Forensic auditing of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the country is expected to start within the next two weeks.
Currently the formation of the auditing teams are being finalised by the Auditor-General after which the teams would be despatched to the MMDAs to start work.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic, after addressing the Wa West District Assemly at Wechiau, the district capital, last Tuesday.
He said the debt profile of the MMDAs had been collated and submitted to the minister for the necessary action.
According to him, the payment of the End of Service Benefit (ESB) of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive in the previous government would be subjected to the audit report.
If you leave your office honourably then you have nothing to fear. However, those who misconduct themselves would be sanctioned,” he added.
Mr Chireh said the ministry had already received a letter from the ex MMDCEs requesting for their ESB, and pointed out that “beyond that the ministry would actually ask the assemblies to reconcile their debt with the ministry.
Touching on the absence of chief executives for some districts in the country, he said, plans were far advanced for the problem to be resolved. Some of the districts are Savelugu-Nanton in the Northern Region, Gomoa East (Central) Birim Central (Eastern), Biakoye (Volta) Nkawie-Nwiabagya, Adansi South, among others.
In the case of Biakoye, Mr Chireh, said there was a court case pending because of the siting of the district capital.
He explained that the previous government did not involve the Electoral Commission in the siting of the capital, culminating in the court action.
“This time round we want the EC to go to the ground to help resolve the issue once and for all,” he told the Daily Graphic.
Mr Chireh said all newly-created district assemblies had been directed to list all their needs in order of priority for assistance.
He was happy about the performance of the MMDAs after only a few months in office, and expressed the hope that they would continue in the same vein.
Addressing the Wa West Asembly, Mr Chireh, who is also the member of Parliemnt for the area, expressed concern over the burial of corpses closer to houses and compounds.
He, therefore, urged the assembly to insist on every community having a proper cemetery.
He used the opportunity to thank the people of the area for re-electing him as the Member of Parliament.
The District Chief Executive, Mr Saidu Tungbani, condemned the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the area, particularly cattle rustling, and warned that those caught would be severely dealt with.
“The district security committee in collaboration with the security agencies will not relent in its effort to see to it that those who steal cattle face the full rigours of the law,” he stated.
He advised that before any Fulani herdsman settled in any community the opinion leaders must be in the known instead of harbouring them and facilitating their criminal activities.
For his part, the Presiding Member, Mr Edward Nikpee, called for collective efforts in the development of the district.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
UDS STUDENTS COMPLAIN ABOUT HIGH RENTS IN WA (PAGE 17)
SOME students in the Wa Municipality, particularly fresh students of the Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS), have expressed worry over the high rents being charged by landlords.
The students said apart from the fact that the amounts being charged by these homeowners were exorbitant, the rooms are small.
They said a number of them had to contribute and pay the rent of single rooms occupied by four students, which had increased from GH¢150 to GH¢250 for a year, while rooms occupied by two students go for between GH¢200 and GH¢300 per year.
Investigations by the Daily Graphic showed that the action of the landlords had become an annual ritual, as they saw the period between August and September as their ‘cocoa season’.
The students expressed regret about the attitude of the landlords and said they behaved as if their survival depended only on the high rent charges, and, therefore, did not show any sympathy for the students.
A fresh student from Accra, Akwasi Odobeng, lamented how he had to struggle to get a small room at a cost of GH¢280. “Since I was desperate, two other mates who had also gained admission to the university and I had to contribute to pay in order to have a place to lay our heads,” he told the Daily Graphic.
Mr Odobeng, therefore, appealed to the university authorities to institute positive measures to address the issue of residential accommodation facing students of the Wa campus, since it had the highest number of students among the three campuses which constituted that university.
Another student, Hilda Mwin, also expressed similar sentiments and appealed to the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council to impress upon the landlords to treat the students as ‘their children, brothers and sisters’.
When contacted, the President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Wa campus of the UDS, Mr A. A. Iddi, said the SRC had stepped in to negotiate with landlords on behalf of students to get them to reduce the rent for the fresh students.
Another source also told the Daily Graphic that efforts were being made by the university authorities to see how best to resolve the issue.
The students said apart from the fact that the amounts being charged by these homeowners were exorbitant, the rooms are small.
They said a number of them had to contribute and pay the rent of single rooms occupied by four students, which had increased from GH¢150 to GH¢250 for a year, while rooms occupied by two students go for between GH¢200 and GH¢300 per year.
Investigations by the Daily Graphic showed that the action of the landlords had become an annual ritual, as they saw the period between August and September as their ‘cocoa season’.
