E/R COMMANDER PROMISES PEACEFUL ELECTIONS (PAGE 15)

Story: A. Kofoya Tetteh, Koforidua

THE newly appointed Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP George A. Anko-Bill, has given the assurance that his outfit would do its best to ensure that the December elections would be devoid of violence.
He, therefore, made a passionate appeal to leaders of the various political parties in the region to prevail on their followers to refrain from acts that would lead to violence.
The regional police commander gave the assurance when he met representatives of the various political parties in the region at the Eastern Regional Police Headquarters on Thursday
The meeting, which was attended by representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP)and the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Electoral Commision, as well as the top brass of the police command in the region, was to see to how best to make the elections free, fair and peaceful in the region.
According to the regional police commander, periods of elections were normally tense, putting people’s destinies on the line with different tolerance levels that had to be contained within acceptable limits, and that it was the responsibility of the political parties to educate and prevail upon their followers not to do anything that would disturb the peace before, during and after the elections.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholers namely the political parties, EC, voters and the media to be circumspect in whatever they did during the election period, adding that his outfit would do whatever was necessary to make the elections violent-free in the region.
“For the political parties, we pray to you to intensify the education of your supporters to refrain from the ‘do or die’ perception of the elections so that the elections would be violent-free,” he stated.
He also cautioned newly-recruited policemen to be abreast of the electoral laws in order not to do anything that would cast a slur on the police profession.
The Eastern Regional Director of the EC, Mr Paul Boateng, said the EC as a referee would not favour any political party and advised against the use of “machomen” to intimidate voters.
He also appealed to the media to be circumspect in their reportage and refrain from using to words that would inflame tension.
The representative of the DFP, Mr Yaw Osafo Kantanka, appealed to other political parties to work together in the interest of peace and accept the results of the elections, adding that that would entrench the country’s democracy.
Others who contributed and called for peaceful elections were Mr Ernest Obeng of the CPP, Mr Asante Benjamin Oduro of the NPP and Mr Adukpo Cudjoe of the NDC.

‘Be wary of people whose actions could disturb peace’

April 12, 2008
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua

THE Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, has made a passionate appeal to Christians to be wary of people within their communities whose actions and speeches could disturb the peace as the country goes to the polls in December.
He said as the election date drew nearer, certain elements within the communities were poised to foment trouble and that it was the responsibility of Christians to help avert the problem by educating the public to be aware of such people so that they did not follow them to disturb the peace the country was enjoying.
Mr Ofosu Asamoah made the appeal when he addressed the 81st conference of the Akuapem Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Koforidua on Wednesday during which three Tata pick-up vehicles and four Yamaha motor bicycles purchased by the church were distributed to some of its branches.
The four-day conference, which was on the theme: "Let us go on to maturity", is being attended by delegates from all parts of the presbytery.
According to Mr Ofosu Asamoah, although Ghanaians were affiliated to different political parties trying to win the elections to take on the mantle of leadership, they should tolerate one another, since they were one people, adding that there was the need to exercise restraint as the elections drew nearer.
"This is an election year, and in December, Ghanaians, whether you belong to the National Democratic Congress, the New Patriotic Party or any other party, you are one people only going to elect leaders to steer the affairs of the country so we should live in harmony and forge ahead in unity after the elections," he said.
Mr Ofosu Asamoah also called for religious tolerance. He commended the Presbyterian Church for partnering the government to improve various sectors of the economy, especially education and health, as well as ensuring the spiritual development of the people.
The Chairman of the Akuapem Presbytery, Rev (Dr) J.O.Y. Mantey, said a five-year development plan to provide a number of amenities had been initiated to improve the fortunes of the church, its members and society.
They included the construction of a hostel for the Akropong Campus of the Presbyterian University College, rehabilitation of its vocational institute at Adawso, as well as completing various manses and church buildings.
The church, Rev Mantey stated, was also pursuing vigorous evangelism to win more people for Christ.
On education, he said the presbytery had done a lot in that area by establishing 160 basic and junior high schools, two colleges of education and two tertiary institutions, adding that it would continue to invest in that area to improve the lot of the people.
Rev (Dr) Mantey commended the church's Department of Ecumenical and Social Relations for bringing traditional rulers closer to the church.
He praised Nana Asiama Bekoe, the Abiriwhene and Okere Tufuhene, for taking the first initiative among Christian chiefs in the presbytery to carve a new stool, which was dedicated to God instead of the "blackened" one, and expressed the hope that other chiefs within the presbytery would do likewise.
The Rev (Dr) Mantey, who dwelt extensively on various aspects that would promote both the physical and spiritual development of the people, called on all to eschew social vices such as robbery and also to live decent life to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS.

