THE food and Drugs Board (FDB) has directed health workers, especially medical doctors, to report to the board any negative effects that medical equipment or drugs might have on their patients.
According to the board, that would enable it to take remedial measures to avoid the recurrence of such mishaps on patients, some of whom die from such instances.
Messrs Afesey Ernest and George Sablala, Heads of the Medical Devices Laboratory and Safety Monitoring Unit of the FDB, respectively gave the directive, when they addressed a conference on patient safety and quality health care in Koforidua.
The one-day conference organised by the Ghana Quality Organisation (GQO), in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, was attended by about 120 medical practitioners and experts drawn from different parts of the country.
The two FDB officials said many patients died as a result of negative effects of counterfeit drugs and medical equipment, some of which were not properly applied or wrong devices.
They stated that currently, there were a lot of drugs and medical equipment that should not be used on patients, and the only way to address the issue was for medical practitioners to identify such drugs and equipment with notification to the FDB to enable it to trace their sources of supply for the necessary action.
“There are a lot of fake drugs in the system which must not be used by human beings as well as medical equipment that are either obsolete or wrongly applied on patients and you as medical doctors owe society a duty by helping to withdraw them from the system,” they stated.
A medical expert and resource person, Dr Cynthia Bannerman, said one in every 300 patients treated at the hospitals suffered permanent injury or death, due to the application of fake drugs or wrongful usage of medical equipment.
She said the sad aspect of the situation was that some of the health workers, especially doctors and nurses, made mistakes in the course of rendering services to patients.
Dr Bannerman stated that such a situation often led to financial loss to the patient and family, and could also lead to unnecessary litigation and death of the patient.
She, therefore, urged doctors and nurses to be bold to notify their superiors of their mistakes for the necessary remedy to forestall recurrence of such mistakes.
Another expert on patient safety and quality health care, Lieutenant Commander (red) Ernest Boateng-Okrah expressed dissatisfaction about the long hours patients had to wait when receiving treatment at the hospitals.
He stressed that the long period of waiting, which constituted wastage, could also be dangerous for patients.
Lt Col. Boateng-Okrah, therefore, called on administrators of health facilities to see how best to address the problem.
A Medical Practitioner, Dr Wilfred Larbi Addo, who deputised for the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Elias Sory, implored doctors to follow the operational guidelines of the medical profession.
He said it was only in that direction that they could assure the safety of patients.
Earlier in a welcoming address, the Project Co-ordinator of the Ghana Quality Organisation (GQO), Mr Anthony K. Ameka, stated that his outfit, which was formed in 2005, aimed at assisting health care professionals and workers to build quality management skills and capabilities to improve patients’ safety and also speed up patient recovery process.
Mr Ameka said in order to achieve those goals, GQO would continue to offer short-term quality programmes for health professionals in such areas as food safety and quality, health quality assurance, quality engineering, management and auditing.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
KWAEBIBIREM CONFIRMS DCE AMIDST POLICE PRESENCE (PAGE 16)
IN the midst of heavy police presence, the Kwaebibirem District Assembly in the Eastern Region, on Monday by a vote of 76-20, confirmed the appointment of Mr George Agyeman Duah, a legal practitioner, as the District Chief Executive for the area.
The policemen, led by the Regional Police Commander DCOP George Anko-Bil, were deployed around the precincts of the assembly and the main road leading to the premises where the ballot was cast to ward off a group of demonstrators who besieged the area to possibly disrupt the proceedings.
The policemen tactfully managed to control the situation, particularly during the counting of the votes when a number of the demonstrators broke the security cordon to bang on the doors and windows of the building. No arrests were made anyway.
Before the voting started, the Presiding Member, Mr George Aboagye, called for calm, after which the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, spent about 40 minutes to address the House that was filled to capacity, including traditional leaders.
The Regional Minister told the gathering that although some of the people in the district might not like Mr Duah, his appointment was the prerogative of the President, and that they should vote for him to take up the position.
