The Nadowli District Students Union branches of the Wa Polytechnic and Faculty of Integrated Development Studies (FIDA) campus of UDS have appealed to President J. E. A. Mills, to give the majority leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, a ministerial position.
"Our patience is running out since we have waited all this while on His Excellency J.E.A. Mills to elevate our Member of Parliament (MP) to a ministerial status," said the union.
This was contained in a press release issued jointly by the union in Wa. According to the union, the call by the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, on the President to raise Mr Bagbin’s position to a ministerial status should be solemnly considered.
"The contention of the Minority leader is on the fact that being the leader of government business, he will fast-track the laying of papers if sector minister, were not present," it added.
The union contended that besides ensuring the smooth running of government business in the House, "we the students of the district have followed with keen interest the role he played when the party was in opposition for eight years".
"He became the voice of the party, ... he should have been among the first five personalities for ministerial appointment," said the union.
It observed that the exclusion of Mr Bagbin from ministerial appointment would serve as a disregard for and peril to the chances of the party in the constituency, district and region at large.
"We, therefore, wish to appeal to his excellency, J.E.A. Mills not to be restricted by his campaign of operating on a lean government but instead, appoint others who have the charisma, confidence, innovative and leadership skills to add more arsenals to his administration in order to realise the better Ghana as envisaged in the NDC manifesto", the union concluded.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
NRSC LAUNCHES COMMERICAL LOG BOOK IN WA (PAGE 20)
THE National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) has launched a commercial vehicle log book in Wa in the Upper West Region.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Regional Coordinator of the commission, Mr S.A. Kareem attributed most of the accidents in the region to human errors.
According to him, most of the drivers in the region were inexperienced to the extent that they often resorted to speeding and dangerous overtaking.
Mr Kareem said the large number of motorbikes in the region which had created a leeway for juveniles most of whom were below 18 years, lack of sign posts, maintenance of vehicles by transport owners and failure to wear crash helmets and seat belts, were major contributory factors to the accidents.
Mr Kareem stated that the region record 10 deaths in the first quarter of the year involving eight vehicles.
"In all, 14 people sustained various degrees of injury with the cases of six people being fatal", he said.
Mr Kareem admitted that roads in the region were bad and expressed the hope that efforts would be made to improve the situation.
The Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, advised drivers to be always tolerant and avoid reckless driving.
He commended the NRSC for its good work in the region and urged the commission not to relent in its efforts to educate people, particularly road users, on the effects of accidents on their families and the national economy.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Regional Coordinator of the commission, Mr S.A. Kareem attributed most of the accidents in the region to human errors.
According to him, most of the drivers in the region were inexperienced to the extent that they often resorted to speeding and dangerous overtaking.
Mr Kareem said the large number of motorbikes in the region which had created a leeway for juveniles most of whom were below 18 years, lack of sign posts, maintenance of vehicles by transport owners and failure to wear crash helmets and seat belts, were major contributory factors to the accidents.
Mr Kareem stated that the region record 10 deaths in the first quarter of the year involving eight vehicles.
"In all, 14 people sustained various degrees of injury with the cases of six people being fatal", he said.
Mr Kareem admitted that roads in the region were bad and expressed the hope that efforts would be made to improve the situation.
The Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, advised drivers to be always tolerant and avoid reckless driving.
He commended the NRSC for its good work in the region and urged the commission not to relent in its efforts to educate people, particularly road users, on the effects of accidents on their families and the national economy.
WA TO HOST CULTURAL FESTIVAL (PAGE 20)
A YOUTH cultural festival aimed at bringing the youth from the various districts in the region to exhibit their traditional cultures, is to be held at Wa, the Upper West Regional capital.
The programme, which is to be organised by the regional office of the National Youth Council (NYC), will also serve as a platform for peace and unity promotion in the region.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, the acting Regional Coordinator of the NYC, Mr Mumuni Suleimana, appealed to the district assemblies in the region to lend their support to the programme to ensure its success.
He said the relative peace in the region must be sustained, stressing that one of the measures to achieve that objective was to bring the citizens of the region together through cultural performances.
Mr Suleimana advised the people in the region to patronise the event since it would be one of the best organised events in the area.