AKUFO-ADDP HAS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES — OSAFO MAAFO (PAGE 16)

A. KOFOYA-TETTEH, ADEISO

ONE of the defeated New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirants, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has stated that the sterling qualities of statesmanship in Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made it possible for him to be elected flag bearer of the NPP.
He said such leadership qualities were what Ghana needed to continue with the good works of President Kufuor.
He therefore asked the rank and file of the NPP, as well as Ghanaians, to support Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP to win the December elections to complete the development agenda of the party.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said this at a durbar of the chiefs and people of Adeiso in the Upper West Akyem Constituency in the Eastern Region during which Nana Akufo-Addo and the parliamentary candidate for the area, Nana Yaw Koranteng, were introduced to the people.
Nana Akufo-Addo together with Mr Osafo-Maafo and Mr Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng, as well as a number of NPP executive and MPs, was in the constituency, which had never been won by the NPP, to canvass for support to turn the tide of the voting pattern in the constituency during the December elections.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said although he competed with Nana Akufo-Addo and lost, he together with fellow contestants, as well as the entire executive, had realised the leadership qualities in Nana Akufo-Addo and that was why they had thrown their weight behind him, adding that “he is the best person from the NPP at the moment to take over from President Kufuor”.
“Although Nana competed with President Kufuor in 1998 but lost at a good second position, he supported the President and it is time for him to lead the party to victory and take over from President Kufuor,” Mr Osafo-Maafo stated.
For his part, Nana Akufo-addo deplored the fact that the people in the Upper West Akyem Constituency had always voted for the National Democratic Congress but had not gained anything from it and asked them to shift camp to the NPP, to see the difference.
Nana Akufo-Addo stated that although the people in the constituency did not vote for the NPP, they had not been denied their share of the national cake, and that more good things would be added if they should vote for the retention of the government.
On allegations that the NPP Administration would drive settler farmers from Akyem lands, as well the people in the Zongo communities, he said such allegations were propaganda ploys of the party’s opponents and that nobody would be asked to leave his place of abode at any given time.
“These allegations started long ago and have you heard or witnessed any expulsion of a settler farmer or Zongo dweller ever since the NPP came to power more than seven years ago?” Nana Akufo-Addo asked.
Earlier, the Municipal Chief Executive for the West Akyem Municipality, Mr Kwabena Sintim Aboagye, had highlighted the numerous social amenities such as roads, good drinking water and government initiatives such as the health insurance scheme, Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme and poverty alleviation loans that had been made available in the area.
That was followed by speeches from Messrs J. Danquah Adu, Ofosu Asamoah and James Appiatu Ankrah, MPs for Abuakwa North, Kade and Lower West Akyem respectively to appeal to the people to support the party’s parliamentary candidate to take the seat from the NDC.

