Story: Samuel Duodu, Wenchi
THE Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, has disclosed that the curriculum for 15 teacher training colleges selected for the special Mathematics and Science programmes has been finalised and that it has been printed and distributed to the selected colleges.
The selection of the colleges was aimed at training Mathematics and Science teachers with the view to strengthening the teaching of those subjects in basic schools, he noted.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah, who was speaking at the 45th Founders Day celebration of the Wenchi Senior High School (SHS) at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region at the weekend, emphasised that approval had already been given for the establishment of special Mathematics and Science departments in 15 designated training colleges.
The theme for the event was, “Prospects and Challenges of the New Educational Reform after 50 years of Ghana’s Independence”.
He said modern laboratories had also been built in all the 15 selected colleges and mentioned five of the participating colleges as the Foso Training College in the Central Region, the Akatsi and Hohoe Training colleges in the Volta Region and the St Joseph’s Training College at Bechem in the Brong Ahafo Region, saying that they had been fully furnished for use.
He said to ensure the success of the programme in the teaching of the new Science and Mathematics curriculum, all Science and Mathematics tutors of the participating colleges had received training for it to be rolled out.
Mr Bannerman–Mensah, a former Headmaster of the Wenchi SHS until his appointment as the Deputy Director-General of the GES, observed that teacher motivation was another important area that would enhance the quality delivery of education in the country.
He mentioned the institution of the Best Teacher Awards Scheme at the national, regional, district and school levels for excellence in teaching as part of programmes by the GES to motivate teachers, more especially to accept postings to deprived areas.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah mentioned other schemes being considered as accelerated promotion, support through distance education for teachers offering subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, French and Technical Education, provision of accommodation in hard-to-reach areas, as well as vehicles and motorbikes.
He urged students to study hard, obey school rules and regulations and avoid all forms of cheating in examinations.
Mr John K. Donkor, the Headmaster of the school, commended the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the government for the provision of a new girls’ dormitory, a six-unit classroom block, a computer laboratory, as well as a farmhouse which was under construction.
He, however, expressed concern about the slow pace of government — sponsored projects for the school, saying those structures were needed urgently to facilitate smooth academic work and appealed for the payment of the contractors to ensure the early completion of those projects.
Mr Donkor said government’s maintenance grant also took a long time to be released, while the amount paid was also inadequate to maintain the structures and furniture in the school. He, therefore, appealed to the government to increase it.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
GRASSCUTTER CHASE CAUSES FARMER'S DEATH (BACK PAGE)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
IN his bid to kill a grass-cutter that has been captured by one of his three dogs on a hunting expedition, a 35-year-old farmer resident at Odumase in the Sunyani West District of the Brong Ahafo Region lost his life when he was hit by his own single-barreled gun.
The deceased, Baapene Kuuh, popularly known as Salifu Trumah, died on the way while being sent to hospital.
Imosah Isshako and Baakowol Delu, who were with the deceased, are now in police custody assisting in investigations.
The Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Charles Botwe, confirmed the story to the Daily Graphic when he was contacted, and he stated that the deceased, with his other two relatives, went on a hunting expedition at Sesereso, a farmland about five kilometres away from Odumase, on Friday February 22, 2008.
He said the deceased and the other two saw that one of the three dogs that accompanied them had captured a grass-cutter and the deceased decided to rest his gun near a tree to go and kill the grass-cutter.
Supt Botwe said while the deceased was using a machete to create a path to where the dog had captured the grass-cutter, his gun fell on the ground and went off instantly hitting the deceased in the leg.
He stated that the group abandoned their expedition and carried the deceased to the roadside to look for a vehicle to transport him to hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The police commander said the gun went off when it fell because there was a fault with the trigger guard.
He said the wife of the deceased, Fatima Lewa, who was called in when the deceased was brought to the roadside, corroborated the story and told the police that her late husband before dying told her that it was his own mistake that caused his death and not his two brothers.
Supt Botwe further said the body of the deceased had been deposited at the regional hospital morgue for autopsy.
IN his bid to kill a grass-cutter that has been captured by one of his three dogs on a hunting expedition, a 35-year-old farmer resident at Odumase in the Sunyani West District of the Brong Ahafo Region lost his life when he was hit by his own single-barreled gun.
The deceased, Baapene Kuuh, popularly known as Salifu Trumah, died on the way while being sent to hospital.
Imosah Isshako and Baakowol Delu, who were with the deceased, are now in police custody assisting in investigations.
The Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Charles Botwe, confirmed the story to the Daily Graphic when he was contacted, and he stated that the deceased, with his other two relatives, went on a hunting expedition at Sesereso, a farmland about five kilometres away from Odumase, on Friday February 22, 2008.
He said the deceased and the other two saw that one of the three dogs that accompanied them had captured a grass-cutter and the deceased decided to rest his gun near a tree to go and kill the grass-cutter.
Supt Botwe said while the deceased was using a machete to create a path to where the dog had captured the grass-cutter, his gun fell on the ground and went off instantly hitting the deceased in the leg.
He stated that the group abandoned their expedition and carried the deceased to the roadside to look for a vehicle to transport him to hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The police commander said the gun went off when it fell because there was a fault with the trigger guard.
He said the wife of the deceased, Fatima Lewa, who was called in when the deceased was brought to the roadside, corroborated the story and told the police that her late husband before dying told her that it was his own mistake that caused his death and not his two brothers.
Supt Botwe further said the body of the deceased had been deposited at the regional hospital morgue for autopsy.
Monday, February 25, 2008
2 TAIN COMMUNITIES GET MODERN LABORATORIES (PAGE 32)
STORY: Samuel Duodu, Nsawkaw
THE Tain District Directorate of Health Services has established standardised laboratories at the Nsawkaw and Banda-Ahenkro health centres to help curb tuberculosis and other diseases in the district.
The District Director of Health Services, Dr Gladstone Kesse, made this known at an end-of-year health review meeting for 2007 at Nsawkaw, the district capital.
According to Dr Kesse, the establishment of the laboratories would improve health delivery in the district.
He expressed concern about the level of malaria in the district in spite of the various interventions to bring the disease under control.
Dr Kesse stated that malarial cases in children under five increased from 7,420 in 2006 to 10,939 in 2007 while in the case of pregnant women, they decreased from 7,717 to 871 during the same period.
He called for an intensive use of treated mosquito nets by children under five and pregnant women.
Dr Kesse appealed to the district assembly and other stakeholders to help improve infrastructure and logistics at the various health centres in the district.
In a speech read on his behalf the District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Owusu, said the assembly was committed to improving the health needs of the people.
He said four nursing students were being sponsored by the assembly as part of efforts to improve the quality of personnel at the various health centres.
Mr Owusu stated that the Nsawkaw Health Centre would soon be given a major facelift to enhance health delivery in the district.
THE Tain District Directorate of Health Services has established standardised laboratories at the Nsawkaw and Banda-Ahenkro health centres to help curb tuberculosis and other diseases in the district.
The District Director of Health Services, Dr Gladstone Kesse, made this known at an end-of-year health review meeting for 2007 at Nsawkaw, the district capital.
According to Dr Kesse, the establishment of the laboratories would improve health delivery in the district.
He expressed concern about the level of malaria in the district in spite of the various interventions to bring the disease under control.
Dr Kesse stated that malarial cases in children under five increased from 7,420 in 2006 to 10,939 in 2007 while in the case of pregnant women, they decreased from 7,717 to 871 during the same period.
He called for an intensive use of treated mosquito nets by children under five and pregnant women.
Dr Kesse appealed to the district assembly and other stakeholders to help improve infrastructure and logistics at the various health centres in the district.
In a speech read on his behalf the District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Owusu, said the assembly was committed to improving the health needs of the people.
He said four nursing students were being sponsored by the assembly as part of efforts to improve the quality of personnel at the various health centres.
Mr Owusu stated that the Nsawkaw Health Centre would soon be given a major facelift to enhance health delivery in the district.
FARMERS ATTEND WORKSHOP ON MORINGA PLANT CULTIVATION (PAGE 32)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Techiman
THE Nkoranza-Kwabre Rural Bank in the Brong Ahafo Region in collaboration with African Development Foundation (ADF) and the United States of America, has organised a three-day training workshop at Techiman for about 80 farmers to educate them on organic farming, bee keeping and the importance of Moringa plant cultivation.
The participants were drawn from the Techiman Municipality and the Nkoranza North, Nkoranza South, Kintampo North and Kintampo South districts.
The Project Manager of the ADF/NKRB Micro Credit Project, Mr Richard Okoe, who addressed the participants, explained that the workshop was part of the bank’s programmes under its micro finance project.
He said the workshop was aimed at alleviating poverty among the people, more especially the rural folk and the unemployed youth.
Mr Okoe said ADF and the Nkoranza-Kwabre Rural Bank were offering the necessary support for beekeepers and cashew farmers in the beneficiary districts for them not only to improve upon their livelihood but also to enhance the development of their communities.
He added that because the Moringa plant had been identified as one of the most important economic tree crops, the farmers were being encouraged to go into its cultivation as a way of reducing poverty.
Mr Okoe stated that the Moringa farmers would receive support in the form of supply of inputs and seeds, land preparation and maintenance of the crop.
He called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs), financiers and philanthropists to visit the communities and liaise with the bank to offer support for the Moringa farmers and the bee keepers.
An agriculturist and Head of the Kpeve Agricultural Station in the Volta Region, Mr Newton Amaglo, stated that the Moringa plant had several uses as it had medicinal, nutritional and other economic values.
Mr Amaglo, who is also a member of the Moringa Association of Ghana, said the bark of the plant could be used to produce paper, the leaves for powder, energy drinks and medicine, whilst edible oil could also be extracted from the seeds.
He added that the Moringa leaf powder could effectively manage hypertension and diabetes.
Mr Amaglo, therefore, urged the farmers to go into the cultivation of the crop to ensure remarkable changes in their economic activities.
A permaculture consultant, Mr Paul Yeboah, advised farmers to adopt the system as a means of diversifying their farming methods.
He said permaculture included the growing of food crops, livestock breeding, bee keeping and snail/mushroom farming on the same piece of land as a source of income generation.
The Director of Organic Agriculture for Public Health and Wealth from Nkoranza, Mr Enyinndar Enyidar, who spoke on the importance of organic farming, said that the system of agriculture was the best way of sustaining and maintaining soil organisms for enhanced productivity.
He said food produced from organic farming contained all the necessary vitamins and minerals for the body’s growth devoid of any form of toxic chemicals.
A public health nurse at the Nkoranza St Theresa’s Hospital at Nkoranza, Miss Blandina Dery, who was a facilitator at the workshop, urged the public to patronise the use of honey in their homes in place of sugar to free themselves of sugar-related diseases.
The Supervising Manager of the Nkoranza-Kwabre Rural Bank, Mr Daniel Ansah-Duah, advised the farmers to organise themselves into groups and open bank accounts with the bank in order to enjoy credit facilities.
He also urged them to start Moringa farming to support other economic activities they were undertaking.
THE Nkoranza-Kwabre Rural Bank in the Brong Ahafo Region in collaboration with African Development Foundation (ADF) and the United States of America, has organised a three-day training workshop at Techiman for about 80 farmers to educate them on organic farming, bee keeping and the importance of Moringa plant cultivation.
The participants were drawn from the Techiman Municipality and the Nkoranza North, Nkoranza South, Kintampo North and Kintampo South districts.
The Project Manager of the ADF/NKRB Micro Credit Project, Mr Richard Okoe, who addressed the participants, explained that the workshop was part of the bank’s programmes under its micro finance project.
He said the workshop was aimed at alleviating poverty among the people, more especially the rural folk and the unemployed youth.
Mr Okoe said ADF and the Nkoranza-Kwabre Rural Bank were offering the necessary support for beekeepers and cashew farmers in the beneficiary districts for them not only to improve upon their livelihood but also to enhance the development of their communities.
He added that because the Moringa plant had been identified as one of the most important economic tree crops, the farmers were being encouraged to go into its cultivation as a way of reducing poverty.
Mr Okoe stated that the Moringa farmers would receive support in the form of supply of inputs and seeds, land preparation and maintenance of the crop.
He called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs), financiers and philanthropists to visit the communities and liaise with the bank to offer support for the Moringa farmers and the bee keepers.
An agriculturist and Head of the Kpeve Agricultural Station in the Volta Region, Mr Newton Amaglo, stated that the Moringa plant had several uses as it had medicinal, nutritional and other economic values.
Mr Amaglo, who is also a member of the Moringa Association of Ghana, said the bark of the plant could be used to produce paper, the leaves for powder, energy drinks and medicine, whilst edible oil could also be extracted from the seeds.
He added that the Moringa leaf powder could effectively manage hypertension and diabetes.
Mr Amaglo, therefore, urged the farmers to go into the cultivation of the crop to ensure remarkable changes in their economic activities.
A permaculture consultant, Mr Paul Yeboah, advised farmers to adopt the system as a means of diversifying their farming methods.
He said permaculture included the growing of food crops, livestock breeding, bee keeping and snail/mushroom farming on the same piece of land as a source of income generation.
