THE Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo districts, as well as some parts of the Asuogyaman District, constitute one big area in terms of land size and population.
These four political entities put together have an estimated population of 500,000, mostly people engaged in subsistence agriculture with small holdings.
A large segment of the population is also in the fishing industry, plying their vocation primarily on the Volta Lake while others engage in petty trading.
Despite the resourcefulness of the people in such vocations, they are unable to make any meaningful headway in terms of income generation.
The reason is that for some time now there had not been any banking institution that could offer the necessary financial assistance for such small-scale businesses, especially in agriculture, aquaculture and commerce.
As a result, businesses could not thrive and poverty was the order of the day with its attendant problems, notably the inability of most parents to cater for their children’s education.
To break the cycle of poverty in the area, the Association of Krobo Women in Accra came up with the idea of setting up a financial institution in the area to offer the required financial support for the people.
The bank, christened Manya Krobo Rural Bank with its headquarters at Odumase-Krobo, which started operations about 27 years ago, has, in line with its objectives, rendered tremendous assistance to the people in terms of loans. The beneficiaries are properly schooled in business management not only for the sustenance of such businesses, but also to enable them to pay back the loans in time for others to enjoy the facility.
One significant aspect of the operations of the bank is its ability to assist community projects with a number of donations, as well as providing scholarships for the education of brilliant, needy students in second-cycle, vocational and tertiary institutions in its catchment areas.
The bank, which has agencies at Somanya, Kpong and Akuse, has added another novelty to its operations with the introduction of a new package this year.
The package, known as a community-based micro finance scheme, makes it possible for any member of the community to access loans up to GH¢2,000 after the community leaders, namely, the chiefs, clergymen, assembly members or opinion leaders, had identified the prospective borrower as a member of the community and were prepared to hold brief for them.
This package, which has commenced in the Ashiyie community in the nearby Greater Accra Region, has been planned to cover other areas such as Adenta and Atomic Junction where a GH¢100,000 first-class banking hall with all the necessary facilities is being built.
According to the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Emmanuel Antwi, although the bank was primarily to serve the Krobo area, it had to extend its operations to some semi-rural/urban communities in Greater Accra due to four main reasons.
First, to provide banking facilities, which were not available at such places, to the people, especially micro-finance loans, to reduce poverty and offer salary credits and other financial packages to workers.
Those initiatives, Mr Antwi said, would create a corporate image for the bank to accelerate its growth to the status of a full-fledged universal bank to generate funds to support people and communities in the catchment areas, especially the three Krobo districts.
“The original operational areas, which are Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo and parts of Asuogyaman, are now saturated and we have to expand to new areas to grow more money to assist the people to reduce poverty in the system,” the managing director stated.
To rope in more customers, especially operators of small-scale businesses, in the new operational areas, the bank, which is one of the three rural banks to embrace the e-zwich system of banking, has decided to make that facility available to commercial enterprises such as fuel filling stations.
Mr Antwi, who recently addressed members of some of the communities to drum home the benefits of banking, stated that the bank was prepared to assist them only if they would honour their obligations to regularly pay back the loans.
The people in the new operational areas, as expected, have hailed the bank’s initiatives, which they consider as the only way to boost their businesses and generate appreciable incomes for their livelihood.
The Chief of Ashiyie, Nii Emmanuel Annang, who was appreciative of the bank’s financial packages, advised the people to promptly repay their loans to enable others to also benefit from the facility.
The bank’s expansion programme can be attributed to its successes over the years, which had placed it in Club 100 (the 100 most viable commercial enterprises in the country).
At its recent annual general meeting at Odumase-Krobo, during which the brain behind its establishment, Mrs Elsie Sowah, who also served on the board for a number of years, was honoured, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr B.T. Apo, said the bank’s deposits increased from GH¢3,197,504 in 2006 to GH¢4,306.671 in 2007.
It also recorded a pre-tax profit of GH¢121,308 in 2007 as against GH¢144,456 the previous year while investments hiked from GH¢949,852 to GH¢1,376,825 within the same period.