NPP WON'T EJECT KROBO SETTLER FARMERS — AKUFO ADDO (PAGE 16)

Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Odumase-Krobo

THE Flag Bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has given the assurance that the NPP administration has no intention of ejecting Krobo settler farmers on Akyem Abuakwa lands.
He also assured people living in the Zongo communities that they would not be expelled from such places.
Nana Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when he addressed the chiefs and people of Manya Krobo at Asesewa and Odumase-Krobo, as well as Somanya in Yilo Krobo on April 22.
The NPP presidential aspirant was on a first-leg tour of constituencies in the Eastern Region that are being held by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to introduce himself and the party’s parliamentary candidates, namely, Gustav Narh-Dometey (Upper Manya), and Sub-Lt Christian Kofi Tettey (Yilo Krobo) to the people to solicit their support.
Nana Akufo-Addo was accompanied by Messrs Yaw Osafo Maafo, Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Boakye Kyeremanten Agyarko and Prof. Mike Ocquaye, all of whom contested the flagbearership with him; the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, and the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng, as well as other executive members of the party. He also visited Upper West Akyem, Afram Plains South and Afram Plains North constituencies that have never been won by the NPP.
Nana Akufo-Addo who recalled the good relationship between rulers of Akyem Abuakwa and the chiefs and people of Manya Krobo over the years, stated that there had not been any time in the past that the Akyems of the NPP administration had contemplated expelling Krobos from Akyem lands.
He also described as false the rumours that the people in the Zongo communities would also be expelled from Ghana and asked the people to rally behind the NPP to retain power in the December elections to continue with its good work to improve their lot.
“In the past eight years you have been deceived that you will be expelled from Akyem lands and the Zongos but have any of you been ejected?” Nana Akufo-Addo asked the people who responded with a deafening “no”.
He told the people that since they had been with the NDC all these years without benefiting from that party, they should support the NPP to see the difference.
“You have traded on one specific market for a long time so why not go to the other market to see the difference?” He said.
Nana Akufo-Addo told the people that the government had done a lot within a limited period of seven years, mentioning some of the achievements as good social amenities in almost all the communities, implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme, poverty alleviation loans and other initiatives which, according to him, had made a significant impact on the people.
Nana Akufo-Addo who called for unity within the rank and file of the party for a resounding victory at the polls, added that everything would be done for free and fair elections devoid of violence.
The Zarikin of Asesewa Zongo, Imam Abubakar Aliu, pledged the support of his people for the NPP and appealed to Nana Akufo-Addo to accelerate the rehabilitation of Asesewa town roads, provide poverty alleviation loans for the people and also include the town’s Islamic School in the School Feeding Programme.
Nene Dome Siako, Chief of Suisi Division in Manya Krobo, thanked the government for creating the Upper Manya District out of the vast Manya Krobo District and expressed the hope that the NPP would retain power to create additional districts for Sekesua, also within the area.
Nene Angmortey Sasraku, acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, asked Nana Akufo-Addo to present his campaign party.
All the presidential aspirants who contested with Nana Akufo-Addo present took turns to drum home the need for the people to vote for NPP’s retention, which, according to them, was the best to administer the country, based on its track record.

NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK FOR BREKUMANSO ISLAMIC SCHOOL (PAGE 40, APRIL 24)

Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua

A SOD-CUTTING ceremony for the construction of a $250,000 school building complex for the Islamic Primary School at Brekumanso in the West Akyem Municipality took place at the weekend.
The project, the first of its kind in the district, which is being funded by the United States Embassy in Ghana, consists of a six-unit classroom block, an administrative block, a library, a dining hall with kitchen, a 12-unit place of convenience and urinal facilities.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kwabena Sintim-Aboagye, together with Major Tom Wang, a representative of the US Embassy in Ghana and Nana Kwaku Anyae III, the Chief of Brekumanso, planted a tree to signify the commencement of the project.
They expressed the hope that the facility would improve teaching and learning in the town.
Mr Sintim-Aboagye said the government would continue to offer the necessary assistance in the educational sector for the benefit of schoolchildren in the municipality.
In line with that, he said, 16,000 pieces of furniture had already been distributed to all basic schools in the area, while the staff strength had also been boosted with 133 young teachers engaged under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
“These measures, together with the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme, would make a significant impact on education in the area,“ the MCE stressed.
Mr Sintim-Aboagye, however, expressed concern about the falling standard of education in the area, which he attributed to poor performance of teachers and lack of parental control over schoolchildren, some of whom attended video shows, funerals and other social gatherings meant for adults at the expense of their studies.
To address the situation, the MCE said, the Assembly, together with the Municipal Directorate of Education, had decided to take a number of measures such as the transfer of non-performing headteachers to be replaced with hard-working and dedicated ones.
He thanked the US Embassy for its assistance in putting up the facility.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr James Appietu-Ankrah, appealed to Muslim parents to enrol their children in the school, while Major Wang expressed the hope that the facility would improve education for the benefit of the pupils.