The Director of Organic Agriculture for Public Health and Wealth from Nkoranza, Mr Enyinndar Enyidar, who spoke on the importance of organic farming, said that the system of agriculture was the best way of sustaining and maintaining soil organisms for enhanced productivity.
He said food produced from organic farming contained all the necessary vitamins and minerals for the body’s growth devoid of any form of toxic chemicals.
A public health nurse at the Nkoranza St Theresa’s Hospital at Nkoranza, Miss Blandina Dery, who was a facilitator at the workshop, urged the public to patronise the use of honey in their homes in place of sugar to free themselves of sugar-related diseases.
The Supervising Manager of the Nkoranza-Kwabre Rural Bank, Mr Daniel Ansah-Duah, advised the farmers to organise themselves into groups and open bank accounts with the bank in order to enjoy credit facilities.
He also urged them to start Moringa farming to support other economic activities they were undertaking.
ASUNAFO NORTH MAKES GIANT STRIDES IN DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 32)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Goaso
THE Asunafo North District in the Brong-Ahafo Region, with Goaso as its capital, has within a space of three-and-a-half years, witnessed massive infrastructure and human development.
The fast rate of progress has added more impetus to the decentralisation concept in the district.
The district, formerly known as Asunafo District, was split into two, namely Asunafo North and Asunafo South, in 2005 by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration under President J. A. Kufuor.
The aim of the split of the district was to enhance effective administration, ensure the speedy development of all the communities and to further bring good governance to the doorsteps of the people.
The Asunafo North District Assembly has through the use of its share of the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and internally generated funds and support from development partners initiated a number of viable development projects since 2005, with the aim of improving the living conditions of the people.
Some of the projects have been completed while others are at various stages of construction.
The projects, which are spread across the length and breadth of the district without discrimination on political lines, cover education and health infrastructure, water and sanitation facilities, reshaping of feeder roads in cocoa-growing communities and extension of electricity to some rural communities, among others.
To ensure that the people in the district derive the maximum benefits from the government’s programmes and policies aimed at developing the human resources of the country and wealth creation, among others, the assembly is sponsoring a number of students at various nurses and teacher training colleges.
Some of the youth in the district have also been engaged under the various modules of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
For law and order to prevail in the district to enable the residents to go about their daily activities peacefully, the assembly is constructing a new police barracks for the district capital at a cost of GH¢148,717.
It had also converted all pan latrines at the barracks into water closets (WC) at a cost of GH¢3,922.60.
Some of the completed educational facilities are a six-classroom block for the Akrodie Methodist Primary School, a three-classroom block each for Tipokrom, Goaso Roman Catholic School, Aniape and Akrodie Junior High schools, while others at Mim, Kasapin, Pomaakrom, Brodedwo, Kojo Addaikrom, Bediako basic schools, among others, are nearing completion.
The Mim Secondary School has also benefited from the construction of a five-unit classroom block at a cost of GH¢45,600.
Besides, the assembly has distributed furniture to schools throughout the district at a cost of GH¢9,000.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic after an inspection tour of projects in the district, Alhaji Ishak Abubakar Bonsu, the District Chief Executive (DCE), said since he took office in 2005, he had worked tirelessly to ensure that the government’s vision to improve the living conditions of every Ghanaian became a reality.
He stressed that interventions such as the School Feeding Programme, fee-free education, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) would be some of the legacies that the NPP government under President Kufuor would be living behind for the people.
Alhaji Bonsu said since education was the key to the development of every society, the assembly was laying much emphasis on that sector.
He stated that the assembly had been supporting the annual best teachers awards programme in the district.
According to the DCE, three basic schools in three communities in the district namely Odurokrom, Tweapease and Akwaboa Number 2 were currently benefiting from the School Feeding Programme while about 200 students were being sponsored by the assembly in the various teacher training colleges.
Under the NYEP, Alhaji Bonsu said, the assembly had sponsored a total of 277 youth to learn vocations such as bee keeping, grasscutter rearing, soap, dressmaking, hairdressing and oil palm extraction, to enable them to become self-employed.
He added that more than 500 youth had been engaged under the teaching, auxiliary nursing, sanitation and agriculture modules under the NYEP in the district, while the community protection unit component was yet to be rolled out in the district.
The DCE stated that power was being extended to communities such as Asuoadea, Asumura and Nyamebekyere under the rural electrification project while the Goaso township had benefited from a street lighting project.
On the provision of clean and safe water, Alhaji Bonsu, said the assembly had sunk 53 boreholes in a number of communities in the district at a cost of GH¢268,662 while 27 existing ones and 30 hand-dug wells had been rehabilitated at a cost of GH¢483,120.
He said Akrodie and Mim had also benefited from the Small Towns Water Supply System at a cost of GH¢720,000.
The DCE disclosed that a 64-year-old mountain refuse dump which posed a serious health problem to the people at Goaso, had been evacuated at a cost of GH¢93,833.
The space created as a result of the removal of the refuse dump, would be developed into a lorry park.
Alhaji Bonsu stated that the assembly was rehabilitating some feeder roads in the district at a cost of GH¢153,676 to open up the cocoa-growing areas to enable the farmers to transport their farm produce to the marketing centres.
They include the seven-kilometre Kumaho-Achacha-Kumaho Junction feeder road and the seven-kilometre Kwame Pua-Kojo Addai-Abidjan feeder road.
Alhaji Bonsu said the assembly was also using portions of its internally generated funds for the construction of 50-capacity market sheds at Akrodie and 32 of such sheds at Ayomso at a total cost of GH¢50,000.
He added that the assembly and the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) had jointly created an industrial site for the district at the cost of GH¢32,801.
On health, Alhaji Bonsu stated that the assembly was constructing an office complex for the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) at Goaso at a cost of GH¢76,395, while a dental clinic and nutritional centre attached to the Goaso Government Hospital and a rural clinic and a ward at Adiembra had been completed.
The DCE urged people in the district to take advantage of the congenial environment created by the government through the district assembly to improve their lot.
THE Asunafo North District in the Brong-Ahafo Region, with Goaso as its capital, has within a space of three-and-a-half years, witnessed massive infrastructure and human development.
The fast rate of progress has added more impetus to the decentralisation concept in the district.
The district, formerly known as Asunafo District, was split into two, namely Asunafo North and Asunafo South, in 2005 by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration under President J. A. Kufuor.
The aim of the split of the district was to enhance effective administration, ensure the speedy development of all the communities and to further bring good governance to the doorsteps of the people.
The Asunafo North District Assembly has through the use of its share of the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and internally generated funds and support from development partners initiated a number of viable development projects since 2005, with the aim of improving the living conditions of the people.
Some of the projects have been completed while others are at various stages of construction.
The projects, which are spread across the length and breadth of the district without discrimination on political lines, cover education and health infrastructure, water and sanitation facilities, reshaping of feeder roads in cocoa-growing communities and extension of electricity to some rural communities, among others.
To ensure that the people in the district derive the maximum benefits from the government’s programmes and policies aimed at developing the human resources of the country and wealth creation, among others, the assembly is sponsoring a number of students at various nurses and teacher training colleges.
Some of the youth in the district have also been engaged under the various modules of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
For law and order to prevail in the district to enable the residents to go about their daily activities peacefully, the assembly is constructing a new police barracks for the district capital at a cost of GH¢148,717.
It had also converted all pan latrines at the barracks into water closets (WC) at a cost of GH¢3,922.60.
Some of the completed educational facilities are a six-classroom block for the Akrodie Methodist Primary School, a three-classroom block each for Tipokrom, Goaso Roman Catholic School, Aniape and Akrodie Junior High schools, while others at Mim, Kasapin, Pomaakrom, Brodedwo, Kojo Addaikrom, Bediako basic schools, among others, are nearing completion.
The Mim Secondary School has also benefited from the construction of a five-unit classroom block at a cost of GH¢45,600.
Besides, the assembly has distributed furniture to schools throughout the district at a cost of GH¢9,000.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic after an inspection tour of projects in the district, Alhaji Ishak Abubakar Bonsu, the District Chief Executive (DCE), said since he took office in 2005, he had worked tirelessly to ensure that the government’s vision to improve the living conditions of every Ghanaian became a reality.
He stressed that interventions such as the School Feeding Programme, fee-free education, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) would be some of the legacies that the NPP government under President Kufuor would be living behind for the people.
Alhaji Bonsu said since education was the key to the development of every society, the assembly was laying much emphasis on that sector.
He stated that the assembly had been supporting the annual best teachers awards programme in the district.
According to the DCE, three basic schools in three communities in the district namely Odurokrom, Tweapease and Akwaboa Number 2 were currently benefiting from the School Feeding Programme while about 200 students were being sponsored by the assembly in the various teacher training colleges.
Under the NYEP, Alhaji Bonsu said, the assembly had sponsored a total of 277 youth to learn vocations such as bee keeping, grasscutter rearing, soap, dressmaking, hairdressing and oil palm extraction, to enable them to become self-employed.
He added that more than 500 youth had been engaged under the teaching, auxiliary nursing, sanitation and agriculture modules under the NYEP in the district, while the community protection unit component was yet to be rolled out in the district.
The DCE stated that power was being extended to communities such as Asuoadea, Asumura and Nyamebekyere under the rural electrification project while the Goaso township had benefited from a street lighting project.
On the provision of clean and safe water, Alhaji Bonsu, said the assembly had sunk 53 boreholes in a number of communities in the district at a cost of GH¢268,662 while 27 existing ones and 30 hand-dug wells had been rehabilitated at a cost of GH¢483,120.
He said Akrodie and Mim had also benefited from the Small Towns Water Supply System at a cost of GH¢720,000.
The DCE disclosed that a 64-year-old mountain refuse dump which posed a serious health problem to the people at Goaso, had been evacuated at a cost of GH¢93,833.
The space created as a result of the removal of the refuse dump, would be developed into a lorry park.
Alhaji Bonsu stated that the assembly was rehabilitating some feeder roads in the district at a cost of GH¢153,676 to open up the cocoa-growing areas to enable the farmers to transport their farm produce to the marketing centres.
They include the seven-kilometre Kumaho-Achacha-Kumaho Junction feeder road and the seven-kilometre Kwame Pua-Kojo Addai-Abidjan feeder road.
Alhaji Bonsu said the assembly was also using portions of its internally generated funds for the construction of 50-capacity market sheds at Akrodie and 32 of such sheds at Ayomso at a total cost of GH¢50,000.
He added that the assembly and the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) had jointly created an industrial site for the district at the cost of GH¢32,801.
On health, Alhaji Bonsu stated that the assembly was constructing an office complex for the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) at Goaso at a cost of GH¢76,395, while a dental clinic and nutritional centre attached to the Goaso Government Hospital and a rural clinic and a ward at Adiembra had been completed.
The DCE urged people in the district to take advantage of the congenial environment created by the government through the district assembly to improve their lot.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
ACCIDENT CASES REDUCE IN BRONG AHAFO (PAGE 23)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
THE Brong-Ahafo Region recorded a total of 600 road traffic accidents in 2006, which claimed 174 lives with 622 people sustaining various degrees of injury, compared with 527 accidents in 2007 in which 155 people lost their lives, while 511 were injured.
This shows a decrease of 12.2 per cent in the number of road accidents recorded in 2007 as against the 2006 figure. The casualty figures also reduced by 11 per cent.
Seven hundred and thirty vehicles were involved in the accidents recorded in 2006 as compared to the 2007 figure of 631 vehicles, representing a decrease of 13.7 per cent.
The Regional Co-ordinator of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Mr Daniel Wuaku, made the statistics available to the Daily Graphic in Sunyani.
He stated that 378 out of the 563 traffic offences reported in the region last year, were sent to the courts with 271 of the offenders being convicted.
Mr Wuaku said that this year, the NRSC would intensify its road user education programme.
He added that joint enforcement operations involving personnel from the Regional and District Road Safety Committees, the various transport unions, the police, the District/Municipal Assemblies and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) would soon begin in the region.
Mr Wuaku warned that the law would stop at nothing to deal with culprits who would flout road traffic rules and regulations.
He said one area that would be given a special attention of the enforcement operation was a crackdown on drivers who left break-down vehicles on the roads without adequate warning.
Mr Wuaku further stated that despite the gains made last year, every single road user’s life was precious and must be protected.
The NRCS, he said, continued to work closely with all stakeholders to improve upon the road safety situation in the region, which was geared towards the achievement of the broader national vision to make Ghana’s transport system the safest in Africa.
THE Brong-Ahafo Region recorded a total of 600 road traffic accidents in 2006, which claimed 174 lives with 622 people sustaining various degrees of injury, compared with 527 accidents in 2007 in which 155 people lost their lives, while 511 were injured.
This shows a decrease of 12.2 per cent in the number of road accidents recorded in 2007 as against the 2006 figure. The casualty figures also reduced by 11 per cent.
Seven hundred and thirty vehicles were involved in the accidents recorded in 2006 as compared to the 2007 figure of 631 vehicles, representing a decrease of 13.7 per cent.
The Regional Co-ordinator of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Mr Daniel Wuaku, made the statistics available to the Daily Graphic in Sunyani.