Mr Apo stated that during the same period, it honoured its social responsibility by offering scholarships valued at GH¢18,513 to a number of brilliant, needy students.
The Manager of the Finance Department of the ARB Apex Bank, Mr Kwaku Ababio, who deputised for the Managing Director, Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, was appreciative of the successes chalked up by the bank.
He, however, appealed to the directors, management and staff of the bank to work extra hard to achieve its targets.
Despite such a remarkable achievement, the bank is faced with some challenges, namely, refusal of loan beneficiaries to repay and poaching of its trained staff by other well-established financial institutions.
It also needs more shareholders, especially institutional investors, to boost its equity and to be on its feet to cater well for the people, especially in respect of social responsibility.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
CONDUCT BRIEF SERVICES ON ELECTION DAY — ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH (PAGE 17)
ALL branches of the Assemblies of God Church have been directed to conduct brief services on election day, to enable its members to exercise their franchise.
The directive, according to the church, was being given in the interest of the nation.
The Parliamentary and Presidential elections fall on December 7, Sunday.
The General Superintendent of the church, the Rev W.W. Dontoh, gave this directive at the 24th Biennial General Council meeting of the church in Koforidua.
The event, which was on the theme “I Will Pour Out My Spirit Upon All Flesh”, was attended by delegates throughout the country to take stock of the church’s activities and plan for the future.
According to Rev Dontoh, although the church would have wished that the voting date which falls on a Sunday be changed, it was also prepared to adjust its activities for that day to enable its members to vote in the national interest.
“This is an important exercise, so the church’s activities should be conducted in such a way that they will not conflict with this all-important day,” Rev Dontoh stated.
He asked all members of the church to fast and pray for peaceful elections and appealed to them to take the opportunity to cast their votes.
He further called on political parties, the government and all stakeholders to observe the rules of the elections, especially political campaigns, which, according to him, must be devoid of insults, acrimony and violence.
With regard to the activities of the church, he said it had taken a number of initiatives to improve both the spiritual and physical well-being of not only its members but also the well-being of society as a whole.
Some of the initiatives include a pension fund for its ministers, an insurance company, and the establishment of a university college, for which work should start soon.
Rev Dontoh stated that the church had also taken steps to enhance human resource development and congratulated Her Ladyship, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, a member of the church, on her appointment as the first female Chief Justice of Ghana.
In an address, Mrs Georgina Wood asked all those seeking leadership positions through the December elections to exert a strong influence on their followers to abstain from divisive and inflammatory speeches.
With regard to the elections on Sunday, a sacred day for Christians, she said participation on that day could not be regarded as sinful and explained that the elections were important national exercises. She called on all, especially Christians, to go out in their numbers to vote on that day.
The Chief Justice quoted a number of Biblical texts and asked members of the church to take up the role of teaching priests to teach society, especially political parties that must participate and manage the electioneering process in a peaceful manner before, during and after the elections.
Mrs Georgina Wood expressed her appreciation to members of the church, especially the women, for their support that enabled her to attain her current high position.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Superintendent of the church, Rev Alex Ofori Amankwa, expressed the hope that the meeting would impact positively not only on the region but also on the country as a whole.
The directive, according to the church, was being given in the interest of the nation.
The Parliamentary and Presidential elections fall on December 7, Sunday.
The General Superintendent of the church, the Rev W.W. Dontoh, gave this directive at the 24th Biennial General Council meeting of the church in Koforidua.
The event, which was on the theme “I Will Pour Out My Spirit Upon All Flesh”, was attended by delegates throughout the country to take stock of the church’s activities and plan for the future.
According to Rev Dontoh, although the church would have wished that the voting date which falls on a Sunday be changed, it was also prepared to adjust its activities for that day to enable its members to vote in the national interest.
“This is an important exercise, so the church’s activities should be conducted in such a way that they will not conflict with this all-important day,” Rev Dontoh stated.
