THE Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, has disclosed that the name of the Jubilee Park in Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital, is to be reverted to the name, Kwame Nkrumah Park.
He said the park was named after the first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah by the chiefs and people of the Brong Ahafo Region during a durbar at the park to honour the late President, who created the Brong Ahafo Region on April 4, 1959, two years after Ghana attained independence.
According to him, the name of the park was changed to the Jubilee Park during the 50th Independence anniversary (Golden Jubilee) celebration of the country when some structures were put up at the park, which was orginally known as the Kwame Nkrumah Park.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said this when he launched the Brong Ahafo@50 anniversary cloth and T-shirts at the residency over the weekend as part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the region, this year.
The ceremony coincided with the presentation of cheques totalling GH¢24,000 towards the anniversary, and the donors were the President of the Dormaa Traditional Council, Osagyefo Oseedeyea Agyeman Badu II, on whose behalf a cheque for GH¢10,000 was presented, while the Ghana Customs Inspection Company Limited and the SIC Insurance company also presented cheques for GH¢10,000 and GH¢4,000 respectively.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated further that reverting the name to the Kwame Nkrumah Park would be effected by the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), in consultation with the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, whose predecessors and Nananom, who fought for the creation of the region, named the park after Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
He noted that the history of a people or nation could never be re-written, but at the appropriate time, the name of the park would be reverted to Kwame Nkrumah Park for generations yet unborn to come and learn the history of the region that the park was the ground where the chiefs and people of the region held a grand durbar to honour the late President Nkrumah for the creation of the region.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo also paid glowing tribute to Nananom of blessed memory who led the agitations for the creation of the Brong Ahafo Region, especially the Techimanhene, Dormaahene, Abeasehene, Bechemhene, Drobohene, among others.
He, therefore, called on all citizens of the region, both home and abroad, to contribute their quota towards the successful Golden Jubilee anniversary celebration of the region on the theme “Brong Ahafo@50: Achievements, challenges and prospects.
The Regional Minister mentioned part of the programme line-up for the anniversary as quiz competition to be centred on the history and the infrastructure development of the region, cultural activities that depicted the various ethnic groups in the region, a Beauty Pageant with very attractive prizes, Trade Fair dubbed “Adwakese” to showcase the tourism and investment potential of the region and a grand durbar of the chiefs and people of the region to climax the anniversary.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo thanked the donors for their support, and appealed to other individuals, institutions and organisations to emulate their example.
Monday, August 31, 2009
BA INSTITUTES 'I CARE FOR YOU' PROGRAMME (PAGE 16)
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (BARCC) has instituted a programme dubbed “I Care For You” to ensure that the various municipal and district assemblies in the region become accountable to the people in the utilisation of all funds allocated to them.
Under the programme, the assemblies would organise two forums that would involve assembly members, head of departments, Nananom, opinion leaders, among others, every year.
The first phase will take place at the beginning of each year, and the budget estimates, projects and programmes of the assemblies will be outlined to the people, and an opportunity will also be created for them to make inputs, while the second phase would be held at the end of the year to review the performance of the assemblies.
Mr Eric Opoku, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, who said this at the first ordinary meeting of the Wenchi Municipal Assembly in Wenchi, said the move was meant to help deepen the decentralisation concept at the grass roots level and ensure accountability and transparency in the running of the assemblies.
He stated further that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) was also liaising with the District Common Fund Secretariat to also publish the funds allocated to the various assemblies to enable local government actors and all other stakeholders to demand for accountability.
This, he said, was also to ensure judicious use of funds and to let the people have a say in whatever development projects that would be undertaken by the assemblies to ensure that the process had led to an improvement in the living conditions of the people, thereby giving more meaning to the decentralisation concept.
Mr Eric Opoku, in his address, also tasked the various assembly members to educate the people on the decentralisation concepts in their electoral areas for them to appreciate and to feel being part of the process as well as being part of the Government’s programmes and policies.
He, therefore, called on the electorate to continue to keep faith with the Government since it was committed to their welfare and making good its promise of a “Better Ghana”.
Mr Yaw Osei Agyei, the Wenchi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), in his address, proposed the construction of a multi-purpose social centre in Wenchi to include facilities such as craft bazaar shop to boost tourism and also to house other agencies of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, among others. This, he said, would give a facelift to Wenchi.
On internal revenue generation of the assembly, the MCE said it was not the best, as the assembly was able to collect only GH¢91,249.97 for the period between January and June, this year.
He, therefore, suggested the formation of a special task force to monitor revenue collection, which would also help minimise the leakages, if not eradicated completely.
Mr Agyei said he came to meet 6,000 pieces of mathematical sets and 21 boxes of Ghana@50 anniversary cups in the assembly stores and, therefore, in consultation with the Municipal Directorate of Education, the items would be distributed to schoolchildren during “My First Day at School”, scheduled for September, 2009.
He announced that the assembly had also put the three tractors of the assembly into good condition which would be hired out for ploughing and carting of goods to generate revenue for the assembly .
Under the programme, the assemblies would organise two forums that would involve assembly members, head of departments, Nananom, opinion leaders, among others, every year.
The first phase will take place at the beginning of each year, and the budget estimates, projects and programmes of the assemblies will be outlined to the people, and an opportunity will also be created for them to make inputs, while the second phase would be held at the end of the year to review the performance of the assemblies.
Mr Eric Opoku, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, who said this at the first ordinary meeting of the Wenchi Municipal Assembly in Wenchi, said the move was meant to help deepen the decentralisation concept at the grass roots level and ensure accountability and transparency in the running of the assemblies.
He stated further that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) was also liaising with the District Common Fund Secretariat to also publish the funds allocated to the various assemblies to enable local government actors and all other stakeholders to demand for accountability.
This, he said, was also to ensure judicious use of funds and to let the people have a say in whatever development projects that would be undertaken by the assemblies to ensure that the process had led to an improvement in the living conditions of the people, thereby giving more meaning to the decentralisation concept.
Mr Eric Opoku, in his address, also tasked the various assembly members to educate the people on the decentralisation concepts in their electoral areas for them to appreciate and to feel being part of the process as well as being part of the Government’s programmes and policies.
He, therefore, called on the electorate to continue to keep faith with the Government since it was committed to their welfare and making good its promise of a “Better Ghana”.
Mr Yaw Osei Agyei, the Wenchi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), in his address, proposed the construction of a multi-purpose social centre in Wenchi to include facilities such as craft bazaar shop to boost tourism and also to house other agencies of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, among others. This, he said, would give a facelift to Wenchi.
On internal revenue generation of the assembly, the MCE said it was not the best, as the assembly was able to collect only GH¢91,249.97 for the period between January and June, this year.
He, therefore, suggested the formation of a special task force to monitor revenue collection, which would also help minimise the leakages, if not eradicated completely.
Mr Agyei said he came to meet 6,000 pieces of mathematical sets and 21 boxes of Ghana@50 anniversary cups in the assembly stores and, therefore, in consultation with the Municipal Directorate of Education, the items would be distributed to schoolchildren during “My First Day at School”, scheduled for September, 2009.
He announced that the assembly had also put the three tractors of the assembly into good condition which would be hired out for ploughing and carting of goods to generate revenue for the assembly .
Sunday, August 30, 2009
NATIONAL GOLD TEST EXPEDITIONLAUNCHED AT KINTAMPO — NANA KORANG PAGE 35)
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, has called for collaboration between the public and the various security agencies to deal with the upsurge of violent crimes such as armed robbery, cyberfraud (sakawa), the illicit drug trade and drug abuse among the youth in the country.
According to him, the government had mapped up strategies to deal with those issues of security threat, while the security agencies were also on top of the situation.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said it behoved the public to volunteer information on such activities to nip them in the bud so that they would not destroy the youth who were the future of the country.
The regional minister made the call at the launch of this year’s National Gold Test Expedition at Kintampo, which formed part of activities under the Head of State Award Scheme programme aimed at developing the youth to become good and useful citizens.
About 170 students from tertiary and senior high educational institutions across the country, including three participants from Nigeria, participated in the expedition.
The participants would cover a distance of at least 80 kilometres on foot in four days in the countryside (from August 26 to 29, 2009), spending three nights away from the comfort of their homes at their base at the Kintampo SHS.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stressed that the cyberfraud and drug abuse among the youth had not only gained root in the country’s tertiary educational institutions, but had also crept into senior and junior high schools, which must be the concern of all.
He gave the assurance that the government was putting in place measures to address the high unemployment rate among the youth in the country by creating an enabling environment to encourage investors to come and do business as a means of creating jobs.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated that leadership training was crucial for every human development and therefore saw the expedition as an avenue through which the youth could develop their sense of patriotism, self-confidence, creativity, teamwork and also appreciate life at the countryside.
The Executive Secretary of the Head of State Award Scheme, Mr Ernest Safo Ababio, said the scheme was first introduced into Ghana in 1968 as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which was a youth development programme initiated by His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Philip 53 years ago.
He said it was leisure time activities designed for young people between the ages of 14 and 25.
Mr Ababio said the programme was initially introduced into the Commonwealth countries, but at the moment, about 120 countries worldwide were running the scheme.
He added that in 1974, Ghana changed the name from the Duke of Edinburgh Award to the Head of State Award Scheme by giving it a local identity.
Mr Ababio stated that the scheme enabled participants to know themselves and their potential and instil in them leadership qualities, self-confidence, perseverance, creativity, love for hard work, concern for others, the spirit of adventure, enterprise and patriotism, which are all qualities of a model citizen.
The Kintampo Municipal Director of Education, Rev. W.A. Abormegah, called on the youth to develop positive attitudes and eschew lifestyles that would destroy their future, as well as the confidence reposed in them by the nation and their parents in particular.
According to him, the government had mapped up strategies to deal with those issues of security threat, while the security agencies were also on top of the situation.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said it behoved the public to volunteer information on such activities to nip them in the bud so that they would not destroy the youth who were the future of the country.
The regional minister made the call at the launch of this year’s National Gold Test Expedition at Kintampo, which formed part of activities under the Head of State Award Scheme programme aimed at developing the youth to become good and useful citizens.
About 170 students from tertiary and senior high educational institutions across the country, including three participants from Nigeria, participated in the expedition.
The participants would cover a distance of at least 80 kilometres on foot in four days in the countryside (from August 26 to 29, 2009), spending three nights away from the comfort of their homes at their base at the Kintampo SHS.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stressed that the cyberfraud and drug abuse among the youth had not only gained root in the country’s tertiary educational institutions, but had also crept into senior and junior high schools, which must be the concern of all.
He gave the assurance that the government was putting in place measures to address the high unemployment rate among the youth in the country by creating an enabling environment to encourage investors to come and do business as a means of creating jobs.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated that leadership training was crucial for every human development and therefore saw the expedition as an avenue through which the youth could develop their sense of patriotism, self-confidence, creativity, teamwork and also appreciate life at the countryside.
The Executive Secretary of the Head of State Award Scheme, Mr Ernest Safo Ababio, said the scheme was first introduced into Ghana in 1968 as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which was a youth development programme initiated by His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Philip 53 years ago.
He said it was leisure time activities designed for young people between the ages of 14 and 25.
Mr Ababio said the programme was initially introduced into the Commonwealth countries, but at the moment, about 120 countries worldwide were running the scheme.
He added that in 1974, Ghana changed the name from the Duke of Edinburgh Award to the Head of State Award Scheme by giving it a local identity.
Mr Ababio stated that the scheme enabled participants to know themselves and their potential and instil in them leadership qualities, self-confidence, perseverance, creativity, love for hard work, concern for others, the spirit of adventure, enterprise and patriotism, which are all qualities of a model citizen.
The Kintampo Municipal Director of Education, Rev. W.A. Abormegah, called on the youth to develop positive attitudes and eschew lifestyles that would destroy their future, as well as the confidence reposed in them by the nation and their parents in particular.
HOLD FORUM TO FIND ANTIDOTE TO 'SAKAWA' (PAGE 35)
THE Omanhene of the Awua-Odumase Traditional Area, Nana Kwame Korang VI, has called for a national forum to discuss and find solutions to the cyber fraud popularly known as ‘sakawa’ and the armed robbery menace, which the youth are mostly involved, to secure the future of the country.
According to him, his suggestion for the hosting of the forum by the state, with participants drawn from the traditional authorities, religious leadership, among others, is meant to deliberate on the issues and come out with practical ways of addressing the social menace that has gained root in the Ghanaian society.
Nana Korang stressed that those challenges did not only pose serious security threat, but also affected the image of the country abroad.
The Omanhene made the suggestion at a day’s capacity building training workshop on the Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759, for members of the Awua-Odumase Traditional Council at Odumase.
The workshop, organised by the traditional council in conjunction with the Sunyani West District Assembly, was aimed at sensitising the chiefs to the role and functions of Nananom, the Chieftaincy Act 2008 and the judicial process.
Another objective of the event, on the theme: “Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759 and the Ethics”, was to reduce the disputes and conflicts that often arose when it came to succession to stools and the judicial process.
