THE Atebubu-Amantin District Assembly, in collaboration with the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), is to embark on a sensitisation programme at the community level to create awareness of the need to get more women elected as Assembly Members in the forthcoming District Assembly election.
Since the inception of the decentralisation concept, the Assembly has not had any woman elected as an Assembly Member in the district.
This time round there is the need to get women involved at the decision making level in the district, Mr Sanja Nanja, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atebubu-Amantin, stated.
In an interview just after an emergency meeting of the assembly at Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region, he noted that some non-governmental organisations were already working in some communities to get women to participate in decision making at the grassroots or local level of governance.
Mr Nanja urged assembly members who would not seek for re-election to look for suitable candidates to replace them, preferably women, to enable the assembly to have women as elected assembly members for the first time.
He said in order to deepen the decentralisation concept in the district, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Development was trying to align some electoral areas while others would be merged.
Mr Nanja added that the Unit Committee members would also be reduced from 15 to five to help strengthen the local structures so as to make the process more effective.
The Atebubu-Amantin DCE commended the Atebubu Traditional Council and the Urban Council for coming out with a proposal to reduce the cost of funeral celebration in the district.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Atebubu-Amantin, Mr Emmanuel Owusu Mainoo, briefed the assembly on the government’s STX Housing deal and also on some of the government policies and programmes such as the free school uniforms and exercises books, the three years Senior High School (SHS) and the Savanna Agriculture Development Authority (SADA), of which the district was a beneficiary.
The Presiding Member of the Atebubu-Amantin Assembly, Mr Obeng Adams, expressed concern about bureaucracy in obtaining building permits from the district assembly.
This, he said, had led to unauthorised structures which had resulted in land disputes in the district and a fall in revenue mobilisation, thus affecting the assembly in its development efforts.
Mr Adams therefore suggested to the assembly members to take a second look at the period for securing building permits and, if possible, review the period from its present one month to between two to three weeks.
Monday, August 30, 2010
MOVES TO GET MORE WOMEN TO CONTEST ASSEMBLY POLLS (PAGE 13, AUGUST 30, 2010)
THE Atebubu-Amantin District Assembly, in collaboration with the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), is to embark on a sensitisation programme at the community level to create awareness of the need to get more women elected as Assembly Members in the forthcoming District Assembly election.
Since the inception of the decentralisation concept, the Assembly has not had any woman elected as an Assembly Member in the district.
This time round there is the need to get women involved at the decision making level in the district, Mr Sanja Nanja, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atebubu-Amantin, stated.
In an interview just after an emergency meeting of the assembly at Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region, he noted that some non-governmental organisations were already working in some communities to get women to participate in decision making at the grassroots or local level of governance.
Mr Nanja urged assembly members who would not seek for re-election to look for suitable candidates to replace them, preferably women, to enable the assembly to have women as elected assembly members for the first time.
He said in order to deepen the decentralisation concept in the district, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Development was trying to align some electoral areas while others would be merged.
Mr Nanja added that the Unit Committee members would also be reduced from 15 to five to help strengthen the local structures so as to make the process more effective.
The Atebubu-Amantin DCE commended the Atebubu Traditional Council and the Urban Council for coming out with a proposal to reduce the cost of funeral celebration in the district.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Atebubu-Amantin, Mr Emmanuel Owusu Mainoo, briefed the assembly on the government’s STX Housing deal and also on some of the government policies and programmes such as the free school uniforms and exercises books, the three years Senior High School (SHS) and the Savanna Agriculture Development Authority (SADA), of which the district was a beneficiary.
The Presiding Member of the Atebubu-Amantin Assembly, Mr Obeng Adams, expressed concern about bureaucracy in obtaining building permits from the district assembly.
This, he said, had led to unauthorised structures which had resulted in land disputes in the district and a fall in revenue mobilisation, thus affecting the assembly in its development efforts.
Mr Adams therefore suggested to the assembly members to take a second look at the period for securing building permits and, if possible, review the period from its present one month to between two to three weeks.
Since the inception of the decentralisation concept, the Assembly has not had any woman elected as an Assembly Member in the district.
This time round there is the need to get women involved at the decision making level in the district, Mr Sanja Nanja, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atebubu-Amantin, stated.
