A PRINCIPAL accountant at the Wa regional Hospital, Mr Karim Kuuri, has filed his nomination to contest for the Chapuri electoral area in the Jirapa district of the Upper West region.
The 37–year-old accountant said his desire to contest for the seat was as a result of calls from the people of the area who saw him as somebody who had the capabilities to champion their cause at the Jirapa district assembly.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Kuuri said before the decision to contest, he had already been helping his area through acts of philanthropy.
“I have been voluntarily assisting my people in so many ways, with the recent one being the donation of football jerseys to the local basic school in the electoral area,” he added.
He said education was going to be his main priority as that was the only way to fight and reduce poverty in the area.
According to him, incentive packages would be instituted to encourage parents to send their children to school.
Mr Kuuri, who for some time now has been a resource person of a popular radio programme dubbed “business hour” to educate the business community and the general public in the Upper west region, was optimistic that he would get the mandate of the people.
He said the Chapuri electoral area which has produced a number of prominent people, including the late Edward Salia, a former member of parliament for Jirapa and a Minister of State, needed somebody with strong personality to represent the people.
He was hopeful that he would win the elections and contribute towards the development of the area and the district as a whole.
Mr Kuuri holds a Degree in Commerce from the University of Cape–Coast and is a finalist of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana).
He also holds executive certificates in project management, banking and finance.
Friday, December 10, 2010
ABUDU TO CONTEST NPP BOLE-BAMBOI SEAT (PAGE 13, DEC 9, 2010)
A 45-YEAR-OLD accountant, Mr Adams Olando Abudu, has declared his intention to contest on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Bole–Bamboi constituency in the Northern region.
Consequently, he has started meeting all stakeholders at both the constituency and regional level of the party in order to ensure that there is a united front towards the 2012 general elections.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa in the Upper West Region, Mr Abudu said the constituency needed a strong personality who would effectively articulate the needs of the people in the national assembly.
“The people of the constituency have regretted voting always for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidates and therefore, see the NPP as the party to salvage the situation since it is well endowed with the requisite human resource base to tackle all challenges,” he added.
According to the parliamentary aspirant, he has decided to offer himself due to several calls and appeals from the rank and file of the party who believe that he was the best person to win the seat for the NPP and also break the NDC dominance in the constituency.
He, therefore, urged delegates for the yet to be held congress to vote for a strong willed candidate who was ever ready to serve instead of one with self interest.
Mr Abudu said the NDC had woefully failed Ghanaians and must, therefore, be booted out of office for the NPP to come and repair what he called the damage done to the country by the NDC government.
He said no amount of propaganda would this time round sway Ghanaians to vote for the NDC because “our people have learnt a bitter lesson as they swallowed the lies of the NDC hook, line and sinker.”
He was hopeful that the delegates would give him the nod to enable him to prepare adequately for election 2012.
The NDC has since 1992 dominated politics in the Bole – Bamboi constituency with the current Vice – Preisdent John Mahama being the MP for twelve years before Mahama Akati, also from the NDC in 2008.
Consequently, he has started meeting all stakeholders at both the constituency and regional level of the party in order to ensure that there is a united front towards the 2012 general elections.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa in the Upper West Region, Mr Abudu said the constituency needed a strong personality who would effectively articulate the needs of the people in the national assembly.
“The people of the constituency have regretted voting always for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidates and therefore, see the NPP as the party to salvage the situation since it is well endowed with the requisite human resource base to tackle all challenges,” he added.
According to the parliamentary aspirant, he has decided to offer himself due to several calls and appeals from the rank and file of the party who believe that he was the best person to win the seat for the NPP and also break the NDC dominance in the constituency.
He, therefore, urged delegates for the yet to be held congress to vote for a strong willed candidate who was ever ready to serve instead of one with self interest.
Mr Abudu said the NDC had woefully failed Ghanaians and must, therefore, be booted out of office for the NPP to come and repair what he called the damage done to the country by the NDC government.
He said no amount of propaganda would this time round sway Ghanaians to vote for the NDC because “our people have learnt a bitter lesson as they swallowed the lies of the NDC hook, line and sinker.”
He was hopeful that the delegates would give him the nod to enable him to prepare adequately for election 2012.
The NDC has since 1992 dominated politics in the Bole – Bamboi constituency with the current Vice – Preisdent John Mahama being the MP for twelve years before Mahama Akati, also from the NDC in 2008.
Monday, December 6, 2010
WA ASSEMBLY SUPPORTS SCHOOLS (PAGE 12, DEC 4, 2010)
THE Wa Municipal Assembly in the Upper West Region has started distributing free school uniforms and exercise books to schoolchildren in the municipality.
In all, the assembly is expected to give out a total of 2,000 school uniforms and 79,388 exercise books to basic schools in the municipality.
Making the first presentation at Kadoli, near Wa, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Duogu Yakubu, said in distributing the items, priority was given to rural communities and deprived schools to motivate schoolchildren in those areas to put in their best and to make education attractive to schoolchildren.
Each school child received a free uniform and four exercise books.
Mr Yakubu said the government not only recognised education but also made substantial investments to practically demonstrate its firm commitment to addressing the myriad of challenges that obstruct the effective implementation of its sound educational policies.
He requested the municipal directorate of the Ghana Education Service to ensure that the uniforms and exercise books did not find their way to the market.
“I will personally charge our security agencies to be on the lookout for those who want to profit from the benevolence of the government to our dear schoolchildren. I will match my words with deeds if indeed, somebody falls victim to this warning,” he added.
Mr Yakubu called on parents and guardians not to see the gesture as an opportunity to make them shirk their responsibilities towards their children.
“You should also cultivate the habit of occasionally visiting your wards in school to demonstrate not only your love and care but also your commitment towards their proper upbringing in the hands of their teachers,” the MCE advised.
In all, the assembly is expected to give out a total of 2,000 school uniforms and 79,388 exercise books to basic schools in the municipality.
Making the first presentation at Kadoli, near Wa, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Duogu Yakubu, said in distributing the items, priority was given to rural communities and deprived schools to motivate schoolchildren in those areas to put in their best and to make education attractive to schoolchildren.
Each school child received a free uniform and four exercise books.
Mr Yakubu said the government not only recognised education but also made substantial investments to practically demonstrate its firm commitment to addressing the myriad of challenges that obstruct the effective implementation of its sound educational policies.
He requested the municipal directorate of the Ghana Education Service to ensure that the uniforms and exercise books did not find their way to the market.
“I will personally charge our security agencies to be on the lookout for those who want to profit from the benevolence of the government to our dear schoolchildren. I will match my words with deeds if indeed, somebody falls victim to this warning,” he added.
Mr Yakubu called on parents and guardians not to see the gesture as an opportunity to make them shirk their responsibilities towards their children.
“You should also cultivate the habit of occasionally visiting your wards in school to demonstrate not only your love and care but also your commitment towards their proper upbringing in the hands of their teachers,” the MCE advised.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
GHANA NEEDS ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC POLICIES — SAMIA (PAGE 12, NOV 27, 2010)
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro in the Western Region, Ms Samia Nkrumah, has observed that what the country needs now are alternative economic policies that will enable Ghanaians to meet the social needs of life.
She has, therefore, called for a united Nkrumaist front to contest future elections in order to realise this dream.
“We will never be able to do this if the Nkrumaist forces do not come together,” she added.
Ms Nkrumah was speaking at a forum organised by Nkrumah Rising for the Upper West Regional branches of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in Wa.
The well attended forum attracted constituency and regional executives of the CPP and the PNC.
Nkrumah Rising is an organisation composed of CPP and PNC elements that has, as one of its mandates, the goal of creating sufficient internal pressure at the grass roots of both the CPP and the PNC to bring about the total unification of the two political parties.
Ms Nkrumah, who is a patron of Nkrumah Rising, announced that as part of her efforts at bringing total unity between the two parties, she had decided to contest the position of national chairperson of the CPP next year.
According to her, she had held a number of meetings with various stakeholders in both parties and told them about the need to preserve the Nkrumaist tradition, adding, “I am not concerned about names and symbols but what we need now are sincere leaders who are not interested in bargaining before elections.”
“We need people who are ready to sacrifice and compromise. We need to compromise on trivialities. Don’t let anyone tell you about obsession with names,” she added.
She pointed out that what needed to be done was determine why people did not vote for splintered Nkrumaist parties, adding, “We should eliminate that sing-song and show to Ghanaians that we are credible.”
Ms Nkrumah said when she won the Jomoro parliamentary seat, there were assertions that she had won because of the legacy of her father, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana.
“If they are saying that, should that be a legacy which should be rejected? If that name can be used to win votes and elections, is it wrong?” she asked.
The Jomoro MP said she decided to become a patron of Nkrumah Rising because it was made up of committed young people who had voluntarily decided to move from one constituency to another to champion the cause of unity among the Nkrumaist parties.
She said the group was not advocating an internal coup in the various parties but rather their unity.
Ms Nkrumah said she supported the activities of the group because that was what should have been done years ago and appealed to the group to keep the flame alive by becoming involved in the process.
The Facilitator of Nkrumah Rising, Mr George Boadu, said similar fora would be organised in the other regions in due course.
He said the group had, since last year, been travelling across the country to awaken the grass roots on the need to unite for victory.
Later in a communiqué, the Wa Constituency executives of the CPP and the PNC declared their support for Ms Nkrumah for the chairmanship of the CPP.
They noted that the revival of Nkrumaism could only begin with the merger of not just the PNC and the CPP but also all the other Nkrumaist groups, including the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), noting that a CPP spearheaded by Ms Nkrumah would trigger that.
She has, therefore, called for a united Nkrumaist front to contest future elections in order to realise this dream.
“We will never be able to do this if the Nkrumaist forces do not come together,” she added.
Ms Nkrumah was speaking at a forum organised by Nkrumah Rising for the Upper West Regional branches of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in Wa.
The well attended forum attracted constituency and regional executives of the CPP and the PNC.
Nkrumah Rising is an organisation composed of CPP and PNC elements that has, as one of its mandates, the goal of creating sufficient internal pressure at the grass roots of both the CPP and the PNC to bring about the total unification of the two political parties.
Ms Nkrumah, who is a patron of Nkrumah Rising, announced that as part of her efforts at bringing total unity between the two parties, she had decided to contest the position of national chairperson of the CPP next year.
According to her, she had held a number of meetings with various stakeholders in both parties and told them about the need to preserve the Nkrumaist tradition, adding, “I am not concerned about names and symbols but what we need now are sincere leaders who are not interested in bargaining before elections.”
“We need people who are ready to sacrifice and compromise. We need to compromise on trivialities. Don’t let anyone tell you about obsession with names,” she added.
She pointed out that what needed to be done was determine why people did not vote for splintered Nkrumaist parties, adding, “We should eliminate that sing-song and show to Ghanaians that we are credible.”
Ms Nkrumah said when she won the Jomoro parliamentary seat, there were assertions that she had won because of the legacy of her father, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana.
“If they are saying that, should that be a legacy which should be rejected? If that name can be used to win votes and elections, is it wrong?” she asked.
The Jomoro MP said she decided to become a patron of Nkrumah Rising because it was made up of committed young people who had voluntarily decided to move from one constituency to another to champion the cause of unity among the Nkrumaist parties.
She said the group was not advocating an internal coup in the various parties but rather their unity.
Ms Nkrumah said she supported the activities of the group because that was what should have been done years ago and appealed to the group to keep the flame alive by becoming involved in the process.
The Facilitator of Nkrumah Rising, Mr George Boadu, said similar fora would be organised in the other regions in due course.
He said the group had, since last year, been travelling across the country to awaken the grass roots on the need to unite for victory.
Later in a communiqué, the Wa Constituency executives of the CPP and the PNC declared their support for Ms Nkrumah for the chairmanship of the CPP.
They noted that the revival of Nkrumaism could only begin with the merger of not just the PNC and the CPP but also all the other Nkrumaist groups, including the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), noting that a CPP spearheaded by Ms Nkrumah would trigger that.
WA TEIN URGES UNITY IN NDC (PAGE 12, NOV 27, 2010)
THE Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) branch of the Tertiary Educational Institutional Network (TEIN) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has observed that nobody can win on the ticket of the party in the 2012 elections without campaigning for the legacy of the present government.
It has therefore appealed to well–meaning supporters of the party to rally behind President J E. A. Mills to deliver.
“We bear no grudge with anyone for expressing his or her candid opinion but we believe that it would be better made within rather than making it public,” it said.
In a statement signed by its President, Mr Mohammed Ilyassu, the Wa campus TEIN appealed to the party leadership to take on board the genuine concerns by supporters of the party “after all we are all seeking to build a strong united party for 2012”.
Mr Ilyassu urged all so called factions within the party to be strategic rather than creating leverage for the opposition to hype on.
“TEIN - Wa campus also wants to appeal to all the youth groups within the party to refrain from tendencies that sought to threaten the party’s unity. We do same to all appointees to have a listening ear to concerns of party youth groups to arrest the agitation,” he added.
He pledged the unflinching support of Wa campus TEIN to the president, the government and the party leadership since they had confidence in the President to deliver on the “Better Ghana agenda”.
According to Mr Ilyassu, the Wa campus recently received an invitation extended to the various campus branches of TEIN via text messages to attend a workshop organised by the Greater Accra branch of the association.
He said in an attempt to solidarise with them, he did not conduct any thorough check before taking off to represent the Wa campus only to realise that he had been misled.
He, therefore, stated without any equivocation that “we do not support what is happening currently and we condemn in no uncertain terms what happened on that day and wish to apologise to the leadership of our party for having participated in that workshop”.
Mr Ilyassu condemned those who were trying to instigate the youth against the President and his government.
It has therefore appealed to well–meaning supporters of the party to rally behind President J E. A. Mills to deliver.
“We bear no grudge with anyone for expressing his or her candid opinion but we believe that it would be better made within rather than making it public,” it said.
In a statement signed by its President, Mr Mohammed Ilyassu, the Wa campus TEIN appealed to the party leadership to take on board the genuine concerns by supporters of the party “after all we are all seeking to build a strong united party for 2012”.
Mr Ilyassu urged all so called factions within the party to be strategic rather than creating leverage for the opposition to hype on.
“TEIN - Wa campus also wants to appeal to all the youth groups within the party to refrain from tendencies that sought to threaten the party’s unity. We do same to all appointees to have a listening ear to concerns of party youth groups to arrest the agitation,” he added.
He pledged the unflinching support of Wa campus TEIN to the president, the government and the party leadership since they had confidence in the President to deliver on the “Better Ghana agenda”.
According to Mr Ilyassu, the Wa campus recently received an invitation extended to the various campus branches of TEIN via text messages to attend a workshop organised by the Greater Accra branch of the association.
He said in an attempt to solidarise with them, he did not conduct any thorough check before taking off to represent the Wa campus only to realise that he had been misled.
He, therefore, stated without any equivocation that “we do not support what is happening currently and we condemn in no uncertain terms what happened on that day and wish to apologise to the leadership of our party for having participated in that workshop”.
Mr Ilyassu condemned those who were trying to instigate the youth against the President and his government.
SAMIA TO CONTEST CPP CHAIRMANSHIP SLOT (PAGE 12, NOV 26, 2010)
THE Member of Parliament for Jomoro in the Western Region, Miss Samia Nkrumah, has announced her intention to contest the national chairmanship position of the Convention People’s Party next year.
She described her intention as part of her efforts to bring total unity primarily between the CPP and the People’s National Convention and all other groupings that believed in the Nkrumaist ideologies.
Miss Samia made her intention known at a forum organised by Nkrumah Rising for the Upper West Regional branches of the Peoples’ National Convention (PNC) and the Convention Peoples’ Party in Wa.
The well attended forum attracted constituency and regional executives of the CPP and the PNC.
Nkrumah Rising is an organisation composed of CPP and PNC elements that has as one of its mandates the goal of creating sufficient internal pressure at the grassroots level within both the CPP and PNC to bring about the total unification of the two political parties.
According to Ms Samia, She had held a number of meetings with various stakeholders of both parties and had spoken to them on the need to preserve the Nkrumaist tradition and that “I am not concerned about names and symbols but what we need now is sincere leaders who are not interested in bargaining before elections”.
“We need people who are ready to sacrifice and compromise. We need to compromise trivialities. Don’t let anyone tell you about obsession in names,” She stated.
She pointed out that what should be done was to eliminate why people did not vote for splintered Nkrumaist parties adding “we should eliminate that sing song and show to Ghanaians that we are credible”.
Ms Samia said when she won the Jomoro parliamentary seat there were assertions that she won because of the legacy of her father, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana.
“If they are saying that, should that be the legacy which should be rejected? If that name can be used to win votes and elections, is it wrong? she asked.
If she’s successful, Samia Nkrumah would become the first female chair of a major political party.
She described her intention as part of her efforts to bring total unity primarily between the CPP and the People’s National Convention and all other groupings that believed in the Nkrumaist ideologies.
Miss Samia made her intention known at a forum organised by Nkrumah Rising for the Upper West Regional branches of the Peoples’ National Convention (PNC) and the Convention Peoples’ Party in Wa.
The well attended forum attracted constituency and regional executives of the CPP and the PNC.
Nkrumah Rising is an organisation composed of CPP and PNC elements that has as one of its mandates the goal of creating sufficient internal pressure at the grassroots level within both the CPP and PNC to bring about the total unification of the two political parties.