“Posterity would never forgive as a nation if we fail to discuss this matter and find the appropriate solutions to address it,” Nana Korang stressed.
He said majority of the people who had been arrested for armed robbery and cyber fraud were mostly the youth aged 18 to 30.
“There is, therefore, the need to find a lasting solution to this menace before it completely gets out of hand,” Nana Korang emphasised.
Touching on the essence of the workshop, the Omanhene said the traditional council decided to organise it to sensitise the chiefs as a measure of reducing the numerous chieftaincy disputes that came about when it came to succession.
He advised the participants to educate their people, especially the youth, on the new Chieftaincy Act for them to understand succession to prevent them from being lured by chieftancy contractors who were bent on fomenting trouble in their communities.
Nana Korang stated that peace was an essential commodity for development, and therefore, called on traditional rulers to promote peace and unity in their traditional areas at all times.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani West, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, commended the traditional council for organising the workshop to educate its members on the Chieftaincy Act.
He said that would go a long way to address the numerous chieftaincy disputes that had bedevilled the area and retarded its development.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sunyani West, Mr Kwadwo Osei Asibey, called on the youth in the area not to allow themselves to be used to fan chieftaincy disputes.
Among the resource persons at the workshop was Mr Thomas K. Aning, a senior archivist at the Manhyia Palace, who presented a paper on “The role and functions of Nananom".
According to him, his suggestion for the hosting of the forum by the state, with participants drawn from the traditional authorities, religious leadership, among others, is meant to deliberate on the issues and come out with practical ways of addressing the social menace that has gained root in the Ghanaian society.
Nana Korang stressed that those challenges did not only pose serious security threat, but also affected the image of the country abroad.
The Omanhene made the suggestion at a day’s capacity building training workshop on the Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759, for members of the Awua-Odumase Traditional Council at Odumase.
The workshop, organised by the traditional council in conjunction with the Sunyani West District Assembly, was aimed at sensitising the chiefs to the role and functions of Nananom, the Chieftaincy Act 2008 and the judicial process.
Another objective of the event, on the theme: “Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759 and the Ethics”, was to reduce the disputes and conflicts that often arose when it came to succession to stools and the judicial process.
“Posterity would never forgive as a nation if we fail to discuss this matter and find the appropriate solutions to address it,” Nana Korang stressed.
He said majority of the people who had been arrested for armed robbery and cyber fraud were mostly the youth aged 18 to 30.
“There is, therefore, the need to find a lasting solution to this menace before it completely gets out of hand,” Nana Korang emphasised.
Touching on the essence of the workshop, the Omanhene said the traditional council decided to organise it to sensitise the chiefs as a measure of reducing the numerous chieftaincy disputes that came about when it came to succession.
He advised the participants to educate their people, especially the youth, on the new Chieftaincy Act for them to understand succession to prevent them from being lured by chieftancy contractors who were bent on fomenting trouble in their communities.
Nana Korang stated that peace was an essential commodity for development, and therefore, called on traditional rulers to promote peace and unity in their traditional areas at all times.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani West, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, commended the traditional council for organising the workshop to educate its members on the Chieftaincy Act.
He said that would go a long way to address the numerous chieftaincy disputes that had bedevilled the area and retarded its development.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sunyani West, Mr Kwadwo Osei Asibey, called on the youth in the area not to allow themselves to be used to fan chieftaincy disputes.
Among the resource persons at the workshop was Mr Thomas K. Aning, a senior archivist at the Manhyia Palace, who presented a paper on “The role and functions of Nananom".
Friday, August 28, 2009
MAN WITH FAKE DOLLAR NOTES NABBED (MIRROR, PAGE 34)
From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
A young man who refused to pay for a five-hour taxi fare has come face to face with the law for possessing 28 fake dollar notes.
Ahmed Abdulai was driven straight to the Sunyani Municipal Police Station after he refused to pay the taxi driver and a search on him revealed the $100 notes bearing the same serial numbers.
Abdulai, believed to be in his mid-20s, was arraigned before a Sunyani Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwame Ohene Essel, on August 19, 2009 and granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with two sureties to be justified but he failed to meet the bail bond.
When the case was called for hearing on August 26, 2009, his counsel failed to turn up and was remanded in police custody.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing fake currency and would re-appear on September 2, 2009.
The prosecution told the court that the police was still conducting further investigation into the matter as intelligence report indicated that Abdulai was part of a fake currency syndicate operating in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The facts of the case were that Abdulai hired the taxi in Sunyani on July 14, 2009 from 4 p.m to 8.30 p.m for his rounds.
However, the accused decided not to pay for the services provided by the taxi driver, who reported the case to the police.
A search conducted on Abdulai by the police revealed that 24 pieces of the notes bore the same serial numbers while the remaining four also had the same numbers. A further check by the police at the bank also revealed that the dollar notes were fake.
A young man who refused to pay for a five-hour taxi fare has come face to face with the law for possessing 28 fake dollar notes.
Ahmed Abdulai was driven straight to the Sunyani Municipal Police Station after he refused to pay the taxi driver and a search on him revealed the $100 notes bearing the same serial numbers.
Abdulai, believed to be in his mid-20s, was arraigned before a Sunyani Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwame Ohene Essel, on August 19, 2009 and granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with two sureties to be justified but he failed to meet the bail bond.
When the case was called for hearing on August 26, 2009, his counsel failed to turn up and was remanded in police custody.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing fake currency and would re-appear on September 2, 2009.
The prosecution told the court that the police was still conducting further investigation into the matter as intelligence report indicated that Abdulai was part of a fake currency syndicate operating in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The facts of the case were that Abdulai hired the taxi in Sunyani on July 14, 2009 from 4 p.m to 8.30 p.m for his rounds.
However, the accused decided not to pay for the services provided by the taxi driver, who reported the case to the police.
A search conducted on Abdulai by the police revealed that 24 pieces of the notes bore the same serial numbers while the remaining four also had the same numbers. A further check by the police at the bank also revealed that the dollar notes were fake.
TANO ASSEMBLY TO COMPLETE ABANDONED EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS (PAGE 11)
THE Tano South District Assembly in the Brong Ahafo Region has decided to complete all educational infrastructures.
The decision by the assembly to complete those projects is to create a congenial atmosphere to enhance teaching and learning and also help arrest the falling standard of education in the district, especially at the basic level.
Mr Bukari Zakari Anaba, the Tano South District Chief Executive (DCE), said this at the first ordinary meeting of the assembly held at Bechem, the district capital.
The projects earmarked for completion are a multi-purpose dining hall with kitchen for the Bechem School for the Deaf, a three unit-classroom block, office, store with sanitary facilities for the St. Joseph's Demonstration Practice School, a three classroom with office and store for the Techimantia Roman Catholic (RC) basic schools and a six classroom block including a library for the Dermaa RC basic schools.
The rest of the projects are the cladding of two pavilions and construction of two classroom blocks for the Bechem Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Junior High School (JHS) and the construction of eight-unit teachers quarters at Akrobro.
These projects, the DCE said, were being financed through the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), the Community Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP) and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund).
Apart from those projects earmarked for completion, Mr Anaba said the assembly had also decided to initiate the construction of a new six classroom block with library, store and office for the Bechem Nkwanta Basic School.
He said the project was to ease the long distance of two kilometres by children from the area (Bechem Nkwanta) to the township to attend classes.
He explained that the decision by the assembly to give priority to education was also to help develop the human resource of the district to hasten its socio-economic development.
On the multi purpose dining hall project for the school for the deaf, the DCE said the school's population kept on increasing every day since it also admitted the visually impaired.
Mr Anaba, therefore, proposed that the name of the school for the deaf should be changed to the Bechem Special School for the Physically Challenged for it to be all embracing since it admitted the visually impaired, and called for its adoption during the climax of the school's 40th anniversary celebration in September, this year.
The decision by the assembly to complete those projects is to create a congenial atmosphere to enhance teaching and learning and also help arrest the falling standard of education in the district, especially at the basic level.
Mr Bukari Zakari Anaba, the Tano South District Chief Executive (DCE), said this at the first ordinary meeting of the assembly held at Bechem, the district capital.
The projects earmarked for completion are a multi-purpose dining hall with kitchen for the Bechem School for the Deaf, a three unit-classroom block, office, store with sanitary facilities for the St. Joseph's Demonstration Practice School, a three classroom with office and store for the Techimantia Roman Catholic (RC) basic schools and a six classroom block including a library for the Dermaa RC basic schools.
The rest of the projects are the cladding of two pavilions and construction of two classroom blocks for the Bechem Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Junior High School (JHS) and the construction of eight-unit teachers quarters at Akrobro.
These projects, the DCE said, were being financed through the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), the Community Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP) and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund).
Apart from those projects earmarked for completion, Mr Anaba said the assembly had also decided to initiate the construction of a new six classroom block with library, store and office for the Bechem Nkwanta Basic School.
He said the project was to ease the long distance of two kilometres by children from the area (Bechem Nkwanta) to the township to attend classes.
He explained that the decision by the assembly to give priority to education was also to help develop the human resource of the district to hasten its socio-economic development.
On the multi purpose dining hall project for the school for the deaf, the DCE said the school's population kept on increasing every day since it also admitted the visually impaired.
Mr Anaba, therefore, proposed that the name of the school for the deaf should be changed to the Bechem Special School for the Physically Challenged for it to be all embracing since it admitted the visually impaired, and called for its adoption during the climax of the school's 40th anniversary celebration in September, this year.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
ROUSING WELCOME FOR ADUANA (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11)
Dormaa Aduana Stars over the weekend received a rousing welcome from their numerous supporters and residents in the Brong Ahafo Region clad in the team’s colours of Blue and White when they were met on arrival at Bechem Nkwanta in the Tano South District, the entry point to the region.
This was part of activities of the homecoming of the team after participating in the Zone One Polytank National Middle League in Kumasi and their subsequent qualification to the Premiership.
The jubilant and enthusiastic crowd kept on swelling when the team on board a Civilian Nissan Bus, also in the colours of the team in a convoy, drove through the Bechem, Duayaw-Nkwanta, Abesim, Sunyani and Nsoatre town to Dormaa Ahenkro, the home of the team, amidst brass band music and tooting of car horns.
The jubilation over the team’s qualification to particiapte in the elite division reached a crescendo when the team arrived at Dormaa Ahenkro en route to the Abampredease palace, the seat of the Overlord of the Dormaa State, Osagyefo Oseedeyea Agyeman Badu II, and the Queenmother, Nana Akosua Fiema Dwabeng.
The thick and uncontrollable crowd followed the team through some of the Principal streets in Dormaa Ahenkro till they arrived at the Omanhene’s palace where they met Osagyefo Oseedeyea Agyeman Badu II, who is also the President of the Dormaa Traditional Council and other members.
In brief remarks, the overlord congratulated the team on their qualification to the premiership and for bringing glory and joy to the Dormaa state.
Nana Agyeman Badu disclosed that the traditional council had earmarked an amount of ¢360,000 as seed capital to run the team for the first season in the premiership.
The omanhene urged the team not to be complacent and allow their entry into the premiership to gey into their heads, but must rather continue to work hard to win more laurels.
Nana Agyeman Badu advised supporters of the club to eschew hooliganism and other violent acts during their matches, both home and away, since the law would not spare anybody who indulged in such acts.
He also thanked all citizens of Dormaa based outside or other well wishers for their contributions in cash and kind to enable the team gain entry into the elite division.
This was part of activities of the homecoming of the team after participating in the Zone One Polytank National Middle League in Kumasi and their subsequent qualification to the Premiership.
The jubilant and enthusiastic crowd kept on swelling when the team on board a Civilian Nissan Bus, also in the colours of the team in a convoy, drove through the Bechem, Duayaw-Nkwanta, Abesim, Sunyani and Nsoatre town to Dormaa Ahenkro, the home of the team, amidst brass band music and tooting of car horns.
The jubilation over the team’s qualification to particiapte in the elite division reached a crescendo when the team arrived at Dormaa Ahenkro en route to the Abampredease palace, the seat of the Overlord of the Dormaa State, Osagyefo Oseedeyea Agyeman Badu II, and the Queenmother, Nana Akosua Fiema Dwabeng.
The thick and uncontrollable crowd followed the team through some of the Principal streets in Dormaa Ahenkro till they arrived at the Omanhene’s palace where they met Osagyefo Oseedeyea Agyeman Badu II, who is also the President of the Dormaa Traditional Council and other members.
In brief remarks, the overlord congratulated the team on their qualification to the premiership and for bringing glory and joy to the Dormaa state.
Nana Agyeman Badu disclosed that the traditional council had earmarked an amount of ¢360,000 as seed capital to run the team for the first season in the premiership.
The omanhene urged the team not to be complacent and allow their entry into the premiership to gey into their heads, but must rather continue to work hard to win more laurels.
Nana Agyeman Badu advised supporters of the club to eschew hooliganism and other violent acts during their matches, both home and away, since the law would not spare anybody who indulged in such acts.
He also thanked all citizens of Dormaa based outside or other well wishers for their contributions in cash and kind to enable the team gain entry into the elite division.
