Wednesday, January 26, 2011

FARMERS URGED TO ADOPT MODERN PRACTICES (PAGE 22, JAN 26, 2011)

THE East Akyem Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Simon Peter Asirifi, has advised farmers in the municipality to follow the guidelines for the cultivation of crops given to them by agricultural extension officers.
He said that would enable them to increase production of quality crops that would be on high demand on the market.
Mr Asirifi gave the advice when he presented a 21-inch television set and farming inputs to Mr Seth Douglas Diaka Asare from New Tafo, Akyem who emerged the overall best farmer for 2010 in the municipality at the area’s farmers’ day which was held at Akooko, a farming community.
In all, 18 farmers who excelled in the production of various crops were honoured with prizes of various farming implements.
Mr Asirifi stressed the need for farmers to adhere to technical guidance offered by agricultural extension officers to increase production of quality crops.
He said anything short of that would lead to poor harvests of crops which would not be accepted on the market.
The MCE also advised the farmers to till the land in such a way that would not destroy the environment.
He gave the assurance that his outfit would continue to give the necessary support for farmers to produce more and earn appreciable incomes for their livelihood.
Mr Asirifi congratulated farmers in the area for producing more food and cash crops resulting in availability of food at reasonable prices in the municipality.
The overall best farmer, Mr Diaka Asare, on behalf of the other award winners, expressed gratitude to the municipal assembly for honouring them.
He gave the assurance that they would perform better this year to make more foodstuffs available at reasonable prices.

KWAHU SOUTH PROJECTS ON COURSE, OMARI ASSURES (PAGE 22, JAN 26, 2011)

A COMPREHENSIVE programme has been unveiled to provide basic social amenities in almost all the communities in the Kwahu South District in the Eastern Region, especially the remote ones, this year.
The programme estimated at millions of Ghana cedis, will be jointly funded by the government and the assembly with support from development partners.
The assembly has projected to rake in a revenue of GH¢2,8835,848.53 for the execution of the projects and other social services.
Although many communities in the district have already been provided with amenities such as good roads, markets, clinics, water, electricity and other social interventions like support for farmers, there were other communities which have not yet benefited from such amenities.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Joseph Omari, said almost all the new projects earmarked for this year just like similar ones undertaken last year, were demand-driven, some of which cost the assembly only GH¢5,000.
“Almost all the projects to be executed are demand-driven, the people led by their chiefs and other opinion leaders, have appealed to us to provide them with the facilities. One of the facilities is a mini bridge on a river costing only GH¢5,000,” Mr Omari stated.
On education, the DCE said the assembly had since 2009 done a lot to improve it, adding that a number of dilapidated school buildings were to be rehabilitated while new ones would be built, especially at villages where classes were held under trees.
With regard to roads, Mr Omari said 34.6 kilometres of bad roads, especially the Adawso-Mpaem road which connects a number of farming villages and the Nkawkaw-Atibie main road, the gateway to the area, would be reconstructed.
To improve farming in the area, the DCE stated that the assembly under the guidance of the District Director of Agriculture, Mr John Nketia Gyenfi, would be training 100 farmers in 39 farmer-based organisations in modern agricultural practice for the cultivation of potatoes, yams and cassava.
Mr Omari said seeds of such crops and other forms of assistance would be given to the farmers to increase yield so that they would in turn assist other farmers in the area.
For his part, Mr Gyenfi said although agricultural extension officers were doing their best to assist the farmers in the area, the bad nature of the feeder roads, especially the Adawso-Mpaem road was having a negative effect on food production and marketing.
He was, however, hopeful that with the reconstruction of that road, the bulk of foodstuffs obtained in that area, described as the food basket of the district, would be easily marketed in the urban areas.

