The Upper West Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Stephen Engmen, has said the party will bounce back to power in the next general election in 2012.
This, according to him, was due to the inability of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to fulfil its campaign promises, resulting in total disappointment among Ghanaians.
Mr Engmen, who was speaking during the handover ceremony of the TESCON branch of the Wa campus of the University for Development Studies at the weekend, said “supporters of the party must start mobilising and working towards this victory which will not come on a silver platter”.
The new executive has Mr Sumaila Nambe as President; Clara Tia, Vice-President; Yussif Salia, Secretary and Mohammed Mariwan, Vice Secretary.
The rest are Daniel Adamu, Organiser; Adamu Rasak, Financial Secretary, Bawa Awal, Treasurer, and Farusa Iddi as Women Commissioner.
Mr Engmen said the NPP was stronger than the NDC and that the party would have won the 2008 elections, but for certain mistakes on its part.
“They have so far failed woefully and must, therefore, not be given the opportunity to rule Ghana again,” he told the TESCON members amid wild applause.
Touching on the flagbearership, Mr Engmen, who is also a lecturer at the Wa campus of the UDS, called on members of TESCON to look for a person who was politically convenient and capable of winning the election in 2012.
He advised TESCON members to be worthy ambassadors of the party by explaining the party’s programmes to the electorate wherever they found themselves and also form a strong partnership with the various constituencies in the country.
The Regional Youth Organiser of the NPP, Mr Mustapha Goveir, gave the assurance that TESCON would be resourced to play its expected role towards the next general election.
The outgoing President of the Wa campus branch of TESCON, Mr Mohammed Hakam, charged the new executive to embark on a membership drive to make the party a strong one on campus.
For his part, the incoming President, Mr Sumaila Nambe, pledged to work hard to uplift the party among the student body.
Monday, March 29, 2010
DON'T FORM POLITICAL CLUBS IN VARIOUS PRISONS — BIN-SALIH (PAGE 15, 2010)
The Upper West regional second vice chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin-Salih, has warned against the formation of political clubs in the various prisons since it has the potential of generating serious conflict between inmates on one hand and prison officers on the other.
“It can also lead to victimisation or maltreatment of prisoners when their views are at variance with the prison officers”, Mr Bin Salih pointed out.
He described the decision by the Supreme Court to give prisoners their voting rights as a step in the right direction.
According to him, Article 42 of the Constitution bestowed on every Ghanaian who is of a sound mind and has obtained the age of 18 or above to vote and by virtue of this, prisoners were eligible to vote.
“It is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court,” he stated, and called on the Electoral Commission to put in place mechanisms and structures to ensure that prisoners were catered for in future elections.
Sharing his personal views with the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Bin-Salih said provision should also be made to allow political parties to have access to the prisons so as to be able to sell their manifestos to them.
“Even though the decision is laudable it should not be implemented now, may be 2016 when all modalities have worked out. The EC should work painstakingly towards it, “ he added.
Touching on the filing fee of GHC 50,000 for presidential candidates of the NPP, the NPP regional second vice-chairman was of the opinion that there was nothing wrong with that since it would go a long way to deter large number of people from entering the race as happened about two years ago.
He called on the national executive of the party to expedite action on the appointment of the deputies for the national organiser, general secretary, women organiser, and youth organiser.
“Competence and regional balance should guide these appointments and the Upper East must be considered since it is the only region without an elected national executive officer”, he said.
Mr Bin-Salih advised the former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, not to contest for the NPP flagbearership for the sake of his reputation
He said although the former veep had the democratic right “I think people would try to smear him just to score political points, which I do not think would be in his interest”.
“It can also lead to victimisation or maltreatment of prisoners when their views are at variance with the prison officers”, Mr Bin Salih pointed out.
He described the decision by the Supreme Court to give prisoners their voting rights as a step in the right direction.
According to him, Article 42 of the Constitution bestowed on every Ghanaian who is of a sound mind and has obtained the age of 18 or above to vote and by virtue of this, prisoners were eligible to vote.
“It is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court,” he stated, and called on the Electoral Commission to put in place mechanisms and structures to ensure that prisoners were catered for in future elections.
Sharing his personal views with the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Bin-Salih said provision should also be made to allow political parties to have access to the prisons so as to be able to sell their manifestos to them.
“Even though the decision is laudable it should not be implemented now, may be 2016 when all modalities have worked out. The EC should work painstakingly towards it, “ he added.
Touching on the filing fee of GHC 50,000 for presidential candidates of the NPP, the NPP regional second vice-chairman was of the opinion that there was nothing wrong with that since it would go a long way to deter large number of people from entering the race as happened about two years ago.
He called on the national executive of the party to expedite action on the appointment of the deputies for the national organiser, general secretary, women organiser, and youth organiser.
“Competence and regional balance should guide these appointments and the Upper East must be considered since it is the only region without an elected national executive officer”, he said.
Mr Bin-Salih advised the former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, not to contest for the NPP flagbearership for the sake of his reputation
He said although the former veep had the democratic right “I think people would try to smear him just to score political points, which I do not think would be in his interest”.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
RECOGNISE NORTHERNERS WHO HAVE EXCELLED (PAGE 13, MARCH 27, 2010)
A non-partisan political pressure group in the Upper West Region, Equality for Neglected Northern Heroes (ENNORTH), has called on the government to immortalise the names of people of northern extraction who excelled in their various fields of endeavour.
The group said there were many northerners who were doing extremely well yet they had not been recognised by successive governments.
“We the 21st century youth from northern Ghana wish to overturn this line of thinking through advocacy work for all northerners who have evidently distinguished themselves in their public lives, dead or alive”, a spokesman of the group, Mr David Banamini, said at a press conference in Wa to officially launch the group.
He said most of the leaders of northern Ghana were perhaps not assertive enough, thus making them easily accept subservient positions as demonstrated in the selection of running mates for politicians.
He attributed this to the lack of knowledge of some heroes of northern Ghana like Dr Hilla Limann, S.D. Dombo, Imoro Egala, Yakubu Tali, Aliu Mahama, John Mahama and Edward Gyader.
Mr Banamini said among the heroes the one who stood tall was Dr Hilla Limann, who was the President of Ghana during the Third Republic.
He said the government of Dr Limann was egalitarian and socialist in nature and had a semblance of the current government and “we wish to use this medium to tickle the government to expedite action by appropriately honouring and recognising Dr Limann for his valuable contribution to the political history of Ghana”.
“We are highly disappointed, however, by the fact that all the compatriots of Dr Limann except him have been given absolute recognition by successive governments. These acknowledgements come in various forms including erecting statutes and naming of institutions and principal streets across the country to the sheer neglect of Dr Limann”, he added.
Mr Banamini, therefore, called on the government to erect a bronze statue of Dr Limann at a vantage point with a beautiful landscaping to match so that the only President produced by northern Ghana would be appropriately immortalised while a model senior high school must be established immediately in northern Ghana and subsequently named after Dr Limann. It should have modern facilities, state-of- the-art classrooms, library and an ICT centre.
Additionally one of the principal streets in the capital city of Accra must be named after him.
Mr Banamini was grateful to the leadership and council of the Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) for naming one of its halls after the former President.
“We wish to call on the students of this great hall to learn about the principles and ideals of Dr Limann and partner the group to institutionalise a lecture series for the purpose of the creation of greater awareness of Dr Limann”, he concluded.
The group said there were many northerners who were doing extremely well yet they had not been recognised by successive governments.
“We the 21st century youth from northern Ghana wish to overturn this line of thinking through advocacy work for all northerners who have evidently distinguished themselves in their public lives, dead or alive”, a spokesman of the group, Mr David Banamini, said at a press conference in Wa to officially launch the group.
He said most of the leaders of northern Ghana were perhaps not assertive enough, thus making them easily accept subservient positions as demonstrated in the selection of running mates for politicians.
He attributed this to the lack of knowledge of some heroes of northern Ghana like Dr Hilla Limann, S.D. Dombo, Imoro Egala, Yakubu Tali, Aliu Mahama, John Mahama and Edward Gyader.
Mr Banamini said among the heroes the one who stood tall was Dr Hilla Limann, who was the President of Ghana during the Third Republic.
He said the government of Dr Limann was egalitarian and socialist in nature and had a semblance of the current government and “we wish to use this medium to tickle the government to expedite action by appropriately honouring and recognising Dr Limann for his valuable contribution to the political history of Ghana”.
