FARMERS TRAINED TO INCREASE YIELDS (PAGE 23, DEC 28)

AFive-year development programme dubbed “Multi-Year Assistance Programme” (MYAP), has been held for farmers at Watro, a farming community in the Atebubu/Amantin District in Brong Ahafo.
The programme is aimed at increasing the productivity and production of farmers through improved skills to fight poverty and ensure food security in four selected districts in the Brong Ahafo and Northern regions
In all, 55 farmers groups in 48 farming communities in the four selected districts - Sene, Pru, Atebubu-Amantin districts in Brong Ahafo and East Gonja in the Northern Region benefited from the programme implemented by TechnoServe, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
During the programme, which began in 2005 and ended in December, this year, 325 tonnes of a capacity warehouse with 224 metre square drying patio each were constructed in 18 communities of the four beneficiary districts.
Twelve multi -crop- demonstration farms were also established in 12 separate communities in the four beneficiary districts for 10,000 farmers.
About 1,200 farmers were also provided with farm inputs, grains ranging from improved seeds, garden lines and fertilisers among others to increase their yields.
Three hundred and thirty three adults learners, mostly women were also supported during the programme to undertake functional literacy numeric lessons.
Communities with acute water problems were provided with boreholes and rain harvesting facilities to address the problem of water-borne diseases.
At the durbar, Mr Theophilus Adjei, the acting Senior Programme Adviser to TechnoServe, said the objectives of the programme were to increase the incomes of the beneficiaries through enhanced agricultural marketing and strengthen the capacity of local organisation to carry out food security interventions at the community levels.
He said the beneficiaries of the programme were also trained in post-harvest activities and inventory credit through TechnoServe “trainers” workshops and the formation of farmers associations.
The programme greatly improved the quality of life of the farmers who had been introduced to new improved methodologies as well as the provision of infrastructure.
Mr Adjei stated further that farmers in the beneficiary districts had understood the need for business planning and management of their costs to ensure increased profits while they had been encouraged to deposit monthly savings in the group’s bank accounts and stock warehouse.
To ensure the sustainability of the gains made, he said, TechnoServe, through USAID, would provide the Department of Co-operatives, a government agency, with the needed logistics to continue with the project and assist the farmers to apply what they had learnt for their mutual benefit.
Mr Adjei commended the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Crop Research Institute, Department of Co-operatives, Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), Non-Formal Education Division of the Ministry of Education and other NGOs for their support to meet the MYAP objectives.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, the District Chief Executive for Atebubu-Amantin, Mr Sanja Nanja, praised TechnoServe and its collaborators for supporting the farmers in the past years to improve their production, increase their incomes and also ensure food security.
He said TecnoServe would be remembered by the assembly as one of the most cherished development partners in the four beneficiary districts and pledged the collaboration of the assemblies to the Department of Co-operatives to ensure the sustainability of the programme.

UPHOLD NEW CHIEFTAINCY ACT (PAGE 35, DEC 24)

A legal practitioner, Mr Peter K. O. Mensah, has urged traditional rulers to jealously guard and uphold the new Chieftaincy Act (Act 759), since it placed the institution on a more dignified status and devoid of governmental interference.
“Chiefs must regard the new Act very well because it brought back the dignity associated with the institution. With the new Act, chiefs must now stand firm since the law is supporting you. When you are able to do that, the chieftaincy institution will stand the test of time” he stressed
Mr Mensah said this when he presented a paper on the topic: “The tenets of the law”, at a two-day workshop for members of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs in Wa.
The workshop was organised by the National House of Chiefs, with support from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).
Commenting on the involvement of chiefs in mainstream politics, Mr Mensah, who is also the counsel for the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, stated that the institution was so sacred that considering the manner in which politics was practised in the country, no revered chief could withstand it.
“Chieftaincy is an institution which we will enjoy respecting”, adding there is the need for the respective chieftaincy institutions such as the regional and national houses of chiefs to work to come out with a code of ethics for chiefs in order to streamline their activities.
The Senior Programme Manager of KAS, Mr Isaac Owusu-Mensah, said the deliberations would pave the way for the chiefs to assess the tenets of the new chieftaincy act and respond to it appropriately.
Mr Owusu-Mensah also indicated the need for a documented code of ethics for chiefs to guide their actions.
“ As a national body which is duly recognised by the 1992 Constitution, it is time a code of ethics with its appropriate sanctions were developed to guide the conduct and behaviour of chiefs across the country irrespective of ones traditional area” he emphasised.

ADUNA THUMP ALL STARS (BACK PAGE, DEC 24)

Aduana Stars yesterday maintained their unbeaten home record when they notched a 1-0 win over visiting Wa All Stars in their Premier League encounter at Dormaa-Ahenkro.
Richard Addae scored the only goal of the match from a goal mouth melee with only five minutes to the end of the match.

BA YOUTH ORGANISER RETAINS POSITION (PAGE 14, DEC 19)

Mr Mohammed Seidu, aka Maha, the incumbent Brong Ahafo Regional Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has retained his position at the party’s delegate’s conference held in Sunyani, the regional capital, to elect youth and women’s organisers for the party in the region.
He polled 38 votes out of a total of 45 votes cast to beat his opponent, James Oteng Danquah, an Instructor at the Sunyani Polytechnic (S-Poly) and former President of the S-Poly Student Representative Council (SRC).
Mr Kwadwo Takyi-Ahene, the incumbent Deputy NDC Regional Youth Organiser, was also retained, while Madam Florence Anning, and Georgina Puopiel were also elected unopposed as the Women’s Organiser and Deputy Women’s Organisers respectively.
The election was supervised by Mr Kofi Adams and Madam Agnes Adoma, National Deputy Youth Organiser and Women’s Organiser respectively and witnessed by the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku.
Later in a brief remark, Mr Adams, who is also the spokesperson for former President J.J. Rawlings, cautioned the youth of the party against forming structures outside the party’s structures, and added that any body who wanted to join the party, could do so at the branch and constituency levels.
He disclosed that the relationship between former President Rawlings and the sitting President, Prof. J.E.A Mills, was cordial and the two had been meeting from time to time to discuss pertinent issues concerning the progress of the nation, among others.
Mr Adams noted that the recent criticisms by former President Rawlings against President Mills was to serve as a self-correcting measure and not aimed at destroying the Mills Presidency as perceived.
For her part, Madam Adoma advised the officers-elect to work hard to ensure that the party retained power in the 2012 general election, and also expressed her gratitude to the delegates for ensuring a peaceful election.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, in his address, called on the rank and file of the party in the region to close their ranks, bury their differences and always endeavour to use the party’s internal mechanisms to resolve their differences.
He also urged party supporters not to be complacent, but to work harder than before to ensure that the party improved on its electoral fortunes in the 2012 elections.
Mr Seidu, in his acceptance speech, thanked the delegates for retaining him and pledged to work with all, especially his rival in the contest, to help improve on the record of the party in the 2008 general election.

3 SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS REMANDED (PAGE 27, MIRROR, DEC 19)

From Samuel Duodu, Kintampo.

The Kintampo Magistrate’s Court has remanded in prison custody three suspected armed robbers who allegedly shot and killed the driver of one of two vehicles they attacked on the outskirts of Gulumpe on the Brong Ahafo side of the Kintampo-Tamale road.
Issifu Zebrilla, Abdallah Yakubu and Bonya Daboase were part of a 10-member highway armed robbery gang that attacked passengers on board two vehicles after they had mounted a roadblock in the early hours of December 4, 2009.
Yakubu and Daboase, who are said to be the leaders of the gang, were arrested by the police at their hideout while the police have intensified investigations to enable them to arrest the seven others.  
They were charged with robbery and murder but their pleas were not taken. They would reappear before the court, presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah, on December 21, 2009.
Presenting the facts, Sergeant (Sgt) Tim Ahiaduvor said on December 12, 2009 the robbers, numbering about 10, who had blocked the road with some logs, intercepted the Kumasi-bound Mercedes Benz bus from Bawku being driven by Kwaku Acheampong at about 2.30 a.m.
Sgt Ahiaduvor said the robbers shot into the bus injuring Acheampong and two other passengers, thereby forcing the injured driver to block the road with his vehicle.
He said some minutes later, a Yutong Bus, driven by Abdulai Jamoni, from Accra towards Tamale arrived at the scene and the driver, sensing danger, tried to escape by reversing but was shot and killed by the robbers, forcing the vehicle into a ditch.
He said the armed robbers, having succeeded in stopping the two vehicles, ordered the passengers at gunpoint to lie on the ground and robbed them of their mobile phones and monies, after which they fled into a nearby bush.
The prosecutor said the police were informed and the injured were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi while the body of the deceased was deposited at the Tamale Teaching Hospital mortuary.
Sgt Ahiaduvor said on December 5, 2009, following a tip-off, Zebrilla was arrested by the Buipe Police and a search conducted at his residence revealed seven mobile phones with their chips removed, and cash of GH¢188.00 and 10,000 CFA.
Sgt Ahiaduvor said during interrogation Zebrilla admitted being a member of the robbery gang, adding that the items and monies retrieved from his house were his share of the booty.
The prosecutor said Zebrilla mentioned Yakubu, Daboase, Allai Fulani, Hamidu Fulani, Bukari Naya, Mahamadu, Belembe Yakubu and two others as his accomplices.
Sgt Ahiaduvor said on December 7, 2009, Yakubu and Daboase were also nabbed. Yakubu was found with a stolen mobile phone while Daboase had three phones and GH¢1,350 cash. 
It would be recalled that the Mirror published Zebrilla’s arrest and the attempt by the police in the Brong Ahafo Region to get at the other nine suspects who were then on the run.