APOSTOLIC CHURCH PASTOR GIVES HOPE TO THE NEEDY (PAGE 22, JAN 26, 2011)

CALL him the father of the needy, the disadvantaged, people with no hope of making a living and even those languishing in prison and you will not be mistaken.
For a period of almost 20 years, Pastor Kwabena Ankamah of the Apostolic Church of Ghana with the support of his wife, Agnes has given material and financial support to such unfortunate persons in the Eastern Region.
Such a benevolence has helped transform the social and spiritual life of the beneficiaries, especially prisoners some of whom he managed to be freed through legal aid offered them.
The beneficiaries are the inmates of the Koforidua and Akuse Prisons, the School for the Deaf at Mampong-Akuapem and needy persons within and outside the Apostolic Church of Ghana, especially widows and orphans.
Some of the items Pastor Ankamah recently presented to the Mampong School for the Deaf included 100 tubers of yams, three cartoons of canned fish, a bag of rice and a poly tank to store water for the students.
He also donated 100 tubers of yams, four cartoons of soap and a bag of rice to the Koforidua Prison’s while the inmates of Akuse Prisons had 100 tubers of yams, four cartons of soap, three cartons of canned fish, a bag of rice and GH¢200 cash for the choir group of the prison.
The prisons have been on the heart of Pastor Ankamah who also leads a team on ministerial visits to the Akuse and Koforidua Prisons where apart from providing material and spiritual needs to the inmates, the pastor with the support of a lawyer, Ivy Vandepujie, also gives legal assistance free-of-charge to prisoners.
As a result of his gesture, 10 of the inmates at the Koforidua and the Akuse Prisons gained their freedom between 2007 and 2009.
In 2009, three of the released prisoners accepted Christ and were baptised before they joined their families.
The Tetteh Quarshie Hospital at Mampong-Akuapem is not also left out as the pastor leads his congregation to visit the health facility on weekly basis to donate money to the hospital and at the same time pray for the sick on admission.
Pastor Ankamah, who is also a lawyer by profession and currently the Aburi District Pastor of the Apostolic Church of Ghana, has developed a passion for every needy person, the disadvantaged or even those who through some circumstances had found their way into the country’s prisons.
Such is the passion of this lawyer/pastor he cannot easily walk away from any unfortunate person whenever he sets eyes on them or hears about their plight without giving cash or any material thing such as clothing to them.
One significant thing about such monetary or material assistance is that it often goes with prayers for spiritual guidance to enable those benefiting from his largesse, specifically prisoners, to accept Christ and change for the better.
“Why should a human being created by God suffer just because that person is poor in such a way that he or she cannot provide the daily needs? It is the responsibility of every person with means, especially Christians to assist our unfortunate brothers and sisters with cash, materials as well as spiritual guidance to face the reality of life which at times is very bitter," he said.
Pastor Ankamah said, “There are many people who need just some few cedis and clothing to survive and I feel so sad when I come into contact with them so my wife and I have to do something for them to also feel that they are human beings.
“I derive my satisfaction when I am able to assist the needy, so all the time I work hard to get extra money and materials for that purpose.”
Pastor Ankamah, who was in the first place an elder of the Dansoman congregation of the Apostolic Church of Ghana and later became a pastor, developed the philanthropic character with a view to reach out to more people.
To accomplish that initiative, he founded the Kwabena Ankamah Foundation comprising himself, his wife, Agnes, Pastors Isaiah Pobi, Asamoah, Budu, one Christian as well as Mr Jude Sarpong.
Since then, he has been regularly visiting the poor, providing them with material needs and strengthening them in prayers.
The benevolence of Pastor Ankamah has impressed other philanthropists, namely Mrs Suzy Lambo and Madam Akua Ofori, who have also come to the rescue by financially supporting his initiatives, especially his visits to the prisons.
Although Pastor Ankamah’s desire to provide the necessary assistance to the poor and needy has made many of such unfortunate persons to overcome their financial, material and spiritual problems, the number of the needy and disadvantaged keeps on increasing each passing day, especially in the churches.
We need more Pastor Ankamahs in the various congregations but not Ananias’ who will not be prepared to share what God has given to them with others.
After all the various religious bodies, especially Christianity is based on equality and being each other’s keeper.

Monday, January 24, 2011

PROBE LOSS OF RELIEF ITEMS...Regional Ministers (PAGE 12, JAN 24, 2011)