That, according to him, would enable Mr Duah to initiate programmes and projects that would accelerate the development of the district, which he said, had a number of natural resources such as timber, oil palm, citrus plantations and diamond.
He also called on the chiefs to co-operate and support Mr Dua, who, he said, had the capacity to advance the development of the district.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Baba Jamal Muhammed Ahmed, who was also present, expressed his joy about the successful conduct of the election, and appealed to the people to unite for the development of the district.
In his victory speech, Mr Dua asked the people to forget about the past, unite and support him to administer the district, adding that his administration would do its best to improve the lot of the people.
Later in the day, Mr Napoleon Amaoko Asiamah, a pharmacist, was also confirmed as the District Chief Executive for Birim North.
At New Abirem, the district capital, where the ballot was cast, Mr Amoako, who had for a long period been an Assembly member, polled 27 out of the 28 votes to carry the day.
Before the voting, both Mr Ofosu Ampofo and the Member of Parliament for the area, Madam Esther Obeng Dapaah, pleaded with the Assembly members to give Mr Asiamah the nod to administer the district, which had not had a substantive political head for the past one-a-and-a-half years.
Earlier at the weekend, a 59-year-old Human Resource consultant, Mr Atta Twum, was endorsed as the political head for Atiwa, also in the Eastern Region.
When the ballot was cast at Kwabeng, the district capital, all the 35 Assembly members voted for him.
The policemen, led by the Regional Police Commander DCOP George Anko-Bil, were deployed around the precincts of the assembly and the main road leading to the premises where the ballot was cast to ward off a group of demonstrators who besieged the area to possibly disrupt the proceedings.
The policemen tactfully managed to control the situation, particularly during the counting of the votes when a number of the demonstrators broke the security cordon to bang on the doors and windows of the building. No arrests were made anyway.
Before the voting started, the Presiding Member, Mr George Aboagye, called for calm, after which the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, spent about 40 minutes to address the House that was filled to capacity, including traditional leaders.
The Regional Minister told the gathering that although some of the people in the district might not like Mr Duah, his appointment was the prerogative of the President, and that they should vote for him to take up the position.
That, according to him, would enable Mr Duah to initiate programmes and projects that would accelerate the development of the district, which he said, had a number of natural resources such as timber, oil palm, citrus plantations and diamond.
He also called on the chiefs to co-operate and support Mr Dua, who, he said, had the capacity to advance the development of the district.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Baba Jamal Muhammed Ahmed, who was also present, expressed his joy about the successful conduct of the election, and appealed to the people to unite for the development of the district.
In his victory speech, Mr Dua asked the people to forget about the past, unite and support him to administer the district, adding that his administration would do its best to improve the lot of the people.
Later in the day, Mr Napoleon Amaoko Asiamah, a pharmacist, was also confirmed as the District Chief Executive for Birim North.
At New Abirem, the district capital, where the ballot was cast, Mr Amoako, who had for a long period been an Assembly member, polled 27 out of the 28 votes to carry the day.
Before the voting, both Mr Ofosu Ampofo and the Member of Parliament for the area, Madam Esther Obeng Dapaah, pleaded with the Assembly members to give Mr Asiamah the nod to administer the district, which had not had a substantive political head for the past one-a-and-a-half years.
Earlier at the weekend, a 59-year-old Human Resource consultant, Mr Atta Twum, was endorsed as the political head for Atiwa, also in the Eastern Region.
When the ballot was cast at Kwabeng, the district capital, all the 35 Assembly members voted for him.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
CONSULT CHURCHES ON MATTERS OF EDUCATION ...Presby Moderator advises govt (PAGE 36)
THE MODERATOR of the General Council of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt Rev. Dr Yaw Frempong-Manso, has called on the government to consult churches that had a stake in education on whether to ban or allow extra classes in schools to continue.