OBEY ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS (MIRROR, PAGE 35, DEC 19)

From Samuel Duodu, Techiman.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Seth Charles Oteng, has called on road users to obey road traffic regulations to avoid fatal accidents before, during and after the Christmas and New Year festivities.
Mr Oteng noted that it was during this period that more people travelled while drivers cashed in to make more profit through speeding, overloading and reckless driving.
He made the call at the regional launch of this year’s National Road Safety Campaign for the Christmas and New Year periods dubbed “Arrive Alive” at the Techiman Main Lorry Park last Tuesday.
The campaign is to remind all road users, especially commercial drivers, of the need to be cautious on the road and strictly observe road traffic rules and regulations to avoid accidents during and after the festivities.
An 11-member Road Safety Committee for the Techiman Municipality was inaugurated at the ceremony.
The day was also marked with a street procession of placard-bearing schoolchildren. some some of the placards read “Road Safety is a shared responsibility”,  “If you drink, do not drive and if you drive do not drink”, “Avoid speeding and wrongful overtaking” through some of the principal streets of the municipality to heighten awareness of road safety.
DCOP Oteng, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Road Safety Committee (RRSC), said the festivities also marked a period of joy and merrymaking with excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages by drivers resulting in speeding and wrongful overtaking.
He therefore reminded drivers that section (4) of Act 683 (2004) as amended by Act 761 (2008) permitted alcohol levels of 0.08 per cent when driving and expressed the hope that drivers would strictly observe this regulation to avoid any catastrophe during the period.
“If you drink, do not drive and if you drive do not drink,” he advised the drivers.
Mr Daniel Wuako, Regional Director of the NRSC, said the Brong Ahafo office of the NRSC in collaboration with the RRSC and the Municipal and District Road Safety Committees had drawn up a number of activities to sustain the campaign.
Mr Wuako said road safety was a shared and collective responsibility and therefore called on all and sundry to play their roles to ensure an accident-free Christmas and New Year and also prevent the carnage on the road in the country and the nation as a whole.
Mr Noble Appiah, the Executive Director of the NRSC, who inaugurated the Techiman Municipal Road Safety Committee, stressed the need for all road users to be cautious to reduce avoidable and preventable road accidents.
The Omanhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, who chaired the function, stressed the need for drivers and passengers to ensure an accident-free Christmas and New Year.

ADJEI TO GO FOR NDC RE-ELECTION (PAGE 15, DEC 18)

The Brong Ahafo Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Justice Samuel Adjei, has given the assurance that he will use his vast experience in politics to mobilise the needed support to help the NDC win the 2012 general election.
He said if he were elected the party’s regional secretary, he would continue to rely on his all-inclusive policy to ensure that the modest gains chalked up by the party in the region in the 2008 general election was sustained.
Mr Adjei, who also contested as the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Sunyani East in the 2008 election, had called at the Daily Graphic Office in Sunyani to declare his intention of going for re-election.
“I will like to appeal to the rank and file of the party, especially the regional delegates, to elect me as the regional secretary to reshape the forward march of the party,” he said.
Mr Adjei noted that under their leadership as the regional executives they were able to bring the NDC to power, saying even though we lost marginally in the first round of the 2008 election we were able to marshal the force to have a slim victory over the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the second round.
He said that the feat achieved by the party in the 2008 general election was the result of the hard work of the party.
He said he would work with all to ensure that the NDC achieved its agenda of a better Ghana as well as ensure victory for the party in the 2012 election.

DORMAAHENE WARNED AGAINST SELLING SUNYANI LANDS (BACK PAGE, DEC 17)

THE Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, has called on the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, to halt the sale of Sunyani lands.
He also called on the Dormaahene to close down the office of the Dormaa Stool Lands Secretariat in Sunyani since it was creating tension between the two traditional areas.
According to him, the actions of the Dormaahene were an affront to the sovereignty of the chiefs and people of the Sunyani Traditional Area, and must be halted immediately to prevent the situation from degenerating into a conflict.
He stated that the chiefs and people of Sunyani and Dormaa traditional areas had co-existed peacefully for years but the recent actions of the Dormaahene to overstep his boundaries to sell Sunyani lands which were government-vested had led to tension and the breach of the peace.
Nana Asor Nkrawiri made the call at a press conference at his palace in Sunyani to impress on the Dormaahene to halt these actions, which he said were creating unnecessary tension between the two traditional areas.
“We are using this platform to appeal to the conscience of the Dormaahene to halt the sale of Sunyani lands and close down his stool land secretariat office in Sunyani immediately for peace to prevail,” he emphasised.
According to the Sunyanihene, it was land and chieftaincy disputes that had led to violent clashes in some parts of the country in recent times and, therefore, urged the Dormaahene not to allow the situation to degenerate.
Nana Asor Nkrawiri explained that the boundary between the two traditional areas ended just behind the Tyco Filling Station on the Sunyani-Kumasi road at Abesim but the Dormaahene had overstepped the boundary to the police barrier near the Sunyani Senior High School (SHS).
Nana Asor Nkrawiri added that in order not to destroy the laid down master plan for Sunyani, which was reputed to be one of the most beautiful planned cities in the country, there was the need to call the Dormaahene to order to stop the indiscriminate sale of Sunyani lands, which he was laying claim to.
He also alleged that the indiscriminate sale of Sunyani lands by the Dormaahene had led to the formation of land guards who visited mayhem on innocent people who dared to confront them, adding that those said land guards claimed they had been hired by the Dormaahene to protect lands.
On the creation of the new Sunyani West District, which was carved out of the Sunyani Municipality, Nana Asor Nkrawiri called on the politicians to involve traditional rulers in the demarcation of boundaries in order not create further land dispute and tensions in the area.
When the Dormaahene was contacted on telephone, he declined to comment on the issue and said he would respond at the appropriate time.

OMANHENE COMMENDS NDC (PAGE 17, DEC 15)

The Omanhene of the Seikwa Traditional Area, Nana Kwaku Dwuma Ankoana II, has commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for its commitment to the initiative of extending electricity to 56 communities in the Tain District in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Speaking to newsmen at Seikwa recently, Nana Ankoana was hopeful that the initiative would stimulate development at all levels, as the electricity would serve as a bait to investors to enhance job creation in the area.
“I believe this is an initiative that requires the support of all Ghanaians,” he said, stressing that the beneficiary communities should endeavour to make optimum use of the initiative.
The chief was optimistic that the initiative would go a long way to draw quality teachers to Tain schools to raise the dwindling standard of education at all levels.
He commended Mr Asiedu Nketia, the NDC General Secretary, the DCE for Tain, Mr J.S. Tawiah, and the Member of Parliament for Tain, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, for their dominant influence in the ongoing project.
On behalf of the district, Nana Ankoana appealed to the government to consider the poor road network in the district.
He made special reference to the Seikwa-Nsawkaw–Berekum road, which is currently in a deplorable state, adding that the 45km road would open up markets in the area to enhance revenue generation.
He also lauded the Tain District Assembly’s initiative to acquire a grader for the maintenance of feeder roads in the district.
“This is another good initiative for our rural communities. Every year various foodstuffs go waste in the villages due to poor roads,” he said.
Nana Ankoana further urged the government to design various projects that would encourage optimum use of the Degedege Irrigation Dam.
He said that would discourage the youth from embarking on dangerous adventures to Libya across the desert and other areas in search of greener pastures.

POLICE ARRESTS SUSPECTED ATRONIE KILLERS (PAGE 3, DEC 14, GRAPHIC NSEMPA)

By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.

The Police in Sunyani have arrested two persons believed to be behind the recent mysterious killings of people at Atronie, a farming community in the Sunyani Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The suspects, Kofi Amoako, a farmer, and Kofi Yesu, also a farmer and field assistant with the Forestry Department, Sunyani are both said to be resident at Atronie.
According to police sources, on November 17, 2009 at about 7.30p.m, one Issaka Salifu was walking from Atronie to his village, Amemedja, on the Nwawasua road.
About 20 metres away on Nwawasua road from Atronie main junction, the two suspects, in a taxicab, suddenly alighted and started running after him (Issaka) with a machete.
The sources said Issaka, who suspected foul play, run into a nearby bush and one of the suspects then threw the machete at him but he managed to escape unhurt.
On November 18, 2009, Issaka reported the incident to the police and while investigations were ongoing, Salamatu Mamprusi also reported that one of the suspects, Kofi Yesu and eight others chased her in a taxicab on a particular day on the Atronie-Nwawasua road at about 10a.m, but she managed to escape.
The sources said based on these reports they intensified their investigations in the area leading to the arrest of the two who had since been processed for court.
According to the police source, in recent times the police had received several reports from Atronie of ritual murders and the loss of people in the area and believed the suspects were among those who perpetrated such crimes.
This situation, the source added, had created anxiety and fear among residents in the area and its environs.

BA HONOURS CITIZENS, OTHERS (SPREAD, NOV 14)

Former President J.J. Rawlings has called on Ghanaians to support President J. E. A. Mills in his quest to deliver on his electoral promises.
He said President Mills had good intentions for the country but achieving them would demand the support of the entire citizenry.
Former President Rawlings made the call at the Golden Jubilee awards ceremony organised by the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) in Sunyani on Saturday to honour citizens of the region for their immense contribution towards the development of the region.
The ceremony, which climaxed activities marking the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Brong Ahafo Region, was attended by a large number of people.
Former President Rawlings, who was the guest of honour, stated that his criticism of President Mills should not be misconstrued as an attempt to wash the NDC's dirty linen in public. Rather, it should be seen as a self assessment to enable the President to deliver to the expectation of Ghanaians.
In all, 104 individuals and corporate institutions were honoured at the ceremony for their meritorious services to the Brong Ahafo Region.
Prominent among the awardees were former President Rawlings; Mr Ernest Apraku, the Managing Director of Asuo Bosomadu Timbers and Sawmills Limited; Nana Kwasi Gyau Gyan, aka Agyemang Gyau; Mr Maxwell Oti Yeboah, the Managing Director of Oti Yeboa Complex Limited; the late Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, the Rt Revd James Owusu; Mr James Baah, Senior Photographer, Graphic Communications Group Limited, Sunyani, and Mr Kwame Asare Boadu, the Ashanti Regional Editor of the Daily Graphic.
Others were the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda; the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alex Asum Ahensan; Mrs Cecilia Johnson, a member of the Council of State, and the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo.
The ceremony was chaired by Pemampem Yaw Kagbrese, the Yejihene and Vice-President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs.

ADUANA STOP KESSBEN (BACK PAGE, DEC 14)

Newcommers, Dormaa-based Aduana Stars, yesterday upset league leaders Kessben F.C when they beat the visitors by a lone goal in their Glo-Premier League match at Nana Agyeman Sports Stadium at Dormaa Ahenkro.
The goal was scored by Joseph Doe on the second minute of the half after goalkeeper Mohammed Nuredeen of Kessben failed to make a first-time save, allowing Doe to tap home the rebound.