REGIONAL Ministers meeting in Koforidua have called for an investigation into the conduct of officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) who were at post before January, 2009 over the disappearance of relief items and other materials in their outfit.
The ministers also demanded that any staff of NADMO and the NFED who did not comply with posting instructions should face disciplinary measures.
These were contained in a statement issued after a two-day conference of the Regional Ministers in Koforidua.
The statement, which was read by the Volta Regional Minister and chairman of the conference, Mr Joseph Amenowode, also expressed concern about accidents on the Volta Lake and called for regular patrols to ensure safe water transport.
With regard to the National Health Insurance Scheme, the conference urged the government to use part of the oil revenue to support its implementation in order to close the financing gap.
To help stop illegal mining and chain-saw lumbering in the country, the conference suggested that heavier fines should be imposed on perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others.
On the activities of the Macro Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) scheme, the ministers acknowledged its important role in propelling small and medium enterprises thereby reducing poverty and called for the reduction of the current monthly interest rate so as to encourage repayment by beneficiaries.
The conference also urged MASLOC to focus on critical poverty-stricken areas to ensure effective poverty reduction and also diversifying loan disbursement to include the supply of inputs for economic activities.
Concerning the implementation of Legislative Instrument (LI 1961), the conference noted the inconsistencies in the various legislation on the decentralisation process and expressed the hope that a technical committee set up to look into the legislation would come up with recommendations that would address the discrepancies.
The regional ministers, who were not happy about poor communication between the Ministry of Education and the regional co-ordinating councils, called for better collaboration to enhance implementation of government programmes and projects at the local level.
The conference expressed its unflinching loyalty and support for his continuous assistance to them.
It congratulated the incoming Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, on his appointment and also thanked the outgoing minister, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, for his support and contributions to the conference and wished the two men well in their new positions.

Friday, January 21, 2011

KEEN CONTEST FOR NKAWKAW NPP SLOT (PAGE 12, JAN 21, 2011)

ERIC KWAKYE Darfour, the Eastern Regional Treasurer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and four others will contest the Nkawkaw Constituency primary for the 2012 elections.
The four others are the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Seth Adjei Baah, who contested the seat in the 2008 elections as an independent candidate; Mr Okerchiri Adusa, a former MP for the area; Mr Yaw Owusu Addo, a journalist, and Madam Vida Agyekum, a legal practitioner.
Although the five have not yet officially made public their intentions, reliable sources within the constituency indicate that they are keeping a low profile due to a directive from the party’s headquarters that it is too early to do so, since the parliamentary elections are almost two years away.
The source said the directive was also to avoid any mud-throwing among the contestants like what characterised the previous primaries, especially within areas considered as strongholds of the NPP.
According to the source, the party would soon come out with when all those contesting on its tickets could declare their intentions.
It said the contest for the seat would be keen in view of the fact that whoever wins the day had the better chance of occupying the seat that had never been won by any other political party.
In view of that, it said all the candidates had secretly started soliciting for support from the party’s members, especially polling station chairmen and other executives who would determine their fate at the primary.
Asked about the chances of each of the candidates, the source said Mr Darfour, who was also a Special Assistant to Dr Francis Osafo Mensah, a former Eastern Regional Minister, seemed to be the favourite.
It explained that the two other popular candidates, Mr Seth Adjei Baah and Okerchire Adusa, were likely to have some problems because Mr Adjei Baah went solo during the 2008 elections and Mr Adusa had also been an MP for three terms, and according to the source members of the electoral college think he must give way to a new face.
The source, however, said it would not be surprising if Mr Owusu Addo or Madam Agyekum carried the day.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

ABIRIW CELEBRATES EBA FESTVAL (PAGE 22, JAN 19, 2011)