He stated that 378 out of the 563 traffic offences reported in the region last year, were sent to the courts with 271 of the offenders being convicted.
Mr Wuaku said that this year, the NRSC would intensify its road user education programme.
He added that joint enforcement operations involving personnel from the Regional and District Road Safety Committees, the various transport unions, the police, the District/Municipal Assemblies and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) would soon begin in the region.
Mr Wuaku warned that the law would stop at nothing to deal with culprits who would flout road traffic rules and regulations.
He said one area that would be given a special attention of the enforcement operation was a crackdown on drivers who left break-down vehicles on the roads without adequate warning.
Mr Wuaku further stated that despite the gains made last year, every single road user’s life was precious and must be protected.
The NRCS, he said, continued to work closely with all stakeholders to improve upon the road safety situation in the region, which was geared towards the achievement of the broader national vision to make Ghana’s transport system the safest in Africa.
Friday, February 22, 2008
DON'T LET CHILDREN ABANDON EDUCATION...Nana Agyeman Gyau (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
A former player of the senior national team, the Black Stars, and now the Atimpimhene of Berekum Traditional Area in the Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Gyau Gyan (Agyeman Gyau), has urged parents to consider the education of their children first rather than forcing them to go into football.
He observed that some parents, in recent time, have been encouraging their children to go to soccer academies at the expense of their education because they saw football as the quickest way to get rich. To this, Nana Gyan adds, “it is not everybody that football can make rich or famous in the society and the world as a whole”.
Nana Gyau Gyan, who is also the President of the National Retired Footballers’ Association of Ghana (RENFAG), said this at the inauguration of the Berekum branch of the Women Supporters Union of Ghana (WOSUGHA) at Berekum last Sunday.
He stated that because of the money and fame associated with football these days, some parents did not even care about the education of their wards, but at the end of the day they might not derive the maximum benefits from the most popular game in the world.
Nana Gyau Gyan, therefore, entreated parents to consider sending their children to school so that they can develop their talent and interest in soccer side by side education.
He used the opportunity to advise members of WOSUGHA not to only concern themselves with supporting and cheering the national teams, but to also lead exemplary lives worthy of emulation by the youth in their various communities.
Nana Gyau Gyan also called on the leadership of the women’s supporters union to be transparent in their dealings and the handling of money to ensure its growth.
Madam Felicia Adoma, the Co-ordinator for WOSUGHA, for Brong-Ahafo and Ashanti regions for her part commended the female Under-17 national team, the Maidens, for defeating their Zambian counterparts and urged them not to be complacent, but go ahead to win all their matches.
She pledged the massive support of the union to the female Under-17 team and all other national teams.
Madam Adoma stated that women had been left behind when it came to the cheering of the national teams and therefore the union had come to create a platform for women, who formed the bulk of the country’s population, to provide massive support for the national teams in all their matches.
She added that the massive support provided by women during the CAN 2008 was so evident that when the going became tough for the Black Stars, it was women who went all out to cheer on the team from victory to victory in every match during the tournament.
The Berekum branch of WOSUGHA has Madam Elizabeth Yeboah as President, Madam Georgina Yeboah as her vice, Ernestina Frimpong, Organiser, Lydia Asamoah, Treasurer and Hagar Okai as Secretary.
A former player of the senior national team, the Black Stars, and now the Atimpimhene of Berekum Traditional Area in the Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Gyau Gyan (Agyeman Gyau), has urged parents to consider the education of their children first rather than forcing them to go into football.
He observed that some parents, in recent time, have been encouraging their children to go to soccer academies at the expense of their education because they saw football as the quickest way to get rich. To this, Nana Gyan adds, “it is not everybody that football can make rich or famous in the society and the world as a whole”.
Nana Gyau Gyan, who is also the President of the National Retired Footballers’ Association of Ghana (RENFAG), said this at the inauguration of the Berekum branch of the Women Supporters Union of Ghana (WOSUGHA) at Berekum last Sunday.
He stated that because of the money and fame associated with football these days, some parents did not even care about the education of their wards, but at the end of the day they might not derive the maximum benefits from the most popular game in the world.
Nana Gyau Gyan, therefore, entreated parents to consider sending their children to school so that they can develop their talent and interest in soccer side by side education.
He used the opportunity to advise members of WOSUGHA not to only concern themselves with supporting and cheering the national teams, but to also lead exemplary lives worthy of emulation by the youth in their various communities.
Nana Gyau Gyan also called on the leadership of the women’s supporters union to be transparent in their dealings and the handling of money to ensure its growth.
Madam Felicia Adoma, the Co-ordinator for WOSUGHA, for Brong-Ahafo and Ashanti regions for her part commended the female Under-17 national team, the Maidens, for defeating their Zambian counterparts and urged them not to be complacent, but go ahead to win all their matches.
She pledged the massive support of the union to the female Under-17 team and all other national teams.
Madam Adoma stated that women had been left behind when it came to the cheering of the national teams and therefore the union had come to create a platform for women, who formed the bulk of the country’s population, to provide massive support for the national teams in all their matches.
She added that the massive support provided by women during the CAN 2008 was so evident that when the going became tough for the Black Stars, it was women who went all out to cheer on the team from victory to victory in every match during the tournament.
The Berekum branch of WOSUGHA has Madam Elizabeth Yeboah as President, Madam Georgina Yeboah as her vice, Ernestina Frimpong, Organiser, Lydia Asamoah, Treasurer and Hagar Okai as Secretary.
Monday, February 18, 2008
ATIMPIMHENE GOES HOME (NSEMPA, PAGE 12)
By Samuel Duodu, Dormaa-Ahenkro
THE remains of the late Atipimhene known in private life as Mr R.K. Mensah, a 74-year-old retired educationist was interred at the Royal Mausoleum at Dormaa-Ahenkro recently.
Among his seven surviving children are the Omanhene and Obahemaa of Dormaa Traditional Area, Nana Agyeman Badu II and Nana Akosua Fima II.
Mourners
Mourners clad in all kinds of funeral clothes, mainly red and black, danced to the music of various traditional and cultural groups at the funeral, held at the forecourt of the Abampredaase, the Palace of the Dormaahene.
As usual, the all-female Fomtomfrom group from the Brong-Ahafo Centre for National Culture was around to entertain the large gathering.
People from all walks of life, including politicians, traditional rulers, educationists and religious groupings, two Saturdays ago joined the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II, and the Obahemaa of Dormaa Traditional Area, Nana Akosua Fima II, to mourn their late father and Atipimhene of Dormaa Traditional Area, Baffour Kwadwo Yeboah, at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Delegation
Present at the funeral were a government delegation led by Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Harbours and Railways; the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, and some regional executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The National Democratic Congress (NDC) was led by former President and Founder of the party, Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings, National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei and other regional executives.
Paramount chief
Among the Paramount chiefs who attended the funeral were Oseedeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, Beyeeman Bosea Gyanatwi IV, Omanhene of Drobo Traditional Area, and Nana Yaw Kagbrese, Omanhene of Yeji Traditional Area, all in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Other dignitaries were Mr Joe Issaka, Head of the Civil Service, and Mr Justice L.L. Mensah, a Supervising High Court Judge in Sunyani.
Many who worked with him until he gave his last breath on December 16, 2007 described the late Baffour Kwadwo Yeboah as a father, an administrator, a disciplinarian and a very compassionate person.
THE remains of the late Atipimhene known in private life as Mr R.K. Mensah, a 74-year-old retired educationist was interred at the Royal Mausoleum at Dormaa-Ahenkro recently.
Among his seven surviving children are the Omanhene and Obahemaa of Dormaa Traditional Area, Nana Agyeman Badu II and Nana Akosua Fima II.
Mourners
Mourners clad in all kinds of funeral clothes, mainly red and black, danced to the music of various traditional and cultural groups at the funeral, held at the forecourt of the Abampredaase, the Palace of the Dormaahene.
As usual, the all-female Fomtomfrom group from the Brong-Ahafo Centre for National Culture was around to entertain the large gathering.
People from all walks of life, including politicians, traditional rulers, educationists and religious groupings, two Saturdays ago joined the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II, and the Obahemaa of Dormaa Traditional Area, Nana Akosua Fima II, to mourn their late father and Atipimhene of Dormaa Traditional Area, Baffour Kwadwo Yeboah, at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Delegation
Present at the funeral were a government delegation led by Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Harbours and Railways; the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, and some regional executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The National Democratic Congress (NDC) was led by former President and Founder of the party, Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings, National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei and other regional executives.
Paramount chief
Among the Paramount chiefs who attended the funeral were Oseedeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, Beyeeman Bosea Gyanatwi IV, Omanhene of Drobo Traditional Area, and Nana Yaw Kagbrese, Omanhene of Yeji Traditional Area, all in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Other dignitaries were Mr Joe Issaka, Head of the Civil Service, and Mr Justice L.L. Mensah, a Supervising High Court Judge in Sunyani.
Many who worked with him until he gave his last breath on December 16, 2007 described the late Baffour Kwadwo Yeboah as a father, an administrator, a disciplinarian and a very compassionate person.
BA HAS PRODUCED MANY MEN OF HONOUR (NSEMPA, PAGE 14)
By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, has urged the youth of the region, both home and abroad to be proud of where they come from and not to hide their identities.
Prominent
According to him, the region has produced prominent statesmen, politicians, religious leaders, academia, top civil servants and others who occupy topmost positions in the security services and have contributed to the socio-economic development of the nation and, therefore, the youth of the region have to own up, be proud and speak of their region anytime they are asked where they come from.
He mentioned some of those prominent citizens of the region as the late Dr K.A. Busia, Prime Minister of the Second Republic, Mr J.H. Mensah, the former Senior Minister and Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Mr J.H. Owusu Acheampong, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, the late A.A. Munufie, a former Co-Chairman of the NDC and former Ambassador to Cote’ d’Iviore, Nana Owusu Nsiah, a former Inspector General of Police and Prof George Benneh, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon and many others.
Theme
Mr Baffour Awuah who was speaking at a youth programme dubbed The Youth Mentorship Project, themed Building Confidence in the Ghanaian and initiated by the regional minister, was aimed at unearthing the leadership qualities in the youth and nurturing their potential to assume leadership roles to contribute their quota towards the development of the region.
He urged the youth from the region to emulate those outstanding citizens from the region who contributed towards nation building through hard work, discipline and determination.
Treassured assets
The regional minister stated that the youth were the most treasured asset of the nation and, therefore, there was the need for them to be guided and taught to develop their talents for the benefit of society, themselves and the nation as a whole.
Mr Baffour Awuah also called on citizens of the region resident abroad to form a consortium to go into the agro-processing industry to help address the glut associated with agriculture production in the region.
Self-confidence
Rev. Fr. John Kofi Takyi of the Sunyani Catholic Diocese, who spoke on “The Role of Religion in the Empowerment of the Youth in Building Self-confidence”, stated that religion played a vital role in every human endeavour and it helped an individual to know who he/she was to build a high self esteem. He also urged them to rely on God absolutely, if they wanted to succeed in life.
The 2005 National Best Teacher, Mrs Doris Nana Marfo, a citizen of the region, who asked the youth not to allow the greed for money to cloud their thinking, called on them to apply themselves to hard work, discipline and receive the needed training which would make them grow and become responsible citizens in the future.
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, has urged the youth of the region, both home and abroad to be proud of where they come from and not to hide their identities.
Prominent
According to him, the region has produced prominent statesmen, politicians, religious leaders, academia, top civil servants and others who occupy topmost positions in the security services and have contributed to the socio-economic development of the nation and, therefore, the youth of the region have to own up, be proud and speak of their region anytime they are asked where they come from.
He mentioned some of those prominent citizens of the region as the late Dr K.A. Busia, Prime Minister of the Second Republic, Mr J.H. Mensah, the former Senior Minister and Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Mr J.H. Owusu Acheampong, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, the late A.A. Munufie, a former Co-Chairman of the NDC and former Ambassador to Cote’ d’Iviore, Nana Owusu Nsiah, a former Inspector General of Police and Prof George Benneh, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon and many others.
Theme
Mr Baffour Awuah who was speaking at a youth programme dubbed The Youth Mentorship Project, themed Building Confidence in the Ghanaian and initiated by the regional minister, was aimed at unearthing the leadership qualities in the youth and nurturing their potential to assume leadership roles to contribute their quota towards the development of the region.
He urged the youth from the region to emulate those outstanding citizens from the region who contributed towards nation building through hard work, discipline and determination.
Treassured assets
The regional minister stated that the youth were the most treasured asset of the nation and, therefore, there was the need for them to be guided and taught to develop their talents for the benefit of society, themselves and the nation as a whole.
Mr Baffour Awuah also called on citizens of the region resident abroad to form a consortium to go into the agro-processing industry to help address the glut associated with agriculture production in the region.
Self-confidence
Rev. Fr. John Kofi Takyi of the Sunyani Catholic Diocese, who spoke on “The Role of Religion in the Empowerment of the Youth in Building Self-confidence”, stated that religion played a vital role in every human endeavour and it helped an individual to know who he/she was to build a high self esteem. He also urged them to rely on God absolutely, if they wanted to succeed in life.