According to Ms Samia, She had held a number of meetings with various stakeholders of both parties and had spoken to them on the need to preserve the Nkrumaist tradition and that “I am not concerned about names and symbols but what we need now is sincere leaders who are not interested in bargaining before elections”.
“We need people who are ready to sacrifice and compromise. We need to compromise trivialities. Don’t let anyone tell you about obsession in names,” She stated.
She pointed out that what should be done was to eliminate why people did not vote for splintered Nkrumaist parties adding “we should eliminate that sing song and show to Ghanaians that we are credible”.
Ms Samia said when she won the Jomoro parliamentary seat there were assertions that she won because of the legacy of her father, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana.
“If they are saying that, should that be the legacy which should be rejected? If that name can be used to win votes and elections, is it wrong? she asked.
If she’s successful, Samia Nkrumah would become the first female chair of a major political party.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
FORMULATE POLICIES FOR NATIONAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 42, NOV 24, 2010)
REPRESENTATIVES of civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders in the shea-nut industry have called on the government to formulate appropriate policies and mechanisms for developing natural resources of the country for national development.
They also urged the government to further enhance the call by including shea-nut in the greater interest and benefit of the people of Ghana, especially those in the shea butter producing communities.
This was contained in a communiqué adopted at the second national multi–stakeholders’ forum on shea-nut industry in Ghana .
The forum was organised by the Interim Shea Network Secretariat in Wa, with sponsorship from SNV–Netherlands and Oxfam Great Britain, all international non-governmental organisations.
According to the communiqué, in the face of challenges facing the shea -nut industry, the government should set up a shea board along the lines of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to spearhead the formulation of policies and laws for consideration by the government for effective and efficient governance and operations in the shea-nut sector.
“For instance, appropriate taxation of shea exports could lead to revenue mobilisation for government interventions in the sub–sector, including adequate funding for shea research and development,” it added.
The communique called for a broader and transparent consultation among the government, traditional authorities and people in the northern part of Ghana regarding the take-over of large tracts of agricultural land by multinational agricultural companies.
It said that situation affected poor people’s access to land and other resources for livelihood development, considering the fact that about 95 per cent of households depended on shea butter for sustenance.
“As part of its policy of promoting local content in industrial activities, the government should encourage the use of shea products in local cosmetic, beverage, confectionery, pharmaceutical and hospital industries,” the communiqué stressed.
The communiqué called for an intensive media involvement to highlight the performance of shea to the economy of northern Ghana through research and investigations on shea sub–sector issues, production of special documentaries to increase awareness.
In addition, it resolved to continue to use the annual platform to co-ordinate its activities and to find common ground for resolving the challenges confronting the sub–sector and thereby fully harness its potential for wealth creation and for growth, especially in northern Ghana.
The communiqué resolved to constructively engage with the government and support its efforts and that of the private sector to develop the shea value chain for the betterment of all Ghanaians, especially the poor women, who are at the heart of the industry.
They also urged the government to further enhance the call by including shea-nut in the greater interest and benefit of the people of Ghana, especially those in the shea butter producing communities.
This was contained in a communiqué adopted at the second national multi–stakeholders’ forum on shea-nut industry in Ghana .
The forum was organised by the Interim Shea Network Secretariat in Wa, with sponsorship from SNV–Netherlands and Oxfam Great Britain, all international non-governmental organisations.
According to the communiqué, in the face of challenges facing the shea -nut industry, the government should set up a shea board along the lines of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to spearhead the formulation of policies and laws for consideration by the government for effective and efficient governance and operations in the shea-nut sector.
“For instance, appropriate taxation of shea exports could lead to revenue mobilisation for government interventions in the sub–sector, including adequate funding for shea research and development,” it added.
The communique called for a broader and transparent consultation among the government, traditional authorities and people in the northern part of Ghana regarding the take-over of large tracts of agricultural land by multinational agricultural companies.
It said that situation affected poor people’s access to land and other resources for livelihood development, considering the fact that about 95 per cent of households depended on shea butter for sustenance.
“As part of its policy of promoting local content in industrial activities, the government should encourage the use of shea products in local cosmetic, beverage, confectionery, pharmaceutical and hospital industries,” the communiqué stressed.
The communiqué called for an intensive media involvement to highlight the performance of shea to the economy of northern Ghana through research and investigations on shea sub–sector issues, production of special documentaries to increase awareness.
In addition, it resolved to continue to use the annual platform to co-ordinate its activities and to find common ground for resolving the challenges confronting the sub–sector and thereby fully harness its potential for wealth creation and for growth, especially in northern Ghana.
The communiqué resolved to constructively engage with the government and support its efforts and that of the private sector to develop the shea value chain for the betterment of all Ghanaians, especially the poor women, who are at the heart of the industry.
INTERIM COUNCILS OF 2 COLLEGES OF EDUCATION ...In Upper West (PAGE 42, NOV 24, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaque Salia, has observed that colleges of education are the live-wire of the country’s educational system.
He has, therefore, suggested that the colleges must be made to function at optimal level in order to ensure that the sector lived up to expectation.
The regional minister was speaking at the inauguration of the interim councils of the N.J. Ahmaddiya and Tumu Colleges of Education at a ceremony in Wa.
He called on members of the councils to appreciate the enormity of the task ahead of them and brace themselves to move into full gear to solve problems to be encountered.
Alhaji Salia said due diligence had to be conducted to ensure that those chosen to the councils were capable people who could steer the affairs of the colleges successfully.
“Looking around, I have no doubt that we have made the right choices and can confidently look forward to the best results,” he told the council members.
According to him, the councils were even more relevant in the light of the elevation of institutions to the status of colleges of education which in itself imposed a responsibility of an enhanced delivery and the training of students who would be able to contribute meaningfully in the educational sector.
“We expected that you accept your choice to this councils as an honour to serve your people to the best of our ability, recognising the fact that you are dealing with institutions that are responsible for training teachers at the very foundation of education,” Alhaji Salia said.
He stressed the need to use the Montessori curriculum type of teaching, which stimulates self — learning and creativity at the foundation levels of the educational ladder.
Alhaji Salia assured the councils of total government support in the execution of their duties.
For his part, the Chairman of the Tumu College of Education, Professor Stephen Kendie, on behalf of the councils, gave the assurance that they would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He called for co-operation of all stakeholders in the educational sector to ensure their success in the task ahead.
The Principal of N.J. Ahmaddiya College of Education, Mr Oduro Yeboah, thanked the government for the numerous projects being undertaken in the two colleges but asked for more.
He pledged the support of the colleges to their new status and urged the government to do all in its power to ensure the passage of the Colleges of Education Bill.
He has, therefore, suggested that the colleges must be made to function at optimal level in order to ensure that the sector lived up to expectation.
The regional minister was speaking at the inauguration of the interim councils of the N.J. Ahmaddiya and Tumu Colleges of Education at a ceremony in Wa.
He called on members of the councils to appreciate the enormity of the task ahead of them and brace themselves to move into full gear to solve problems to be encountered.
Alhaji Salia said due diligence had to be conducted to ensure that those chosen to the councils were capable people who could steer the affairs of the colleges successfully.
“Looking around, I have no doubt that we have made the right choices and can confidently look forward to the best results,” he told the council members.
According to him, the councils were even more relevant in the light of the elevation of institutions to the status of colleges of education which in itself imposed a responsibility of an enhanced delivery and the training of students who would be able to contribute meaningfully in the educational sector.
“We expected that you accept your choice to this councils as an honour to serve your people to the best of our ability, recognising the fact that you are dealing with institutions that are responsible for training teachers at the very foundation of education,” Alhaji Salia said.
He stressed the need to use the Montessori curriculum type of teaching, which stimulates self — learning and creativity at the foundation levels of the educational ladder.
Alhaji Salia assured the councils of total government support in the execution of their duties.
For his part, the Chairman of the Tumu College of Education, Professor Stephen Kendie, on behalf of the councils, gave the assurance that they would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He called for co-operation of all stakeholders in the educational sector to ensure their success in the task ahead.
The Principal of N.J. Ahmaddiya College of Education, Mr Oduro Yeboah, thanked the government for the numerous projects being undertaken in the two colleges but asked for more.
He pledged the support of the colleges to their new status and urged the government to do all in its power to ensure the passage of the Colleges of Education Bill.
MOTORBIKE ACCIDENTS ON THE RISE IN WA (PAGE 42, NOV 24, 2010)
ADAMU Nwin (not a real name) was an enterprising young carpenter in the Wa Municipality whose expertise was highly patronised. Both private and public sector employees always wanted Nwin to manufacture furniture for their office or residential purposes.
Just recently, many people realised that the workshop of Nwin remained permanently closed and upon enquiries, some customers were informed that their “darling” carpenter had passed away.
He died in a motorbike accident.
In another instance, a 34-year-old friend of this writer, a security man, who married a year ago, also met his untimely death through a similar accident.
These accidents are just a tip of the iceberg. Motor cycle accidents have become so rampant in Wa that never a day passes by without accidents being recorded.
In fact, one is tempted to believe that apart from malaria, the next killer in the municipality is the motorbike.
What has compounded the problem is the influx of the large number of students of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies, many of who use motor cycles.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry in Wa either rides or owns a motorbike and the riding of the bikes is a source of worry to many concerned people. When lectures close at the new Bamahu campus and the students are returning to Wa, it is as frightening as the word itself.
Apart from speeding, the students try to outdo one another through unnecessary overtaking, which most often put their lives at risk, yet nobody seems to halt the phenomenon that is gradually rearing its ugly head.
Sometimes, some of the riders carry as many as three or four people, a situation which is unlawful.
Are we to wait for the situation to take a bigger dimension before action is taken? The answer is a big no because nobody knows if some of these students could become Presidents and ministers in the future.
Another problem is the failure of some of the student riders not stopping at intersections, and one therefore, has to be on the defensive when driving.
Perhaps, the most effective way to avoid not being crushed by a careless rider is to blow one’s horn to remind them to stop. There is also the issue of inexperienced riders, that is, people who do not know anything about road signs, and who are you to complain.
As if it is in vogue, parents would not hesitate to release their motorbikes to their children to ride , knowing very well that it is against the law.
As a result of the alarming situation, the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) in the Upper West Region has mapped out strategies to reduce motorbike accidents to the barest minimum.
Paramount among the strategies is the decision of members of the commission to visit the UDS and Wa Polytechnic campuses to sensitise the students on the usage of motorbikes.
They have also decided to use the local FM radio stations, debates on road safety in second-cycle educational institutions, making use of fuel stations for distribution of posters, collaborate with the municipal assembly to arrest stray animals on the streets and stoppage of riding in the central market.
Other measures are towing of broken-down vehicles along the roads and streets, which is yet to start in the region and collaborating with the regional co-ordinating council to find ways of supporting the UDS students to reach Bamahu for lectures.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Wa, the Upper West Regional Manager of the NRSC, Mr Suleimana Abdul–Karim, said to stem the tide, the commission would go on air every two days to educate riders on the need to obey traffic rules.
He attributed part of the problem to illiteracy, especially among ladies, who most often did not know road signs.
“Currently, we are combining education and enforcement and as we speak now, some of those arrested are being prosecuted at the courts,” he added
Mr Abdul-Karim noted with regret that despite educating the UDS students on the availability of helmets at his office which sells at GH¢35, none of them had bothered to purchase one.
It is against this background that the police must arrest and prosecute these unlicensed riders to serve as a deterrent to others. In all humility, the police should not bow to the whims and caprices of politicians who are the first people to order them to release the offending motorbike riders.
The police must periodically conduct operations to rid the municipality of “merchants of death” just like the recent one which brought sanity on the roads.
Finally, the authorities of the Wa Campus of the UDS should inculcate responsible riding into their students rather than looking on unconcerned. After all, being in the university is not only classroom matters but outside as well.
Just recently, many people realised that the workshop of Nwin remained permanently closed and upon enquiries, some customers were informed that their “darling” carpenter had passed away.
He died in a motorbike accident.
In another instance, a 34-year-old friend of this writer, a security man, who married a year ago, also met his untimely death through a similar accident.
These accidents are just a tip of the iceberg. Motor cycle accidents have become so rampant in Wa that never a day passes by without accidents being recorded.
In fact, one is tempted to believe that apart from malaria, the next killer in the municipality is the motorbike.
What has compounded the problem is the influx of the large number of students of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies, many of who use motor cycles.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry in Wa either rides or owns a motorbike and the riding of the bikes is a source of worry to many concerned people. When lectures close at the new Bamahu campus and the students are returning to Wa, it is as frightening as the word itself.
Apart from speeding, the students try to outdo one another through unnecessary overtaking, which most often put their lives at risk, yet nobody seems to halt the phenomenon that is gradually rearing its ugly head.
Sometimes, some of the riders carry as many as three or four people, a situation which is unlawful.
Are we to wait for the situation to take a bigger dimension before action is taken? The answer is a big no because nobody knows if some of these students could become Presidents and ministers in the future.
Another problem is the failure of some of the student riders not stopping at intersections, and one therefore, has to be on the defensive when driving.
Perhaps, the most effective way to avoid not being crushed by a careless rider is to blow one’s horn to remind them to stop. There is also the issue of inexperienced riders, that is, people who do not know anything about road signs, and who are you to complain.
As if it is in vogue, parents would not hesitate to release their motorbikes to their children to ride , knowing very well that it is against the law.
As a result of the alarming situation, the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) in the Upper West Region has mapped out strategies to reduce motorbike accidents to the barest minimum.
Paramount among the strategies is the decision of members of the commission to visit the UDS and Wa Polytechnic campuses to sensitise the students on the usage of motorbikes.
They have also decided to use the local FM radio stations, debates on road safety in second-cycle educational institutions, making use of fuel stations for distribution of posters, collaborate with the municipal assembly to arrest stray animals on the streets and stoppage of riding in the central market.
Other measures are towing of broken-down vehicles along the roads and streets, which is yet to start in the region and collaborating with the regional co-ordinating council to find ways of supporting the UDS students to reach Bamahu for lectures.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Wa, the Upper West Regional Manager of the NRSC, Mr Suleimana Abdul–Karim, said to stem the tide, the commission would go on air every two days to educate riders on the need to obey traffic rules.
He attributed part of the problem to illiteracy, especially among ladies, who most often did not know road signs.
“Currently, we are combining education and enforcement and as we speak now, some of those arrested are being prosecuted at the courts,” he added
Mr Abdul-Karim noted with regret that despite educating the UDS students on the availability of helmets at his office which sells at GH¢35, none of them had bothered to purchase one.
It is against this background that the police must arrest and prosecute these unlicensed riders to serve as a deterrent to others. In all humility, the police should not bow to the whims and caprices of politicians who are the first people to order them to release the offending motorbike riders.
The police must periodically conduct operations to rid the municipality of “merchants of death” just like the recent one which brought sanity on the roads.
Finally, the authorities of the Wa Campus of the UDS should inculcate responsible riding into their students rather than looking on unconcerned. After all, being in the university is not only classroom matters but outside as well.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
WA ASSEMBLY GETS GH¢1 MILLION FROM DDF (PAGE 13, NOV 12, 2010)
THE Wa Municipal Assembly has since 2009 received a total of GHC1,065,491.04 from the District Development Fund (DDF).
The amount has been invested in various sectors in order to accelerate the pace of development in the municipality.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Yakubu Duogu, announced this at the dissolution of the assembly in Wa.
He said the assembly under the same facility received GHC 612,242.47 out of which GHC 576, 892.90 was used on capital projects while the remaining GHC 35,349.56 was used for capacity building.
He said a number of projects were being executed under the DDF and these include CHPS compound, classroom blocks and supply of furniture among others.
Mr. Duogu told the outgoing assembly members that, the revenue collected by the assembly as at August amounted to GHC 207,250.67 out of an estimated GHC 272,030 for this year.
“The prospects look good as it points to a positive direction that will enable us to achieve our target for the year,” he added
According to the MCE, the assembly was on the threshold of completing and starting new development projects as well as payment of outstanding debts following the receipt of a total of GHC 241, 212.91 from the district assembly common fund.
He said, the assembly’s development focus, especially in the medium term include the construction of more stores in the Wa central market, completion of an office complex block and the development of an industrial site for artisans.
Touching on security, Mr. Duogu noted that although there had been significant improvement in the situation there were still few reported cases of robberies in some parts of the region.
He announced that the security agencies would undertake a special national exercise with particular focus on motor traffic operations to ensure accident -free Christmas.
He therefore urged the outgoing assembly members to educate their electorate to avoid the situation of being asked to intercede for help from the police.
“Similarly, the Ghana Education Service should endeavour to obtain documents covering the motorbikes for teachers and spare them the ordeal and embarrassment they go through at the hands of the police,” he appealed.
Mr Duogu wished the assembly members who would seek re-election good luck and expressed the hope that they still support the programmes of the assembly.
The amount has been invested in various sectors in order to accelerate the pace of development in the municipality.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Yakubu Duogu, announced this at the dissolution of the assembly in Wa.
He said the assembly under the same facility received GHC 612,242.47 out of which GHC 576, 892.90 was used on capital projects while the remaining GHC 35,349.56 was used for capacity building.
He said a number of projects were being executed under the DDF and these include CHPS compound, classroom blocks and supply of furniture among others.
Mr. Duogu told the outgoing assembly members that, the revenue collected by the assembly as at August amounted to GHC 207,250.67 out of an estimated GHC 272,030 for this year.