THE chiefs and people of Abiriw in the Eastern Region at the weekend celebrated their annual Eba (Ohum) festival with a grand durbar.
The gathering, the largest in the town in recent times was attended by a number of dignitaries such as the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akuapem North, Mr George Opare Addo; the Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe; the General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party, Mr Ivor Greenstreet, and almost all the chiefs of Akuapem or their representatives.
Some of the chiefs were: Osahene Kwasi Offei Agyeman, the Krontihene of Akuapem, Nana Asiedu Okoo III, the chief of Larteh, Nana Obuodum Ameyaw, the chief of Aseseeso, Nana Osim Kwatia, chief of Amanokrom, Nana Asare Brempong, the chief of Awukugua, and the Mamfehene, Osabarima Ansa Sasraku, who chaired the function.
Addressing the durbar, the Abiriwhene, Nana Kwame Henaku II said the town had initiated a programme for the provision of a number of social amenities to improve the lives of the people.
The projects include rehabilitation of roads and construction of boreholes, public places of convenience for some of the basic schools and a wall for the local clinic.
Nana Henaku called for financial assistance towards the projects.
He said a number of tourist facilities such as a waterfall in the area were also to be developed, and invited investors to help in that respect.
Nana Henaku stated that chiefs in the area were prepared to release lands to make Abiriw a tourist destination on the Akuapem Scarp.
The chief was grateful to President John Evans Atta Mills and all the opposition political parties for ensuring peace in the country.
He thanked the assembly member, the MP, Mr Dan Botwe, and all individuals who had contributed to the town’s development over the years.
Mr Opare Addo, who deputised for the out-going Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the assembly had within the last two years, constructed 26 classroom blocks, offices for six area councils, sunk 16 boreholes and provided a number of rain harvesting facilities in the district.
He assured the people that by the end of July, this year, the irregular water supply in the area, especially within the Abiriw town would come to an end.
He added that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration would do everything possible to make Ghana a better place for all.
The assembly, Mr Opare Addo stated, would ensure that all communities in the area, including Abiriw would be provided with the necessary social amenities.
Mr Dan Botwe gave the assurance that he would continue to use his share of the Common Fund and solicit for funds from non-governmental organisations to provide social amenities and other poverty- alleviation initiatives for the people.
He urged parents to give the necessary support to their children’s education to improve the low level of education in basic schools in the area.
On the differences between some of the Akuapem chiefs and the paramountcy, Mr Botwe said he supported the call from such chiefs for the creation of additional paramountcies in the area.
He was, however, hopeful that an amicable solution would be found to the impasse.
Speaking about the recent district level elections, the MP stated that many things went wrong during the polls.
He called on all stakeholders to help address pertinent issues associated with the polls so that the 2012 general election would be peaceful.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

EASTERN REGIONAL NDC SALUTES OFOSU-AMPOFO (PAGE 13, JAN 18, 2011)

THE Eastern Regional executive and the rank and file of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region have sent a congratulatory message to Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo on his appointment as the new Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo had, for the past two years, been the Eastern Regional Minister.
A letter signed by the Deputy Eastern Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr M.M. Doe, stated, “Your appointment, competence and tenacity of purpose stand out unparalleled and we can say with all confidence that you deserve the honour. We in the region share in this honour and we are proud of you and will continue to pray for you in your future endeavours which we know you will rise equal to all challenges that this noble call to duty brings with it.”
In another development, the outgoing Akuapem South Municipal Chief Executive, Dr Godfred Osei Bonsu, and his wife, Mrs Ludimilla Bonsu, have donated six ceiling fans and a double-decker refrigerator to the Eastern Regional secretariat of the NDC.
The items, worth GH¢5,500, are to be installed at the regional office of the party.
Making the presentation at the party’s office in Koforidua, a representative of the couple expressed the hope that the items would improve the working condition of the staff at the secretariat.
The Eastern Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr Anthony Gyampo, who received the items, expressed appreciation to the couple and appealed to the party’s sympathisers for more of such donations, particularly at this period, to enable the NDC to carry out its electioneering to retain power.

Monday, January 17, 2011

MILLS ADMINISTRATION HAS SHOWN GOOD FAITH — OFOSU AMPOFO (PAGE 13, JAN 17, 2011)

THE outgoing Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has called on Ghanaians to continue to support President John Evans Atta Mills, since his administration has already done a lot to improve their lot.
He also asked religious leaders to pray for the President.
He said the achievements chalked up by the government within two years were so meaningful and visible that all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliation, should give the President the necessary support to continue with his development agenda.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made the call when, on behalf of President Mills, he presented 500 sleeping mats, five bags of rice and beans, detergents, as well as his (Ofosu-Ampofo’s) personal donation of GH¢500, a Kente cloth and 20 solar torchlights to the Saviour Church of Ghana at its headquarters at Osiem, near Koforidua.
According to the Regional Minister, within a short period of the Mills administration, a lot had been achieved, including a drastic drop in inflation to a single digit, the provision of more infrastructure and social amenities such as roads, markets, schools, health posts and potable water in many communities throughout the country.
He said in addition to that, poverty alleviation initiatives such as an increase in the capitation grant, free school uniforms and exercise books for all pupils in basic schools, some of which were also benefitting from free meals, had not only made it possible for pupils of poor parentage to go to school but also significantly reduced poverty in the system.




























Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who indicated that the achievements of the government had propelled the country into a middle- income status, called on Ghanaians from across the political divide to support President Mills to “lead the country to the promised land of good living standards at the end of his first term”.
“All of us have seen what the Mills administration has done, which is reflecting in our lifestyles, and we should all support him to do more to improve the lot of the people, especially those in the rural communities where poverty is the order of the day,” Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stated.
The General Superintendent of the Saviour Church of Ghana, Opanin Abraham Kwabena Edusei, said the church and Ghanaians as a whole had recognised the achievements of the Mills administration and would give the necessary support to the President to do more for the country.
Opanin Edusei, who expressed the Saviour Church’s appreciation to the President and the regional minister for their donations, said his outfit would also continue to offer the necessary prayers for God’s guidance for President Mills.

AKUAPEM CHIEFS RESOLVE TO RE-UNITE (PAGE 12, JAN 15, 2011)

ALL the chiefs in the Akuapem Traditional Area have resolved to go by a roadmap initiated by the out-going Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo to re-unite them.
Some chiefs in the area have since 1994 severed their relationship with the Akuapem Paramountcy, headed by Oseadeoyo Addo Dankwa III over a number of issues.
And to help bring the chiefs together, Mr Ofosu Ampofo with the support of Akuapem citizens resident in the United States and Canada last year, crafted a roadmap under which a number of reconciliatory meetings would be held to iron out their grievances in that respect.
That was after the Regional Minister and some of the chiefs such as the Aburihene, Otoobuor Gyan Kwasi, Mamfehene, Osabarima Ansa Sasraku and others visited the two North American countries to seek the support of Akuapems living there.
At a breakfast meeting organised by the Regional Minister at his official residence which was attended by the chiefs at Koforidua recently, the chiefs appreciated the role being played by Mr Ofosu Ampofo and resolved to give him the necessary support to re-unite the Akuapem Kingdom, described as the pinnacle of education in the region.
Setting the ball rolling, the Regional Minister said it was unfortunate that chiefs in the once united Akuapem State noted for discipline and education “should go their own ways”, adding that such a disturbing situation had slowed down the area’s development.
He said since Akuapems in the diaspora had united and contributing to the development of their homeland, it was necessary for the chiefs to come together for the same purpose.
He therefore appealed to them to put their differences aside and to embrace his reconciliatory initiatives for the re-unification of the Akuapem State.
The Krontihene of Akuapem, Osahene Kwasi Agyeman IV, who was the first chief to speak, said chiefs in the area should tolerate one another’s view, pointing out that this would go a long way in bringing back the bond of friendship and consequently re-unite them.
In his contribution, the Aburihene, Otoobuor Gyan Kwasi, called for justice and fair play in all deliberations since a number of grievances had to be addressed.
The Chief of Mamfe, Osabarima Ansa Sasraku, in his contribution asked his colleagues not to add colour to any deliberation on the issue since that had the tendency of derailing the roadmap.
For his part, the Chief of Larteh, Osabarima Asiedu Okoo, said most of the rules adopted over a century ago to put Akuapem together were archaic and did not conform to the present day and must therefore be done away with before any meaningful headway could be made.
When it came to his turn, the Okerehene, Osuodumgya Otutu Kono III, expressed his displeasure for not being included in the delegation to the US and Canada and said despite that, he welcomed the Ofosu Ampofo’s peace overtures to re-unite them since they could not solve their own problem.
The Chairman of the Akuapem Presbytery, who is also the Chairman of the Eastern Region Peace Council, Rev (Dr) J.O.Y. Mantey, and the Catholic Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, Rt Rev Joseph Agyekum Afrifa, gave ecclesiastical blessing to the re-unification process and indicated that they would do their best in that regard.

