THE District Chief Executive (DCE) for Wa West in the Upper West Region, Mr Seidu Tungbani, has urged traditional authorities in the area to endeavour to resolve their disputes.
That, he stressed, would help accelerate the developmental efforts of the district.
He said chiefs served as symbols of unity and so any attempt to derail the chieftaincy institution would consequently affect the socio-economic lives of their people.
Mr Tungbani was speaking at a peace durbar at Wechiau, the district capital. The durbar was organised by the Youth Network for Human Rights and Democracy (Youth-Net), a non-governmental organisation in collaboration with the German Development Services (DED).
Mr Tungbani said peace was a vital ingredient for the nation’s sustainability and that efforts at peace building and social dialogue were very crucial for development.
“It is important that the youth constitute themselves as peace ambassadors for national integration a social transformation”, he added.
The DCE observed that most youth had blindly copied some negative cultures and lifestyles which had dragged them into all kinds of shady activities that were alien to the values of the Ghanaian society.
Mr Tungbani commended the organisers for the durbar since it would go a long way to promote peace in Wa West.
The Coordinator of Youth-Net, Mr Paul Boamah Sefa, appealed to chiefs and other opinion leaders to help entrench democracy at the grassroot level.
On his part, the President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Naa S.D. Gore II, pledged the support of the chiefs to bring development to the area.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
REPEAL ACT BANNING PRIVATE LPTTO OPERATION (PAGE 21)
THE Upper West Regional Manager of Obiri Lotto Limited, Mr J.K. Dadzie, has appealed to the government to repeal Act 722 (2006), which bans the operators of private lotteries in the country.
He said the recent ruling of the Supreme Court which banned private lottery, had brought in its wake challenges which must be addressed immediately.
Mr Dadzie made the appeal through the Daily Graphic in Wa.
According to him, the law, as it stood now, was very detrimental to the welfare of workers in the industry.
“I will appeal to His Excellency, President J.E.A. Mills to use his good office to assist resolve the issue between private lotto operators and the Department of National Lotteries,” he added.
Mr Dadzie said although the Supreme Court had ruled on the issue, the government could still intervene in order not to throw the future of workers in the industry into jeopardy.
“As a social democratic government, it is our belief that the government will listen to our plea and come to our aid,” he said.
The branch manager said Obiri Asare alone employed over 1,200 workers nationwide and that their being thrown out of work would only not have devastating effect on them but also on their families and dependants.
Mr Dadzie expressed regret that some police personnel had already started harassing agents and writers of private lotto operators in some communities in the region.
He said the recent ruling of the Supreme Court which banned private lottery, had brought in its wake challenges which must be addressed immediately.
Mr Dadzie made the appeal through the Daily Graphic in Wa.
According to him, the law, as it stood now, was very detrimental to the welfare of workers in the industry.
“I will appeal to His Excellency, President J.E.A. Mills to use his good office to assist resolve the issue between private lotto operators and the Department of National Lotteries,” he added.
Mr Dadzie said although the Supreme Court had ruled on the issue, the government could still intervene in order not to throw the future of workers in the industry into jeopardy.
“As a social democratic government, it is our belief that the government will listen to our plea and come to our aid,” he said.
The branch manager said Obiri Asare alone employed over 1,200 workers nationwide and that their being thrown out of work would only not have devastating effect on them but also on their families and dependants.
Mr Dadzie expressed regret that some police personnel had already started harassing agents and writers of private lotto operators in some communities in the region.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
DON'T POLITICISE DEVT ISSUES — OPARE (PAGE 15)
THE National President of the Young People's Guide (YPG) of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Mr Samuel Opare, has pleaded with politicians to stop politicising national and development issues.
According to him, most often when you listened to leaders you wondered whether they were worth their salt.
“They always present two truths with each side insisting the other is lying. This is, therefore, the NDC truth and the NPP truth,” he added.
Mr Opare was addressing the 71st conference of the YPG of the PCG in Wa in the Upper West Region.
Commenting on the recent government decision to revert the period of senior high school (SHS) from four to three years, he said “even though I did my Master’s programme in education, I do not claim to be an expert in that area yet".
“However, as a young person, I am deeply concerned about this decision," he stressed.