He also suggested that the churches must be involved in taking decisions on study leave for teachers in the diploma-awarding colleges of education.
Rt Rev. Frempong-Manso made the suggestions when he addressed the 82nd Conference of the Akuapem Presbytery of the PCG at Akropong Akuapem.
The four-day event was on the theme: “Put on the whole armour of God”.
It was attended by the clergy and some members of the laity, to take stock of activities of the presbytery over the past year and plan for the future.
Present at the ceremony were a number of traditional rulers of Akuapem, including the Okuapehemaa, Nana Dokua.
According to the moderator, the organisation of extra classes in educational institutions, especially in the senior high schools, had its advantages and disadvantages.
He stated that since some of the churches such as the PCG had a stake in education, they must be consulted before banning or allowing such extra classes to continue.
“Now almost all the primary, junior and senior high schools are organising extra classes with the view of improving the performances of the pupils and students but since there are advantages and disadvantages in the process, the government should consult churches which have a stake in education before taking any action on it”, Rt Rev Dr Frempong Manso stressed.
He also called for the involvement of churches, especially the PCG, in taking decisions on all matters on study leave with pay to students in the colleges of education.
The moderator deplored the upsurge of various forms of indiscipline in the society such as occultism, armed robbery, bribery and corruption and careless driving which had turned the roads and highways into graveyards.
He suggested to the government to collaborate with the churches to address the issues.
Rt Rev. Frempong-Manso tasked the Akuapem Presbytery to form a committee to bring back discipline within the communities in the presbytery.
He traced the history of the PCG in Ghana and said the church had established a lot of educational institutions from primary to the tertiary level as well as health facilities.
The moderator gave the assurance that the PCG would continue to partner the government in improving education and health in the country.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo said since the government alone could not carry out development projects, particularly on education, it was necessary for the churches and non-governmental organisations to support it.
The regional minister stated that the government was doing its best to address indiscipline in the society, and expressed the hope that the conference would come up with proposals that would help stamp out the canker from the country.
He praised the PCG for its tremendous contributions to education and discipline in the country.
In a welcoming address which was contained in a nine-page document that was accepted by the conference as its development agenda, the Chairman of the Akuapem Presbytery, Rev Dr J.O.Y. Mantey, spelt out a number of projects and programmes that had either been completed or would be executed to improve both the spiritual and physical well-being not only of the various congregations within the presbytery but other people in the communities as well.
Rev. Dr Mantey said the task ahead would not be easy, and therefore called on both the clergy and the laity for support.
On the international scene, he said although the world was changing fast for the better, Africa as a whole was not keeping pace with the changing trend.
Rev. Dr Mantey, therefore, suggested that unless Africa attached a sense of urgency to its development, its people would continue to beg from the developed world.
He also suggested that the churches must be involved in taking decisions on study leave for teachers in the diploma-awarding colleges of education.
Rt Rev. Frempong-Manso made the suggestions when he addressed the 82nd Conference of the Akuapem Presbytery of the PCG at Akropong Akuapem.
The four-day event was on the theme: “Put on the whole armour of God”.
It was attended by the clergy and some members of the laity, to take stock of activities of the presbytery over the past year and plan for the future.
Present at the ceremony were a number of traditional rulers of Akuapem, including the Okuapehemaa, Nana Dokua.
According to the moderator, the organisation of extra classes in educational institutions, especially in the senior high schools, had its advantages and disadvantages.
He stated that since some of the churches such as the PCG had a stake in education, they must be consulted before banning or allowing such extra classes to continue.
“Now almost all the primary, junior and senior high schools are organising extra classes with the view of improving the performances of the pupils and students but since there are advantages and disadvantages in the process, the government should consult churches which have a stake in education before taking any action on it”, Rt Rev Dr Frempong Manso stressed.
He also called for the involvement of churches, especially the PCG, in taking decisions on all matters on study leave with pay to students in the colleges of education.