150 YOUTH COMPLETE TRAINING IN ORGANIC FARMING (PAGE 3, JAN 15, 2011)

ONE hundred and fifty youth have completed a training course in organic farming at Osino.
The course was organised and funded by the SOS Children’s Village, Asiakwa through its Farming and Livelihood Improvement Programme (FLIP).
The youth comprised 120 children between the ages of 12 and 18, who formed the Organic Junior Farmer Field and Life School (OJFFLS) group, and 30 youngsters between the ages of 18 and 25 who belong to the Senior Youth in Organic Agriculture (Organic Farmer Field School).
All of them were drawn from four towns — Asiakwa, Sagyimase and Bunso in the East Akyem Municipality and Osino in the Fanteakwa District.
The ceremony was attended by some traditional rulers and officials from various organisations including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Ghana Organic Agriculture Network (GOAN).
In his report, the Project Officer of FLIP, Mr George Yaw Boateng, said the rationale behind the training programme was to enable the schoolchildren to develop interest in organic farming at their tender ages and the youth to generate income for their livelihood.
He said a similar number of participants went through the same training programme last year and that more of such programmes would be organised in due course.
Apart from that, Mr Boateng said, the SOS Children’s Village had also come up with another initiative, the Family Strengthening Programme, which, according to him, was to give maximum assistance to children to prevent them from falling out of their families and communities.
He explained that vulnerable children were the main target group and primary beneficiaries while the care-givers had been included as secondary beneficiaries to develop their capacity to protect and care for their children.
Later, leaders of the children and youth groups told the gathering that their training in organic farming would impact positively on them and expressed their appreciation to the Asiakwa SOS Children’s Village for organising the programme.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

REGIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAM INAUGURATED (PAGE 35, JAN 13, 2011)

AN eleven-member committee for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation has been inaugurated in Koforidua.
The committee, which draws its membership from various organisations such as the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, the assemblies, traditional rulers and the Ghana Health Service, is under the chairmanship of the Oyokohene, Nana Kodua Kese.
It is to identify all potential disaster risks in the region such as bush/domestic fires, rainstorms and floods, pests and pests control, overgrazing, deforestation and bad farming practices, among others, and come up with workable programmes and policies to reduce associated risks.
A number of dignitaries, including the outgoing Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and a Member of the Council of State, Nana Owusu Gyamadu, who is also the chief of Akyem Anyinase, near Oda, attended the ceremony.
Addressing the participants, the Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Ransford Owusu Boakye, stressed the need to equip NADMO and its collaborating agencies to carry out its mandated duties effectively.
He stated that disaster prevention should not be seen as the responsibility of NADMO alone, but all members of society.
Mr Owusu Boakye called for a second look at the law regarding the issuance of building permits for stiffer penalties to be imposed on developers who build on watercourses and other unauthorised areas.
According to him, that would deter others from doing so and serve as a measure of preventing flooding.
“The country needs stiffer penalties to deal with developers who construct buildings on watercourses and other unauthorised places because such buildings block the flow of rivers and streams, causing devastating floods with the attendant loss of lives and property,” Mr Owusu  Boakye said.
The Deputy National Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Ebenezer Dosoo, who read the address of Mr Kofi Portuphy, the National Co-ordinator of the organisation, dwelt on measures the country had taken to deal with disasters and climate change.
He urged the committee to exploit avenues for resource mobilisation for disaster preparedness and response.
Earlier, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who inaugurated the committee, elaborated on the negative effects of disasters and said since the government alone could not address the issue, there was the need for government-private sector co-ordination in that respect.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo was hopeful that the committee would live up to expectation.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

NEW LOOK FOR KDUA TOTAL 2 (PAGE 35, JAN 12, 2011)

A REHABILITATION exercise to transform Total 2, the leading petroleum filling and service centre at Koforidua to become the best in the Eastern Region has been completed.
The filling and service centre with a modern shop attached christened, “Bonjour” is managed by Mr Isaac Brewu with the assistance of 25-member staff.
According to Mr Brewu, a philanthropist who has been supporting needy individuals and organisations such as the regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association, the rationale behind the rehabilitation exercise was to offer good services to motorists and people in the New Juaben Municipality.
He said although the facility was located in the centre of the town along the main street, the reconstruction of the street, about four years ago, had blocked its main entrance as a result of which motorists have to go on a long winding route to the centre.
According to him, the development had negatively affected the centre.
Mr Brewu has, therefore, appealed to the Department of Urban Roads to see how best to address the problem to enable the centre to better serve motorists.
“We render all sorts of services such as a bar, restaurant and electricity pre-paid, but motorists have to go through such a long winding route before getting to us. I, therefore, appeal to the authorities to see how best to address the issue”, Mr Blewu stated.