Mr Opare recalled that the previous administration introduced the new educational programme starting from September, 2007 and questioned whether such a programme could be assessed when its first graduates were yet to be produced.
“I was part of those who were used to start the then new junior secondary school (JSS) system in the late 1980's; I can still remember the difficulty we had to go through and the problems faced by me and most of my friends whose lives were completely disrupted by some of these politically expedient decisions,” he said.
Mr Opare thanked Ghanaians for ensuring a peaceful election in December, last year.
He proposed that the PCG should ordain ministers on contract basis instead of life-long service.
According to him, most often when you listened to leaders you wondered whether they were worth their salt.
“They always present two truths with each side insisting the other is lying. This is, therefore, the NDC truth and the NPP truth,” he added.
Mr Opare was addressing the 71st conference of the YPG of the PCG in Wa in the Upper West Region.
Commenting on the recent government decision to revert the period of senior high school (SHS) from four to three years, he said “even though I did my Master’s programme in education, I do not claim to be an expert in that area yet".
“However, as a young person, I am deeply concerned about this decision," he stressed.
Mr Opare recalled that the previous administration introduced the new educational programme starting from September, 2007 and questioned whether such a programme could be assessed when its first graduates were yet to be produced.
“I was part of those who were used to start the then new junior secondary school (JSS) system in the late 1980's; I can still remember the difficulty we had to go through and the problems faced by me and most of my friends whose lives were completely disrupted by some of these politically expedient decisions,” he said.
Mr Opare thanked Ghanaians for ensuring a peaceful election in December, last year.
He proposed that the PCG should ordain ministers on contract basis instead of life-long service.
Monday, August 10, 2009
DON'T REGARD POLITICAL OPPONENTS AS ENEMIES ...Rev Oppong tells politicians (PAGE 16)
THE Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Reverend Herbert Anim Oppong, has urged political leaders not to see those who oppose them as enemies.
He stated that since independence, Ghana had always seen the ruling class portraying its opposers as enemies who must either be wiped out or silenced.
“Let our opposers strengthen you. Do not hold bitterness against them; turn a deaf ear to the negative things that people say in order to keep your spirit from being contaminated,” he advised.
Rev. Oppong made the call at the 71st annual delegates’ conference of the Young People’s Guild (YPG) of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Wa, in the Upper West Region.
The conference, which was on the theme: “Let us arise and build”, was attended by delegates from all over the country.
Rev. Oppong advised people holding political power to let the opposition push them to strive for a higher level of excellence as it was an opportunity to let them be more intimate with God.
He implored young people to use their God-given talents, skills and gift to serve their community and the church in a positive manner.
“As you show respect to those in authority and always excel in your jobs, no matter how minor you feel your role may be, your effort will paid off in the future,” he added.
Rev. Oppong regretted that a lot of the young people arrested for armed robbery and cyber fraud bore names such as John, Michael, Samuel, among others.
He condemned some communities which deliberately turned a blind eye to the ill-gotten wealth by the young people regardless of the negative precedence it was setting.
He, however, encouraged the delegates to continue to preach the gospel in order to win more souls for the church.
In a keynote address, the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, said it was incumbent on the youth to safeguard the gains made so far by the nation by cultivating reading habits to help them ascertain where Ghana was coming from in its developmental efforts.
He also advised young people to channel their energies into such productive ventures as volunteerism and hold institutions of government accountable for the mandate entrusted to them.
The National President of the YPG, Mr Samuel Opare, thanked the leadership of the church for its continuos support for the guild.
He stated that since independence, Ghana had always seen the ruling class portraying its opposers as enemies who must either be wiped out or silenced.
“Let our opposers strengthen you. Do not hold bitterness against them; turn a deaf ear to the negative things that people say in order to keep your spirit from being contaminated,” he advised.
Rev. Oppong made the call at the 71st annual delegates’ conference of the Young People’s Guild (YPG) of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Wa, in the Upper West Region.
The conference, which was on the theme: “Let us arise and build”, was attended by delegates from all over the country.
Rev. Oppong advised people holding political power to let the opposition push them to strive for a higher level of excellence as it was an opportunity to let them be more intimate with God.
He implored young people to use their God-given talents, skills and gift to serve their community and the church in a positive manner.