Friday, August 21, 2009
AFFORESTATION PROJECT FOR COMMUNITIES ALONG 2 RIVERS (PAGE 21)
A NUMBER of communities along Rivers Tano and Akantansu in the Asutifi District in the Brong Ahafo Region are to benefit from an afforestation project.
The project is aimed at protecting the two rivers whose biodiversity has been seriously degraded over the years due to human activities as well as the recent surface mining in the area.
The beneficiary communities are Ntotroso, Gyedu, Kenyasi Number One, Wamahinso and Kenyasi Number Two.
The project involves tree-planting, sensitising the communities to the environment as a whole and to solicit their support to ensure its viability.
Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG), a local environmental, human rights and advocacy non-governmental organisation (NGO) based at Kenyasi, is undertaking the project.
At the launch of the project at Ntotroso, the Executive Director of LEG, Mr Richard Adjei-Poku, said the NGO was formed in 2004 in reponse to the livehood challenges presented by environmental degradation and mining in the area.
He said the two rivers contributed to the livelihoods of the people in the area as well as their domestic activities, while the river Tano is the main source of water used by Newmont for their operations in the Ahafo area.
Mr Adjei-Poku said LEG had received support from the Global Greengrants Fund (GGF) to go into tree-planting.
He said in that regard, LEG would plant more than 2,000 species of trees along the two rivers as apart of the project.
Mr Adjei-Poku advised the communities along the banks of the two rivers to desist from farming close to the rivers, and to refrain from indiscriminate felling of trees and bush burning.
The Environmental Programme Officer of the Third World Network, Mr Abdulai Darimani urged the beneficiary communities to take the project seriously and ensure its success.
He also urged government agencies like the Ghana National Fire Service, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency to offer technical support to farmers and communities living close to water bodies.
That, he said, would enable the farmers to conduct their activities in a manner which would cause minimal destruction to the environment.
The project is aimed at protecting the two rivers whose biodiversity has been seriously degraded over the years due to human activities as well as the recent surface mining in the area.
The beneficiary communities are Ntotroso, Gyedu, Kenyasi Number One, Wamahinso and Kenyasi Number Two.
The project involves tree-planting, sensitising the communities to the environment as a whole and to solicit their support to ensure its viability.
Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG), a local environmental, human rights and advocacy non-governmental organisation (NGO) based at Kenyasi, is undertaking the project.
At the launch of the project at Ntotroso, the Executive Director of LEG, Mr Richard Adjei-Poku, said the NGO was formed in 2004 in reponse to the livehood challenges presented by environmental degradation and mining in the area.
He said the two rivers contributed to the livelihoods of the people in the area as well as their domestic activities, while the river Tano is the main source of water used by Newmont for their operations in the Ahafo area.
Mr Adjei-Poku said LEG had received support from the Global Greengrants Fund (GGF) to go into tree-planting.
He said in that regard, LEG would plant more than 2,000 species of trees along the two rivers as apart of the project.
Mr Adjei-Poku advised the communities along the banks of the two rivers to desist from farming close to the rivers, and to refrain from indiscriminate felling of trees and bush burning.
The Environmental Programme Officer of the Third World Network, Mr Abdulai Darimani urged the beneficiary communities to take the project seriously and ensure its success.
He also urged government agencies like the Ghana National Fire Service, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency to offer technical support to farmers and communities living close to water bodies.
That, he said, would enable the farmers to conduct their activities in a manner which would cause minimal destruction to the environment.
'SPONSOR MORE STUDENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION' (PAGE 15)
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tain Constituency, Mr Amed Ibrahim, has urged Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the Brong Ahafo Region to sponsor more students to pursue higher education.
That, he said, would equip them with the requisite skills to return to the region to assist in the development of their communities in particular and the region at large.
Mr Ibrahim made the call at Nsawkaw, the constituency capital, when he presented a sponsorship package to 150 tertiary students from the district.
The beneficiaries included continuing students of both public and private tertiary educational institutions from the district who devoted their vacation period to serve as volunteer teachers at the various schools across the district.
The MP is also assisting some needy students from the district who have gained admission to tertiary educational institutions.
In a brief remark at the ceremony, the MP commended the volunteers for exhibiting a sense of patriotism.
He said although the package was not big, it should be seen as the little contribution that society was making towards their education, so they must be motivated by the gesture to give back to society what they had benefited.
“You had the opportunity of seeing and feeling various challenges confronting the district. You saw the children studying under trees, communities without classroom blocks and many more,” Mr Ibrahim said.
“It is, therefore, incumbent upon you to assist the government through suggestions in addressing those challenges today to avoid meeting such challenges when you pick the mantle of leadership,” Mr Ibrahim stressed.
The MP further urged the students to be proud of where they were coming from and be worthy ambassadors of the district wherever they found themselves so as to attract positive interest to the district.
“When you go to your respective campuses, share the experiences with those from Tain so that they can also come back home to offer the needed support towards the total development of the district,” he added.
One of the beneficiaries of the package, Mr Sampson Akrosumah, a level 300 student of the University of Education, Mampong Campus in the Ashanti Region, who shared his experiences, commended the MP and the Tain District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Jones Samuel Tawiah, for their initiative aimed at making education the pivot of the socio-economic development of the district.
That, he said, would equip them with the requisite skills to return to the region to assist in the development of their communities in particular and the region at large.
Mr Ibrahim made the call at Nsawkaw, the constituency capital, when he presented a sponsorship package to 150 tertiary students from the district.
The beneficiaries included continuing students of both public and private tertiary educational institutions from the district who devoted their vacation period to serve as volunteer teachers at the various schools across the district.
The MP is also assisting some needy students from the district who have gained admission to tertiary educational institutions.
In a brief remark at the ceremony, the MP commended the volunteers for exhibiting a sense of patriotism.
He said although the package was not big, it should be seen as the little contribution that society was making towards their education, so they must be motivated by the gesture to give back to society what they had benefited.
“You had the opportunity of seeing and feeling various challenges confronting the district. You saw the children studying under trees, communities without classroom blocks and many more,” Mr Ibrahim said.
“It is, therefore, incumbent upon you to assist the government through suggestions in addressing those challenges today to avoid meeting such challenges when you pick the mantle of leadership,” Mr Ibrahim stressed.
The MP further urged the students to be proud of where they were coming from and be worthy ambassadors of the district wherever they found themselves so as to attract positive interest to the district.
“When you go to your respective campuses, share the experiences with those from Tain so that they can also come back home to offer the needed support towards the total development of the district,” he added.
One of the beneficiaries of the package, Mr Sampson Akrosumah, a level 300 student of the University of Education, Mampong Campus in the Ashanti Region, who shared his experiences, commended the MP and the Tain District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Jones Samuel Tawiah, for their initiative aimed at making education the pivot of the socio-economic development of the district.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
ANNUAL BAN ON HUNTING LAUNCHED AT TECHIMAN (PAGE 21)
THE annual ban on hunting of wild animals commonly known as the “close season”, which begins from August 1 to December 1, every year, has been launched at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region.
At the launch, the Executive Director of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Nana Kofi Adu-Nsiah, called on the public not to patronise the sale of bush meat, dead, alive or smoked, except for grass cutters (Akrantie) during the prohibition period.
The event was on the theme, “Ensuring sustainability of bush meat trade”.
The “close season” is a period of an annual ban on hunting of wildlife throughout the country, which is a regulatory mechanism backed by the Wildlife Conservation Regulations L.I. 685 of 1971 and required that during the four months, that is, from August 1 to December 1, each year, there should be no hunting of any wild animals with the exception of grass cutters.
The essence of the ban during that period is to offer respite for wild animals, such as duikers (okwaduo, dabo, otwe, akogye), royal antelopes, bush pigs, among other endangered species which supply the bulk of bush meat, because it is also during that period that those animals breed.
The reason why grass cutters have been exempted from the “close season” is because a thorough study by conservationists shows that grass cutters are prolific breeders and their inclusion in the ‘close season’ may result in its excessive population with possible negative impact on agricultural production.
However, one needs a licence to hunt grass cutters and this is to monitor and curtail the use of chemicals and other dangerous or unorthodox means to hunt for grass cutters which might have health risk for consumers.
Nana Adu-Nsiah called for co-operation and support of all during the period for the conservation of the country’s wildlife heritage.
He, therefore, appealed to all and sundry, especially the police and traditional rulers, to arrest and prosecute people who would flout the directive.
According to Nana Adu-Nsiah, the non-observance of the “close season” undermined the sustainability and eventual existence of wild animal populations thereby, depriving Ghanaians of valuable resource for development.
He explained that the call on the public not to patronise bush meat during the “close season”, except for the grass cutter, was to make it uneconomical for hunters to hunt for the animals.
Nana Adu-Nsiah stated that the country’s forests were home to many endangered species including 34 plants, 17 animals, 10 birds and five reptiles and also provide shelter and resting areas for many threatened migratory species.
He added that in Ghana, the annual volume of bush meat harvested by hunters was estimated at 384,992 tonnes, worth US$350 million while the total annual bush meat consumption was estimated at 225,287 tonnes valued at US$205,205 million.
Nana Adu-Nsiah, therefore, called for support from all Ghanaians and the necessary political will and commitment to achieve the sustainable management and development of the country’s wildlife resource for the benefit of all.
The Regional Manager in charge of the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions, Mr Charles K. Abaka Haizel, in his welcoming address, called for concerted efforts to reverse the rate of depletion of the country’s wildlife resources.
At the launch, the Executive Director of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Nana Kofi Adu-Nsiah, called on the public not to patronise the sale of bush meat, dead, alive or smoked, except for grass cutters (Akrantie) during the prohibition period.
The event was on the theme, “Ensuring sustainability of bush meat trade”.
The “close season” is a period of an annual ban on hunting of wildlife throughout the country, which is a regulatory mechanism backed by the Wildlife Conservation Regulations L.I. 685 of 1971 and required that during the four months, that is, from August 1 to December 1, each year, there should be no hunting of any wild animals with the exception of grass cutters.
The essence of the ban during that period is to offer respite for wild animals, such as duikers (okwaduo, dabo, otwe, akogye), royal antelopes, bush pigs, among other endangered species which supply the bulk of bush meat, because it is also during that period that those animals breed.
The reason why grass cutters have been exempted from the “close season” is because a thorough study by conservationists shows that grass cutters are prolific breeders and their inclusion in the ‘close season’ may result in its excessive population with possible negative impact on agricultural production.
However, one needs a licence to hunt grass cutters and this is to monitor and curtail the use of chemicals and other dangerous or unorthodox means to hunt for grass cutters which might have health risk for consumers.
Nana Adu-Nsiah called for co-operation and support of all during the period for the conservation of the country’s wildlife heritage.
He, therefore, appealed to all and sundry, especially the police and traditional rulers, to arrest and prosecute people who would flout the directive.
According to Nana Adu-Nsiah, the non-observance of the “close season” undermined the sustainability and eventual existence of wild animal populations thereby, depriving Ghanaians of valuable resource for development.
He explained that the call on the public not to patronise bush meat during the “close season”, except for the grass cutter, was to make it uneconomical for hunters to hunt for the animals.
Nana Adu-Nsiah stated that the country’s forests were home to many endangered species including 34 plants, 17 animals, 10 birds and five reptiles and also provide shelter and resting areas for many threatened migratory species.
He added that in Ghana, the annual volume of bush meat harvested by hunters was estimated at 384,992 tonnes, worth US$350 million while the total annual bush meat consumption was estimated at 225,287 tonnes valued at US$205,205 million.
Nana Adu-Nsiah, therefore, called for support from all Ghanaians and the necessary political will and commitment to achieve the sustainable management and development of the country’s wildlife resource for the benefit of all.
The Regional Manager in charge of the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions, Mr Charles K. Abaka Haizel, in his welcoming address, called for concerted efforts to reverse the rate of depletion of the country’s wildlife resources.
CONTRACTOR PAID FOR NO WORK DONE? (PAGE 11)
ALTHOUGHT payment was made for a two-classroom Kindergarten(KG) block for Kabrono in the Banda Ahenkro Traditional Area, the project was never executed.
A parcel of land purported to have been released by the chiefs and elders of the town which is in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region, cannot even be located.
This came to light when the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, in the company of the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Samuel Jones Tawiah, paid a working visit to the area to inspect some development projects.
Records available at the Tain District Assembly and the District Directorate of Education office indicate that the project only existed on paper.
The records also indicate that the project was to have been initiated and executed by the former MP for the area, Mr Joe Danquah, with an amount of GH¢ 25,000 from the MPs share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
A memoradum dated November 28, 2008 on the letterhead of the former MP and signed by him titled “Release of GETfund (GH¢ 25,000) to the Tain District Director of Education” read “ Gratefully, release an amount of GH¢25,000 being my constituency’s share of the GETfund for 2006 and 2007 to M/SA.A Wanchan Limited for the construction of a KG block at Kabrono.
It further stated that Mr Rahaman Mohammed, the Managing Director of the company, was mandated to collect the cheque on behalf of the company.
