that “station managers must know drivers who are competent”.
He also lamented the fact that about a month ago 21 people died when two vehicles from Tamale got involved in an accident at Dawadawa on the Tamale-Kintampo road.
“This is unacceptable and we must ensure that this does not happen again. We all have a responsibility to ensure effective road safety measures,” Mr Appiah stressed.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
NEW OKUAPEMAN BOARD INAUGURATED (PAGE 22, MAY 18, 2010)
A THIRTEEN-member board of governors for the Okuapemman Senior High School (SHS) at Akropong-Akuapem has been inaugurated.
The board, which has not yet elected its chairman, would be in office for the next three years.
In an address, a member of the board, Mr Yaw Yirenkyi-Atuah, said since their inauguration had come at a difficult period when more classrooms and dormitories had to be provided to take care of additional students due to the extension of the SHS duration from three to four years, the board would work around the clock for the provision of such facilities.
According to him, that would make it possible for the school to cater for all students.
Mr Yirenkyi-Atuah, who is a businessman from the Akuapem area and an old student of the school, therefore, called for support from the old and continuing students, staff and the parent-teacher association.
In her inaugural address, the Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service, Mrs Rene Boakye Boateng, spelt out the functions of the board, which among others, were to solicit support for the school and maintain discipline.
She advised members to always avert any “collision” with the school administration whiles doing their work.
Mrs Boakye also enjoined the students to be disciplined and make judicious use of their time to study and come out with flying colours at the WASSCE to enable them to climb the academic ladder.
The acting chairman of the old board, Odeshie Yaw Yirenkyi, expressed gratitude to all those who supported his term, especially the old students association, to ensure the school’s academic achievement over the years thereby making it one of the best in the country.
The Akuapem North District Director of Education, Mr Ben B. Cronze, who chaired the function, said his outfit would come out with a package for the best student in the school who would also be among the best in the country at the 2011 WASSCE.
Earlier, the Headmaster, Mr Felix Essah-Hienno, said the school, which was founded 53 years ago by a barrister, Mr Kwaku Opoku Acheampong, would be instituting founders’ day lectures in February next year in honour of Mr Acheampong.
He praised members of the old board for their sacrifices that had continued to improve the school’s academic record and discipline.
Gifts were later presented to members of the old board and Mrs Rene Boakye Boateng.
The board, which has not yet elected its chairman, would be in office for the next three years.
In an address, a member of the board, Mr Yaw Yirenkyi-Atuah, said since their inauguration had come at a difficult period when more classrooms and dormitories had to be provided to take care of additional students due to the extension of the SHS duration from three to four years, the board would work around the clock for the provision of such facilities.
According to him, that would make it possible for the school to cater for all students.
Mr Yirenkyi-Atuah, who is a businessman from the Akuapem area and an old student of the school, therefore, called for support from the old and continuing students, staff and the parent-teacher association.
In her inaugural address, the Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service, Mrs Rene Boakye Boateng, spelt out the functions of the board, which among others, were to solicit support for the school and maintain discipline.
She advised members to always avert any “collision” with the school administration whiles doing their work.
Mrs Boakye also enjoined the students to be disciplined and make judicious use of their time to study and come out with flying colours at the WASSCE to enable them to climb the academic ladder.
The acting chairman of the old board, Odeshie Yaw Yirenkyi, expressed gratitude to all those who supported his term, especially the old students association, to ensure the school’s academic achievement over the years thereby making it one of the best in the country.
The Akuapem North District Director of Education, Mr Ben B. Cronze, who chaired the function, said his outfit would come out with a package for the best student in the school who would also be among the best in the country at the 2011 WASSCE.
Earlier, the Headmaster, Mr Felix Essah-Hienno, said the school, which was founded 53 years ago by a barrister, Mr Kwaku Opoku Acheampong, would be instituting founders’ day lectures in February next year in honour of Mr Acheampong.
He praised members of the old board for their sacrifices that had continued to improve the school’s academic record and discipline.
Gifts were later presented to members of the old board and Mrs Rene Boakye Boateng.
KWAHU PRASO NO.2 GETS NEW SCHOOL BLOCK (PAGE 42, MAY 17, 2010)
A GH¢50,000 three-classroom block and an office for the Presbyterian Primary School, which was constructed within three months at Kwahu Praso Number Two in the Kwahu South District, has been handed over to the community.
The facility, which was funded by the District Development Fund, replaces a dilapidated structure put up about 40 years ago.
The construction of the facility became necessary because classes could not be conducted in the old building during the rainy season.
At the handover ceremony which coincided with the distribution of free exercise books to the pupils, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Joseph Omari, said the assembly decided to put up the structure to enable the pupils attend classes during the rainy season.
According to him, the assembly had decided to renovate or construct classroom blocks in the district, especially, in the rural areas and expressed the hope that with other initiatives such as the Capitation Grant, free meals and exercise books, every child in the district would be able to attend school.
Mr Omari stated that feasibility studies were ongoing for the construction of a senior high school in the area, and urged parents to take advantage of the initiative to enrol their children in school.
With regard to the free exercise books, Mr Omari personally distributed some to the pupils and said so far, 30,000 exercise books had been given out to pupils in some parts of the district, adding that the whole district would be covered soon.
The Kwahu South District Director of Education, Mr Abraham Adjetey Sowah, who assisted the DCE to distribute the exercise books, was hopeful that parents and teachers would ensure the proper use of the books.
Both the Nifahene of Kwahu Praso, Nana Boama Twerefour, and the assembly member for the town, Mr George Asiamah, were grateful to the assembly, especially the DCE, for showing personal interest in the welfare of the pupils, especially, those from poor homes.
The facility, which was funded by the District Development Fund, replaces a dilapidated structure put up about 40 years ago.
The construction of the facility became necessary because classes could not be conducted in the old building during the rainy season.
At the handover ceremony which coincided with the distribution of free exercise books to the pupils, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Joseph Omari, said the assembly decided to put up the structure to enable the pupils attend classes during the rainy season.
According to him, the assembly had decided to renovate or construct classroom blocks in the district, especially, in the rural areas and expressed the hope that with other initiatives such as the Capitation Grant, free meals and exercise books, every child in the district would be able to attend school.
Mr Omari stated that feasibility studies were ongoing for the construction of a senior high school in the area, and urged parents to take advantage of the initiative to enrol their children in school.
With regard to the free exercise books, Mr Omari personally distributed some to the pupils and said so far, 30,000 exercise books had been given out to pupils in some parts of the district, adding that the whole district would be covered soon.
The Kwahu South District Director of Education, Mr Abraham Adjetey Sowah, who assisted the DCE to distribute the exercise books, was hopeful that parents and teachers would ensure the proper use of the books.
Both the Nifahene of Kwahu Praso, Nana Boama Twerefour, and the assembly member for the town, Mr George Asiamah, were grateful to the assembly, especially the DCE, for showing personal interest in the welfare of the pupils, especially, those from poor homes.