He asked all members of the church to fast and pray for peaceful elections and appealed to them to take the opportunity to cast their votes.
He further called on political parties, the government and all stakeholders to observe the rules of the elections, especially political campaigns, which, according to him, must be devoid of insults, acrimony and violence.
With regard to the activities of the church, he said it had taken a number of initiatives to improve both the spiritual and physical well-being of not only its members but also the well-being of society as a whole.
Some of the initiatives include a pension fund for its ministers, an insurance company, and the establishment of a university college, for which work should start soon.
Rev Dontoh stated that the church had also taken steps to enhance human resource development and congratulated Her Ladyship, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, a member of the church, on her appointment as the first female Chief Justice of Ghana.
In an address, Mrs Georgina Wood asked all those seeking leadership positions through the December elections to exert a strong influence on their followers to abstain from divisive and inflammatory speeches.
With regard to the elections on Sunday, a sacred day for Christians, she said participation on that day could not be regarded as sinful and explained that the elections were important national exercises. She called on all, especially Christians, to go out in their numbers to vote on that day.
The Chief Justice quoted a number of Biblical texts and asked members of the church to take up the role of teaching priests to teach society, especially political parties that must participate and manage the electioneering process in a peaceful manner before, during and after the elections.
Mrs Georgina Wood expressed her appreciation to members of the church, especially the women, for their support that enabled her to attain her current high position.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Superintendent of the church, Rev Alex Ofori Amankwa, expressed the hope that the meeting would impact positively not only on the region but also on the country as a whole.
ER INAUGURATES REGIONAL ENFORCEMENT BODY (PAGE 17)
A NINE-MEMBER committee that would ensure compliance with the 2008 Political Parties Code of Conduct for the December 7 election in the Eastern Region has been inaugurated.
It would, among others, monitor breaches of the code in the various constituencies in the region to be reported to the national enforcement body for redress.
The committee, with the Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Emmanuel Quaye-Sowah, as chairman, has its membership drawn from the political parties contesting for the elections as well as the Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP Ampah Bennin, and the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Paul Boateng.
A senior member of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Brigadier-General Francis Agyemfra, who inaugurated the committee, remarked that it was unfortunate that there had been some disturbances associated with the elections in some parts of the country, especially in the Western Region, which he advised, must be avoided before, during and after the elections.
This, according to the Brigadier-General, could be accomplished if leaders of the contesting political parties in the region could abide by the code, preach peace and prevail on their members and supporters not to do anything that would result in chaos or violence.
“Previous general election in the region had always been peaceful, and it is your responsibility to do your best to preserve the prevailing peace before, during and after the elections”, Brigadier-General Agyemfra urged.
He also stated that the 2008 Code was to ensure a level playing field for all the contesting political parties. He therefore asked political parties and all stakeholders to assist the committee in its deliberations to ensure violence-free elections.
Mr Quaye-Sowah, on behalf of his colleagues, gave the assurance that they would do their best to ensure that the elections came off peacefully.
A representative of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Agobo, said as the ruling party that would want to retain power, it would not do anything to disturb the relative peace enjoyed by the people of Ghana, which would impact negatively on the very people it would be governing.
For his part, Mr Anthony Gyampo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) representative, indicated that since they would definitely win the elections and rule the country, the party would not resort to violence, adding: “No political organisation well positioned to win elections would resort to violence.
Mr Paul Boateng, a representative of the EC, gave the assurance that his outfit would continue to do its best to ensure violent-free elections in the region, while Madam Esther Korbo and Barimah Yaw Sarfo Kantanka who respectively represented Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) Party and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), pledged their outfits’ support for peaceful elections.
It would, among others, monitor breaches of the code in the various constituencies in the region to be reported to the national enforcement body for redress.
The committee, with the Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Emmanuel Quaye-Sowah, as chairman, has its membership drawn from the political parties contesting for the elections as well as the Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP Ampah Bennin, and the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Paul Boateng.
