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.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
DELAY IN MIGRATIG GNAT MEMBERS TO SSSS — GNAT blames low placement of teachers (PAGE 11, DEC 29, 2010)
THE Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has stated that the long delay in the migration of its members to the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) was due to low placement of teachers on the structure which the association was trying to correct.
It said the long delay would not negatively affect its members since any arrears due them would be paid when they finally migrated to the SSSS.
The SSSS was to have taken effect from January 2010.
Speaking at a press conference in Koforidua after an executive meeting, the President of the association, Mr Paul A. Apanga, said after CoEn Consulting firm, which was mandated to do job evaluation and grading had completed the exercise, it was realised that placements of teachers on the SSSS had been low.
Mr Apanga, who was flanked by and other executive members of GNAT the General Secretary, Mrs Irene Duncan Adanusa, said GNAT and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), therefore, rejected the low placements and insisted that the necessary corrections be made.
It was in view of this, he noted, that the Ghana Education Service (GES) put together a committee with membership from GNAT, NAGRAT, GES and the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) to deal with the issue, adding that the committee’s meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) held last Friday had been fruitful.
Mr Apanga said it was better to spend time to correct the anomaly than rushing onto the SSSS with the distortions that would impact negatively on its members. “We think that a delay which will ensure that no single teacher is disadvantaged when we are finally rolled onto the SSSS is far better than rushing onto it to encounter unforeseen problems that may defy all solutions”.
“GNAT wishes to assure its members that it will not decline to offer its expertise in all areas regarding the exercise to get the job done in order to get teachers to roll onto the SSSS at the earliest possible time”, Mr Apanga stated.
When asked about the inability of the government to pay the arrears effective January, 2010 due to the large number of teachers totalling about 170,000, Mr Apanga said based on the assurance given by President John Evans Atta Mills, teachers would get all arrears paid to them.
On Ghana’s oil find and consequent drilling in commercial quantities, GNAT commended the various agencies and the executive arm of government for the lead role they were playing in getting a better deal on the issue.
It also congratulated Ghanaians for their ability to manage the country’s democracy and specifically praised the executive, judiciary, legislature and the media in that respect.
With regard to the current political confusion in Cote d’Ivoire, GNAT called on the government to stick to the position that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had taken to bring sanity to that country since the disturbances would have rippling effects on Ghana.
It said the long delay would not negatively affect its members since any arrears due them would be paid when they finally migrated to the SSSS.
The SSSS was to have taken effect from January 2010.
Speaking at a press conference in Koforidua after an executive meeting, the President of the association, Mr Paul A. Apanga, said after CoEn Consulting firm, which was mandated to do job evaluation and grading had completed the exercise, it was realised that placements of teachers on the SSSS had been low.
Mr Apanga, who was flanked by and other executive members of GNAT the General Secretary, Mrs Irene Duncan Adanusa, said GNAT and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), therefore, rejected the low placements and insisted that the necessary corrections be made.
It was in view of this, he noted, that the Ghana Education Service (GES) put together a committee with membership from GNAT, NAGRAT, GES and the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) to deal with the issue, adding that the committee’s meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) held last Friday had been fruitful.
Mr Apanga said it was better to spend time to correct the anomaly than rushing onto the SSSS with the distortions that would impact negatively on its members. “We think that a delay which will ensure that no single teacher is disadvantaged when we are finally rolled onto the SSSS is far better than rushing onto it to encounter unforeseen problems that may defy all solutions”.
“GNAT wishes to assure its members that it will not decline to offer its expertise in all areas regarding the exercise to get the job done in order to get teachers to roll onto the SSSS at the earliest possible time”, Mr Apanga stated.
When asked about the inability of the government to pay the arrears effective January, 2010 due to the large number of teachers totalling about 170,000, Mr Apanga said based on the assurance given by President John Evans Atta Mills, teachers would get all arrears paid to them.
On Ghana’s oil find and consequent drilling in commercial quantities, GNAT commended the various agencies and the executive arm of government for the lead role they were playing in getting a better deal on the issue.