“The prospects look good as it points to a positive direction that will enable us to achieve our target for the year,” he added
According to the MCE, the assembly was on the threshold of completing and starting new development projects as well as payment of outstanding debts following the receipt of a total of GHC 241, 212.91 from the district assembly common fund.
He said, the assembly’s development focus, especially in the medium term include the construction of more stores in the Wa central market, completion of an office complex block and the development of an industrial site for artisans.
Touching on security, Mr. Duogu noted that although there had been significant improvement in the situation there were still few reported cases of robberies in some parts of the region.
He announced that the security agencies would undertake a special national exercise with particular focus on motor traffic operations to ensure accident -free Christmas.
He therefore urged the outgoing assembly members to educate their electorate to avoid the situation of being asked to intercede for help from the police.
“Similarly, the Ghana Education Service should endeavour to obtain documents covering the motorbikes for teachers and spare them the ordeal and embarrassment they go through at the hands of the police,” he appealed.
Mr Duogu wished the assembly members who would seek re-election good luck and expressed the hope that they still support the programmes of the assembly.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
REVISIT DEPENDENCE ON CHEMICAL FERTILISERS — SAYS CAESAR KALE (PAGE 42, NOV 3, 2010)
THE Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, has stated that the time has come for the country to revisit the dependence on chemical fertilisers which are detrimental to natural bio-organic fertilisers.
He has, therefore, stressed the need to reinvent the wheel as the technology for large scale organic fertiliser, which is operational in India, could be adopted in the country.
According to him, that technology, apart from being environmentally friendly, would drastically reduce the cost involved in agriculture and also improve the standard of living of most Ghanaians.
Mr Kale was speaking at a farmers’ durbar organised by the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC) at Wa in the Upper West Region. The durbar was on the theme: “Smallholder farmer: Reserving the right to be more productive.”
The deputy regional minister called for adequate data base of farmers in the country to help stakeholders plan ahead of farming seasons, especially with reference to farming inputs and extension services.
He entreated farmers’ groups to register with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to actualise all plans to ensure the timely supply of inputs to those engaged in the block farming concept as well as other farmers.
“Let me also use this platform to appeal to our dear farmers to take advantage of the new pension scheme, especially the third tier, which targets the informal sector since this will go a long way to improve your quality of lives at retirement and serve as an incentive to boost production,” he added.
Mr Kale was convinced that that suggestion, together with other interventions, would help upscale productivity in the agricultural sector and make Ghana a better place.
He said the government put a lot of premium on agriculture and would continue to take bold initiatives needed to improve the sector.
That, Mr Kale said, had been manifested in the provision of breeding animals to farmers under the Livestock Development Project (LDP), the establishment of farmers service centres to aid in the mechanisation of agriculture and the establishment of a Sheanut processing factory in Buipe in the Northern Region.
Mr Kale said the establishment of mango plantations in the Upper West Region as well as other regions were interventions captured under the agricultural component of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, which would assist in ensuring sustainable progress in the sector.
The National Co-ordinator of the GTLC, Mr Ibrahim Akalbilla, called for the recognition of small-scale farmers in the country.
He urged the government to ensure that policy formulation was targeted towards small scale farmers since they were the backbone of agriculture in the country.
An official of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr M.Y.B. Suglo, stated that the government, in collaboration with its French counterpart, had earmarked 1,000 acres of land for rice cultivation in the Upper West Region next year.
He has, therefore, stressed the need to reinvent the wheel as the technology for large scale organic fertiliser, which is operational in India, could be adopted in the country.
According to him, that technology, apart from being environmentally friendly, would drastically reduce the cost involved in agriculture and also improve the standard of living of most Ghanaians.
Mr Kale was speaking at a farmers’ durbar organised by the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC) at Wa in the Upper West Region. The durbar was on the theme: “Smallholder farmer: Reserving the right to be more productive.”
The deputy regional minister called for adequate data base of farmers in the country to help stakeholders plan ahead of farming seasons, especially with reference to farming inputs and extension services.
He entreated farmers’ groups to register with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to actualise all plans to ensure the timely supply of inputs to those engaged in the block farming concept as well as other farmers.
“Let me also use this platform to appeal to our dear farmers to take advantage of the new pension scheme, especially the third tier, which targets the informal sector since this will go a long way to improve your quality of lives at retirement and serve as an incentive to boost production,” he added.
Mr Kale was convinced that that suggestion, together with other interventions, would help upscale productivity in the agricultural sector and make Ghana a better place.
He said the government put a lot of premium on agriculture and would continue to take bold initiatives needed to improve the sector.
That, Mr Kale said, had been manifested in the provision of breeding animals to farmers under the Livestock Development Project (LDP), the establishment of farmers service centres to aid in the mechanisation of agriculture and the establishment of a Sheanut processing factory in Buipe in the Northern Region.
Mr Kale said the establishment of mango plantations in the Upper West Region as well as other regions were interventions captured under the agricultural component of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, which would assist in ensuring sustainable progress in the sector.
The National Co-ordinator of the GTLC, Mr Ibrahim Akalbilla, called for the recognition of small-scale farmers in the country.
He urged the government to ensure that policy formulation was targeted towards small scale farmers since they were the backbone of agriculture in the country.
An official of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr M.Y.B. Suglo, stated that the government, in collaboration with its French counterpart, had earmarked 1,000 acres of land for rice cultivation in the Upper West Region next year.
MORNAH TO CONTEST WA CENTRAL (PAGE 12, NOV 3, 2010)
THE General Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC) Party, Mr Bernard Mornah, has declared his intention to contest for the Wa Central Constituency Seat in the 2012 parliamentary elections on the ticket of his party.
In 2004, Mr Mornah polled 12,280 votes as against the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who had around 20,000 while the New Patriotic Party had a little over 7,000. He did not contest the 2008 elections.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic after a training workshop for activists of the party in Wa, Mr Mornah said Wa Central required people with a strong voice which would receive the attention of government.
“We need somebody who would relate the concerns of the people to government for immediate and long term solution,” he added.
According to him, the erroneous impression being created that Northern Ghana was one entity was wrong, especially when issues of conflict were being discussed.
Mr Mornah noted, for example, that Wa was different from Tamale or Tumu and said some of these conflicts were as a result of poverty and unemployment, pointing out that anytime these reared their ugly heads they resulted in social vices.
“We need someone to champion these so that the problem of our people would not be compounded and that person is Bernard Mornah,” he said.
Touching on allegations that he was from the Nadowli district and so should go and contest in that area, the PNC General Secretary said the laws of Ghana state that when you are a citizen you can live everywhere without any inhibition.
He said it was that law that made Dr Kwame Nkrumah contest and win the Accra Central seat on the ticket of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) although he hailed from Nkroful in the Western Region, adding that “as long as the constitution of Ghana is concerned, I can contest in any constituency.”
“I can contest in Nadowli West by parentage and Wa Central by birth. The decision to contest in Wa Central is because I was born, bred and schooled in Wa and I have lived all my life in Wa, so if anybody says I should not contest for the Wa Central seat then our constitution should be amended,” he said
He said his entry into the race had sent shivers down the spines of people and that no amount of smear campaign would discourage him from realising his dream since he cut across all boundaries.
Mr Mornah said when the time came, his message would be on hope and what he could deliver rather than play the ethnic card.
On the unity talks between the CPP and the PNC, Mr Mornah described it as tortuous as there had not been any formal meeting between the two parties.
He said what was happening was only individual views “so we should come to the table to discuss what will unite us than taking entrenched positions.”
He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had not forgotten its ancestry as it had evolved from various stages starting with United Gold Coast Convention, Progress Party, and Popular Front Party to the present stage.
“For the Nkrumaist, we moved from Convention People’s Party, National Alliance of Liberals, People’s National Party and the People’s National Convention, so we can congregate at a point using a name which is neither the CPP nor PNC symbol, but a name that binds us as Nkrumaist. When that is done every Nkrumaist will come on board,” Mr Mornah said.
He said the ideals of Dr Nkrumah would never be achieved if Nkrumaists did not come together under the same umbrella.
In 2004, Mr Mornah polled 12,280 votes as against the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who had around 20,000 while the New Patriotic Party had a little over 7,000. He did not contest the 2008 elections.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic after a training workshop for activists of the party in Wa, Mr Mornah said Wa Central required people with a strong voice which would receive the attention of government.
“We need somebody who would relate the concerns of the people to government for immediate and long term solution,” he added.
According to him, the erroneous impression being created that Northern Ghana was one entity was wrong, especially when issues of conflict were being discussed.
Mr Mornah noted, for example, that Wa was different from Tamale or Tumu and said some of these conflicts were as a result of poverty and unemployment, pointing out that anytime these reared their ugly heads they resulted in social vices.
“We need someone to champion these so that the problem of our people would not be compounded and that person is Bernard Mornah,” he said.
Touching on allegations that he was from the Nadowli district and so should go and contest in that area, the PNC General Secretary said the laws of Ghana state that when you are a citizen you can live everywhere without any inhibition.
He said it was that law that made Dr Kwame Nkrumah contest and win the Accra Central seat on the ticket of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) although he hailed from Nkroful in the Western Region, adding that “as long as the constitution of Ghana is concerned, I can contest in any constituency.”
“I can contest in Nadowli West by parentage and Wa Central by birth. The decision to contest in Wa Central is because I was born, bred and schooled in Wa and I have lived all my life in Wa, so if anybody says I should not contest for the Wa Central seat then our constitution should be amended,” he said
He said his entry into the race had sent shivers down the spines of people and that no amount of smear campaign would discourage him from realising his dream since he cut across all boundaries.
Mr Mornah said when the time came, his message would be on hope and what he could deliver rather than play the ethnic card.
On the unity talks between the CPP and the PNC, Mr Mornah described it as tortuous as there had not been any formal meeting between the two parties.
He said what was happening was only individual views “so we should come to the table to discuss what will unite us than taking entrenched positions.”
He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had not forgotten its ancestry as it had evolved from various stages starting with United Gold Coast Convention, Progress Party, and Popular Front Party to the present stage.
“For the Nkrumaist, we moved from Convention People’s Party, National Alliance of Liberals, People’s National Party and the People’s National Convention, so we can congregate at a point using a name which is neither the CPP nor PNC symbol, but a name that binds us as Nkrumaist. When that is done every Nkrumaist will come on board,” Mr Mornah said.
He said the ideals of Dr Nkrumah would never be achieved if Nkrumaists did not come together under the same umbrella.
RESEARCH ON CUSTOMARY LAW ON LAND IN THE OFFING (PAGE 22, NOV 2, 2010)
THE National House of Chiefs (NHC), in collaboration with the Law Reform Commission, is conducting research to ascertain the customary law on land and family in selected traditional areas in the country.
The traditional areas are Offinso and Tepa (Ashanti), Duayaw Nkwanta, Nkoranza (Brong – Ahafo), Eguafo, Assin Atandanso (Central), Akuapem, Yilo Krobo (Eastern) and Kpone and Osudoku (Greater Accra).
The rest are Gonja and Mamprusi (Northern), Bolga, Paga (Upper East), Kaleo, Nandom (Upper West), Asogli, Kete Krachi (Volta) and Lower Axim and Sefwi Chirano (Western).
Known as the Ascertainment and Codification of Customary Law Project (ACLP), the project is partly in fulfilment of Article 272 (b) of the 1992 Constitution.
The project is being supported by the German Development Co-operation (GTZ) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Addressing a regional validation workshop in Wa, the National Research Co-ordinator of the ACLP, Mr Thomas Tagoe, said the main objective of the project was to carry out the progressive study, interpretation and codification of customary law with a view to evolving, in appropriate cases, a unified system of rules of customary law.
He said currently 20 traditional areas in the country were being piloted to ascertain customary law on land and family in additional customary legal communities with validations.
According to him, the project was being undertaken in three phases, with two traditional areas from each of the 10 administrative regions.
Mr Tagoe explained that the phase one would involve data collection and literature review, among other issues.
“In the phase two of the project, additional variations of customary laws from about 30 traditional areas will be collected on land and family law,” he added.
Mr Tagoe said within the final stages of the project, it was expected that consultations would be held with traditional leaders from other traditional areas, which were not involved in the process of data collection.
That, he said, would give them the opportunity to review the findings of the ascertained law and identify variations from their communities.
A member of the Joint Steering Committee of the Project, Dr Henry Daannaa, gave the assurance that other traditional areas would be roped in after the validation workshops.
The traditional areas are Offinso and Tepa (Ashanti), Duayaw Nkwanta, Nkoranza (Brong – Ahafo), Eguafo, Assin Atandanso (Central), Akuapem, Yilo Krobo (Eastern) and Kpone and Osudoku (Greater Accra).
The rest are Gonja and Mamprusi (Northern), Bolga, Paga (Upper East), Kaleo, Nandom (Upper West), Asogli, Kete Krachi (Volta) and Lower Axim and Sefwi Chirano (Western).
Known as the Ascertainment and Codification of Customary Law Project (ACLP), the project is partly in fulfilment of Article 272 (b) of the 1992 Constitution.
The project is being supported by the German Development Co-operation (GTZ) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Addressing a regional validation workshop in Wa, the National Research Co-ordinator of the ACLP, Mr Thomas Tagoe, said the main objective of the project was to carry out the progressive study, interpretation and codification of customary law with a view to evolving, in appropriate cases, a unified system of rules of customary law.
He said currently 20 traditional areas in the country were being piloted to ascertain customary law on land and family in additional customary legal communities with validations.
According to him, the project was being undertaken in three phases, with two traditional areas from each of the 10 administrative regions.
Mr Tagoe explained that the phase one would involve data collection and literature review, among other issues.
“In the phase two of the project, additional variations of customary laws from about 30 traditional areas will be collected on land and family law,” he added.
Mr Tagoe said within the final stages of the project, it was expected that consultations would be held with traditional leaders from other traditional areas, which were not involved in the process of data collection.
That, he said, would give them the opportunity to review the findings of the ascertained law and identify variations from their communities.
A member of the Joint Steering Committee of the Project, Dr Henry Daannaa, gave the assurance that other traditional areas would be roped in after the validation workshops.
DERY INAUGURATES KITCHE, CANTEEN FACILITY (PAGE 12, NOV 2, 2010)
THE Deputy Minority leader and Member of Parliament for Lawra–Nandom, Mr Ambrose Dery, has inaugurated a £35,000 kitchen and canteen facility for the Nandom Hospital in the Upper West Region.
The facility was provided by the United Kingdom branch of the Foundation for Education Empowerment and Development (FREED), a non-profit organisation made up of Nandom citizens who live abroad.
In an address, Mr Dery commended civil society organisations, particularly the Catholic Church, for its contribution to the socio-economic development of the Nandom area.
He said the church, through the late Archbishop of Tamale, Peter Cardinal Dery, established schools, clinics and more importantly the hospital at Nandom.
He thanked members of FREED–UK for leaving the comfort of their homes to come to Nandom to serve humanity.
He said FREED–UK had been involved in a number of projects and programmes, especially the provision of an ambulance to the Nandom Hospital, which continue to benefit the people in the area.
Mr Dery noted that the ambulance had gone a long way to reduce child and maternal mortality in the area.
“You have been involved in a saintly act and will continue to work and appreciate you since we want this kind of relationship to move forward,” he added.
He stressed on the need for women to be empowered since they are key stakeholders in the development planning process.
According to Mr Dery, the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) can be achieved “if goal three which talks about women is well taken care of.”
He acknowledged the contribution of various youth groups and a Bulgarian neurosurgeon at the Nandom hospital, Dr Moynov Nikolay, for their contributions towards the development of the Lawra district.
Mr Dery suggested the institution of an award scheme for those who come to serve in the district.
The leader of FREED – UK, Miss Anne Hicks, said her group had been supporting Nandom since 2005.
She hoped the facility would go a long way to improve the nutritional status of patients who come to the hospital.
The medical superintendent of the hospital, whose speech was read on his behalf, thanked FREED–UK for their support, particularly in the training of nurses.
For his part, the Paramount Chief of the Nandom traditional area, Naa Dr Puobe Chirr IV, also acknowledged the contributions of the United States and The United Kingdom branches of the foundation for establishing a radio station in Nandom.
In another development, Mr Ambrose Dery is assisting a number of identifiable groups in the Lawra–Nandom constituency to undertake a number of income–generating activities.
These include bee keeping, piggery and shea butter processing.
Inspecting some of the projects, Mr Dery commended the groups for their hard work and urged them to put the money to good use.
He assured them of his continuous support and urged them to take interest in the education of their children, particularly the girl child.
The facility was provided by the United Kingdom branch of the Foundation for Education Empowerment and Development (FREED), a non-profit organisation made up of Nandom citizens who live abroad.
In an address, Mr Dery commended civil society organisations, particularly the Catholic Church, for its contribution to the socio-economic development of the Nandom area.
He said the church, through the late Archbishop of Tamale, Peter Cardinal Dery, established schools, clinics and more importantly the hospital at Nandom.
He thanked members of FREED–UK for leaving the comfort of their homes to come to Nandom to serve humanity.
He said FREED–UK had been involved in a number of projects and programmes, especially the provision of an ambulance to the Nandom Hospital, which continue to benefit the people in the area.
Mr Dery noted that the ambulance had gone a long way to reduce child and maternal mortality in the area.
“You have been involved in a saintly act and will continue to work and appreciate you since we want this kind of relationship to move forward,” he added.
He stressed on the need for women to be empowered since they are key stakeholders in the development planning process.