“We are highly disappointed, however, by the fact that all the compatriots of Dr Limann except him have been given absolute recognition by successive governments. These acknowledgements come in various forms including erecting statutes and naming of institutions and principal streets across the country to the sheer neglect of Dr Limann”, he added.
Mr Banamini, therefore, called on the government to erect a bronze statue of Dr Limann at a vantage point with a beautiful landscaping to match so that the only President produced by northern Ghana would be appropriately immortalised while a model senior high school must be established immediately in northern Ghana and subsequently named after Dr Limann. It should have modern facilities, state-of- the-art classrooms, library and an ICT centre.
Additionally one of the principal streets in the capital city of Accra must be named after him.
Mr Banamini was grateful to the leadership and council of the Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) for naming one of its halls after the former President.
“We wish to call on the students of this great hall to learn about the principles and ideals of Dr Limann and partner the group to institutionalise a lecture series for the purpose of the creation of greater awareness of Dr Limann”, he concluded.
Monday, March 15, 2010
MAINTAIN THE SOUTH-NORTH PARTNERSHIP, NPP URGED (PAGE 17, MARCH 15, 2010)
The Upper West Second Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin –Salih, has urged the leadership of the party to maintain the south–north partnership of the presidential ticket for the 2012 election.
He, however, suggested that the choice of a running mate should be based on competence and not religion.
Addressing a press conference in Wa, he said the party should focus its campaign in the three northern regions which have shown steady support for the NPP since 1996.
“Former President Kufuor and Vice-President Aliu Mahama should also be courted to actively participate in the recapturing votes exercise while the youth and women wings of our great party must be adequately resourced”, he added
According to him, in order to rebuild the party “we need to have a sense of unity and the belief in the absolute supremacy of the NPP and take full responsibility for our actions”.
Mr Bin-Salih noted that for the party to be able to leap from opposition to power, it must remain attractive, visible, show the potential of winning the 2012 election, avoid self-destructive tendencies and offer constructive proposals.
“Let us not be deceived into thinking that because of the lack of inspirational leadership on the part of President Mills as well as the economic mismanagement, media oppression, human rights abuse, high cost of living, reckless use of political power and the deliberate frustration of genuine Ghanaian businesses and people who are perceived to be sympathisers of NPP are sufficient grounds for the NPP to secure power from the NDC in 2012 on a silver platter. We must recognise that after all, power is not given but taken”, he said
Mr Bin-Salih pointed out that for the NPP to recapture power there was the need to rekindle the spirit which guided the forebears of the party to establish the United Party in 1957 which also made the Danquah–Busia–Dombo tradition unique because it brought on board people of diverse ethnic and religious persuasions, yet they were able to get along very well.
He recalled that the political history of the NPP was replete with painful truths that any time the party allowed its loyalty to be focused on individuals or groups of people the party found itself on the wrong side of history.
He, therefore, advised members of the party not to allow their selfish and parochial ethnic sentiments to derail the foundation of the party’s tradition and added that people must learn to bury their individual ambitions and ensure the collective interest of the NPP.
Touching on the 14-month rule of the NDC’s Mr Bin–Salih said it had failed Ghanaians by breaking most of its electoral promises. Prominent among these, he said, was the government reneging on the payment of the initial start-up contribution of GH¢200 million towards the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority and an annual contribution of GH¢ 100 million each year for 20 years.
“Also the NDC government has not been able to put money in our pockets. The safety and security of most Ghanaians are in danger. We are collapsing under filth after they promised to clear the nation of filth within 100 days in the office”, he noted
Mr Bin–Salih used the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected national executive and urged them to live up to the challenge of bringing the party back to power.
He, however, suggested that the choice of a running mate should be based on competence and not religion.
Addressing a press conference in Wa, he said the party should focus its campaign in the three northern regions which have shown steady support for the NPP since 1996.
“Former President Kufuor and Vice-President Aliu Mahama should also be courted to actively participate in the recapturing votes exercise while the youth and women wings of our great party must be adequately resourced”, he added
According to him, in order to rebuild the party “we need to have a sense of unity and the belief in the absolute supremacy of the NPP and take full responsibility for our actions”.
Mr Bin-Salih noted that for the party to be able to leap from opposition to power, it must remain attractive, visible, show the potential of winning the 2012 election, avoid self-destructive tendencies and offer constructive proposals.
“Let us not be deceived into thinking that because of the lack of inspirational leadership on the part of President Mills as well as the economic mismanagement, media oppression, human rights abuse, high cost of living, reckless use of political power and the deliberate frustration of genuine Ghanaian businesses and people who are perceived to be sympathisers of NPP are sufficient grounds for the NPP to secure power from the NDC in 2012 on a silver platter. We must recognise that after all, power is not given but taken”, he said
Mr Bin-Salih pointed out that for the NPP to recapture power there was the need to rekindle the spirit which guided the forebears of the party to establish the United Party in 1957 which also made the Danquah–Busia–Dombo tradition unique because it brought on board people of diverse ethnic and religious persuasions, yet they were able to get along very well.
He recalled that the political history of the NPP was replete with painful truths that any time the party allowed its loyalty to be focused on individuals or groups of people the party found itself on the wrong side of history.
He, therefore, advised members of the party not to allow their selfish and parochial ethnic sentiments to derail the foundation of the party’s tradition and added that people must learn to bury their individual ambitions and ensure the collective interest of the NPP.
Touching on the 14-month rule of the NDC’s Mr Bin–Salih said it had failed Ghanaians by breaking most of its electoral promises. Prominent among these, he said, was the government reneging on the payment of the initial start-up contribution of GH¢200 million towards the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority and an annual contribution of GH¢ 100 million each year for 20 years.
“Also the NDC government has not been able to put money in our pockets. The safety and security of most Ghanaians are in danger. We are collapsing under filth after they promised to clear the nation of filth within 100 days in the office”, he noted
Mr Bin–Salih used the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected national executive and urged them to live up to the challenge of bringing the party back to power.
MAINTAIN THE SOUTH-NORTH PARTNERSHIP, NPP URGED (PAGE 17, MARCH 15, 2010)
The Upper West Second Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin –Salih, has urged the leadership of the party to maintain the south–north partnership of the presidential ticket for the 2012 election.
He, however, suggested that the choice of a running mate should be based on competence and not religion.
Addressing a press conference in Wa, he said the party should focus its campaign in the three northern regions which have shown steady support for the NPP since 1996.
“Former President Kufuor and Vice-President Aliu Mahama should also be courted to actively participate in the recapturing votes exercise while the youth and women wings of our great party must be adequately resourced”, he added
According to him, in order to rebuild the party “we need to have a sense of unity and the belief in the absolute supremacy of the NPP and take full responsibility for our actions”.
Mr Bin-Salih noted that for the party to be able to leap from opposition to power, it must remain attractive, visible, show the potential of winning the 2012 election, avoid self-destructive tendencies and offer constructive proposals.
“Let us not be deceived into thinking that because of the lack of inspirational leadership on the part of President Mills as well as the economic mismanagement, media oppression, human rights abuse, high cost of living, reckless use of political power and the deliberate frustration of genuine Ghanaian businesses and people who are perceived to be sympathisers of NPP are sufficient grounds for the NPP to secure power from the NDC in 2012 on a silver platter. We must recognise that after all, power is not given but taken”, he said
Mr Bin-Salih pointed out that for the NPP to recapture power there was the need to rekindle the spirit which guided the forebears of the party to establish the United Party in 1957 which also made the Danquah–Busia–Dombo tradition unique because it brought on board people of diverse ethnic and religious persuasions, yet they were able to get along very well.
He recalled that the political history of the NPP was replete with painful truths that any time the party allowed its loyalty to be focused on individuals or groups of people the party found itself on the wrong side of history.
He, therefore, advised members of the party not to allow their selfish and parochial ethnic sentiments to derail the foundation of the party’s tradition and added that people must learn to bury their individual ambitions and ensure the collective interest of the NPP.
Touching on the 14-month rule of the NDC’s Mr Bin–Salih said it had failed Ghanaians by breaking most of its electoral promises. Prominent among these, he said, was the government reneging on the payment of the initial start-up contribution of GH¢200 million towards the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority and an annual contribution of GH¢ 100 million each year for 20 years.
“Also the NDC government has not been able to put money in our pockets. The safety and security of most Ghanaians are in danger. We are collapsing under filth after they promised to clear the nation of filth within 100 days in the office”, he noted
Mr Bin–Salih used the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected national executive and urged them to live up to the challenge of bringing the party back to power.