It also congratulated Ghanaians for their ability to manage the country’s democracy and specifically praised the executive, judiciary, legislature and the media in that respect.
With regard to the current political confusion in Cote d’Ivoire, GNAT called on the government to stick to the position that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had taken to bring sanity to that country since the disturbances would have rippling effects on Ghana.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
BLIND & DEAF STUENT NOW POULTRY FARMER (PAGE 22, DEC 28, 2010)
IT was a mixture of joy and sorrow when a 24-year-old blind and deaf graduate of the Demonstration School for the Deaf at Mampong-Akuapem, Mr Yoa Sampana was robed with an academic gown to begin life on his own.
Sampana, who was born deaf and blind, had stayed in the school for 15 years during which he went through a functional academic programme (the study of English Language and Basic Accounting), as well as vocations such as poultry and snail rearing).
While some of the parents of the disabled students present could not hold back their tears, officials and others at the function, including the parents of Sampana, Mr Yaw Asiedu Moro, a Security Officer of the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem and the wife, Madam Ama Asibi, were however filled with joy because Sampana, who was a burden to them, could now generate an income for livelihood.
To ensure that Sampana does not stay long at home, the school with the support of Hilton/Perkins, a human- centred organisation in the United States, has set up a small poultry farm for him in his house.
Sampana’s graduation also coincided with the 15th annual workshop for parents of deaf-blind children during which two resource persons, Mr Kafui Kum and Mrs Ayisha Frimpong took the parents through basic sign language lessons to enable them communicate effectively with their children.
Addressing the gathering, the Akuapem North District Special Education Co-ordinator, Mrs Asiama Bekoe, advised parents of disabled children not to hide them at home but to send them to special schools to be trained because they
could be assisted to make a living.
“Do not hide them in rooms, send them out to functions to mix with society and also to school to be trained to make a living,” Mrs Bekoe told the parents.
The Unit Head and Low Vision Co-ordinator of the Education of Visually Impaired, Mr Seth Nyame, who also read the speech of Ms Rosemond Blay, the Director Special Education Division, said it was the primary responsibility of parents to support
their disabled children.
He said since they could only do that effectively through the learning of sign language, they should make it a point to participate in workshops organised in that respect.
Ms Blay called for the implementation of the Disability Law which was passed in 2006 to create the necessary employment opportunities for such unfortunate persons.
He expressed her gratitude to all individuals and organisations that had assisted the disabled, especially the Christofel Blindien Mission.
An official of the Akuapem North District Directorate of Education, Mr Opoku Addo, who chaired the function, said it was sad that previous governments had paid
lip-service to the welfare of people with disabilities and called for a change in such an attitude.
Earlier, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs Agnes Akakpo, said the school was facing serious challenges and appealed for assistance from individuals and organisations.
Sampana, who was born deaf and blind, had stayed in the school for 15 years during which he went through a functional academic programme (the study of English Language and Basic Accounting), as well as vocations such as poultry and snail rearing).
While some of the parents of the disabled students present could not hold back their tears, officials and others at the function, including the parents of Sampana, Mr Yaw Asiedu Moro, a Security Officer of the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem and the wife, Madam Ama Asibi, were however filled with joy because Sampana, who was a burden to them, could now generate an income for livelihood.
To ensure that Sampana does not stay long at home, the school with the support of Hilton/Perkins, a human- centred organisation in the United States, has set up a small poultry farm for him in his house.
Sampana’s graduation also coincided with the 15th annual workshop for parents of deaf-blind children during which two resource persons, Mr Kafui Kum and Mrs Ayisha Frimpong took the parents through basic sign language lessons to enable them communicate effectively with their children.
Addressing the gathering, the Akuapem North District Special Education Co-ordinator, Mrs Asiama Bekoe, advised parents of disabled children not to hide them at home but to send them to special schools to be trained because they
could be assisted to make a living.