REVIEW FORUM DISCUSSES TERM OF OFFICE FOR PREZ (PAGE 14, MAY 15, 2010)
THE term of office for the President came up for debate at a constitutional review forum in Suhum.
While some suggested that the President should be in office for five years, with a provision to serve an additional term, others were of the view that the present dispensation, which allows the nation’s chief executive to be in the seat for two consecutive terms of four years, must stay.
The forum, organised by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), with support from the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District Assembly, to deliberate on various aspects of the 1992 Constitution, was attended by a cross-section of the public, including traditional rulers and assembly members.
Raising the issue at the well-attended forum, Mr Joshua Abbey, a tutor at the Presbyterian Senior High School in Suhum, said the President’s present four-year term was too short to enable him to push his agenda.
He argued that even if the President should serve an additional term, the total of eight years would not be sufficient to fully execute the agenda of his administration to fulfil promises made during the electioneering.
He, therefore, suggested a two five-year term for the country’s chief executive to make it possible for him to fulfil all electioneering promises.
While some of the subsequent speakers agreed with him, others called for the two four-year terms to stay, with the explanation that no meaningful achievement would be made in the additional two years after the President had spent eight years.
With regard to metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), most of the participants were of the view that they should be appointed so that they would go by the development agenda of the ruling political party.
Those in favour of the election of MMDCEs said such political heads would place the interest of the people above that of the government in whatever they did, arguing that they would be bold not to implement any bad government policy without fear of being sacked from office.
Other issues tackled included the determination of the salaries and allowances of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary and whether to separate the office of the Minister of Justice from that of the Attorney-General.
In an address, the Lead Research Counsel of the CRC, Mr Francis Obugo, said the process was to fashion out home-grown solutions to the country’s governance problems, adding that by the end of September this year people in all parts of the country would have had the opportunity to make contributions on all constitutional issues.
Welcoming the participants, the DCE for Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar, Mr Samuel Fleicher-Kwabi, expressed his appreciation to the CRC for organising the forum in the area and expressed the hope that the issues raised would be considered.
While some suggested that the President should be in office for five years, with a provision to serve an additional term, others were of the view that the present dispensation, which allows the nation’s chief executive to be in the seat for two consecutive terms of four years, must stay.
The forum, organised by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), with support from the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District Assembly, to deliberate on various aspects of the 1992 Constitution, was attended by a cross-section of the public, including traditional rulers and assembly members.
Raising the issue at the well-attended forum, Mr Joshua Abbey, a tutor at the Presbyterian Senior High School in Suhum, said the President’s present four-year term was too short to enable him to push his agenda.
He argued that even if the President should serve an additional term, the total of eight years would not be sufficient to fully execute the agenda of his administration to fulfil promises made during the electioneering.
He, therefore, suggested a two five-year term for the country’s chief executive to make it possible for him to fulfil all electioneering promises.
While some of the subsequent speakers agreed with him, others called for the two four-year terms to stay, with the explanation that no meaningful achievement would be made in the additional two years after the President had spent eight years.
With regard to metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), most of the participants were of the view that they should be appointed so that they would go by the development agenda of the ruling political party.
Those in favour of the election of MMDCEs said such political heads would place the interest of the people above that of the government in whatever they did, arguing that they would be bold not to implement any bad government policy without fear of being sacked from office.
Other issues tackled included the determination of the salaries and allowances of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary and whether to separate the office of the Minister of Justice from that of the Attorney-General.
In an address, the Lead Research Counsel of the CRC, Mr Francis Obugo, said the process was to fashion out home-grown solutions to the country’s governance problems, adding that by the end of September this year people in all parts of the country would have had the opportunity to make contributions on all constitutional issues.
Welcoming the participants, the DCE for Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar, Mr Samuel Fleicher-Kwabi, expressed his appreciation to the CRC for organising the forum in the area and expressed the hope that the issues raised would be considered.
FOUR BURNT TO DEATH (BACK PAGE, FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010)
FOUR persons were burnt to death, while two others were seriously injured, when an empty articulated truck collided head-on with a cargo truck fully loaded with vehicle spare parts at Nkawanda Number Two, a village near Nkawkaw on the main Accra-Kumasi Highway.
The accident occurred about 5 a.m. yesterday.
The dead bodies, including those of the drivers of the two vehicles which are yet to be identified, have been deposited at the Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw.
The injured, identified as Razak Issaka, 24, and Rose Adotey, 26, who were both on board the cargo truck, have been conveyed to the nearby Government Hospital at Engiresi.
The Eastern Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, told the Daily Graphic that the empty articulated truck was travelling from the direction of Kumasi, while the cargo truck, loaded with vehicle spare parts, including lorry tyres and lubricants, was from the opposite direction.
According to him, the driver of the cargo truck, who was allegedly dozing, drove into the lane of the oncoming articulated truck and collided head-on with it.
He said in the process, the cargo truck caught fire, burning to death its driver, the driver of the articulated vehicle as well as two others on the cargo truck.
He said Issaka and Adotey were seriously injured.
He said the police were investigating to identify the dead and also find the owners of the two vehicles, since no trace of their registration numbers were left after the blaze.
Supt Sarfo Peprah advised drivers plying the route to have enough rest, since fatigue accounted for most of the fatal accidents on the road.
The accident occurred about 5 a.m. yesterday.
The dead bodies, including those of the drivers of the two vehicles which are yet to be identified, have been deposited at the Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw.
The injured, identified as Razak Issaka, 24, and Rose Adotey, 26, who were both on board the cargo truck, have been conveyed to the nearby Government Hospital at Engiresi.
The Eastern Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, told the Daily Graphic that the empty articulated truck was travelling from the direction of Kumasi, while the cargo truck, loaded with vehicle spare parts, including lorry tyres and lubricants, was from the opposite direction.
According to him, the driver of the cargo truck, who was allegedly dozing, drove into the lane of the oncoming articulated truck and collided head-on with it.
He said in the process, the cargo truck caught fire, burning to death its driver, the driver of the articulated vehicle as well as two others on the cargo truck.
He said Issaka and Adotey were seriously injured.
He said the police were investigating to identify the dead and also find the owners of the two vehicles, since no trace of their registration numbers were left after the blaze.
Supt Sarfo Peprah advised drivers plying the route to have enough rest, since fatigue accounted for most of the fatal accidents on the road.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
PASTOR ASIMENG COMMENDED (PAGE 42, MAY 13, 2010)
THE Minister in charge of the Apostolic Church in the Abisim District, an area composed of remote communities near Koforidua, Pastor W.O. Asimeng, has been praised for his contributions towards the growth of the church in the district.
Pastor Asimeng, who has been at post for the past five years, has been transferred to Agona Nyarkrom in the Central Region.
In recognition of the hardships he went through, such as walking long distances to preach the gospel in hamlets within the area, the church at the weekend organised an appreciation service at Abisim in his honour during which he and the family were presented with gifts.
Speaking at the ceremony, which was attended by a number of pastors from other districts of the church led by the Koforidua Area Head, Apostle J.K. Addey, almost all speakers made up of pastors, elders, deacons and deaconesses, praised Pastor Asimeng for “leading the flock in a difficult terrain”.