According to sources at the Tain District Education Directorate, a cheque for GH¢ 25,000 was released to the contractor, Mr Mohammed, by the District Director of Education, who promised to deliver the project, but as at the time of the visit to the community by the MP and the DCE, the KG block could not be traced.
At a meeting held between some of the community leaders, the MP and the DCE, some of the chiefs and leaders who were to see to the construction of the two classroom block and an office which was to be initated by the former MP were divided on the issue.
Information gathered indicated that the classrooms and the office were not built at all by the contractor and the schoolchildren still held their classes under a tree.
The Unit Committee Chairman for the area, Mr Fofie Andrews, who was present at the meeting, revealed that the MP rather supported the community with Gh¢1,000 towards the construction of a KG block initiated by the community, in conjunction with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
He said after the community and the church had completed the project for use, a severe rainstorm, which hit the community, ripped off the roof of the building and also destroyed part of the building, making it dangerous for the children to have classes in it.
Mr Andrews, therefore, debunked an assertion that the structure built by the community was the one that the MP initiated, and said they heard about that project to be executed by the former MP but nothing was done.
However, the Akyeamehene of the community, Nana Kwaku Boramu, had a different view, and told the meeting that the project initiated by the former MP existed, but could not show or lead the sitting MP, the DCE, newsmen and some members of the community to the KG block alleged to have been built by the former MP.
A parcel of land purported to have been released by the chiefs and elders of the town which is in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region, cannot even be located.
This came to light when the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, in the company of the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Samuel Jones Tawiah, paid a working visit to the area to inspect some development projects.
Records available at the Tain District Assembly and the District Directorate of Education office indicate that the project only existed on paper.
The records also indicate that the project was to have been initiated and executed by the former MP for the area, Mr Joe Danquah, with an amount of GH¢ 25,000 from the MPs share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
A memoradum dated November 28, 2008 on the letterhead of the former MP and signed by him titled “Release of GETfund (GH¢ 25,000) to the Tain District Director of Education” read “ Gratefully, release an amount of GH¢25,000 being my constituency’s share of the GETfund for 2006 and 2007 to M/SA.A Wanchan Limited for the construction of a KG block at Kabrono.
It further stated that Mr Rahaman Mohammed, the Managing Director of the company, was mandated to collect the cheque on behalf of the company.
According to sources at the Tain District Education Directorate, a cheque for GH¢ 25,000 was released to the contractor, Mr Mohammed, by the District Director of Education, who promised to deliver the project, but as at the time of the visit to the community by the MP and the DCE, the KG block could not be traced.
At a meeting held between some of the community leaders, the MP and the DCE, some of the chiefs and leaders who were to see to the construction of the two classroom block and an office which was to be initated by the former MP were divided on the issue.
Information gathered indicated that the classrooms and the office were not built at all by the contractor and the schoolchildren still held their classes under a tree.
The Unit Committee Chairman for the area, Mr Fofie Andrews, who was present at the meeting, revealed that the MP rather supported the community with Gh¢1,000 towards the construction of a KG block initiated by the community, in conjunction with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
He said after the community and the church had completed the project for use, a severe rainstorm, which hit the community, ripped off the roof of the building and also destroyed part of the building, making it dangerous for the children to have classes in it.
Mr Andrews, therefore, debunked an assertion that the structure built by the community was the one that the MP initiated, and said they heard about that project to be executed by the former MP but nothing was done.
However, the Akyeamehene of the community, Nana Kwaku Boramu, had a different view, and told the meeting that the project initiated by the former MP existed, but could not show or lead the sitting MP, the DCE, newsmen and some members of the community to the KG block alleged to have been built by the former MP.
CONTRACTOR PAID FOR NO WORK DONE? (PAGE 11)
ALTHOUGHT payment was made for a two-classroom Kindergarten(KG) block for Kabrono in the Banda Ahenkro Traditional Area, the project was never executed.
A parcel of land purported to have been released by the chiefs and elders of the town which is in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region, cannot even be located.
This came to light when the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, in the company of the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Samuel Jones Tawiah, paid a working visit to the area to inspect some development projects.
Records available at the Tain District Assembly and the District Directorate of Education office indicate that the project only existed on paper.
The records also indicate that the project was to have been initiated and executed by the former MP for the area, Mr Joe Danquah, with an amount of GH¢ 25,000 from the MPs share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
A memoradum dated November 28, 2008 on the letterhead of the former MP and signed by him titled “Release of GETfund (GH¢ 25,000) to the Tain District Director of Education” read “ Gratefully, release an amount of GH¢25,000 being my constituency’s share of the GETfund for 2006 and 2007 to M/SA.A Wanchan Limited for the construction of a KG block at Kabrono.
It further stated that Mr Rahaman Mohammed, the Managing Director of the company, was mandated to collect the cheque on behalf of the company.
According to sources at the Tain District Education Directorate, a cheque for GH¢ 25,000 was released to the contractor, Mr Mohammed, by the District Director of Education, who promised to deliver the project, but as at the time of the visit to the community by the MP and the DCE, the KG block could not be traced.
At a meeting held between some of the community leaders, the MP and the DCE, some of the chiefs and leaders who were to see to the construction of the two classroom block and an office which was to be initated by the former MP were divided on the issue.
Information gathered indicated that the classrooms and the office were not built at all by the contractor and the schoolchildren still held their classes under a tree.
The Unit Committee Chairman for the area, Mr Fofie Andrews, who was present at the meeting, revealed that the MP rather supported the community with Gh¢1,000 towards the construction of a KG block initiated by the community, in conjunction with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
He said after the community and the church had completed the project for use, a severe rainstorm, which hit the community, ripped off the roof of the building and also destroyed part of the building, making it dangerous for the children to have classes in it.
Mr Andrews, therefore, debunked an assertion that the structure built by the community was the one that the MP initiated, and said they heard about that project to be executed by the former MP but nothing was done.
However, the Akyeamehene of the community, Nana Kwaku Boramu, had a different view, and told the meeting that the project initiated by the former MP existed, but could not show or lead the sitting MP, the DCE, newsmen and some members of the community to the KG block alleged to have been built by the former MP.
A parcel of land purported to have been released by the chiefs and elders of the town which is in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region, cannot even be located.
This came to light when the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, in the company of the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Samuel Jones Tawiah, paid a working visit to the area to inspect some development projects.
Records available at the Tain District Assembly and the District Directorate of Education office indicate that the project only existed on paper.
The records also indicate that the project was to have been initiated and executed by the former MP for the area, Mr Joe Danquah, with an amount of GH¢ 25,000 from the MPs share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
A memoradum dated November 28, 2008 on the letterhead of the former MP and signed by him titled “Release of GETfund (GH¢ 25,000) to the Tain District Director of Education” read “ Gratefully, release an amount of GH¢25,000 being my constituency’s share of the GETfund for 2006 and 2007 to M/SA.A Wanchan Limited for the construction of a KG block at Kabrono.
It further stated that Mr Rahaman Mohammed, the Managing Director of the company, was mandated to collect the cheque on behalf of the company.
According to sources at the Tain District Education Directorate, a cheque for GH¢ 25,000 was released to the contractor, Mr Mohammed, by the District Director of Education, who promised to deliver the project, but as at the time of the visit to the community by the MP and the DCE, the KG block could not be traced.
At a meeting held between some of the community leaders, the MP and the DCE, some of the chiefs and leaders who were to see to the construction of the two classroom block and an office which was to be initated by the former MP were divided on the issue.
Information gathered indicated that the classrooms and the office were not built at all by the contractor and the schoolchildren still held their classes under a tree.
The Unit Committee Chairman for the area, Mr Fofie Andrews, who was present at the meeting, revealed that the MP rather supported the community with Gh¢1,000 towards the construction of a KG block initiated by the community, in conjunction with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
He said after the community and the church had completed the project for use, a severe rainstorm, which hit the community, ripped off the roof of the building and also destroyed part of the building, making it dangerous for the children to have classes in it.
Mr Andrews, therefore, debunked an assertion that the structure built by the community was the one that the MP initiated, and said they heard about that project to be executed by the former MP but nothing was done.
However, the Akyeamehene of the community, Nana Kwaku Boramu, had a different view, and told the meeting that the project initiated by the former MP existed, but could not show or lead the sitting MP, the DCE, newsmen and some members of the community to the KG block alleged to have been built by the former MP.
Monday, August 17, 2009
BUI POWER PROJECT WILL BE FULLY EXECUTED (PAGE 20)
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bui Power Authority (BPA), Mr Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, has assured communities affected by the Bui power project that the government will continue with all the plans on the project and also deliver on schedule.
Mr Amissah-Arthur gave the assurance at Bui in the Tain District in the Brong Ahafo Region when he met the chiefs and people of the three affected communities yet to be resettled.
The communities are the Bui village, Bui Camp and Akanyakrom.
Mr Amissah-Arthur further gave assurance that his administration would continue with the Bui city component of the project as designed but was quick to add that this required huge capital.
He, however, indicated that the BPA would create the enabling environment for the private sector to participate in that component of the project.
Mr Amissah-Arthur said his administration would create an open-door policy with the affected communities and therefore urged them not to hesitate to clarify any issue concerning the project.
On the resettlement, Mr Amissah-Arthur said the final batch of resettlement would be in August next year and advised the affected communities to be in readiness.
He called on landowners in the area to submit their claims to the appropriate quarters as initially directed by the former CEO for studies, and assured all the communities that they would benefit from all facilities that their counterparts at the Jama resettlement camp were enjoying.
The CEO said although his administration welcomed the suggestion for an industry to be set up upon completion of the project to create employment in the affected communities, his outfit would extensively brainstorm on exercise with the inhabitants before taking any decision.
The chief of Bui, Nana Kwadwo Wuo II, who spoke on behalf of the three communities, commended the CEO for calling on them to seek their opinions and added that they were ready to cooperate with his administration to deliver the project as scheduled.
He appealed to the BPA to build the human resource capacity in the affected communities by way of instituting a scholarship scheme to assist the people to climb the educational ladder.
Nana Wuo II further called on the BPA to set up a committee to address various land ownership-related issues in the area to avoid future problems during the payment of compensation.
The chief was, however, worried about lack of information in the past that created suspicions among the people and urged the new administration to involve the communities in issues relating to them.
The Manager of the Bui National Park, Mr B. Akonnor, warned some community leaders who had started felling trees in the reserve to desist from the practice as the law would deal with any community leader found culpable.
Mr Amissah-Arthur gave the assurance at Bui in the Tain District in the Brong Ahafo Region when he met the chiefs and people of the three affected communities yet to be resettled.
The communities are the Bui village, Bui Camp and Akanyakrom.
Mr Amissah-Arthur further gave assurance that his administration would continue with the Bui city component of the project as designed but was quick to add that this required huge capital.
He, however, indicated that the BPA would create the enabling environment for the private sector to participate in that component of the project.
Mr Amissah-Arthur said his administration would create an open-door policy with the affected communities and therefore urged them not to hesitate to clarify any issue concerning the project.
On the resettlement, Mr Amissah-Arthur said the final batch of resettlement would be in August next year and advised the affected communities to be in readiness.
He called on landowners in the area to submit their claims to the appropriate quarters as initially directed by the former CEO for studies, and assured all the communities that they would benefit from all facilities that their counterparts at the Jama resettlement camp were enjoying.
The CEO said although his administration welcomed the suggestion for an industry to be set up upon completion of the project to create employment in the affected communities, his outfit would extensively brainstorm on exercise with the inhabitants before taking any decision.
The chief of Bui, Nana Kwadwo Wuo II, who spoke on behalf of the three communities, commended the CEO for calling on them to seek their opinions and added that they were ready to cooperate with his administration to deliver the project as scheduled.
He appealed to the BPA to build the human resource capacity in the affected communities by way of instituting a scholarship scheme to assist the people to climb the educational ladder.
Nana Wuo II further called on the BPA to set up a committee to address various land ownership-related issues in the area to avoid future problems during the payment of compensation.
The chief was, however, worried about lack of information in the past that created suspicions among the people and urged the new administration to involve the communities in issues relating to them.
The Manager of the Bui National Park, Mr B. Akonnor, warned some community leaders who had started felling trees in the reserve to desist from the practice as the law would deal with any community leader found culpable.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
CONTRACTOR CHARGED FOR CAUSING FINANCIAL LOSS (PAGE 19)
A Wenchi-based electrical contractor who allegedly failed to construct a school block after collecting a cheque for GH¢25,000 has been arraigned before the Sunyani Circuit Court, charged with wilfully causing financial loss to the state.
The accused, Rahaman Mohammed, who is the Managing Director of M/SAA WACHAN Company Limited, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢30,000 with two sureties to be justified.
He would reappear before the court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwame Ohene Essel, on August 31, 2009.
The accused was said to have collected a GH¢25,000 cheque for the construction of a three-classroom kindergarten block at Kabrono in the Tain District in the Brong Ahafo Region, but failed to deliver on his promise.
The facts of the case, as presented by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Baba Moro, were that when the new Tain District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Jones Samuel Tawiah, assumed duty, he detected that certain contracts had been awarded to various contractors, but which had not been undertaken.