He, however, suggested that the choice of a running mate should be based on competence and not religion.
Addressing a press conference in Wa, he said the party should focus its campaign in the three northern regions which have shown steady support for the NPP since 1996.
“Former President Kufuor and Vice-President Aliu Mahama should also be courted to actively participate in the recapturing votes exercise while the youth and women wings of our great party must be adequately resourced”, he added
According to him, in order to rebuild the party “we need to have a sense of unity and the belief in the absolute supremacy of the NPP and take full responsibility for our actions”.
Mr Bin-Salih noted that for the party to be able to leap from opposition to power, it must remain attractive, visible, show the potential of winning the 2012 election, avoid self-destructive tendencies and offer constructive proposals.
“Let us not be deceived into thinking that because of the lack of inspirational leadership on the part of President Mills as well as the economic mismanagement, media oppression, human rights abuse, high cost of living, reckless use of political power and the deliberate frustration of genuine Ghanaian businesses and people who are perceived to be sympathisers of NPP are sufficient grounds for the NPP to secure power from the NDC in 2012 on a silver platter. We must recognise that after all, power is not given but taken”, he said
Mr Bin-Salih pointed out that for the NPP to recapture power there was the need to rekindle the spirit which guided the forebears of the party to establish the United Party in 1957 which also made the Danquah–Busia–Dombo tradition unique because it brought on board people of diverse ethnic and religious persuasions, yet they were able to get along very well.
He recalled that the political history of the NPP was replete with painful truths that any time the party allowed its loyalty to be focused on individuals or groups of people the party found itself on the wrong side of history.
He, therefore, advised members of the party not to allow their selfish and parochial ethnic sentiments to derail the foundation of the party’s tradition and added that people must learn to bury their individual ambitions and ensure the collective interest of the NPP.
Touching on the 14-month rule of the NDC’s Mr Bin–Salih said it had failed Ghanaians by breaking most of its electoral promises. Prominent among these, he said, was the government reneging on the payment of the initial start-up contribution of GH¢200 million towards the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority and an annual contribution of GH¢ 100 million each year for 20 years.
“Also the NDC government has not been able to put money in our pockets. The safety and security of most Ghanaians are in danger. We are collapsing under filth after they promised to clear the nation of filth within 100 days in the office”, he noted
Mr Bin–Salih used the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected national executive and urged them to live up to the challenge of bringing the party back to power.
MAINTAIN THE SOUTH-NORTH PARTNERSHIP, NPP URGED (PAGE 17, MARCH 15, 2010)
The Upper West Second Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin –Salih, has urged the leadership of the party to maintain the south–north partnership of the presidential ticket for the 2012 election.
He, however, suggested that the choice of a running mate should be based on competence and not religion.
Addressing a press conference in Wa, he said the party should focus its campaign in the three northern regions which have shown steady support for the NPP since 1996.
“Former President Kufuor and Vice-President Aliu Mahama should also be courted to actively participate in the recapturing votes exercise while the youth and women wings of our great party must be adequately resourced”, he added
According to him, in order to rebuild the party “we need to have a sense of unity and the belief in the absolute supremacy of the NPP and take full responsibility for our actions”.
Mr Bin-Salih noted that for the party to be able to leap from opposition to power, it must remain attractive, visible, show the potential of winning the 2012 election, avoid self-destructive tendencies and offer constructive proposals.
“Let us not be deceived into thinking that because of the lack of inspirational leadership on the part of President Mills as well as the economic mismanagement, media oppression, human rights abuse, high cost of living, reckless use of political power and the deliberate frustration of genuine Ghanaian businesses and people who are perceived to be sympathisers of NPP are sufficient grounds for the NPP to secure power from the NDC in 2012 on a silver platter. We must recognise that after all, power is not given but taken”, he said
Mr Bin-Salih pointed out that for the NPP to recapture power there was the need to rekindle the spirit which guided the forebears of the party to establish the United Party in 1957 which also made the Danquah–Busia–Dombo tradition unique because it brought on board people of diverse ethnic and religious persuasions, yet they were able to get along very well.
He recalled that the political history of the NPP was replete with painful truths that any time the party allowed its loyalty to be focused on individuals or groups of people the party found itself on the wrong side of history.
He, therefore, advised members of the party not to allow their selfish and parochial ethnic sentiments to derail the foundation of the party’s tradition and added that people must learn to bury their individual ambitions and ensure the collective interest of the NPP.
Touching on the 14-month rule of the NDC’s Mr Bin–Salih said it had failed Ghanaians by breaking most of its electoral promises. Prominent among these, he said, was the government reneging on the payment of the initial start-up contribution of GH¢200 million towards the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority and an annual contribution of GH¢ 100 million each year for 20 years.
“Also the NDC government has not been able to put money in our pockets. The safety and security of most Ghanaians are in danger. We are collapsing under filth after they promised to clear the nation of filth within 100 days in the office”, he noted
Mr Bin–Salih used the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected national executive and urged them to live up to the challenge of bringing the party back to power.
He, however, suggested that the choice of a running mate should be based on competence and not religion.
Addressing a press conference in Wa, he said the party should focus its campaign in the three northern regions which have shown steady support for the NPP since 1996.
“Former President Kufuor and Vice-President Aliu Mahama should also be courted to actively participate in the recapturing votes exercise while the youth and women wings of our great party must be adequately resourced”, he added
According to him, in order to rebuild the party “we need to have a sense of unity and the belief in the absolute supremacy of the NPP and take full responsibility for our actions”.
Mr Bin-Salih noted that for the party to be able to leap from opposition to power, it must remain attractive, visible, show the potential of winning the 2012 election, avoid self-destructive tendencies and offer constructive proposals.
“Let us not be deceived into thinking that because of the lack of inspirational leadership on the part of President Mills as well as the economic mismanagement, media oppression, human rights abuse, high cost of living, reckless use of political power and the deliberate frustration of genuine Ghanaian businesses and people who are perceived to be sympathisers of NPP are sufficient grounds for the NPP to secure power from the NDC in 2012 on a silver platter. We must recognise that after all, power is not given but taken”, he said
Mr Bin-Salih pointed out that for the NPP to recapture power there was the need to rekindle the spirit which guided the forebears of the party to establish the United Party in 1957 which also made the Danquah–Busia–Dombo tradition unique because it brought on board people of diverse ethnic and religious persuasions, yet they were able to get along very well.
He recalled that the political history of the NPP was replete with painful truths that any time the party allowed its loyalty to be focused on individuals or groups of people the party found itself on the wrong side of history.
He, therefore, advised members of the party not to allow their selfish and parochial ethnic sentiments to derail the foundation of the party’s tradition and added that people must learn to bury their individual ambitions and ensure the collective interest of the NPP.
Touching on the 14-month rule of the NDC’s Mr Bin–Salih said it had failed Ghanaians by breaking most of its electoral promises. Prominent among these, he said, was the government reneging on the payment of the initial start-up contribution of GH¢200 million towards the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority and an annual contribution of GH¢ 100 million each year for 20 years.
“Also the NDC government has not been able to put money in our pockets. The safety and security of most Ghanaians are in danger. We are collapsing under filth after they promised to clear the nation of filth within 100 days in the office”, he noted
Mr Bin–Salih used the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected national executive and urged them to live up to the challenge of bringing the party back to power.
Friday, March 12, 2010
NDC POLICIES ARE HELPING NATION (PAGE 15, MARCH 12, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Eric Dakura has said President J. E. Mills is indirectly putting money into the pockets of Ghanaians through a number of initiatives.
He said the provision of free school uniforms, exercise books, expansion of the National School Feeding Programme, among others, was a clear indication and therefore, called on opponents of the party to give praise where it was due.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Dakura, said it was only under the present government that contracts could be awarded to all Ghanaians, including members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) “yet they complain that the President was not putting money in their pockets.
“The President cares and will surely deliver the better Ghana agenda. Our dear brothers and sisters in NPP should be patient”, he added
He said it was true that the NDC promised Ghanaians a better Ghana and would surely make the country a better place to live in.
Responding to claims that the party was reneging on its promises, Mr Dakura said it was far from the truth, adding that the promise made to the people of the Northern Region would be fulfilled particularly on the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).
“The President will provide SADA with the GH¢ 200 million start – up capital but the revelations at Ghana @ 50 Commission had delayed the process.
He, therefore, called on all well – wishers of the North to commend President Mills and his team on their performance.