JAMAN SOUTH NDC PREPARES FOR 2012 ELECTIONS (PAGE 13, DEC 12)

THE Jaman South Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has held its delegates conference at Drobo in the Jaman South District of the Brong Ahafo Region to elect new executives to prepare the party for the next presidential and parliamentary elections slated for 2012.
The elections were supervised by the District Directorate of the Electoral Commission, led by the District Electoral Officer, Mr Edward Gyamfi.
Mr Anthony Amponsa Amoabeng was elected Chairman, with Mr Matthew Yeboah as Vice-Chairman; Mr P.K. Amponsah, Secretary; Mr Charles Obeng Takyi, Organiser; Mr Stephen Asiedu, Treasurer; Mr Ahmed Kyeremeh, Propaganda Secretary, and Madam Rose Asantewaa, Women’s Organiser.
The other elected executives are Mrs Rita Asante, Deputy Women’s Organizer; Mr Ahmed Sise-Nuru, Youth Organiser; Mr Ibrahim Osman Kumi, Deputy Youth Organiser; Madam Mary Fosuaa, Second Deputy Women’s Organiser; Mr Collins Armaa, Deputy Organiser; Mr Emmanuel Yaw Oppong, Deputy Treasurer; Victor Gyau, Deputy Propaganda Secretary, and Mr. Kenneth Ankamah, Deputy Secretary.
Speaking at the function, Mr Julius Atta Bediako, the Jaman South District Chief Executive (DCE), commended the party members for ensuring peaceful elections and urged them to maintain that spirit.
He advised them to bury their differences, work as a team and settle all differences in line with the party’s constitution, instead of washing their dirty linen in public.
He urged the executives to work tirelessly to ensure a resounding victory for the NDC in the 2012 general election.
The DCE promised to work hand in hand with the new executive, supporters and the members at large, saying his doors were open for good advice.
Nana Yaw Kumi, the Deputy Regional Secretary of the NDC, urged them to work hard until the battle of 2012 was ended with victory for the party.
He said they should start their campaign from now and asked them to go about their campaign in a disciplined manner to enable them to win more members to the party.
Mr Amponsa-Amoabeng, on behalf of the executive, thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in them and pledged to work hard to ensure that the NDC won more votes in the 2012 general election.

LEG CALLS FOR ACTION (MIRROR, PAGE 35, DEC 12)

From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.

Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG), a local environmental and human rights advocacy non-governmental organisation operating in the Brong Ahafo Region and some parts of Ghana, has urged the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to speed-up with their investigation on the Cyanide spillage around Gyakarom in the Asutifi District of Brong Ahafo Region caused by Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL).
The Executive Director of LEG, Mr Richard Adjei-Poku made the call when he called on Mr Sylvester Awozum the officer- in- charge of Mining at the Brong Ahafo Regional office in Sunyani. He said the people in the spill area were afraid of eating their own planted vegetables as well as food crops simply because the company has asked them not to drink from any of the water in the polytank provided by the company.
According to him, if the situation was allowed to continue it could affect the people psychologically and therefore there was the need to have the Laboratory result immediately to be able to determine the level of cyanide pollution and whether or not it was good for the people to continue to stay there and continue eating from the place.
Mr Adjei also reminded EPA to speed up with their investigations on the issue of Manu –shed community and it environs.
He said Newmont had not been responsive to social, economic and environment concerns of the people of Manu-shed and its environs in the Asutifi District of Brong Ahafo Region.
 Mr Adjei said the people in the area were facing a number of problems such as water pollution.
He said the sources of drinking water for the communities was polluted as a result of the waste materials drain from the mines, air pollution had also resulted in coughing by the people, especially children, dust pollution particularly during the dry season had made vegetable unsuitable for eating and the company’s vehicles over-speed at the centre of the villages which makes it a threat to life ,particularly children and domestic animal.
Again, he said regular blasting by the company had resulted in cracks on their buildings leading to fear and trauma among children in the communities, the prevalence of mosquitoes due to the proximity of company to a waste dump, standing water and ponds and the 24hours heavy noise pollution by the mining plant and the heavy trucks had made sleeping unpleasant for the people.
Mr Adjei said any time they met with the company, they promised to put measures in place to mitigate the problems but had failed to fulfil them and therefore appealed to the EPA and other relevant agencies to intervene to ensure that the right time was done.
Mr Awozum for his part pledged that the EPA would investigate the concerns raised by LEG and the people to ensure that there was safety in the area.

HIGHWAY ROBBER ARRESTED (PAGE 35, MIRROR, DEC 12)

By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.

The Police in the Brong Ahafo Region have arrested one of the nine suspected armed robbers who attacked passengers on board two vehicles at the outskirts of Golumkpe on the Brong Ahafo side of the Kintampo-Tamale road in the early hours of last week Friday.
The robbers who had mounted a road block shot and killed the driver of one of the vehicles with registration number GC 5124 Z which was said to be travelling from Accra to Tamale and also shot and wounded the driver and two passengers of another vehicle with registration number AS 3849 D also on its way from Bawku to Kumasi and later robbed the passengers on board of their monies and mobile phones.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Tamale Government Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy while the other driver, Kwaku Acheampong and the two passengers who sustained gunshot wounds were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region for treatment.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Police Crime Officer, Superintendent, Mr Charles Domanban who confirmed the story to The Mirror said the name of the suspected robber who was arrested by the police is being withheld to enable the police arrest his accomplices.
He stated that on December 4, 2009 at about 3am, the driver Kwaku Acheampong who was driving a vehicle with registration number AS 3849 D with passengers on board reported that ten  armed men including the one arrested intercepted their vehicle at the outskirts of Golumkpe near Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region on their way from Bawku to Kumasi.
He said the suspects shot and wounded Kwaku Acheampong and two other passengers and later robbed them of their monies and mobile phones.
Supt. Mr Domanban said the victims were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teachning Hospital for treatment.
The Regional Crime Officer said the suspects again shot and killed another driver of a vehicle with registration number GC 5124 Z which was travelling from Accra towards Tamale at the same spot.
He said one of the suspects was later arrested with his name withheld to enable the police conduct further investigations. 

WAMFIE RURAL BANK COMMENDED (PAGE 35, DEC 9)

THE Wamfie Rural Bank in the Dormaa East District of the Brong Ahafo Region is one of the few rural and community banks (RCBs) in the region to meet the Bank of Ghana (BOG) statutory requirement for all RCBs to hold a minimum share capital of GH¢150,000.00 by the end of 2010.
The BOG expects that any bank which cannot meet the minimum share capital by the end of 2010 would be acquired by another viable RCB or merge with another bank to form a new bank.
“It is against this background that we are urging shareholders of all RCBs in the region to buy more shares to enable their banks to meet the BOG requirement for the stipulated period to risk being acquired by another bank or merger which would result in the lost of identity”.
The Vice President of the Brong Ahafo (BA) Chapter of the Association of Rural Banks (ARBs), Mr Kofi Bonsu Boakye-Boateng, who was speaking at the 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of shareholders of the bank held at Wamfie over the weekend, commended the bank for meeting the BOG requirement.
“Notwithstanding this achievement, the BA chapter council wishes to appeal to shareholders of the bank to inject fresh and additional capital by buying more shares to consolidate the position, and enjoy higher dividend payments,” he noted.
Mr Boakye-Boateng, however, advised the boards and management teams of the various RCBs in the region to endeavour to honour their promises of paying some dividends to their shareholders at the end of relatively good performing years to encourage them to acquire additional ordinary shares.
The vice president urged RCBs in the region to improve their internal control mechanisms by strengthening their internal audit units with the requisite input and resources needed for effective performance and also to prevent fraud that had resulted in the liquidation of most rural banks in recent times.
Mr Boakye-Boateng further entreated rural banks in the region to endeavour to improve on their customer services in order to stand the aggressive competition in the banking sector.
He also advised the management of the banks to station qualified, trained and experienced staff at their agencies, in order to present good public image for new customers.
A community library project financed by the bank as part of its corporate social responsibility in its area of operation was inaugurated during the AGM.
Delivering his report, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Mr Herbert Morrison Adjei, said the bank recorded a net profit of GH¢66,909.53 during the year under review representing 27.97 per cent increase over the December 2007 figure of GH¢52,286.08.
He said the bank’s total deposits grew from GH¢2,064,204.81 in 2007 to GH¢2,090,661.49 in 2008, representing a percentage growth of one per cent, while its total assets also increased from GH¢3,110,574.80 in 2007 to GH¢3,194,581.31 in 2008, a positive variance of a 2.70 per cent.
Mr Adjei said the board of directors of the bank recommended the payment of dividend of GH¢4,000.00 for the year under review as against GH¢3,000.00 in 2007. He said total advances paid out increased from GH¢888,883.74 in 2007 to GH¢1,119,325.32 in 2008, representing an increase of 25.92 per cent.
The bank purchased Akuafo Cheques to the tune of GH¢402,668.26 in the 2008/2009 main season as against GH¢162,416.25 in 2007 showing a percentage increase of 149.92 per cent.
However, he said, the short-term investment of the bank decreased from GH¢687,000.00 in 2007 to GH¢587,000 in 2008, a decrease of 14.55 per cent.
Mr Adjei urged loan facility beneficiaries to repay to enable the bank to advance credits to others who were in dire need and pledged that the bank would continue to ensure good corporate governance and good ethics, comply with all statutory requirements and the Bank of Ghana and the Apex Bank’s directives.
The bank will also improve internal control measures and strengthen the internal audit unit as part of measures to safeguard the interest of the shareholders of the bank.
He further gave the assurance that the bank would continue to focus on the provision of short to medium-term credit facilities to salaried workers and also sensitise and encourage women’s group to take advantage of the bank’s attractive products and microfinance.
Mr Adjei also expressed his appreciation to all, especially the chief of Wamfie and his elders, Monsignor R. B. Mensah-Abrampah and those who bought shares at the inception of the bank in 1981, as well as the working relationship between the bank and the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) under its Private Sector Development and SPEED Funding Facility.
In an address read on behalf of the Managing Director of ARB Apex Bank Limited, Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, urged RCBs to institute risk management policies as a way of guarding against fraud and continue to improve on their services by providing in service training schemes for their staff.
Nana Owusu Ababio, the Benkumhene of Wamfie, for his part, said the presence of the bank in the area had help the people to cultivate the habit of savings and also help to reduce the risk involved in travelling long distances to other locations to access banking service.

FARMER REMANDED FOR MURDER (MIRROR, PAGE 31, DEC 7)

From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.