Mr Moro told the court that a prosecution witness in the case, Mr Francis Dongbetigr, the Tain District Director of Education, was on November 28, 2008 directed by the then Member of Parliament (MP) for Tain, Mr Joe Danquah, to release GH¢25,000 to the accused for the construction of a three-classroom kindergarten block at Kabrono in the Tain District.
The prosecutor said the cheque for the said project was released to the accused, who promised and assured the witness that the job would be completed in some few weeks.
Mr Moro said the job was not completed by the accused as promised and as a result a report was made to the police and he was arrested.
The prosecutor said in his caution statement to the police, the accused admitted he took the money but told investigators that the money was collected from him by Mr Joe Danquah and added that it was the former MP who started the project and sub-let the contract to him.
The accused, Rahaman Mohammed, who is the Managing Director of M/SAA WACHAN Company Limited, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢30,000 with two sureties to be justified.
He would reappear before the court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwame Ohene Essel, on August 31, 2009.
The accused was said to have collected a GH¢25,000 cheque for the construction of a three-classroom kindergarten block at Kabrono in the Tain District in the Brong Ahafo Region, but failed to deliver on his promise.
The facts of the case, as presented by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Baba Moro, were that when the new Tain District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Jones Samuel Tawiah, assumed duty, he detected that certain contracts had been awarded to various contractors, but which had not been undertaken.
Mr Moro told the court that a prosecution witness in the case, Mr Francis Dongbetigr, the Tain District Director of Education, was on November 28, 2008 directed by the then Member of Parliament (MP) for Tain, Mr Joe Danquah, to release GH¢25,000 to the accused for the construction of a three-classroom kindergarten block at Kabrono in the Tain District.
The prosecutor said the cheque for the said project was released to the accused, who promised and assured the witness that the job would be completed in some few weeks.
Mr Moro said the job was not completed by the accused as promised and as a result a report was made to the police and he was arrested.
The prosecutor said in his caution statement to the police, the accused admitted he took the money but told investigators that the money was collected from him by Mr Joe Danquah and added that it was the former MP who started the project and sub-let the contract to him.
Friday, August 14, 2009
GET INVOLVED IN CHILDREN'S EDUCATION (PAGE 11)
The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, has observed that quality education at the basic level could only be achieved when communities get involve in the education process of their children.
Communities, he said, must, therefore, be interested in what went into the teaching and learning and offer advice as to how pupils achievement should be improved.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah made the observation in an address read on his behalf by the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Education, Rev. Samuel A. Amankwa, at the 25th (silver jubilee) celebration of the establishment of the Holy Spirit Basic School at Fiapre in the Sunyani West District on the theme, “25 years of Holistic Quality Basic Education (Under the Guidance of The Holy Spirit)”.
The Director-General of the GES also noted that the success of the new educational reform depended on a committed teacher and therefore when we talk of quality education delivery the role of the teacher was paramount.
He said for teachers to be effective, they must be well-trained, motivated, have a decent work environment, good pay and an attractive career path and added that this summed up the issues that challenged the output of quality delivery in schools.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah, however, gave the assurance that the government would do all in its power to see to it that the children of this country got access to basic education.
He praised private sector participation in the education delivery in the country and said the Holy Spirit school, which was one of such schools in the country, was worthy of emulation.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah commended the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and the board of directors of the school who over the past 25 years had helped to raise the image of the school through the provision of infrastructure and ICT facilities, motivation of teachers and the award of prizes to both pupils and teachers.
He also congratulated the headmistress, staff, students and the entire community on the good work done and encouraged the pupils to learn hard to become future leaders of the country.
Sister (Sr) Cecilia Boateng, the headmistress of the school, said the school, which started with 25 children on May 28, 1984, had risen to 512 comprising 237 boys and 275 girls by the end of this academic year, adding that the school had also achieved the aims for which was established to offer a holistic, quality education towards the development of children in academic, social and moral formation.
She said the school had gained fame its academic laurels over the years and in each year candidates who were presented to sit for the Basic Education Certificate Education (BECE) came out with 100 per cent passes with most of them scoring aggregate six, saying the school had also won the Presidential Awards for the best student in the BECE on at least, two occasions for the region.
Sister Boateng said the school did not have adequate classrooms and could not admit more pupils. She, therefore, appealed for assistance from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to put up more classrooms, and also the Sunyani Municipal and Sunyani West district assemblies to help tar the access road leading to the school.
She expressed the school’s appreciation to all who had contributed in diverse ways to bring the school up to where it was today, especially the Fiapre Traditional Council, for donating the land on which the school is situated, the late and first Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, Most Rev. James Kwadwo Owusu, the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit, among others, for starting the school to help boost the educational quest in the young people of the area.
Communities, he said, must, therefore, be interested in what went into the teaching and learning and offer advice as to how pupils achievement should be improved.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah made the observation in an address read on his behalf by the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Education, Rev. Samuel A. Amankwa, at the 25th (silver jubilee) celebration of the establishment of the Holy Spirit Basic School at Fiapre in the Sunyani West District on the theme, “25 years of Holistic Quality Basic Education (Under the Guidance of The Holy Spirit)”.
The Director-General of the GES also noted that the success of the new educational reform depended on a committed teacher and therefore when we talk of quality education delivery the role of the teacher was paramount.
He said for teachers to be effective, they must be well-trained, motivated, have a decent work environment, good pay and an attractive career path and added that this summed up the issues that challenged the output of quality delivery in schools.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah, however, gave the assurance that the government would do all in its power to see to it that the children of this country got access to basic education.
He praised private sector participation in the education delivery in the country and said the Holy Spirit school, which was one of such schools in the country, was worthy of emulation.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah commended the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and the board of directors of the school who over the past 25 years had helped to raise the image of the school through the provision of infrastructure and ICT facilities, motivation of teachers and the award of prizes to both pupils and teachers.
He also congratulated the headmistress, staff, students and the entire community on the good work done and encouraged the pupils to learn hard to become future leaders of the country.
Sister (Sr) Cecilia Boateng, the headmistress of the school, said the school, which started with 25 children on May 28, 1984, had risen to 512 comprising 237 boys and 275 girls by the end of this academic year, adding that the school had also achieved the aims for which was established to offer a holistic, quality education towards the development of children in academic, social and moral formation.
She said the school had gained fame its academic laurels over the years and in each year candidates who were presented to sit for the Basic Education Certificate Education (BECE) came out with 100 per cent passes with most of them scoring aggregate six, saying the school had also won the Presidential Awards for the best student in the BECE on at least, two occasions for the region.
Sister Boateng said the school did not have adequate classrooms and could not admit more pupils. She, therefore, appealed for assistance from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to put up more classrooms, and also the Sunyani Municipal and Sunyani West district assemblies to help tar the access road leading to the school.
She expressed the school’s appreciation to all who had contributed in diverse ways to bring the school up to where it was today, especially the Fiapre Traditional Council, for donating the land on which the school is situated, the late and first Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, Most Rev. James Kwadwo Owusu, the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit, among others, for starting the school to help boost the educational quest in the young people of the area.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
FARMER REMANDED OVER NEPHEW'S DEATH (MIRROR, PAGE 24)
From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
The Sunyani Magistrate Court has remanded into prison custody a farmer who allegedly beheaded his 16-year-old nephew at his farm at Yawmankra near Derma in the Tano South District in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Naa Sabuge, said to be in his 20s, was charged with murder. His plea was not taken.
The facts of the case as presented in court by Chief Inspector Kingsley Baafi were that, on July 27, 2009, the accused, who lived at Yawmankra near Derma accompanied some friends to one Sadodo’s farm to work.
The prosecutor told the court that on his return home, he realised that his wife had left the house for an unknown destination without his knowledge, and the accused who was then annoyed started searching for his wife.
Chief Inspector Baafi said the accused then traced Pavil Francis, 16, his brothers’ son to his farm and on seeing him, he enquired from him whether he had seen his wife, but Francis replied in the negative.
He said the accused insisted that he (Francis) knew where his wife was and the accused who was armed with a machete started inflicting wounds on the boy, killing him in the process.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused who was not still satisfied with his barbaric act, decapitated the deceased and buried the body in the farm while he left the head under a palm tree and went home.
On reaching home, the accused started feeling uneasy and therefore, reported what he had done to the assembly member for the Nsuta Electoral Area, near Derma, Mr Bakiyiri Yaw Mark, who also informed the police.
Chief Inspector Baafi said when the police and the assembly man got to the farm, the body of the deceased was exhumed while the decapitated head was retrieved.
He said the accused later led the police to where he had hidden the murder weapon, which the police took for evidential purposes.
He said the body of the boy had been deposited at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani awaiting autopsy while Police investigations still continue.
The Sunyani Magistrate Court has remanded into prison custody a farmer who allegedly beheaded his 16-year-old nephew at his farm at Yawmankra near Derma in the Tano South District in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Naa Sabuge, said to be in his 20s, was charged with murder. His plea was not taken.
The facts of the case as presented in court by Chief Inspector Kingsley Baafi were that, on July 27, 2009, the accused, who lived at Yawmankra near Derma accompanied some friends to one Sadodo’s farm to work.
The prosecutor told the court that on his return home, he realised that his wife had left the house for an unknown destination without his knowledge, and the accused who was then annoyed started searching for his wife.
Chief Inspector Baafi said the accused then traced Pavil Francis, 16, his brothers’ son to his farm and on seeing him, he enquired from him whether he had seen his wife, but Francis replied in the negative.
He said the accused insisted that he (Francis) knew where his wife was and the accused who was armed with a machete started inflicting wounds on the boy, killing him in the process.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused who was not still satisfied with his barbaric act, decapitated the deceased and buried the body in the farm while he left the head under a palm tree and went home.
On reaching home, the accused started feeling uneasy and therefore, reported what he had done to the assembly member for the Nsuta Electoral Area, near Derma, Mr Bakiyiri Yaw Mark, who also informed the police.
Chief Inspector Baafi said when the police and the assembly man got to the farm, the body of the deceased was exhumed while the decapitated head was retrieved.
He said the accused later led the police to where he had hidden the murder weapon, which the police took for evidential purposes.
He said the body of the boy had been deposited at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani awaiting autopsy while Police investigations still continue.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
MISS GHANA ROADSHOWS AT SUNYANI, KUMASI (SHOWBIZ, PAGE 7)
By Samuel Duodu
A well-rehearsed choreography by the 11 contestants in the beauty segment got the Brong Ahafo region edition of this year’s Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship event underway at the Sunyani Polytechnic Auditorium last Friday.
Also, there were two hiplife artistes, Bosiako and Quata but it was the latter who livened up the auditorium with his hit song Pretty Face. It received a lot of applause and cheers from the audience, some of whom got out of their seats to boogie down.
The dance contest also brought on some wild laughter as most of the audience shouted out ‘old man’ ‘this one he grow’ apparently at one of the contestants whom they claimed seemed too old for the dance competition.
At the end of the two rounds of the dance contest, Adjei Williams took the first position while Clement Hammond and Robert Makosa Jr placed second and third respectively. Williams and Hammond would represent the region at the national final in September.
In the beauty segment, Erica Maria Awini, a 20 -year -old student of the University of Ghana, Legon, Owusuaa Sekyere Racheal, a 22-year- old student of the Central University College, Accra and Gifty Senam Gedu-Mensah, a 23-year-old national service personnel, stood tall as they beat seven other contestants to move to the next stage of the contest. The public will now vote for two of them for the chance to compete in the Miss Ghana final event in Accra.
The District Chief Executive for Nkoranza North, Kwadwo Agyei-Dwomo, was at the event.
The Miss Ghana and National Dance Chamionship roadshow stopped over at Hotel Georgia in Kumasi last Saturday and according to Nii Kwei Danso, one of the contestants in the beauty segment learnt the hard way that the pageant is not for the faint-hearted when she could not answer a question from one of the judges and came face to face with embarrassment.
“Do you believe in superstition? Give reasons for your answer” was the question. The contestant, who seemed very nervous and confused, stood there holding her hair with her left hand and when the audience burst out laughing, she walked off the stage to loud applause from the crowd.
In the keenly contested dance segment, where the judges gave marks for costume, stagecraft, fluidity and creativity, Eric Ansuade and Robert Makosa Jr were selected to represent the Ashanti region at the national final.
Eight beauties contested for the two available spots in the final. However, Evelyn Acheampong, Ewura Ama Kusi and Obaahemaa Nana Yaa Kyeraa were chosen, out of which two would be selected via text messaging to 1443 on all networks. Two music acts, Lazy Dog and Bradez spiced the evening with some songs from their albums.
The Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship is organised by Media Whizz Kids and sponsored by PHC Motors, Labadi Beach Hotel, Westafco Gh. Ltd and Somovision. Donors include Club Beer, Bonaqua, ATL, Forever Clair Skin and Beauty Clinic, Buck Press, Trendsetters, Danny’s Decoration, Sound Check, DDP, Prosline Gh. Limited, Forever Easy and Danny’s Bridal Home.