The 2005 National Best Teacher, Mrs Doris Nana Marfo, a citizen of the region, who asked the youth not to allow the greed for money to cloud their thinking, called on them to apply themselves to hard work, discipline and receive the needed training which would make them grow and become responsible citizens in the future.
FOREIGN DEMOCRACY NOT SUITABLE FOR AFRICA (NSEMPA, PAGE 10)
By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
DR J.K. Ankama, a Sunyani-based legal practitioner and the leader of the National Unity Movement has called for a national government or an African model constitution to bring Ghanaians together in unity and love to harness the enormous natural resources for the good of all.
Democracy
He said Africa has been grappling with the western brand of democracy for the past 50 years or more and the result is nothing to be enthused about.
“Whatever the causes for this poor showing, it is clear the Western Constitutions are alien to Africa, imported from the west with no roots in Africa for their survival, being in substance (‘Hanging Constitutions’),” he stressed.
A statement issued to the press in Sunyani and signed by Dr. Ankama, who is also a pastor said the imported constitutions are based on the cultures and traditions of the west, which are in direct conflict with the cultures and traditions of Africa thereby yielding adverse results in Africa.
Crisis
He noted that the political crisis in Kenya has dealt a deadly blow to the suitability of the imported constitutions in Africa.
“The need for an African model constitution should now seriously engage the attention of all politicians, elders and all stakeholders of contemporary politics in Africa” Dr. Ankama observed.
He added that by the adoption of the Western model constitutions, Africa has strayed from the God-given consensus system to the divisive western type thereby
plunging Africa into the political abyss.
In a related development, Dr. Ankama has observed that ever since African countries became independent and assumed the reigns of power, the party system has been worse.
Party system
He said instead of the adopted party system leading to good governance to improve the quality of the living conditions of Africans, the opposite had rather been the case.
A statement issued to the press in Sunyani and signed by Dr Ankama said party politics was killing Africans, adding that from Angola to Zimbabwe the results could only be described as dismal and thel social lives of the people have not generally improved and worse of all is the wanton destruction of human lives.
He stated further that millions of lives and limbs have been sacrificed on the alter of foreign political ideologies as evidenced by the many years of war in Angola.
Tragedy
“The North of Africa has not escaped this tragedy and in recent times, in West Africa, the Ivory Coast, and other neighboring countries the same story is told. Loss of lives and amputation or limbs was the order of the day’, he lamented.
Dr Ankama further observed that the recent events in Kenya have buried the little hope that the Party System enjoyed. The death of over 900 people so far and the destruction of the little individual possessions by burning and destruction dim the hope in Africa for the successful and suitable operation of the party system.
He said the party system was a recipe for killing and the catastrophic refugee problems have grown on a scale never seen before the advent of the multiparty system.
“The African Union (AU) should take a serious look at the problem and evolve an African model constitution to bring an end to the confusion, wars and bloodshed that has engulfed Africa, and consigned millions of innocent people to their graves,” Dr Ankama stated.
DR J.K. Ankama, a Sunyani-based legal practitioner and the leader of the National Unity Movement has called for a national government or an African model constitution to bring Ghanaians together in unity and love to harness the enormous natural resources for the good of all.
Democracy
He said Africa has been grappling with the western brand of democracy for the past 50 years or more and the result is nothing to be enthused about.
“Whatever the causes for this poor showing, it is clear the Western Constitutions are alien to Africa, imported from the west with no roots in Africa for their survival, being in substance (‘Hanging Constitutions’),” he stressed.
A statement issued to the press in Sunyani and signed by Dr. Ankama, who is also a pastor said the imported constitutions are based on the cultures and traditions of the west, which are in direct conflict with the cultures and traditions of Africa thereby yielding adverse results in Africa.
Crisis
He noted that the political crisis in Kenya has dealt a deadly blow to the suitability of the imported constitutions in Africa.
“The need for an African model constitution should now seriously engage the attention of all politicians, elders and all stakeholders of contemporary politics in Africa” Dr. Ankama observed.
He added that by the adoption of the Western model constitutions, Africa has strayed from the God-given consensus system to the divisive western type thereby
plunging Africa into the political abyss.
In a related development, Dr. Ankama has observed that ever since African countries became independent and assumed the reigns of power, the party system has been worse.
Party system
He said instead of the adopted party system leading to good governance to improve the quality of the living conditions of Africans, the opposite had rather been the case.
A statement issued to the press in Sunyani and signed by Dr Ankama said party politics was killing Africans, adding that from Angola to Zimbabwe the results could only be described as dismal and thel social lives of the people have not generally improved and worse of all is the wanton destruction of human lives.
He stated further that millions of lives and limbs have been sacrificed on the alter of foreign political ideologies as evidenced by the many years of war in Angola.
Tragedy
“The North of Africa has not escaped this tragedy and in recent times, in West Africa, the Ivory Coast, and other neighboring countries the same story is told. Loss of lives and amputation or limbs was the order of the day’, he lamented.
Dr Ankama further observed that the recent events in Kenya have buried the little hope that the Party System enjoyed. The death of over 900 people so far and the destruction of the little individual possessions by burning and destruction dim the hope in Africa for the successful and suitable operation of the party system.
He said the party system was a recipe for killing and the catastrophic refugee problems have grown on a scale never seen before the advent of the multiparty system.
“The African Union (AU) should take a serious look at the problem and evolve an African model constitution to bring an end to the confusion, wars and bloodshed that has engulfed Africa, and consigned millions of innocent people to their graves,” Dr Ankama stated.
FOREIGN DEMOCRACY NOT SUITABLE FOR AFRICA (NSEMPA, PAGE 10)
By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
DR J.K. Ankama, a Sunyani-based legal practitioner and the leader of the National Unity Movement has called for a national government or an African model constitution to bring Ghanaians together in unity and love to harness the enormous natural resources for the good of all.
Democracy
He said Africa has been grappling with the western brand of democracy for the past 50 years or more and the result is nothing to be enthused about.
“Whatever the causes for this poor showing, it is clear the Western Constitutions are alien to Africa, imported from the west with no roots in Africa for their survival, being in substance (‘Hanging Constitutions’),” he stressed.
A statement issued to the press in Sunyani and signed by Dr. Ankama, who is also a pastor said the imported constitutions are based on the cultures and traditions of the west, which are in direct conflict with the cultures and traditions of Africa thereby yielding adverse results in Africa.
Crisis
He noted that the political crisis in Kenya has dealt a deadly blow to the suitability of the imported constitutions in Africa.
“The need for an African model constitution should now seriously engage the attention of all politicians, elders and all stakeholders of contemporary politics in Africa” Dr. Ankama observed.
He added that by the adoption of the Western model constitutions, Africa has strayed from the God-given consensus system to the divisive western type thereby
plunging Africa into the political abyss.
In a related development, Dr. Ankama has observed that ever since African countries became independent and assumed the reigns of power, the party system has been worse.
Party system
He said instead of the adopted party system leading to good governance to improve the quality of the living conditions of Africans, the opposite had rather been the case.
A statement issued to the press in Sunyani and signed by Dr Ankama said party politics was killing Africans, adding that from Angola to Zimbabwe the results could only be described as dismal and thel social lives of the people have not generally improved and worse of all is the wanton destruction of human lives.
He stated further that millions of lives and limbs have been sacrificed on the alter of foreign political ideologies as evidenced by the many years of war in Angola.
Tragedy
“The North of Africa has not escaped this tragedy and in recent times, in West Africa, the Ivory Coast, and other neighboring countries the same story is told. Loss of lives and amputation or limbs was the order of the day’, he lamented.
Dr Ankama further observed that the recent events in Kenya have buried the little hope that the Party System enjoyed. The death of over 900 people so far and the destruction of the little individual possessions by burning and destruction dim the hope in Africa for the successful and suitable operation of the party system.
He said the party system was a recipe for killing and the catastrophic refugee problems have grown on a scale never seen before the advent of the multiparty system.
“The African Union (AU) should take a serious look at the problem and evolve an African model constitution to bring an end to the confusion, wars and bloodshed that has engulfed Africa, and consigned millions of innocent people to their graves,” Dr Ankama stated.
DR J.K. Ankama, a Sunyani-based legal practitioner and the leader of the National Unity Movement has called for a national government or an African model constitution to bring Ghanaians together in unity and love to harness the enormous natural resources for the good of all.
Democracy
He said Africa has been grappling with the western brand of democracy for the past 50 years or more and the result is nothing to be enthused about.
“Whatever the causes for this poor showing, it is clear the Western Constitutions are alien to Africa, imported from the west with no roots in Africa for their survival, being in substance (‘Hanging Constitutions’),” he stressed.
A statement issued to the press in Sunyani and signed by Dr. Ankama, who is also a pastor said the imported constitutions are based on the cultures and traditions of the west, which are in direct conflict with the cultures and traditions of Africa thereby yielding adverse results in Africa.
Crisis
He noted that the political crisis in Kenya has dealt a deadly blow to the suitability of the imported constitutions in Africa.
“The need for an African model constitution should now seriously engage the attention of all politicians, elders and all stakeholders of contemporary politics in Africa” Dr. Ankama observed.
He added that by the adoption of the Western model constitutions, Africa has strayed from the God-given consensus system to the divisive western type thereby
plunging Africa into the political abyss.
In a related development, Dr. Ankama has observed that ever since African countries became independent and assumed the reigns of power, the party system has been worse.
Party system
He said instead of the adopted party system leading to good governance to improve the quality of the living conditions of Africans, the opposite had rather been the case.
A statement issued to the press in Sunyani and signed by Dr Ankama said party politics was killing Africans, adding that from Angola to Zimbabwe the results could only be described as dismal and thel social lives of the people have not generally improved and worse of all is the wanton destruction of human lives.
He stated further that millions of lives and limbs have been sacrificed on the alter of foreign political ideologies as evidenced by the many years of war in Angola.
Tragedy
“The North of Africa has not escaped this tragedy and in recent times, in West Africa, the Ivory Coast, and other neighboring countries the same story is told. Loss of lives and amputation or limbs was the order of the day’, he lamented.
Dr Ankama further observed that the recent events in Kenya have buried the little hope that the Party System enjoyed. The death of over 900 people so far and the destruction of the little individual possessions by burning and destruction dim the hope in Africa for the successful and suitable operation of the party system.
He said the party system was a recipe for killing and the catastrophic refugee problems have grown on a scale never seen before the advent of the multiparty system.
“The African Union (AU) should take a serious look at the problem and evolve an African model constitution to bring an end to the confusion, wars and bloodshed that has engulfed Africa, and consigned millions of innocent people to their graves,” Dr Ankama stated.
CEPS BURN CONTRABAND CIGARETTES (NSEMPA, PAGE 5)
By Samuel Duodu,
Sunyani.
In its resolve to keep the onslaught of smugglers of imitation goods from the country, the Sunyani Sector Command of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), on Thursday destroyed a quantity of seized cartons of cigarettes at its headquarters in Sunyani, the regional capital.
The seized cigarettes made up of 15 cartons were seized by CEPS officials at the frontier stations in the region were set on fire in the presence of representatives from the Regional Fire Service and some journalists.
Briefing newsmen on the destruction of the seized cigarettes, Alhaji Imoru Farouk Adam, who is also the Sunyani Sector Commander, said the cigarettes were smuggled into the country through an unapproved route and burnt publicly to dispel the public perception that the seized cigarette would be returned to the owners after sometime.
He added that on most occasions when cigarettes were seized the owners did not own up because they were concealed in other goods in order to outwit CEPS officials, but through vigilance this contraband goods were intercepted.
The Sector Commander said the contraband goods did not also bear the warning, which stated, “Smoking of Cigarettes can be harmful to your health” and added that most of these seized cigarettes were imitations and might have expired when it was seized.
Alhaji Adam, who is also Assistant Commissioner of CEPS, disclosed that CEPS officials at the country’s frontiers in the region would continue to be vigilant and not spare smugglers of such contraband goods into the country.
He said because of the high taxes placed on the importation of cigarettes into the country in order to protect the local tobacco industry it had become difficult for people to import cigarettes through the approved routes and have therefore resorted to smuggling them.
Alhaji Adam called on the public to volunteer credible information which would lead to the arrest of these smugglers and called for a closer collaboration from sister security agencies in the fight against smuggling, which denied the state the needed revenue.
Sunyani.
In its resolve to keep the onslaught of smugglers of imitation goods from the country, the Sunyani Sector Command of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), on Thursday destroyed a quantity of seized cartons of cigarettes at its headquarters in Sunyani, the regional capital.
The seized cigarettes made up of 15 cartons were seized by CEPS officials at the frontier stations in the region were set on fire in the presence of representatives from the Regional Fire Service and some journalists.
Briefing newsmen on the destruction of the seized cigarettes, Alhaji Imoru Farouk Adam, who is also the Sunyani Sector Commander, said the cigarettes were smuggled into the country through an unapproved route and burnt publicly to dispel the public perception that the seized cigarette would be returned to the owners after sometime.
