UPPER WEST SHOWS UNITY IN DIVERSITY (PAGE 16)

When it comes to poverty in Ghana, the Upper West Region, no doubt ranks first. However, there is one thing which has confounded people much to the surprise of the citizens of the region. This is the unity of purpose among the people, particularly the politicians known in the local parlance as “Tijaa Bungyeni” (we are all one).
The recent announcement of President J. E .A Mills’s nominees for the post of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCE) in the country in general raised a lot off furore, anger and demonstrations among other agitations. But in the Upper West region, the oneness of the people was evident as assembly members voted 100 per cent for the nominees as chief executives.
They are; Clement Benin, Lambussie-karni, Robert Wavei, Sissala West, Alijata Sulemana, Sissala East, and Abu Kasangbata, Nadowli.
The rest are; Duogu Yakubu, Wa Municipal, Seidu Tungbani, Wa West, Ameen Salifu, Wa East and Samson Abu, Lawra.
The trepidation and fear of people gave way to joy and happiness as the various assembly halls burst into songs, the sprinkling of powder on the MMDCE’s elect amidst dancing.
Perhaps with the exception of the Wa West district, where some 13 assembly members were alleged to have demanded GH¢1000 cedis each from the nominee, everything went on well.
The action of these assembly members was condemned and branded as traitors as all of them were said to be known NDC members.
Another district which also proved difficult was Wa East, but through diplomacy by the Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid and other party executive, the nominee, Ameen Salifu sailed through.
After the tension and manoeuvring, an over elated Mr Khalid expressed his profound gratitude to all the various district assemblies for their support and sense of maturity.
“Let me also thank the media in the region for their role in getting information down to the people,” he told the media.
Mr Khalid said the contribution of all stakeholders to the success story on the confirmation of the chief executives was an ample evidence that the region was ready to work with the government.
“Finally, let me thank everybody including members of the minority parties who understood and supported in the confirmation process,” he added.

NGO ASSISTS WA TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES (PAGE 30)

THE Wa community, just like other deprived areas, has its own challenges. Consequently, a number of community–based organisations and non–governmental organisations are complementing the efforts of the government to address these challenges.
One of such organisations is the Sung-Bawiara Foundation based in Wa. Sung-Bawiara, which means “kindness is not in vain” has three focus areas in its activities. These are assistance for orphans and needy children, particularly girls who are prone to risks, income-generating activities for needy women and support for people living with HIV/ AIDS.
Founded in 1999 by Mrs Christine Choka Seidu, a development worker, the foundation gives financial and material support as well as counselling to the underprivileged in the Wa municipality.
The Ghana Aids Commission and the Catholic Relief Service have each contributed GH¢2,000 and GH¢500 respectively towards the activities of the foundation.
“I make a personal contribution from my monthly salary to help support 15 needy orphans in their education while a number of foreign friends make occasional contributions of small amounts”, Mrs Seidu told the Daily Graphic.
The foundation ensures and relies on a deep understanding of local conditions not only the traditional background, but also the challenges posed by development.
“This knowledge enables us to make long lasting and positive interventions in the lives of at –risk girls, women in extremely difficult situations and people living with HIV/AIDS”, she added.
Over the years, the foundation has organised many sensitisation workshops for a number of identifiable groups, including barbers and saloon workers.
It has also supported many children to enrol in school and provided them with uniforms, footwears, books, among others in Chansa, while eight teenage commercial sex workers have been resettled through the collaborative efforts of the Catholic Relief Service.
Currently, the foundation is supplying food items to 45 children orphaned by HIV/AIDS as well as to 50 people living with the disease.
In spite of that, the foundation still faces some challenges, including inadequate funds to meet high demands from needy people and transportation.
On the way forward, Mrs Seidu said the foundation intended to support its target groups in the Wa municipality and its environs through the acquisition of vocational skills and income generating ventures.