Pastor Asimeng expressed his gratitude for the honour done him.
Pastor Asimeng, who has been at post for the past five years, has been transferred to Agona Nyarkrom in the Central Region.
In recognition of the hardships he went through, such as walking long distances to preach the gospel in hamlets within the area, the church at the weekend organised an appreciation service at Abisim in his honour during which he and the family were presented with gifts.
Speaking at the ceremony, which was attended by a number of pastors from other districts of the church led by the Koforidua Area Head, Apostle J.K. Addey, almost all speakers made up of pastors, elders, deacons and deaconesses, praised Pastor Asimeng for “leading the flock in a difficult terrain”.
Pastor Asimeng expressed his gratitude for the honour done him.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
DEV PLAN ON COURSE - OFOSU-AMFOFO (PAGE 13, MAY 11, 2010)
THE EASTERN Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, says the region’s development programme to ensure a fair distribution of the national cake is on course.
That, according to him, was in fulfilment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government’s “Better Ghana” agenda for the people.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made this known in the “meet-the-press encounter, the first of its kind to be organised on a regional basis, in Koforidua last Thursday.
It was attended by heads of departments in the region, some of whom assisted the regional minister, his Deputy, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed and the Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologo in answering questions about their outfits.
Also present were the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and other technocrats.
In a three-hour presentation Mr Ofosu- Ampofo, said on the whole, a lot had been achieved and that by 2012, the people in all the communities would have been provided with the needed social amenities to improve their lot.
The areas he covered were education, health, security, agriculture, tourism, transport sector, especially the construction and rehabilitation of roads and general infrastructural development.
With regard to education, he said 51 new schools would be built in the region and that provisions were being made to cater for additional students as a result of the extension of the duration of the senior high school from three to four years.
Government initiatives such as the capitation grant, free meals and school uniforms to schoolchildren in very deprived areas, he also indicated, had led to increase in enrolment, especially at the basic level.
On health, he said although the region had only 107 doctors, with a doctor-patient ratio of 1:22,300 and a nurse-patient ration of 1:1,000, a lot had been achieved in that sector and mentioned a reduction of maternal mortality from 250 per 100,000 live births in 2008 to 152 per 100,000 live births in 2009, as well as antenatal service coverage by 95 per cent, as some of the achievements.
Apart from that, he said a number of health facilities had been renovated and refurbished by the government with the support of the Government of Korea and some non-governmental organisations.
The health insurance scheme in the region, he also stated, had gained grounds with 1,636,662 registered members, constituting 75.67 per cent of the population.
He, however, indicated a number of challenges in the health sector such as HIV with a prevalent rate of 4.2 per cent since 2007 and the recent cases of HINI at the Okuapemman Senior High School and said the regional co-ordinating council had taken the necessary measures to address the problems.
On roads, he stated that although there had been significant improvement, motor accidents had been on the increase, especially on the Eastern Region stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway and the Aburi-Mamfe Road, and added that his outfit, in collaboration with the Motor Traffic Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the Road Safety Committee were doing the best to curtail these accidents.
With regard to security, he said although the area had been generally peaceful, chieftancy disputes, activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen who at times raped women on farms that had been destroyed by their animals, illegal gold and diamond mining often referred to as “gallamsey” and illegal chainsaw operations had led to the death of people, but expressed the hope that exercises by the law-enforcing agencies would address such unlawful acts.
He solicited support from traditional rulers and land owners to deal with the challenges.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who indicated that other criminal activities such as murder, robbery, rape and defilement, as well as dealings in narcotic drugs had reduced significantly since 2008, expressed the hope that the security agencies would continue to live up to expectation to reduce such cases to its barest minimum.
The regional minister, who also spoke extensively on agriculture, stated among other things that a total of 176,531 farmers had been technologically assisted to boost production of various food crops, while 125,000 cocoa farmers had also had their farms sprayed free of charge, adding that the initiative had led to increase in cocoa production.
Large-scale, privately-owned farms such as the Kwanin Farms in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains), he stated, were also being assisted by the government to produce more food for export and for home consumption.
On tourism, the regional minister stated that the region had a lot of tourist facilities such as the Boti Falls at Huhunya, the Volta Lake, the Oda big tree which is said to be the biggest in West Africa, the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong-Akuapem, the Craft Village at Aburi, as well as numerous annual events such as traditional festivals and the paragliding festival on the Kwahu Mountains.
He said since such facilities had continued to attract tourists to the region, his administration would offer the necessary assistance to develop them to earn more foreign exchange for the development of the area.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo was, however, not happy about the assemblies’ indebtedness to contractors and suppliers, who were engaged by the previous administration, which currently stood at GH¢6,189,371.63 as well as the inability of beneficiaries of the Poverty Alleviation Fund to repay the arrears of GH¢1,558,410.16.
He therefore, asked the assemblies and the beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation fund to try and settle such debts.
That, according to him, was in fulfilment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government’s “Better Ghana” agenda for the people.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made this known in the “meet-the-press encounter, the first of its kind to be organised on a regional basis, in Koforidua last Thursday.
It was attended by heads of departments in the region, some of whom assisted the regional minister, his Deputy, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed and the Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologo in answering questions about their outfits.
Also present were the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and other technocrats.
In a three-hour presentation Mr Ofosu- Ampofo, said on the whole, a lot had been achieved and that by 2012, the people in all the communities would have been provided with the needed social amenities to improve their lot.
The areas he covered were education, health, security, agriculture, tourism, transport sector, especially the construction and rehabilitation of roads and general infrastructural development.
With regard to education, he said 51 new schools would be built in the region and that provisions were being made to cater for additional students as a result of the extension of the duration of the senior high school from three to four years.
Government initiatives such as the capitation grant, free meals and school uniforms to schoolchildren in very deprived areas, he also indicated, had led to increase in enrolment, especially at the basic level.
On health, he said although the region had only 107 doctors, with a doctor-patient ratio of 1:22,300 and a nurse-patient ration of 1:1,000, a lot had been achieved in that sector and mentioned a reduction of maternal mortality from 250 per 100,000 live births in 2008 to 152 per 100,000 live births in 2009, as well as antenatal service coverage by 95 per cent, as some of the achievements.
Apart from that, he said a number of health facilities had been renovated and refurbished by the government with the support of the Government of Korea and some non-governmental organisations.
The health insurance scheme in the region, he also stated, had gained grounds with 1,636,662 registered members, constituting 75.67 per cent of the population.
He, however, indicated a number of challenges in the health sector such as HIV with a prevalent rate of 4.2 per cent since 2007 and the recent cases of HINI at the Okuapemman Senior High School and said the regional co-ordinating council had taken the necessary measures to address the problems.
On roads, he stated that although there had been significant improvement, motor accidents had been on the increase, especially on the Eastern Region stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway and the Aburi-Mamfe Road, and added that his outfit, in collaboration with the Motor Traffic Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the Road Safety Committee were doing the best to curtail these accidents.