He added that on most occasions when cigarettes were seized the owners did not own up because they were concealed in other goods in order to outwit CEPS officials, but through vigilance this contraband goods were intercepted.
The Sector Commander said the contraband goods did not also bear the warning, which stated, “Smoking of Cigarettes can be harmful to your health” and added that most of these seized cigarettes were imitations and might have expired when it was seized.
Alhaji Adam, who is also Assistant Commissioner of CEPS, disclosed that CEPS officials at the country’s frontiers in the region would continue to be vigilant and not spare smugglers of such contraband goods into the country.
He said because of the high taxes placed on the importation of cigarettes into the country in order to protect the local tobacco industry it had become difficult for people to import cigarettes through the approved routes and have therefore resorted to smuggling them.
Alhaji Adam called on the public to volunteer credible information which would lead to the arrest of these smugglers and called for a closer collaboration from sister security agencies in the fight against smuggling, which denied the state the needed revenue.
BOFOURKROM GETS TEACHERS' HOSTEL (NSEMPA, PAGE 21)
By Samuel Duodu, Bofourkrom.
A ten-bedroom teachers’ hostel valued at GH¢30,000 has been commissioned at Bofourkrom in the newly created Sunyani West District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
Nora Lechmann, 25, a student of the University of Social Work, Switzerland financed the project, with support from the Sunyani Municipal Assembly. The hostel has been named after her.
Hostel
The hostel will accommodate teachers as well as others who use accommodation problems as an excuse to refuse postings to Bofourkrom.
Commissioning the hostel, Miss Lechmann, entreated the people of Bofourkrom to handle the facility with care so as to serve teachers who are yet to come to the community and hoped the hostel would enhance the quality of education in the community.
Contribution
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, who graced the occasion, advised that the love exhibited by Nora Lechmann in putting up the hostel should be a lesson to all public-spirited individuals to contribute their quota to the development of Bofourkrom.
He stressed the need for parents to invest in the education of their children, and hinted that the government is working around the clock to extend the School Feeding Programme to Bofourkrom.
Satisfaction
Speaking to Graphic Nsempa, the Headmaster of Bofourkrom SDA Junior High School, Mr Adjei Nkrumah, expressed satisfaction at the construction of the hostel, and stated that it would help ease the accommodation problems of teachers in the community.
Mr Nkrumah appealed to the government to extend electricity to the area to facilitate development.
Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, said the assembly had sunk boreholes for a number of communities in and around Bofourkrom, and that had gone a long way to improve on their health status.
As a token of appreciation, the chiefs and people of Bofourkrom used the occasion to instal Nora Lechmann as the Nkosohemaa of Bofourkrom in view of her philanthropic gesture.
A ten-bedroom teachers’ hostel valued at GH¢30,000 has been commissioned at Bofourkrom in the newly created Sunyani West District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
Nora Lechmann, 25, a student of the University of Social Work, Switzerland financed the project, with support from the Sunyani Municipal Assembly. The hostel has been named after her.
Hostel
The hostel will accommodate teachers as well as others who use accommodation problems as an excuse to refuse postings to Bofourkrom.
Commissioning the hostel, Miss Lechmann, entreated the people of Bofourkrom to handle the facility with care so as to serve teachers who are yet to come to the community and hoped the hostel would enhance the quality of education in the community.
Contribution
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, who graced the occasion, advised that the love exhibited by Nora Lechmann in putting up the hostel should be a lesson to all public-spirited individuals to contribute their quota to the development of Bofourkrom.
He stressed the need for parents to invest in the education of their children, and hinted that the government is working around the clock to extend the School Feeding Programme to Bofourkrom.
Satisfaction
Speaking to Graphic Nsempa, the Headmaster of Bofourkrom SDA Junior High School, Mr Adjei Nkrumah, expressed satisfaction at the construction of the hostel, and stated that it would help ease the accommodation problems of teachers in the community.
Mr Nkrumah appealed to the government to extend electricity to the area to facilitate development.
Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, said the assembly had sunk boreholes for a number of communities in and around Bofourkrom, and that had gone a long way to improve on their health status.
As a token of appreciation, the chiefs and people of Bofourkrom used the occasion to instal Nora Lechmann as the Nkosohemaa of Bofourkrom in view of her philanthropic gesture.
ALL BLACKS HOLD B. A UNITED AT SUNYANI (NSEMPA, BACK PAGE)
By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
DIVISION one side, Brong Ahafo (BA) United drew goalless with Agona Swedru-based Gamba All Blacks, a Premiership side in their friendly encounter played at the Sunyani Coronation Park last Friday.
Right from the blast of the referee’s whistle for the start of the game, BA United began to attack from all angles and also seized the midfield, pushing All Blacks to go on the defensive.
BA United, who approached the friendly as if it was a cup match, placed the ball on the turf and anytime they made a move, the defensemen of All Blacks looked jittery.
However, the BA United attackers could not convert the numerous chances that came their way in the first half of the game into goals.
Immediately after recess, both teams made several substitutions but it was BA United that benefited, as the team’s Italian import Roy Arthur, who came in for Edwin Osei Pele, became a thorn in the flesh of the All Blacks defence.
According to some football enthusiasts who came to watch the match, the All Blacks looked a little rusty and attributed that to the long break of the premiership, which made way for the just-ended Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
An opportunity which fell the way of Roy Arthur to clinch the opener and probably the winning goal for the homesters towards the end of the match, was wasted when his powerful header missed the cross bar by inches.
BA United kept on mounting pressure on the visitors, but any time they got close to scoring their forwards shot wide.
In a post-match interview, the Chief Executive Officer of BA United, Mr Charles Kwadwo Ntim, populaly known Micky Charles said the match clearly showed the team’s preparedness to meet any side, whether in the Division One or in the Premier League.
He said the match was a good exercise for both teams, more especially as BA United had to prepare towards the start of the Division One League, while All Blacks awaited the resumption of the Premiership.
When pushed to the wall to assess the strengths of his team, Micky Charles said he did not want to sound as if he was bragging, but stated that the team which was still in the building process looked good.
DIVISION one side, Brong Ahafo (BA) United drew goalless with Agona Swedru-based Gamba All Blacks, a Premiership side in their friendly encounter played at the Sunyani Coronation Park last Friday.
Right from the blast of the referee’s whistle for the start of the game, BA United began to attack from all angles and also seized the midfield, pushing All Blacks to go on the defensive.
BA United, who approached the friendly as if it was a cup match, placed the ball on the turf and anytime they made a move, the defensemen of All Blacks looked jittery.
However, the BA United attackers could not convert the numerous chances that came their way in the first half of the game into goals.
Immediately after recess, both teams made several substitutions but it was BA United that benefited, as the team’s Italian import Roy Arthur, who came in for Edwin Osei Pele, became a thorn in the flesh of the All Blacks defence.
According to some football enthusiasts who came to watch the match, the All Blacks looked a little rusty and attributed that to the long break of the premiership, which made way for the just-ended Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
An opportunity which fell the way of Roy Arthur to clinch the opener and probably the winning goal for the homesters towards the end of the match, was wasted when his powerful header missed the cross bar by inches.
BA United kept on mounting pressure on the visitors, but any time they got close to scoring their forwards shot wide.
In a post-match interview, the Chief Executive Officer of BA United, Mr Charles Kwadwo Ntim, populaly known Micky Charles said the match clearly showed the team’s preparedness to meet any side, whether in the Division One or in the Premier League.
He said the match was a good exercise for both teams, more especially as BA United had to prepare towards the start of the Division One League, while All Blacks awaited the resumption of the Premiership.
When pushed to the wall to assess the strengths of his team, Micky Charles said he did not want to sound as if he was bragging, but stated that the team which was still in the building process looked good.
2 CHIEFS SMOKE PEACE PIPE (Page 29)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Nkoranza
THE Chief of Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Awiti Kuffuor, has commended the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom 1V, for amicably resolving a seven-year-old land dispute between him and the Kyeremankumahene, Nana Effa Guarkro. This was in connection with who was the rightful caretaker of the Nkoranza stool lands in Kintampo.
Nana Kuffuor also thanked the Nkoranzahene for rescinding his earlier decision to cede his part of the Nkoranza stool lands at Kintampo to the Kyeremankumahene back to him (Kintampohene) as the caretaker, which had eased the tension in the area.
Nana Kuffuor made the commendation when he called on the Nkoranzahene at his palace to express his appreciation of his ruling on the disputed land at Kintampo and restoring his right of ownership to the land.
As a sign of thanksgiving, Nana Kuffuor presented two bottles of Schnapps, two big rams and GH¢200 to the Nkoranzahene and the Nkoranza Traditional Council.
The Nkoranzahene owns about two-thirds of the Kintampo lands with the remaining one-third portion of the land belonging to the Mo Traditional Council.
He ceded his portion of the land to the Kyeremankumahene, when the Kintampohene took the matter to court in 2001, without seeking redress from the Nkoranzahene.
Some eminent religious leaders in the area, led by Venerable Peter Sakyi, an Anglican Priest, amicably settled the land dispute out of court last year, through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), following settlement agreement by all the parties involved.
In view of the decision, the Nkoranzahene withdrew a letter he earlier sent to the Statutory Planning Committee of the Kintampo District Assembly, giving the right of ownership of the land to the Kyeremankumahene.
Nana Kuffuor, who was accompanied by his supporters to the Nkoranzahene’s palace, lauded the Omanhene for the way and manner he went about the issue, and restoring his status as the caretaker chief of the land.
He pledged that with the prevailing peace in the area, he would hold the land in trust for the people and the Nkoranza Traditional Council.
In his response, Nana Kudom, who is also the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, urged the people involved in the dispute to bury their differences and live in peace to enhance the progress of the area.
He reiterated his earlier decision to revert the right of ownership of the disputed land to the Kintampohene, saying that the Kyeremankumahene was not the sole caretaker of the land in question for the Nkoranzahene.
“To be precise, Nana Kyeremankumahene shares common boundary to the North with Yefrihene, to the West with Mohene by the old Trans-sahara root. To the east, he shares the boundary with Dadiesehene and to the south with Nana Kokumahene at the Barimi Stream at Kintampo,” he added.
Nana Kudom stated that there was no paramount chief in Kintampo, adding that he was the overlord of the Nkoranza stool lands in Kintampo and the Kintampohene was a caretaker chief.
THE Chief of Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Awiti Kuffuor, has commended the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom 1V, for amicably resolving a seven-year-old land dispute between him and the Kyeremankumahene, Nana Effa Guarkro. This was in connection with who was the rightful caretaker of the Nkoranza stool lands in Kintampo.
Nana Kuffuor also thanked the Nkoranzahene for rescinding his earlier decision to cede his part of the Nkoranza stool lands at Kintampo to the Kyeremankumahene back to him (Kintampohene) as the caretaker, which had eased the tension in the area.
Nana Kuffuor made the commendation when he called on the Nkoranzahene at his palace to express his appreciation of his ruling on the disputed land at Kintampo and restoring his right of ownership to the land.
As a sign of thanksgiving, Nana Kuffuor presented two bottles of Schnapps, two big rams and GH¢200 to the Nkoranzahene and the Nkoranza Traditional Council.
The Nkoranzahene owns about two-thirds of the Kintampo lands with the remaining one-third portion of the land belonging to the Mo Traditional Council.
He ceded his portion of the land to the Kyeremankumahene, when the Kintampohene took the matter to court in 2001, without seeking redress from the Nkoranzahene.
Some eminent religious leaders in the area, led by Venerable Peter Sakyi, an Anglican Priest, amicably settled the land dispute out of court last year, through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), following settlement agreement by all the parties involved.
In view of the decision, the Nkoranzahene withdrew a letter he earlier sent to the Statutory Planning Committee of the Kintampo District Assembly, giving the right of ownership of the land to the Kyeremankumahene.
Nana Kuffuor, who was accompanied by his supporters to the Nkoranzahene’s palace, lauded the Omanhene for the way and manner he went about the issue, and restoring his status as the caretaker chief of the land.
He pledged that with the prevailing peace in the area, he would hold the land in trust for the people and the Nkoranza Traditional Council.
In his response, Nana Kudom, who is also the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, urged the people involved in the dispute to bury their differences and live in peace to enhance the progress of the area.
He reiterated his earlier decision to revert the right of ownership of the disputed land to the Kintampohene, saying that the Kyeremankumahene was not the sole caretaker of the land in question for the Nkoranzahene.
“To be precise, Nana Kyeremankumahene shares common boundary to the North with Yefrihene, to the West with Mohene by the old Trans-sahara root. To the east, he shares the boundary with Dadiesehene and to the south with Nana Kokumahene at the Barimi Stream at Kintampo,” he added.
Nana Kudom stated that there was no paramount chief in Kintampo, adding that he was the overlord of the Nkoranza stool lands in Kintampo and the Kintampohene was a caretaker chief.
Friday, February 15, 2008
ESTABLISH IDEOLOGICAL CENTRES FOR EFFECTIVE CAMPAINGNING (Page 16)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
THE President of the Sunyani Polytechnic Chapter of the Tertiary Education Students Confederacy of the New Patriotic Party (TESCON) Mr Emmanuel Tweneboah Kodua, has suggested the establishment of ideological centres at the grass-root level for the party. This he said is to help equip its members with the necessary information, programmes and policies of the government for effective campaigning for this year’s general election.