REVIVING OPERATION FEED YOURSELF...Ofosu Ampofo shows the way (PAGE 35, JAN 12, 2011)

IN the mid 70s, the then military regime, the National Redemption Council (NRC) headed by the late General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong decided to focus on agriculture, especially the cultivation of food crops.
The reason was that, although the country had a large stretch of arable land suitable for the cultivation of all kinds of food crops, most of the youth who could have gone into farming had migrated to the cities and urban centres for non-existent white colour jobs.
Such a situation left the cultivation of crops such as cereals, cassava, different types of yams, plantain, legumes and vegetables in the hands of aged farmers who operated on small holdings in the hinterland.
The produce from their farms could only feed their families, leaving very little for the domestic and foreign markets.
As expected, the action resulted in scarcity of foodstuffs in the country, especially in the cities and urban centres, with the attendant high prices which affected not only the pockets of the low income earners, but also those in the middle income bracket.
The NRC’s agricultural programme code-named “Operation Feed Yourself” which was vigorously pursued under the direct supervision of the late Colonel Frank Bernasko, the then Commissioner for Agriculture, brought in its wake increased production of many crops not only in the farming areas, but also in the cities and towns where workers took to backyard gardening.
No wonder such an initiative made available abundant foodstuffs at relatively low prices that met the pockets of all manner of people, especially low income earners in the cities and towns who were able to make ends meet particularly with regard to feeding.
However, the ‘demise’ of the Acheampong government and the inability of subsequent governments to continue with the ‘Operation Feed Yourself’ programme, began to have a negative toll on food production.
However, the Atta Mills Administration has since 2009 instituted a pragmatic agricultural initiative which includes the Youth in Agriculture Programme under which a large number of unemployed young men and women have been engaged in agricultural ventures.
Although the programme is making a significant headway because the people engaged at the end of the month were financially rewarded, the bulk of the able-bodied youth, most of whom do not have the requisite qualification for office work and could also not be roped in the programme, are still unwilling to go to the land to generate income for their livelihood.
Poverty is, therefore, their lot although arable land abounds; poverty is still in the midst of plenty.
To ensure that the youth generate interest in agriculture, especially food production, the outgoing Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has personally gone into the cultivation of different kinds of crops on a sizeable land around the premises of his official residence at Koforidua.
The land, approximately four acres, has now been cultivated with plantain, the main crop, yams, mangoes, coconuts, pawpaw and vegetables.
Apart from that, there is a nursery with 100 seedlings of oil palm and a poultry farm.
One would wonder how such a very busy man with many people lined up daily, either by the door of his office or at home for his services, ha been able to work on his farm.
Hear him: “I wake up early in the morning and put on my farm gear and work until about 7.30 a.m. before taking my bath and head for the office to continue with my main duties till 5 p.m. after which I go back to the farm until darkness falls.
“Farming is interesting, you sell the foodstuffs for additional income and at the same time supplement the family budget because you do not buy the foodstuffs you have produced in your backyard,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, however, does not sell the foodstuffs he produces. After members of the family have taken what they need, the surplus is not sold but used to feed visitors, especially government officials who find their way to his residence while the bulk is given to charity.
Many orphanages and schools, the disadvantaged persons in the region, such as the Mampong School for the Deaf, have all benefited from the outgoing Regional Minister’s largesse obtained from his backyard farm.
“I am not engaged in back-yard gardening for financial gains, but to demonstrate to the youth, especially those in the cities and towns, who can do the same thing to complement the family budget because almost the whole salary is spent on food,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
Rekindling the interest in farming in the Eastern Region as being demonstrated by Mr Ofosu Ampofo should be seen as the panacea for the country’s food security and it would, therefore, be appropriate if all political office holders could adopt such a strategy.
This will entice the youth in all parts of the country to go into agriculture to ensure food security in the country because arable land is not the problem. What is lacking is the interest which the youth must be assisted to generate to take over from aged farmers.
These young men and women when actively engaged in farming would generate substantial income for themselves and also be able to properly cater for their dependants.
Furthermore, food would be in abundance at reasonable prices in the country, especially within the metropolises and towns where most of the workers reside.
The situation would enable them to spend little on food and save part of their earnings for their future development. 
It is also hoped that the new role given to Mr Ofosu Ampofo as the Minister of Local Government will also enable him to extend his expertise in farming, especially backyard gardening, to every community in the country.
Such an initiative will go a long way to propel Ghana to be one of the leading food-producing countries in the West African sub-region.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

KWAHU SOUTH DCE ASSURES CONSTITUENTS OF SOCIAL AMENITIES (PAGE 13, JAN 4, 2011)