A Sunyani District Magistrate Court has remanded into prison custody Ernest Kwame Awuah, alias President, who beheaded his seven-year-old nephew, Charles Sey at Abesim, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region three weeks ago.
The plea of the accused, charged for murder was not taken in court and would reappear before the court presided over by Mr Frank Y. Gbeddy on December 17, 2009.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr Gbeddy after listening to the facts of the case granted the request of the prosecution to remand the accused in prison custody to enable the police conduct further investigations into the case and after that, forward the docket to the Attorney General’s (AGs) office for study and advice.
A brief facts of the case as presented in court by Chief Inspector Alex Ofosu were that the deceased aged seven was a pupil of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church Primary School at Abesim, while the accused was a farmer. The deceased was the son of the accused person’s younger brother who was also deceased and both the accused and his deceased nephew lived in the same house at Abesim.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused had a farm on a piece of land about 150 metres away from their house.
On November 14, 2009 at about 9am while the accused was working on the farm, the deceased and two of his play mates went to his farm and started harassing him (accused).
Chief Inspector Ofosu said an eye witnessed indicated that the deceased poured away the maize the accused was sowing (planting) and fetched sand into the bowl.
He said based on this, the accused chased away the deceased and his two friends were able to run away from the farm while the deceased fell on the ground. The accused butchered him to death by slashing his throat and pierced his right eye and ear.
The two boys, who rushed to the house, informed their parents who with the assistance of others arrested the accused and handed him over to the police.
Chief Inspector Ofosu told the court that the case was still under investigation and so the police could not keep the accused and therefore they decided to present him for the court for him to be remanded for one month to enable the police conclude their investigation.
It would be recalled that the Daily Graphic on the front page of its Monday edition, November 16, 2009 published a story with the headline “Bloody Weekend: Boy 6, beheaded at Abesim, Woman, 30, killed at Okorase. 4 Robbers gunned down in Ksi”.
The story read “The grisly murder of a famous business woman, 30, near Koforidua, the gruesome beheading of a six-year-old boy near Sunyani and the gunning down of four armed robbers in Kumasi in a shootout with the police marked a weekend of blood and horror for some residents of those parts of the country”.
It started further that at Abesim, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, hundreds of residents besieged the crime scene, eager to catch a glimpse of Ernest Kwame Awuah, alias President, who was on display with the mutilated body of his six-year-old nephew, Charles Sey.

ATEBUBU-AMATIN ASSEMBLY GOES INTO RICE PRODUCTION (BACK PAGE, DEC 7)

THE Atebubu-Amantin District Assembly in the Brong Ahafo Region, in collaboration with Technoserve, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), and local farmers has embarked on rice production to boost food production to alleviate poverty.
Already 860 hectares of land have been set aside at Fakwasi, a farming community in the district, for the project.
Technoserve is providing technical assistance to the farmers, while the assembly is to be responsible for the irrigation of the demarcated land, as well as the supply of improved seeds and fertilisers for the cultivation of the farmers.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atebubu–Amantin, Mr Sanja Nanja, who made this known at the just-ended farmers day celebration held at Fakwasi, said the move was in line with the government’s agenda to modernise agriculture for food security and economic transformation.
For the successful implementation of the project, Mr Nanja said Technoserve had installed a rice miller at Fakwasi which had the capacity of milling and polishing at least six bags of rice per hour to save farmers from threshing the paddy rice.
A 50-year-old farmer at Fakwasi, Mr Leo Lige, was adjudged the overall best District Farmer, and for his prize, he received a motorbike, a pair of wellington boots, a wax print, a knapsack spraying machine and a radio cassette player.
Nana Mustapha Kofi, 37, of New Konkrompe and Dauda Issaka, 48, of Atebubu, who took the second and third positions respectively each received bicycles, three and two packets of roofing sheets, pairs of wellington boots, wax prints and radio cassette players.
Mr Nanja stated that apart from Fakwasi, other communities had been selected under the block farming for rice and maize production in the district and mentioned the beneficiary communities as Jato-Zongo, Patuda, Old Konkrompe, Abour, Namsa, Yapraso, Mempeasem, Nyomoase, Beposo and New Konkrompe.
He explained that under the programme, a tract of land was ploughed and demarcated to individual farmers, who were provided with improved seeds and other farm inputs such as fertilisers.
The farmers are made to pay for the cost of such inputs and services after harvesting their produce.
In addition to the maize and rice project, Mr Nanja stated that another programme for livestock production was also being implemented.

BUI POWER PROJECT ON COURSE...Work on main dam begins (BACK PAGE, DEC 3)

CONSTRUCTION of the main dam as part of the Bui Hydro Electric Power Project in the Brong Ahafo Region has started in earnest, after an initial delay caused by resettlement processes.
The project, being undertaken by Syno Hydro Corporation Limited of China, is expected to generate 400 megawatts (MW) of energy to supplement the country’s other hydro and thermal supplies.
Currently, the country generates 2,000MW of power from hydro and thermal sources which, according to experts, is far below the 5,000MW needed in the country.
According to the contractors, the construction of the dam is expected to be completed by 2011 for the entire project to be inaugurated in 2012.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), Mr Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, gave the update on the project when the Energy Minister, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, accompanied by some officials of the ministry, visited the project site last Tuesday.
The CEO said the final inauguration of the 400MW power project for it to become operational is scheduled for the first quarter of 2013.
The visit was to enable the minister to know at first-hand some of the challenges confronting the contractors and the workers and also the concerns of the affected communities, especially those who were yet to be resettled.
In his remarks, Dr Oteng-Adjei disclosed that the government had decided to construct four additional mini dams on rivers Ankobra, Pra, Tano and Oti to help solve the energy problems of the country.
He said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ghana and Brazil had already been signed to pave way for work to begin on the Juale Dam on the River Oti, which takes its source from the River Volta in the Upper East Region.
The minister gave the assurance that the government would execute work on all the hydropower projects in the country, which he said, were cheaper and more affordable sources of power for the country’s industrialisation.

KIDS COMMEND GCGL (JUNIOR GRAPHIC, PAGE 14, DEC 2)

The pupils and students of Glory Kindcare Learning Complex in the Sunyani municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region have commended the management of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) for publishing the Junior Graphic, which is targeted at the youth.
They said the weekly publication provided them and other children with news and educational information, ranging from academic, sports, entertainment, human interest stories and many other issues that concerned children.
The President of the Glory Kindcare Learning Complex Junior Graphic Fan Club, Ms Esther Asor, a JHS One student, commended GCGL on behalf of the pupils and students at the inauguration of the school’s Junior Graphic Fan Club at the Children’s Park in Sunyani last week.
Other executive members of the club are Emmanuelle Afimaa, Vice-President; Augustina Takyiwaa, Secretary; Erica Konadu Antwi, Assistant Secretary; Gifty Pomaa, Financial Secretary; Andy Donyina, Assistant Financial Secretary; Richard Kyeremeh, Organising Secretary; Kwame Agyenim Boateng, Assistant Organising Secretary; Irene Ameyaa, Chaplain, and Ruth Nyarko, Assistant Secretary.
The inauguration of the club coincided with a quiz organised by the Junior Graphic for members of the club. It was won by Group A “Knowledge and Honesty”, with Group B “Wisdom and Truth” placing second. The three representatives for each group were presented with prizes.
Ms Asor said the club owned its existence to Mr Emmanuel Taah Amoakoh, the Administrator of the school, adding that all the pupils and students from Class Three to JHS One were members of the club, which was founded in 2008 to ensure that all the children in the school participated in reading and the discussion of issues raised in the Junior Graphic.
“Pupils of Glory Kindercare Learning Complex have benefited a lot from the Junior Graphic and the club’s activities. The continuous reading of the paper and the club’s activities increase our knowledge and improve on our reading and writing skills,” the president said.
The Junior Graphic also presented books and a dictionary to the club at the inauguration, which was interspersed with the recitation of poems on the Junior Graphic written by the pupils and a cultural display by the drama group of the school.
Inaugurating the club, Mr Charles Addo Bampoe, the Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of the GCGL urged students and pupils to cultivate the habit of reading to improve their academic work, since English language ran through almost all the examinable subjects in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Mr Francis Taah-Amoakoh, the Director of the school, also urged the pupils to be disciplined and obedient and commended the GCGL for coming out with the publication to improve the reading and writing skills among children.                                                                           

CAPITAL RURAL BANK TO SUPPORT CUSTOMERS TO OWN HOUSES (PAGE 20, DEC 1)

THE Capital Rural Bank at Abesim in the Sunyani Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region has decided to provide financial support to enable low-income earners in the formal and informal sectors in the region to own their houses under its “Capital Affordable Housing” product.
the Chairman of the bank’s board, Dr E. Yaw Peprah-Agyemang, who announced this at the maiden draw of the Capital Rural Bank’s “My Home Bonanza Raffle Draw’’ in Sunyani, said the innovation by the bank was the first by any rural bank in the country.
The first prize of a two-bedroom flat at Abesim for the raffle was won by a 35-year-old tailor of Sunyani Newtown, Charles Kumi, while the second and third prizes of a flat-screen television and a DVD home theatre went to Frank Okyere of Sefwi Nkawie and Margaret Yeboah of Sunyani respectively, with consolation prizes of the bank’s branded ‘T’-shirts going to the fourth to 23rd winners.
The raffle, which will be drawn every year with a house as the first prize, is aimed at rewarding loyal customers of the bank and also helping to inculcate the habit of savings in the people as well as help mobilise excess liquidity in the system.
Dr Peprah-Agyemang explained that the bank decided to come out with the affordable housing product to make up for the housing deficit in the region and the nation as a whole.
He added that one needed to save for at least six months in order to qualify for a mortgage or a housing loan to purchase the house.
He also said the raffle was being run in collaboration with a private real estate developer, and that the rest of the loan would be spread over a period of 10 years.
He said the bank was there to assist all to embark on their legitimate ventures, and had also put in place a scholarship scheme for the children of its customers to pursue tertiary education.
The Managing Director of the bank, Mr Kwaku Damoah, said every customer of the bank who saved continuously and had a minimum of GH¢100 in his/her accounts qualified to enter the draw.
He said the bank, apart from providing financial services, also counselled people on the kind of investments to make.