“Do not hide them in rooms, send them out to functions to mix with society and also to school to be trained to make a living,” Mrs Bekoe told the parents.
The Unit Head and Low Vision Co-ordinator of the Education of Visually Impaired, Mr Seth Nyame, who also read the speech of Ms Rosemond Blay, the Director Special Education Division, said it was the primary responsibility of parents to support
their disabled children.
He said since they could only do that effectively through the learning of sign language, they should make it a point to participate in workshops organised in that respect.
Ms Blay called for the implementation of the Disability Law which was passed in 2006 to create the necessary employment opportunities for such unfortunate persons.
He expressed her gratitude to all individuals and organisations that had assisted the disabled, especially the Christofel Blindien Mission.
An official of the Akuapem North District Directorate of Education, Mr Opoku Addo, who chaired the function, said it was sad that previous governments had paid
lip-service to the welfare of people with disabilities and called for a change in such an attitude.
Earlier, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs Agnes Akakpo, said the school was facing serious challenges and appealed for assistance from individuals and organisations.
TSOSAM ADJUDGED KWAHU SOUTH BEST FARMER (PAGE 22, DEC 28, 2010)
A FIFTY-SIX-year-old farmer from Kwahu Amanfrom, Mr Jonas Tsosam, was adjudged this year’s overall best farmer in the Kwahu South District in the Eastern Region.
Mr Tsosam has been a professional farmer for the past 26 years, cultivating many cash and food crops, as well as engaging in poultry production.
Mr Tsosam received a bicycle, a full piece of wax print, a spraying machine, five machetes, 10 roofing sheets, a 21-inch colour television set and a certificate as his prize.
About 30 other farmers including women who also distinguished themselves in the cultivation of various crops, animal rearing, as well as fish farming, and an agricultural extension officer were also honoured.
They received various items such as spraying machines, machetes, Wellington boots, wax prints and roofing sheets.
Presenting the items to them at a ceremony at Kwahu Ntomeng, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Joseph Omari, praised farmers in the district for their hard work.
To boost food production in the district, Mr Omari said 64 young men and women had been supplied with the necessary inputs such as maize seeds and fertiliser to cultivate 75 acres of maize in the area during the major season, while an acre of rice demonstration farm had been established at Formanso to train the youth in rice cultivation.
The DCE stated that this year, 21,424 hectares of cocoa farms belonging to 5,744 farmers had been given special attention with regard to black pod and capsid disease control.
He said 300 cockerels had been distributed to 44 farmers to improve genetic composition of local birds through cross breeding to improve the lot of peasant farmers.
Mr Omari stated that other farmers were also being assisted to apply modern technology in farming.
He said a number of challenges such as bad roads, lack of storage and processing facilities continued to negatively affect food production and marketing in the area.
Mr Omari said his administration was seriously tackling the issues, especially the rehabilitation of most of the roads.
Mr Tsosam and Mr Eric Midorse, the third national best farmer who is also from Adaklu, a village in the district, praised the government for its assistance to farmers and expressed the hope that such assistance would continue.
Mr Tsosam has been a professional farmer for the past 26 years, cultivating many cash and food crops, as well as engaging in poultry production.
Mr Tsosam received a bicycle, a full piece of wax print, a spraying machine, five machetes, 10 roofing sheets, a 21-inch colour television set and a certificate as his prize.
About 30 other farmers including women who also distinguished themselves in the cultivation of various crops, animal rearing, as well as fish farming, and an agricultural extension officer were also honoured.
They received various items such as spraying machines, machetes, Wellington boots, wax prints and roofing sheets.
Presenting the items to them at a ceremony at Kwahu Ntomeng, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Joseph Omari, praised farmers in the district for their hard work.
To boost food production in the district, Mr Omari said 64 young men and women had been supplied with the necessary inputs such as maize seeds and fertiliser to cultivate 75 acres of maize in the area during the major season, while an acre of rice demonstration farm had been established at Formanso to train the youth in rice cultivation.