WA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF MAKES STEADY PROGRESS (PAGE 30)

THE Wa School for the Deaf (WADEAF) has just celebrated its 40th anniversary on the theme: "40 years of education in the Upper West Region, achievements, challenges and the way forward".
The occasion attracted people from all walks of life who celebrated the day with the inmates of the school.
In attendance was the school’s band led by Mr Tia. History has it that, in 1967, one Lieutenantt-General Drummon of the Commonwealth Society for the Deaf came and did some feasibility studies on the incidence of deafness in north-western Ghana now known as the Upper West Region.
The findings revealed that the incidence of deafness was high in that part of Ghana. He, therefore, approached some reverened sisters who were operating a maternity home at Nandom, to start a school alongside the maternity home to cater for some of the children he came across, but the sisters declined.
Instead, they directed Lt-Gen. Drummon to the then Bishop of Wa , the late Cardinal Peter Dery, who readily accepted the idea and contacted the Ministry of Education for support.
Bishop Dery was said to have faced opposition because what was on the schedule was the establishment of the Bechem School for the Deaf in the Brong Ahafo Region so he was told to wait but he persisted and insisted on his readiness to open the school in Wa.
The next problem was how to get a specialist teacher to start the school if given the go ahead. Fortunately, one Gaspard Bob-Milliar, a native of Nandom, who was just about completing the specialist training at the then Deaf Education Specialist Training College at Mampong-Akuapem, accepted the Bishop’s offer to take up the task.
Eventually, on November 11, 1968, the Wa School for the Deaf, the third in Ghana, was officially opened with an initial enrolment of 20 pupils comprising 17 boys and three girls in a rented quarters at Wapaani, a section of Wa.
Today, WADEAF has grown and has a population of 269 pupils. The school, which has moved to Konta, a suburb of Wa, runs a two-year kindergaten, primary section, a four-year Junior High School (JHS), a three-year vocational institute and a unit for the mentally-challenged. Interestingly, the school follows the same curriculum as the regular schools with some adaptations to suit the special education needs of the children. At the end of the JHS course, the pupils sit the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) organised by West African Examinations Council (WAEC) as their counterparts in the regular setting.
"The vocational programme gives post-JHS students skills training in weaving, carpentry, woodwork, catering, dress-making and crafts", the head teacher of the school, Mrs Esther Yerifari told the Daily Graphic.

Achievements
Until the 1970’s when the Savelugu School for the Deaf was opened, WADEAF’’s catchment area covered the whole of northern Ghana, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions.
Last year, a former student of the school, Juventus Dourinaa gained admission to the University of Ghana.
According to Mrs Yenfari, there had been steady increase in enrolment as a result of awareness creation while many negative attitudes or perceptions had given way to positive ones.
On infrastructure, she stated that there had been steady increase in projects.
Mrs Yenfari thanked a philanthropic organisation in Holland, Wilde Gazen for putting up a vocational unit for the mentally-challenged and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) for the provision of a wall, a six-unit classroom block and a computer centre as well as the renovation of dormitories and staff bungalows.
She, however, said there were some challenges facing the school which included an uncompleted administration block and library which had been at foundation level for over two decades.
"Other challenges have to do with connecting water to the staff bungalows, lighting system along the access roads, more staff bungalows and last but not the least, the school needs a bus to enable the children to embark on educational trips, among others", she added.
Mrs Yenfari also appealed for the upgrading of the school’s assessment centre to a standard one.
She also called for the establishment of sign language centres in each district for interested teachers and individuals in order to get more interpreters for institutions like hospitals, police stations, courts and other public places.
For his part, the senior prefect of the school, Master John Moarl, mentioned the need for the deaf to be given a lot of attention in education.
He commended the Catholic Church for establishing the school which he described as Godsend.