He stated that the party’s foot soldiers at the grass roots must be well-informed and motivated to be able to sell the messages of the party to the electorate to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the 2008 elections.
Mr Kodua made the suggestion at a symposium organised by the Sunyani-Polytechnic branch of TESCON to whip up the enthusiasm of its members to embark on a massive campaign for the party.
The symposium coincided with the inauguration of the Sunyani Nursing Training College branch of TESCON.
Mr Kodua called for the total involvement and motivation of the youth wing of the party to ensure massive victory, adding that since this year’s election was a crucial one, TESCON-Sunyani Polytechnic had prepared and was battle-ready for the task ahead, but needed the motivation and logistical support to ensure that the party retained power.
He added that for the NPP to retain power, there was the need for the party to pay serious attention to strengthening its structures and resolving all internal wrangling.
The Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Nana Atta-Fena, for his part, gave the assurance that the party had put in place the necessary strategies to ensure that the party retained power, and urged TESCON to remain calm, resolute and rally solidly behind the party.
According to him, after the hopes of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to see NPP crumbled after the December 2007 national congress, they had now resorted to bragging that they were the owners of the policies being implemented by the NPP government, which, he said, was absolutely untrue.
The regional co-ordinator stressed that the NPP would continue to rule the country with honesty and unity for a brighter future for the people.
The General Secretary of the National Association of Local Government (NALAG), Ameyaw Cheremeh, who spoke on the topic: “Strengthening the structures of the NPP,” urged members of TESCON to take advantage of the re-opening of the voters register in March this year to mobilise people who would turn 18 and were affiliated to the NPP to register in their numbers to ensure a massive victory, since politics is basically about numbers.
He said it was a fact that the NPP would win the 2008 elections, but called for hard work and, therefore, urged TESCON to intensify its membership drive in order to win more people into their fold.
THE President of the Sunyani Polytechnic Chapter of the Tertiary Education Students Confederacy of the New Patriotic Party (TESCON) Mr Emmanuel Tweneboah Kodua, has suggested the establishment of ideological centres at the grass-root level for the party. This he said is to help equip its members with the necessary information, programmes and policies of the government for effective campaigning for this year’s general election.
He stated that the party’s foot soldiers at the grass roots must be well-informed and motivated to be able to sell the messages of the party to the electorate to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the 2008 elections.
Mr Kodua made the suggestion at a symposium organised by the Sunyani-Polytechnic branch of TESCON to whip up the enthusiasm of its members to embark on a massive campaign for the party.
The symposium coincided with the inauguration of the Sunyani Nursing Training College branch of TESCON.
Mr Kodua called for the total involvement and motivation of the youth wing of the party to ensure massive victory, adding that since this year’s election was a crucial one, TESCON-Sunyani Polytechnic had prepared and was battle-ready for the task ahead, but needed the motivation and logistical support to ensure that the party retained power.
He added that for the NPP to retain power, there was the need for the party to pay serious attention to strengthening its structures and resolving all internal wrangling.
The Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Nana Atta-Fena, for his part, gave the assurance that the party had put in place the necessary strategies to ensure that the party retained power, and urged TESCON to remain calm, resolute and rally solidly behind the party.
According to him, after the hopes of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to see NPP crumbled after the December 2007 national congress, they had now resorted to bragging that they were the owners of the policies being implemented by the NPP government, which, he said, was absolutely untrue.
The regional co-ordinator stressed that the NPP would continue to rule the country with honesty and unity for a brighter future for the people.
The General Secretary of the National Association of Local Government (NALAG), Ameyaw Cheremeh, who spoke on the topic: “Strengthening the structures of the NPP,” urged members of TESCON to take advantage of the re-opening of the voters register in March this year to mobilise people who would turn 18 and were affiliated to the NPP to register in their numbers to ensure a massive victory, since politics is basically about numbers.
He said it was a fact that the NPP would win the 2008 elections, but called for hard work and, therefore, urged TESCON to intensify its membership drive in order to win more people into their fold.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
RAWLINGS AT R. K. MENSAH'S FUNERAL (Page 14)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Dormaa-Ahenkro
People from all walks of life including politicians, traditional rulers, educationists and religious groupings last Saturday joined the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II, and the Queen of Dormaa Traditional Area, Nana Akosua Fima II, to mourn their late father and Atipimhene, Baffour Kwadwo Yeboah, at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The late Atipimhene, known in private life as Mr R.K. Mensah, a 74-year-old retired educationist, was interred at the Royal Mausoleum at Dormaa-Ahenkro.
Mourners clad in all kinds of funeral clothes danced to traditional and cultural music at the funeral held at the forecourt of the Abampredaase, the Palace of the Dormaahene.
As expected, the all-female fontomfrom group from the Brong-Ahafo Centre for National Culture also performed at the funeral.
Present at the funeral was a government delegation led by Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Harbours and Railways; the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, and some regional executive members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), while the National Democratic Congress’s delegation was led by the party’s founder, former President J.J. Rawlings, National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei, and other regional executive members.
Among the paramount chiefs who attended the funeral were Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area; Beyeeman Bosea Gyanatwi IV, Omanhene of Drobo Traditional Area, and Nana Yaw Kagbrese, Omanhene of Yeji Traditional Area, all in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
Other dignitaries were Mr Joe Issaka, Head of the Civil Service and Mr Justice L.L. Mensah, a Supervising High Court Judge in Sunyani.
The late Baffour Kwadwo Yeboah was described as a father, an administrator, a disciplinarian and a very compassionate person by many who worked with him until he gave his last breath on December 16, 2007.
He left behind seven children including the Omanhene and Obahemaa of Dormaa Traditional Area, Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II and Nana Akosua Fima II, respectively.
People from all walks of life including politicians, traditional rulers, educationists and religious groupings last Saturday joined the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II, and the Queen of Dormaa Traditional Area, Nana Akosua Fima II, to mourn their late father and Atipimhene, Baffour Kwadwo Yeboah, at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The late Atipimhene, known in private life as Mr R.K. Mensah, a 74-year-old retired educationist, was interred at the Royal Mausoleum at Dormaa-Ahenkro.
Mourners clad in all kinds of funeral clothes danced to traditional and cultural music at the funeral held at the forecourt of the Abampredaase, the Palace of the Dormaahene.
As expected, the all-female fontomfrom group from the Brong-Ahafo Centre for National Culture also performed at the funeral.
Present at the funeral was a government delegation led by Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Harbours and Railways; the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, and some regional executive members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), while the National Democratic Congress’s delegation was led by the party’s founder, former President J.J. Rawlings, National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei, and other regional executive members.
Among the paramount chiefs who attended the funeral were Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area; Beyeeman Bosea Gyanatwi IV, Omanhene of Drobo Traditional Area, and Nana Yaw Kagbrese, Omanhene of Yeji Traditional Area, all in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
Other dignitaries were Mr Joe Issaka, Head of the Civil Service and Mr Justice L.L. Mensah, a Supervising High Court Judge in Sunyani.
The late Baffour Kwadwo Yeboah was described as a father, an administrator, a disciplinarian and a very compassionate person by many who worked with him until he gave his last breath on December 16, 2007.
He left behind seven children including the Omanhene and Obahemaa of Dormaa Traditional Area, Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II and Nana Akosua Fima II, respectively.
Monday, February 11, 2008
NSOATRE PEOPLE DEMONSTRATE AGAINST SITING OF DISTRICT CAPITAL (Page 32)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Nsoatre
THE chiefs and people of Nsoatre, near Sunyani in the Brong-Ahafo Region, embarked on a three-hour massive demonstration at Nsoatre on Thursday to protest against the siting of the capital of the newly-created Sunyani West District at Odomase.
The demonstrators, numbering about 400 and clad in mourning clothes with red bands around their necks and wrists, marched through some of the principal streets of Nsoatre, amid the chanting of war songs.
Policemen were present in their numbers to provide protection.
Some of the placards the demonstrators carried read: “ Nsoatre deserves the capital”, “NPP, let justice prevail”, “President Kufuor, Tie Yen”, “ Do the right thing @50” and “ Adjei Darko, you are arrogant.”
Among the chiefs of the traditional area who took part in the demonstration were Nana Agyeman Donsah, the Akyempimhene, Nana Amankwa Appiah, the Sanahene, Nana Twene Ameyaw, the Akyeamehene, and Nana Baffour Gyamfi Awuah, the Ankobeahene.
The rest were Nana Kofi Yeboah, the Adontenhene, Nana Asi Kwasi II, the Akwamuhene, Nana Kwame Baah, the Nkosoohene, Nana Baffour Agyei Boahen, the Abrafohene, and Nana Kwaku Amponsah, the Twabirifie Panin.
The Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Charles Botwe, told newsmen that 70 policemen and 68 Community Protection Unit (CPU) members were deployed to maintain law and order, with some of them wielding tear gas.
The leaders of the demonstration later sent a delegation to Sunyani to present a resolution on behalf of the chiefs and people of Nsoatre to the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, for onward submission to the President.
The Sunyani West District was among the 32 new districts created last year. The new district, which was carved out of the Sunyani municipality, has Odomase as its capital.
The protesters, who later converged on the forecourt of the Nsoatre Urban Council Office, were addressed by Nana Agyeman Donsah, the Akyempimhene.
According to him, Nsoatre was the biggest town with the highest population among the other towns in the newly-created district and, therefore, deserved to be made the district capital.
He said they were not in litigation with anybody, neither did they have a problem; what they were fighting against was injustice and unfair treatment by the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Adjei-Darko.
Nana Donsah, therefore, made a passionate appeal to President Kufuor to look into the matter and let justice prevail.
A statement signed by Nana Asi Kwasi, the Akwamuhene, and issued to newsmen, said the people were pressing home their demand for Nsoatre to be made the district capital, instead of Odomase.
It stated that in terms of infrastructural development, Nsoatre was better endowed than the other towns in the new district.
The statement cited the community centre, which could be used as temporary offices for the new district, and an urban council office that could serve as offices for the decentralised departments of the assembly.
According to the statement, Nsoatre was the 62nd largest town in Ghana and the 10th in the Brong Ahafo Region, with a total population of 18,931, while the other two big towns in the district, Chiraa and Odomase, had 15,183 and 12,167 people, respectively.
It said the decision to site the district capital at Odomase, instead of Nsoatre, which was announced on October 25, last year, came to the people of Nsoatre as a shock.
The statement described the explanation given by Mr Adjei-Darko to make Odomase the district capital because it was the most centrally located town in the area as untenable.
It asked the sector minister why the national capital was not Kintampo but Accra, even though Kintampo was considered the midpoint of Ghana.
It would be recalled that last week the chiefs and people of Nsoatre boycotted a meeting convened by the Local Government Ministry to discuss the inauguration of the district, which comes off on February 29, this year.
At the meeting, Mr Adjei-Darko expressed regret over the decision of the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the durbar, which was aimed at assessing the state of preparedness before the inauguration of the new district.
THE chiefs and people of Nsoatre, near Sunyani in the Brong-Ahafo Region, embarked on a three-hour massive demonstration at Nsoatre on Thursday to protest against the siting of the capital of the newly-created Sunyani West District at Odomase.
The demonstrators, numbering about 400 and clad in mourning clothes with red bands around their necks and wrists, marched through some of the principal streets of Nsoatre, amid the chanting of war songs.
Policemen were present in their numbers to provide protection.
Some of the placards the demonstrators carried read: “ Nsoatre deserves the capital”, “NPP, let justice prevail”, “President Kufuor, Tie Yen”, “ Do the right thing @50” and “ Adjei Darko, you are arrogant.”
Among the chiefs of the traditional area who took part in the demonstration were Nana Agyeman Donsah, the Akyempimhene, Nana Amankwa Appiah, the Sanahene, Nana Twene Ameyaw, the Akyeamehene, and Nana Baffour Gyamfi Awuah, the Ankobeahene.
The rest were Nana Kofi Yeboah, the Adontenhene, Nana Asi Kwasi II, the Akwamuhene, Nana Kwame Baah, the Nkosoohene, Nana Baffour Agyei Boahen, the Abrafohene, and Nana Kwaku Amponsah, the Twabirifie Panin.
The Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Charles Botwe, told newsmen that 70 policemen and 68 Community Protection Unit (CPU) members were deployed to maintain law and order, with some of them wielding tear gas.
The leaders of the demonstration later sent a delegation to Sunyani to present a resolution on behalf of the chiefs and people of Nsoatre to the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, for onward submission to the President.
The Sunyani West District was among the 32 new districts created last year. The new district, which was carved out of the Sunyani municipality, has Odomase as its capital.
The protesters, who later converged on the forecourt of the Nsoatre Urban Council Office, were addressed by Nana Agyeman Donsah, the Akyempimhene.
According to him, Nsoatre was the biggest town with the highest population among the other towns in the newly-created district and, therefore, deserved to be made the district capital.
He said they were not in litigation with anybody, neither did they have a problem; what they were fighting against was injustice and unfair treatment by the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Adjei-Darko.