According to Mr Dery, the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) can be achieved “if goal three which talks about women is well taken care of.”
He acknowledged the contribution of various youth groups and a Bulgarian neurosurgeon at the Nandom hospital, Dr Moynov Nikolay, for their contributions towards the development of the Lawra district.
Mr Dery suggested the institution of an award scheme for those who come to serve in the district.
The leader of FREED – UK, Miss Anne Hicks, said her group had been supporting Nandom since 2005.
She hoped the facility would go a long way to improve the nutritional status of patients who come to the hospital.
The medical superintendent of the hospital, whose speech was read on his behalf, thanked FREED–UK for their support, particularly in the training of nurses.
For his part, the Paramount Chief of the Nandom traditional area, Naa Dr Puobe Chirr IV, also acknowledged the contributions of the United States and The United Kingdom branches of the foundation for establishing a radio station in Nandom.
In another development, Mr Ambrose Dery is assisting a number of identifiable groups in the Lawra–Nandom constituency to undertake a number of income–generating activities.
These include bee keeping, piggery and shea butter processing.
Inspecting some of the projects, Mr Dery commended the groups for their hard work and urged them to put the money to good use.
He assured them of his continuous support and urged them to take interest in the education of their children, particularly the girl child.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
UDS TEIN COMMENDS MILLS FOR RESOLVING UTAG STRIKE (PAGE 12, OCT 26, 2010)
THE University for Development Studies, Wa Campus branch of the Tertiary Educational Institutions Network (TEIN) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has commended President J. E. A. Mills for personally intervening in the UTAG strike action.
By this, TEIN said the President had fatherly demonstrated that he was committed to the resolution of all problems in the country.
In a press statement signed by the President of the association, Mr. Mohammed Illyasu, TEIN said the action of President Mills did not amount to cowardice and bad precedent as other people perceived it but a sign of humility.
It recalled that a couple of years ago, this was not the case, especially when issues of such nature erupted, as government officials rather insulted and lambasted people who embarked on industrial actions.
“It said the future and destiny of students was in the hands of the lecturers and that when there were no lectures, students engaged in career threatening activities.
“It is our solemn belief that government on her part would also act promptly and give what was due members of UTAG so as to eliminate future occurrences,” the statement concluded.
By this, TEIN said the President had fatherly demonstrated that he was committed to the resolution of all problems in the country.
In a press statement signed by the President of the association, Mr. Mohammed Illyasu, TEIN said the action of President Mills did not amount to cowardice and bad precedent as other people perceived it but a sign of humility.
It recalled that a couple of years ago, this was not the case, especially when issues of such nature erupted, as government officials rather insulted and lambasted people who embarked on industrial actions.
“It said the future and destiny of students was in the hands of the lecturers and that when there were no lectures, students engaged in career threatening activities.
“It is our solemn belief that government on her part would also act promptly and give what was due members of UTAG so as to eliminate future occurrences,” the statement concluded.
OIL, GAS FIND TO DEVELOP ECONOMY (PAGE 19, 0CT 26, 2010)
The Director-General of the Private Enterprise Foundation, Dr Osei Boeh–Ocansey, has noted that the key development objective of the government regarding Ghana’s oil reserves is to grow the economy rapidly into an industrialised one.
According to him, it is anticipated that the development of the oil and gas industry will be a source of growth, poverty reduction and general prosperity to the people of Ghana.
He said the active involvement of Ghanaians in that sector through local content and participation had, therefore, become a major policy issue.
Dr Boeh–Ocansey made the observation in a speech read on his behalf at a day’s workshop on, “Opportunities in Ghana’s emerging oil and gas industry for local participation”, in Wa in the Upper West Region.
It was jointly organised by the foundation and the Ghana Journalists Association with sponsorship from the Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme (G–RAP).
He said it was the desire of the government that the control, as well as the benefits in the industry, would remain with Ghanaians.
“For the people of Ghana to actively participate in the oil and gas sector, they need to be aware of the opportunities so that they can take advantage of them,” he added.
Dr Boeh–Ocansey said the overall objective of the programme was to ensure that Ghanaians derived the maximum benefits by fully participating in the activities of the petroleum value chain.
He recommended that the country should focus on standards and skills development for operators of local industries, since this was crucial to achieving the 90 per cent local content target set by the government by 2020.
He argued that it was easy for the multinational oil companies to circumvent the local content provisions by claiming that local companies did not meet the requirements to do business with them.
Dr Boeh–Ocansey, therefore, appealed to the government to support the private sector in terms of training in the areas of standards and skills development, as well as other aspects of business development.
According to him, it is anticipated that the development of the oil and gas industry will be a source of growth, poverty reduction and general prosperity to the people of Ghana.
He said the active involvement of Ghanaians in that sector through local content and participation had, therefore, become a major policy issue.
Dr Boeh–Ocansey made the observation in a speech read on his behalf at a day’s workshop on, “Opportunities in Ghana’s emerging oil and gas industry for local participation”, in Wa in the Upper West Region.
It was jointly organised by the foundation and the Ghana Journalists Association with sponsorship from the Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme (G–RAP).
He said it was the desire of the government that the control, as well as the benefits in the industry, would remain with Ghanaians.
“For the people of Ghana to actively participate in the oil and gas sector, they need to be aware of the opportunities so that they can take advantage of them,” he added.
Dr Boeh–Ocansey said the overall objective of the programme was to ensure that Ghanaians derived the maximum benefits by fully participating in the activities of the petroleum value chain.
He recommended that the country should focus on standards and skills development for operators of local industries, since this was crucial to achieving the 90 per cent local content target set by the government by 2020.
He argued that it was easy for the multinational oil companies to circumvent the local content provisions by claiming that local companies did not meet the requirements to do business with them.
Dr Boeh–Ocansey, therefore, appealed to the government to support the private sector in terms of training in the areas of standards and skills development, as well as other aspects of business development.
Friday, October 22, 2010
'REPAY LOANS PROPTLY' (PAGE 61, OCT 25, 2010)
THE Chairman of the board of directors of the Wa Co-operative Credit Union (WACCU), Mr Moses Donneyong, has called on members of the union who took loans to repay promptly.
That, he said, would forestall the situation where the board would resort to legal action to recover the loans.
“Let me caution that loan delinquency is growing to alarming heights so members who take loans are encouraged to do well to settle their indebtedness, ” he added.
Mr Donneyong was addressing the annual general meeting of the union at Wa in the Upper West region.
He said total savings by members of the union by June last year was GH¢ 1,868,472.74 and this had increased to GH¢2,635.74.
Shares within the same period rose from GH¢ 192,910.20 to GH¢ 206, 335.60 while membership stood at 6,851.
Mr Donneyong said with the influx of new banks and financial institutions into the Wa municipality there was the urgent need to strengthen the capital base of the union and urged members to buy more shares to enable them to withstand the competition posed by the banks.
He said the current share per member which was GH¢20.00 was too low and suggested that it be increased to GH¢ 50.00.
He said the board had taken pragmatic measures to ensure the viability of the union and that more qualified people with the requisite backgrounds were being recruited while building the capacity of others.
“An internal control system has been put in place in order to prevent possible manipulation, check any lapses and close all loopholes to avoid or prevent malfeasance, “ he said
Mr Donneyong said due to the union’s migration from the manual ledger cards to a computerised system the board considered the financial position of the union before investing further in long term capital projects hence the suspension of the new office complex project of the union.
He assured members of the continuous support, co-operation and assistance from the board of directors.
For his part, the regional manager of the Department of Co-operatives, Mr Seidu Mahama, advised the board to adopt prudent financial policies to improve the income of the union.
He appealed to members of the union to protect the interest of the union in order to avoid liquidation.
That, he said, would forestall the situation where the board would resort to legal action to recover the loans.
“Let me caution that loan delinquency is growing to alarming heights so members who take loans are encouraged to do well to settle their indebtedness, ” he added.
Mr Donneyong was addressing the annual general meeting of the union at Wa in the Upper West region.
He said total savings by members of the union by June last year was GH¢ 1,868,472.74 and this had increased to GH¢2,635.74.
Shares within the same period rose from GH¢ 192,910.20 to GH¢ 206, 335.60 while membership stood at 6,851.
Mr Donneyong said with the influx of new banks and financial institutions into the Wa municipality there was the urgent need to strengthen the capital base of the union and urged members to buy more shares to enable them to withstand the competition posed by the banks.
He said the current share per member which was GH¢20.00 was too low and suggested that it be increased to GH¢ 50.00.
He said the board had taken pragmatic measures to ensure the viability of the union and that more qualified people with the requisite backgrounds were being recruited while building the capacity of others.
“An internal control system has been put in place in order to prevent possible manipulation, check any lapses and close all loopholes to avoid or prevent malfeasance, “ he said
Mr Donneyong said due to the union’s migration from the manual ledger cards to a computerised system the board considered the financial position of the union before investing further in long term capital projects hence the suspension of the new office complex project of the union.
He assured members of the continuous support, co-operation and assistance from the board of directors.
For his part, the regional manager of the Department of Co-operatives, Mr Seidu Mahama, advised the board to adopt prudent financial policies to improve the income of the union.
He appealed to members of the union to protect the interest of the union in order to avoid liquidation.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
ASPIRING FEMALE CANDIDATES UNDERGO TRAINING (PAGE 13, OCT 14, 2010)
ASPIRING female candidates in this year’s local government elections in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region have undergone a training workshop at Nadowli.
The workshop was aimed at encouraging women participation in the upcoming district level elections and equipping potential women candidates with the requisite information and confidence they need to contest and win elections.
The workshop, which was organised by Pronet North in collaboration with Concern Universal Ghana, was funded by the European Union.
Addressing the participants, the project’s programme co-ordinator, Miss Nerissa Bankpiebu, said the project, dubbed “Women in Politics”, was an integral part of Pronet North’s women empowerment programme being implemented in 52 communities in four districts: Jirapa, Nadowli, Lawra and Lambussie-Karni.
She said the talk about women empowerment for equity and effective development would only be a rhetoric if any such initiative fell short of politically empowering these women.
“Women in our communities at different levels have demonstrated their great ability to deliver on expected tasks when given the opportunity.
Societal classifications that relegate women to the background and limit them to domestic chores have over the years proven to be inimical to the total development of communities, districts and country,” she observed.
Miss Bankpiebu said women have been thought to be bereft of political acumen but this had been proven wrong as they had demonstrated their ability to work like their male counterparts.
She said women represented a large segment of “our society and their exclusion from national politics can only be described as shooting ourselves in our feet.”
She pointed out that the project was not aimed at opposing men in society but at bringing the rich knowledge of women to complement the efforts of men, who had been in the driving seat all this while.
Miss Bankpiebu hoped the workshop would go a long way to improve the confidence level of the participants as they try to get elected as assembly members.
For his part, the regional director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) urged the women to be assertive in their opinions and try hard to convince people to vote for them.
He was happy that women were gradually coming out of their shells by offering themselves for elections.
The Nadowli District Chief Executive, Mr Abu Kasangbata, gave the assurance that government would continue to support women to realise their fullest potential.
He challenged women to collaborate with one another to improve upon themselves.
The workshop was aimed at encouraging women participation in the upcoming district level elections and equipping potential women candidates with the requisite information and confidence they need to contest and win elections.
The workshop, which was organised by Pronet North in collaboration with Concern Universal Ghana, was funded by the European Union.
Addressing the participants, the project’s programme co-ordinator, Miss Nerissa Bankpiebu, said the project, dubbed “Women in Politics”, was an integral part of Pronet North’s women empowerment programme being implemented in 52 communities in four districts: Jirapa, Nadowli, Lawra and Lambussie-Karni.
She said the talk about women empowerment for equity and effective development would only be a rhetoric if any such initiative fell short of politically empowering these women.
“Women in our communities at different levels have demonstrated their great ability to deliver on expected tasks when given the opportunity.
Societal classifications that relegate women to the background and limit them to domestic chores have over the years proven to be inimical to the total development of communities, districts and country,” she observed.
Miss Bankpiebu said women have been thought to be bereft of political acumen but this had been proven wrong as they had demonstrated their ability to work like their male counterparts.
She said women represented a large segment of “our society and their exclusion from national politics can only be described as shooting ourselves in our feet.”
She pointed out that the project was not aimed at opposing men in society but at bringing the rich knowledge of women to complement the efforts of men, who had been in the driving seat all this while.
Miss Bankpiebu hoped the workshop would go a long way to improve the confidence level of the participants as they try to get elected as assembly members.
For his part, the regional director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) urged the women to be assertive in their opinions and try hard to convince people to vote for them.
He was happy that women were gradually coming out of their shells by offering themselves for elections.
The Nadowli District Chief Executive, Mr Abu Kasangbata, gave the assurance that government would continue to support women to realise their fullest potential.
He challenged women to collaborate with one another to improve upon themselves.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
MOVES TO SUPPORT WOMEN LAUNCHED IN WA (PAGE 13, OCT 5, 2010)
A Programme that seeks to address the severe under–representation of women at all levels of governance and decision making in the three Northern Regions of the country has been launched in Wa, the Upper West regional capital.
Known as “Promoting human security through the economic and political empowerment of women in the three northern Regions of Ghana”, the programme would be implemented by the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) in partnership with Training and Career Centre in the United Kingdom.
The objective of the programme is to increase knowledge, self-confidence and relevant skills of selected women and equip them to become successful candidates for elections at the local, district and Parliamentary levels.
Launching the programme, the associate director of the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), Miss Afi Yakubu, said all political parties would be engaged in debates on a non partisan basis to persuade them of the importance of supporting women’s candidature.
“As a result and fitting in with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), women’s representation at all levels would increase and women’s rights, including natural resources, education and participation in decision–making, would be addressed,” she added.
She said the five-year project would be implemented in 13 selected districts with inputs from all stakeholders, including Community–Based Organisations, traditional authorities and research institutions such as the University for Development Studies (UDS).
She observed that despite the activities on gender mainstreaming, women were still under-represented and that “we can only succeed if we get our act together and bring other stakeholders on board”.
At a validation workshop earlier, participants called on the government as a matter of urgency, to ensure that 50 per cent of government appointees to the next District Assemblies were women.
“Furthermore, the government should ensure that at least a third of the appointed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives across the country were women,” Miss Amina Montia said on behalf of the rest of the participants.
She commended the government, especially the President, for signing into law the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) bill and called on all women groups in the SADA areas to take advantage of the opportunities to be made available in order to improve on their lot.
She applauded the Savannah Women’s Empowerment Group, Ghana for being a non-partisan pressure group which monitored government policies in favour of women in the Savannah areas.
Known as “Promoting human security through the economic and political empowerment of women in the three northern Regions of Ghana”, the programme would be implemented by the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) in partnership with Training and Career Centre in the United Kingdom.
The objective of the programme is to increase knowledge, self-confidence and relevant skills of selected women and equip them to become successful candidates for elections at the local, district and Parliamentary levels.
Launching the programme, the associate director of the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), Miss Afi Yakubu, said all political parties would be engaged in debates on a non partisan basis to persuade them of the importance of supporting women’s candidature.
“As a result and fitting in with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), women’s representation at all levels would increase and women’s rights, including natural resources, education and participation in decision–making, would be addressed,” she added.
She said the five-year project would be implemented in 13 selected districts with inputs from all stakeholders, including Community–Based Organisations, traditional authorities and research institutions such as the University for Development Studies (UDS).
She observed that despite the activities on gender mainstreaming, women were still under-represented and that “we can only succeed if we get our act together and bring other stakeholders on board”.
At a validation workshop earlier, participants called on the government as a matter of urgency, to ensure that 50 per cent of government appointees to the next District Assemblies were women.
“Furthermore, the government should ensure that at least a third of the appointed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives across the country were women,” Miss Amina Montia said on behalf of the rest of the participants.
She commended the government, especially the President, for signing into law the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) bill and called on all women groups in the SADA areas to take advantage of the opportunities to be made available in order to improve on their lot.
She applauded the Savannah Women’s Empowerment Group, Ghana for being a non-partisan pressure group which monitored government policies in favour of women in the Savannah areas.
Monday, October 4, 2010
DECIDE FATE OF NDC IN 2012 — WA EAST MP (PAGE 13, OCT 4, 2010)
THE member of Parliament for Wa East in the Upper West Region, Mr Godfrey Tangu, has called on Ghanaians to decisively decide the fate of the National Democratic Congress come the 2012 general election.
He said the 2012 general election belonged to Ghanaians, hence they must decide the fate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) decisively.
According to him, the NDC had failed and that their performance was going to be measured against that of the New Patriotic Party.
He said last year, he distributed solar lights to five communities in the constituency while medical equipment was also bought for selected communities.
“I have also used my share of the GETFUND, which amounted to GH¢ 30,000, to renovate a bungalow in Wa, which will be used to store medical equipment for easy distribution,” he told the Daily Graphic at Wa.
Mr Tangu said that was because of the peculiar nature of the constituency, which has about three – fourth of the constituency in the Wa Zone with the rest being in the Funsi area, the district capital.
He said additional GH¢ 25,000 from the HIPC last year was used for playground equipment in four communities, namely Funsi, Bulenga, Manwe and Loggu.
This year, the same amount would be used to construct football fields to unearth talents in the constituency, he added. In addition, GH¢12,000 from his share of the District Assembly Common Fund would be for sponsoring tertiary institution students.
Commenting on the spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso, Mr Tangu said there should be adherence to rules and obligations and that Ghana must not sit aloof for her people to be dying every year.