WA MUNICIPAL, WA WEST CONFIRM PRESIDENT'S NOMINEES (PAGE 17)

The Wa Municipal and Wa West assemblies have confirmed the President’s nominees for the post of municipal and district chief executives.
They are Duogo Yakubu for Wa Municipality and Seidu Tingbani for the Wa West. They are all teachers.
Mr Yakubu polled 100 per cent of the votes as all the 25 assembly members present endorsed him.
While at Wechiau, the Wa West capital, Mr Tingbani had 20 votes with seven against, representing 74 per cent.
Addressing the two assemblies, the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, commended the assembly members for their maturity by endorsing the nominees.
He was happy that the assemblies placed the interest of their people first before any other thing.
He called for total political and administrative support to enable the chief executives execute projects in their areas for the benefit of the people.
Mr Khalid hoped that the assemblies would not rest on their laurels by working hard and continuing development projects.
For their part, the two chief executives thanked their assemblies for the confidence reposed in them and gave the assurance that they would work hard in honesty, transparency and accountability.
The elections were supervised by officials of the Electoral Commission.

WHO'LL JIRAPA NEXT MP?...NDC's Dakura or NPP's Dakorah (LEAD STORY)

THE ‘battle’ of the ‘Dakoras’ will take place in the Jirapa Constituency in the Upper West Region tomorrow when Dr France Bawaana Dakura of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) locks horns with his name sake, Mr Justin Dakorah of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), in a by-election to find a replacement for the vacant parliamentary seat.
The other candidate, Ms Joyce Angsiema, who is contesting on the ticket of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), is only adding to the numbers, as her candidature is not being felt at all as a result of what she claims to be lack of support from her party.
That notwithstanding, the odds seem to favour the NDC candidate. However, the NPP candidate is very upbeat and determined to cause a stir and win the seat.
About 27,680 eligible voters are expected to decide the fate of the two leading candidates in the election to be conducted in all 105 polling centres in the constituency.
Since the 1992 general election, the constituency has been a no-go area for the NPP.
For instance, in the 2004 elections, the NDC obtained 15,000 votes, while the NPP had a little over 6,000. Things did not change much in the recently held 2008 elections as the NDC again had a little over 12,000 votes as against 6,000 for the NPP. That was in spite of the fact that the late MP, Edward Salia, was on sick bed and could not campaign.
That explains how deep the NDC is rooted in the constituency.
It is worth noting that the NPP had all along tried to use the name of the late Chief S. D. Dombo of Duori, a stalwart of the Danquah-Busia tradition, to whip up support from the people, yet nothing significant had come out of that.
With the exception of Duori, which is the home town of Chief Dombo, the NPP has not fared well in the other major towns in the constituency, such as Han, Jirapa, Chapuri, among others.
Even in the era of “Operation Restore Heritage” which was vigorously embarked upon by the NPP, it could not capture that powerful seat.
Several interactions with people in the constituency indicated that the late MP devoted his life to the development of the constituency.
They are of the opinion that during his tenure as the Minister for Transport, he opened up the constituency with good roads, making it perhaps one of the best connected areas in the Upper West Region.
Furthermore, the people believe that the only tribute they could pay to the late MP is to vote for the NDC candidate to continue from where Salia left off.
As of the time of filing this report, Jirapa was bubbling with party activities, with the NDC holding what it called the “Tsunami victory rally”.
For its part, the NPP decided to embark on a house-to-house campaign.
According to the NPP Upper West Regional Youth Organiser, Mr Hafiz Bin Salih, the party’s candidate had already marketed himself very well and was confident that he would get the nod of the people to represent them.
He called on the people to consider the development the NPP candidate brought to Jirapa when he was the district chief executive (DCE) for the area and vote for him.
For his part, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Caesar Kale, called on all NDC supporters nation-wide to start jubilating, since victory was a foregone conclusion.