“As you show respect to those in authority and always excel in your jobs, no matter how minor you feel your role may be, your effort will paid off in the future,” he added.
Rev. Oppong regretted that a lot of the young people arrested for armed robbery and cyber fraud bore names such as John, Michael, Samuel, among others.
He condemned some communities which deliberately turned a blind eye to the ill-gotten wealth by the young people regardless of the negative precedence it was setting.
He, however, encouraged the delegates to continue to preach the gospel in order to win more souls for the church.
In a keynote address, the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, said it was incumbent on the youth to safeguard the gains made so far by the nation by cultivating reading habits to help them ascertain where Ghana was coming from in its developmental efforts.
He also advised young people to channel their energies into such productive ventures as volunteerism and hold institutions of government accountable for the mandate entrusted to them.
The National President of the YPG, Mr Samuel Opare, thanked the leadership of the church for its continuos support for the guild.
NPP CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT LONG OVERDUE — BIN SALIH (PAGE 15)
THE Upper West Regional Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin Salih, has said the proposed amendments to the party’s constitution are not as a result of its electoral defeat suffered in the 2008 general elections.
He said the process started long before the 2008 elections with a committee chaired by the late former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey.
According to him, the amendment was necessary because as a democratic party, people at the grass roots who owned the party must be part of the process.
Mr Bin Salih was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, the regional capital.
He said it became very evident during the presidential primary and the selection of parliamentary candidates for last year’s elections that supporters of the party felt they had been left out for only a few delegates to decide for them.
He advised activists of the party not to misconstrue the amendment process by picking on only one item, that is, the expansion of the Electoral College.
“What the amendments seek to do is bring on board grass roots members of the party to elect the flag bearer and national officers. TESCON was initially not part of the voting process at congresses but with the amendment each accredited tertiary institution will have a delegate at the national congress,” Mr Bin Salih added.
Mr Bin Salih said apart from that being an empowerment to the youth wing of the party, it would also provide the opportunity for people who had served the party in the past to have a say in the election of the flag bearer and national officers.
“This is so because no provision was made for former national officers in the existing constitution and, therefore, people such as Harona Esseku and B.J. da Rocha, both former national chairmen of the party, did not have the franchise to vote at congresses,” the youth organiser said.
Mr Bin Salih was of the belief that the NPP would come out stronger than before after the national congress scheduled for next week.
He said the process started long before the 2008 elections with a committee chaired by the late former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey.
According to him, the amendment was necessary because as a democratic party, people at the grass roots who owned the party must be part of the process.
Mr Bin Salih was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, the regional capital.
He said it became very evident during the presidential primary and the selection of parliamentary candidates for last year’s elections that supporters of the party felt they had been left out for only a few delegates to decide for them.
He advised activists of the party not to misconstrue the amendment process by picking on only one item, that is, the expansion of the Electoral College.
“What the amendments seek to do is bring on board grass roots members of the party to elect the flag bearer and national officers. TESCON was initially not part of the voting process at congresses but with the amendment each accredited tertiary institution will have a delegate at the national congress,” Mr Bin Salih added.
Mr Bin Salih said apart from that being an empowerment to the youth wing of the party, it would also provide the opportunity for people who had served the party in the past to have a say in the election of the flag bearer and national officers.
“This is so because no provision was made for former national officers in the existing constitution and, therefore, people such as Harona Esseku and B.J. da Rocha, both former national chairmen of the party, did not have the franchise to vote at congresses,” the youth organiser said.
Mr Bin Salih was of the belief that the NPP would come out stronger than before after the national congress scheduled for next week.
Friday, August 7, 2009
WA ALL STARS SUPPORTERS LAUDED (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11)
The Upper West Regional Sports Development Officer (RSDO), Iddrisu B. Ahmed, has commended supporters of Wa All Stars for the positive behaviour they exhibited throughout the period of the just-ended Glo Premier League.
He noted that the comportment by the home supporters needed to be commended because at certain point even in the face of extreme provocation they restrained themselved while rallying behind their idol club. Mr Ahmed made the observation in an interview with Graphic Sports in Wa.
He urged the fans to continue to show this kind of positive attitude since that was the only way they could help sustain the club in the elite division.
“Supporters must always bear in mind that when they misbehave and the team is suspended to play their home matches away it goes against the club,” he pointed out.