With regard to security, he said although the area had been generally peaceful, chieftancy disputes, activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen who at times raped women on farms that had been destroyed by their animals, illegal gold and diamond mining often referred to as “gallamsey” and illegal chainsaw operations had led to the death of people, but expressed the hope that exercises by the law-enforcing agencies would address such unlawful acts.
He solicited support from traditional rulers and land owners to deal with the challenges.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who indicated that other criminal activities such as murder, robbery, rape and defilement, as well as dealings in narcotic drugs had reduced significantly since 2008, expressed the hope that the security agencies would continue to live up to expectation to reduce such cases to its barest minimum.
The regional minister, who also spoke extensively on agriculture, stated among other things that a total of 176,531 farmers had been technologically assisted to boost production of various food crops, while 125,000 cocoa farmers had also had their farms sprayed free of charge, adding that the initiative had led to increase in cocoa production.
Large-scale, privately-owned farms such as the Kwanin Farms in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains), he stated, were also being assisted by the government to produce more food for export and for home consumption.
On tourism, the regional minister stated that the region had a lot of tourist facilities such as the Boti Falls at Huhunya, the Volta Lake, the Oda big tree which is said to be the biggest in West Africa, the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong-Akuapem, the Craft Village at Aburi, as well as numerous annual events such as traditional festivals and the paragliding festival on the Kwahu Mountains.
He said since such facilities had continued to attract tourists to the region, his administration would offer the necessary assistance to develop them to earn more foreign exchange for the development of the area.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo was, however, not happy about the assemblies’ indebtedness to contractors and suppliers, who were engaged by the previous administration, which currently stood at GH¢6,189,371.63 as well as the inability of beneficiaries of the Poverty Alleviation Fund to repay the arrears of GH¢1,558,410.16.
He therefore, asked the assemblies and the beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation fund to try and settle such debts.
Monday, May 10, 2010
OPERATE WITHIN THE LAW (SPREAD, MAY 10, 2010)
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills has directed regional, metropolitan, municipal and district security councils to ensure that whatever they do to maintain law and order conforms to the 1992 Constitution that guarantees the fundamental human rights of the people.
He also asked the security councils not to deal with only chieftaincy disputes, tribal conflicts or armed robberies but also focus on human security by widening the horizon for social justice, the provision of social amenities and economic opportunities and re-awaken communal togetherness.
That, according to him, would make it possible for a peaceful atmosphere for the orderly development of the country to fulfil the ‘better Ghana’ agenda of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
The President gave the directive in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Defence, Lt General J.H. Smith, at a seminar organised for members of the regional, metropolitan, municipal and district security committees drawn from the Eastern, Volta and Greater Accra regions at the Mac-Dic Royal Plaza in Koforidua on Saturday.
The seminar gave the participants the opportunity to highlight security concerns in their areas to be addressed.
According to President Mills, the 1992 Constitution recognised the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual, noting that one key instrument that the Constitution provided Ghanaians was decentralisation and local government.
He said without opportunities for economic development and social advancement, particularly in the rural areas, the country’s security would continue to be under siege.
President Mills, who asked the security councils to play a leading role in the ‘better Ghana’ agenda by assisting the assemblies to come up with bye-laws in that respect, also tasked them to mobilise the youth for agricultural production.
“The assemblies should not only be limited to the building of markets and toilets but should also be involved in the production of goods and services, own enterprises, provide social amenities and revive the communal spirit which had, in the past, and by Ghanaian tradition, been responsible for development in the rural areas,” he stated.
The President, who explained vividly the concept of national security to enable the participants to have a full understanding of the issue, expressed the hope that the seminar would better equip them with how best to address security concerns in their respective areas.
Welcoming the participants, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said although it was generally peaceful in the area, chieftaincy disputes, illegal chainsaw activities and “galamsey” operations, as well as the activities of Fulani herdsmen, some of whom raped women after their animals had destroyed crops, continued to disturb the peace in the region.
He also dwelt on fire outbreaks in offices, at homes, at markets, as well as the recent jailbreak at the Sekondi Prison and the re-arrest of some of the criminals, and commended the policemen responsible for their re-capture and all other security personnel who had helped maintain law and order in the communities.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo indicated that the country had witnessed a significant reduction in criminal acts such as drug trafficking and armed robbery since the NDC came to power in January 2009 and gave the assurance that the necessary steps were being taken to make Ghana a safe place for all.
He also asked the security councils not to deal with only chieftaincy disputes, tribal conflicts or armed robberies but also focus on human security by widening the horizon for social justice, the provision of social amenities and economic opportunities and re-awaken communal togetherness.
That, according to him, would make it possible for a peaceful atmosphere for the orderly development of the country to fulfil the ‘better Ghana’ agenda of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
The President gave the directive in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Defence, Lt General J.H. Smith, at a seminar organised for members of the regional, metropolitan, municipal and district security committees drawn from the Eastern, Volta and Greater Accra regions at the Mac-Dic Royal Plaza in Koforidua on Saturday.
The seminar gave the participants the opportunity to highlight security concerns in their areas to be addressed.
According to President Mills, the 1992 Constitution recognised the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual, noting that one key instrument that the Constitution provided Ghanaians was decentralisation and local government.
He said without opportunities for economic development and social advancement, particularly in the rural areas, the country’s security would continue to be under siege.
President Mills, who asked the security councils to play a leading role in the ‘better Ghana’ agenda by assisting the assemblies to come up with bye-laws in that respect, also tasked them to mobilise the youth for agricultural production.
“The assemblies should not only be limited to the building of markets and toilets but should also be involved in the production of goods and services, own enterprises, provide social amenities and revive the communal spirit which had, in the past, and by Ghanaian tradition, been responsible for development in the rural areas,” he stated.
The President, who explained vividly the concept of national security to enable the participants to have a full understanding of the issue, expressed the hope that the seminar would better equip them with how best to address security concerns in their respective areas.
Welcoming the participants, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said although it was generally peaceful in the area, chieftaincy disputes, illegal chainsaw activities and “galamsey” operations, as well as the activities of Fulani herdsmen, some of whom raped women after their animals had destroyed crops, continued to disturb the peace in the region.
He also dwelt on fire outbreaks in offices, at homes, at markets, as well as the recent jailbreak at the Sekondi Prison and the re-arrest of some of the criminals, and commended the policemen responsible for their re-capture and all other security personnel who had helped maintain law and order in the communities.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo indicated that the country had witnessed a significant reduction in criminal acts such as drug trafficking and armed robbery since the NDC came to power in January 2009 and gave the assurance that the necessary steps were being taken to make Ghana a safe place for all.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
648KM E. REGION ROADS HANDED OVER (BACK PAGE, MAY 8, 2010)
SIX HUNDRED and forty-eight kilometres of feeder roads constructed in seven districts in the Eastern Region have been handed over to the government.
The road network, which forms part of the Feeder Roads Improvement Project (FRIP), primarily links farming communities in the Birim North, Birim South, East Akyem, Fanteakwa, Kwahu South, Kwahu North (Afram Plains) and Kwaebibirem districts.