CENTRE FOR NATIONAL CULTURE MAKES IMPACT (PAGE 40, APRIL 24)

Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua

THE Eastern Region, a land mass covering 19,323 square kilometres, like any of the political entities except Ashanti, consists of different tribes.
The tribes are the purely Twi-speaking Akyems, comprising Akyem Abuakwa, Akyem Kotoku and Akyem Bosome; the Guan-speaking people of Boso and Anum; Akuapems, who either speak Guan or Twi; the Juabens, who speak Asante Twi; and the Dangbe group made up of Manya and Yilo Krobos.
Despite the diverse cultural practices of such heterogeneous people, especially between the Twi/Akan group and the Dangbe stock as well as other migrants, such as the Ewes, and people from the three northern regions, the groups have coexisted peacefully over the years.
The situation can perhaps be attributed to the uniqueness of the traditional practices of the various tribal groups, coupled with intermarriages that have made it difficult to differentiate a Yilo Krobo from a Manya Krobo, an Akuapem from a Guan or an Akyem from a Juaben.
Such unique and pure indigenous practices — dressing, food and general way of life — which have for years portrayed the region’s culture to the outside world over the years, has, however, been alloyed with negative Western culture in recent times due to the advent of foreign films and the media.
Realising the danger of the traditional way of life being influenced by the negative foreign ones, successive governments after 1957 when the country attained political independence from Britain, decided to institute measures to reverse such an unfortunate situation.
A body solely responsible for that, the Arts Council, was therefore set up with its headquarters in Accra with offices in all the regional capitals and some district capitals.
The Arts Council, which was later re-christened Centre for National Culture (CNC), apart from helping to restore the "sanctity" of the indigenous culture, has also been given additional mandate to identify hitherto unknown cultural relics and tourist facilities, as well as the already known ones, with the view of preserving and promoting them.
Apart from its unique traditions, the Eastern Region has numerous tourist facilities, such as the Boti Falls, the newly discovered waterfalls at Adasawase, the Big Tree, at Aprokumase near Akyem Oda, supposed to be the biggest in West Africa, Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong-Akuapem, as well as numerous others that were to be preserved and promoted.
The Regional Office of the CNC has, therefore, taken up the challenge by instituting a number of measures to promote the traditions of the various tribes, as well as identifying the unknown artefacts and tourist attractions to be exhibited together with the already identified ones.
Realising that such a laudable objective, especially the exhibition and promotion of the traditional practices, could only be achieved with a modern theatre hall, the government has over the past few years been putting finishing touches to a magnificent theatre/auditorium and a two-storey pavilion at Koforidua, the regional capital, where cultural festivals depicting the way of life of the region’s heterogeneous population, would be held.
The edifice, comprising a theatre/auditorium, which is now 80 per cent complete, has recently been allocated GH¢250,000 to speed up constructional work for its early completion to make it possible for its use.
However, despite the present state of the edifice, coupled with a number of problems such as an over-aged vehicle, which often breaks down, to be put back on the road at a huge cost, and poor remuneration for its staff, the CNC has for the past two years lived up to expectation to its assigned duties.
The CNC has drawn up an elaborate programme for cultural activities and festivals involving basic school children, students of second-cycle educational institutions, as well as cultural troupes drawn from mainly the New Juaben Municipality, which were organised within the edifice at specific periods within each year.
They include the Fontomfrom Festival made up of traditional dances based on the Fontomfrom sounds, the Palmer Buckles Vacation Camp Festival, an educational retreat programme initiated by the former Catholic Bishop for Koforidua now Accra Metropolitan Archbishop, Charles Palmer Buckles, for selected pupils in basic schools in New Juaben, who are schooled on traditional practices during the long vacation alongside academic programmes.
Other educative programmes on aspects of human endeavour, especially on the environment, are also conducted through theatre and dance by adult artistes within the theatre.
The recent performance was done by the Abibigroma Group from Accra whose talented artistes demonstrated how best to get rid of plastic waste that continued to engulf the environment and had become a worry to sanitation experts.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Koforidua, the Regional Director of the CNC, Mr Francis Kingsley Obeng, said although the theatre had not been fully completed, it had become necessary to make good use of it.
He said that would make it possible for the CNC to periodically put the youth, who, according to him, were being influenced by negative Western culture, on track to be abreast of the indigenous culture.
“We have been given the responsibility to help the young ones to appreciate the indigenous culture and we have to organise cultural events periodically so that they would not be swayed to the negative foreign culture; this can only be accomplished if such events are organised in the edifice, which has now been roofed,” Mr Obeng stated.
  According to Mr Obeng, the CNC is involved in the organisation of some of the traditional festivals such as the Kloyosikplemi for the Yilo Krobos and the Akwantukese for the New Juabens at the respective traditional capitals of Somanya and Koforidua, which, he said, was helping a great deal in such traditional areas.
"Some of the traditional rulers have recognised our role in the preservation of indigenous culture and have been inviting us to their festivals, and since we have the responsibility to that effect, we do not turn down such invitations,” Mr Obeng stated.
Although the CNC is currently making good use of the theatre hall, its present uncompleted nature could not make it possible for the use of the necessary equipment such as lightening system to add colour or beauty to the cultural displays to attract more audience.
It is, therefore, anticipated that all efforts would be made for its early completion to make it better serve the purpose for which it has been constructed.
This would make it possible for the organisation of the National Festival of Arts at Koforidua, which last hosted that significant event more than two decades ago, to exhibit the region’s unique culture and artefacts to the rest of the country and the outside world.