The DCE stated that this year, 21,424 hectares of cocoa farms belonging to 5,744 farmers had been given special attention with regard to black pod and capsid disease control.
He said 300 cockerels had been distributed to 44 farmers to improve genetic composition of local birds through cross breeding to improve the lot of peasant farmers.
Mr Omari stated that other farmers were also being assisted to apply modern technology in farming.
He said a number of challenges such as bad roads, lack of storage and processing facilities continued to negatively affect food production and marketing in the area.
Mr Omari said his administration was seriously tackling the issues, especially the rehabilitation of most of the roads.
Mr Tsosam and Mr Eric Midorse, the third national best farmer who is also from Adaklu, a village in the district, praised the government for its assistance to farmers and expressed the hope that such assistance would continue.
ER POLICE COMMAND UNTS FOR 38 OFFENDING DRIVERS (PAGE 22, DEC 28, 2010)
THIRTY-EIGHT drivers who were arrested this year for committing various traffic offences in different parts of the region have absconded.
The areas where the drivers were arrested included; Apedwa, Osino, Jejeti and Akyem Sekyere, all on the Accra-Kumasi Highway, Bunso, Akyem Asafo, Apeguso and Akrade.
The drivers were apprehended in a special exercise under the personal supervision of the Eastern Regional Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah.
Some of the traffic offences included; driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, use of underweight licenses, driving without license, insecure loading (human beings sitting on cargo), using photocopies of driving licenses and operating with empty fire extinguishers.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Koforidua last weekend, Superintendent Peprah said bench warrants had been issued for their rearrest for prosecution.
The drivers include; Kudzinu Francis, who was driving a Madza saloon car with registration number GV 268 T, Eric Amponsah, VW Golf, GW 4873 P, Frimpong Manso, Benz saloon, GW 288 Z, Adu Afful Samuel, Toyota Hiace, GN 2848 Z, Agyeman K. Dua, Toyota 4 Runner, DV 2942, Joseph Kagoa, Toyota Hilux Pick-Up, GW 3312 Z, Enning Emmanuel, TD bus, 6298 10, Joseph Osei, Nissan Pick-Up, GN 3695 Y, Charles Adu Opoku, Nissan Urvan, GW 1695 Q, Amo Joseph, vehicle number GR 7919- 10.
He also named James Owusu operating a Hyundai 200 bus GC 4641-09, John Amadu, Nissan (private) GN 3324-09, Nyarko Akwasi, Sprinter bus, AS 2486-10, Sosuh Aba Egyirba, vehicle number GW 4898-W, Gajesu Komla, Mercedez Benz (private) GW 4511-V, Sackey Prince Nii Mensah, Tata Pick-Up, GE 8950-W, Lawrence A. Baiden, Hyundai Tuck, GS3630-Z, Jonathan Tetteh, Musso Pick-Up GT 1311-W, Kofi Osei Ababio, Toyota Corolla, GW 6535-V, Kwarteng Yaw, Ford (private) GE 7607-V and Kofi Cutburt, Opel Astra, GW 6256-Y, as some of the drivers who have absconded.
Others are; Addo Bernard, Nissan Serena, GE 9769-Z, Emmanuel Wover, Landrover GT 4839-10, Mensah Adjei Kwabena, Hyndai Elantra DV 8170, Eunice Amuzu Great Wall GE 8602-Z, Menka Adjei Kwabena, Hyundai Elantra DV 8170, Wiafe Carl, Mitsubishi ER 1531-Z, Daniel Otchere, Nissan Pathfinder DV 1479-10, Abubakar Zakaria, Toyota Corolla AS 8109-09, Sadic Adams, Nissan Premiera GR 6289-W, Botoyoe Star Kojo, Suzuki 3278-Y and Alhassan Abdulai, Nissan Pick Up GR 9593.
The rest are; Mahoukous Dacruz Pertus, Toyota Rava GR 8843-W, Bediako A. Asare, Madza Tribute DV 1332, Amoah Ernest, Toyota (private) DV 1580-10, Nyarko Yaw Range Rover GE 8300-V, Kanyagui Samuel, Toyota Corolla GS 1900-Z and Tetteh Sundey, Hyundai 100 bus, GW 8223-Y.