ADUANA STILL RULE AT HOME (BACK PAGE, NOV 30)

New entrants Dormaa Ahenkro-based Aduana Stars yesterday established their supremacy at home when they beat New Edubiase 1-0.
It was substitute Joseph Doe who got the winner for the homesters as he headed home a cross from the right flank from Godfred Saka on the 82nd minute.
Both teams made incursions into each other’s vital area right from the blast of the whistle of Tamale-based class one referee, Mohammed Awal, but a first goal by the visitors scored by Asiedu Atobrah on the 32nd minute of the first half was ruled offside.
Back from recess, both teams exhausted their substitutions as Aduana Stars brought on Emmanuel Allan, Joseph Doe and Papa Kwame for Osei Boakye, Francis Aduhene and George Ampofoh respectively, while New Edubiase substituted Peter Tabila, Polo Darkey and Eric Fordjour, but it was the homesters who benefited from the substitutions as Doe’s powerful header gave his side the goal to clinch the maximum three points at stake.

DRIVERS URGED TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL ON THE ROADS (PAGE 20, NOV 25)

THE Jaman South District Police Commander, Superintendent P.I.K. Asante has warned drivers in the area to be extra careful to reduce accidents, especially during the Christmas season.
He urged them to value the lives of passengers by avoiding acts that would put their lives at risk, mentioning speeding, overloading and wrongful overtaking as some of the major causes of road accidents.
Supt Asante was launching this year’s road safety campaign at the Drobo in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He advised the drivers to obey traffic regulations and regularly maintain their vehicles to avoid road accidents.
The district commander warned them against alcohol intake when driving and urged them to give respect to passengers who patronised their services.
Supt Asante further warned drivers to stop using mobile phones when driving, as it was among the main causes of road accidents, stressing, “Any driver found guilty of such an offence would be dealt with according to the laws of the land”.
In a speech read on behalf of the Chairman of the Drobo Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, Mr F.R. Ansu Gyeabour, he stressed the importance of road signs and implored the drivers to let that to be their priority.
“Without road signs, one cannot called himself a good driver,” he added.
Mr Gyeabour urged motorbike riders to be extra careful on the roads to avoid accidents.
He advised members of the union to remain united and work as a team to build a stronger union.
Inspector W.K. Mensah in charge of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) also advised motorbike riders to use helmet when riding to escape head injuries and death whenever they were involved in accidents.
He cautioned that any rider who failed to use a helmet would be arrested and put before court, stressing they and drivers should renew their vehicle papers as soon as they expired.
The Chairman of Drobo branch of Taxi Drivers Union, Mr Kwasi Takyi made a passionate appeal to vehicle owners to buy quality tyres for their commercial vehicles to prevent accidents.
He also advised drivers to be disciplined and respect police personnel on road checks.

BRONG AHAFO GETS ICT CENTRE (PAGE 20, NOV 25)

BRONG Ahafo is the first region in the country to benefit from the community based Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) centre project initiated by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications.
The ICT centre equipped with 50 computers and accessories is located at Penkwase Low Cost, a suburb of Sunyani, near the Medical Village. The facility which is hooked up to the Internet was single-handedly sponsored by the GETFund.
The project which is a gift for the people of Brong Ahafo as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the region, falls under one of GETFund activities aimed at promoting and improving ICT education at the community level.
According to the GETFund Administrator, Mr Sam Garbah, the ICT centre was a community based project but was consistent with the GETFund mandate of Act 581 of 2000 to support anything that would promote education.
He said the facility forming part of activities of GETFund in promoting Science and Mathematics, ICT, Technical and Vocational education in the country, would be replicated in other parts of the nation.
Mr Garbah emphasised that the GETFund was now focusing on ICT education, adding that the Sunyani ICT centre was a demonstration to that commitment of providing access to ICT education in the country. 
 He stated that since the establishment of the fund, only 1.87 per cent of the total expenditure of GH¢473,569,157.15 for the pre-tertiary sub-sector of education went to support the promotion of the study and propagation of ICT.
He said the allocation of resources for the construction of facilities to expand access for propagation and diffusion of ICT was strategic for the attainment of the Better Ghana promised by the Government.
In that regard, Mr Garbah said the GETFund Board of Trustees had made a firm commitment to significantly scale-up resource allocations for the promotion of productive computer knowledge and usage, as well as for the advancement of Technical and Vocational Education.  
That, he said, would be done in close collaboration and co-operation with the Ministry of Communications.  
“To ensure its sustainability, a management team has been set up to manage the facility under the auspices of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), and patrons have to pay a token to help run the place,” Mr Garbah stated.
The Board Chairman of the GETFund, Dr Kwabena Adjei, inaugurating the ICT centre and a students’ hostel at the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Sunyani Campus, recently to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the region, gave the assurance that the GETFund would be managed prudently.
He pledged that the GETFund would not only be judicious and equitable in the distribution of projects and resources, but would also be accountable to the people.             

WANGARAS CELEBRATE ANNUAL KURUBI FESTIVAL (NSEMPA, NOV 23, PAGE 15)

By Akwasi Ampratwum Mensah & Samuel Duodu, Kintampo.

Wangaras from all parts of the country last Saturday converged at the Kintampo Presbyterian School Park for a grand durbar to climax the celebrations of their annual Kurubi festival.
As early as 6 a.m. last Saturday, Wangaras across the country began to arrive at Kintampo, which is the traditional authority of Wangaras and paid homage to their Paramount Chief, Nana Fanyinama III, who is also the President of the Council of Wangara Chiefs in Ghana at his palace in Kintampo.
The celebrants, who were in a joyous mood, sang to hail their King at the palace and later followed him in a procession from the palace amidst brass band music to the durbar ground. The Council of Wangara Chiefs under the leadership of Nana Fanyinama III, revived the celebration of the festival though very ancient, in 1999.
It was a celebration by the Wangaras in honour of their ancestors who were indigenes of Bambaras Madingo and Djula from the ancient kingdoms of Mali and Songhai. They migrated to Kintampo, which happened to be a slave market at that time. After the collapse of Samori’s network and the abolishing of slavery, the enslaved at the Kintampo market were adopted by the Wangaras and together, formed the ancestry nucleus of the present day Wangara communities.
Taking solace in the fertile land, trade route and the natural protective landscape, they became farmers and traders and formed the core of the Gold Coast regiment now Ghana Army in 1852.
In later years, as a result of economic adventures, the Wangaras migrated to many parts of the country to pursue wealth through trading and cash crop farming and also worked in Gold and Diamond Mining establishments, as well as the security services.
The Kurubi Festival begins on the 27th night of the month of Ramadan a period of fasting on the Islamic calendar. The night is regarded as a revelation night among Muslims and the Wangaras as a period when Allah sends blessing to his people.
The festival also portray the pride of female virgins before marriage who dance on a wooden platform, mounted at the durbar grounds to the admiration of the large crowd who had gathered at the park.
A representative of the YabonWura, King of Gonjaland and his elders who are the kinsmen of the Wangaras always grace the grand durbar of chiefs with a large entourage to signify the ties established between his ancestors and the Wangaras.
The National Association of Wangara Communities known as “Benkadi”, which literally means “togetherness brings happiness”, is responsible for the organisation of the annual Kurubi Festival in Kintampo, regarded as the spiritual home of the Wangaras under the leadership of Nana Fanyinama III, President of the Council of Wangara Chiefs who is also Know as the Wangara Wura.
The festival was single-handedly sponsored by Sidalco Limited, an Agro-chemical company and according to Mr David Lamptey, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Osu Klottey in the Greater Accra Region and his wife, Mrs Gifty Lamptey, congratulated the chiefs and people on the celebration and pledged their continuous support of the company to the annual festival.
The Vice-President, Mr John Mahama Dramani who was the guest of honour at the durbar gave the assurance that the Government had put in place many interventions aimed at creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the country.
He, therefore, urged the youth to take advantage of the various interventions, especially the Youth in Agriculture Programme to improve their lot.
Mr Dramani also in a response to an appeal made by the Wangara Wura, Nana Fanyinama to construct the Kintampo town road said the Government would ask the contractor currently working on the Techiman-Kintampo-Tamale road to add their request to it.
Nana Fanyinama said the previous Government had tackled the principal streets in Kintampo and therefore, appealed to the current administration to tackle the road network with dispatch or else in the event of any torrential rains, disaster could strike, which would result in the use of huge government resources on the resettlement of the victims.
The Wangara Wura also appealed to intellectuals and enlightened Wangaras to reach out to their less privileged brothers and sisters through the Benkadi Association and share their thoughts and ideas that could totally transform “our communities to play important roles in nation building”.
Alhaji Collins Dauda, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, for his part urged the people to take part in the national identification exercise by registering when it got to their communities.

TRADER FINED FOR FRAUD (MIRROR, PAGE 27, NOV 21)

A 28-year-old trader of Babato in the Kintampo North Municipality, who collected GH¢3,150.00 from five persons under the pretext of sending them to Libya, has been sentenced to a fine of GH¢240.00.
The convict, Fuseini Kassim, would serve a nine-month prison term if he failed to pay the fine.
After collecting the amount, Kassim travelled with the five people by road to Niger and abandoned them.
He pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced by the Kintampo magistrate court on his own plea.
The presiding judge, Mr Zoogah in his judgement, said he took into consideration the fact that the convict was a first offender who pleaded for leniency and also promised not to send people to Libya through illegal means.
The convict told the court that he had stayed in Libya for 18 months but because things were difficult, he decided to return to Ghana.
However, when the magistrate enquired from him why he decided to recruit people to Libya, while he knew that the place was not good, the convict said he thought it would be good for others and that he wanted the five people to try their luck.
On the Gh¢3,150.00, the court asked the complainants to take civil action to retrieve their money. The convict has so far refunded Gh¢1,500.00 of the total amount.
The facts of the case as presented in court by Sergeant Wisdom Ahiekpor were that the complainants, Zakari Adam and Mustapha Abubakari are farmer and student respectively, while the accused is a trader and they all lived at Babato.
He said in September 2009, the convict collected GH¢1,350.00 from the complainants and GH¢1,800 from three others with the pretext of sending them to Libya.
Sergeant Ahiekpor further told the court that Kasim travelled with the five by road to Niger but abandoned them at a town called Agadas, with the explanation that he was going to bring another group to join them.
He said after two weeks when the accused was not showing up, the five travelled back home and saw him going about his normal business as if nothing had happened.
Sergeant Ahiekpor said the complainants reported the matter to the police and Kasim was arrested.
Before passing judgement, Mr Zoogah advised people who wanted to embark on irregular migration through the desert to Libya to desist from such mode of travelling for the sake of their lives and also for the good name of Ghana.