He suggested that the Government of Ghana and that of Burkina Faso should come together to explore how best those affected by the spillage would be resettled.
He said the Volta River was a shared resource between the two countries so whatever decision taken in Burkina Faso must be made known to the Ghanaian government.
He said the 2012 general election belonged to Ghanaians, hence they must decide the fate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) decisively.
According to him, the NDC had failed and that their performance was going to be measured against that of the New Patriotic Party.
He said last year, he distributed solar lights to five communities in the constituency while medical equipment was also bought for selected communities.
“I have also used my share of the GETFUND, which amounted to GH¢ 30,000, to renovate a bungalow in Wa, which will be used to store medical equipment for easy distribution,” he told the Daily Graphic at Wa.
Mr Tangu said that was because of the peculiar nature of the constituency, which has about three – fourth of the constituency in the Wa Zone with the rest being in the Funsi area, the district capital.
He said additional GH¢ 25,000 from the HIPC last year was used for playground equipment in four communities, namely Funsi, Bulenga, Manwe and Loggu.
This year, the same amount would be used to construct football fields to unearth talents in the constituency, he added. In addition, GH¢12,000 from his share of the District Assembly Common Fund would be for sponsoring tertiary institution students.
Commenting on the spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso, Mr Tangu said there should be adherence to rules and obligations and that Ghana must not sit aloof for her people to be dying every year.
He suggested that the Government of Ghana and that of Burkina Faso should come together to explore how best those affected by the spillage would be resettled.
He said the Volta River was a shared resource between the two countries so whatever decision taken in Burkina Faso must be made known to the Ghanaian government.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
REDUCE PRICES OF YUTUNG BUSES — NUHU (PAGE 35, OCT 4, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Industrial Relations Officer (IRO) of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, Mr Mahama Nuhu, has observed that the prices of the Yutong buses being imported into the country are too high.
Accordingly, he has appealed to the importers to reduce the prices, particularly the deposits being paid by transport owners, scares potential transporters.
“If deposits are too high, potential transporters cannot afford them. Monthly instalments of GH¢8,000 cannot be met and something must be done about the situation. Even with the old buses, we are finding it difficult to meet our financial commitment to our banks,” he added.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Nuhu said the prices of the buses had now doubled compared to the prices of the previous ones.
He stated that if the targets of GH¢8,000 were to be met, accidents were likely to occur on the roads since some vehicle owners would put pressure on their drivers to overwork themselves.
“Apart from accidents, the lifespan of the vehicles would be reduced, which would in the long run affect the ‘sales’ of the transport owners,” Mr Nuhu said.
He, therefore, appealed to the government and the Northern Parliamentary Caucus to intervene to ensure that more buses were made available to transporters.
On the situation in the Upper West, he observed that the reduction in prices of the buses would enable transporters to go in for more 20–seater buses for short distances in the region.
Mr Nuhu said those smaller buses would serve the good purpose of conveying students of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies and the Wa Polytechnic who rely on a few mini-buses to various destinations.
He expressed the hope that the issue would receive the needed attention in order to “save us from our present predicament”.
Accordingly, he has appealed to the importers to reduce the prices, particularly the deposits being paid by transport owners, scares potential transporters.
“If deposits are too high, potential transporters cannot afford them. Monthly instalments of GH¢8,000 cannot be met and something must be done about the situation. Even with the old buses, we are finding it difficult to meet our financial commitment to our banks,” he added.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Nuhu said the prices of the buses had now doubled compared to the prices of the previous ones.
He stated that if the targets of GH¢8,000 were to be met, accidents were likely to occur on the roads since some vehicle owners would put pressure on their drivers to overwork themselves.
“Apart from accidents, the lifespan of the vehicles would be reduced, which would in the long run affect the ‘sales’ of the transport owners,” Mr Nuhu said.
He, therefore, appealed to the government and the Northern Parliamentary Caucus to intervene to ensure that more buses were made available to transporters.
On the situation in the Upper West, he observed that the reduction in prices of the buses would enable transporters to go in for more 20–seater buses for short distances in the region.
Mr Nuhu said those smaller buses would serve the good purpose of conveying students of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies and the Wa Polytechnic who rely on a few mini-buses to various destinations.
He expressed the hope that the issue would receive the needed attention in order to “save us from our present predicament”.
SUBMIT BANK ACCOUNT NUMBERS (PAGE 35, OCT 4, 2010)
LACK of bank account numbers for the beneficiaries of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) has been identified as one of the major causes of delays in the payment of their monthly salaries in the Upper West Region.
Consequently, the regional directorate of the programme is making frantic efforts to ensure that all those under the programme submit their account numbers to be forwarded to Accra for the preparation of their pay roll vouchers.
The Regional Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Nurudeen Sani, who made this known to the Daily Graphic at Wa, however, said only few beneficiaries were yet to submit their account numbers to the secretariat.
He said all things being equal, the allowances of all beneficiaries of the programme would be regularised by November, this year.
“I am assuring beneficiaries that the late payment of allowances will soon be a thing of the past as we are frantically working hard to regularise the payment system,” he added.
According to Mr Sani, over 5,000 people had been recruited under different modules, including community police assistants, teaching assistants, internship and information and communication (ICT).
He said under the community police assistants module, 110 people had been recruited but only 50 had been trained while the rest were waiting for their turn at the Pwalugu Police Training Depot.
“We have also recruited a number of young people to go into dressmaking by the beginning of next month in addition to master trainers who number about 150,” Mr Sani stated.
He commended the Cabinet for approving the increment in the talk tax to 60 per cent to support the NYEP.
Mr Sani also praised beneficiaries of the programme for their co-operation and expressed the hope that they would continue to discharge their duties effectively.
The NYEP was started in June 2006 with the prime objective of reducing unemployment among the youth in Ghana.
Consequently, the regional directorate of the programme is making frantic efforts to ensure that all those under the programme submit their account numbers to be forwarded to Accra for the preparation of their pay roll vouchers.
The Regional Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Nurudeen Sani, who made this known to the Daily Graphic at Wa, however, said only few beneficiaries were yet to submit their account numbers to the secretariat.
He said all things being equal, the allowances of all beneficiaries of the programme would be regularised by November, this year.
“I am assuring beneficiaries that the late payment of allowances will soon be a thing of the past as we are frantically working hard to regularise the payment system,” he added.
According to Mr Sani, over 5,000 people had been recruited under different modules, including community police assistants, teaching assistants, internship and information and communication (ICT).
He said under the community police assistants module, 110 people had been recruited but only 50 had been trained while the rest were waiting for their turn at the Pwalugu Police Training Depot.
“We have also recruited a number of young people to go into dressmaking by the beginning of next month in addition to master trainers who number about 150,” Mr Sani stated.
He commended the Cabinet for approving the increment in the talk tax to 60 per cent to support the NYEP.
Mr Sani also praised beneficiaries of the programme for their co-operation and expressed the hope that they would continue to discharge their duties effectively.
The NYEP was started in June 2006 with the prime objective of reducing unemployment among the youth in Ghana.
EPA COLLABORATES WITH TWO ORGANISATIONS TO PROTECT BLACK VOLTA (PAGE 35, OCT 4, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has since 1998 collaborated with the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) and the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary to protect a 42–kilometre stretch of the Black Volta in the Wa West District.
The agency has also assisted the Zukpiri community in the Nadowli District to initiate an integrated wildlife sanctuary as a way of promoting eco–tourism.
The Regional Director of the EPA, Mr Asher Nkegbe, announced this at Zukpiri to mark this year’s World Tourism Day in the region.
He said through the efforts of the EPA, the Zukpiri integrated wildlife sanctuary benefited from a Global Environment Facility/Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) support.
“Support has also been extended to the Dupari, Fian and Konjiahi biodiversity conservation projects,” he added.
Mr Nkegbe said the EPA, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the district assemblies in the region, were implementing a five-year Ghana Environmental Management Project (GEMP).
The goal of the project is to strengthen institutions and rural communities to enable them to reverse land degradation and desertification trends in the three northern regions to promote the adoption of sustainable water and land systems that improve food security and reduce poverty.
The implementation of the project cuts across a number of thematic areas, including land use management and socio-economic environment improvement for poverty reduction.
Mr Nkegbe said so far 30 pilot communities were benefiting from the GEMP in the region, and called on non–governmental organisations involved in similar activities to intensify their efforts at finding lasting solutions to the problems of the environment.
The acting Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Henry Yeleduor, said the tourism sector had been identified as one of the new pillars in the country’s efforts at reconstructing the economy.
He said currently, the sector accounted for almost four per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and at the current annual growth rate of 12 per cent.
“The sector is also one of the largest employment areas and a fast entry vehicle into the workforce for young people and women in urban and rural communities, directly or through its strong multiplier effect on related services, manufacturing or agriculture,” Mr Yeleduor said.
He was hopeful that with time, Ghana would realise her full potential in the tourism sector.
The agency has also assisted the Zukpiri community in the Nadowli District to initiate an integrated wildlife sanctuary as a way of promoting eco–tourism.
The Regional Director of the EPA, Mr Asher Nkegbe, announced this at Zukpiri to mark this year’s World Tourism Day in the region.
He said through the efforts of the EPA, the Zukpiri integrated wildlife sanctuary benefited from a Global Environment Facility/Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) support.
“Support has also been extended to the Dupari, Fian and Konjiahi biodiversity conservation projects,” he added.
Mr Nkegbe said the EPA, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the district assemblies in the region, were implementing a five-year Ghana Environmental Management Project (GEMP).
The goal of the project is to strengthen institutions and rural communities to enable them to reverse land degradation and desertification trends in the three northern regions to promote the adoption of sustainable water and land systems that improve food security and reduce poverty.
The implementation of the project cuts across a number of thematic areas, including land use management and socio-economic environment improvement for poverty reduction.
Mr Nkegbe said so far 30 pilot communities were benefiting from the GEMP in the region, and called on non–governmental organisations involved in similar activities to intensify their efforts at finding lasting solutions to the problems of the environment.
The acting Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Henry Yeleduor, said the tourism sector had been identified as one of the new pillars in the country’s efforts at reconstructing the economy.
He said currently, the sector accounted for almost four per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and at the current annual growth rate of 12 per cent.
“The sector is also one of the largest employment areas and a fast entry vehicle into the workforce for young people and women in urban and rural communities, directly or through its strong multiplier effect on related services, manufacturing or agriculture,” Mr Yeleduor said.
He was hopeful that with time, Ghana would realise her full potential in the tourism sector.
AGRICLTURE PROJECT TO LINK NORTHERN FARMERS TO MARKETS (PAGE 35, OCT 4, 2010)
AGRICULTURE is no doubt the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. Very often farmers are encouraged to focus on issues like increased use of improved seeds, fertilisers and improved agronomic practices.
However, the marketing of these crops is not effective, especially when there are increased yields, which affects earnings of farmers.
It is in the light of this that the Tamale office of the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) based in the United States of America is implementing a project to link farmers in the three northern regions, namely Upper East, Upper West and Northern, to markets in the country and beyond.
Funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which has Mr Kofi Annan, a former United Nations Secretary General, as the chairman, IFDC has been awarded a three-year support grant to carry out the project.
It aims at assisting small-holder farmers growing staple crops in Ghana to gain access to markets and earn higher incomes by linking them to commercial buyers and processors.
According to Dr Kofi Debrah, the Country Representative of IFDC, who is also the National project Manager, the three northern regions would essentially be the sources of supply while the southern sector and the neighbouring countries would be the main market destinations.
The three northern regions represent 41 per cent of Ghana’s land mass and provide the best ecological and socio-economic characteristics for rapidly increasing small-scale maize, rice, sorghum, soya bean and groundnut production.
The main activities under the project include the formation of alliances with partners to build organisational management, productivity and entrepreneurial skills of smallholder farmers engaged in the production and processing of staple crops in northern Ghana, strengthening capacities of farmers to market linkage organisations and local entrepreneurs to provide effective marketing services and build long-term business linkages and commercial relationships between farmers and buyers.
“The project will link approximately 50,000 smallholder farmers producing maize, rice, sorghum and soya bean in the three regions to develop commercial relationships with structural markets such as industrial processors, the Ghana School Feeding programme, World Food Programme, local entrepreneurs and processor, as well as urban consumers in Southern Ghana,” Dr Debrah told the Daily Graphic.
According to him, between 40,000 and 60,000 participating farmers in northern Ghana were expected to increase their incomes by 20 per cent through the production and regular supply of high-quality rice, maize, soya beans and sorghum, and reduce transaction cost by 30 per cent through collective action and increased linkages with buyers and accessibility to finance by farmers, marketing companies and local entrepreneurs.
He said small grants would be made available on a competitive basis to support farmer–buyer linkage activities during the season.
Dr Debrah stated that about 30 such grants would also be made available to participating farmers, aggregators and marketing companies which needed short-term liquidity to fund some key aspects of their operations, such as farmers who had firm contracts with buyers and were unable to buy the necessary inputs to meet the production target on time.
Others were to enable product aggregators to invest in small farm storage accessories like weighing scales, moisture metres, tarpaulins and storage bags to enhance storability and improve storage and quality over time. Marketing companies would be supported to expand, strengthen and train their network of suppliers.
Dr Debrah said access to credit was essential for building and maintaining farmer–buyer linkages, and for that reason, the project would facilitate access to finance by smallholders through the establishment and operation of Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) and a competitive small grants programme for business development.
The Deputy Project Manager, Mr Abass Nyo, said community storage would also be used to add value to produce through grading and stringent application of good management practices to protect stored produce.
“Finally, commodity storage will be facilitated to link farmers to markets through broadcasting of market information about the stored commodities, including quantities available, grades and prices,” he said.
Dr Debrah said it was expected that the availability of such information on bulk produce would reduce transaction cost for both farmers and traders and improve upon marketing efficiency.
However, the marketing of these crops is not effective, especially when there are increased yields, which affects earnings of farmers.
It is in the light of this that the Tamale office of the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) based in the United States of America is implementing a project to link farmers in the three northern regions, namely Upper East, Upper West and Northern, to markets in the country and beyond.
Funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which has Mr Kofi Annan, a former United Nations Secretary General, as the chairman, IFDC has been awarded a three-year support grant to carry out the project.
It aims at assisting small-holder farmers growing staple crops in Ghana to gain access to markets and earn higher incomes by linking them to commercial buyers and processors.
According to Dr Kofi Debrah, the Country Representative of IFDC, who is also the National project Manager, the three northern regions would essentially be the sources of supply while the southern sector and the neighbouring countries would be the main market destinations.
The three northern regions represent 41 per cent of Ghana’s land mass and provide the best ecological and socio-economic characteristics for rapidly increasing small-scale maize, rice, sorghum, soya bean and groundnut production.
The main activities under the project include the formation of alliances with partners to build organisational management, productivity and entrepreneurial skills of smallholder farmers engaged in the production and processing of staple crops in northern Ghana, strengthening capacities of farmers to market linkage organisations and local entrepreneurs to provide effective marketing services and build long-term business linkages and commercial relationships between farmers and buyers.
“The project will link approximately 50,000 smallholder farmers producing maize, rice, sorghum and soya bean in the three regions to develop commercial relationships with structural markets such as industrial processors, the Ghana School Feeding programme, World Food Programme, local entrepreneurs and processor, as well as urban consumers in Southern Ghana,” Dr Debrah told the Daily Graphic.
According to him, between 40,000 and 60,000 participating farmers in northern Ghana were expected to increase their incomes by 20 per cent through the production and regular supply of high-quality rice, maize, soya beans and sorghum, and reduce transaction cost by 30 per cent through collective action and increased linkages with buyers and accessibility to finance by farmers, marketing companies and local entrepreneurs.
He said small grants would be made available on a competitive basis to support farmer–buyer linkage activities during the season.
Dr Debrah stated that about 30 such grants would also be made available to participating farmers, aggregators and marketing companies which needed short-term liquidity to fund some key aspects of their operations, such as farmers who had firm contracts with buyers and were unable to buy the necessary inputs to meet the production target on time.
Others were to enable product aggregators to invest in small farm storage accessories like weighing scales, moisture metres, tarpaulins and storage bags to enhance storability and improve storage and quality over time. Marketing companies would be supported to expand, strengthen and train their network of suppliers.
Dr Debrah said access to credit was essential for building and maintaining farmer–buyer linkages, and for that reason, the project would facilitate access to finance by smallholders through the establishment and operation of Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) and a competitive small grants programme for business development.
The Deputy Project Manager, Mr Abass Nyo, said community storage would also be used to add value to produce through grading and stringent application of good management practices to protect stored produce.
“Finally, commodity storage will be facilitated to link farmers to markets through broadcasting of market information about the stored commodities, including quantities available, grades and prices,” he said.
Dr Debrah said it was expected that the availability of such information on bulk produce would reduce transaction cost for both farmers and traders and improve upon marketing efficiency.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
LET'S ADDRESS LOW REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN POLITICS (PAGE 12, SEPT 28, 2010)
A PROGRAMME that seeks to address the severe under-representation of women at all levels of governance and decision making in the three Northern Regions has been launched in Wa, the Upper West regional capital.
Known as “promoting human security through the economic and political empowerment of women in the three northern regions of Ghana”, the programme would be implemented by the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) in partnership with Training and Career Centre in the United Kingdom.
The objective of the programme is to increase knowledge, self-confidence and relevant skills of selected women and equip them to become successful candidates for elections at the local, district and parliamentary levels.