According to him, the mess created before the NPP left office needed tough measures to put things back on track and this the NDC was doing.
He said the provision of free school uniforms, exercise books, expansion of the National School Feeding Programme, among others, was a clear indication and therefore, called on opponents of the party to give praise where it was due.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Dakura, said it was only under the present government that contracts could be awarded to all Ghanaians, including members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) “yet they complain that the President was not putting money in their pockets.
“The President cares and will surely deliver the better Ghana agenda. Our dear brothers and sisters in NPP should be patient”, he added
He said it was true that the NDC promised Ghanaians a better Ghana and would surely make the country a better place to live in.
Responding to claims that the party was reneging on its promises, Mr Dakura said it was far from the truth, adding that the promise made to the people of the Northern Region would be fulfilled particularly on the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).
“The President will provide SADA with the GH¢ 200 million start – up capital but the revelations at Ghana @ 50 Commission had delayed the process.
He, therefore, called on all well – wishers of the North to commend President Mills and his team on their performance.
According to him, the mess created before the NPP left office needed tough measures to put things back on track and this the NDC was doing.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
CSM, THE SITUATION UP NORTH (PAGE 27, MARCH 11, 2010)
THE recent report of the outbreak of the deadly cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) which killed 17 people and caused the hospitalisation of close to 100 others in the Upper West Region came as a surprise to most people in the region.
This is because the regional directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has over the years been educating the people on how to prevent the disease from attacking them. Meningitis is not a new disease in Ghana and for that matter the Upper West Region. Almost everybody knows it and calls it CSM. The only new thing about it this year, is the new type of bacteria causing the disease, W135.
It can occur any time of the year whether during the rainy season or the dry season but the attack is usually severe in the dry, hot and dusty season as such the weather being experienced currently is suitable for CSM.
The disease comes with many symptoms with the most common ones being headaches, fever, stiffness of neck, loss of appetite, vomiting and inability to tolerate light or loud noise, confusion or altered consciousness.
CSM is spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing and spitting especially in overcrowded and poorly ventilated places such as funerals, festivals, market squares, churches, mosques and schools. As the infected person coughs or sneezes the bacteria is released into the air. If the place is crowded without enough ventilation the bacteria circulates within that place and find their way into the nostrils or throat of the nearest person.
The disease can attack everybody but children are more vulnerable because they have the lower resistance.
“A person whose immunity is low is also at risk of getting the disease while people who live in overcrowded places like prisons and boarding schools are more likely to be affected,” said the Upper West regional director of Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Alexis Naa-beifubah.
He gave the breakdown of meningitis cases and deaths recorded since 2005 to 2009 as
YEAR – cases deaths fatality rate
2005 105 11 10.5
2006 98 25 25.5
2007 69 10 14.4
2008 114 9 9.6
2009 86 9 10.5
The prevention method, according to health authorities, was by taking in a lot of water and sleeping in well-ventilated rooms or if possible sleeping outside especially during the dry season when temperatures rise from about 40 to 45 degrees Celsius during the day and about 30 to 35 degrees Celsius in the night. One must report early to the nearest health facility when experiencing one or more of the symptoms as the health professional will help identify the cause of those symptoms and offer treatment. Others are people must cover their nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing and also support their village volunteers to report all hidden cases of any unusual condition to the health authorities. The body of a person who die of CSM must be buried immediately and at the approved cemetery.
“Accept isolation of your relative who has CSM as it is not a dishonour if your relative is isolated or quarantined. This is to stop the bacteria from getting you and the rest of your family members,” said Dr Naa-beifubah.
He said people should not panic and forcefully demand immunisation and that the CSM vaccine could protect people for three years, therefore, if people received the vaccine a year or two ago they were still protected.
With the various sensitisation programmes by the GHS, one would have thought that people would have heeded the advice of health personnel but to no avail. Some of the easiest causes of the disease are attributed to the lack of ventilation and crowding, yet the kind of building put up by people of northern Ghana does not give room for ventillation. This is because most of the buildings have very small openings (at times two) which serve as windows.
Even in some cases some of these openings have rubber sheets being used to cover them with the excuse that the sheet would prevent dust from entering the room.
This practice is very common in the villages and the Wa municipality, particularly, in the densely populated suburbs, like limaayiri, Zongo, Sokpoyiri, among others. A habit acquired over a period of time is very difficult to be dispensed with and it is in the light of this that the GHS should intensify its education immediately the rainy season ends around August every year.
The harmattan season starts around November till somewhere around January ending to mid-February. It is possible that the people might have certain beliefs which make them not to think that the disease was a medical one. Some villagers interviewed believed that the recent calamity was as a result of some wrongdoings in their society to which the gods must be pacified.
One old lady spoken to on a market day in Wa wondered why for almost 10 years there had not been any serious outbreak of the disease in the region and, therefore, appealed to those communities affected to offer sacrifices to appease their gods.
One would discount this claim but this is the belief of the people and it is very important that these beliefs are not wished away. It is in this regard that this writer would suggest that an integrated approach be adopted by factoring in the beliefs of the people during sensitisation programmes by health personnel. This could be done by involving them in the educational programmes; that is, it should be participatory with people deeply involved in the implementation of such activities.
This is because the people may have some indigenous knowledge of the disease and its prevention, which the health authorities may not be aware of.
This, when done, would go a long way to disabuse the minds of the people and also enable the people to have a broader knowledge of CSM.
This is because the regional directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has over the years been educating the people on how to prevent the disease from attacking them. Meningitis is not a new disease in Ghana and for that matter the Upper West Region. Almost everybody knows it and calls it CSM. The only new thing about it this year, is the new type of bacteria causing the disease, W135.
It can occur any time of the year whether during the rainy season or the dry season but the attack is usually severe in the dry, hot and dusty season as such the weather being experienced currently is suitable for CSM.
The disease comes with many symptoms with the most common ones being headaches, fever, stiffness of neck, loss of appetite, vomiting and inability to tolerate light or loud noise, confusion or altered consciousness.
CSM is spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing and spitting especially in overcrowded and poorly ventilated places such as funerals, festivals, market squares, churches, mosques and schools. As the infected person coughs or sneezes the bacteria is released into the air. If the place is crowded without enough ventilation the bacteria circulates within that place and find their way into the nostrils or throat of the nearest person.
The disease can attack everybody but children are more vulnerable because they have the lower resistance.
“A person whose immunity is low is also at risk of getting the disease while people who live in overcrowded places like prisons and boarding schools are more likely to be affected,” said the Upper West regional director of Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Alexis Naa-beifubah.
He gave the breakdown of meningitis cases and deaths recorded since 2005 to 2009 as
YEAR – cases deaths fatality rate
2005 105 11 10.5
2006 98 25 25.5
2007 69 10 14.4
2008 114 9 9.6
2009 86 9 10.5
The prevention method, according to health authorities, was by taking in a lot of water and sleeping in well-ventilated rooms or if possible sleeping outside especially during the dry season when temperatures rise from about 40 to 45 degrees Celsius during the day and about 30 to 35 degrees Celsius in the night. One must report early to the nearest health facility when experiencing one or more of the symptoms as the health professional will help identify the cause of those symptoms and offer treatment. Others are people must cover their nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing and also support their village volunteers to report all hidden cases of any unusual condition to the health authorities. The body of a person who die of CSM must be buried immediately and at the approved cemetery.
“Accept isolation of your relative who has CSM as it is not a dishonour if your relative is isolated or quarantined. This is to stop the bacteria from getting you and the rest of your family members,” said Dr Naa-beifubah.
He said people should not panic and forcefully demand immunisation and that the CSM vaccine could protect people for three years, therefore, if people received the vaccine a year or two ago they were still protected.
With the various sensitisation programmes by the GHS, one would have thought that people would have heeded the advice of health personnel but to no avail. Some of the easiest causes of the disease are attributed to the lack of ventilation and crowding, yet the kind of building put up by people of northern Ghana does not give room for ventillation. This is because most of the buildings have very small openings (at times two) which serve as windows.
Even in some cases some of these openings have rubber sheets being used to cover them with the excuse that the sheet would prevent dust from entering the room.
This practice is very common in the villages and the Wa municipality, particularly, in the densely populated suburbs, like limaayiri, Zongo, Sokpoyiri, among others. A habit acquired over a period of time is very difficult to be dispensed with and it is in the light of this that the GHS should intensify its education immediately the rainy season ends around August every year.