NKORANZA TEACHERS CREDIT UNION DECLARES PROFIT (PAGE 21, NOV 20)

MEMBERS of the Nkoranza Area Teachers Co-operative Credit Union in the Brong Ahafo Region, have held their 34th annual general meeting (AGM) at Nkoranza and declared a net surplus of GH¢94,473.30.
The profit which was recorded last year, represented an increase of 110.3 per cent over the GH¢44,926.09 declared by the union in 2007.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the union, Mr Seth Badu who announced this, said the ordinary savings of the union increased from GH¢476,113.09 to GH¢604,914.36.
Mr Badu stated that the special savings registered a growth of 23.9 per cent, that was GH¢85,872.58 in 2008 as against GH¢54,075.34 recorded the previous year.
He said the union’s total outstanding loans increased from GH¢456,849.97 to GH¢634,645.58 which represented 38.9 per cent increase.
Mr Badu said the total assets of the union stood at GH¢978,223.55 as against last year’s figure of GH¢719,741.71, representing about 36.0 per cent increase.
The share capitalisation of the union as of June, 2009 was GH¢57,253.86 while the investment figure for the same period was GH¢315,524.05 being 33.1 per cent increase over last year’s figure.
The board chairman disclosed that the union offered some financial assistance to 10 brilliant, needy students selected from the Nkoranza Senior High School (SHS), Nkoranza Technical Institute, Busunya SHS, Kwabre SHS and Yefriman SHS, with each beneficiary student being supported with GH¢1,000.
The Nkoranza Area Teachers Co-operative Credit Union has a total membership of 1,354 comprising 758 males and 574 females in 22 groups.
Mr Badu mentioned the major challenges facing the union as irregular savings on the part of shareholders, loan default and low shares of the people.
The Manager of the union, Mr Philip Asante-Kudom, advised the members to save regularly with the union and also purchase more shares to improve upon the financial base which could also enable them to enjoy bigger loans from the facility.
Mr Asante-Kudom urged members who guaranteed loans for their favourites to monitor the beneficiaries in order to recover them on schedule for others to benefit from the facility.
The manager stressed on the need for the people who sent others to transact business on their behalf to check their passbooks after every transaction.
That, he said, would ensure that accurate statements had been recorded for them.
The Regional Manager of the Ghana Credit Union Association (CUA), Mr Joseph Arko Incoom, commended the management of the union for its hard work which enabled the union to achieve grade ‘A’ status with CUA classification.
Mr Incoom also praised the union for increasing its total assets and urged the members to maintain the standard.                                                                   

HEARTS FALL TO ADUANA (BACK PAGE, NOV 19)

Newcomers, Aduana Stars, kept their unbeaten home record intact when they defeated champion club, Hearts of Oak, by a lone goal in their Glo Premier League match at the Nana Agyeman Badu Stadium at Dormaa Ahenkro yesterday.
The only goal was scored through a spot kick on the 52nd minute by Emmanuel Allan.
Cape Coast-based Class One referee, Joseph McCarthy, did not only award Aduana the penalty but also showed Hearts goalie, Philemon McCarthy, the yellow card for fouling Nureeden Ali inside the Hearts vital area.
Hearts failed to impress and hardly made any incursions into the vital area of the homesters who were motivated by the special winning bonus promised them by the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II.
Both teams, determined to snatch the maximum three points, exhausted their substitutions in the second half with Aduana Stars bringing on Joseph Aduma, George Ampofo and Ernest Osei Boakye for Gabriel Opoku, Samuel Asiedu and William Adu, respectively, while Hearts also substituted Bernard Don Bortey, Obed Ansah and Alhaji Alhassan with Douglas Nkrumah, Tawrick Djibril and Hamza Abdulai, respectively.
But it was the homesters who benefited from it to clinch victory.

NHIS MANAGERS URGED TO WORK HARD (PAGE 40, NOV 18)

THE Brong Ahafo Regional Manager for the National Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr Foster Adjei Korang, has called on scheme managers to work harder than before to supplement the efforts of the Government at achieving the aims and objectives of the scheme.
He urged service providers, field agents and scheme managers to work as a team to build a stronger scheme for their various districts.
Mr Adjei Korang was addressing a meeting of healthcare service providers, field officers and staff of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) at Drobo in the Jaman South District during his maiden visit to the district.
He urged them to continue the good work they had been doing over the years.
The regional manager advised all banks in the region to speed up the transfer of funds from one bank to another.
That, he said, would help the providers to receive their monies in order to pay their suppliers.
Mr Korang entreated the providers to be content with any amount that would be made available to them, since “little drops of water makes a mighty ocean”.
He commended Mr Nicholas Nsrawudi, the Scheme Manager for Jaman South District, for the good job  done, and urged him to maintain the good record of being one of the best managers in the region in particular and in Ghana as a whole.
Mr Korang warned the agents against keeping monies collected at home.
He gave an assurance that his doors were open for good advice, promising that there would be more of such interactions.
Mr Nsrawudi, on behalf of the management and staff, thanked the regional manager for the visit.
He assured the regional manager that they would work harder in the interest of the clients.

BRONG AHAFO ROADS TO BE REPAIRED ...To improve food production (PAGE 40, NOV 19)

The government is to rehabilitate all roads leading to food production centres in the Brong Ahafo Region, Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, has disclosed.
He said road maintenance would not only enhance the free movement of the people, but would enable farmers to cart their produce to the marketing centres.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo gave on assurance when he unveiled a GH¢400,000 grader for the Dormaa West Municipal Assembly at a brief ceremony at Dormaa Ahenkro. The grader was bought on hire purchase from J.A. Plant Pool Limited.
The regional minister stressed that since roads were a lifeline to buoyant economic activities, the assemblies should not wait for the central government to reshape roads leading to food production centres.
He said only four assemblies in the region — namely Sunyani West, Nkoranza North District, Sunyani East and Dormaa West Municipal assemblies, had so far purchased graders.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, therefore, urged the assemblies which had not bought any of the vehicles to do so in order to fulfil the Government’s promise of ensuring that all feeder roads in the region were in good shape all year round.
He said accountability, good governance and transparency were the hallmarks of the Government, and therefore, called on the people to closely monitor the use of the grader, since the money used by the assembly to purchase it belonged to all of them.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo assured the people that they could request for the services of the grader at any time without paying any money, adding, “the only thing you need to do is to buy diesel whenever you need the machine”.
He called on the assembly to observe good maintenance culture to prolong its lifespan.
The Dormaa West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Vincent Oppong-Asamoah, said the municipality, a cash-and-food-crop-producing area in the region, had the largest number of villages in the country.
He said the assembly approved money for the purchase of the grader in 2007/2008, but it could not buy it until this year.
The Aduanahene of Dormaa Traditional Area, Nana Yeboah Kodea, who deputised for the Omanhene of Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, expressed hope that all communities in the municipality would benefit from the grader.

DORMAAHENE COMMITTED TO STADIUM PROJECT (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, NOV 17)

THE Omanhene of Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, has stated that the chiefs and people of Dormaa Traditional Area will continue to use part of the resources of the municipal assembly every year for the development of the Nana Agyeman Badu Sports Stadium at Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He said until the stadium was fully developed to an international standard, there was no way that the assembly would stop using part of its resources for that purpose, since that was where the heart of the people was.
Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu said this in reaction to reports by a section of the media that the construction of a dressing room at the stadium did not go through the tendering process and was also fraught with an alleged malfeasance in the award of the contract.
The dressing room at the stadium, which was an emergency, comprises two dressing rooms for the home and visiting teams, six bathrooms and six toilets each for both rooms, offices for match officials and match commissioners, among others, is comparable to the dressing room of any modern stadium in the country.
The stadium, constructed at a cost of GH¢86,000, took six weeks to complete as a result of the qualification of Dormaa-based Aduana Stars Football Club to participate in the Premier League; to enable the team to use the facility for its home matches.
Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu reiterated that the resources of the assembly were for the people of Dormaa and, therefore, where the people’s heart was, was where the assembly would put its resources for their benefit.
“As a matter of fact, the chiefs and people of Dormaa are satisfied with the decision by the assembly to develop the stadium and the construction of the dressing room received the blessings of Nananom,” he stated.
“The edifice (dressing room) matches the value, and so far as I am concerned, the Municipal Chief Executive had not done anything wrong for constructing the dressing room,” the Dormaahene stressed.
He stated further that Nananom gave their consent for the construction of the dressing room as part of the development process of the stadium in view of the people reaping the economic benefits that came with football. 
Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu stated that as a result of the urgent need for the dressing room for the team to use the stadium, the assembly and Nananom gave the approval for the construction, which had already been ratified. 
He, therefore, used the opportunity to appeal to citizens of the area who were behind such publications just to tarnish the image of the area and cause unrest to put a stop to it, since it did not promote the peace and unity of the area.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Dormaa West, Mr Vincent Oppong Asamoah, who conducted newsmen round the dressing room, said the stadium project was begun by his predecessor and, therefore, it was not a new project that the assembly had embarked upon.
He added that the construction of the dressing room became necessary following the qualification of Aduana Stars to the Premiership as it was one of the requirements if the team was to use the stadium for its home matches.
Mr Asamoah said construction of the dressing room was pre-financed by the contractor which had the Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) as the consultants for the project.
He added that the cost of the project was GH¢86,000, but the assembly would retain GH¢9,000 which would reduce the cost to GH¢77,000.
He said so far, the assembly had paid the contractor a part payment of GH¢25,000.
“I have, therefore, not embezzled any funds as the publication by the Daily Guide newspaper sought to portray. I, therefore, see the allegations as frivolous which have no merit, and my doors are open to any form of investigations,” the MCE said.
Mr Oppong stated that the people were happy with the project since it had brought immense economic benefits to them, as restaurants kept on springing up in the area, thereby creating jobs for the people.
 ”Besides, the assembly has also raked in over GH¢2,000 revenue for the two matches played at the stadium,” he said.
Mr Oppong added that apart from Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko which had a large following, and are also traditional clubs, the other traditional team in the Premiership was Aduana, which also had a large following, so the economic benefits that came with football must be reaped by the people. 
 