A senior member of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Brigadier-General Francis Agyemfra, who inaugurated the committee, remarked that it was unfortunate that there had been some disturbances associated with the elections in some parts of the country, especially in the Western Region, which he advised, must be avoided before, during and after the elections.
This, according to the Brigadier-General, could be accomplished if leaders of the contesting political parties in the region could abide by the code, preach peace and prevail on their members and supporters not to do anything that would result in chaos or violence.
“Previous general election in the region had always been peaceful, and it is your responsibility to do your best to preserve the prevailing peace before, during and after the elections”, Brigadier-General Agyemfra urged.
He also stated that the 2008 Code was to ensure a level playing field for all the contesting political parties. He therefore asked political parties and all stakeholders to assist the committee in its deliberations to ensure violence-free elections.
Mr Quaye-Sowah, on behalf of his colleagues, gave the assurance that they would do their best to ensure that the elections came off peacefully.
A representative of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Agobo, said as the ruling party that would want to retain power, it would not do anything to disturb the relative peace enjoyed by the people of Ghana, which would impact negatively on the very people it would be governing.
For his part, Mr Anthony Gyampo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) representative, indicated that since they would definitely win the elections and rule the country, the party would not resort to violence, adding: “No political organisation well positioned to win elections would resort to violence.
Mr Paul Boateng, a representative of the EC, gave the assurance that his outfit would continue to do its best to ensure violent-free elections in the region, while Madam Esther Korbo and Barimah Yaw Sarfo Kantanka who respectively represented Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) Party and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), pledged their outfits’ support for peaceful elections.
LEADERS MUST TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR VIOLENCE (PAGE 17)
THE ASSEMBLIES of God Church has appealed to political leaders to make every effort to ensure that their supporters will not do anything that will result in violence as the country goes to the polls on December 7.
The church has also requested political leaders to take personal responsibility for any violence meted out by their supporters to innocent people before, during or after the elections, since incitement is a criminal offence and all those involved could be made to face the full rigours of the law.
These were contained in a pastoral letter issued by the church at the ongoing 24th Biennial General Council meeting of the church in Koforidua.
The 10-point letter which was signed by the General Superintendent of the church, the Rev W.W. Dontoh, asked politicians to seriously consider the interest of the country and desist from personal pursuits and partisan gain, at the expense of future generations, and that their public and private utterances must engender peace.
The letter which abhorred the use of state resources by politicians, said transparency must be the hallmark of the elections which must be free and fair to all parties. It therefore called for a level playing field for all parties.
According to the letter, Ghanaians should examine the track records of politicians and vote for true and God-fearing political leaders who would cater for their interest.
It also lauded the empowering of women.
The letter further stated that the church would continue to remain non-partisan and allow its members to make informed choices, adding that it would continue to educate the people on responsible leadership.
It added that a Ghanaian, whatever his or her political inclinations, should have the right to worship regardless of the policies or candidates he or she supports.
The church has also requested political leaders to take personal responsibility for any violence meted out by their supporters to innocent people before, during or after the elections, since incitement is a criminal offence and all those involved could be made to face the full rigours of the law.
These were contained in a pastoral letter issued by the church at the ongoing 24th Biennial General Council meeting of the church in Koforidua.
The 10-point letter which was signed by the General Superintendent of the church, the Rev W.W. Dontoh, asked politicians to seriously consider the interest of the country and desist from personal pursuits and partisan gain, at the expense of future generations, and that their public and private utterances must engender peace.
The letter which abhorred the use of state resources by politicians, said transparency must be the hallmark of the elections which must be free and fair to all parties. It therefore called for a level playing field for all parties.
According to the letter, Ghanaians should examine the track records of politicians and vote for true and God-fearing political leaders who would cater for their interest.
It also lauded the empowering of women.
The letter further stated that the church would continue to remain non-partisan and allow its members to make informed choices, adding that it would continue to educate the people on responsible leadership.