According to Superintendent Peprah, although the offending drivers had managed to dodge the police for a long period, they would eventually be apprehended.
He, therefore, advised them to hand themselves over to the police.
To ensure an accident free Christmas and New Year, Superintendent Peprah said his outfit at the weekend organised similar exercises at Somanya, Odumase-Krobo and Kpong.
The exercises, which he said were supported by personnel of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) under the direct supervision of Mr Jacob Abegyah, the Eastern Regional Director, led to the arrest of drivers of 35 vehicles ranging from private saloon cars to heavy duty vehicles.
Superintendent Sarfo Peprah said his men had been placed at vantage points, especially on the Eastern Region stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, which according to him, had witnessed a gradual reduction in motor accidents.
He warned that any driver found wanting would not be spared.
Comparing road accident cases and their attendant death tolls in the first 11 months of 2009 to that of 2010 in the region, Superintendent Peprah said while 2009 registered 1371 cases with 317 deaths, that of 2010 were 1,229 and 216 deaths, a drop of 101.
He explained that the significant reductions were due to intensification of educational campaigns mounted by his outfit on the issue and the positioning of police personnel on strategic areas on the roads and highways, especially the Eastern Region stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway.
The areas where the drivers were arrested included; Apedwa, Osino, Jejeti and Akyem Sekyere, all on the Accra-Kumasi Highway, Bunso, Akyem Asafo, Apeguso and Akrade.
The drivers were apprehended in a special exercise under the personal supervision of the Eastern Regional Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah.
Some of the traffic offences included; driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, use of underweight licenses, driving without license, insecure loading (human beings sitting on cargo), using photocopies of driving licenses and operating with empty fire extinguishers.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Koforidua last weekend, Superintendent Peprah said bench warrants had been issued for their rearrest for prosecution.
The drivers include; Kudzinu Francis, who was driving a Madza saloon car with registration number GV 268 T, Eric Amponsah, VW Golf, GW 4873 P, Frimpong Manso, Benz saloon, GW 288 Z, Adu Afful Samuel, Toyota Hiace, GN 2848 Z, Agyeman K. Dua, Toyota 4 Runner, DV 2942, Joseph Kagoa, Toyota Hilux Pick-Up, GW 3312 Z, Enning Emmanuel, TD bus, 6298 10, Joseph Osei, Nissan Pick-Up, GN 3695 Y, Charles Adu Opoku, Nissan Urvan, GW 1695 Q, Amo Joseph, vehicle number GR 7919- 10.
He also named James Owusu operating a Hyundai 200 bus GC 4641-09, John Amadu, Nissan (private) GN 3324-09, Nyarko Akwasi, Sprinter bus, AS 2486-10, Sosuh Aba Egyirba, vehicle number GW 4898-W, Gajesu Komla, Mercedez Benz (private) GW 4511-V, Sackey Prince Nii Mensah, Tata Pick-Up, GE 8950-W, Lawrence A. Baiden, Hyundai Tuck, GS3630-Z, Jonathan Tetteh, Musso Pick-Up GT 1311-W, Kofi Osei Ababio, Toyota Corolla, GW 6535-V, Kwarteng Yaw, Ford (private) GE 7607-V and Kofi Cutburt, Opel Astra, GW 6256-Y, as some of the drivers who have absconded.
Others are; Addo Bernard, Nissan Serena, GE 9769-Z, Emmanuel Wover, Landrover GT 4839-10, Mensah Adjei Kwabena, Hyndai Elantra DV 8170, Eunice Amuzu Great Wall GE 8602-Z, Menka Adjei Kwabena, Hyundai Elantra DV 8170, Wiafe Carl, Mitsubishi ER 1531-Z, Daniel Otchere, Nissan Pathfinder DV 1479-10, Abubakar Zakaria, Toyota Corolla AS 8109-09, Sadic Adams, Nissan Premiera GR 6289-W, Botoyoe Star Kojo, Suzuki 3278-Y and Alhassan Abdulai, Nissan Pick Up GR 9593.