Inspite of all these, Mr Ahmed said the Regional Sports Council would not compromise on maintaining security at the stadium during matches.
Responding to a question on the development of other disciplines across the region, the RSDO appealed to indigenes to unite and form clubs at the grassroots.
He was not happy that some people in the region nurture teams to grow after which they sold the team to people from the Southern part of the country thus denying the region the opportunities to unearth more talents.
He hinted that his outfit was working round the clock to revive the Upper West games, indicating, however, that “we are constrained financially”.
He, therefore, appealed to the acting Sports Minister and other benevolent institutions to support efforts at improving conditions at the Wa Stadium before the commencement of the next league season.
He noted that the comportment by the home supporters needed to be commended because at certain point even in the face of extreme provocation they restrained themselved while rallying behind their idol club. Mr Ahmed made the observation in an interview with Graphic Sports in Wa.
He urged the fans to continue to show this kind of positive attitude since that was the only way they could help sustain the club in the elite division.
“Supporters must always bear in mind that when they misbehave and the team is suspended to play their home matches away it goes against the club,” he pointed out.
Inspite of all these, Mr Ahmed said the Regional Sports Council would not compromise on maintaining security at the stadium during matches.
Responding to a question on the development of other disciplines across the region, the RSDO appealed to indigenes to unite and form clubs at the grassroots.
He was not happy that some people in the region nurture teams to grow after which they sold the team to people from the Southern part of the country thus denying the region the opportunities to unearth more talents.
He hinted that his outfit was working round the clock to revive the Upper West games, indicating, however, that “we are constrained financially”.
He, therefore, appealed to the acting Sports Minister and other benevolent institutions to support efforts at improving conditions at the Wa Stadium before the commencement of the next league season.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
LACK OF PROSECUTORS IN UWR HAMPERS JUSTICE DELIVERY (PAGE 47)
THE lack of police prosecutors in the Upper West Region (UWR) is affecting the justice delivery system in the region, since there is only one prosecutor attached to all the district magistrate courts and the two circuit courts.
The circuit courts are in Wa and Lawra, while the magistrates’ courts are located at Jirapa, Tumu, Nandom and Wa.
To operate under the circumstances, the courts have adopted a shift system, with the circuit and magistrates’ court judges moving from Wa on particular days to adjudicate on cases in the other towns.
Daily Graphic investigations in Wa revealed that the situation had existed since 2006, thus defeating efforts being made to bring justice to the doorstep of the people.
This situation means that cases are not tried quickly because the workload on the only police prosecutor is beyond him.
According to the investigations, the problem was compounded when the senior police courts officer was transferred from the region without a replacement.
"It is not deliberate, as prosecution is an area where there should be good training of officers,” a source said.
It said it was aware that forensic and ballistic results before some of the courts had since 2002 not been received from Accra.
Corroborating the story, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr Alex Bedie, who took office a few months ago, said measures were being put in place to improve the situation.
"It is one of my priority areas which I am about communicating to the Police Headquarters for redress,” he added.
He said with the exception of the Principal State Attorney who deals with high-profile cases, others were handled by the only prosecutor.
The circuit courts are in Wa and Lawra, while the magistrates’ courts are located at Jirapa, Tumu, Nandom and Wa.
To operate under the circumstances, the courts have adopted a shift system, with the circuit and magistrates’ court judges moving from Wa on particular days to adjudicate on cases in the other towns.
Daily Graphic investigations in Wa revealed that the situation had existed since 2006, thus defeating efforts being made to bring justice to the doorstep of the people.
This situation means that cases are not tried quickly because the workload on the only police prosecutor is beyond him.
According to the investigations, the problem was compounded when the senior police courts officer was transferred from the region without a replacement.
"It is not deliberate, as prosecution is an area where there should be good training of officers,” a source said.
It said it was aware that forensic and ballistic results before some of the courts had since 2002 not been received from Accra.
Corroborating the story, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr Alex Bedie, who took office a few months ago, said measures were being put in place to improve the situation.
"It is one of my priority areas which I am about communicating to the Police Headquarters for redress,” he added.
He said with the exception of the Principal State Attorney who deals with high-profile cases, others were handled by the only prosecutor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)