The harmattan season starts around November till somewhere around January ending to mid-February. It is possible that the people might have certain beliefs which make them not to think that the disease was a medical one. Some villagers interviewed believed that the recent calamity was as a result of some wrongdoings in their society to which the gods must be pacified.
One old lady spoken to on a market day in Wa wondered why for almost 10 years there had not been any serious outbreak of the disease in the region and, therefore, appealed to those communities affected to offer sacrifices to appease their gods.
One would discount this claim but this is the belief of the people and it is very important that these beliefs are not wished away. It is in this regard that this writer would suggest that an integrated approach be adopted by factoring in the beliefs of the people during sensitisation programmes by health personnel. This could be done by involving them in the educational programmes; that is, it should be participatory with people deeply involved in the implementation of such activities.
This is because the people may have some indigenous knowledge of the disease and its prevention, which the health authorities may not be aware of.
This, when done, would go a long way to disabuse the minds of the people and also enable the people to have a broader knowledge of CSM.
Monday, March 8, 2010
U/W POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED ROBBER (PAGE 34, MARCH 8, 2010)
THE Upper West Police Command has arrested a Fulani man described as a notorious robber engaged in cross-border crimes between Ghana and Burkina Faso.
The 30-year-old suspect, Diallo Mousa, alias Souley Amadou or Sulley Mogo Beega, was arrested with the assistance of the Burkinabe authorities.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Wa, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Alex Bedie, said his outfit liaised with its Burkinabe counterpart to track down Mousa.
He said the suspect, who is currently on court bail, in spite of protestations by the police, had been involved in several robbery cases in the Upper West Region, particularly on the Babile-Nandom and the Gwollu–Nandom roads.
He said information obtained from Burkina Faso revealed that the suspect had been convicted to 12–30 months in prison for robbery between 1999 and 2002.
He said the suspect was also wanted by the Gendarmeries unit of Ouessa in the Burkina Faso, where he is alleged to be the head of a gangster group responsible for a number of robberies in Leo in the Sissili District, on April 12, 2009 and in Niego on May 10, 2009 before taking refuge in Ghana.
He appealed to the courts to co-operate with the police to deal with suspected robbers instead of always granting them bail.
According to ACP Bedie, granting bail to suspected armed robbers demoralised the police who risked their lives in such dangerous operations.
The 30-year-old suspect, Diallo Mousa, alias Souley Amadou or Sulley Mogo Beega, was arrested with the assistance of the Burkinabe authorities.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Wa, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Alex Bedie, said his outfit liaised with its Burkinabe counterpart to track down Mousa.
He said the suspect, who is currently on court bail, in spite of protestations by the police, had been involved in several robbery cases in the Upper West Region, particularly on the Babile-Nandom and the Gwollu–Nandom roads.
He said information obtained from Burkina Faso revealed that the suspect had been convicted to 12–30 months in prison for robbery between 1999 and 2002.
He said the suspect was also wanted by the Gendarmeries unit of Ouessa in the Burkina Faso, where he is alleged to be the head of a gangster group responsible for a number of robberies in Leo in the Sissili District, on April 12, 2009 and in Niego on May 10, 2009 before taking refuge in Ghana.
He appealed to the courts to co-operate with the police to deal with suspected robbers instead of always granting them bail.
According to ACP Bedie, granting bail to suspected armed robbers demoralised the police who risked their lives in such dangerous operations.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
DOCTORS FIGHT OVER EYE PROJECT (PAGE 23, MIRROR, MARCH 6, 2010)
From George Folley, Wa
An eye screening and cataract surgery scheduled to take place in the Lawra, Jirapa, Nandom and Lambussie areas in the Upper West Region has been called off due to the alleged refusal of the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Alexis Nang-Beifuba, to sanction it.
It was alleged that Dr Nang-Beifuba’s reason for not allowing the screening to take place was that he had not been consulted.
As a result of this, 200 people who were to benefit from the exercise, sponsored by the Ghana International Women’s Club, have their fate hanging in the balance.
According to Dr Thomas Tontie Baah, the ophthalmologist who was to undertake the exercise with the support of his three American eye specialists friends who had travelled from the United States to Wa, after several attempts without success, he decided to call it off.
Giving the background to the issue, he said on November 5, 2009, he wrote a letter to the Minister of Health through the regional director with the intention to carry out the exercise in conjunction with Dr Seth Wanye and Dr Felix Ahorsu who are the Northern and Upper West regional ophthalmologists, respectively at the Lawra Government Hospital.
He said the exercise could not come on for unforeseen circumstances.
Dr Baah said he then contacted the Wa Islamic Hospital which readily agreed to release its facilities for the exercise and also went ahead to invite the three American eye specialists to enable them acquire Ghanaian visas to travel down to Ghana.
He said, after the arrival of the Americans, February 15 to March 15, 2010 was fixed for the exercise.
“We arrived at the weekend when all was set for the exercise and when I went to inform him of our presence in the region, he was very hostile towards us for not informing him and warned us not to undertake the exercise since he was neither consulted nor involved. Ironically, we were mates at the Medical School and all Upper Westerners and I thought he would put aside any ill-feelings, just for the sake of our people”.
I have not done anything wrong to warrant this and I expected him to treat me as a brother. May be, he has a personal grudge against me but this should not be to the detriment of the people”, he lamented
Dr Baah, therefore, called on people who have the Upper West at heart to prevail upon Dr Nang-Beifubah to change his hostile attitude towards the exercise.
When contacted, Dr Nang-Beifubah said Dr Baah did not pass through the right channel before coming to the region.
He said after writing to the eye care secretariat in Accra on his intention to undertake the exercise, Dr Baah should have waited for the go ahead but did not and therefore, flouted the laid down procedure.
“In any case, Dr Baah is from Tumu in the Sissala East district and should better come home to serve his people rather than undertake such exercises”, he added.
An eye screening and cataract surgery scheduled to take place in the Lawra, Jirapa, Nandom and Lambussie areas in the Upper West Region has been called off due to the alleged refusal of the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Alexis Nang-Beifuba, to sanction it.
It was alleged that Dr Nang-Beifuba’s reason for not allowing the screening to take place was that he had not been consulted.
As a result of this, 200 people who were to benefit from the exercise, sponsored by the Ghana International Women’s Club, have their fate hanging in the balance.
According to Dr Thomas Tontie Baah, the ophthalmologist who was to undertake the exercise with the support of his three American eye specialists friends who had travelled from the United States to Wa, after several attempts without success, he decided to call it off.
Giving the background to the issue, he said on November 5, 2009, he wrote a letter to the Minister of Health through the regional director with the intention to carry out the exercise in conjunction with Dr Seth Wanye and Dr Felix Ahorsu who are the Northern and Upper West regional ophthalmologists, respectively at the Lawra Government Hospital.
He said the exercise could not come on for unforeseen circumstances.
Dr Baah said he then contacted the Wa Islamic Hospital which readily agreed to release its facilities for the exercise and also went ahead to invite the three American eye specialists to enable them acquire Ghanaian visas to travel down to Ghana.
He said, after the arrival of the Americans, February 15 to March 15, 2010 was fixed for the exercise.
“We arrived at the weekend when all was set for the exercise and when I went to inform him of our presence in the region, he was very hostile towards us for not informing him and warned us not to undertake the exercise since he was neither consulted nor involved. Ironically, we were mates at the Medical School and all Upper Westerners and I thought he would put aside any ill-feelings, just for the sake of our people”.
I have not done anything wrong to warrant this and I expected him to treat me as a brother. May be, he has a personal grudge against me but this should not be to the detriment of the people”, he lamented
Dr Baah, therefore, called on people who have the Upper West at heart to prevail upon Dr Nang-Beifubah to change his hostile attitude towards the exercise.
When contacted, Dr Nang-Beifubah said Dr Baah did not pass through the right channel before coming to the region.
He said after writing to the eye care secretariat in Accra on his intention to undertake the exercise, Dr Baah should have waited for the go ahead but did not and therefore, flouted the laid down procedure.
“In any case, Dr Baah is from Tumu in the Sissala East district and should better come home to serve his people rather than undertake such exercises”, he added.
MAINTAIN SOUTH-NORTH PARTNERSHIP — BIN-SALIH (PAGE 14, MARCH 6, 2010)
THE Upper West Second Vice-chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin-Salih, has urged the leadership of the party to maintain the south-north pairing of the presidential ticket for the 2012 general election.
He, however, suggested that the choice of a running mate should be based on competence and not religion.