The moderator deplored the upsurge of various forms of indiscipline in the society such as occultism, armed robbery, bribery and corruption and careless driving which had turned the roads and highways into graveyards.
He suggested to the government to collaborate with the churches to address the issues.
Rt Rev. Frempong-Manso tasked the Akuapem Presbytery to form a committee to bring back discipline within the communities in the presbytery.
He traced the history of the PCG in Ghana and said the church had established a lot of educational institutions from primary to the tertiary level as well as health facilities.
The moderator gave the assurance that the PCG would continue to partner the government in improving education and health in the country.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo said since the government alone could not carry out development projects, particularly on education, it was necessary for the churches and non-governmental organisations to support it.
The regional minister stated that the government was doing its best to address indiscipline in the society, and expressed the hope that the conference would come up with proposals that would help stamp out the canker from the country.
He praised the PCG for its tremendous contributions to education and discipline in the country.
In a welcoming address which was contained in a nine-page document that was accepted by the conference as its development agenda, the Chairman of the Akuapem Presbytery, Rev Dr J.O.Y. Mantey, spelt out a number of projects and programmes that had either been completed or would be executed to improve both the spiritual and physical well-being not only of the various congregations within the presbytery but other people in the communities as well.
Rev. Dr Mantey said the task ahead would not be easy, and therefore called on both the clergy and the laity for support.
On the international scene, he said although the world was changing fast for the better, Africa as a whole was not keeping pace with the changing trend.
Rev. Dr Mantey, therefore, suggested that unless Africa attached a sense of urgency to its development, its people would continue to beg from the developed world.
STRANGE COFFIN AT NKURAKAN (PAGE 19)
TRADING activities at the Nkurakan Market in Koforidua came to a halt last Thursday following the sighting of a six-foot coffin decorated in red cloth at the market.
The traders saw seven eggs in the coffin, which was found at the southern end of the market.
Later, a popular traditional priest in the town by name Sakora burnt the coffin after he had performed some rituals under the directives of the chief of the town, Nene Opata Korley II.
Most of the traders in the market, one of the largest foodstuffs selling and buying points in the Eastern Region, abandoned the area in which the coffin was deposited while a large number of onlookers, some of them travellers, converged on the scene to catch a glimpse of what the local people termed the “wonder of Nkurakan”.
The location of the coffin in the market aroused the suspicion of policemen in the town of a ritual murder but when they rushed to the scene, they did not find any human parts in so they had to stay back.
The mystery surrounding the coffin is not yet known but some of the traders who normally reported at dawn at the market said it might have been deposited by an unknown man who used to carry a coffin at midnight on Mondays and Thursdays, which are the market days of the town, ostensibly for prosperity rituals.
According to Nene Opata Korley, at about 6 a.m. that day, the assembly member for the town and a toll collector informed him that a coffin draped in pure red cloth containing seven eggs had been deposited at the market.
Nene Opata Korle stated that together with his elders, he rushed to the scene, where they saw the coffin.
He said a popular traditional priest known as Sakora, who also came to the scene, offered to perform a ritual to counter whatever intention of the one who deposited the coffin.
The chief said when he agreed, Sakora demanded GH¢10, six flowers perfume—a special perfume purposely used for rituals, a bottle of Florida water and petrol, which he provided after which the traditional priest sprinkled the Florida water on the coffin, poured the powder and the petrol on it, before setting it ablaze.
Sakora, the chief said later, took some of the ashes away.
When contacted, a police source said he suspected the coffin might have contained human parts but when they rushed there, nothing of that nature was found.
The source said the policemen, therefore, went away for the traditional priest and the chief to do whatever pleased them to spiritually counteract the intention of whoever deposited the coffin there.
The traders saw seven eggs in the coffin, which was found at the southern end of the market.
Later, a popular traditional priest in the town by name Sakora burnt the coffin after he had performed some rituals under the directives of the chief of the town, Nene Opata Korley II.