 

LET'S CO-OPERATE TO BRING PEACE TO BAWKU — CDS (PAGE 31, NOV 17)

THE Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Peter Augustine Blay, has appealed to the media to co-operate with the government, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and all other stakeholders to help bring peace to Bawku and other conflict areas in the country.
The CDS debunked a recent media report that troops in Bawku in the Upper East Region had paraded some suspected gunmen naked in public.
He said investigations had revealed that the reportage had been exaggerated and that it was factually incorrect.
“Inflammatory reportage that can undermine efforts at resolving the conflict must be avoided. In this regard, we need to emphasise collective effort as our guiding principle,” he stressed.
Maj Gen Blay made the appeal at the closing ceremony of the five-day GAF inter-service shooting competition code-named, “Exercise Fireblast”, held at the Yawhima Military Shooting Range near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The bi-annual shooting competition was to intensify training and improve upon weapon handling within the GAF, exchange training ideas and foster co-operation and friendship among the GAF.
It was also to promote the competitive spirit within the GAF and also encourage all ranks, especially young officers, as well as female soldiers, to improve on their shooting skills.
Personnel from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force competed in the M16 rifle shooting, small machine gun (SMG) shooting, Pistol Norinco shooting and falling plates.
The Army was adjudged the overall best team in the competition with 2,128 points and it was presented with a trophy and a certificate.
It was followed by the Air Force with 1,883 points and the Navy with 1,658 points in that order.
Lt Col Michael Ayisi Amoah, the outgoing Commanding Officer of the Three Garrison in Sunyani, won the best individual award in pistol shooting and was presented with a coin and a certificate, while Staff Sergeant A. Habib and Lance Corporal Sarah Darkwah, both of the Army, were adjudged the overall best individual male and female shooters, respectively, in the competition.
Major Gen Blay, in his address, urged personnel of the GAF not to be frustrated by such unfair reportage and rather be encouraged to continue to discharge their duties diligently as they had sworn to do.
He gave the assurance that the GAF would continue to explore opportunities for joint and combined training for effective mission accomplishment, as well as stand by to co-operate with civil society groups and other agencies to combat security ills plaguing the country.
The CDS called on officers and men of the GAF to continue to vigorously confront and eradicate the menace of armed robbery in the country and, in collaboration with the police, also keep the peace in conflict areas in support of civil authority, in addition to their normal functions.
Maj Gen Blay said apart from being an interesting exercise, the competition was entertaining and indicated the level of preparedness of the GAF to fulfil its constitutional mandate of defending the State.
Later at a reception at the Three Garrison Officers Mess, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, commended the personnel for their efforts at sustaining the peace and stability of the country, saying that their efforts had made Ghana an oasis of peace in the West African sub-region.
He also expressed the gratitude of the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to the personnel of the GAF for their continuous engagement in the maintenance of peace in the region, adding that any time the personnel were called upon, they were ever ready to respond.
Among the dignitaries who witnessed the closing ceremony were the Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen Joseph Narh Adinkrah; the Chief of Navy Staff, Rear Admiral Quarshie; a representative of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Commodore Ajimoaning Awusima; Brigadier Gen Chris K. Ocran, the General Officer Commanding the Northern Command; Rear Admiral Tahiru Munir, the Commandant of the Military Academy and Training School (MATS), and Brigadier Gen Ishmael Ben Quartey, the Commander of the Support Services.

BLOODY WEEKEND...Boy, 6, beheaded at Abesim, Woman, 30, killed at Okorase, 4 Robbers gunned down in Ksi (LEAD STORY, NOV 16)

Story; Akwasi Ampratwum Mensah & Samuel Duodu at Abesim, Nana Konadu Agyeman at Okorase & Kwame Asare Boadu in Kumasi

THE grisly murder of a famous business woman, 30, near Koforidua, the gruesome beheading of a six-year-old boy near Sunyani and the gunning down of four armed robbers in Kumasi in a shootout with the police marked a weekend of blood and horror for some residents of those parts of the country.
At Abesim, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, hundreds of residents besieged the crime scene, eager to catch a glimpse of Ernest Kwame Awuah, alias President, who was on display with the mutilated body of his six-year-old nephew, Charles Sey.
Awuah allegedly pierced Charles’s right eye and ear and then slashed his throat.
The victim was the son of the suspect’s younger brother.
Briefing the Daily Graphic after the bizarre incident which happened about 11 a.m. on Saturday, the Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Charles Botwe, said following a report from a resident, he dispatched a team of policemen to the deceased’s grandmother’s house where the little boy lived and the team found the suspect carrying the body of the boy on his lap in a room where he had allegedly committed the crime.
Charles’s body has been deposited at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani for autopsy.
According to Mr Botwe, the police had found it difficult to take a statement from the suspect, since he was behaving abnormally, but noted that a caution statement had been taken from the suspect’s father, while the police were yet to take another one from Charles’s grandmother, after which Awuah would be put before court.
An uncle of the boy’s, Mr Kwasi Ollu, a farmer, told the Daily Graphic that Charles’s mother, who is staying in Techiman, was yet to be informed about her son’s death, saying that she separated with the boy’s father about five years ago when they were staying together at Tanoano, a farming community near Abesim.
At Okorase in the New Juaben municipality of the Eastern Region, news of the Sunday morning murder of Rita Baah, affectionately called Afia Atta, allegedly by a fetish priest, spread like bush fire throughout the town.
The deceased, a resident of Effiduase in Koforidua who operates a cosmetics shop and a boutique at the Daasebre Roundabout in Koforidua, was said to have been hit several times on the forehead with a hammer by the fetish priest at his shrine at Okorase about 12.30 a.m.
After the crime, Joseph Tetteh, the 35-year-old traditional priest, popularly known as Mallam, was reported to have tied the victim’s hands and legs, covered it with a cloth and placed it on his motorbike in an attempt to dump it at a spot far away from Okorase and create the impression that she had been knocked down by a vehicle.
However, luck eluded him when he was spotted by some passengers travelling along the Okorase-Mamfe road about 1.30 a.m. with the body of the deceased strewn across the motorbike.
He was reported to have swerved to the left of the road where he abandoned both the body and the motorbike and fled into a nearby bush at Tei Nkwanta near Okorase.
That was after the passengers in the vehicle travelling from Aburi to Koforidua attempted to question him over where he was taking the body to.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Koforidua, the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent John A. Naami, said about 12.30 a.m. the police received a distress call from some travellers at Tei Nkwanta that they had spotted a man conveying a dead body on a motorbike.
He said the passengers told the police that the fetish priest had been seen driving from Okorase to dump the body by the roadside to create the impression that the deceased had been knocked and killed by a vehicle.
When the passengers attempted to question him as to where he was taking the body, the fetish priest was said to have fled into the bush.
Supt Naami said a team of police investigators was immediately dispatched to the scene where they found Rita’s tied body covered in a cloth and strewn across the motorbike, with registration number GN 8843 Z.
He said the police traced the motorbike to the fetish priest’s house but they never found him. However, some of the youth of Okorase and Tei Nkwanta, two neighbouring communities, mounted an intensive search and arrested Tetteh in a bush at Tei Nkwanta where he was hiding about 1 a.m. on Sunday.
The timely intervention of the police saved him from being lynched.
During interrogation, Tetteh was reported to have told the police that some unknown people had killed Rita but that he had only attempted taking it to dump it somewhere.
The New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, who indicated that the police were carrying out further investigation into the murder, commended the residents of Okorase and Tei Nkwanta for helping to arrest the fetish priest.
Meanwhile, when the Daily Graphic visited the New Juaben Central Police Station, a large gathering of residents, including the family of the business woman and her boyfriend, was seen in utter shock and tears over Rita’s death.
In the Ashanti Region, the regional Police Command took the fight against armed robbery to another level at the weekend when they shot dead four suspected armed robbers, all believed to be in their late 30s, during a gun battle at Konkromase, a suburb of Kumasi.
Friday night’s operation was the second biggest police offensive against armed robbery in Ashanti this year and the dead suspects brought to 26 the number of armed robbers killed by the police in the region this year.
One of the four robbers was identified as Abdul Razak Ibrahim, alias Fante-Fante.
Razak, described as a hardened criminal, had earlier been arrested in a robbery case but he was granted bail by a Kumasi High Court in November 2006 but had since failed to appear before court.
Two others were identified only as Fiifi and Rashid, both ex-convicts, with the fourth one yet to be identified.
They were among a group of seven armed robbers who had gone on a robbery spree on the rainy night. They were actually in the process of attacking their fourth victim when men from the Police Buffalo Unit encountered them.
According to the police, those who managed to escape bolted with cash of GH¢95,000 believed to have been taken from victims of the robbery operations.
A number of offensive weapons, including four pump action guns, three locally manufactured pistols, 21 live ammunition, eight spent cartridges, one heavy-duty cutter and two mobile phones, were retrieved by the police from the scene of the shooting.
A KIA taxi, which the robbers had snatched from its driver, and a Nissan Pathfinder, which they took from its female owner after shooting her in the right shoulder, were later found abandoned at various locations in the city.
The woman was treated and discharged at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Briefing journalists, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Patrick Timbillah, said it all started about 6 p.m. when the robbers snatched the KIA taxi from its driver at gunpoint at Buokrom, a Kumasi suburb.
They then used the taxi in the second operation in which they attacked a woman about 7 p.m. at Atonsu, also in Kumasi, and snatched her Nissan Pathfinder from her.
DCOP Timbillah said the robbers shot the woman, who was returning from work, before taking her vehicle away.
They abandoned the taxi and used the Nissan Pathfinder to attack a man who had just arrived in Kumasi from Accra at Asokwa and took away his bag containing GH¢95,000.
DCOP Timbillah it was when the robbers went on the fourth operation at Konkromase that the police pounced on them. About 8.30 p.m., they attacked a house at Konkromase and when the police reached there, the robbers opened fire on them.
He said the police returned fire, killing the four, while the three others escaped.
The Nissan Pathfinder was later found abandoned at Buokrom, together with the bag which contained the GH¢95,000.