A well-rehearsed choreography by the 11 contestants in the beauty segment got the Brong Ahafo region edition of this year’s Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship event underway at the Sunyani Polytechnic Auditorium last Friday.
Also, there were two hiplife artistes, Bosiako and Quata but it was the latter who livened up the auditorium with his hit song Pretty Face. It received a lot of applause and cheers from the audience, some of whom got out of their seats to boogie down.
The dance contest also brought on some wild laughter as most of the audience shouted out ‘old man’ ‘this one he grow’ apparently at one of the contestants whom they claimed seemed too old for the dance competition.
At the end of the two rounds of the dance contest, Adjei Williams took the first position while Clement Hammond and Robert Makosa Jr placed second and third respectively. Williams and Hammond would represent the region at the national final in September.
In the beauty segment, Erica Maria Awini, a 20 -year -old student of the University of Ghana, Legon, Owusuaa Sekyere Racheal, a 22-year- old student of the Central University College, Accra and Gifty Senam Gedu-Mensah, a 23-year-old national service personnel, stood tall as they beat seven other contestants to move to the next stage of the contest. The public will now vote for two of them for the chance to compete in the Miss Ghana final event in Accra.
The District Chief Executive for Nkoranza North, Kwadwo Agyei-Dwomo, was at the event.
The Miss Ghana and National Dance Chamionship roadshow stopped over at Hotel Georgia in Kumasi last Saturday and according to Nii Kwei Danso, one of the contestants in the beauty segment learnt the hard way that the pageant is not for the faint-hearted when she could not answer a question from one of the judges and came face to face with embarrassment.
“Do you believe in superstition? Give reasons for your answer” was the question. The contestant, who seemed very nervous and confused, stood there holding her hair with her left hand and when the audience burst out laughing, she walked off the stage to loud applause from the crowd.
In the keenly contested dance segment, where the judges gave marks for costume, stagecraft, fluidity and creativity, Eric Ansuade and Robert Makosa Jr were selected to represent the Ashanti region at the national final.
Eight beauties contested for the two available spots in the final. However, Evelyn Acheampong, Ewura Ama Kusi and Obaahemaa Nana Yaa Kyeraa were chosen, out of which two would be selected via text messaging to 1443 on all networks. Two music acts, Lazy Dog and Bradez spiced the evening with some songs from their albums.
The Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship is organised by Media Whizz Kids and sponsored by PHC Motors, Labadi Beach Hotel, Westafco Gh. Ltd and Somovision. Donors include Club Beer, Bonaqua, ATL, Forever Clair Skin and Beauty Clinic, Buck Press, Trendsetters, Danny’s Decoration, Sound Check, DDP, Prosline Gh. Limited, Forever Easy and Danny’s Bridal Home.
MISS GHANA ROADSHOWS AT SUNYANI, KUMASI (SHOWBIZ, PAGE 7)
By Samuel Duodu
A well-rehearsed choreography by the 11 contestants in the beauty segment got the Brong Ahafo region edition of this year’s Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship event underway at the Sunyani Polytechnic Auditorium last Friday.
Also, there were two hiplife artistes, Bosiako and Quata but it was the latter who livened up the auditorium with his hit song Pretty Face. It received a lot of applause and cheers from the audience, some of whom got out of their seats to boogie down.
The dance contest also brought on some wild laughter as most of the audience shouted out ‘old man’ ‘this one he grow’ apparently at one of the contestants whom they claimed seemed too old for the dance competition.
At the end of the two rounds of the dance contest, Adjei Williams took the first position while Clement Hammond and Robert Makosa Jr placed second and third respectively. Williams and Hammond would represent the region at the national final in September.
In the beauty segment, Erica Maria Awini, a 20 -year -old student of the University of Ghana, Legon, Owusuaa Sekyere Racheal, a 22-year- old student of the Central University College, Accra and Gifty Senam Gedu-Mensah, a 23-year-old national service personnel, stood tall as they beat seven other contestants to move to the next stage of the contest. The public will now vote for two of them for the chance to compete in the Miss Ghana final event in Accra.
The District Chief Executive for Nkoranza North, Kwadwo Agyei-Dwomo, was at the event.
The Miss Ghana and National Dance Chamionship roadshow stopped over at Hotel Georgia in Kumasi last Saturday and according to Nii Kwei Danso, one of the contestants in the beauty segment learnt the hard way that the pageant is not for the faint-hearted when she could not answer a question from one of the judges and came face to face with embarrassment.
“Do you believe in superstition? Give reasons for your answer” was the question. The contestant, who seemed very nervous and confused, stood there holding her hair with her left hand and when the audience burst out laughing, she walked off the stage to loud applause from the crowd.
In the keenly contested dance segment, where the judges gave marks for costume, stagecraft, fluidity and creativity, Eric Ansuade and Robert Makosa Jr were selected to represent the Ashanti region at the national final.
Eight beauties contested for the two available spots in the final. However, Evelyn Acheampong, Ewura Ama Kusi and Obaahemaa Nana Yaa Kyeraa were chosen, out of which two would be selected via text messaging to 1443 on all networks. Two music acts, Lazy Dog and Bradez spiced the evening with some songs from their albums.
The Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship is organised by Media Whizz Kids and sponsored by PHC Motors, Labadi Beach Hotel, Westafco Gh. Ltd and Somovision. Donors include Club Beer, Bonaqua, ATL, Forever Clair Skin and Beauty Clinic, Buck Press, Trendsetters, Danny’s Decoration, Sound Check, DDP, Prosline Gh. Limited, Forever Easy and Danny’s Bridal Home.
A well-rehearsed choreography by the 11 contestants in the beauty segment got the Brong Ahafo region edition of this year’s Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship event underway at the Sunyani Polytechnic Auditorium last Friday.
Also, there were two hiplife artistes, Bosiako and Quata but it was the latter who livened up the auditorium with his hit song Pretty Face. It received a lot of applause and cheers from the audience, some of whom got out of their seats to boogie down.
The dance contest also brought on some wild laughter as most of the audience shouted out ‘old man’ ‘this one he grow’ apparently at one of the contestants whom they claimed seemed too old for the dance competition.
At the end of the two rounds of the dance contest, Adjei Williams took the first position while Clement Hammond and Robert Makosa Jr placed second and third respectively. Williams and Hammond would represent the region at the national final in September.
In the beauty segment, Erica Maria Awini, a 20 -year -old student of the University of Ghana, Legon, Owusuaa Sekyere Racheal, a 22-year- old student of the Central University College, Accra and Gifty Senam Gedu-Mensah, a 23-year-old national service personnel, stood tall as they beat seven other contestants to move to the next stage of the contest. The public will now vote for two of them for the chance to compete in the Miss Ghana final event in Accra.
The District Chief Executive for Nkoranza North, Kwadwo Agyei-Dwomo, was at the event.
The Miss Ghana and National Dance Chamionship roadshow stopped over at Hotel Georgia in Kumasi last Saturday and according to Nii Kwei Danso, one of the contestants in the beauty segment learnt the hard way that the pageant is not for the faint-hearted when she could not answer a question from one of the judges and came face to face with embarrassment.
“Do you believe in superstition? Give reasons for your answer” was the question. The contestant, who seemed very nervous and confused, stood there holding her hair with her left hand and when the audience burst out laughing, she walked off the stage to loud applause from the crowd.
In the keenly contested dance segment, where the judges gave marks for costume, stagecraft, fluidity and creativity, Eric Ansuade and Robert Makosa Jr were selected to represent the Ashanti region at the national final.
Eight beauties contested for the two available spots in the final. However, Evelyn Acheampong, Ewura Ama Kusi and Obaahemaa Nana Yaa Kyeraa were chosen, out of which two would be selected via text messaging to 1443 on all networks. Two music acts, Lazy Dog and Bradez spiced the evening with some songs from their albums.
The Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship is organised by Media Whizz Kids and sponsored by PHC Motors, Labadi Beach Hotel, Westafco Gh. Ltd and Somovision. Donors include Club Beer, Bonaqua, ATL, Forever Clair Skin and Beauty Clinic, Buck Press, Trendsetters, Danny’s Decoration, Sound Check, DDP, Prosline Gh. Limited, Forever Easy and Danny’s Bridal Home.
Monday, August 10, 2009
ASSEMBLIES IN BA OWE GH¢12,463,974.31 (PAGE 15)
ALMOST all the 22 Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the Brong Ahafo Region are indebted to the tune of GH¢12,463,974.31.
Topmost on the list is the Asunafo South District Assembly which owes GH¢1,469,693.29, followed by Sene-GH¢1,265,898.17,’ Pru-GH¢1,175,920.02; Wenchi-GH¢1,155,462.74; Asunafo North-GH¢855,404.08; Jaman North-GH¢779,058.81; Tain-GH¢696,049.85; Jaman South-GH¢687,807; Nkoranza North-GH¢612,630.31 and Sunyani West-Gh¢533.676.93.
The rest are Dormaa Municipal-GH¢499.908.39; Asutifi-GH¢480,961.61; Atebubu-Amantin—GH¢444,083.80; Sunyani Municipal-GH¢441,465.32; Techiman Municipal-GH¢381,026.59; Tano South-GH¢344,993.12; Kintampo Municipal-GH¢325,530.04; Tano North-GH¢233,306.37; Berekum Municipal-GH¢51,467 and Dormaa East District-GH¢29,630.87.
The Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, who made this known at the first ordinary meeting of the Sene District Assembly at Kwame Danso, said the debt stock of the assemblies kept on changing almost every day because records were not properly maintained.
He, however, commended the Kintampo South District and Nkoranza South Municipal assemblies for not incurring any debt and gave the assurance that almost all the projects it had awarded on contract were paid for before the new administration came into office.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo expressed grave concerns about the situation, adding that most of the assemblies might not be able to redeem the debts in the first four-year term of office of the new administration.
He explained that the debts came about as a result of the numerous projects awarded by the MDAs in the region, some of which had begun while others, which had been paid for were yet to take off.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, therefore, urged the assemblies to critically examine all the projects that had been awarded on contract and complete those that impacted on the living conditions of the people before they initiated new ones.
The regional minister also commended the assembly members for the way they conducted themselves when it came to the confirmation of their District Chief Executive (DCE).
He, therefore, urged them to continue in that manner to speed up the development of the district.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo implored the DCE to ensure that all the electoral areas in the district had their fair share of development projects to enable the assembly members to seek for re-election.
He also gave the assurance that the government would construct the Kwame Danso-Atebubu road by the close of next year.
The Sene DCE, Mr Dominic Napare, reiterated his commitment to execute pragmatic policies and programmes that would lead to a remarkable improvement in the living conditions of the people.
He said he would collaborate with the Regional Co-ordinating Council to improve upon the general livelihood of the people in the district with emphasis on tarring the Atebubu-Kojokrom trunk road and opening of the district through the construction of more feeder roads, expansion of infrastructure in education, health and agriculture.
Mr Napare said for the purpose of running a transparent administration, he would institute a programme dubbed: “I Care for you”, an annual forum that would involve assembly members, heads of department, chiefs and opinion leaders, among others.
He said during the programme, budget estimates, projects and programmes of the assembly would be outlined to the people for them to make their inputs while the others would be an end-of-year performance review meeting where the preformance of the assembly would be appraised.
Topmost on the list is the Asunafo South District Assembly which owes GH¢1,469,693.29, followed by Sene-GH¢1,265,898.17,’ Pru-GH¢1,175,920.02; Wenchi-GH¢1,155,462.74; Asunafo North-GH¢855,404.08; Jaman North-GH¢779,058.81; Tain-GH¢696,049.85; Jaman South-GH¢687,807; Nkoranza North-GH¢612,630.31 and Sunyani West-Gh¢533.676.93.
The rest are Dormaa Municipal-GH¢499.908.39; Asutifi-GH¢480,961.61; Atebubu-Amantin—GH¢444,083.80; Sunyani Municipal-GH¢441,465.32; Techiman Municipal-GH¢381,026.59; Tano South-GH¢344,993.12; Kintampo Municipal-GH¢325,530.04; Tano North-GH¢233,306.37; Berekum Municipal-GH¢51,467 and Dormaa East District-GH¢29,630.87.
The Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, who made this known at the first ordinary meeting of the Sene District Assembly at Kwame Danso, said the debt stock of the assemblies kept on changing almost every day because records were not properly maintained.
He, however, commended the Kintampo South District and Nkoranza South Municipal assemblies for not incurring any debt and gave the assurance that almost all the projects it had awarded on contract were paid for before the new administration came into office.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo expressed grave concerns about the situation, adding that most of the assemblies might not be able to redeem the debts in the first four-year term of office of the new administration.
He explained that the debts came about as a result of the numerous projects awarded by the MDAs in the region, some of which had begun while others, which had been paid for were yet to take off.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, therefore, urged the assemblies to critically examine all the projects that had been awarded on contract and complete those that impacted on the living conditions of the people before they initiated new ones.
The regional minister also commended the assembly members for the way they conducted themselves when it came to the confirmation of their District Chief Executive (DCE).