Most of the traders in the market, one of the largest foodstuffs selling and buying points in the Eastern Region, abandoned the area in which the coffin was deposited while a large number of onlookers, some of them travellers, converged on the scene to catch a glimpse of what the local people termed the “wonder of Nkurakan”.
The location of the coffin in the market aroused the suspicion of policemen in the town of a ritual murder but when they rushed to the scene, they did not find any human parts in so they had to stay back.
The mystery surrounding the coffin is not yet known but some of the traders who normally reported at dawn at the market said it might have been deposited by an unknown man who used to carry a coffin at midnight on Mondays and Thursdays, which are the market days of the town, ostensibly for prosperity rituals.
According to Nene Opata Korley, at about 6 a.m. that day, the assembly member for the town and a toll collector informed him that a coffin draped in pure red cloth containing seven eggs had been deposited at the market.
Nene Opata Korle stated that together with his elders, he rushed to the scene, where they saw the coffin.
He said a popular traditional priest known as Sakora, who also came to the scene, offered to perform a ritual to counter whatever intention of the one who deposited the coffin.
The chief said when he agreed, Sakora demanded GH¢10, six flowers perfume—a special perfume purposely used for rituals, a bottle of Florida water and petrol, which he provided after which the traditional priest sprinkled the Florida water on the coffin, poured the powder and the petrol on it, before setting it ablaze.
Sakora, the chief said later, took some of the ashes away.
When contacted, a police source said he suspected the coffin might have contained human parts but when they rushed there, nothing of that nature was found.
The source said the policemen, therefore, went away for the traditional priest and the chief to do whatever pleased them to spiritually counteract the intention of whoever deposited the coffin there.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
ABISIM APOSTOLIC CHURCH GETS GENERATOR (PAGE 39)
HE Abisim District of the Apostolic Church of Ghana in the Eastern Region now has a generator for its activities.
The Aburi District Pastor of the church, Pastor Kwabena Ankama, donated the generator to the Abisim District, which comprises about five assemblies all located in deprived farming communities not connected to the national grid.
Due to lack of electricity in those communities, especially the Abesim Assembly, which together with Asamankese received the early missionaries from Bradford, York in the United Kingdom in the 1930s, and has become the cradle of the church in Ghana, it has become very difficult for the church to organise its activities in such a rural area.
The difficulties associated with organising church activities without electricity in the area, especially at night, won the sympathy of Pastor Ankamah, hence the donation.
In a telephone interview, Pastor Ankamah, a lawyer by profession, who is also associated with the prisons ministries, said it had always been his desire to assist deprived assemblies and the needy, especially widows and orphans.
Presenting the generator to the Abissim Assembly over the weekend, the Koforidua Area Head of the church, Apostle J.K. Addey, commended the donor for the gesture.
He appealed to other pastors and members of the church with the means to help resource deprived assemblies of the church.
“Some of our assemblies are so deprived so we should all help them to enable them to stand on their feet to propagate the gospel and win more souls for Christ, which is the main mission of the church,” Apostle Addey stated.
The Head of the Abisim District of the church, Pastor S. Asimeng, said the donation had come at the appropriate time because the local assembly, which was established in 1939, would celebrate its 70th anniversary in September, this year.
He gave the assurance that the generator would be put to good use.
The Aburi District Pastor of the church, Pastor Kwabena Ankama, donated the generator to the Abisim District, which comprises about five assemblies all located in deprived farming communities not connected to the national grid.
Due to lack of electricity in those communities, especially the Abesim Assembly, which together with Asamankese received the early missionaries from Bradford, York in the United Kingdom in the 1930s, and has become the cradle of the church in Ghana, it has become very difficult for the church to organise its activities in such a rural area.
The difficulties associated with organising church activities without electricity in the area, especially at night, won the sympathy of Pastor Ankamah, hence the donation.