Addressing a news conference in Wa, Mr Bin-Salih said the party should therefore focus its campaign on the three northern regions, which had shown steady increase in the support base of the NPP since 1996.
“Former President Kufuor and Vice- President Aliu Mahama should also be courted to actively participate in the recapturing exercise while the youth and women wing of our great party must be adequately resourced,” he added.
According to him, in order to rebuild the party “we need to have a sense of unity and the belief in the absolute supremacy of the NPP and take full responsibility for our actions”.
Mr Bin-Salih stated that for the party to be able to leap from opposition to power, it must remain attractive, visible and show the potential of winning the 2012 general election and avoid self-destructive tendencies and offer constructive propositions.
“Let us not be deceived into thinking that the lack of inspirational leadership on the part of President Mills as well as the economic mismanagement, media oppression, human rights abuse, high cost of living, reckless use of political power and the deliberate frustration of genuine Ghanaian business people who are perceived to be sympathisers of NPP, are sufficient grounds for the NPP to secure power from the NDC in 2012 on a silver platter. We must recognise that after all power is not given but taken,” he said
Mr Bin-Salih pointed out that for the NPP to recapture power, there was the need to rekindle the spirit which guided the forebears of the party to establish the United Party in 1957, which made the Danquah - Busia -Dombo tradition unique because it brought on board people of diverse ethnic and religious persuasions, yet they were able to get along very well.
He recalled that the political history of the NPP was replete with painful truths that anytime it allowed her loyalty to go to individuals or groups of people, the party found itself on the wrong side of history.
He, therefore, advised members of the party not to allow their selfish and parochial ethnic sentiments to derail the foundation of the party’s tradition, adding that people must learn to bury their individual ambitions just for the collective interest of the NPP.
Touching on the 14 months of the NDC rule, Mr Bin-Salih said the party had failed Ghanaians by breaking most of its electoral promises.
“The NDC government has not been able to put money in our pockets. The safety and security of most Ghanaians are in danger. We are collapsing under filth after they promised to clear the nation of filth within 100 days in office,” he stated.
Mr Bin-Salih used the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected national executive and urged them to be up to the challenge of bringing the party back to power.
He, however, suggested that the choice of a running mate should be based on competence and not religion.
Addressing a news conference in Wa, Mr Bin-Salih said the party should therefore focus its campaign on the three northern regions, which had shown steady increase in the support base of the NPP since 1996.
“Former President Kufuor and Vice- President Aliu Mahama should also be courted to actively participate in the recapturing exercise while the youth and women wing of our great party must be adequately resourced,” he added.
According to him, in order to rebuild the party “we need to have a sense of unity and the belief in the absolute supremacy of the NPP and take full responsibility for our actions”.
Mr Bin-Salih stated that for the party to be able to leap from opposition to power, it must remain attractive, visible and show the potential of winning the 2012 general election and avoid self-destructive tendencies and offer constructive propositions.
“Let us not be deceived into thinking that the lack of inspirational leadership on the part of President Mills as well as the economic mismanagement, media oppression, human rights abuse, high cost of living, reckless use of political power and the deliberate frustration of genuine Ghanaian business people who are perceived to be sympathisers of NPP, are sufficient grounds for the NPP to secure power from the NDC in 2012 on a silver platter. We must recognise that after all power is not given but taken,” he said
Mr Bin-Salih pointed out that for the NPP to recapture power, there was the need to rekindle the spirit which guided the forebears of the party to establish the United Party in 1957, which made the Danquah - Busia -Dombo tradition unique because it brought on board people of diverse ethnic and religious persuasions, yet they were able to get along very well.
He recalled that the political history of the NPP was replete with painful truths that anytime it allowed her loyalty to go to individuals or groups of people, the party found itself on the wrong side of history.
He, therefore, advised members of the party not to allow their selfish and parochial ethnic sentiments to derail the foundation of the party’s tradition, adding that people must learn to bury their individual ambitions just for the collective interest of the NPP.
Touching on the 14 months of the NDC rule, Mr Bin-Salih said the party had failed Ghanaians by breaking most of its electoral promises.
“The NDC government has not been able to put money in our pockets. The safety and security of most Ghanaians are in danger. We are collapsing under filth after they promised to clear the nation of filth within 100 days in office,” he stated.
Mr Bin-Salih used the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected national executive and urged them to be up to the challenge of bringing the party back to power.
THREE WA ROYAL GATES APPEAL AGAINST JUDGEMENT (PAGE 23, MARCH 6, 2010)
THREE royal gates involved in the Wa chieftaincy affairs have filed a notice of appeal at the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi against the judgement of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs to recognise Naa Fusieni Seidu Pelpuo as the paramount chief of the Wala Traditional Area.
The appeal filed on January 29, 2010, challenges the entire judgement of the Judicial Committee of the Regional House of Chiefs and the entire cost awarded against the petitioners in the case, namely the Gbotoree Naa Alhaji Issah Bukari, the Sing Naa Mumuni Saaka and Mr Bomson Seidu Hamidu.
The three gates are Yijiihi, Najeri and Jonyuohi. Apart from those three gates, there is another gate, Nakpaha, making it a total of four gates in the Wala Traditional Area.
Addressing a news conference in Wa, the spokesman of the three gates, Naa Jamal Kpeglah, said the appeal also sought reliefs that the judgement of the judicial committee be set aside with the reliefs being sought by the petitioners in their substantive petition be granted.
He stated that the three gates had been sufficiently advised by their counsel that under the requirement of the law, Sections 34 and 62 of Act 759 (Chieftaincy Act, 2008) operate as a stay of execution.
“We, therefore, pray and crave the indulgence of all well-meaning citizens of Wa and Ghana as a whole to help uphold the rule of law and the maintenance of peace that has prevailed in Wa,” he said.
Naa Kpeglah commended the people of the Wala Traditional Area for the mature and able manner they handled the chieftaincy dispute, notably in a peaceful way.
He mentioned in particular their conduct and that of the security personnel for the high professionalism they exhibited in the maintenance of peace and security in the Wa Municipality before, during and after the ruling of the Regional House of Chiefs.
Naa Kpeglah, however, cautioned the security services and the Regional Security Council in particular that information reaching the three gates indicated that in spite of the painstaking legal procedures that “we are following to seek proper redress, some persons are holding out themselves as chiefs of Wa and conducting business as such.”
“We thereby appeal to the authorities that they should help maintain law and order and also the rule of law to prevail in Wa. I wish to emphasise that we believe in due process and have the confidence that the truth shall always prevail,” he added.
It would be recalled that the Daily Graphic, in its February 3, 2010 edition, published that the Judicial Committee of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs had thrown out a petition challenging the enskinment and outdooring of Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo as the Wa Naa.
The petitioners in the case had sought, among others, reliefs that the meeting of kingmakers for the election of Wa Naa on January 19, 2007 was null and void and of no effect.
However, after three years of hearing, judgement was entered in favour of the defendant and cost awarded against the petitioners.
The appeal filed on January 29, 2010, challenges the entire judgement of the Judicial Committee of the Regional House of Chiefs and the entire cost awarded against the petitioners in the case, namely the Gbotoree Naa Alhaji Issah Bukari, the Sing Naa Mumuni Saaka and Mr Bomson Seidu Hamidu.
The three gates are Yijiihi, Najeri and Jonyuohi. Apart from those three gates, there is another gate, Nakpaha, making it a total of four gates in the Wala Traditional Area.
Addressing a news conference in Wa, the spokesman of the three gates, Naa Jamal Kpeglah, said the appeal also sought reliefs that the judgement of the judicial committee be set aside with the reliefs being sought by the petitioners in their substantive petition be granted.
He stated that the three gates had been sufficiently advised by their counsel that under the requirement of the law, Sections 34 and 62 of Act 759 (Chieftaincy Act, 2008) operate as a stay of execution.
“We, therefore, pray and crave the indulgence of all well-meaning citizens of Wa and Ghana as a whole to help uphold the rule of law and the maintenance of peace that has prevailed in Wa,” he said.
Naa Kpeglah commended the people of the Wala Traditional Area for the mature and able manner they handled the chieftaincy dispute, notably in a peaceful way.
He mentioned in particular their conduct and that of the security personnel for the high professionalism they exhibited in the maintenance of peace and security in the Wa Municipality before, during and after the ruling of the Regional House of Chiefs.