It added that a Ghanaian, whatever his or her political inclinations, should have the right to worship regardless of the policies or candidates he or she supports.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
SHORTAGE OF MATERIALS HINDERS REGISTRATION (PAGE 16)
SHORTAGE of materials, especially registration forms, is hindering the ongoing voter registration in the New Juaben Municipality in the Eastern Region.
As a result, a number of prospective voters had to be turned away, particularly on Wednesday, August 6.
Polling stations seriously affected were the Adonteng, Anglican, Asuofriso, School Town and the Ohemaa registration boots, all in the New Juaben South Constituency.
Also affected were the Aburow Dua Polling Station at Oyoko and the Yane and Ahembrom polling stations at Jumapo, both in the New Juaben North Constituency.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, August 7 when the Daily Graphic visited such registration centres, there were no registration forms and many people who had gone there to register had to go back disappointed.
At the Anglican Polling Station, the Registration Officer, Mr Bernard Ayikah Gastorn, said he had to turn away a number of people who reported to register because there were no registration forms to cater for them.
Apart from that he stated that printing materials for the pictures of those registering had all been used, a situation he described as worrying, since there was the possibility that some of those who were turned away would not come back if the materials should be available at a later date.
He, however, indicated that there had not been any disturbances at the polling station he presided over, which, together with other polling stations, namely Adonteng Anglican Asuofriso, School Town, and Ohemaa Park, had registered 510 people since the exercise began six days ago.
At the Legion Hall Polling Station, also in the New Juaben South Constituency, the Registration Officer, Mr Emmanuel Marfo, said although the exercise went on smoothly, periodic shortage of registration forms, particularly on the sixth day, had made it impossible to register a number of people who reported there.
The situation was no different at the SDA Chapel Polling Station in the Aburow Dua Electoral Area of the New Juaben North Constituency where the registration staff had to close hours before the stipulated time of 6 p.m. on Wednesday for lack of registration forms.
According to the officer-in-charge, Mr Fred Nadutey, the registration centre, which had been experiencing periodic shortage of registration forms, was only provided with 10 forms on Wednesday, which was not enough, and explained that if it had not been that problem, his outfit would have registered more than the 295 people it had registered since the exercise began.
When contacted on phone, the Municipal Electoral Officer, Miss Lydia Agyiri, denied that there was shortage of registration forms, and that they were available at some polling stations.
However, another official of the Electoral Commission who declined to be named attributed the shortage to the unexpected large number of people who turned out at the registration centres.
He explained that people who registered but could not have their pictures taken during the previous exercise also reported to be registered, so additional provisions had to be made.
In doing so, he explained, the EC had to handle the issue with care to avoid double registration, which would result in the bloating of the voters register.
One worrying aspect of the exercise was that of all the political parties which would take part in the December 7 polls, only representatives of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress were monitoring the exercise in all the registration centres visited.
As a result, a number of prospective voters had to be turned away, particularly on Wednesday, August 6.
Polling stations seriously affected were the Adonteng, Anglican, Asuofriso, School Town and the Ohemaa registration boots, all in the New Juaben South Constituency.
Also affected were the Aburow Dua Polling Station at Oyoko and the Yane and Ahembrom polling stations at Jumapo, both in the New Juaben North Constituency.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, August 7 when the Daily Graphic visited such registration centres, there were no registration forms and many people who had gone there to register had to go back disappointed.
At the Anglican Polling Station, the Registration Officer, Mr Bernard Ayikah Gastorn, said he had to turn away a number of people who reported to register because there were no registration forms to cater for them.
Apart from that he stated that printing materials for the pictures of those registering had all been used, a situation he described as worrying, since there was the possibility that some of those who were turned away would not come back if the materials should be available at a later date.
He, however, indicated that there had not been any disturbances at the polling station he presided over, which, together with other polling stations, namely Adonteng Anglican Asuofriso, School Town, and Ohemaa Park, had registered 510 people since the exercise began six days ago.