In a telephone interview, Pastor Ankamah, a lawyer by profession, who is also associated with the prisons ministries, said it had always been his desire to assist deprived assemblies and the needy, especially widows and orphans.
Presenting the generator to the Abissim Assembly over the weekend, the Koforidua Area Head of the church, Apostle J.K. Addey, commended the donor for the gesture.
He appealed to other pastors and members of the church with the means to help resource deprived assemblies of the church.
“Some of our assemblies are so deprived so we should all help them to enable them to stand on their feet to propagate the gospel and win more souls for Christ, which is the main mission of the church,” Apostle Addey stated.
The Head of the Abisim District of the church, Pastor S. Asimeng, said the donation had come at the appropriate time because the local assembly, which was established in 1939, would celebrate its 70th anniversary in September, this year.
He gave the assurance that the generator would be put to good use.
NEW JUABEN FAILS TO ELECT PRESIDING MEMBER (PAGE 17)
AN ATTEMPT by the New Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region to elect a Presiding Member on Tuesday, proved futile after two ballots cast during which none of the two candidates polled the required two thirds of the votes as required.
The two candidates were Mr George Boakye Yiadom and Madam Stella Adu Obeng, both products of the University of Cape Coast.
In the first ballot, Mr Boakye Yiadom secured 35 out of the 65 valid votes as against 30 obtained by Madam Stella Obeng while in the second ballot, Mr Boakye Yiadom had 34 out of the 66 valid votes in contrast to 32 obtained by Madam Stella Obeng.
After the official of the Electoral Commission had announced the results of the first ballot, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr Michael Ofei, who presided over the voting, adjourned proceedings for about an hour to allow members to engage in the necessary consultations on the matter for the second ballot to take place.
But after the second ballot also failed to produce a winner, Mr Ofei put the matter before the House and this sparked a lengthy debate lasting over two hours.
While some members were of the view that the two candidates should step aside for new candidates to be considered, others kicked against it and the issue had to be decided by vote during which the House agreed that only the two candidates should stand. The House then adjourned sine die.
The two candidates were Mr George Boakye Yiadom and Madam Stella Adu Obeng, both products of the University of Cape Coast.
In the first ballot, Mr Boakye Yiadom secured 35 out of the 65 valid votes as against 30 obtained by Madam Stella Obeng while in the second ballot, Mr Boakye Yiadom had 34 out of the 66 valid votes in contrast to 32 obtained by Madam Stella Obeng.
After the official of the Electoral Commission had announced the results of the first ballot, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr Michael Ofei, who presided over the voting, adjourned proceedings for about an hour to allow members to engage in the necessary consultations on the matter for the second ballot to take place.
But after the second ballot also failed to produce a winner, Mr Ofei put the matter before the House and this sparked a lengthy debate lasting over two hours.
While some members were of the view that the two candidates should step aside for new candidates to be considered, others kicked against it and the issue had to be decided by vote during which the House agreed that only the two candidates should stand. The House then adjourned sine die.
DCES FIR AKYEMMANSA, BIRIM SOUTH CONFIRMED (PAGE 15)
THE President’s nominees for the position of District Chief Executive (DCEs) for Akyemmansa, Mr Tom Budu and that of Birim South, Nana Baffour Mensah Takyi, were overwhelmingly endorsed by their respective assembly members at separate functions at Akyem Ofoase and Akyem Swedru last Monday.
All the 31 members of the Akyemmansa District Assembly voted yes to unanimously approve of Mr Budu’s nomination while the 32-member Birim South District Assembly also gave Baffour Takyi 100 per cent votes in the election conducted by the Electoral Commission.