The students expressed regret about the attitude of the landlords and said they behaved as if their survival depended only on the high rent charges, and, therefore, did not show any sympathy for the students.
A fresh student from Accra, Akwasi Odobeng, lamented how he had to struggle to get a small room at a cost of GH¢280. “Since I was desperate, two other mates who had also gained admission to the university and I had to contribute to pay in order to have a place to lay our heads,” he told the Daily Graphic.
Mr Odobeng, therefore, appealed to the university authorities to institute positive measures to address the issue of residential accommodation facing students of the Wa campus, since it had the highest number of students among the three campuses which constituted that university.
Another student, Hilda Mwin, also expressed similar sentiments and appealed to the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council to impress upon the landlords to treat the students as ‘their children, brothers and sisters’.
When contacted, the President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Wa campus of the UDS, Mr A. A. Iddi, said the SRC had stepped in to negotiate with landlords on behalf of students to get them to reduce the rent for the fresh students.
Another source also told the Daily Graphic that efforts were being made by the university authorities to see how best to resolve the issue.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
NGO AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO 20 SHS STUDENTS (PAGE 35)
THE Wa Area Development Association (WADA), a non-profit organisation based in Wa in the Upper West Region, has awarded scholarship to 20 students from selected senior high schools (SHSs) in the region.
The scholarship scheme, which was made possible by citizens of Wa in the United States of America and Canada, is the second in the series.
The beneficiary students, who were selected from the Wa, Wa Technical, Islamic, Saint Xavier, Lassia-Tuolu and T.I. Ahmadiya SHS, received GH¢140 each.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the Chairperson of WADA Ghana resident committee, Mrs Cate Bob-Milliar, said the goal of the association was to assist develop Wa through education grants and provision of other development programmes.
She said WADA was granting the scholarship to students with good academic backgrounds from junior high schools who had gained admission to SHS in the Wa area.
According to her, GH¢100 would be paid into the awardee’s school accounts on the assumption that their school fees were up to the said amount, then the balance paid to the student through the headmaster as pocket money.
“If the fees are more, then there will be nothing left as pocket money, since this fund is basically for the payment of tuition fees,” she added.
Mrs Bob-Milliar recalled that during the 2007/08 academic year, a similar number of students were given GH¢100 each but regretted that some of the students squandered the money without the knowledge of their parents and school authorities.
The scholarship scheme, which was made possible by citizens of Wa in the United States of America and Canada, is the second in the series.
The beneficiary students, who were selected from the Wa, Wa Technical, Islamic, Saint Xavier, Lassia-Tuolu and T.I. Ahmadiya SHS, received GH¢140 each.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the Chairperson of WADA Ghana resident committee, Mrs Cate Bob-Milliar, said the goal of the association was to assist develop Wa through education grants and provision of other development programmes.
She said WADA was granting the scholarship to students with good academic backgrounds from junior high schools who had gained admission to SHS in the Wa area.
According to her, GH¢100 would be paid into the awardee’s school accounts on the assumption that their school fees were up to the said amount, then the balance paid to the student through the headmaster as pocket money.
“If the fees are more, then there will be nothing left as pocket money, since this fund is basically for the payment of tuition fees,” she added.
Mrs Bob-Milliar recalled that during the 2007/08 academic year, a similar number of students were given GH¢100 each but regretted that some of the students squandered the money without the knowledge of their parents and school authorities.
NPP ELECTION TO BE KEENLY CONTESTED IN UW (PAGE 16)
The Upper West branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is expected to hold its regional congress by December 7, 2009.
As a prelude to that, elections for polling station and electoral area executives is expected to be completed by October 27, 2009 followed by constituency election by November 7, 2009.
The regional election, which is likely to be keenly contested, has two names emerging. The incumbent Regional Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar, under whose terms of office the NPP won three seats, is to be challenged by Mr Kaleo Naa, a businessman.
Hafiz Bin Salih, the Regional Youth Organiser, is also being touted to move higher to become the regional secretary where the incumbent Ibrahim Tamah is said to be well-entrenched.
Perhaps the position of the youth organiser would be the most contested if Mujeeb Rahman, the Wa Constituency NPP Secretary, challenges his bosom friend, Mustapha Govier, who has declared his intention to vie for that position.
A businessman, Alhassan Alaska, is also said to challenge Abraham Bankpala for the organiser position.
If these people are confirmed to be eyeing these positions, then the elections would be interesting.