He, therefore, urged them to continue in that manner to speed up the development of the district.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo implored the DCE to ensure that all the electoral areas in the district had their fair share of development projects to enable the assembly members to seek for re-election.
He also gave the assurance that the government would construct the Kwame Danso-Atebubu road by the close of next year.
The Sene DCE, Mr Dominic Napare, reiterated his commitment to execute pragmatic policies and programmes that would lead to a remarkable improvement in the living conditions of the people.
He said he would collaborate with the Regional Co-ordinating Council to improve upon the general livelihood of the people in the district with emphasis on tarring the Atebubu-Kojokrom trunk road and opening of the district through the construction of more feeder roads, expansion of infrastructure in education, health and agriculture.
Mr Napare said for the purpose of running a transparent administration, he would institute a programme dubbed: “I Care for you”, an annual forum that would involve assembly members, heads of department, chiefs and opinion leaders, among others.
He said during the programme, budget estimates, projects and programmes of the assembly would be outlined to the people for them to make their inputs while the others would be an end-of-year performance review meeting where the preformance of the assembly would be appraised.
ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACING RURAL SCHOOLCHILDREN (PAGE 11)
THE Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, has urged the government to do more to address the challenges schoolchildren face in rural areas to ensure quality education for all children in the country.
He said many schools in the rural areas lacked modern infrastructure, trained teachers and learning materials and, therefore, the government must address the situation now in order to secure the future of the nation.
“If you go to the rural areas schoolchildren still have classes under trees, while others attend school under deplorable structures, without teachers and learning materials,” he lamented.
Most Rev. Gyamfi, therefore, urged the government not to put impediments in the way of churches that are assisting in the provision of quality education. he also encouraged the churches to go to such deprived communities to set up schools as a way of complementing government’s efforts.
He was speaking at the first opening day and graduation ceremony of the Sacred Heart Basic School at Penkwase, a suburb of Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital.
The school was established 26 years ago by the Sunyani Catholic Diocese as a public school to serve the educational needs of the people of Penkwase, Low Cost and New Dormaa, thanks to the Franciscan Friars, a group in the Catholic Church under the auspices of Rev. Fr Martino Corazzin. The Friars had helped to provide the school with modern infrastructure as well as teaching and learning materials to enable the school to compete effectively with other schools in the big towns and cities in the country.
Most Rev. Gyamfi urged parents to take centre stage in the education of their children by providing them with all that they needed to enable them to concentrate on their studies.
He further pledged that the Catholic Church would continue to complement the governments’ efforts to provide quality education for all children in the country.
In an address read on behalf of the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Education, Mr Samuel A. Amankwa also commended the Catholic Church for complementing the efforts of the government in the delivery of quality education in the country.
He called on teachers to continue to offer their best and eschew negative practices such as lateness to work, absenteeism and drunkeness, since they served as role models for their pupils and the communities they taught.
Mr Nat Dzadey, the Deputy Brong Regional Coordinating Director, who represented the Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, said the government was committed to improving salaries and conditions of service of teachers in the country and had, therefore, given a 20 per cent incentive to teachers who accept postings to the rural areas.
He also gave the assurance that the government would continue to provide infrastructure and post trained teachers to public schools in the region.
Madam Krapah Gyasi, the Headmistress of the school, said the school had won several awards, including the second prize of the National Coca-Cola Essay Writing Competition and it ranked the 28th in Academic Excellence category award of the 2nd National Basic Education Award organised by Ayekoo Excellence Foundation.
She said discipline and academic excellence would continue to be the hallmark of the school and commended the teachers for their hard work.
In all, 89 students of the school who wrote this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and graduated were presented with certificates, while those who excelled academically were presented with prizes.
He said many schools in the rural areas lacked modern infrastructure, trained teachers and learning materials and, therefore, the government must address the situation now in order to secure the future of the nation.
“If you go to the rural areas schoolchildren still have classes under trees, while others attend school under deplorable structures, without teachers and learning materials,” he lamented.
Most Rev. Gyamfi, therefore, urged the government not to put impediments in the way of churches that are assisting in the provision of quality education. he also encouraged the churches to go to such deprived communities to set up schools as a way of complementing government’s efforts.
He was speaking at the first opening day and graduation ceremony of the Sacred Heart Basic School at Penkwase, a suburb of Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital.
The school was established 26 years ago by the Sunyani Catholic Diocese as a public school to serve the educational needs of the people of Penkwase, Low Cost and New Dormaa, thanks to the Franciscan Friars, a group in the Catholic Church under the auspices of Rev. Fr Martino Corazzin. The Friars had helped to provide the school with modern infrastructure as well as teaching and learning materials to enable the school to compete effectively with other schools in the big towns and cities in the country.
Most Rev. Gyamfi urged parents to take centre stage in the education of their children by providing them with all that they needed to enable them to concentrate on their studies.
He further pledged that the Catholic Church would continue to complement the governments’ efforts to provide quality education for all children in the country.
In an address read on behalf of the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Education, Mr Samuel A. Amankwa also commended the Catholic Church for complementing the efforts of the government in the delivery of quality education in the country.
He called on teachers to continue to offer their best and eschew negative practices such as lateness to work, absenteeism and drunkeness, since they served as role models for their pupils and the communities they taught.
Mr Nat Dzadey, the Deputy Brong Regional Coordinating Director, who represented the Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, said the government was committed to improving salaries and conditions of service of teachers in the country and had, therefore, given a 20 per cent incentive to teachers who accept postings to the rural areas.
He also gave the assurance that the government would continue to provide infrastructure and post trained teachers to public schools in the region.
Madam Krapah Gyasi, the Headmistress of the school, said the school had won several awards, including the second prize of the National Coca-Cola Essay Writing Competition and it ranked the 28th in Academic Excellence category award of the 2nd National Basic Education Award organised by Ayekoo Excellence Foundation.
She said discipline and academic excellence would continue to be the hallmark of the school and commended the teachers for their hard work.
In all, 89 students of the school who wrote this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and graduated were presented with certificates, while those who excelled academically were presented with prizes.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
EXTORTION: POLICE HUNT FOR DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (PAGE 23)
THE Atebubu-Amantin District Police Command has launched a man-hunt for the District Director of Education Lucas Nsekisi-Nim for allegedly extorting GH¢100 each from 52 newly recruited untrained teachers in the district.
According to the police, Nsekisi-Nim left his duty post when the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Sanja Nanja made a report on the alleged extortion to the police.
The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr John Adusei, confirmed the story to the Daily Graphic at Atebubu.
He said when he detailed a detective to invite the suspect to the police station to write a statement, he was told that he had left for Accra .
When the Daily Graphic contacted the DCE on the issue, he stated that when he made the report to the police on August 5, this year, for Nsekisi-Nim’s arrest, he had information that the suspect had left for Yeji, the Pru District capital to catch a ferry to cross the Volta Lake to his home town.
Briefing newsmen at Atebubu on the case, Mr Nanja said he received information that the District Director of Education had demanded GH¢150 each from the 52 newly recruited untrained teachers after handing over their appointment letters to them.
He said the district recruited 65 pupil teachers but 52 of them went to the Amanten and Atebubu where they were directed by the District Director to open accounts where their salaries of GH¢140 each would be paid into.
Mr Nanja further stated that apart from demanding GH¢150 from the 52 pupil teachers, the district director also back-dated their appointment letters to February, 2009 whereas they received their appointment letters in April, 2009.
He said initially the District director demanded GH¢150 from each of the 52 pupil teachers, but they pleaded with him that they could afford GH¢100, but he insisted that if they could not pay the money, then they would forfeit their one month salary of GH¢140 each.
Mr Nanja said when the teachers collected their salaries, each of them decided to give the district director GH¢100 but he refused and insisted on the GH¢140 each which was the full nine month’s salary.
He said 18 out of the 52 teachers later went to the District Director’s office and paid the GH¢100 each to his messenger who he had authorised to collect the money on his behalf.
According to the DCE, he later had information about the extortion and invited the messenger to find out whether the director actually asked him to collect the money for him and he confirmed it.
Mr Nanja said he was in his office when the district director returned the money which was in a brief case to him to be given back to the teachers but he refused.
He added that the district director again came to his office in the company of another man to plead on his behalf, but he refused.
Mr Nanja said he, therefore, made a report to the police who invited the suspect for his statement but he was later told that he had left Atebubu for his hometown across the Volta Lake.
Efforts to get Mr Nsekisi-Nim for his side of the story proved futile as he refused to pick the call on his mobile phone and later switched off the phone.
According to the police, Nsekisi-Nim left his duty post when the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Sanja Nanja made a report on the alleged extortion to the police.
The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr John Adusei, confirmed the story to the Daily Graphic at Atebubu.
He said when he detailed a detective to invite the suspect to the police station to write a statement, he was told that he had left for Accra .
When the Daily Graphic contacted the DCE on the issue, he stated that when he made the report to the police on August 5, this year, for Nsekisi-Nim’s arrest, he had information that the suspect had left for Yeji, the Pru District capital to catch a ferry to cross the Volta Lake to his home town.
Briefing newsmen at Atebubu on the case, Mr Nanja said he received information that the District Director of Education had demanded GH¢150 each from the 52 newly recruited untrained teachers after handing over their appointment letters to them.
He said the district recruited 65 pupil teachers but 52 of them went to the Amanten and Atebubu where they were directed by the District Director to open accounts where their salaries of GH¢140 each would be paid into.
Mr Nanja further stated that apart from demanding GH¢150 from the 52 pupil teachers, the district director also back-dated their appointment letters to February, 2009 whereas they received their appointment letters in April, 2009.
He said initially the District director demanded GH¢150 from each of the 52 pupil teachers, but they pleaded with him that they could afford GH¢100, but he insisted that if they could not pay the money, then they would forfeit their one month salary of GH¢140 each.
Mr Nanja said when the teachers collected their salaries, each of them decided to give the district director GH¢100 but he refused and insisted on the GH¢140 each which was the full nine month’s salary.
He said 18 out of the 52 teachers later went to the District Director’s office and paid the GH¢100 each to his messenger who he had authorised to collect the money on his behalf.
According to the DCE, he later had information about the extortion and invited the messenger to find out whether the director actually asked him to collect the money for him and he confirmed it.
Mr Nanja said he was in his office when the district director returned the money which was in a brief case to him to be given back to the teachers but he refused.
He added that the district director again came to his office in the company of another man to plead on his behalf, but he refused.
Mr Nanja said he, therefore, made a report to the police who invited the suspect for his statement but he was later told that he had left Atebubu for his hometown across the Volta Lake.
Efforts to get Mr Nsekisi-Nim for his side of the story proved futile as he refused to pick the call on his mobile phone and later switched off the phone.
Friday, August 7, 2009
FUND FOR NEEDY STUDENTS IN ASUTIFI (PAGE 11)
THE Asutifi District Assembly in the Brong Ahafo Region is to establish an educational endowment fund by the close of the year to cater for needy students in the district to enable them to pursue further education.
The fund, to be known as the Asutifi Educational Endowment Fund, will be managed by a board of directors with two representatives from among the management and members of the assembly.
The Asutifi District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Eric Addae, said this at its first ordinary meeting at Kenyasi, the district capital.
He said the assembly would provide the seed money to set up the fund, while contractors working in the district would also be required to pay 0.5 per cent of their contract sum into the fund.
Besides, development partners such as Nananom, Newmont Gold Ghana Limited (NGGL), operators of the Ahafo Mine at Kenyasi, organisations and philanthropists would also be made to contribute to the fund.
Mr Addae noted that the establishment of the fund had been necessitated by the numerous appeals to the assembly for support from students in the district to enable them to further their education.
“Since my assumption of duty, my office has been flooded with personal appeals and formal applications for support of some kind from students to pursue further education and, having critically examined the situation, there is the need to set up the fund,” he stressed.
He said currently there were three schools in the district benefiting from the School Feeding Programme, namely, Muoho Anglican, Nkrankrom Methodist and Manhyia Primary, adding that the assembly was working assiduously for the expansion of the programme to enable more schools to benefit from it.
He announced that the assembly had, as of the end of June 2009, generated GH¢224,376.23 internally from property rates, fees, fines, among others, noting that plans were afoot to rake in more revenue locally to help the assembly to meet its development agenda.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, in his address, commended the assembly for taking the decision to establish an educational fund to support students from the district to pursue higher education.
He noted that 10,751 teachers out of the total of 21,554 from kindergarten up to the teacher training college level in the region were untrained.
He, therefore, tasked the various municipal and district assemblies in the region to sponsor more students to teacher training colleges to take up teaching appointments at the basic level of education across the region to help reverse the trend and also help get more students from the region to tertiary institutions.
He added that the assemblies that would sponsor students from their various areas of jurisdiction to the training colleges should bond the beneficiaries so that they would come back to serve in their communities after completion.
The fund, to be known as the Asutifi Educational Endowment Fund, will be managed by a board of directors with two representatives from among the management and members of the assembly.
The Asutifi District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Eric Addae, said this at its first ordinary meeting at Kenyasi, the district capital.
He said the assembly would provide the seed money to set up the fund, while contractors working in the district would also be required to pay 0.5 per cent of their contract sum into the fund.