Launching the programme, the associate director of the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), Miss Afi Yakubu, said all political parties would be engaged and persuaded on the importance of supporting women candidates.
“As a result and fitting in with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), women’s representation at all levels would increase and women’s rights, including natural resources, education and participation in decision–making will be addressed,” she added.
She said the five-year project would be implemented in 13 selected districts with inputs from all stakeholders including community based organisations, traditional authorities and research institutions such as the University for Development Studies (UDS).
Miss Yakubu observed that despite the activities on gender mainstreaming, women still were under-represented and that “we can only succeed if we get our acts together and bring other stakeholders on board.”
At a validation workshop earlier, participants called on the government to, as a matter of urgency ensure that 50 per cent of the government appointees to the next district assemblies were women.
“Furthermore, the government should ensure that at least a third of the appointed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives across the country were women,” Miss Amina Montia said on behalf of the rest of the participant.
She commended the government, especially the President, for signing into law the Savannah Accelerated Development
Authority (SADA) bill and called on all women groups in the SADA areas to take advantage of the opportunities to be made available in order to improve on their lot.
She applauded the Savannah Women’s Empowerment Group, Ghana initiative, as a non-partisan pressure group which monitors government policies towards women in the Savannah areas.
Known as “promoting human security through the economic and political empowerment of women in the three northern regions of Ghana”, the programme would be implemented by the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) in partnership with Training and Career Centre in the United Kingdom.
The objective of the programme is to increase knowledge, self-confidence and relevant skills of selected women and equip them to become successful candidates for elections at the local, district and parliamentary levels.
Launching the programme, the associate director of the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), Miss Afi Yakubu, said all political parties would be engaged and persuaded on the importance of supporting women candidates.
“As a result and fitting in with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), women’s representation at all levels would increase and women’s rights, including natural resources, education and participation in decision–making will be addressed,” she added.
She said the five-year project would be implemented in 13 selected districts with inputs from all stakeholders including community based organisations, traditional authorities and research institutions such as the University for Development Studies (UDS).
Miss Yakubu observed that despite the activities on gender mainstreaming, women still were under-represented and that “we can only succeed if we get our acts together and bring other stakeholders on board.”
At a validation workshop earlier, participants called on the government to, as a matter of urgency ensure that 50 per cent of the government appointees to the next district assemblies were women.
“Furthermore, the government should ensure that at least a third of the appointed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives across the country were women,” Miss Amina Montia said on behalf of the rest of the participant.
She commended the government, especially the President, for signing into law the Savannah Accelerated Development
Authority (SADA) bill and called on all women groups in the SADA areas to take advantage of the opportunities to be made available in order to improve on their lot.
She applauded the Savannah Women’s Empowerment Group, Ghana initiative, as a non-partisan pressure group which monitors government policies towards women in the Savannah areas.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
UDS TO ESTABLISH PEACE STUDIES CENTRE (PAGE 11, SEPT 22, 2010)
AS part of its social responsibility, the University for Development Studies (UDS) is to establish a Conflict and Peace Studies Centre in Wa in the Upper West Region.
The proposed centre would be open to the various traditional councils and areas for sensitisation issues that start and aggravate conflicts.
Chiefs in the region have therefore, been called upon to patronise the centre when it starts operation.
The new Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Haruna Yakubu, announced this when he introduced himself to members of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs in Wa.
He said the university had observed that there were many chieftaincy succession disputes in the Upper West Region just like in all the other northern regions and noted that these were being handled peacefully through the dispute resolution mechanisms that existed under the regulations regarding such disputes.
“I salute all the chiefs here for resolving to engage in peaceful resolutions to these conflicts”, he added.
Prof. Yakubu said being a deprived area, the north needed to concentrate on solutions and therefore, urged the chiefs to invite the Wa campus of the UDS to come to their areas to help design and sell their development plans.
He mentioned the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies and Faculty of Planning and Land Management, all on the Wa campus which could be of great support in this regard.
He encouraged the chiefs to establish scholarship schemes in their traditional areas for brilliant needy students, especially in science and medicine with preference to the girl–child in their areas.
He thanked the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs for releasing its conference hall for lectures when the Wa campus was established in 2002, saying this had facilitated the rise of the UDS to become one of the centres of excellence in Ghana as far as pushing the agenda of tertiary education was concerned. Until the start of this academic year, the hall was one of the main lecture halls of the Wa campus.
Prof. Yakubu hoped the support would continue to grow “in our common resolve to achieve sustainable development in the Upper West Region in particular and Ghana in general.
He appealed to the people of the region, particularly those in the Wa municipality to be kind and tolerant to the students of the university when they were in need and erred in their conduct since they were young people.
The President of the Upper West regional House of Chiefs, Naa S.D Gore II, bemoaned the activities of motorbike riders since they were causing havoc in the municipality.
He hoped that the good initiative of the Vice Chancellor of the UDS would foster greater collaboration between the chiefs and the university.
The proposed centre would be open to the various traditional councils and areas for sensitisation issues that start and aggravate conflicts.
Chiefs in the region have therefore, been called upon to patronise the centre when it starts operation.
The new Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Haruna Yakubu, announced this when he introduced himself to members of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs in Wa.
He said the university had observed that there were many chieftaincy succession disputes in the Upper West Region just like in all the other northern regions and noted that these were being handled peacefully through the dispute resolution mechanisms that existed under the regulations regarding such disputes.
“I salute all the chiefs here for resolving to engage in peaceful resolutions to these conflicts”, he added.
Prof. Yakubu said being a deprived area, the north needed to concentrate on solutions and therefore, urged the chiefs to invite the Wa campus of the UDS to come to their areas to help design and sell their development plans.
He mentioned the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies and Faculty of Planning and Land Management, all on the Wa campus which could be of great support in this regard.
He encouraged the chiefs to establish scholarship schemes in their traditional areas for brilliant needy students, especially in science and medicine with preference to the girl–child in their areas.
He thanked the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs for releasing its conference hall for lectures when the Wa campus was established in 2002, saying this had facilitated the rise of the UDS to become one of the centres of excellence in Ghana as far as pushing the agenda of tertiary education was concerned. Until the start of this academic year, the hall was one of the main lecture halls of the Wa campus.
Prof. Yakubu hoped the support would continue to grow “in our common resolve to achieve sustainable development in the Upper West Region in particular and Ghana in general.
He appealed to the people of the region, particularly those in the Wa municipality to be kind and tolerant to the students of the university when they were in need and erred in their conduct since they were young people.
The President of the Upper West regional House of Chiefs, Naa S.D Gore II, bemoaned the activities of motorbike riders since they were causing havoc in the municipality.
He hoped that the good initiative of the Vice Chancellor of the UDS would foster greater collaboration between the chiefs and the university.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
COMMEND NPP, NDC FOR SETTING UP WA UDS (PAGE 12, SEPT 21, 2010)
Story: George Folley, Wa.
THE Upper West regional second Vice–Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Hafiz Bin–Salih, has said both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) governments must be commended for the establishment of the Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS).
He said while the NDC established the UDS, it was the NPP government that ensured that the Wa campus became operational.
He said the Wa campus of the UDS and Wa Polytechnic have both enhanced the socio-economic fortunes of Wa and the region as a whole.
Mr Bin–Salih said as result of this development, the government, through the appropriate institutions, must ensure that both staff and students of these institutions were not exploited.
He mentioned, in particular, landlords who were charging exorbitant rents because students were in dire need of accommodation and that some of these accommodation lacked basic amenities such toilets and water.
He therefore called on the authorities of the university to coordinate the activities of these landlords in order to stop them from exploiting students.
“In addition to this, government, through the GETFUND, must facilitate the construction of residential accommodation for both the UDS and Wa Poly,” he added.
Mr Bin–Salih observed that while the UDS had residential accommodation which was grossly inadequate, Wa Poly had none at all for students.
He, however, commended the NDC government for continuing with the regional library and hospital projects and advised that the NDC should credit the NPP when it was due.
THE Upper West regional second Vice–Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Hafiz Bin–Salih, has said both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) governments must be commended for the establishment of the Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS).
He said while the NDC established the UDS, it was the NPP government that ensured that the Wa campus became operational.
He said the Wa campus of the UDS and Wa Polytechnic have both enhanced the socio-economic fortunes of Wa and the region as a whole.
Mr Bin–Salih said as result of this development, the government, through the appropriate institutions, must ensure that both staff and students of these institutions were not exploited.
He mentioned, in particular, landlords who were charging exorbitant rents because students were in dire need of accommodation and that some of these accommodation lacked basic amenities such toilets and water.
He therefore called on the authorities of the university to coordinate the activities of these landlords in order to stop them from exploiting students.
“In addition to this, government, through the GETFUND, must facilitate the construction of residential accommodation for both the UDS and Wa Poly,” he added.
Mr Bin–Salih observed that while the UDS had residential accommodation which was grossly inadequate, Wa Poly had none at all for students.
He, however, commended the NDC government for continuing with the regional library and hospital projects and advised that the NDC should credit the NPP when it was due.
ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO REDISCOVER TALENTS (PAGE 11, SEPT 21, 2010)
A member of the Council of State, Naa Seidu Braimah has called on chiefs to support women to rediscover their hidden talents since that was the only means to ensure their economic development.
He said women played very important roles in society and must therefore not be relegated to the background, especially when decisions were being taken.
He made the call during a training course for women traditional leaders in northern Ghana at Wa in the Upper West Region.
The course which was on the theme “leadership and natural resources management” was organised by the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD) and sponsored by the Conrad Adenauer Foundation.
“Any disciplined society depends on traditional women leadership and I wish that our northern chiefs would recognise their roles by encouraging them in their endeavors”, he added.
He suggested to the Constitutional Review Commission that a clause should be inserted in the constitution to promote affirmative action and quota system for women.
Naa Braimah commended CIKOD for organising the workshop and said it would go a long way to build the capacity of the participants. He called on women not to feel shy but endeavour to participate at all levels of governance for their voices to be heard and make meaningful contribution to development.
The programme officer for the Conrad Adenauer Foundation, Mr Isaac Owes – Anza urged women to participate in the impending district level elections.
He advised traditional leaders to counsel prospective candidates in the elections to eschew violence by concentrating on issues instead of personality attacks.
Mr William Lartey of CIKOD was optimistic that the training would strengthen the collaboration between traditional women leaders in Northern Ghana and their counterparts in the South.
He called for the recognition of traditional women leaders in Northern Ghana by traditional councils and the Regional Houses of Chiefs.
He said women played very important roles in society and must therefore not be relegated to the background, especially when decisions were being taken.
He made the call during a training course for women traditional leaders in northern Ghana at Wa in the Upper West Region.
The course which was on the theme “leadership and natural resources management” was organised by the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD) and sponsored by the Conrad Adenauer Foundation.
“Any disciplined society depends on traditional women leadership and I wish that our northern chiefs would recognise their roles by encouraging them in their endeavors”, he added.
He suggested to the Constitutional Review Commission that a clause should be inserted in the constitution to promote affirmative action and quota system for women.
Naa Braimah commended CIKOD for organising the workshop and said it would go a long way to build the capacity of the participants. He called on women not to feel shy but endeavour to participate at all levels of governance for their voices to be heard and make meaningful contribution to development.
The programme officer for the Conrad Adenauer Foundation, Mr Isaac Owes – Anza urged women to participate in the impending district level elections.
He advised traditional leaders to counsel prospective candidates in the elections to eschew violence by concentrating on issues instead of personality attacks.
Mr William Lartey of CIKOD was optimistic that the training would strengthen the collaboration between traditional women leaders in Northern Ghana and their counterparts in the South.
He called for the recognition of traditional women leaders in Northern Ghana by traditional councils and the Regional Houses of Chiefs.
Monday, September 20, 2010
ASSESS GOVT BASED ON ACHIEVEMENTS — Upper West NDC (PAGE 13, SEPT 18, 2010)
THE Upper West regional secretariat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on Ghanaians to assess the current government based on what it has achieved rather than what its detractors were saying.
According to the party, what had been achieved by the NDC in just 18 months far outweighed what the NPP did in eight years and that the NDC could give only 45 per cent to the NPP should marks be awarded.
Addressing a press conference in Wa on the achievements of the President Mills – led administration, the NDC Regional Propaganda Secretary, Mr Yakubu Yahaya, observed that, anytime the NPP was in opposition, the country witnessed massive development and hoped that the NPP would continue to be in opposition for more development projects to be undertaken.
He said when the NDC took over the administration of the country, a number of projects and programmes had been initiated and implemented in the Upper West Region. Among these he said were investment in people, expansion of infrastructure for growth, health care delivery, subsidies on education and single spine salary policy.
He said a summary of projects so far undertaken by the government in the Wa municipality and the eight other districts were very impressive and mentioned the small water town projects at Charia, Busa, Kaleo, Babile and Funsi as clear evidence.
He said 116 communities had also benefited from a total of 130 boreholes in the region while approval for the sinking of additional 29 boreholes was in the pipeline for the Wa West and Sissala West districts.
Mr Yahaya said the water supply system at the Saint Francis of Assisi Girls SHS had improved significantly while the quantum of money for development through the Regional Co-ordinating Council on infrastructure, essential medicines and non – medicine consumables amounted to GHC 44,224,990.69.
He pointed out that this did not include what came into the district assemblies directly from the Central government and projects like the regional hospital in Wa.
Touching on the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), Mr Yahaya said since the NDC took power salary arrears for five months had been settled while a total of 56 ghost names were detected in the Wa East district alone.
He said for the past 18 months a number of recruitments had been made under the NYEP in the areas of Teaching Assistants, Community Police, ICT, hair dressing and people with disability.
He was not happy that the Bole – Tinga – Bamboi highway which was constructed by the NPP government had developed potholes. He said they had already scooped off the pot holes to pave way for reconstruction work to begin.
“Comparing that stretch to the Wa – Bole stretch which was constructed in the 1980’s one will be compelled to say that what the NPP did is huge financial loss to the state and the various actors right from those who awarded the contract, the technical service providers and the one who executed the job should be held accountable,” Mr Yahaya added.
He challenged ex – President Kufuor to let Ghanaians know whether he had been able to offer just a simple explanation for the numerous corruption allegations levelled against him and his government officials instead of castigating the NDC of being corrupt.
Mr Yahaya sent a congratulatory message to Nana Akufo–Addo for being elected the flag bearer of the NPP and said the NDC welcomed him into the presidential race once more.
Sounding more proverbial, the regional NDC propaganda secretary said the success of Nana was like peeling of an onion with a lot of layers underneath and that Professor Mills would continue to overwhelm Nana come 2012.
According to the party, what had been achieved by the NDC in just 18 months far outweighed what the NPP did in eight years and that the NDC could give only 45 per cent to the NPP should marks be awarded.
Addressing a press conference in Wa on the achievements of the President Mills – led administration, the NDC Regional Propaganda Secretary, Mr Yakubu Yahaya, observed that, anytime the NPP was in opposition, the country witnessed massive development and hoped that the NPP would continue to be in opposition for more development projects to be undertaken.
He said when the NDC took over the administration of the country, a number of projects and programmes had been initiated and implemented in the Upper West Region. Among these he said were investment in people, expansion of infrastructure for growth, health care delivery, subsidies on education and single spine salary policy.
He said a summary of projects so far undertaken by the government in the Wa municipality and the eight other districts were very impressive and mentioned the small water town projects at Charia, Busa, Kaleo, Babile and Funsi as clear evidence.
He said 116 communities had also benefited from a total of 130 boreholes in the region while approval for the sinking of additional 29 boreholes was in the pipeline for the Wa West and Sissala West districts.
Mr Yahaya said the water supply system at the Saint Francis of Assisi Girls SHS had improved significantly while the quantum of money for development through the Regional Co-ordinating Council on infrastructure, essential medicines and non – medicine consumables amounted to GHC 44,224,990.69.
He pointed out that this did not include what came into the district assemblies directly from the Central government and projects like the regional hospital in Wa.
Touching on the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), Mr Yahaya said since the NDC took power salary arrears for five months had been settled while a total of 56 ghost names were detected in the Wa East district alone.
He said for the past 18 months a number of recruitments had been made under the NYEP in the areas of Teaching Assistants, Community Police, ICT, hair dressing and people with disability.
He was not happy that the Bole – Tinga – Bamboi highway which was constructed by the NPP government had developed potholes. He said they had already scooped off the pot holes to pave way for reconstruction work to begin.
“Comparing that stretch to the Wa – Bole stretch which was constructed in the 1980’s one will be compelled to say that what the NPP did is huge financial loss to the state and the various actors right from those who awarded the contract, the technical service providers and the one who executed the job should be held accountable,” Mr Yahaya added.
He challenged ex – President Kufuor to let Ghanaians know whether he had been able to offer just a simple explanation for the numerous corruption allegations levelled against him and his government officials instead of castigating the NDC of being corrupt.
Mr Yahaya sent a congratulatory message to Nana Akufo–Addo for being elected the flag bearer of the NPP and said the NDC welcomed him into the presidential race once more.
Sounding more proverbial, the regional NDC propaganda secretary said the success of Nana was like peeling of an onion with a lot of layers underneath and that Professor Mills would continue to overwhelm Nana come 2012.
Friday, September 3, 2010
POLITICAL PARTIES URGED TO SUSTAIN PEACE (PAGE 12, SEPT 3, 2010)
The Paramount Chief of the Dorimon Traditional Area in the Upper West Region, Naa S. D. Gore II, has urged various political parties in the country to continue to sustain the relative peace the country is enjoying.