At the Legion Hall Polling Station, also in the New Juaben South Constituency, the Registration Officer, Mr Emmanuel Marfo, said although the exercise went on smoothly, periodic shortage of registration forms, particularly on the sixth day, had made it impossible to register a number of people who reported there.
The situation was no different at the SDA Chapel Polling Station in the Aburow Dua Electoral Area of the New Juaben North Constituency where the registration staff had to close hours before the stipulated time of 6 p.m. on Wednesday for lack of registration forms.
According to the officer-in-charge, Mr Fred Nadutey, the registration centre, which had been experiencing periodic shortage of registration forms, was only provided with 10 forms on Wednesday, which was not enough, and explained that if it had not been that problem, his outfit would have registered more than the 295 people it had registered since the exercise began.
When contacted on phone, the Municipal Electoral Officer, Miss Lydia Agyiri, denied that there was shortage of registration forms, and that they were available at some polling stations.
However, another official of the Electoral Commission who declined to be named attributed the shortage to the unexpected large number of people who turned out at the registration centres.
He explained that people who registered but could not have their pictures taken during the previous exercise also reported to be registered, so additional provisions had to be made.
In doing so, he explained, the EC had to handle the issue with care to avoid double registration, which would result in the bloating of the voters register.
One worrying aspect of the exercise was that of all the political parties which would take part in the December 7 polls, only representatives of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress were monitoring the exercise in all the registration centres visited.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
NEW SCHOOL BUS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT (PAGE 47)
A NUMBER of people, including some invited dignitaries, escaped unhurt when one of the 26 new buses handed over to second-cycle educational institutions in the Eastern Region crashed into a garage, shattering its windscreen.
The bus, which had been allocated to the Pope John Senior High School and was being taken away by one of the drivers of the school, who was only identified as Okai, hit the roofing of the garage, parts of which were destroyed.
Also damaged was one of the driving mirrors of the vehicle.
The incident, which occurred at the forecourt of the Eastern Regional Administration in Koforidua, had some of the people present fleeing in panic.
It all started after the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, had performed the opening ceremony with the reading of his address, followed by a demonstration ride, with the deputy minister at the steering wheel.
After Mr Ofosu Asamoah had alighted from the bus, amid cheers from the crowd, including district chief executives and heads of the beneficiary institutions, drivers of those institutions were asked to take the new vehicles to their respective districts for onward delivery to the schools.
But Mr Okai, who was said to have so many years of driving experience, drove the vehicle into the people standing in front of the garage, all of whom managed to run away in panic.
The bus, however, hit the roofing of the garage, destroying its windscreen and the driving mirror.
Mr Okai, who was almost in tears, attributed the accident to the faulty hand brake of the vehicle.
Earlier in an address, Mr Ofosu Asamoah had reiterated the government’s commitment to education by providing infrastructure and other facilities to enhance teaching and learning at all levels.
He also mentioned the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme as part of the government’s initiatives to make it possible for all, especially the poor, to be educated.
Mr Ofosu Asamoah advised heads of beneficiary schools to take good care of the buses.
The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Akosua T. Adu, said the regional directorate appreciated government’s support for the educational sector with the provision of vehicles and other logistics for schools and teachers in the region.
The bus, which had been allocated to the Pope John Senior High School and was being taken away by one of the drivers of the school, who was only identified as Okai, hit the roofing of the garage, parts of which were destroyed.
Also damaged was one of the driving mirrors of the vehicle.
The incident, which occurred at the forecourt of the Eastern Regional Administration in Koforidua, had some of the people present fleeing in panic.
It all started after the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, had performed the opening ceremony with the reading of his address, followed by a demonstration ride, with the deputy minister at the steering wheel.
After Mr Ofosu Asamoah had alighted from the bus, amid cheers from the crowd, including district chief executives and heads of the beneficiary institutions, drivers of those institutions were asked to take the new vehicles to their respective districts for onward delivery to the schools.
But Mr Okai, who was said to have so many years of driving experience, drove the vehicle into the people standing in front of the garage, all of whom managed to run away in panic.