Nana Donsah, therefore, made a passionate appeal to President Kufuor to look into the matter and let justice prevail.
A statement signed by Nana Asi Kwasi, the Akwamuhene, and issued to newsmen, said the people were pressing home their demand for Nsoatre to be made the district capital, instead of Odomase.
It stated that in terms of infrastructural development, Nsoatre was better endowed than the other towns in the new district.
The statement cited the community centre, which could be used as temporary offices for the new district, and an urban council office that could serve as offices for the decentralised departments of the assembly.
According to the statement, Nsoatre was the 62nd largest town in Ghana and the 10th in the Brong Ahafo Region, with a total population of 18,931, while the other two big towns in the district, Chiraa and Odomase, had 15,183 and 12,167 people, respectively.
It said the decision to site the district capital at Odomase, instead of Nsoatre, which was announced on October 25, last year, came to the people of Nsoatre as a shock.
The statement described the explanation given by Mr Adjei-Darko to make Odomase the district capital because it was the most centrally located town in the area as untenable.
It asked the sector minister why the national capital was not Kintampo but Accra, even though Kintampo was considered the midpoint of Ghana.
It would be recalled that last week the chiefs and people of Nsoatre boycotted a meeting convened by the Local Government Ministry to discuss the inauguration of the district, which comes off on February 29, this year.
At the meeting, Mr Adjei-Darko expressed regret over the decision of the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the durbar, which was aimed at assessing the state of preparedness before the inauguration of the new district.
PASS CREDIT UNION BILL INTO LAW — ADU YEABOAH (Page 32)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Techiman
THE Board Chairman of the Ebenezer Co-operative Credit Union Limited at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Abraham Adu Yeboah, has made an urgent appeal to Parliament to pass the Credit Union Bill (CUB), which is before the house, into law.
According to him, the delay in the passage of the bill had given room to unscrupulous individuals or group of persons to move from one place to another in the name of the Credit Union Association (CUA), collecting people’s money and absconding with or mismanaging them.
He stated that the only way that unhealthy development on the micro-credit front could be curbed and the persons involved brought to book was for Parliament to pass the CUB into law to provide effective means of governance in the credit unions’ operations in the country.
Mr Yeboah made the appeal at the inauguration of a GH¢98,600 office complex for the Ebenezer CUA at Techiman. The ceremony coincided with the 12th annual general meeting of the union.
The board chairman stated that the office complex was built through the contributions of union members, who offered 50 per cent of interest on their savings towards the project.
Mr Yeboah announced that the membership of the credit union increased from 1,379 in 2006 to 1,686 in 2007, showing an increase of 25 per cent.
He added that the savings of the union also increased from GH¢390 million to GH¢430 million while loans granted to the members shot up from GH¢253 million to GH¢260 million over the same period.
According to Mr Yeboah, the union’s assets rose from GH¢536 million to GH¢653 million.
He attributed the union’s success to the sound business practices and principles put in place, which had enhanced the mobile banking system, computerisation and accurate record-keeping.
The Regional Co-operative Officer, Mr Jerome Adopley, announced that Techiman had seven vibrant credit unions in the region.
He therefore called on them to form a consortium, pay an agreed percentage of their net surplus or profit into a fund to set up a technological enterprise that would manufacture hoes, garden forks, watering cans, rakes and other farming implements for small-scale farmers.
Mr Adopley said that would enable Techiman to lead the industrial agricultural revolution in the region.
The Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, commended the board, management and staff of the credit union for putting up such a magnificent office complex which no traditional bank could even boast of.
The General Manager of CUA, Mr Emmanuel Oduro Darko, repeated the call on Ghanaians to develop the culture of saving and move away from frivolous spending, adding that the money that people considered to be insignificant could be saved to meet a future need.
Among the dignitaries at the ceremony were Nana Asare Baffour Twum 11, the Adontenhene of Techiman, who chaired the function and Nana Fosu Gyeabour Appenteng, Hansuahene and Bamuhene of the Techiman Traditional Area.
THE Board Chairman of the Ebenezer Co-operative Credit Union Limited at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Abraham Adu Yeboah, has made an urgent appeal to Parliament to pass the Credit Union Bill (CUB), which is before the house, into law.
According to him, the delay in the passage of the bill had given room to unscrupulous individuals or group of persons to move from one place to another in the name of the Credit Union Association (CUA), collecting people’s money and absconding with or mismanaging them.
He stated that the only way that unhealthy development on the micro-credit front could be curbed and the persons involved brought to book was for Parliament to pass the CUB into law to provide effective means of governance in the credit unions’ operations in the country.
Mr Yeboah made the appeal at the inauguration of a GH¢98,600 office complex for the Ebenezer CUA at Techiman. The ceremony coincided with the 12th annual general meeting of the union.
The board chairman stated that the office complex was built through the contributions of union members, who offered 50 per cent of interest on their savings towards the project.
Mr Yeboah announced that the membership of the credit union increased from 1,379 in 2006 to 1,686 in 2007, showing an increase of 25 per cent.
He added that the savings of the union also increased from GH¢390 million to GH¢430 million while loans granted to the members shot up from GH¢253 million to GH¢260 million over the same period.
According to Mr Yeboah, the union’s assets rose from GH¢536 million to GH¢653 million.
He attributed the union’s success to the sound business practices and principles put in place, which had enhanced the mobile banking system, computerisation and accurate record-keeping.
The Regional Co-operative Officer, Mr Jerome Adopley, announced that Techiman had seven vibrant credit unions in the region.
He therefore called on them to form a consortium, pay an agreed percentage of their net surplus or profit into a fund to set up a technological enterprise that would manufacture hoes, garden forks, watering cans, rakes and other farming implements for small-scale farmers.
Mr Adopley said that would enable Techiman to lead the industrial agricultural revolution in the region.
The Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, commended the board, management and staff of the credit union for putting up such a magnificent office complex which no traditional bank could even boast of.
The General Manager of CUA, Mr Emmanuel Oduro Darko, repeated the call on Ghanaians to develop the culture of saving and move away from frivolous spending, adding that the money that people considered to be insignificant could be saved to meet a future need.
Among the dignitaries at the ceremony were Nana Asare Baffour Twum 11, the Adontenhene of Techiman, who chaired the function and Nana Fosu Gyeabour Appenteng, Hansuahene and Bamuhene of the Techiman Traditional Area.
MEDIA URGED TO RESEARCH INTO CONFLICTS ... PAGE 21
Story: Samuel Duodu, Forikrom
THE Chief of Forikrom, near Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, Okogyeman Kese Basahyia II, has appealed to media practitioners in the country to endeavour to uncover sources of conflict and suggest useful ways of dealing with their prevention and solution.
According to him, it behoved the media to research into the causes of conflicts in order to provide reliable early warning signals for timely intervention and minimise the factors contributing to the fuelling conflicts in the country.
"Our writing should help promote conflict awareness and management, highlight the plight of victims and provide reliable and credible data on conflict situations and enlighten society and the government on conflict issues," he stressed.
Nana Basahyia, who is also a journalist and Benkumhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, made the appeal when he was “outdoored” under the stool name Okogyeman Kese Basahyia at Forikrom over the weekend.
The Forikromhene expressed regret that in some circumstances the media in Africa had become tools of conflict, adding, "Some of my colleagues in the media have, in some cases, been fanning conflict anywhere they find themselves."
He, therefore, urged media practitioners not to allow themselves to be used as tools to fan conflicts which retard the smooth development of communities.
Touching on electioneering, Nana Basahyia urged politicians to dwell on issues that would bring about development and lead to improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians.
Nana Basahyia called for co-operation from his people to enable him to reign effectively and pledged that education would be his top priority.
The Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, who performed the outdooring ceremony, urged the people to bury their differences and unite for the speedy development of the town.
Earlier in a welcoming address, Nana Kwaw Adama, the Twafohene of Forikrom, called on the people to rally behind the new chief to ensure the socio-economic development of the town.
Nana Apeteng Fosu Gyeabour, the Hansuahene and Bemuhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, who chaired the function, expressed the hope that citizens of the town would renew their support for the chief and contribute their quota to the development of the area.
Nana Basahyia, known in private life as Mr Osei Bonsu, currently the Printing Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), succeeded the late Nana Kwaku Adjapong, who died at the age of 102. The new chief is married with four children.
THE Chief of Forikrom, near Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, Okogyeman Kese Basahyia II, has appealed to media practitioners in the country to endeavour to uncover sources of conflict and suggest useful ways of dealing with their prevention and solution.
According to him, it behoved the media to research into the causes of conflicts in order to provide reliable early warning signals for timely intervention and minimise the factors contributing to the fuelling conflicts in the country.
"Our writing should help promote conflict awareness and management, highlight the plight of victims and provide reliable and credible data on conflict situations and enlighten society and the government on conflict issues," he stressed.
Nana Basahyia, who is also a journalist and Benkumhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, made the appeal when he was “outdoored” under the stool name Okogyeman Kese Basahyia at Forikrom over the weekend.
The Forikromhene expressed regret that in some circumstances the media in Africa had become tools of conflict, adding, "Some of my colleagues in the media have, in some cases, been fanning conflict anywhere they find themselves."
He, therefore, urged media practitioners not to allow themselves to be used as tools to fan conflicts which retard the smooth development of communities.
Touching on electioneering, Nana Basahyia urged politicians to dwell on issues that would bring about development and lead to improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians.
Nana Basahyia called for co-operation from his people to enable him to reign effectively and pledged that education would be his top priority.
The Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, who performed the outdooring ceremony, urged the people to bury their differences and unite for the speedy development of the town.
Earlier in a welcoming address, Nana Kwaw Adama, the Twafohene of Forikrom, called on the people to rally behind the new chief to ensure the socio-economic development of the town.
Nana Apeteng Fosu Gyeabour, the Hansuahene and Bemuhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, who chaired the function, expressed the hope that citizens of the town would renew their support for the chief and contribute their quota to the development of the area.
Nana Basahyia, known in private life as Mr Osei Bonsu, currently the Printing Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), succeeded the late Nana Kwaku Adjapong, who died at the age of 102. The new chief is married with four children.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
NSOATRE CHIEFS, PEOPLE BOYCOTT MEETING (Page 28)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Odumase
The chiefs and people of Nsoatre, one of the major towns in the newly created Sunyani West District of the Brong-Ahafo Region, on Wednesday boycotted a meeting convened by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGDE) to discuss the planned inauguration of the district on February, 29, this year.
When the roll was called at the meeting held at the Odumase Presbyterian Church, no chief, opinion leader, assembly member or citizen of Nsoatre was present.
The meeting was attended by the sector minister, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, and the chiefs, opinion leaders and assembly members of the other towns and villages in the district.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Nsoatre Traditional Council, a source close to the council acknowledged the receipt of the letter inviting the council to the meeting, but claimed that they decided to stay away because they did not want to have anything to do with the newly created district that had Odumase as the capital.
An official of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly has also confirmed that he wrote the invitation letter on behalf of the municipal chief executive.
The decision by the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the meeting, according to the source, also stemmed from an earlier press conference held by the traditional council to protest against the siting of the district capital at Odumase, during which they vowed they would not be part of the new district.
All the six assembly members from Nsoatre, who were also not present at the meeting, have also decided not to attend any meeting of the Sunyani West District Assembly when it kicks off.
The Daily Graphic gathered that the traditional council had planned a demonstration to register their disapproval of the naming of Odumase as the district capital.
Mr Adjei-Darko, who addressed the meeting, however expressed regret over the decision of the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the durbar, which, he said, was to assess the state of preparedness before the inauguration of the district.
He stated that the creation of the district was not a means of usurping the powers of traditional councils and, therefore, urged traditional rulers not to see it as a way of taking away their powers.
Mr Adjei-Darko, who is also the Member of Parliament for Sunyani West, added that the decision by the government to create the district was to ensure accelerated development in every part of the country.
He explained that the siting of the capital for the newly created district could go to only one out of the towns that comprised the district and, therefore, the others that did not get the capital must not see it as offence.
Mr Adjei-Darko announced that the government had decided to finance one special project that would be selected in each of the 32 newly created districts, while the ministry had also decided to support each of the districts with ¢1.5 billion.
He urged the people in the newly created districts to pay their levies and assist in the successful kick-off of the assemblies.
The MCE for Sunyani, Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, urged the chiefs and people in the Sunyani West District to bury their differences and unite for the rapid socio-economic development of the new district.
The Sunyani West District, which has Odumase as its capital, was created out of the Sunyani Municipality.
The chiefs and people of Nsoatre, one of the major towns in the newly created Sunyani West District of the Brong-Ahafo Region, on Wednesday boycotted a meeting convened by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGDE) to discuss the planned inauguration of the district on February, 29, this year.
When the roll was called at the meeting held at the Odumase Presbyterian Church, no chief, opinion leader, assembly member or citizen of Nsoatre was present.
The meeting was attended by the sector minister, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, and the chiefs, opinion leaders and assembly members of the other towns and villages in the district.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Nsoatre Traditional Council, a source close to the council acknowledged the receipt of the letter inviting the council to the meeting, but claimed that they decided to stay away because they did not want to have anything to do with the newly created district that had Odumase as the capital.