They were constructed with funds from the European Development Fund.
Handing over the project at a colourful durbar of the chiefs and people from the beneficiary communities at Miaso in the Fanteakwa District, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, said the successful implementation of the FRIP in the seven districts would go a long way in facilitating the transportation of foodstuffs and people within the area.
That, according to him, would help alleviate poverty, in line with the government’s agenda of making life worth living for all, especially in the rural areas.
He said the European Union (EU) had also collaborated with the sector ministry to improve the road network in cocoa-growing areas in the Western, Central, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions which had significantly enhanced the evacuation of cocoa beans to the ports.
Mr Gidisu said the EU had recommended that 10 million euros be allocated for the improvement of feeder roads and approved an additional 20 million euros for the construction of the Dodo Pepesu to Nkwanta road. Besides, he said, another 83 million euros had been approved for the construction of the Tarkwa- Bogoso-Ayamfuri road.
He described the EU as a reliable partner in Ghana’s development and expressed the government’s appreciation for its support over the years.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said apart from helping to improve on the road network in the region, the EU had also assisted in other rural development projects not only in the region but in other parts of the country.
Such projects, he said, cut across education, water and sanitation, markets, micro financing and capacity building for key personnel of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.
He, however, appealed to the EU to help recondition the stretch of the road linking the Akyemansa District with the Ashanti Region and the road linking the Fanteakwa and the Kwahu East districts.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Ghana, Mr Claude Maerten, said the EU assistance to Ghana was to achieve equitable economic growth and accelerate poverty reduction in the country.
He expressed the hope that the Ministry of Roads and Highways would take good care of the roads.
Osabarima Awua Kotoko 11, Begorohene and Benkumhene of Akyem Abuakwa, who chaired the function, called on the EU to continue to help improve the road network in the area.
In appreciation of the efforts by the EU and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to improve the road network in the beneficiary districts, the chiefs of the area and the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council presented traditional stools and Kente cloths to Mr Maerten and Mr Gidisu.
The road network, which forms part of the Feeder Roads Improvement Project (FRIP), primarily links farming communities in the Birim North, Birim South, East Akyem, Fanteakwa, Kwahu South, Kwahu North (Afram Plains) and Kwaebibirem districts.
They were constructed with funds from the European Development Fund.
Handing over the project at a colourful durbar of the chiefs and people from the beneficiary communities at Miaso in the Fanteakwa District, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, said the successful implementation of the FRIP in the seven districts would go a long way in facilitating the transportation of foodstuffs and people within the area.
That, according to him, would help alleviate poverty, in line with the government’s agenda of making life worth living for all, especially in the rural areas.
He said the European Union (EU) had also collaborated with the sector ministry to improve the road network in cocoa-growing areas in the Western, Central, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions which had significantly enhanced the evacuation of cocoa beans to the ports.
Mr Gidisu said the EU had recommended that 10 million euros be allocated for the improvement of feeder roads and approved an additional 20 million euros for the construction of the Dodo Pepesu to Nkwanta road. Besides, he said, another 83 million euros had been approved for the construction of the Tarkwa- Bogoso-Ayamfuri road.
He described the EU as a reliable partner in Ghana’s development and expressed the government’s appreciation for its support over the years.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said apart from helping to improve on the road network in the region, the EU had also assisted in other rural development projects not only in the region but in other parts of the country.
Such projects, he said, cut across education, water and sanitation, markets, micro financing and capacity building for key personnel of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.
He, however, appealed to the EU to help recondition the stretch of the road linking the Akyemansa District with the Ashanti Region and the road linking the Fanteakwa and the Kwahu East districts.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Ghana, Mr Claude Maerten, said the EU assistance to Ghana was to achieve equitable economic growth and accelerate poverty reduction in the country.
He expressed the hope that the Ministry of Roads and Highways would take good care of the roads.
Osabarima Awua Kotoko 11, Begorohene and Benkumhene of Akyem Abuakwa, who chaired the function, called on the EU to continue to help improve the road network in the area.
In appreciation of the efforts by the EU and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to improve the road network in the beneficiary districts, the chiefs of the area and the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council presented traditional stools and Kente cloths to Mr Maerten and Mr Gidisu.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
MEET-THE-PRESS ENCOUNTER HELD IN KOFORIDUA (PAGE 35, MAY 5, 2010)
THE first regional meet-the-press encounter has been held in Koforidua with the assurance that development programmes intended to reduce poverty in the Eastern Region are on course.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who gave the assurance, said the region’s development programme would also ensure that all the communities had their fair share of social amenities.
He said the implementation of such development programmes was in fulfilment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s “Better Ghana” agenda for the people.
The event was attended by members of the regional press corps, who asked questions on various issues, as well as technocrats, including heads of department in the region, some of whom assisted the regional minister, his deputy, Baba Jamal Mohamed Ahmed and the Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologo, to answer questions.
Also present was the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah.
In a three-hour presentation contained in a 28-page document covering all aspects of the region’s development, the successes and challenges, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said on the whole a lot had been achieved.
He added that by 2012, the people in all the communities might have been provided with the needed social amenities to improve their lot.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo covered areas such as education, health, security, agriculture, tourism, the transport sector, especially the construction and rehabilitation of roads, and general infrastructural development.
With regard to education, he said 51 new schools would be built in the region and that provisions were being made to cater for additional students as a result of the extension of the duration of the senior high school system from three to four years.
The regional minister said the government’s initiatives such as the Capitation grant, free meals and school uniforms for schoolchildren in very deprived areas had led to increase in enrolment, especially at the basic level.
On health, he said although the region had only 107 doctors with the doctor-patient ratio of 1:22,300 and nurse-patient ration of 1:1,000, a lot had been achieved in that sector.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo mentioned the reduction in maternal mortality from 250 per 100,000 live births in 2008 to 152 per 100,000 live births in 2009 and antenatal service coverage by 95 per cent as some of the achievements.
Additionally, he said a number of health facilities had either been provided or renovated and refurbished by the government with the support of the Government of Korea and some non-governmental organisations.
The health insurance scheme in the region, the regional minister stated, had also gained grounds with 1,636,662 people having been registered, constituting 75.67 per cent of the population in the region.
He, however, mentioned a number of challenges in the health sector such as HIV whose prevalent rate had remained at 4.2 per cent since 2007 and the recent cases of HINI at the Okuapeman Senior High School.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the Regional Co-ordinating Council had taken the necessary measures to address the problems.
On roads, he said although it had also witnessed significant improvement, motor accidents had been on the rise, especially on the Eastern Region stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway and the Aburi-Mamfe Road.
He, however, stated that his outfit in collaboration with the Motor Traffic Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the Road Safety Committee were doing the best to curtail the accidents.
With regard to security, he said although the area had been generally peaceful, chieftancy disputes, activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen who sometimes raped women on farms that had been destroyed by their animals, illegal gold and diamond mining often referred to as “galamsey” and illegal chainsaw operations had led to the death of people.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo expressed the hope that continuous raids by the law-enforcing agencies would address such unlawful acts.