Naa Kpeglah, however, cautioned the security services and the Regional Security Council in particular that information reaching the three gates indicated that in spite of the painstaking legal procedures that “we are following to seek proper redress, some persons are holding out themselves as chiefs of Wa and conducting business as such.”
“We thereby appeal to the authorities that they should help maintain law and order and also the rule of law to prevail in Wa. I wish to emphasise that we believe in due process and have the confidence that the truth shall always prevail,” he added.
It would be recalled that the Daily Graphic, in its February 3, 2010 edition, published that the Judicial Committee of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs had thrown out a petition challenging the enskinment and outdooring of Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo as the Wa Naa.
The petitioners in the case had sought, among others, reliefs that the meeting of kingmakers for the election of Wa Naa on January 19, 2007 was null and void and of no effect.
However, after three years of hearing, judgement was entered in favour of the defendant and cost awarded against the petitioners.
PARADES MARK 53RD INDECE ANNIVERSAY (1b, MARCH 6, 2010)
Story: George Foley, Wa
GHANA is marking 53 years of independence from British colonial rule today and as part of the activities there are independence parades involving schoolchildren, members of the security services and civil society organisations throughout the country.
At the Independence Square where the national parade is being held, President John Evans Atta Mills will receive the salute during the historic ceremony that will also be characterised by acrobatic displays, as well as a showpiece of military artistry.
This year’s ceremony is dedicated to the memory of the country’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The programme, expected to begin at 9 a.m., will be attended by Ministers, Parliamentarians, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and traditional rulers.
Similar parades are being held throughout the country at the regional and district levels where the Regional Ministers and District Chief Executives (DCEs) will receive the salute on behalf of the President.
Meanwhile, reports from Wa in the Upper West Region indicate that the parade will start at 6.30 a.m. because of the intensity of the sun, which meteorologists say will be uncomfortable.
All the district capitals in the region will also begin their programmes from 6.30 a.m. and end them by 8 a.m.
In the past six years, Independence celebrations usually began at 7 a.m. but the unfriendly weather this year that has seen temperatures sometimes rising as high as 40 degrees Celsius has necessitated the change in time.
As usual, sachet water sellers are expected to take advantage of the heat to rake in a lot of money at the various ceremonial grounds.
Amina Salifu, a businesswoman, told the Daily Graphic that she had since Monday stocked five deep freezers with bags of sachet water.
“I expect to make money on Saturday because a lot of people will patronise it,” she added.
There are indications of a competitive parade as the selected schools have rehearsed their act to win the coveted prize money and other awards at stake.
Most participating schools have also gone in for specially designed footwear, sunglasses and special badges to mark the day.
One school that is participating in Independence celebrations for the first time, Our Home International School, has expressed its intention to win the prize money in the primary category.
The Proprietor of the school, Mr Dauda Khalid, said it was an honour for the school to be selected for the parade and promised to give stiff competition to the other schools who seemed to have gained experience from the celebrations.
GHANA is marking 53 years of independence from British colonial rule today and as part of the activities there are independence parades involving schoolchildren, members of the security services and civil society organisations throughout the country.
At the Independence Square where the national parade is being held, President John Evans Atta Mills will receive the salute during the historic ceremony that will also be characterised by acrobatic displays, as well as a showpiece of military artistry.
This year’s ceremony is dedicated to the memory of the country’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The programme, expected to begin at 9 a.m., will be attended by Ministers, Parliamentarians, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and traditional rulers.
Similar parades are being held throughout the country at the regional and district levels where the Regional Ministers and District Chief Executives (DCEs) will receive the salute on behalf of the President.
Meanwhile, reports from Wa in the Upper West Region indicate that the parade will start at 6.30 a.m. because of the intensity of the sun, which meteorologists say will be uncomfortable.
All the district capitals in the region will also begin their programmes from 6.30 a.m. and end them by 8 a.m.
In the past six years, Independence celebrations usually began at 7 a.m. but the unfriendly weather this year that has seen temperatures sometimes rising as high as 40 degrees Celsius has necessitated the change in time.
As usual, sachet water sellers are expected to take advantage of the heat to rake in a lot of money at the various ceremonial grounds.
Amina Salifu, a businesswoman, told the Daily Graphic that she had since Monday stocked five deep freezers with bags of sachet water.
“I expect to make money on Saturday because a lot of people will patronise it,” she added.
There are indications of a competitive parade as the selected schools have rehearsed their act to win the coveted prize money and other awards at stake.
Most participating schools have also gone in for specially designed footwear, sunglasses and special badges to mark the day.
One school that is participating in Independence celebrations for the first time, Our Home International School, has expressed its intention to win the prize money in the primary category.
The Proprietor of the school, Mr Dauda Khalid, said it was an honour for the school to be selected for the parade and promised to give stiff competition to the other schools who seemed to have gained experience from the celebrations.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
BAGBIN, PELPUO'S APPOINTMENTS HAILED (PAGE 15, MARCH 3, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described as welcome news the recent appointment of Mr Alban Bagbin and Mr Rashid Pelpuo as Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing and Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament respectively.
According to the party, the performance of the two personalities in Ghanaian politics stood tall among the whole lot.
“They have always projected positively Ghana’s democracy at both national and international levels, which is highly commendable,” the party added.
In a statement issued in Wa by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Eric Dakura, the NDC also commended the President, Professor J.E.A. Mills, for honouring the region with the appointment of Dr Benjamin Kunbuor and Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh as Ministers of State, and said these citizens of the region would continue to serve mother Ghana diligently.
The statement said the region, had always got its due share of appointments from the NDC and was, therefore, grateful.
The NDC condemned the recent statement made by an NPP sympathiser, Nana Darkwa, on a radio station concerning the fire outbreak at former President J.J. Rawlings’s house, and therefore, urged Nana Darkwa to demonstrate respect for leaders and elders in society.
“We ought to condemn Nana Darkwa’s action and urge him to be ethically upright by respecting leaders, since he will also be a leader tomorrow,” the statement concluded.
According to the party, the performance of the two personalities in Ghanaian politics stood tall among the whole lot.
“They have always projected positively Ghana’s democracy at both national and international levels, which is highly commendable,” the party added.
In a statement issued in Wa by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Eric Dakura, the NDC also commended the President, Professor J.E.A. Mills, for honouring the region with the appointment of Dr Benjamin Kunbuor and Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh as Ministers of State, and said these citizens of the region would continue to serve mother Ghana diligently.
The statement said the region, had always got its due share of appointments from the NDC and was, therefore, grateful.
The NDC condemned the recent statement made by an NPP sympathiser, Nana Darkwa, on a radio station concerning the fire outbreak at former President J.J. Rawlings’s house, and therefore, urged Nana Darkwa to demonstrate respect for leaders and elders in society.
“We ought to condemn Nana Darkwa’s action and urge him to be ethically upright by respecting leaders, since he will also be a leader tomorrow,” the statement concluded.
Monday, March 1, 2010
WATER RATIONING IN WA (PAGE 21, FEB 26, 2010)
AQUA Vitens Rand, operators of the Ghana Water Company Limited, has started rationing water in the Wa Municipality.
The rationing is being done in order to reach all the consumer public. The situation, which is a seasonal phenomenon, has persisted for sometime now.
Wa is the only place in the country where boreholes have been drilled with water being pumped into a reservoir for treatment before supply.
As a result of that, during the dry season when the water table becomes low, there is always difficulty in meeting the water needs of the public.
Addressing the media on the water situation in the municipality, the Upper West Regional Chief Operator of Aqua Vitens Rand, Mr A.T. Suleimana, said the rationing was based on a roster such that no part of the municipality was left out.
He said the situation had resulted in complaints and fabrication of stories such that it was a deliberate attempt to deny the consumer public of water.
Suleimana was however, happy to state that feedback from the public indicated that people were satisfied with the roster system.
“The frequent power outages also affect the production process since all our pumps are power driven so if there is no power, then we have a problem,” he added.
Mr Suleimana gave the assurance that all efforts were being made to satisfy residents of Wa, and prayed that residents would understand the situation.
The rationing is being done in order to reach all the consumer public. The situation, which is a seasonal phenomenon, has persisted for sometime now.
Wa is the only place in the country where boreholes have been drilled with water being pumped into a reservoir for treatment before supply.
As a result of that, during the dry season when the water table becomes low, there is always difficulty in meeting the water needs of the public.
Addressing the media on the water situation in the municipality, the Upper West Regional Chief Operator of Aqua Vitens Rand, Mr A.T. Suleimana, said the rationing was based on a roster such that no part of the municipality was left out.