The rest are; Mahoukous Dacruz Pertus, Toyota Rava GR 8843-W, Bediako A. Asare, Madza Tribute DV 1332, Amoah Ernest, Toyota (private) DV 1580-10, Nyarko Yaw Range Rover GE 8300-V, Kanyagui Samuel, Toyota Corolla GS 1900-Z and Tetteh Sundey, Hyundai 100 bus, GW 8223-Y.
According to Superintendent Peprah, although the offending drivers had managed to dodge the police for a long period, they would eventually be apprehended.
He, therefore, advised them to hand themselves over to the police.
To ensure an accident free Christmas and New Year, Superintendent Peprah said his outfit at the weekend organised similar exercises at Somanya, Odumase-Krobo and Kpong.
The exercises, which he said were supported by personnel of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) under the direct supervision of Mr Jacob Abegyah, the Eastern Regional Director, led to the arrest of drivers of 35 vehicles ranging from private saloon cars to heavy duty vehicles.
Superintendent Sarfo Peprah said his men had been placed at vantage points, especially on the Eastern Region stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, which according to him, had witnessed a gradual reduction in motor accidents.
He warned that any driver found wanting would not be spared.
Comparing road accident cases and their attendant death tolls in the first 11 months of 2009 to that of 2010 in the region, Superintendent Peprah said while 2009 registered 1371 cases with 317 deaths, that of 2010 were 1,229 and 216 deaths, a drop of 101.
He explained that the significant reductions were due to intensification of educational campaigns mounted by his outfit on the issue and the positioning of police personnel on strategic areas on the roads and highways, especially the Eastern Region stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway.
Friday, December 17, 2010
PRESIDENT'S TERM OF OFFICE DOMINATES IEA DISCUSSIONS (PAGE 12, DEC 17, 2010)
THE term of office of the President dominated discussions at a public forum for the review of the 1992 Constitution in Koforidua.
While some of the participants suggested a seven or six year term for the President who must not be allowed to go for a second term, others agreed that the present four-year term and an additional term must stay.
Some others were also of the view that the President must first serve for five years and allowed to contest for the seat for another term.
It was also suggested that a separate ministry should be created to cater for the needs of physically-challenged persons who, according to the participants, had always been marginalised.
The forum which was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), with support from the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), for the marginalized in society was to enable physically-challenged persons in the Eastern Region to make inputs into the constitutional review process for their welfare.
The term of office of the President took the center stage after a constitutional expert, Justice Srem-Sai, had briefed the participants on the functions of the executive, legislature and judiciary as well as decentralisation, chieftaincy, national elections and Directive Principles of State Policy as contained in the 1992 Constitution.
But as soon as Justice Srem-Sai had completed his presentation most of speakers dwelt on the term of office of the President, which some said should be a one-time seven or six year period while others rooted for a four or five-year term with provisions to go for another term.
Proponents of the one-time six or seven-year term explained that such a relatively long period would enable the President to complete his development agenda and that if he or she was to go for another term that would make him or her autocratic.
However, others raised objections and said the present four-year term and an additional term must be allowed to stay,while others were of the view that two terms with each spanning for five years should be allowed by the Constitution.
They explained that the President would have to stabilise the economy within the first term with real development coming on during the second term.
Touching on the emoluments, especially the end-of-service of the President and his vice, participants were of the view that they must be based on what pertained in the public service.
They explained that it was ridiculous for the two to be paid huge salaries and end-of-service benefits while most civil or public servants who had continuously been at post for over 30 years continued to receive paltry sums as salaries and end-of-service benefits.
The Speaker, they also suggested, must be sworn in only once to take over the duties of either the Vice President or the President whenever both of them happened to be away from the country.