He solicited support from traditional rulers and land owners to deal with the challenges.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stated that other criminal activities such as murder, robbery, rape and defilement as well as dealings in narcotic drugs had reduced significantly from 2008.
He expressed the hope that the security agencies would continue to live up to expectation to bring such cases to the barest minimum.
The regional minister also spoke extensively on agriculture, saying that a total of 176,531 farmers had been technologically assisted to boost production of various food crops while 125,000 cocoa farmers had also had their farms sprayed free of charge.
He added that the initiative had led to increase in cocoa production.
Large scale privately owned farms such as the Kwanin Farms in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains), he stated were also being assisted by the government to produce more food for export and home consumption.
The regional minister stated that the region had a lot of tourist facilities such as the Boti Falls at Huhunya, the Volta Lake, the Oda big tree supposed to be the biggest in West Africa, the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong-Akuapem, the Craft Village at Aburi as well as numerous annual events such as traditional festivals and the newly introduced paragliding festival on the Kwahu Mountains.
He said since such facilities had continued to attract tourists to the region, his administration would offer the necessary assistance to develop them to earn more foreign exchange for the development of the area.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who gave the assurance, said the region’s development programme would also ensure that all the communities had their fair share of social amenities.
He said the implementation of such development programmes was in fulfilment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s “Better Ghana” agenda for the people.
The event was attended by members of the regional press corps, who asked questions on various issues, as well as technocrats, including heads of department in the region, some of whom assisted the regional minister, his deputy, Baba Jamal Mohamed Ahmed and the Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologo, to answer questions.
Also present was the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah.
In a three-hour presentation contained in a 28-page document covering all aspects of the region’s development, the successes and challenges, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said on the whole a lot had been achieved.
He added that by 2012, the people in all the communities might have been provided with the needed social amenities to improve their lot.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo covered areas such as education, health, security, agriculture, tourism, the transport sector, especially the construction and rehabilitation of roads, and general infrastructural development.
With regard to education, he said 51 new schools would be built in the region and that provisions were being made to cater for additional students as a result of the extension of the duration of the senior high school system from three to four years.
The regional minister said the government’s initiatives such as the Capitation grant, free meals and school uniforms for schoolchildren in very deprived areas had led to increase in enrolment, especially at the basic level.
On health, he said although the region had only 107 doctors with the doctor-patient ratio of 1:22,300 and nurse-patient ration of 1:1,000, a lot had been achieved in that sector.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo mentioned the reduction in maternal mortality from 250 per 100,000 live births in 2008 to 152 per 100,000 live births in 2009 and antenatal service coverage by 95 per cent as some of the achievements.
Additionally, he said a number of health facilities had either been provided or renovated and refurbished by the government with the support of the Government of Korea and some non-governmental organisations.
The health insurance scheme in the region, the regional minister stated, had also gained grounds with 1,636,662 people having been registered, constituting 75.67 per cent of the population in the region.
He, however, mentioned a number of challenges in the health sector such as HIV whose prevalent rate had remained at 4.2 per cent since 2007 and the recent cases of HINI at the Okuapeman Senior High School.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the Regional Co-ordinating Council had taken the necessary measures to address the problems.
On roads, he said although it had also witnessed significant improvement, motor accidents had been on the rise, especially on the Eastern Region stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway and the Aburi-Mamfe Road.
He, however, stated that his outfit in collaboration with the Motor Traffic Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the Road Safety Committee were doing the best to curtail the accidents.
With regard to security, he said although the area had been generally peaceful, chieftancy disputes, activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen who sometimes raped women on farms that had been destroyed by their animals, illegal gold and diamond mining often referred to as “galamsey” and illegal chainsaw operations had led to the death of people.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo expressed the hope that continuous raids by the law-enforcing agencies would address such unlawful acts.
He solicited support from traditional rulers and land owners to deal with the challenges.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stated that other criminal activities such as murder, robbery, rape and defilement as well as dealings in narcotic drugs had reduced significantly from 2008.
He expressed the hope that the security agencies would continue to live up to expectation to bring such cases to the barest minimum.
The regional minister also spoke extensively on agriculture, saying that a total of 176,531 farmers had been technologically assisted to boost production of various food crops while 125,000 cocoa farmers had also had their farms sprayed free of charge.
He added that the initiative had led to increase in cocoa production.
Large scale privately owned farms such as the Kwanin Farms in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains), he stated were also being assisted by the government to produce more food for export and home consumption.
The regional minister stated that the region had a lot of tourist facilities such as the Boti Falls at Huhunya, the Volta Lake, the Oda big tree supposed to be the biggest in West Africa, the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong-Akuapem, the Craft Village at Aburi as well as numerous annual events such as traditional festivals and the newly introduced paragliding festival on the Kwahu Mountains.
He said since such facilities had continued to attract tourists to the region, his administration would offer the necessary assistance to develop them to earn more foreign exchange for the development of the area.
ZOOMLION SPRAYS OKUAPEMAN SCHOOL IPAGE 35, MAY 5, 2010)
ZOOMLION Ghana Limited, a waste management company, in collaboration with the Akuapem North District Assembly at the weekend fumigated the Okuapemman Senior High School (SHS) at Akropong-Akuapem against the HINI influenza.
Six girls of the school last month contracted the disease forcing the school to go for its second term holidays earlier than expected.
Workers of Zoomlion, led by its Eastern Regional Vector Control Officer, Mr Johannes Obeng Danso, concentrated more on the girls’ dormitory, the bath houses, places of convenience and the classrooms.
According to Mr Danso, apart from preventing the influenza, the fumigation would also get rid of harmful insects, especially in the dormitories.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Felix Essah-Hienno, together with the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr George Opare Addo, witnessed the fumigation.
Mr Essah-Hienno said the safety of the students, who would be coming back to the school this week for the beginning of the third term, had been assured.
He thanked Zoomlion and the Akuapem North District Assembly for their intervention in controlling the influenza.
Mr Addo said the assembly was also assisting Zoomlion to fumigate the other SHSs in the district to prevent the influenza from spreading to those schools.
Six girls of the school last month contracted the disease forcing the school to go for its second term holidays earlier than expected.
Workers of Zoomlion, led by its Eastern Regional Vector Control Officer, Mr Johannes Obeng Danso, concentrated more on the girls’ dormitory, the bath houses, places of convenience and the classrooms.
According to Mr Danso, apart from preventing the influenza, the fumigation would also get rid of harmful insects, especially in the dormitories.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Felix Essah-Hienno, together with the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr George Opare Addo, witnessed the fumigation.
Mr Essah-Hienno said the safety of the students, who would be coming back to the school this week for the beginning of the third term, had been assured.
He thanked Zoomlion and the Akuapem North District Assembly for their intervention in controlling the influenza.
Mr Addo said the assembly was also assisting Zoomlion to fumigate the other SHSs in the district to prevent the influenza from spreading to those schools.