Meanwhile, the Regional Youth Organiser, Mr Hafiz bin Salih, has advised interested candidates not to campaign on the basis of either belonging to Nana Akufo-Addo or to Alan Kyerematen’s camp.
He said the NPP needed absolute unity to move towards the year 2012. He was of the belief that the interest being shown by foot soldiers of the party to contest for the positions was a good omen for the NPP.
Mr Bin Salih advised potential delegates to vote for competence, loyalty and commitment.
As a prelude to that, elections for polling station and electoral area executives is expected to be completed by October 27, 2009 followed by constituency election by November 7, 2009.
The regional election, which is likely to be keenly contested, has two names emerging. The incumbent Regional Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar, under whose terms of office the NPP won three seats, is to be challenged by Mr Kaleo Naa, a businessman.
Hafiz Bin Salih, the Regional Youth Organiser, is also being touted to move higher to become the regional secretary where the incumbent Ibrahim Tamah is said to be well-entrenched.
Perhaps the position of the youth organiser would be the most contested if Mujeeb Rahman, the Wa Constituency NPP Secretary, challenges his bosom friend, Mustapha Govier, who has declared his intention to vie for that position.
A businessman, Alhassan Alaska, is also said to challenge Abraham Bankpala for the organiser position.
If these people are confirmed to be eyeing these positions, then the elections would be interesting.
Meanwhile, the Regional Youth Organiser, Mr Hafiz bin Salih, has advised interested candidates not to campaign on the basis of either belonging to Nana Akufo-Addo or to Alan Kyerematen’s camp.
He said the NPP needed absolute unity to move towards the year 2012. He was of the belief that the interest being shown by foot soldiers of the party to contest for the positions was a good omen for the NPP.
Mr Bin Salih advised potential delegates to vote for competence, loyalty and commitment.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
ASSIST POLICE TO CONTROL ARMS (PAGE 35)
THE Upper West Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alex Bedie, has appealed to arms and ammunition dealers in the region to assist the police to control their inflow into society.
In that regard, he urged them to make maximum use of the ammunition register by recording the particulars of persons purchasing those items and their quantity.
“This will go a long way in our attempt to face those who might have used the arms, ammunition or explosives for a different purpose against what they were intended for,” he stressed.
ACP Bedie made the appeal at a meeting with firearms dealers in the region in Wa, the regional capital.
According to him, the police would carry out unannounced visits to their stores to check whether they were making good use of the arms’ register.
He reminded them that anybody who purchased ammunitions should be a licence holder and warned that ammunition should not be sold to unauthorised persons.
The regional police commander said it was the intention of the police administration to reduce the supply and purchase of ammunition by controlling it to the barest minimum.
“Do not think only of the profits to be made but also take the effects of the illegal use of these weapons on our society into consideration,” he advised.
ACP Bedie urged the dealers to endeavour to do the right thing in order not to fall foul of the law, particularly those selling ammunitions illegally.
He said since the dealers belonged to an identifiable group, they would be in a better position to help control and supply of arms, adding “this is your contribution to assist other Ghanaians to fight crime”.
Responding, the leader of the ammunition dealers, Mr Bert Kofi Mumuni, gave the assurance that they would co-operate with the police to expose those who were engaged in illegal arms’ sale.
He stressed the need for such interactions regularly as they would go a long way to ensure that the right things were done.
In that regard, he urged them to make maximum use of the ammunition register by recording the particulars of persons purchasing those items and their quantity.
“This will go a long way in our attempt to face those who might have used the arms, ammunition or explosives for a different purpose against what they were intended for,” he stressed.
ACP Bedie made the appeal at a meeting with firearms dealers in the region in Wa, the regional capital.
According to him, the police would carry out unannounced visits to their stores to check whether they were making good use of the arms’ register.
He reminded them that anybody who purchased ammunitions should be a licence holder and warned that ammunition should not be sold to unauthorised persons.
The regional police commander said it was the intention of the police administration to reduce the supply and purchase of ammunition by controlling it to the barest minimum.
“Do not think only of the profits to be made but also take the effects of the illegal use of these weapons on our society into consideration,” he advised.
ACP Bedie urged the dealers to endeavour to do the right thing in order not to fall foul of the law, particularly those selling ammunitions illegally.
He said since the dealers belonged to an identifiable group, they would be in a better position to help control and supply of arms, adding “this is your contribution to assist other Ghanaians to fight crime”.
Responding, the leader of the ammunition dealers, Mr Bert Kofi Mumuni, gave the assurance that they would co-operate with the police to expose those who were engaged in illegal arms’ sale.