With regard to how long a member of Parliament must stay in the House, participants also expressed divergent views, with some suggesting that MPs must not be in Parliament for more than three terms while others said there should not be limitation to the number of years in the House so far as an MP could perform.
On the appointment of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), majority of the participants suggested that the President should nominate at most three persons whose fate should be determined by voting in either their respective assemblies or the entire electorate in their districts.
Salaries and end-of-service benefits for the MMDCEs, they further said, must be tied to the revenue generation capacity of their respective assemblies.
Dealing with the welfare of the physically-challenged persons, participants deplored the inability of previous governments to cater for their needs and suggested that a separate ministry should be created in that respect to ensure that what was due to them would be provided.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Baba Jamal, expressed appreciation of the Regional Co-ordinating Council to the IEA for organising the workshop, and said his outfit would continue to support the IEA in its efforts to promote local democracy and decentralised participatory government in Ghana.
Earlier in a welcoming remark, a policy analyst of the IEA, Dr Michael Ofori-Mensah, said the workshop was to allow the vulnerable in society, especially the physically-challenged, to make inputs into the Constitution to address their concerns.
While some of the participants suggested a seven or six year term for the President who must not be allowed to go for a second term, others agreed that the present four-year term and an additional term must stay.
Some others were also of the view that the President must first serve for five years and allowed to contest for the seat for another term.
It was also suggested that a separate ministry should be created to cater for the needs of physically-challenged persons who, according to the participants, had always been marginalised.
The forum which was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), with support from the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), for the marginalized in society was to enable physically-challenged persons in the Eastern Region to make inputs into the constitutional review process for their welfare.
The term of office of the President took the center stage after a constitutional expert, Justice Srem-Sai, had briefed the participants on the functions of the executive, legislature and judiciary as well as decentralisation, chieftaincy, national elections and Directive Principles of State Policy as contained in the 1992 Constitution.
But as soon as Justice Srem-Sai had completed his presentation most of speakers dwelt on the term of office of the President, which some said should be a one-time seven or six year period while others rooted for a four or five-year term with provisions to go for another term.
Proponents of the one-time six or seven-year term explained that such a relatively long period would enable the President to complete his development agenda and that if he or she was to go for another term that would make him or her autocratic.
However, others raised objections and said the present four-year term and an additional term must be allowed to stay,while others were of the view that two terms with each spanning for five years should be allowed by the Constitution.
They explained that the President would have to stabilise the economy within the first term with real development coming on during the second term.
Touching on the emoluments, especially the end-of-service of the President and his vice, participants were of the view that they must be based on what pertained in the public service.
They explained that it was ridiculous for the two to be paid huge salaries and end-of-service benefits while most civil or public servants who had continuously been at post for over 30 years continued to receive paltry sums as salaries and end-of-service benefits.
The Speaker, they also suggested, must be sworn in only once to take over the duties of either the Vice President or the President whenever both of them happened to be away from the country.
With regard to how long a member of Parliament must stay in the House, participants also expressed divergent views, with some suggesting that MPs must not be in Parliament for more than three terms while others said there should not be limitation to the number of years in the House so far as an MP could perform.
On the appointment of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), majority of the participants suggested that the President should nominate at most three persons whose fate should be determined by voting in either their respective assemblies or the entire electorate in their districts.
Salaries and end-of-service benefits for the MMDCEs, they further said, must be tied to the revenue generation capacity of their respective assemblies.
Dealing with the welfare of the physically-challenged persons, participants deplored the inability of previous governments to cater for their needs and suggested that a separate ministry should be created in that respect to ensure that what was due to them would be provided.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Baba Jamal, expressed appreciation of the Regional Co-ordinating Council to the IEA for organising the workshop, and said his outfit would continue to support the IEA in its efforts to promote local democracy and decentralised participatory government in Ghana.
Earlier in a welcoming remark, a policy analyst of the IEA, Dr Michael Ofori-Mensah, said the workshop was to allow the vulnerable in society, especially the physically-challenged, to make inputs into the Constitution to address their concerns.
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