Monday, May 3, 2010
NDC FOOT SOLDIERS' ACTIONS CONDEMNED (PAGE 14, MAY 3, 2010)
THE EASTERN Regional Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Bismark Tawiah Boateng, has condemned the confrontational actions of so-called foot soldiers of the party for the removal of regional ministers and municipal/district chief executives.
He also expressed his displeasure with the foot soldiers’ use of force to take over toilets, toll booths and offices of the National Health Insurance Scheme in the country.
According to him, such a confrontational approach, if not stopped, would one day lead to a broadcast by the foot soldiers that they had dismissed President John Evans Atta Mills from office.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Koforidua Mr Boateng said the confrontational approach of the foot soldiers had the backing of some high-ranking members of the party and that it would impact negatively on the party’s campaign towards the 2012 elections.
“We know for a fact that the so-called foot soldiers have the backing of some high-ranking members of the party and the earlier they desist from their nefarious activities, the better it will be for the party. They must also know that in their bid to encourage the foot soldiers to wage war against their own party, they are buying weapons for our opponents whose nozzles will surely be turned on us in the 2012 campaign,” he stated.
The regional organiser said it had taken years to build the NDC into a formidable political force and that it was easier to destroy or demolish it, adding that the party could not be rebuilt within the period left for the 2012 elections if it was destroyed.
According to him, since the so-called foot soldiers were not aware of the operating document or the NDC Constitution, and since the country’s constitution frowned on negative activities by any association or individual, such confrontational actions must be stopped forthwith.
“It is nauseating to hear foot soldiers forcibly taking over toilets, NHIS offices, toll booths and agitating for the removal of regional and municipal/district chief executives,” he said.
Mr Boateng stated that the action of the foot soldiers in forcibly taking over the Adomi Bridge Toll Booth had generated a lot of friction among the Asuogyaman District Assembly, the district security command and the mandated toll collectors and blamed some of the co-ordinators of the National Disaster Management Organisation and the National Youth Employment Programme for such unfortunate incidents.
He also expressed his displeasure with the foot soldiers’ use of force to take over toilets, toll booths and offices of the National Health Insurance Scheme in the country.
According to him, such a confrontational approach, if not stopped, would one day lead to a broadcast by the foot soldiers that they had dismissed President John Evans Atta Mills from office.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Koforidua Mr Boateng said the confrontational approach of the foot soldiers had the backing of some high-ranking members of the party and that it would impact negatively on the party’s campaign towards the 2012 elections.
“We know for a fact that the so-called foot soldiers have the backing of some high-ranking members of the party and the earlier they desist from their nefarious activities, the better it will be for the party. They must also know that in their bid to encourage the foot soldiers to wage war against their own party, they are buying weapons for our opponents whose nozzles will surely be turned on us in the 2012 campaign,” he stated.
The regional organiser said it had taken years to build the NDC into a formidable political force and that it was easier to destroy or demolish it, adding that the party could not be rebuilt within the period left for the 2012 elections if it was destroyed.
According to him, since the so-called foot soldiers were not aware of the operating document or the NDC Constitution, and since the country’s constitution frowned on negative activities by any association or individual, such confrontational actions must be stopped forthwith.
“It is nauseating to hear foot soldiers forcibly taking over toilets, NHIS offices, toll booths and agitating for the removal of regional and municipal/district chief executives,” he said.
Mr Boateng stated that the action of the foot soldiers in forcibly taking over the Adomi Bridge Toll Booth had generated a lot of friction among the Asuogyaman District Assembly, the district security command and the mandated toll collectors and blamed some of the co-ordinators of the National Disaster Management Organisation and the National Youth Employment Programme for such unfortunate incidents.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
GH¢50,000 ELECTRIC CABLES STOLEN (PAGE 35, APRIL 29, 2010)
THIEVES recently removed the electric copper cables along the Tafo-Bunso stretch of the main Koforidua-Nkawkaw transmission line in the Eastern Region.
The copper cables can be used in the manufacture of all sorts of jewels and it will cost the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) GH¢50,000 to replace the copper cables with cables made of aluminium.
The theft, which occurred between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., plunged a number of towns in the Abuakwa East Municipality and the Atiwa District such as Bunso, Osino, Anyinam, Kwabeng and numerous communities into total darkness.
Engineers of the ECG drawn from various districts in the region under the direct supervision of the Eastern Regional Director, Mr Kobina Arthur-Forson have, however, worked around the clock to replace the copper cables with aluminium cables to restore power supply to affected towns and villages.
According to Mr Arthur-Forson, the total cost for the replacement of the cables together with others stolen in the area this month amounted to GH¢50,000.
He said cable thefts in the region, especially along the main Koforidua-Nkawkaw transmission lines had been on the ascendancy, adding that apart from its replacement putting a severe financial strain on the ECG, households and businesses in affected areas also suffered from such criminal acts.
Mr Arthur-Forson, who did not rule out the involvement of expert hands within the ECG and others from electrical contracting firms, visited some of the communities within the area to solicit support for the arrest of the culprits.
“The electric cables are national assets so every person should be on the lookout to apprehend the culprits,” the regional director stated.
At Ettokrom near Bunso, the chief, Nana Kwame Asiedu, said his people nearly arrested some of the culprits who had gathered within the precincts of the town a few days earlier.
He said a task force had been formed to support the community police to apprehend the culprits.
Nana Ago II, the Queen of Nsutam, whose community was also affected, said the disruption of power supply due to the cutting of the cables had negatively affected the socio-economic activities of the town.
She said the traditional authority was supporting the youth in the area to apprehend the culprits.
The copper cables can be used in the manufacture of all sorts of jewels and it will cost the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) GH¢50,000 to replace the copper cables with cables made of aluminium.
The theft, which occurred between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., plunged a number of towns in the Abuakwa East Municipality and the Atiwa District such as Bunso, Osino, Anyinam, Kwabeng and numerous communities into total darkness.
Engineers of the ECG drawn from various districts in the region under the direct supervision of the Eastern Regional Director, Mr Kobina Arthur-Forson have, however, worked around the clock to replace the copper cables with aluminium cables to restore power supply to affected towns and villages.
According to Mr Arthur-Forson, the total cost for the replacement of the cables together with others stolen in the area this month amounted to GH¢50,000.
He said cable thefts in the region, especially along the main Koforidua-Nkawkaw transmission lines had been on the ascendancy, adding that apart from its replacement putting a severe financial strain on the ECG, households and businesses in affected areas also suffered from such criminal acts.
Mr Arthur-Forson, who did not rule out the involvement of expert hands within the ECG and others from electrical contracting firms, visited some of the communities within the area to solicit support for the arrest of the culprits.
“The electric cables are national assets so every person should be on the lookout to apprehend the culprits,” the regional director stated.
At Ettokrom near Bunso, the chief, Nana Kwame Asiedu, said his people nearly arrested some of the culprits who had gathered within the precincts of the town a few days earlier.
He said a task force had been formed to support the community police to apprehend the culprits.
Nana Ago II, the Queen of Nsutam, whose community was also affected, said the disruption of power supply due to the cutting of the cables had negatively affected the socio-economic activities of the town.