The well-attended ceremonies attracted a member of the Council of State, Osabarima Owusu Gyamadu II, traditional and religious leaders as well as members of both sides of the politicl divide including the two Members of Parliament (MPs) for the area, Mr David Oppong-Kusi, for Akyemmansa and Mr Joseph Ampomah Bosompem, both of whom belong to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The two MPs were instrumental in the unanimous endorsement of the two DCEs as they impressed upon the assembly members to confirm their appointments because they were affable, humble and hardworking and were prepared to co-operate with all and sundry to push the young districts forward.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Budu, a graduate teacher at Jaha near Akyem Abenase, thanked President J.E.A. Mills for nominating him to the high office, and the assembly members for confirming his nomination.
He stressed that with the support of the assembly members, the core staff of the assembly, the chiefs and people in the district, he would live up to expectation.
Mr Budu stressed that his major pre-occupation was to fight poverty, ignorance, disease and ignorance, adding that he would promote health and quality education.
For his part, Baffour Takyi, who is the Nkosuohene of Akyem Achiase, was also grateful and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members for his nomination and the assembly members for endorsing his appointment.
He said the young district that lacked a lot of infrastructure and basic social amenities, needed the unity and support of all the people in the area to overcome the challenges.
Baffour Takyi, therefore, entreated the people in the district to pull all their expertise and rich experience together to fashion out effective policies and programmes in order to meet the desirable development aspirations of the district to ensure its rapid development.
He seized the opportunity to commend his predecessor, Mr Samuel Antwi-Berko for the wonderful work he did in spite of his short term in office.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who graced the two functions, commended the assembly members for endorsing the two nominees.
He advised the new DCEs not to be swollen-headed or self-conceited by their appointments since such high positions went with great responsibilities.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo enjoined them to be prepared to serve the masses at all times but should not lord it over them.
He assured the two young district assemblies of his maximum support but cautioned the people not to undermine the new DCEs since that would hinder the progress of the area.
All the 31 members of the Akyemmansa District Assembly voted yes to unanimously approve of Mr Budu’s nomination while the 32-member Birim South District Assembly also gave Baffour Takyi 100 per cent votes in the election conducted by the Electoral Commission.
The well-attended ceremonies attracted a member of the Council of State, Osabarima Owusu Gyamadu II, traditional and religious leaders as well as members of both sides of the politicl divide including the two Members of Parliament (MPs) for the area, Mr David Oppong-Kusi, for Akyemmansa and Mr Joseph Ampomah Bosompem, both of whom belong to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The two MPs were instrumental in the unanimous endorsement of the two DCEs as they impressed upon the assembly members to confirm their appointments because they were affable, humble and hardworking and were prepared to co-operate with all and sundry to push the young districts forward.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Budu, a graduate teacher at Jaha near Akyem Abenase, thanked President J.E.A. Mills for nominating him to the high office, and the assembly members for confirming his nomination.
He stressed that with the support of the assembly members, the core staff of the assembly, the chiefs and people in the district, he would live up to expectation.
Mr Budu stressed that his major pre-occupation was to fight poverty, ignorance, disease and ignorance, adding that he would promote health and quality education.
For his part, Baffour Takyi, who is the Nkosuohene of Akyem Achiase, was also grateful and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members for his nomination and the assembly members for endorsing his appointment.
He said the young district that lacked a lot of infrastructure and basic social amenities, needed the unity and support of all the people in the area to overcome the challenges.
Baffour Takyi, therefore, entreated the people in the district to pull all their expertise and rich experience together to fashion out effective policies and programmes in order to meet the desirable development aspirations of the district to ensure its rapid development.
He seized the opportunity to commend his predecessor, Mr Samuel Antwi-Berko for the wonderful work he did in spite of his short term in office.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who graced the two functions, commended the assembly members for endorsing the two nominees.
He advised the new DCEs not to be swollen-headed or self-conceited by their appointments since such high positions went with great responsibilities.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo enjoined them to be prepared to serve the masses at all times but should not lord it over them.
He assured the two young district assemblies of his maximum support but cautioned the people not to undermine the new DCEs since that would hinder the progress of the area.
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