PRESBY CHILDREN'S MINISTRY'S CONFAB ENDS (PAGE 21)

Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua

THIS year’s bi-annual National Delegates’ Conference of the Children’s Ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has ended at Aburi in the Akuapem South District.
The two-day conference was aimed at nurturing children in line with the teachings of the church to become good Christians and useful citizens in society.
Delegates, comprising mainly children’s service teachers from all parts of the country, attended the conference.
In his welcoming address, the National Chairman of the National Conference of the Children’s Ministry (NCCM), Mr Ludwig Anang Hesse, asked children’s service teachers of the church to ensure that every child in the church grows up as a good Christian.
Basing his speech on Matthew Chapter 28, verses 19 to 20, Mr Hesse said that could only be accomplished, if such children were given teachings based on Christian principles, adding that it would go a long way in improving both the church and society.
Mr Annang Hesse stated that such an initiative was in line with the church’s mission statement.
He said the Children’s Ministry had, therefore, decided to work in partnership with other groups within the church to guide the children to be mature Christians.
Mr Anang also implored the ministry’s teachers to exhibit the spirit of humility, patience, commitment, tolerance, punctuality, love and hard work, adding, “Be role models for the children to emulate your example”.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akuapem South, Mr Andrew Yaw Nyarko-Adu, who represented the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, asked Christians to eschew negative tendencies such as undermining and immorality; negative cultural practices like trokosi, female genital mutilation, widowhood rites, teenage marriages and polygamy.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Deputy Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Mr Daniel Dugan, the sector minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, said the government had taken several initiatives to improve the condition of the Ghanaian child.
He added that the government would continue to do so to properly address emerging issues that stood in the way of child development.
Hajia Alima briefed the gathering about Ghana’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), provision of additional school infrastructure to cater for increase in school enrolment as a result of the implementation of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme.
She stressed the need for the church to ensure the moral upbringing of the children.
The minister praised the PCG for taking a number of measures to implement government’s efforts at addressing numerous challenges that confronted children in the country.