He said the country needed peace to develop and nothing must therefore, be made to jeopardise this “important commodity”.
In a congratulatory message to Nana Akufo–Addo on his recent election as the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Naa Gore said, “I am sending you this short message to congratulate you on your resounding victory at the recent presidential flagbearership primaries held nationwide”.
He said even though the margin of victory was so wide, there should be no room for complacency.
“The other losing candidates also deserve my congratulations for putting up a good fight and conceding defeat; it is my hope and prayer that there will be continued peace within your party in particular and other parties in general so that the peace we are enjoying in our country will be sustained even after the 2012 elections”.
“Once again, accept my congratulations and God bless you”, Naa Gore concluded.
He said the country needed peace to develop and nothing must therefore, be made to jeopardise this “important commodity”.
In a congratulatory message to Nana Akufo–Addo on his recent election as the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Naa Gore said, “I am sending you this short message to congratulate you on your resounding victory at the recent presidential flagbearership primaries held nationwide”.
He said even though the margin of victory was so wide, there should be no room for complacency.
“The other losing candidates also deserve my congratulations for putting up a good fight and conceding defeat; it is my hope and prayer that there will be continued peace within your party in particular and other parties in general so that the peace we are enjoying in our country will be sustained even after the 2012 elections”.
“Once again, accept my congratulations and God bless you”, Naa Gore concluded.
SPEED UP PASSAGE OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION ACT (PAGE 11, SEPT 3, 2010)
THE President of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), Mr Emmanuel Kingsley Osei, has called for the speedy passage of the Colleges of Education Act.
That, he said, would spell out the roles and responsibilities of the councils of colleges and those of the principals.
“We know that Parliament is on recess now and we would be glad to see our bill being one of the first to receive the attention of Parliament as soon as it resumes sitting,” he added.
Mr Osei made the call at the 52nd annual conference of the Principals of Colleges of Education in Wa in the Upper West region.
It was on the theme: “Meeting Teacher Demand for Quality Basic Education in Ghana, the role of Stakeholders”.
According to him, even though the colleges were down –hearted by the delay in passing the bill they had a good cause to smile this year due to some achievements.
For the first time, he said the colleges had received their own allocation of funds from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and that this would go a long way to ensure effective use of funds to improve teaching and learning.
“Another piece of good news for the colleges came in the form of supply of 20 computers and accessories which included the installation of satellite dishes that will ensure internet access in the computer laboratories,” Mr Osei stated adding however, that like Oliver Twist we would plead that at least 20 more computers be added so that a class of forty can have effective lessons in the laboratory.
Mr Osei said although there were over 30,000 vacancies for teachers in schools, colleges were allowed to train only about 9,000 teachers.
That, he said, meant that the number of students admitted to the colleges had not changed for some years and that this year the number of qualified applicants to the colleges was over 30,000 but only 9,000 were admitted by the 38 colleges in the country.
He, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo to help increase the quota so that the colleges that had the capacity to take more students could do so.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Education minister said the government had put in place measures to improve the quality of teaching and learning in all colleges of education.
He mentioned some of the measures to include the conduct of needs assessment in all colleges by the National Council for Tertiary Education so that well – informed decisions could be pursued, granting of institutional accreditation to all colleges of education and the allocation of funds through the GETFund to improve infrastructure.
For his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, Professor Haruna Yakubu, urged the colleges to foster strong linkages between in –service and pre –service teachers since there seemed to be a disconnection between theory as taught in teacher education institutions and practice on the field.
“It is also vital that colleges support the establishment and utilisation of out of school resources such as museums to be used as teaching and learning centres.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaque Salia, said the region had declared a vacancy of 850 teachers to meet the demand of basic schools but only 332 have been assured of places.
He expressed the hope that at the end the conference would contribute towards the attainment of the goals and objectives of the ‘Better Ghana Agenda’.
That, he said, would spell out the roles and responsibilities of the councils of colleges and those of the principals.
“We know that Parliament is on recess now and we would be glad to see our bill being one of the first to receive the attention of Parliament as soon as it resumes sitting,” he added.
Mr Osei made the call at the 52nd annual conference of the Principals of Colleges of Education in Wa in the Upper West region.
It was on the theme: “Meeting Teacher Demand for Quality Basic Education in Ghana, the role of Stakeholders”.
According to him, even though the colleges were down –hearted by the delay in passing the bill they had a good cause to smile this year due to some achievements.
For the first time, he said the colleges had received their own allocation of funds from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and that this would go a long way to ensure effective use of funds to improve teaching and learning.
“Another piece of good news for the colleges came in the form of supply of 20 computers and accessories which included the installation of satellite dishes that will ensure internet access in the computer laboratories,” Mr Osei stated adding however, that like Oliver Twist we would plead that at least 20 more computers be added so that a class of forty can have effective lessons in the laboratory.
Mr Osei said although there were over 30,000 vacancies for teachers in schools, colleges were allowed to train only about 9,000 teachers.
That, he said, meant that the number of students admitted to the colleges had not changed for some years and that this year the number of qualified applicants to the colleges was over 30,000 but only 9,000 were admitted by the 38 colleges in the country.
He, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo to help increase the quota so that the colleges that had the capacity to take more students could do so.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Education minister said the government had put in place measures to improve the quality of teaching and learning in all colleges of education.
He mentioned some of the measures to include the conduct of needs assessment in all colleges by the National Council for Tertiary Education so that well – informed decisions could be pursued, granting of institutional accreditation to all colleges of education and the allocation of funds through the GETFund to improve infrastructure.
For his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, Professor Haruna Yakubu, urged the colleges to foster strong linkages between in –service and pre –service teachers since there seemed to be a disconnection between theory as taught in teacher education institutions and practice on the field.
“It is also vital that colleges support the establishment and utilisation of out of school resources such as museums to be used as teaching and learning centres.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaque Salia, said the region had declared a vacancy of 850 teachers to meet the demand of basic schools but only 332 have been assured of places.
He expressed the hope that at the end the conference would contribute towards the attainment of the goals and objectives of the ‘Better Ghana Agenda’.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
FUNSI WATER PROJECT READY (BACK PAGE, SEPT 1, 2010)
Work on the Funsi small town water project in the Wa East District has been completed and handed over to the community.
The water project, which initially encountered challenges with regard to payment of tariffs, has been resolved.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Ameen Salifu, who announced this at the ordinary meeting of the Wa East District Assembly at Funsi, said the proposed mechanisation of a borehole at Manwe was no longer possible as the water yield of the borehole was inadequate.
He said ProNet North, a non–governmental organisation (NGO), had further drilled boreholes at Zinye, Dribaateng, Gbantala, Jankore, Kalanhi and Kundugu and was considering initiating a borehole project at Goripie.
According to Mr Salifu, under a water and sanitation programme known as WASH, 51 boreholes were to be drilled in various parts of the district.
He said electricity from the national grid had been extended to Bulenga and Goripie while efforts were being made to do same for Funsi.
“We have also been able to submit the base maps to the Ministry of Energy for the extension of electricity to more communities under the Self Help Electrification Project. To this extent we have started planting poles from Bole to Kulkpong and this activity will soon be extended to other communities,” he stated.
Touching on road network in the district, Mr Salifu said the government was taking steps to improve the situation and had even gone further to award a number of them on contract.
The projects include the construction of a steel bridge over rivers Kpanamuna and Danyeo on the Kpanamuna-Jankura-Danyeokura and Bayiri-Bulu-Guo and Kperisi-Guono-Kattah-Issah feeder roads.
He called for unity among the assembly members, “so that we can work to improve the lives of our people”.
The Presiding Member, Mr S. Illiasu, commended members of the assembly for their continuous commitment to the development of the district.
The water project, which initially encountered challenges with regard to payment of tariffs, has been resolved.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Ameen Salifu, who announced this at the ordinary meeting of the Wa East District Assembly at Funsi, said the proposed mechanisation of a borehole at Manwe was no longer possible as the water yield of the borehole was inadequate.
He said ProNet North, a non–governmental organisation (NGO), had further drilled boreholes at Zinye, Dribaateng, Gbantala, Jankore, Kalanhi and Kundugu and was considering initiating a borehole project at Goripie.
According to Mr Salifu, under a water and sanitation programme known as WASH, 51 boreholes were to be drilled in various parts of the district.
He said electricity from the national grid had been extended to Bulenga and Goripie while efforts were being made to do same for Funsi.
“We have also been able to submit the base maps to the Ministry of Energy for the extension of electricity to more communities under the Self Help Electrification Project. To this extent we have started planting poles from Bole to Kulkpong and this activity will soon be extended to other communities,” he stated.
Touching on road network in the district, Mr Salifu said the government was taking steps to improve the situation and had even gone further to award a number of them on contract.
The projects include the construction of a steel bridge over rivers Kpanamuna and Danyeo on the Kpanamuna-Jankura-Danyeokura and Bayiri-Bulu-Guo and Kperisi-Guono-Kattah-Issah feeder roads.
He called for unity among the assembly members, “so that we can work to improve the lives of our people”.
The Presiding Member, Mr S. Illiasu, commended members of the assembly for their continuous commitment to the development of the district.
Monday, August 30, 2010
WORK OUT MODALITIES TO CHECK CHILD TRAFFICKING (PAGE 13, AUGUST 30, 2010)
A MEMBER of the Council of State, Naa Seidu Braimah, has called on assembly members in the Upper West Region to work out modalities to address the problem of child trafficking which is rampant in the region.
Expressing concern over the trafficking of children from the Upper West Region to other parts of the country, he described the trend as “an annual canker in the region.”
Addressing the Second Ordinary Meeting of the Wa Municipal Assembly, Naa Braimah said most of the children who were trafficked at very tender ages, later became liabilities in the future.
He urged the planning unit of the assembly to work hard and ensure that people stopped building structures in unauthorised areas.
He said the assembly should endeavour to monitor what was happening in its localities so as to ensure an orderly development.
“Let us forget about “TIJAABUNYENI” “to wit, we are the same people” and insist on doing the right thing in our communities”, the Council of State member advised.
Naa Braimah called for unity and co-operation between the Assembly and the Municipal Chief Executive, and called on members of the Assembly to forget about their differences since no success would be chalked up without unity.
The Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, briefed members on the STX deal, and said it would ensure job creation and solve the serious accommodation problem facing the security services.
He said the government had secured a loan of US$32 million to solve the Wa water problem by tapping raw water from the Black Volta at Dorimon in the Wa West district for treatment in Wa.
He said under the Northern Electricity Programme, a number of adjoining communities in the constituency had been energised while work was ongoing to connect others to the national grid by the end of the year.
Mr Pelpuo said the municipality was experiencing massive infrastructural development which included the construction of a regional library, hospital and roads, among others.
For his part the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Duogu Yakubu, announced that with the exception of the Konjiehi School project which was behind schedule, projects being executed under the District Development Fund had been completed and handed over.
He said already the Assembly had initiated moves to terminate the project and repackage it for award to a serious and competent contractor.
Touching on revenue, he said the assembly exceeded its target by 11.46 per cent by the end of the first quarter while the second went up by 18.09 per cent, making it about 57 per cent of its annual target.
Mr Yakubu appealed to members of the assembly to help make the census a success by sensitising their communities to its importance to the development of the country.
Expressing concern over the trafficking of children from the Upper West Region to other parts of the country, he described the trend as “an annual canker in the region.”
Addressing the Second Ordinary Meeting of the Wa Municipal Assembly, Naa Braimah said most of the children who were trafficked at very tender ages, later became liabilities in the future.
He urged the planning unit of the assembly to work hard and ensure that people stopped building structures in unauthorised areas.
He said the assembly should endeavour to monitor what was happening in its localities so as to ensure an orderly development.
“Let us forget about “TIJAABUNYENI” “to wit, we are the same people” and insist on doing the right thing in our communities”, the Council of State member advised.
Naa Braimah called for unity and co-operation between the Assembly and the Municipal Chief Executive, and called on members of the Assembly to forget about their differences since no success would be chalked up without unity.
The Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, briefed members on the STX deal, and said it would ensure job creation and solve the serious accommodation problem facing the security services.
He said the government had secured a loan of US$32 million to solve the Wa water problem by tapping raw water from the Black Volta at Dorimon in the Wa West district for treatment in Wa.
He said under the Northern Electricity Programme, a number of adjoining communities in the constituency had been energised while work was ongoing to connect others to the national grid by the end of the year.
Mr Pelpuo said the municipality was experiencing massive infrastructural development which included the construction of a regional library, hospital and roads, among others.
For his part the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Duogu Yakubu, announced that with the exception of the Konjiehi School project which was behind schedule, projects being executed under the District Development Fund had been completed and handed over.
He said already the Assembly had initiated moves to terminate the project and repackage it for award to a serious and competent contractor.
Touching on revenue, he said the assembly exceeded its target by 11.46 per cent by the end of the first quarter while the second went up by 18.09 per cent, making it about 57 per cent of its annual target.
Mr Yakubu appealed to members of the assembly to help make the census a success by sensitising their communities to its importance to the development of the country.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
FIRST REAL TEST FOR AKUFO ADDO (PAGE 13, AUGUST 26, 2010)
The Upper West regional second vice – chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin – Salih has said the first real test for the party’s flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo–Addo is for him to pick a credible, competent and attractive running mate from any part of the three northern regions.
Adding his voice to the call on the flag bearer to pick his running mate from any of the three northern regions, he said such a move was critical to the success of the party in the 2012 elections.
According to Mr Bin-Salih, voters in the recent NPP presidential primaries exhibited their commitment and confidence in Nana Akufo – Addo, hence he must put in place the right mechanisms to win the 2012 elections.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Bin – Salih, said the call by some members of the party on the flag bearer to pick somebody from the south to partner him would be disastrous as there was already the perception that the party is Akan biased.
“Aside of this, the NPP has been improving in its fortunes in northern Ghana and that this could be traced to the fact that “the north often has a representative on the presidential ticket which attracts northern voters,” he added.
He argued that religion should not be a factor when considering the choice of a running mate from the north because northern voters did not take into consideration the religious affiliation but somebody with a track record.
“My humble suggestion to Nana is that his choice should be a person with some amount of parliamentary experience as that person has a constituency both within and outside the party,” he said.
Mr Bin – Salih called for a broader consultation from stakeholders of the party in the north, namely the executive, elders and members of parliament before the running mate was picked.
Adding his voice to the call on the flag bearer to pick his running mate from any of the three northern regions, he said such a move was critical to the success of the party in the 2012 elections.
According to Mr Bin-Salih, voters in the recent NPP presidential primaries exhibited their commitment and confidence in Nana Akufo – Addo, hence he must put in place the right mechanisms to win the 2012 elections.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Bin – Salih, said the call by some members of the party on the flag bearer to pick somebody from the south to partner him would be disastrous as there was already the perception that the party is Akan biased.
“Aside of this, the NPP has been improving in its fortunes in northern Ghana and that this could be traced to the fact that “the north often has a representative on the presidential ticket which attracts northern voters,” he added.
He argued that religion should not be a factor when considering the choice of a running mate from the north because northern voters did not take into consideration the religious affiliation but somebody with a track record.
“My humble suggestion to Nana is that his choice should be a person with some amount of parliamentary experience as that person has a constituency both within and outside the party,” he said.
Mr Bin – Salih called for a broader consultation from stakeholders of the party in the north, namely the executive, elders and members of parliament before the running mate was picked.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
AKUFO-ADDO URGED TO SELECT RUNNING MATE FROM NORTH (PAGE 12, AUGUST 18, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has appealed to the flag bearer of the Party, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, to consider selecting a running mate from any of the three northern regions.
According to the council, the northern part of Ghana was still important in the politics of the country and must, therefore, be actively engaged in the scheme of things.
“We therefore urge the flag bearer to consider our appeal so that our opponents would not use propaganda to describe our party as anti-northern Ghana”, it added.
Briefing the Daily Graphic after a meeting to review the activities of the council in Wa, the Vice Chairman of the council, Mr Clement Dibu-Dong, said what happened in the last election where the then running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr Mumuni Bawumia, did not perform well to win the northern votes should not discourage the party when selecting a running mate.
He said the people of the north had now compared and deciphered the difference between the opposition NPP and the governing National Democratic Congress and was hopeful that given the chance for a northern running mate the NPP would do very well in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.
He said, the NPP must position itself in northern Ghana so as to dismiss the notion and fear that the party looked down on people from the north, which had been the stock in trade of the NDC.
Mr Dibu-Dong commended the party for a successful primaries which culminated in the election of Nana Akufo-Addo as the flag bearer, and urged all supporters and sympathisers to form a united front in the fight to recapture power in 2012.
He congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo for being elected to lead the party in the next election which would hopefully bring the party to power again.
He also called on the losing aspirants to pool resources together to ensure that the NPP’s message of hope would permeate all parts of the country.
According to the council, the northern part of Ghana was still important in the politics of the country and must, therefore, be actively engaged in the scheme of things.
“We therefore urge the flag bearer to consider our appeal so that our opponents would not use propaganda to describe our party as anti-northern Ghana”, it added.
Briefing the Daily Graphic after a meeting to review the activities of the council in Wa, the Vice Chairman of the council, Mr Clement Dibu-Dong, said what happened in the last election where the then running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr Mumuni Bawumia, did not perform well to win the northern votes should not discourage the party when selecting a running mate.