Besides, development partners such as Nananom, Newmont Gold Ghana Limited (NGGL), operators of the Ahafo Mine at Kenyasi, organisations and philanthropists would also be made to contribute to the fund.
Mr Addae noted that the establishment of the fund had been necessitated by the numerous appeals to the assembly for support from students in the district to enable them to further their education.
“Since my assumption of duty, my office has been flooded with personal appeals and formal applications for support of some kind from students to pursue further education and, having critically examined the situation, there is the need to set up the fund,” he stressed.
He said currently there were three schools in the district benefiting from the School Feeding Programme, namely, Muoho Anglican, Nkrankrom Methodist and Manhyia Primary, adding that the assembly was working assiduously for the expansion of the programme to enable more schools to benefit from it.
He announced that the assembly had, as of the end of June 2009, generated GH¢224,376.23 internally from property rates, fees, fines, among others, noting that plans were afoot to rake in more revenue locally to help the assembly to meet its development agenda.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, in his address, commended the assembly for taking the decision to establish an educational fund to support students from the district to pursue higher education.
He noted that 10,751 teachers out of the total of 21,554 from kindergarten up to the teacher training college level in the region were untrained.
He, therefore, tasked the various municipal and district assemblies in the region to sponsor more students to teacher training colleges to take up teaching appointments at the basic level of education across the region to help reverse the trend and also help get more students from the region to tertiary institutions.
He added that the assemblies that would sponsor students from their various areas of jurisdiction to the training colleges should bond the beneficiaries so that they would come back to serve in their communities after completion.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
TECHIMANHENE APPEALS TO PREZ TO COMPLETE MARKET (PAGE 16)
THE Omanhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, has appealed to President J.E.A. Mills and his government to complete the Techiman market project, which was started by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government under former President J.J. Rawlings in the 1990s.
According to him, since the exit of the NDC from the political scene, the project has been discontinued and it would be prudent for an NDC-led government of Prof. Mills to complete the project, saying there was this Akan adage that “Adwuma sini nni akatua,” which means that “ uncompleted work does not get rewarded”.
Nana Ameyaw made the appeal at a durbar of chiefs and people of Techiman at the Methodist School Park to welcome President Mills as part of his just-ended three-day tour to the Brong Ahafo Region.
According to the Techimanhene, the Techiman market is reputed to be one of the biggest in the sub-region and the commercial hub in Brong Ahafo Region.
He said the market was used by traders from places like Mali, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire and therefore needed to be developed to meet challenges.
Nana Ameyaw, on behalf of the chiefs and people, also appealed to President Mills to consider the construction of Police Barracks for Techiman as a matter of urgency.
This, he said, would enable the police administration to post more personnel to the area to help deal with the high crime wave in the municipality.
He noted that as a result of the market and large presence of financial institutions, armed robbers, as well as notorious gangsters, had made the area a target and constantly robbed traders of their monies and other valuables.
The Techimanhene said in 2001/2002, the traditional council decided to construct police barracks but after the foundation was laid the project was halted for lack of funds.
Nana Akumfi Ameyaw called on the government to help complete barracks and construct a municipal court complex since currently they were using a small section of the traditional council premises as the Techiman Circuit Court.
Nana Ameyaw further appealed for the reshaping and tarring of the Tuobodom –Offuman road, which has become a death trap.
He called for the rehabilitation of the bridge on that stretch of road to enable farmers in the area to cart their produce to the marketing centres.
The Techimanhene, on behalf of the traditional council and people, thanked President Mills for his visit and expressed the hope that their requests would be granted.
He also used the occasion to appeal to Ghanaians to exercise restraint for the government for very soon they would begin to enjoy the fruits of the pragmatic policies and programmes being put in place to the government.
According to him, since the exit of the NDC from the political scene, the project has been discontinued and it would be prudent for an NDC-led government of Prof. Mills to complete the project, saying there was this Akan adage that “Adwuma sini nni akatua,” which means that “ uncompleted work does not get rewarded”.
Nana Ameyaw made the appeal at a durbar of chiefs and people of Techiman at the Methodist School Park to welcome President Mills as part of his just-ended three-day tour to the Brong Ahafo Region.
According to the Techimanhene, the Techiman market is reputed to be one of the biggest in the sub-region and the commercial hub in Brong Ahafo Region.
He said the market was used by traders from places like Mali, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire and therefore needed to be developed to meet challenges.
Nana Ameyaw, on behalf of the chiefs and people, also appealed to President Mills to consider the construction of Police Barracks for Techiman as a matter of urgency.
This, he said, would enable the police administration to post more personnel to the area to help deal with the high crime wave in the municipality.
He noted that as a result of the market and large presence of financial institutions, armed robbers, as well as notorious gangsters, had made the area a target and constantly robbed traders of their monies and other valuables.
The Techimanhene said in 2001/2002, the traditional council decided to construct police barracks but after the foundation was laid the project was halted for lack of funds.
Nana Akumfi Ameyaw called on the government to help complete barracks and construct a municipal court complex since currently they were using a small section of the traditional council premises as the Techiman Circuit Court.
Nana Ameyaw further appealed for the reshaping and tarring of the Tuobodom –Offuman road, which has become a death trap.
He called for the rehabilitation of the bridge on that stretch of road to enable farmers in the area to cart their produce to the marketing centres.
The Techimanhene, on behalf of the traditional council and people, thanked President Mills for his visit and expressed the hope that their requests would be granted.
He also used the occasion to appeal to Ghanaians to exercise restraint for the government for very soon they would begin to enjoy the fruits of the pragmatic policies and programmes being put in place to the government.
Monday, August 3, 2009
NDC TO BUILD MODEL SCHOOL AT NSAWKAW (PAGE 16)
Professor John Evans Atta Mills’s administration has pledged to build a model senior high school (SHS) at Nsawkaw, the capital of the Tain District in the Brong Ahafo Region, this year.
The school will be inaugurated by President Mills as part of the 50th anniversary (Golden Jubilee) celebration of the creation of the region, which will be climaxed in November, this year.
The General Secretary of ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, made the pledge at a durbar by the chiefs and people of the Tain District to honour President J.E.A. Mills as part of activities on his just-ended three-day tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.
Mr Nketiah made the pledge in response to an appeal made by the Omanhene of the Nsawkaw Traditional Area, Nana Kutu Ayim Baffour II, for a SHS.
According to the chief, the establishment of the SHS would provide the opportunity for the youth in the area, including many junior high school (JHS) students, to pursue higher education
Mr Nketiah called on the police to launch a full-scale investigation into the arson attack on the Electoral Commission (EC) office at Nsawkaw in order to arrest the perpetrators to face the full rigours of the law.
The EC office at Nsawkaw, together with its electoral materials and other things, was razed to the ground by fire believed to have been caused by some people who were yet to be identified.
This was in the run-up to the second round of the 2008 presidential polls and as of now, nobody had been arrested and prosecuted for that arson attack.
Mr Nketiah stated that the police, since that arson attack, had not launched any investigations into the matter, let alone arrest the culprits to face the law.
He, therefore, called on the police to begin investigation and bring to book the perpetrators for it to serve as a deterrent to others who might think that they could commit any crime against the state and go scot-free.
The NDC General Secretary said no one was above the laws of the country and the nation could not thrive on the culture of impunity, which had the potential to destroy this country.
The large crowd that had defied a heavy downpour to listen to the President and his entourage, cheered on Mr Nketiah, who is also a native of the district.
He indicated that the NDC would insist on growing local business, saying, for example, that local contractors must be awarded sub-contracts for any major project that would be executed by expatriates.
According to him, the Bui Dam power project, which coincidentally is in the Tain District, had no job for local contractors and accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of not sub-letting some of the projects to local contractors but rather preferred to let foreign contractors execute the entire project.
Mr Nketiah noted that the Bui Dam was in Tain yet the people of the district did not know what was happening on the ground and called on the Bui Power Authority (BPA) to constantly engage the people in order to erase any mistrust and tension that often arose between them and the communities affected by the project to ensure the smooth execution of the project.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, expressed concern about the poor quality of stones being used by the firm constructing the Bui Dam.
He, therefore, appealed to the BPA Board to investigate it as a matter of urgency to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the matter.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Brong Ahafo Region, thanked the President for his visit and also invited him to the climax of the 50th anniversary celebrations in November, this year.
He also thanked the chiefs and people for voting for President Mills when Tain became the decider for the 2008 presidential run-off.
Nana Baffour, who spoke on behalf of the four traditional areas in the district, namely Nsawkaw, Seikwa, Banda Ahenkro and Badu, appealed to the President and his government to tar all the major roads linking the four major towns to the district capital and the feeder roads that lead to the food production centres to enable farmers send their farm produce to the marketing centres.
He also called for the extension of electricity and potable water to all communities in the district, as well as barracks for police personnel in the district capital.
President Mills was later enstooled as Nana Nkosuohene V, that is a development chief by the chiefs and people of the Tain District.
Among those who accompanied the President were Alhaji Collins Dauda, Messrs Albert Abongo and Joe Gidisu, Ministers of Lands and Natural Resources, Works and Housing and Roads, as well as Mr J.H. Owusu Acheampong, Madam Cecilia Johnson, both members of the Council of State and Mr I.K. Adjei- Mensah, Board Chairman of the BPA.
The Tain District, which was creted out up of the then Wenchi District, now a municipality, assumed such importance in the political history of Ghana, both locally and internationally, espectially when it became the decider for the 2008 presidential elections.
The school will be inaugurated by President Mills as part of the 50th anniversary (Golden Jubilee) celebration of the creation of the region, which will be climaxed in November, this year.
The General Secretary of ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, made the pledge at a durbar by the chiefs and people of the Tain District to honour President J.E.A. Mills as part of activities on his just-ended three-day tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.
Mr Nketiah made the pledge in response to an appeal made by the Omanhene of the Nsawkaw Traditional Area, Nana Kutu Ayim Baffour II, for a SHS.
According to the chief, the establishment of the SHS would provide the opportunity for the youth in the area, including many junior high school (JHS) students, to pursue higher education
Mr Nketiah called on the police to launch a full-scale investigation into the arson attack on the Electoral Commission (EC) office at Nsawkaw in order to arrest the perpetrators to face the full rigours of the law.
The EC office at Nsawkaw, together with its electoral materials and other things, was razed to the ground by fire believed to have been caused by some people who were yet to be identified.
This was in the run-up to the second round of the 2008 presidential polls and as of now, nobody had been arrested and prosecuted for that arson attack.
Mr Nketiah stated that the police, since that arson attack, had not launched any investigations into the matter, let alone arrest the culprits to face the law.
He, therefore, called on the police to begin investigation and bring to book the perpetrators for it to serve as a deterrent to others who might think that they could commit any crime against the state and go scot-free.
The NDC General Secretary said no one was above the laws of the country and the nation could not thrive on the culture of impunity, which had the potential to destroy this country.
The large crowd that had defied a heavy downpour to listen to the President and his entourage, cheered on Mr Nketiah, who is also a native of the district.
He indicated that the NDC would insist on growing local business, saying, for example, that local contractors must be awarded sub-contracts for any major project that would be executed by expatriates.
According to him, the Bui Dam power project, which coincidentally is in the Tain District, had no job for local contractors and accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of not sub-letting some of the projects to local contractors but rather preferred to let foreign contractors execute the entire project.
Mr Nketiah noted that the Bui Dam was in Tain yet the people of the district did not know what was happening on the ground and called on the Bui Power Authority (BPA) to constantly engage the people in order to erase any mistrust and tension that often arose between them and the communities affected by the project to ensure the smooth execution of the project.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, expressed concern about the poor quality of stones being used by the firm constructing the Bui Dam.
He, therefore, appealed to the BPA Board to investigate it as a matter of urgency to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the matter.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Brong Ahafo Region, thanked the President for his visit and also invited him to the climax of the 50th anniversary celebrations in November, this year.
He also thanked the chiefs and people for voting for President Mills when Tain became the decider for the 2008 presidential run-off.
Nana Baffour, who spoke on behalf of the four traditional areas in the district, namely Nsawkaw, Seikwa, Banda Ahenkro and Badu, appealed to the President and his government to tar all the major roads linking the four major towns to the district capital and the feeder roads that lead to the food production centres to enable farmers send their farm produce to the marketing centres.
He also called for the extension of electricity and potable water to all communities in the district, as well as barracks for police personnel in the district capital.
President Mills was later enstooled as Nana Nkosuohene V, that is a development chief by the chiefs and people of the Tain District.
Among those who accompanied the President were Alhaji Collins Dauda, Messrs Albert Abongo and Joe Gidisu, Ministers of Lands and Natural Resources, Works and Housing and Roads, as well as Mr J.H. Owusu Acheampong, Madam Cecilia Johnson, both members of the Council of State and Mr I.K. Adjei- Mensah, Board Chairman of the BPA.
The Tain District, which was creted out up of the then Wenchi District, now a municipality, assumed such importance in the political history of Ghana, both locally and internationally, espectially when it became the decider for the 2008 presidential elections.
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