He stressed the need for such interactions regularly as they would go a long way to ensure that the right things were done.
Friday, September 4, 2009
PTA BUILDS DINING HALL FOR ISLAMIC SHS (PAGE 11)
THE Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the Islamic Senior High School, has constructed a dining hall for the school.
The hall, which cost GH¢16,657, was funded through a special levy of parents.
Speaking at a handing over ceremony, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Ceasar Kale, commended the PTA for its foresight and urged the school to make judicious use of the facility.
He appealed to the students to maintain the structure in order to benefit future students.
Mr Kale said the Government would continue to place premium on education, adding that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) would be supported to ensure that a lot of schools were provided with the needed facilities.
He was happy that from a humble beginning, the school had grown to be one of the best in the region.
Mr Kale told the students that they could impact greatly on society, if they performed very well.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Alhassan Suleimana, thanked the parents, staff and the student body for their continuous co-operation.
Since the year 2000, he said the PTA had provided a number of structures, which include, a Home Economics laboratory which now serves as an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre, classroom blocks, library, desks and beds for the school.
He appealed to the Government to assist in fencing the school to prevent people from encroaching on its lands.
The PTA Secretary, Mr Nuhu Isaahaku, gave the assurance that plans were underway to provide more structures for the school.
The hall, which cost GH¢16,657, was funded through a special levy of parents.
Speaking at a handing over ceremony, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Ceasar Kale, commended the PTA for its foresight and urged the school to make judicious use of the facility.
He appealed to the students to maintain the structure in order to benefit future students.
Mr Kale said the Government would continue to place premium on education, adding that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) would be supported to ensure that a lot of schools were provided with the needed facilities.
He was happy that from a humble beginning, the school had grown to be one of the best in the region.
Mr Kale told the students that they could impact greatly on society, if they performed very well.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Alhassan Suleimana, thanked the parents, staff and the student body for their continuous co-operation.
Since the year 2000, he said the PTA had provided a number of structures, which include, a Home Economics laboratory which now serves as an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre, classroom blocks, library, desks and beds for the school.
He appealed to the Government to assist in fencing the school to prevent people from encroaching on its lands.
The PTA Secretary, Mr Nuhu Isaahaku, gave the assurance that plans were underway to provide more structures for the school.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
WA ASSEMBLY FINALLY ELECTS PRESIDING MEMBER (PAGE 15)
THE Wa Municipal Assembly in the Upper West Region has finally elected a Presiding Member (PM) to steer the affairs of the assembly.
The new PM, Mr Adams Suleiman, obtained 100 per cent vote from all the 26 assembly members present. This is to find a replacement for Mr Adams Iddrisu, whose term of office has ended.
Two months ago, the assembly, on two occasions, failed to endorse the candidature of the new PM.
Earlier, addressing the assembly, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Doug Yakubu, noted that the election of a PM was a critical point in the workings of the local government system.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the house to put its differences aside and vote for the candidate. He also appealed to the assembly members to avoid actions that might send out wrong signals to other people in the municipality.
“Honourable members, we have come to the foot of the bridge. We should, therefore, cross it without any difficulty,” he added.
The outgoing PM, Mr Adams Iddrisu, regretted that some assembly members were considered stumbling blocks to the election of Mr Adams Suleiman which resulted in threats, intimidation, insults and vilification.
He, however, urged the house to put the past behind them and vote for the new PM.
For his part, Mr Suleimana thanked the assembly for the confidence reposed in him and, therefore, called for co-operation in the discharge of his duties.
The new PM, Mr Adams Suleiman, obtained 100 per cent vote from all the 26 assembly members present. This is to find a replacement for Mr Adams Iddrisu, whose term of office has ended.
Two months ago, the assembly, on two occasions, failed to endorse the candidature of the new PM.
Earlier, addressing the assembly, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Doug Yakubu, noted that the election of a PM was a critical point in the workings of the local government system.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the house to put its differences aside and vote for the candidate. He also appealed to the assembly members to avoid actions that might send out wrong signals to other people in the municipality.
“Honourable members, we have come to the foot of the bridge. We should, therefore, cross it without any difficulty,” he added.
The outgoing PM, Mr Adams Iddrisu, regretted that some assembly members were considered stumbling blocks to the election of Mr Adams Suleiman which resulted in threats, intimidation, insults and vilification.
He, however, urged the house to put the past behind them and vote for the new PM.
For his part, Mr Suleimana thanked the assembly for the confidence reposed in him and, therefore, called for co-operation in the discharge of his duties.
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