She said the traditional authority was supporting the youth in the area to apprehend the culprits.
NEW BOARD FO SUHU GOVT HOSPITAL (PAGE 36, APRIL 29, 2010)
A 21-MEMBER advisory board for the Suhum Government Hospital has been inaugurated at Suhum.
The board, which is made up of a traditional ruler, medical doctors and administrators, security personnel, a business executive and others drawn from the area, will elect its executives on May 13, this year.
Addressing the board, the Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Erasmus Agongo, said since the health sector was facing many challenges which could not entirely be addressed by the government, it was the responsibility of the board to see how best to resolve some of the problems.
He urged the members to, at all times, take into consideration the welfare of patients and people in the catchment area of the hospital.
According to him, that would go a long way in ensuring quality healthcare delivery at the hospital.
Earlier, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Emmanuel Tetteh Ashong, had enumerated the challenges facing the hospital, including the lack of a fence wall to ward off intruders, congestion at the wards and the inability of the National Health Insurance Authority to regularly service bills which had accumulated to GH¢60,000.
He said the hospital, which catered for numerous motor accident victims on the Nsawam-Nkawkaw stretch of the main Accra-Kumasi Highway, had also not got an accident centre.
Dr Ashong expressed the hope that the board would act expeditiously to address those problems to enable the hospital to continue to deliver quality services to patients.
Members of the board toured the various wards and departments of the hospital and assured the management that they would do their best to improve the infrastructure and other services at the facility.
The board, which is made up of a traditional ruler, medical doctors and administrators, security personnel, a business executive and others drawn from the area, will elect its executives on May 13, this year.
Addressing the board, the Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Erasmus Agongo, said since the health sector was facing many challenges which could not entirely be addressed by the government, it was the responsibility of the board to see how best to resolve some of the problems.
He urged the members to, at all times, take into consideration the welfare of patients and people in the catchment area of the hospital.
According to him, that would go a long way in ensuring quality healthcare delivery at the hospital.
Earlier, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Emmanuel Tetteh Ashong, had enumerated the challenges facing the hospital, including the lack of a fence wall to ward off intruders, congestion at the wards and the inability of the National Health Insurance Authority to regularly service bills which had accumulated to GH¢60,000.
He said the hospital, which catered for numerous motor accident victims on the Nsawam-Nkawkaw stretch of the main Accra-Kumasi Highway, had also not got an accident centre.
Dr Ashong expressed the hope that the board would act expeditiously to address those problems to enable the hospital to continue to deliver quality services to patients.
Members of the board toured the various wards and departments of the hospital and assured the management that they would do their best to improve the infrastructure and other services at the facility.
UPPER MANYA KICKS AGAINST COMMON FUND DEDUCTIONS (PAGE 14, APRIL 30, 2010)
The Upper Manya District Assembly has kicked against deductions from their share of the Common Fund which, according to the assembly members, had impacted negatively on the district.
At the sitting of the Assembly at Asesewa last week, the assembly members expressed disgust at the deduction of GH¢15,000 per quarterly allocation which, they said, was being used to render services outside the district.
The members who could not, however, indicate the specific services the deduction was being used for, called on the Administrator of the fund to stop the deduction to enable the district to have more funds for its development.
The assembly arrived at the consensus after the Presiding Member told the House that GH¢15,000 was being deducted from the district’s share of the Common Fund every quarter.
He said although the assembly had no problem with the deduction, whatever amount was deducted must be used in the interest of the people in the communities within the district.
The District Chief Executive, Mr Joseph Tetteh Angmor, who later addressed the Assembly, said a number of projects currently under construction would soon be completed.
These included a GH¢42,465.83 slaughter house at Asesewa, a GH¢15,394.50 six-unit classroom block equipped with an office, store, library and urinal, an x-ray for the Asesewa Government Hospital at a cost of GH¢44,886.60, drilling of eight boreholes at Sekesua, Anyaboni and Mensa Dawa costing GH¢56,000.00, a GH¢33,574.00 clinic at Ternguanya as well as the Asesewa lorry park.
He also told the Assembly that Plan Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, would be constructing 10 boreholes for 10 deprived communities in the area, namely Akatebuor, Oditsanse, Apimsu, Asuomanya, Korlieteh, Terkorase, Brepaw Kpiti, Mensah Dawa, Batorkope and Akateng.
With regard to roads, Mr Angmor said the construction of the Asesewa-Adwensu and Asesewa-Akrusu road had been completed while work on the Bisa Junction-Akrusu Road was in progress, adding that the Konkoney-Akumersu-Sekesua Road and the Sekesua-Osonson, Nsutapong-Ternguany roads would soon be tackled.
Dwelling on the Youth Employment Programme in the district, he said new modules such as dressmaking, mobile phone repair, police, fire and prison services as well as agriculture had been added to the scheme to enable more people to generate income for their livelihood in line with the government initiative.
The DCE ,who elaborated on other aspects of the district’s development programme, called on the assembly members for support.
At the sitting of the Assembly at Asesewa last week, the assembly members expressed disgust at the deduction of GH¢15,000 per quarterly allocation which, they said, was being used to render services outside the district.
The members who could not, however, indicate the specific services the deduction was being used for, called on the Administrator of the fund to stop the deduction to enable the district to have more funds for its development.
The assembly arrived at the consensus after the Presiding Member told the House that GH¢15,000 was being deducted from the district’s share of the Common Fund every quarter.
He said although the assembly had no problem with the deduction, whatever amount was deducted must be used in the interest of the people in the communities within the district.
The District Chief Executive, Mr Joseph Tetteh Angmor, who later addressed the Assembly, said a number of projects currently under construction would soon be completed.
These included a GH¢42,465.83 slaughter house at Asesewa, a GH¢15,394.50 six-unit classroom block equipped with an office, store, library and urinal, an x-ray for the Asesewa Government Hospital at a cost of GH¢44,886.60, drilling of eight boreholes at Sekesua, Anyaboni and Mensa Dawa costing GH¢56,000.00, a GH¢33,574.00 clinic at Ternguanya as well as the Asesewa lorry park.
He also told the Assembly that Plan Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, would be constructing 10 boreholes for 10 deprived communities in the area, namely Akatebuor, Oditsanse, Apimsu, Asuomanya, Korlieteh, Terkorase, Brepaw Kpiti, Mensah Dawa, Batorkope and Akateng.
With regard to roads, Mr Angmor said the construction of the Asesewa-Adwensu and Asesewa-Akrusu road had been completed while work on the Bisa Junction-Akrusu Road was in progress, adding that the Konkoney-Akumersu-Sekesua Road and the Sekesua-Osonson, Nsutapong-Ternguany roads would soon be tackled.
Dwelling on the Youth Employment Programme in the district, he said new modules such as dressmaking, mobile phone repair, police, fire and prison services as well as agriculture had been added to the scheme to enable more people to generate income for their livelihood in line with the government initiative.
The DCE ,who elaborated on other aspects of the district’s development programme, called on the assembly members for support.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)