He stated that a project to involve the youth in the manufacture of local sandals would soon be launched in the Wa municipality to offer employment opportunities for the youth in the area.
Mr Suleimana, therefore, appealed to young people in the municipality to avail themselves of the programme when it was launched.
The programme, which is to be organised by the regional office of the National Youth Council (NYC), will also serve as a platform for peace and unity promotion in the region.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, the acting Regional Coordinator of the NYC, Mr Mumuni Suleimana, appealed to the district assemblies in the region to lend their support to the programme to ensure its success.
He said the relative peace in the region must be sustained, stressing that one of the measures to achieve that objective was to bring the citizens of the region together through cultural performances.
Mr Suleimana advised the people in the region to patronise the event since it would be one of the best organised events in the area.
He stated that a project to involve the youth in the manufacture of local sandals would soon be launched in the Wa municipality to offer employment opportunities for the youth in the area.
Mr Suleimana, therefore, appealed to young people in the municipality to avail themselves of the programme when it was launched.
CHRAJ RECEIVES 283 CASES IN UPPER WEST (PAGE 20)
THE Upper West Regional office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) received a total of 283 cases last year.
Out of the number, 220 were resolved, seven were rejected, five of them were withdrawn while 35 of the cases were still pending.
Most of the cases concerned maintenance of children, spouses and pregnancies.
Others were ownership of property, labour issues, assault and abuse related cases.
According to Mr Adama Mumuni, the Regional Director of CHRAJ, his office mainly used mediation for the settlement of the cases.
"As a result of our interventions, we have been able to bring reconciliation among a lot of people; people who hitherto saw themselves as enemies, were now brothers and sisters," he said.
Mr Mumuni said the commission considered every issue as serious and therefore treated all cases with the needed alacrity.
"We have the confidence of complainants because of our fairness and neutrality as nobody has ever raised objections to our decisions", Mr Mumuni stressed.
He said a total of 177 educational programmes on various issues of national concern were carried out in all the nine districts in the region.
He said he was of the belief that such programmes went a long way to ensure violence free elections in the region last year.
Out of the number, 220 were resolved, seven were rejected, five of them were withdrawn while 35 of the cases were still pending.
Most of the cases concerned maintenance of children, spouses and pregnancies.
Others were ownership of property, labour issues, assault and abuse related cases.
According to Mr Adama Mumuni, the Regional Director of CHRAJ, his office mainly used mediation for the settlement of the cases.
"As a result of our interventions, we have been able to bring reconciliation among a lot of people; people who hitherto saw themselves as enemies, were now brothers and sisters," he said.
Mr Mumuni said the commission considered every issue as serious and therefore treated all cases with the needed alacrity.
"We have the confidence of complainants because of our fairness and neutrality as nobody has ever raised objections to our decisions", Mr Mumuni stressed.
He said a total of 177 educational programmes on various issues of national concern were carried out in all the nine districts in the region.
He said he was of the belief that such programmes went a long way to ensure violence free elections in the region last year.
Monday, May 11, 2009
WA EAST ENDORSES SALIFU (page 14)
The Wa East district assembly in the Upper West Region has confirmed Ameen Salifu, as the District Chief Executive for the area.
At an emergency assembly meeting held at Funsi, 19 out of the 25 members voted in favour of Mr Salifu while six voted against.
The election which was delayed as a result of intensive lobbying of the assembly members was however peaceful.
In a speech, the new district chief executive appealed for peace and unity to enable the district progress in its development agenda.
He promised to work in collaboration with other stakeholders who have the district at heart.
Mr Salifu thanked the assembly for the confidence reposed in him and called for total cooperation from the assembly members.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, commended the assembly members for endorsing the nominee.
He advised the assembly to support the nominee by working above ethnic and political consideration.
Present at the assembly meeting were the regional chairman of the NDC, Mr Issahaque Malik, a member of council of state, Naa Seidu Braimah, a former member of parliament for Wa Central, Mr M.A Seidu and a host of NDC supporters.
At an emergency assembly meeting held at Funsi, 19 out of the 25 members voted in favour of Mr Salifu while six voted against.
The election which was delayed as a result of intensive lobbying of the assembly members was however peaceful.
In a speech, the new district chief executive appealed for peace and unity to enable the district progress in its development agenda.