THE District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kwahu South in the Eastern Region, Mr Joseph Omari, has assured the people in the area that despite their political affiliation, the government would continue to provide them with all the necessary social amenities.
That, he said, was in line with President Evans Atta Mills’ promise to be father to all Ghanaians despite their political affiliation.
The Kwahu South District is one of the strongholds of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) which had also dominated most of the districts in the region in recent general elections.
Mr Omari gave the assurance when the NDC presented 50 mats to each of the Moslem communities at Ntomen and Atibie, all in the Kwahu South District.
He said the assembly, which had completed a number of development projects in terms of schools, markets, clinics and rehabilitation of roads in the area, had also initiated a number of such projects which would benefit every community.
“We have completed a lot of projects and many more are in the pipeline so that every community will get a fair share of the national cake,” Mr Omari stated.
He, therefore, called on assembly members in the area to take keen interest in the execution of the projects to ensure quality work.
The Eastern Regional Organiser of the NDC, Mr Tawia Boateng, expressed the party’s appreciation to the people in the Zongo communities who, according to him, had strengthened the party to win the 2008 elections.
Mr Boateng who called on them to do same in 2012 for the party to retain power
said that would enable the NDC to continue with its development agenda to better their lot.
The Imam of Ntomen, Malam Imoru Bukari, who received the items on behalf of the town’s Moslem community, was grateful to the NDC for its gesture and assured that
his people would continue to support the NDC.

Monday, January 3, 2011

STAY OFF CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS ...Daasebre Oti Boateng warns politicians (SPREAD, JAN 1, 2011)

THE Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Professor (Emeritus) Oti Boateng, has appealed to politicians to stop interfering in chieftaincy affairs.
He said as a nation of great traditions and customs, Ghanaians and their traditional leaders could do far better without political interference in chieftaincy matters.
He also urged his colleague chiefs “to prize honour and virtue above anything else and resist all undue influences in whatever shape and form so as to restore the dignity of the sacred institution of chieftaincy”.
Addressing the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs at an end-of-year meeting in Koforidua on Thursday, Daasebre Oti Boateng said a lot could be done with the support of chiefs in the country.
Daasebre Oti Boateng, who is the President of the House, took the opportunity to urge the chiefs to synchronise the various festivals within the different traditional areas in the region so as to enable the chiefs to participate in each other’s festival to further promote tourism and unity in the region.
On national issues, he stated that the statistical rebasing of Ghana’s national income had revealed that the country had now joined the league of middle-income countries, adding that the new status carried with it huge responsibilities for the country as a whole and also individuals in the country.
The former Government Statistician indicated that the country needed to stay focused in its development agenda and ensure that the benefits of the accelerated growth, especially the new oil revenues, would be spread equitably and fairly to improve the welfare of all Ghanaians.
He stressed that “as individuals or members of various groups or parties, we need to ensure that peace prevails in our society, since peace is the greatest pillar upon which a nation’s prosperity could be built”.
He also pointed out that as a people we needed to show love to one another and also to appreciate different points of views which were all essential for nation building.
Daasebre Oti Boateng, who is also a United Nation’s Commissioner, made reference to his experience in Chile during the earthquake on February 27, 2010 and said it inspired him to develop an innovative globalised model for disaster management which had received the approbation of the United Nations Secretary General, Mr Ban-Ki Moon.
He said his second achievement in the year was the conferment on him as the Vice-chancellor of the World Academy of Letters at a special Vice-chancellor Commencement Ceremony within the halls of Saint John’s College, Cambridge University, England in August 2010.
He maintained that the above two events exemplified the crucial role the chieftaincy institution was playing, not only on the national development agenda but on the global scene.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, asked for the support of chiefs to deal with illegal chain-saw operators and miners who he said continued to pollute the environment especially the Birim River, the source of drinking water for numerous communities in the region.
Mr Ampofo, who was not also happy about a low court fine recently imposed on an illegal gold miner in the region who used sophisticated equipment and dangerous chemicals to pollute the waters of the Birim River, called for higher punitive measures to deter others from destroying the environment.
He called on the chiefs to support the Regional Co-ordinating Council to administer the region.
In respect of the road sector, he said remarkable achievements had been made with the Abetifi-Nkawkaw road almost complete while the Asamankese-Suhum road had been awarded on contract, a major development being the completion of dual carriageway from the polytechnic to Oyoko in the New Juaben Municipality which has also been lighted.