The bus, however, hit the roofing of the garage, destroying its windscreen and the driving mirror.
Mr Okai, who was almost in tears, attributed the accident to the faulty hand brake of the vehicle.
Earlier in an address, Mr Ofosu Asamoah had reiterated the government’s commitment to education by providing infrastructure and other facilities to enhance teaching and learning at all levels.
He also mentioned the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme as part of the government’s initiatives to make it possible for all, especially the poor, to be educated.
Mr Ofosu Asamoah advised heads of beneficiary schools to take good care of the buses.
The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Akosua T. Adu, said the regional directorate appreciated government’s support for the educational sector with the provision of vehicles and other logistics for schools and teachers in the region.
CPP ADOPTS STRATEGY TO ATTRACT MORE VOTERS (PAGE 15)
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) has come out with a new strategy that will attract more voters to win this year’s election.
Under a scheme, dubbed “Operation first time voters” the party has identified itself with 20 voters in each of the 21,000 polling stations in the country who are being resourced to rope in 10 or more additional voters in each polling station.
The Communications Director of the campaign team of the flag bearer of the CPP, Mr Richmond Keelson, announced this at a press briefing in Koforidua at the weekend.
Mr Keelson, who together with other officials of the party, were in the various constituencies in that respect said with the enthusiasm of the people for the CPP, there was no doubt that the party would be a force to reckon with at the December polls.
“We have now come out with this strategy and many people who have decided to join the party have been issued with ID cards, and judging by the favourable response, the party will win the elections to implement its laudable policies to improve the lot of Ghanaians”, Mr Keelson stated.
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to throw in their lot behind the CPP to win the elections convincingly.
The Communications Director of the Nduom Campaign Team who stated that there were however some initial difficulties in carrying out the strategy in some areas, such as the Afram Plains, explained that such problems were being addressed.
He expressed the hope that all those targeted would be roped in by September 21 when the party’s electioneering would have taken off, to coincide with Nkrumah’s birthday.
In answer to a question whether the CPP still drew its main support from the elderly, he said that had changed and that the youth now constituted the party’s support base, adding that with almost all of its parliamentary aspirants now under the age of 40, the party would be a force to reckon with at the polls.
Messrs Joe Teye and David Tekper, the party’s Eastern Regional First Vice Chairman and Organiser respectively, said the CPP was now very strong in the region, and called on the people to throw in their lot to enable the party to win the elections.
Under a scheme, dubbed “Operation first time voters” the party has identified itself with 20 voters in each of the 21,000 polling stations in the country who are being resourced to rope in 10 or more additional voters in each polling station.
The Communications Director of the campaign team of the flag bearer of the CPP, Mr Richmond Keelson, announced this at a press briefing in Koforidua at the weekend.
Mr Keelson, who together with other officials of the party, were in the various constituencies in that respect said with the enthusiasm of the people for the CPP, there was no doubt that the party would be a force to reckon with at the December polls.
“We have now come out with this strategy and many people who have decided to join the party have been issued with ID cards, and judging by the favourable response, the party will win the elections to implement its laudable policies to improve the lot of Ghanaians”, Mr Keelson stated.
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to throw in their lot behind the CPP to win the elections convincingly.
The Communications Director of the Nduom Campaign Team who stated that there were however some initial difficulties in carrying out the strategy in some areas, such as the Afram Plains, explained that such problems were being addressed.
He expressed the hope that all those targeted would be roped in by September 21 when the party’s electioneering would have taken off, to coincide with Nkrumah’s birthday.
In answer to a question whether the CPP still drew its main support from the elderly, he said that had changed and that the youth now constituted the party’s support base, adding that with almost all of its parliamentary aspirants now under the age of 40, the party would be a force to reckon with at the polls.
Messrs Joe Teye and David Tekper, the party’s Eastern Regional First Vice Chairman and Organiser respectively, said the CPP was now very strong in the region, and called on the people to throw in their lot to enable the party to win the elections.
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