He promised to work in collaboration with other stakeholders who have the district at heart.
Mr Salifu thanked the assembly for the confidence reposed in him and called for total cooperation from the assembly members.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, commended the assembly members for endorsing the nominee.
He advised the assembly to support the nominee by working above ethnic and political consideration.
Present at the assembly meeting were the regional chairman of the NDC, Mr Issahaque Malik, a member of council of state, Naa Seidu Braimah, a former member of parliament for Wa Central, Mr M.A Seidu and a host of NDC supporters.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
UPPER WEST SHOWS UNITY IN DIVERSITY (MIRROR, PAGE 35)
From George Folley Quaye, Wa
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 of 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.
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 of 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.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
WA EXPERIENCES FIRST RAIN (PAGE 14)
Sweltering weather in the Upper West Region gave way to torrential rainfall last Tuesday.
The downpour, which happened to be the first major rain this year, has brought relief to the region’s residents.
For some days there were heavy clouds but it wasn’t until around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday that it started raining heavily with lightning and deafening thunder.
In the end, dirty and choked drains were neatly cleared and the stench emanating from them temporarily absent.
According to Mr Daniel Tetteh, the Upper West Regional Meteorological Officer, the rainfall recorded was 54.2 millimetres.
He explained that the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) had predicted 963 millimetres of rainfall from April to October, when the rainy season is expected to end.
"The onset is expected to be the last week of April with dry spells likely to occur between five and 10 days during the first four weeks after the onset" he added.
Meanwhile, the Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Bawa Seidu, has advised farmers cultivating yams in valleys to replace them with rice.
That, he said, was necessary since the yam mounds were likely to be swept away by the expected rains.
In the interview with the Daily Graphic, he said during the rainy season a number of roads and dams were negatively affected in the region.
These include Funsi-Kundugu, Bugubelle-Wellembelle, Ga-Wechiau, Franuo-Gwollu and Jirapa-Ping roads.
In addition to this, some dams, namely the Tassaw and Nabulo dams in the Sissala East and the Sirru Dam in the Wa West District, were being threatened.
According to Mr Seidu, education is currently ongoing for people living in low-lying areas to move to higher grounds.
“So far, reports indicate that some farmers are complying with the directives, but just like any human institutions, some are adamant”, he said.
On measures being taken to counter or ensure minimal destruction during the rains, the NADMO regional co-ordinator said a workshop for the Upper West Region would be held this month with United Nations agencies and other stakeholders to map out strategies.
"We think that with these steps being taken, we should be able to stand up to the task", he added.
The downpour, which happened to be the first major rain this year, has brought relief to the region’s residents.
For some days there were heavy clouds but it wasn’t until around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday that it started raining heavily with lightning and deafening thunder.
In the end, dirty and choked drains were neatly cleared and the stench emanating from them temporarily absent.
According to Mr Daniel Tetteh, the Upper West Regional Meteorological Officer, the rainfall recorded was 54.2 millimetres.
He explained that the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) had predicted 963 millimetres of rainfall from April to October, when the rainy season is expected to end.
"The onset is expected to be the last week of April with dry spells likely to occur between five and 10 days during the first four weeks after the onset" he added.
Meanwhile, the Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Bawa Seidu, has advised farmers cultivating yams in valleys to replace them with rice.
That, he said, was necessary since the yam mounds were likely to be swept away by the expected rains.
In the interview with the Daily Graphic, he said during the rainy season a number of roads and dams were negatively affected in the region.
These include Funsi-Kundugu, Bugubelle-Wellembelle, Ga-Wechiau, Franuo-Gwollu and Jirapa-Ping roads.
In addition to this, some dams, namely the Tassaw and Nabulo dams in the Sissala East and the Sirru Dam in the Wa West District, were being threatened.
According to Mr Seidu, education is currently ongoing for people living in low-lying areas to move to higher grounds.
“So far, reports indicate that some farmers are complying with the directives, but just like any human institutions, some are adamant”, he said.
On measures being taken to counter or ensure minimal destruction during the rains, the NADMO regional co-ordinator said a workshop for the Upper West Region would be held this month with United Nations agencies and other stakeholders to map out strategies.
"We think that with these steps being taken, we should be able to stand up to the task", he added.
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