REWIRE 18-YEAR-OLD PUBLIC BUILDINGS (PAGE 22, NOV 14)

THE Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA) has called on the Ghana National Fire Service to recommend to the government to rewire all public buildings in the country which are more than 18 years old to prevent such structures from catching fire.
According to them, the call had become necessary to prevent such buildings from catching fire as in the case of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other public buildings which were destroyed by fire.
Members of the association made the call at a day’s workshop in Sunyani organised by Nexans Kabelmetal Ghana Limited, manufacturers of high quality building, energy, industrial and telecommunications cables, in collaboration with the GECA.
They said any renovation carried out on any public building in the country must also go hand-in-hand with its rewiring, especially when the building had been in existence for over 18 years.
The workshop, held on the theme: “Selection of cables, the workman’s safety,” was to update the knowledge of users of cables, especially on the need to choose the right and quality cable for wiring to ensure their safety and that of property owners.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commercial Manager of Nexans’ Kabelmetal Ghana Limited, Mr Aaron Sagoe, said the aim of the workshop was to step up public education for property owners and electrical contractors to use the right cables for wiring to prevent fire outbreaks.
He said another objective of the workshop was to ensure the safety of all users of cables.
He enjoined all property owners to change their wiring systems at least every 20 years to ensure efficiency in the use of the systems.
Mr Sagoe, therefore, urged electrical contractors to insist on using the right cables to work for their clients, adding that property owners should also patronise quality cables instead of the inferior ones which often led to fire outbreaks.
He said Nexans Kabelmetal Ghana Limited was the leading manufacturer of quality cables for wiring of buildings, energy, industrial and telecommunication purposes, as their products had stood the test of time for the past 40 years.
Mr Sagoe gave the assurance that Kabelmetal would continue to satisfy the needs of its customers by supplying them with products of high quality .
Station Officer Moses Blay of the Ghana National Fire Service in Sunyani called on electrical contractors to impress upon their clients to buy quality cables for their house wiring.
According to him, most of the fire outbreaks were caused by electrical faults due to the usage of inferior cables.
The National President of GECA, Mr Joseph B. Walker, said the workshop was a nationwide one aimed at educating their members on the need to select the right cables for their work to ensure their safety and that of others.

 

COUNCIL GRATEFUL TO GETFUND (PAGE 23, NOV 14)

THE Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), the Regional House of Chiefs and the Brong Ahafo (BA) @ 50 Secretariat have expressed their appreciation to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for single-handedly sponsoring the construction of the Brong Ahafo @ 50 Information Communication and Technology (ICT) centre, which they described as a befitting legacy for posterity.
The BA@50 ICT centre, which is equipped with 50 computers and its accessories, all of which are hooked up to the Internet, was constructed at a cost of GH¢300,000.
The Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, made the commendation at a news conference organised by the RCC and the BA@50 Secretariat to officially acknowledge and thank all those who contributed in diverse ways to make the celebration of the Golden Jubilee anniversary successful.
“We are sincerely grateful to the GETFund Board Chairman and Administrator for their personal commitment,” he said.
The regional minister announced that the BA@50 planning committee had instituted an awards day celebration for December 5, 2009 to honour illustrious sons and daughters of the region, as well as rewarding indigenes who had contributed in diverse ways towards the socio-economic and political development of the region over the past 50 years.
He, on behalf of the RCC expressed gratitude to the President, Prof. J.E.A. Mills, and his Vice, Mr John Dramani Mahama, for accepting to grace the occasion, which would always be remembered by the chiefs and people of the region.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo further expressed appreciation to the Members of the Council of State, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ministers of State, the Australian High Commissioner and other distinguished personalities who made time off their busy schedule to attend the grand durbar.
The regional minister also commended and congratulated Nananom on the notable role they played in the successful organisation and execution of activities of the celebration, adding that Nananom actively participated to add pump and pageantry to climax the occasion.
He was grateful to the RCC, Nananom and the secretariat, the sponsors and donors whose various contributions helped to ensure successful celebration.

ARMED FORCES SHOOTING COMPETITION OPENS AT YAWHIMA (PAGE 20, NOV 13)

THE General Officer Commanding the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Chris K. Ocran, has called on officers and men of the three services, namely the Army, the Navy and the Air Force to improve upon their weapon handling skills in order to deal professionally with the security challenges facing the country and the world at large.
He made the call at the opening ceremony of the bi-annual Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) shooting competition, code-named: “Exercise Fireblast” at the Yawhima Military Shooting Range in the Sunyani Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The inter-services shooting competition which opened last Wednesday ends today.
The aim of the competition is to intensify training and improve upon weapon handling within the GAF, exchange training ideas and foster co-operation and friendship among the Armed Forces.
It also promotes competitive spirit and esprit de corps within the GAF, and also encourages all ranks, especially the young officers, as well as female soldiers, to improve on their shooting skills.
Personnel from the three services of the GAF would compete in the M16 rifle shooting, small machine gun (SMG) shooting, pistol Norinco shooting and falling plates.
Brigadier General Ocran stressed the need for a high level of professionalism as personnel of the GAF were constantly engaged in internal security and international operations.
He said it was, therefore, imperative for personnel of the GAF to improve on their weapon handling skills in order to achieve results and at the same time reduce accidents in the face of the challenges of armed robberies, communal violence and cross-border crimes.
Touching on the competition, Brigadier General Ocran said the competition was necessary as it doubled as training for the GAF to enable the service to perform its constitutional roles effectively and professionally.
“This event is also important to the GAF because it facilitates joint training. We get the opportunity to acquaint ourselves with the workings, processes and procedures of the other services. We make good friends and develop healthy rivalry,” he added.
Brigadier General Ocran advised the competitors that it was not a do-or-die issue which should generate enmity since it was meant to test their skills as men at arms in a healthy atmosphere, adding that the competition should be conducted in a fair manner devoid of any acrimony and underhand dealings or cheating.
He observed that the competition was not to test only their skills but also their moral and ethical values of fairness, good sportsmanship and brotherliness, and expressed the hope that records would be broken and set.
Among the dignitaries who witnessed the opening ceremony were Brigadier General Ishmael Ben Quartey, the Commander of the Support Services, members of the Regional Security Council and Oboaman Dr Bofotia Boa-Amponsem II, the Krontihene of the Sunyani Traditional Area.

BRONG AHAFO MARKS 50TH BIRTHDAY (SHOWBIZ, SPREAD, NOV 4)

By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah & Samuel Duodu

Hundreds of resident and non-resident citizens as well as friends and well wishers of the Brong Ahafo region, last Saturday, converged at the Jubilee Park in Sunyani to participate in a grand durbar of chiefs that climaxed the activities marking the 50 years anniversary celebration of the creation of the region.
As early as 5am, the people had started making their way to the durbar grounds from their homes and it was a delight to watch the retinue of paramount chiefs dressed in their rich kente and other expensive clothes and riding in their palanquins.
It was a beautiful sight as chiefs and queenmothers with their large followers, danced to fontonfrom and kete music even as they sat gorgeously in their palanquins while riding at a snail pace to take their respective seats at the durbar grounds.
Apart from the accompanying kete and fontomfrom performers of the chiefs and queens, the Tanokrom Agromma at the Sunyani Centre for National Culture performed traditional dances while the All Saints Choir of the Catholic Church and the Abesim Brass Band, also provided music to the admiration of some of the people who could not contain their emotions and feelings to dance.
Food vendors of all kinds had also pitched their temporary tents to take advantage of the market provided by hungry revellers.
Among the large number of guests were Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of the Council of State, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Heads of Departments, Assembly members, and the Clergy.
The President and his entourage arrived at about 2:45p.m and in accordance with tradition, went round to exchange pleasantries with the chiefs, an item on the programme which lasted for almost one and a half hours.
In a short address, he announced that, the government would establish a University of Energy and Natural Resources in the Brong Ahafo Region, and that a committee had already been set up to work on the project, saying, “Very soon, you will see signs of that”.
Speaker after speaker called for unity among the people to ensure an effective development of the area.
The Brong Ahafo Region, which was formerly called Western Ashanti, was created by an Act of Parliament on April 4, 1959, as a result of a sustained agitation mounted by the Brong Kyempim Council.
The chiefs who fought for the creation of the region are Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr. Agyeman Badu of Dormaa, Nana Akumfi Ameyaw III of Techiman, Nana Kofi Bosea Gyinantwi II of Drobo, Nana Yaw Frimpong of Kukuom, Nana Fosu Gyeabour of Bechem, Nana Kwasi Apraku of Odumase No. 1 and Nana Kwame Agyeman II, Abeasehene. They are all deceased.

NKRUMAH'S STATUE TO BE ERECTED AT SUNYANI JUBILEE PARK (NOV 10)

THE Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and the Brong Ahafo @50 Secretariat is to erect the statue of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana and the busts of the seven gallant chiefs who fought for the creation of the region, in addition to the statue of Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, which is currently located at the Jubilee Park in Sunyani, the regional capital.
The erection of the statue and busts is to honour the memory of Dr Nkrumah and the chiefs, whose  sustained agitation led to the creation of the region on April 4,1959, through an Act of Parliament.
They would also form part of some of the monuments to be built to commemorate the year-long celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the creation of the region scheduled to end in April, 2010.
Apart from the erection of the statue and busts, an arch would also be built at the Sunyani Senior High School (SHS) junction across the Sunyani-Kumasi highway which also serves as the entry point to the regional capital.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, announced this when J. Adom Limited, a Sunyani- based construction firm and MTN, a telecommunications network operator, presented cheques for GH¢5,000 and GH¢3,500 respectively, to him at his office towards the Golden Jubilee celebration. 
He debunked an assertion going round that there were plans to remove the statue of Dr Busia which was currently located at the jubilee park, saying, “It is not true and it is rumour just to cause mischief. “Rather, what we are going to do is to erect the statue of Dr Nkrumah and the busts of the seven chiefs in addition to that of Dr Busia which is already standing at the park,” Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated.
He reiterated that the decision to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the region was to rekindle the sense of unity and tenacity of purpose among citizens of the region.
That, he said, could propel the socio-economic development of the region to greater heights to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of the people.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said the celebration was also to “pay befitting tribute to the lives and bravery of our gallant chiefs who fought to achieve autonomy and self-determination for us and to reflect on their good works to serve as a guide and unifying force in our forward-match into the future in order to achieve the development that we cherish for ourselves”.
He thanked the two institutions for the gesture, which he said would go a long way to support the committee to meet some of the commitments for the year-long anniversary.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo appealed to other institutions in the region that had not responded to support the anniversary, to emulate the two companies since the anniversary, which is a year-long one, was still ongoing. 
Mr John Cobbina, the Project Accountant of J. Adom Limited, and Mrs  Eleanor Adzaho Sarpong, the Senior Manager in charge of Government and Regulatory Relations of MTN, who made the presentation on behalf of their respective companies said they were happy to be associated with the year-long celebration.