JIRAPA DECIDES ON TUESDAY (PAGE 16)

TUESDAY, April 7, 2009 will be yet another remarkable day in the political history and the democratic dispensation of Ghana in general and the Jirapa Constituency in the Upper West Region in particular.
This is as a result of the by-election necessitated by the death of Mr Edward Salia, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) who was recently buried at Cipher, his home village.
Already, the race for the seat has been dubbed “The battle of the Dakurah’s.”
The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has elected Dr Francis Dakura, an anthropologist while the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has Mr Justin Dakura, an educationist and the immediate past Jirapa District Chief Executive (DCE). He was also the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the constituency in the last general election.
What has made the impending by-elections very interesting, is the strategies being employed by both candidates to win the seat.
For the NPP activists, with a little bit of initiative and a well-mapped out strategy, their candidate would win. Their reasons being that, Mr Justin Dakura had already been marketed and stood the chance of being elected.
They also argued of the absence of the Salia factor since Dr Dakura is not as colossal a figure as the late MP.
In addition, they claim Dr Dakura is not well known in the constituency and just want to ride on the good works of the late MP to Parliament.
However, supporters of the NDC in the constituency have debunked the claims of their NPP counterparts, saying come Tuesday April 7, 2009, the NDC would carry the day.
To them, when the late MP was ill and could not campaign, it was Dr Dakura, among a host of other party activists, who criss-crossed the length and breadth of the constituency to spread the NDC message.
They claim, he is a well-known personality who had constantly been in touch with his people despite his long stay in the United Kingdom.
“The results of the by-election is a forgone conclusion for the NDC and just waiting for the D-day,” they told the Daily Graphic.
Mr Adams Issahaque, the NDC Regional Organiser said, “We want to increase our votes from 12,000 to about 20, 000 votes”.
“We want to exceed the 62.8 per cent to almost 80 per cent in this by- elections” he added.
Meanwhile, a visit to Jirapa and some parts of the constituency revealed that the NPP is not doing much. The only visible things are the posters of the candidates.
This has given much confidence to the NDC, who have planned to hold a mammoth rally this Sunday at Han to usher in their expected victory on Tuesday but Haifa Bin Salih, the NPP Regional Youth Organiser, differs and promised that his party would carry the day.

UDS BRINGS DEVELOPMENT TO WA MUNICIPALITY (PAGE 20)

THE establishment of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has brought in its wake a number of positive developments to the Wa municipality in particular and the Upper West Region in general.
The developments include, first and foremost, improvement in economic activities, housing, fashion, among others.
On the economic front, store owners, market women and food vendors have all been beneficiaries of the establishment of the campus.
With a population of almost 7,000, the students purchase various items from the market and this has boosted commercial activities in the municipality.
A trader in the municipality, Hajia Aminata Issifu, said, “The establishment of the campus has helped in the expansion of my cabbage business. I can now confidently go for a loan from the bank which I can repay within the shortest possible time.”
Hitherto, she said, she relied on middlemen for the supply of the vegetables, but “now I go to Leo in neighbouring Burkina Faso to purchase them because of my income level”.
That is why the recent disturbances on the Wa campus nearly affected the businesses of many people, particularly market women.
All those who had placed orders for the supply of vegetables had to put them on hold because there was no ready market for them.
Another area that has benefited many people in the region is the introduction of big commercial buses on the Wa- Kumasi route.
Before then, commuters had to wait till evening before getting vehicles to board to Kumasi.
The new buses leave Wa anytime of the day, since they readily get passengers. Once again, the establishment of the Wa campus of the UDS is the cause.
There are many more positive developments brought about by the siting of the university campus in Wa. They include the construction of buildings to serve as hostels for students and the introduction of tro-tro services in the municipality, which never existed until late last year.
A first-time visitor to the quiet town of Wa cannot differentiate a “local” girl from a female student of the UDS, since the students have influenced the way people see life, especially with regard to dressing, although there are some reservations about some of the dresses worn by the students.
Girls who formerly shied away from trousers because of their Muslim background have now joined the vogue.
Furthermore, many young girls see the female students as role models and aspire to also enter university.
This is also affecting parents who think that a girl’s place is in the kitchen and she must therefore be given out in early marriage to change their thinking and thus encourage their children to study hard.
By and large, the Wa Campus of the UDS has imparted positively on Wa people.