He said the people of the north had now compared and deciphered the difference between the opposition NPP and the governing National Democratic Congress and was hopeful that given the chance for a northern running mate the NPP would do very well in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.
He said, the NPP must position itself in northern Ghana so as to dismiss the notion and fear that the party looked down on people from the north, which had been the stock in trade of the NDC.
Mr Dibu-Dong commended the party for a successful primaries which culminated in the election of Nana Akufo-Addo as the flag bearer, and urged all supporters and sympathisers to form a united front in the fight to recapture power in 2012.
He congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo for being elected to lead the party in the next election which would hopefully bring the party to power again.
He also called on the losing aspirants to pool resources together to ensure that the NPP’s message of hope would permeate all parts of the country.
UPPER WEST WOMEN STRUGGLE FOR A LIVING (PAGE 11, AUGUST 19, 2010)
Amina Issifu (not a real name) is a young woman who lives in a rural community, precisely, Gbache, near Wa in the Upper West Region.
Every market day, she walks for over eight miles to the Wa Market to sell firewood, with her baby strapped at her back, in the scorching sun. As a result Amina has an injury at the sole of her feet which needs attention but she sees her situation as very normal.
For this entire tortuous journey to Wa, Amina only earns GH¢1.00 for her effort all in an attempt to feed her children and herself, but the routine continues every market day.
Market days in Wa are the busiest in the municipality during which people from various villages troop to Wa, considered as a city in a rural region.
The people, mostly women and children, carry heavy loads on their heads and walk for hours to sell their goods which are mostly charcoal, baskets, firewood, among others. Those who are lucky board Kia trucks and other rickety cars to also transact their businesses. In addition to this they brew pito, a local alcoholic beverage, and engage in farming during the rainy season with their husbands
The little money earned is used to purchase items like salt, dried fish (Keta school boys), in preparing food to feed their families.
Although a number of interventions were introduced by governments and non-governmental organisations to empower these women, their situations have not changed.
One of the reasons attributed to the failure of these interventions is the lack of involvement of the people during the implementations of such programmes and projects. A story was told of some women farmers in a rural community whose farm produce started dwindling yearly as a result of outmoded farming practices and other factors.
However, they had the strong belief that the problem was due to the work of the gods who were punishing them for some wrong-doings. Instead of being educated on the benefits of using fertilisers, the agricultural extension officer never took the traditional beliefs of the women into consideration and went ahead to start applying the fertiliser on the farm. The end result was that the women resisted and that ended the whole process.
Another example was the establishment of a shea processing factory in another community in the Upper West Region, by a non-governmental organisation, to assist the women. They were not in favour of the project, and when it was completed, they started complaints that the amount of shea oil being extracted from the factory was not much as expected.
The people then went back to their old ways of using manual method to undertake this tedious work which at the end of the day affected their health.
There are a lot of ways to ensure that these programmes succeed and these include allowing the people to identify their own problems, find their own solutions and involve them in the implementation of programmes and projects.
The socio-cultural background of the people must be taken into serious consideration while various modes of communication should be adopted to send the right message to the people. The use of local radio stations, role models from beneficiary communities of such projects and other traditional mediums of communications, must be encouraged, since they go a long way to sensitise people effectively. These should include drama, festivals, and community durbars, among others.
For example, the use of community members who have braved the storm and acquired education could be used to change the psyche of the people.
Every market day, she walks for over eight miles to the Wa Market to sell firewood, with her baby strapped at her back, in the scorching sun. As a result Amina has an injury at the sole of her feet which needs attention but she sees her situation as very normal.
For this entire tortuous journey to Wa, Amina only earns GH¢1.00 for her effort all in an attempt to feed her children and herself, but the routine continues every market day.
Market days in Wa are the busiest in the municipality during which people from various villages troop to Wa, considered as a city in a rural region.
The people, mostly women and children, carry heavy loads on their heads and walk for hours to sell their goods which are mostly charcoal, baskets, firewood, among others. Those who are lucky board Kia trucks and other rickety cars to also transact their businesses. In addition to this they brew pito, a local alcoholic beverage, and engage in farming during the rainy season with their husbands
The little money earned is used to purchase items like salt, dried fish (Keta school boys), in preparing food to feed their families.
Although a number of interventions were introduced by governments and non-governmental organisations to empower these women, their situations have not changed.
One of the reasons attributed to the failure of these interventions is the lack of involvement of the people during the implementations of such programmes and projects. A story was told of some women farmers in a rural community whose farm produce started dwindling yearly as a result of outmoded farming practices and other factors.
However, they had the strong belief that the problem was due to the work of the gods who were punishing them for some wrong-doings. Instead of being educated on the benefits of using fertilisers, the agricultural extension officer never took the traditional beliefs of the women into consideration and went ahead to start applying the fertiliser on the farm. The end result was that the women resisted and that ended the whole process.
Another example was the establishment of a shea processing factory in another community in the Upper West Region, by a non-governmental organisation, to assist the women. They were not in favour of the project, and when it was completed, they started complaints that the amount of shea oil being extracted from the factory was not much as expected.
The people then went back to their old ways of using manual method to undertake this tedious work which at the end of the day affected their health.
There are a lot of ways to ensure that these programmes succeed and these include allowing the people to identify their own problems, find their own solutions and involve them in the implementation of programmes and projects.
The socio-cultural background of the people must be taken into serious consideration while various modes of communication should be adopted to send the right message to the people. The use of local radio stations, role models from beneficiary communities of such projects and other traditional mediums of communications, must be encouraged, since they go a long way to sensitise people effectively. These should include drama, festivals, and community durbars, among others.
For example, the use of community members who have braved the storm and acquired education could be used to change the psyche of the people.
Monday, August 16, 2010
NPP MUST FORGE AHEAD IN UNITY TO WIN 2012 ELECTION (PAGE 13, AUGUST 16, 2010)
THE Upper West regional executive committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged supporters and sympathisers of the party to forge ahead in unity and prepare for the greater task ahead to win power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) come 2012.
According to the party, it was its desire to increase the NPP presidential candidate’s votes in the region as well as capture more seats in addition to the three existing ones, namely Lawra – Nandom , Wa East and Lambussie constituencies.
Congratulating delegates for the peaceful and orderly manner they conducted themselves before, during and after the party’s recent presidential primaries, it said “we are particularly grateful to the agents of the various presidential aspirants for the support and co-operation given to the regional and constituency election committees.”
This singular action has demonstrated to all Ghanaians and the whole world that internal democracy had come to stay in the party,” said a statement signed by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr. Stephen Engmen.
It said the peaceful manner of the primaries had also won the hearts and admiration of not the NPP alone but also the NDC.
It commended the regional and constituency election committees for their commitment to duty by working hard to ensure that the primaries were transparent, free and fair.
“We are again grateful to the Electoral Commission in the region for conducting the elections according to the set rules and guidelines stipulated by the NPP. We wish to assure the EC that we will continue to co-operate with them as we prepare for election 2012,” it added.
Touching on the role of the media, the statement said their facilitation in the education of the delegates on the guidelines went a long way to ensure a smooth electoral process ,pointing out that the keen manner in which they monitored and transmitted the results on the day of the elections made the presidential primaries more transparent.
“The presence of the security personnel was enough to ensure the safety of all voters, election officers, materials as well as well wishers who were around to witness the voting process”, the statement concluded.
In the elections in the region, a total of 4294 delegates cast their ballot with Nana Akufo – Addo getting 2923 while his closest Alan Kyerematen got 1252.
According to the party, it was its desire to increase the NPP presidential candidate’s votes in the region as well as capture more seats in addition to the three existing ones, namely Lawra – Nandom , Wa East and Lambussie constituencies.
Congratulating delegates for the peaceful and orderly manner they conducted themselves before, during and after the party’s recent presidential primaries, it said “we are particularly grateful to the agents of the various presidential aspirants for the support and co-operation given to the regional and constituency election committees.”
This singular action has demonstrated to all Ghanaians and the whole world that internal democracy had come to stay in the party,” said a statement signed by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr. Stephen Engmen.
It said the peaceful manner of the primaries had also won the hearts and admiration of not the NPP alone but also the NDC.
It commended the regional and constituency election committees for their commitment to duty by working hard to ensure that the primaries were transparent, free and fair.
“We are again grateful to the Electoral Commission in the region for conducting the elections according to the set rules and guidelines stipulated by the NPP. We wish to assure the EC that we will continue to co-operate with them as we prepare for election 2012,” it added.
Touching on the role of the media, the statement said their facilitation in the education of the delegates on the guidelines went a long way to ensure a smooth electoral process ,pointing out that the keen manner in which they monitored and transmitted the results on the day of the elections made the presidential primaries more transparent.
“The presence of the security personnel was enough to ensure the safety of all voters, election officers, materials as well as well wishers who were around to witness the voting process”, the statement concluded.
In the elections in the region, a total of 4294 delegates cast their ballot with Nana Akufo – Addo getting 2923 while his closest Alan Kyerematen got 1252.
Friday, August 13, 2010
WA PRODUCES SOLAR LAMPS (PAGE 22, AUGUST 13, 2010)
WHAT started four years ago as a small-scale project at the Wa Polytechnic in the Upper West Region has now become a beacon of hope for students of this institution which is the youngest polytechnic in the country.
The project was to train the students in assembling solar lamps for deprived communities in the region.
Through the collaboration of Cooper Union in the United States, three communities, namely Tampala, Nambey and Bazing are benefiting from this highly innovative technology. Interestingly, the lamp christened “socialite” is almost wholly made up of local materials.
Beside the electronic parts which are imported, the rest are local materials. It consists of a medium tampico container, a universal hair relaxer container while the handle is made from a Phoenix bicycle spokes.
The reflectors in the lamp are made of the silver-plated portion of Milo tins.
“It is also to get rid of dirt from the environment hence the decision to make the lamp as environmentally friendly as possible. It does not cause any greenhouse effect,” said Mr David Berger of the Cooper Union.
For now, the highly subsidised lamp costs GH¢30 but beneficiaries deposit GH¢10 while the rest is spread over a period of time with a charge of GH¢1 on monthly basis.
Mr Berger told the Daily Graphic that the solar lamp system is designed for recharging for one week, adding that there is a solar system established in the communities which was used for recharging the batteries that last four years.
He said so far the source of funding had been through grants from the United States, adding that Ghana’s Ministry of Energy was interested and was considering financing the project in selected communities in the region.
Mr Berger said there were plans to develop adapters to recharge the lamps in the near future.
A lecturer at the Wa Polytechnic, Mr Charles Ntiamoah Yeboah, commended Cooper Union for supporting the project.
He expressed the hope that when fully embraced by the government, it would go a long way to complement the power needs of the people.
Mr Ntiamoah Yeboah further praised the students of the polytechnic for their co-operation which made the project a success.
The project was to train the students in assembling solar lamps for deprived communities in the region.
Through the collaboration of Cooper Union in the United States, three communities, namely Tampala, Nambey and Bazing are benefiting from this highly innovative technology. Interestingly, the lamp christened “socialite” is almost wholly made up of local materials.
Beside the electronic parts which are imported, the rest are local materials. It consists of a medium tampico container, a universal hair relaxer container while the handle is made from a Phoenix bicycle spokes.
The reflectors in the lamp are made of the silver-plated portion of Milo tins.
“It is also to get rid of dirt from the environment hence the decision to make the lamp as environmentally friendly as possible. It does not cause any greenhouse effect,” said Mr David Berger of the Cooper Union.
For now, the highly subsidised lamp costs GH¢30 but beneficiaries deposit GH¢10 while the rest is spread over a period of time with a charge of GH¢1 on monthly basis.
Mr Berger told the Daily Graphic that the solar lamp system is designed for recharging for one week, adding that there is a solar system established in the communities which was used for recharging the batteries that last four years.
He said so far the source of funding had been through grants from the United States, adding that Ghana’s Ministry of Energy was interested and was considering financing the project in selected communities in the region.
Mr Berger said there were plans to develop adapters to recharge the lamps in the near future.
A lecturer at the Wa Polytechnic, Mr Charles Ntiamoah Yeboah, commended Cooper Union for supporting the project.
He expressed the hope that when fully embraced by the government, it would go a long way to complement the power needs of the people.
Mr Ntiamoah Yeboah further praised the students of the polytechnic for their co-operation which made the project a success.
NEW LIBRARY COMPLEX FOR WA (PAGE 22, AUGUST 13, 2010)
WORK on a new library complex for the Upper West Region has started in Wa, the regional capital.
The estimated GH¢1.5 million project being executed by Messrs Consar Limited of Kumasi, includes a multimedia conference centre and a modern library. The project is to be completed in 18 months.
According to the regional librarian, Mr John–Bosco Kunsana, the project which is being funded by the government through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund), forms part of the implementation of educational and information dissemination for the region.
He said after a national competitive bidding, two companies namely Messrs E. Owusu Mensah and Messrs Consar Limited, both of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region passed the preliminary examination and were, therefore, considered for evaluation.
He said on the basis of the evaluation which was carried out in accordance with the criteria set out in the bidding documents, the evaluation panel recommended that the contract for the construction of the library be awarded to Messrs Consar Limited, which was qualified and capable of executing the contract.
Mr Kunsana, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa after the regional tender board had approved the award of the contract to the contractor.
He thanked the government for the project and said when completed, it would enable more people to have access to library services in the Wa Municipality.
The current library serves as both a district and regional library with very limited space which makes it very difficult for many people to patronise, particularly students.
Mr Kunsana described the government’s intervention as a welcome relief and expressed the hope that the contractor would complete the project on schedule.
The estimated GH¢1.5 million project being executed by Messrs Consar Limited of Kumasi, includes a multimedia conference centre and a modern library. The project is to be completed in 18 months.
According to the regional librarian, Mr John–Bosco Kunsana, the project which is being funded by the government through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund), forms part of the implementation of educational and information dissemination for the region.
He said after a national competitive bidding, two companies namely Messrs E. Owusu Mensah and Messrs Consar Limited, both of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region passed the preliminary examination and were, therefore, considered for evaluation.
He said on the basis of the evaluation which was carried out in accordance with the criteria set out in the bidding documents, the evaluation panel recommended that the contract for the construction of the library be awarded to Messrs Consar Limited, which was qualified and capable of executing the contract.
Mr Kunsana, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa after the regional tender board had approved the award of the contract to the contractor.
He thanked the government for the project and said when completed, it would enable more people to have access to library services in the Wa Municipality.
The current library serves as both a district and regional library with very limited space which makes it very difficult for many people to patronise, particularly students.
Mr Kunsana described the government’s intervention as a welcome relief and expressed the hope that the contractor would complete the project on schedule.
LAWRA DISTRICT ASSEBLY EXCEEDS REVENUE TARGET (PAGE 22, AUGUST 13, 2010)
THE Lawra District Assembly in the Upper West Region has collected GH¢88,983.75 out of an estimated GH¢69,045.90 budgeted as the assembly’s internally generated funds for this year.
This represents 129 per cent of the 2010 target collected as of July 31, 2010.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Samson Abu, announced this at the second ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the assembly at Lawra.
He said the performance was as a result of some pragmatic measures put in place by the assembly which included allocation of a specific vehicle for revenue mobilisation, a well-resourced and active revenue task-force.
Mr Abu said it was the hope of the assembly that the target would be doubled by December, this year.
According to him, even though the assembly was expected to receive a total of GH¢1,283,986.80 as its share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund for 2010, only the first quarter share of GH¢109,313.35 had been received as of July 31, 2010.
Mr Abu said the delay in releasing the funds would impact negatively on the performance of the assembly.
He said additional funds received from the district development fund would be used for the construction of various development projects in the district while more funds were expected from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the implementation of more programmes.
“Apart from our Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) projects at the Nandom Senior High School, all the 2009 projects have been completed and handed over to the appropriate departments for use. They include classroom blocks, clinics, CHPS compounds and sanitary facilities,” he added.
On education, the DCE announced that the district had taken delivery of 2,000 pieces of school uniforms which would soon be distributed while 232,389 exercise books had been earmarked for the district.
Touching on the forthcoming national population census, Mr Abu appealed to the assembly members to help sensitise their people to participate in the exercise.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr N. Godwin commended the assembly members for their support and dedication to duty.
This represents 129 per cent of the 2010 target collected as of July 31, 2010.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Samson Abu, announced this at the second ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the assembly at Lawra.
He said the performance was as a result of some pragmatic measures put in place by the assembly which included allocation of a specific vehicle for revenue mobilisation, a well-resourced and active revenue task-force.
Mr Abu said it was the hope of the assembly that the target would be doubled by December, this year.
According to him, even though the assembly was expected to receive a total of GH¢1,283,986.80 as its share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund for 2010, only the first quarter share of GH¢109,313.35 had been received as of July 31, 2010.
Mr Abu said the delay in releasing the funds would impact negatively on the performance of the assembly.
He said additional funds received from the district development fund would be used for the construction of various development projects in the district while more funds were expected from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the implementation of more programmes.
“Apart from our Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) projects at the Nandom Senior High School, all the 2009 projects have been completed and handed over to the appropriate departments for use. They include classroom blocks, clinics, CHPS compounds and sanitary facilities,” he added.
On education, the DCE announced that the district had taken delivery of 2,000 pieces of school uniforms which would soon be distributed while 232,389 exercise books had been earmarked for the district.
Touching on the forthcoming national population census, Mr Abu appealed to the assembly members to help sensitise their people to participate in the exercise.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr N. Godwin commended the assembly members for their support and dedication to duty.
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