He said the situation had resulted in complaints and fabrication of stories such that it was a deliberate attempt to deny the consumer public of water.
Suleimana was however, happy to state that feedback from the public indicated that people were satisfied with the roster system.
“The frequent power outages also affect the production process since all our pumps are power driven so if there is no power, then we have a problem,” he added.
Mr Suleimana gave the assurance that all efforts were being made to satisfy residents of Wa, and prayed that residents would understand the situation.
WA CAMPUS OF UDS LAUNCHES HALL WEEK CELEBRATION (PAGE 11, FEB 26, 2010)
THE Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has launched its maiden hall week celebration at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa, in the Upper West Region.
The week, which was on the theme “Championing academic excellence through residential system: Challenges and the way forward”, attracted all the halls of the campus.
The halls in the celebration, which is the first of its kind, are Cardinal Dery, Jubilee, Royal, Limann and Upper West.
The Wa campus has three faculties, namely Faculty for Integrated Development Studies (FIDS), Faculty for Planning and Land Management (FPLM) and Faculty for Education, Law and Business (FELB).
Launching the programme, Upper West Deputy Co-coordinating Director, Alhaji Issahaque Alhassan, said the celebration was a significant moment in the history of the Wa campus.
He said the campus, with three faculties now, was gradually moving to become a fully-fledged university in the region.
He noted that the celebration was a turning point in the activities of the campus, since it gave the students an identity, adding that “halls are necessary grounds for moulding future leaders of the country”.
He, therefore, advised the students to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the activities of the hall week, while taking their studies seriously.
Alhaji Alhassan called for transparency in the organisation of the celebration, particularly from the leadership of the various halls.
The Dean of the Faculty for the FIDS, Professor Abraham Berinyuu, said it was a sense of pride that the Wa campus was celebrating its first hall week celebration.
“It is a moment of journeying together and we are determined to make the Wa campus a place of history and academic excellence for the UDS,” he added.
He said the names of those chosen for the halls were done with due consideration and, therefore, advised the students to let their behaviour reflect in those names.
Professor Berinyuu noted that the Wa campus would continue to work hard, so that the hall week celebrations would surpass all other celebrations on university campuses.
For his part, an elated Dean of the Faculty of Planning and Land Management, Dr Francis Bacho, said from borrowed structures, the Wa campus now had five halls of residence.
He likened the hall system to that of a nuclear family back at home, and urged the students to use the opportunity to socialise with one another.
He said although a large number of students lived outside the campus, that should not discourage them from joining the celebration.
The chairman for the occasion, Dr Daniel Bagah, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Law and Business, commended the chiefs and people of the region for releasing land for the new site at Bamahu.
The week, which was on the theme “Championing academic excellence through residential system: Challenges and the way forward”, attracted all the halls of the campus.
The halls in the celebration, which is the first of its kind, are Cardinal Dery, Jubilee, Royal, Limann and Upper West.
The Wa campus has three faculties, namely Faculty for Integrated Development Studies (FIDS), Faculty for Planning and Land Management (FPLM) and Faculty for Education, Law and Business (FELB).
Launching the programme, Upper West Deputy Co-coordinating Director, Alhaji Issahaque Alhassan, said the celebration was a significant moment in the history of the Wa campus.
He said the campus, with three faculties now, was gradually moving to become a fully-fledged university in the region.
He noted that the celebration was a turning point in the activities of the campus, since it gave the students an identity, adding that “halls are necessary grounds for moulding future leaders of the country”.
He, therefore, advised the students to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the activities of the hall week, while taking their studies seriously.
Alhaji Alhassan called for transparency in the organisation of the celebration, particularly from the leadership of the various halls.
The Dean of the Faculty for the FIDS, Professor Abraham Berinyuu, said it was a sense of pride that the Wa campus was celebrating its first hall week celebration.
“It is a moment of journeying together and we are determined to make the Wa campus a place of history and academic excellence for the UDS,” he added.
He said the names of those chosen for the halls were done with due consideration and, therefore, advised the students to let their behaviour reflect in those names.
Professor Berinyuu noted that the Wa campus would continue to work hard, so that the hall week celebrations would surpass all other celebrations on university campuses.
For his part, an elated Dean of the Faculty of Planning and Land Management, Dr Francis Bacho, said from borrowed structures, the Wa campus now had five halls of residence.
He likened the hall system to that of a nuclear family back at home, and urged the students to use the opportunity to socialise with one another.
He said although a large number of students lived outside the campus, that should not discourage them from joining the celebration.
The chairman for the occasion, Dr Daniel Bagah, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Law and Business, commended the chiefs and people of the region for releasing land for the new site at Bamahu.
ENTRENCHED PROVISIONS GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY — DERIBA (PAGE 16, FEB 24, 2010)
A public servant in the Upper West Region, Mr David Mwinfor Deribaa, has observed that the current entrenched provisions in the Constitution (Article 78) for the President to appoint more than 50 per cent of his ministers from Parliament was a healthy sign for the promotion of harmony, cooperation and efficiency in government.
This situation is an improvement upon the 1979 Constitution which provided that if a member of Parliament was made a minister, he or she must resign from Parliament.
According to him, this led to the loss of very good and well-educated parliamentarians who vacated their seats to take up ministerial positions thus making the executive position in Parliament weak.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on a number of issues, Mr Deribaa, who is a land economist by profession, cited the rejection of the 1981 budget of the government of the late President Hilla Limann as an example where many of the parliamentarians were not effective and, therefore, voted against their own bill.
“This was an embarrassment to the then government which needed money to carry out its projects and programmes,” he added.
Dwelling more on separation of powers, Mr Deribaa noted that concentrating power in one and the same hand will eventually lead to tyranny and that the ordinary citizen would suffer since absolute power corrupts absolutely.
He said in Ghana the executive was part of the legislature in law-making and that “parliamentarians who are made ministers do not resign their seats in parliament as was the case under the 1979 Constitution; Parliamentarians must also approve the executive appointments by vetting, among others”.
Ghana, he said, therefore, practises the mixed system of government with an executive president and a cabinet made up of sitting parliamentarians and others who are responsible to the president.
Mr Deribaa said the checks and balances led to overlapping functions between the legislature and the executive to ensure unity, cooperation, understanding and efficiency which were essential ingredients for the development and progress of a country.
He, however, noted that the use of delegated legislation by the executive made the absolute separation of governmental powers impracticable.
The pressure on Parliament and the technical nature of some legislation require that Parliament gives part of its law-making function to a minister to make bye-laws or subsidiary legislation.
“Complete separation of powers of the legislature, executive and the judiciary is only in theory but its desirability and practicability are illusion in any modern constitution. As government is an organic whole, some form of separation is necessary and needed to ensure good governance”, he concluded.
This situation is an improvement upon the 1979 Constitution which provided that if a member of Parliament was made a minister, he or she must resign from Parliament.
According to him, this led to the loss of very good and well-educated parliamentarians who vacated their seats to take up ministerial positions thus making the executive position in Parliament weak.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on a number of issues, Mr Deribaa, who is a land economist by profession, cited the rejection of the 1981 budget of the government of the late President Hilla Limann as an example where many of the parliamentarians were not effective and, therefore, voted against their own bill.
“This was an embarrassment to the then government which needed money to carry out its projects and programmes,” he added.
Dwelling more on separation of powers, Mr Deribaa noted that concentrating power in one and the same hand will eventually lead to tyranny and that the ordinary citizen would suffer since absolute power corrupts absolutely.
He said in Ghana the executive was part of the legislature in law-making and that “parliamentarians who are made ministers do not resign their seats in parliament as was the case under the 1979 Constitution; Parliamentarians must also approve the executive appointments by vetting, among others”.
Ghana, he said, therefore, practises the mixed system of government with an executive president and a cabinet made up of sitting parliamentarians and others who are responsible to the president.
Mr Deribaa said the checks and balances led to overlapping functions between the legislature and the executive to ensure unity, cooperation, understanding and efficiency which were essential ingredients for the development and progress of a country.
He, however, noted that the use of delegated legislation by the executive made the absolute separation of governmental powers impracticable.
The pressure on Parliament and the technical nature of some legislation require that Parliament gives part of its law-making function to a minister to make bye-laws or subsidiary legislation.
“Complete separation of powers of the legislature, executive and the judiciary is only in theory but its desirability and practicability are illusion in any modern constitution. As government is an organic whole, some form of separation is necessary and needed to ensure good governance”, he concluded.
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