An official of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly has also confirmed that he wrote the invitation letter on behalf of the municipal chief executive.
The decision by the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the meeting, according to the source, also stemmed from an earlier press conference held by the traditional council to protest against the siting of the district capital at Odumase, during which they vowed they would not be part of the new district.
All the six assembly members from Nsoatre, who were also not present at the meeting, have also decided not to attend any meeting of the Sunyani West District Assembly when it kicks off.
The Daily Graphic gathered that the traditional council had planned a demonstration to register their disapproval of the naming of Odumase as the district capital.
Mr Adjei-Darko, who addressed the meeting, however expressed regret over the decision of the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the durbar, which, he said, was to assess the state of preparedness before the inauguration of the district.
He stated that the creation of the district was not a means of usurping the powers of traditional councils and, therefore, urged traditional rulers not to see it as a way of taking away their powers.
Mr Adjei-Darko, who is also the Member of Parliament for Sunyani West, added that the decision by the government to create the district was to ensure accelerated development in every part of the country.
He explained that the siting of the capital for the newly created district could go to only one out of the towns that comprised the district and, therefore, the others that did not get the capital must not see it as offence.
Mr Adjei-Darko announced that the government had decided to finance one special project that would be selected in each of the 32 newly created districts, while the ministry had also decided to support each of the districts with ¢1.5 billion.
He urged the people in the newly created districts to pay their levies and assist in the successful kick-off of the assemblies.
The MCE for Sunyani, Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, urged the chiefs and people in the Sunyani West District to bury their differences and unite for the rapid socio-economic development of the new district.
The Sunyani West District, which has Odumase as its capital, was created out of the Sunyani Municipality.
ESTABLISH SHELTERS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS (Page 17)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mrs Mercy Larbi, has called for the establishment of shelters for victims of domestic violence in all the 10 regional capitals, at least.
She said the construction of the centres, as stated in the Domestic Violence Act 2007 (Act 732), had become crucial if the Act was to be implemented to the letter and help curb gender-based violence, particularly against women and children in the country.
The Domestic Violence Act states that when the life of the victim is at risk or threatened, a shelter must be provided for the victim to protect them and enable them to live away from the perpetrator until the final determination of the case.
Mrs Larbi made the call when she presented a paper on “ The Law and its implementation” at a day’s seminar organised in Sunyani by the Brong-Ahafo Regional Directorate of the Department of Women under the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. She said currently there was no such centre for victims in the region.
The seminar had the theme “Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacle, End Violence Against Women.”
The seminar aimed at sensitising participants to the law and its implementation and was attended by members of the various women’s groups and associations in the Sunyani Municipality.
Mrs Larbi stressed that until some of the provisions in the Domestic Violence Act such as shelters and funds to cater for victims of domestic violence were established, the implementation of the law would be difficult.
Buttressing her point, she cited a case in which the woman who was the victim had been threatened by the husband not to step in the house, since she had taken him (the husband) to court and that if she did, he would kill her.
Mrs Larbi said in that instance she did not know where to send the victim to pass the night, because she was not from the region and had no relatives around.
She said the law was there to protect the vulnerable, including men who had been abused by women, and urged all to support its implementation, adding that under the Domestic Violence Act, informants were to be protected by the police and so people must gather the courage to report cases of abuse which occurred around them.
The Regional Director of the Department of Women, Madam Victoria Owusu-Kyeremaa, said violence did not only affect women but men as well, adding that in most cases, the victims were the vulnerable in the society, especially women, children and the aged.
She observed that many violations against women were not recognised as human rights violations and that even nations regarded these as customs, traditions and acceptable cultural practices which had to be respected in spite of international and national provisions which guaranteed the human rights of all.
“Violence is anti-developmental. It has the tendency to cripple the victims, make them totally unproductive and incapable of giving their best. It also has the tendency to drive victims insane and perpetually ill or incapacitated. These ultimately become a drain on state resources and also affect the individual’s physical and emotional development and consequently, the development of the entire nation”, Madam Owusu-Kyeremaa said with regret.
The regional director said it was the expectation of all that the government would expedite action to ensure the full implementation of every aspect of the law and address all emerging challenges.
Nana Abraham Kwadwo Kwakye, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, for his part, said the implementation of the law was not the sole responsibility of government but a collective one.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to get on board to ensure that every aspect of the law was implemented.
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mrs Mercy Larbi, has called for the establishment of shelters for victims of domestic violence in all the 10 regional capitals, at least.
She said the construction of the centres, as stated in the Domestic Violence Act 2007 (Act 732), had become crucial if the Act was to be implemented to the letter and help curb gender-based violence, particularly against women and children in the country.
The Domestic Violence Act states that when the life of the victim is at risk or threatened, a shelter must be provided for the victim to protect them and enable them to live away from the perpetrator until the final determination of the case.
Mrs Larbi made the call when she presented a paper on “ The Law and its implementation” at a day’s seminar organised in Sunyani by the Brong-Ahafo Regional Directorate of the Department of Women under the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. She said currently there was no such centre for victims in the region.
The seminar had the theme “Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacle, End Violence Against Women.”
The seminar aimed at sensitising participants to the law and its implementation and was attended by members of the various women’s groups and associations in the Sunyani Municipality.
Mrs Larbi stressed that until some of the provisions in the Domestic Violence Act such as shelters and funds to cater for victims of domestic violence were established, the implementation of the law would be difficult.
Buttressing her point, she cited a case in which the woman who was the victim had been threatened by the husband not to step in the house, since she had taken him (the husband) to court and that if she did, he would kill her.
Mrs Larbi said in that instance she did not know where to send the victim to pass the night, because she was not from the region and had no relatives around.
She said the law was there to protect the vulnerable, including men who had been abused by women, and urged all to support its implementation, adding that under the Domestic Violence Act, informants were to be protected by the police and so people must gather the courage to report cases of abuse which occurred around them.
The Regional Director of the Department of Women, Madam Victoria Owusu-Kyeremaa, said violence did not only affect women but men as well, adding that in most cases, the victims were the vulnerable in the society, especially women, children and the aged.
She observed that many violations against women were not recognised as human rights violations and that even nations regarded these as customs, traditions and acceptable cultural practices which had to be respected in spite of international and national provisions which guaranteed the human rights of all.
“Violence is anti-developmental. It has the tendency to cripple the victims, make them totally unproductive and incapable of giving their best. It also has the tendency to drive victims insane and perpetually ill or incapacitated. These ultimately become a drain on state resources and also affect the individual’s physical and emotional development and consequently, the development of the entire nation”, Madam Owusu-Kyeremaa said with regret.
The regional director said it was the expectation of all that the government would expedite action to ensure the full implementation of every aspect of the law and address all emerging challenges.
Nana Abraham Kwadwo Kwakye, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, for his part, said the implementation of the law was not the sole responsibility of government but a collective one.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to get on board to ensure that every aspect of the law was implemented.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
SOLDIERS ASSAULT TEACHER? (Page 3)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
A 30-YEAR-OLD teacher at Ahyiayem in the Nkoranza District of the Brong Ahafo Region, who was allegedly assaulted by a group of soldiers from the Third Battalion of Infantry (3BN) of Sunyani, has appealed to the Military High Command and the Commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion to bring the soldiers involved to book.
The teacher, Raphael Torkonoo, who was allegedly beaten by the soldiers until he became unconscious, and was later abandoned near a cashew plantation, made the appeal when he called at the Daily Graphic office in Sunyani to narrate his ordeal at the hands of the soldiers, whom he claimed were led by one Warrant Officer.
Torkonoo, who had stitches on a part of his mouth and scars all over his body, could not speak, but his sister, Mercy Ampoma, who accompanied him to the office, narrated the incident on his behalf.
According to her, the brother was at a clinic when he decided to go to town to buy food.
She said when Raphael got to town, he saw the soldiers on board a pickup and they asked him to join them to go and put off bush fires.
She said her brother told the soldiers that he could not join them, because he was sick and that he had come to the clinic for a medical attention, but decided to come to town to buy food.
She said this did not go down well with the soldiers and one of them, therefore, got down from the vehicle and hit him with a machete, which he took from a parked bicycle, but her brother asked the soldier what his crime was.
Mercy stated that the soldiers who were still not satisfied with the response from her brother attempted to force him to get on board the pickup, but he still refused, and when he was moving from the scene, the soldiers fired two warning shots that made him stop.
She said when Torkonoo stopped, the soldiers pounced on him and subjected him to a severe beating and bundled him into the back of the pickup. They tied him with a rope, but Raphael managed to untie the rope and jumped out from the vehicle to run away, but he was caught again by the soldiers, who brutally assaulted him with the butts of the guns and bundled him into the passenger’s seat and drove off to an unknown destination.
Mercy added that on their way, they met another group of soldiers who joined in and subjected her brother to another round of severe beating till they saw that he was unconscious and abandoned him in cashew plantation.
She said someone who chanced on the unconscious Raphael picked him up and sent him to the St Theresa’s Catholic Hospital in Nkoranza where he was revived and treated.
She said they reported the case to the Nkoranza police, but as of the time of filing the story, no arrest had been made and the police said they were still investigating.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the 3BN headquarters in Sunyani, Major K.D. Hagan, acting Commander, confirmed the incident, but said the command had sent some officers to Nkoranza to conduct a thorough investigation into the issue in order to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the matter, adding that the military had rules of engagement and, therefore, the command would not shield any person or a group of persons who would violate them.
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Nkoranza, Kwabena Appiah Awuah, has denied Mr Torkonoo’s story.
He explained that the complainant was obstructing the soldiers who were deployed in the district to help curb bush fires which had been occurring in the district, especially during the harmattan season.
He said the soldiers arrested him and were conveying him to the police at Nkoranza when he jumped out of the moving vehicle, thus sustaining the multiple injuries.
According to the DCE, the soldiers got him back on the vehicle and drove him to the St Theresa Catholic Hospital at Nkoranza where he was treated.
Mr Appiah Awuah said the case had been handed over to the Nkoranza police for further investigations.
A 30-YEAR-OLD teacher at Ahyiayem in the Nkoranza District of the Brong Ahafo Region, who was allegedly assaulted by a group of soldiers from the Third Battalion of Infantry (3BN) of Sunyani, has appealed to the Military High Command and the Commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion to bring the soldiers involved to book.
The teacher, Raphael Torkonoo, who was allegedly beaten by the soldiers until he became unconscious, and was later abandoned near a cashew plantation, made the appeal when he called at the Daily Graphic office in Sunyani to narrate his ordeal at the hands of the soldiers, whom he claimed were led by one Warrant Officer.
Torkonoo, who had stitches on a part of his mouth and scars all over his body, could not speak, but his sister, Mercy Ampoma, who accompanied him to the office, narrated the incident on his behalf.
According to her, the brother was at a clinic when he decided to go to town to buy food.
She said when Raphael got to town, he saw the soldiers on board a pickup and they asked him to join them to go and put off bush fires.
She said her brother told the soldiers that he could not join them, because he was sick and that he had come to the clinic for a medical attention, but decided to come to town to buy food.
She said this did not go down well with the soldiers and one of them, therefore, got down from the vehicle and hit him with a machete, which he took from a parked bicycle, but her brother asked the soldier what his crime was.
Mercy stated that the soldiers who were still not satisfied with the response from her brother attempted to force him to get on board the pickup, but he still refused, and when he was moving from the scene, the soldiers fired two warning shots that made him stop.
She said when Torkonoo stopped, the soldiers pounced on him and subjected him to a severe beating and bundled him into the back of the pickup. They tied him with a rope, but Raphael managed to untie the rope and jumped out from the vehicle to run away, but he was caught again by the soldiers, who brutally assaulted him with the butts of the guns and bundled him into the passenger’s seat and drove off to an unknown destination.
Mercy added that on their way, they met another group of soldiers who joined in and subjected her brother to another round of severe beating till they saw that he was unconscious and abandoned him in cashew plantation.
She said someone who chanced on the unconscious Raphael picked him up and sent him to the St Theresa’s Catholic Hospital in Nkoranza where he was revived and treated.
She said they reported the case to the Nkoranza police, but as of the time of filing the story, no arrest had been made and the police said they were still investigating.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the 3BN headquarters in Sunyani, Major K.D. Hagan, acting Commander, confirmed the incident, but said the command had sent some officers to Nkoranza to conduct a thorough investigation into the issue in order to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the matter, adding that the military had rules of engagement and, therefore, the command would not shield any person or a group of persons who would violate them.
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Nkoranza, Kwabena Appiah Awuah, has denied Mr Torkonoo’s story.
He explained that the complainant was obstructing the soldiers who were deployed in the district to help curb bush fires which had been occurring in the district, especially during the harmattan season.
He said the soldiers arrested him and were conveying him to the police at Nkoranza when he jumped out of the moving vehicle, thus sustaining the multiple injuries.
According to the DCE, the soldiers got him back on the vehicle and drove him to the St Theresa Catholic Hospital at Nkoranza where he was treated.
Mr Appiah Awuah said the case had been handed over to the Nkoranza police for further investigations.
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