In an interview just after an emergency meeting of the assembly at Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region, he noted that some non-governmental organisations were already working in some communities to get women to participate in decision making at the grassroots or local level of governance.
Mr Nanja urged assembly members who would not seek for re-election to look for suitable candidates to replace them, preferably women, to enable the assembly to have women as elected assembly members for the first time.
He said in order to deepen the decentralisation concept in the district, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Development was trying to align some electoral areas while others would be merged.
Mr Nanja added that the Unit Committee members would also be reduced from 15 to five to help strengthen the local structures so as to make the process more effective.
The Atebubu-Amantin DCE commended the Atebubu Traditional Council and the Urban Council for coming out with a proposal to reduce the cost of funeral celebration in the district.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Atebubu-Amantin, Mr Emmanuel Owusu Mainoo, briefed the assembly on the government’s STX Housing deal and also on some of the government policies and programmes such as the free school uniforms and exercises books, the three years Senior High School (SHS) and the Savanna Agriculture Development Authority (SADA), of which the district was a beneficiary.
The Presiding Member of the Atebubu-Amantin Assembly, Mr Obeng Adams, expressed concern about bureaucracy in obtaining building permits from the district assembly.
This, he said, had led to unauthorised structures which had resulted in land disputes in the district and a fall in revenue mobilisation, thus affecting the assembly in its development efforts.
Mr Adams therefore suggested to the assembly members to take a second look at the period for securing building permits and, if possible, review the period from its present one month to between two to three weeks.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
ASSOCIATION DONATES TO ABESIM PRESBY (PAGE 55, AUGUST 30, 2010)
THE Brong Ahafo Youth Association in Amsterdam has donated GH¢9,000 to the Abesim District of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) at a brief ceremony at Abesim, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The money is to help the church to complete a three-classroom block with an office and a store for the Abesim Presbyterian “A” Kindergarten, initiated by the church which is at the lintel level.
The new block is to replace an old make-shift structure for the KG which poses danger to the schoolchildren. Classes have to be suspended or end abruptly anytime it rains.
Presenting the cheque, the President of the association, Mr Anthony Osahene Amanquah said the money was solicited for by the association from the Amsterdam South East District Council, which has sister-city relations with the Sunyani Municipal Assembly.
He said the association was in constant touch with the various communities in the Sunyani Municipality to know their needs in order to look out for assistance.
Mr Amanquah said it was through such interactions that the association got help for the church to continue with the construction of the school block.
He gave the assurance that the association would continue to contribute its quota towards the development of the municipality in particular and the region as a whole.
The Administrator of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) office in Sunyani, Mr Francis Manu Gyan, who is also the local representative of the association, said the association had assisted many institutions in the municipality, including the Sunyani Municipal Hospital.
The Abesim District Minister of the PCG, Rev Edward Kwame Amponsah, who received the cheque, thanked the association for the gesture and pledged that the money would be used for the intended purpose.
He appealed for help in the construction of teachers quarters at Abesim.
The money is to help the church to complete a three-classroom block with an office and a store for the Abesim Presbyterian “A” Kindergarten, initiated by the church which is at the lintel level.
The new block is to replace an old make-shift structure for the KG which poses danger to the schoolchildren. Classes have to be suspended or end abruptly anytime it rains.
Presenting the cheque, the President of the association, Mr Anthony Osahene Amanquah said the money was solicited for by the association from the Amsterdam South East District Council, which has sister-city relations with the Sunyani Municipal Assembly.
He said the association was in constant touch with the various communities in the Sunyani Municipality to know their needs in order to look out for assistance.
Mr Amanquah said it was through such interactions that the association got help for the church to continue with the construction of the school block.
He gave the assurance that the association would continue to contribute its quota towards the development of the municipality in particular and the region as a whole.
The Administrator of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) office in Sunyani, Mr Francis Manu Gyan, who is also the local representative of the association, said the association had assisted many institutions in the municipality, including the Sunyani Municipal Hospital.
The Abesim District Minister of the PCG, Rev Edward Kwame Amponsah, who received the cheque, thanked the association for the gesture and pledged that the money would be used for the intended purpose.
He appealed for help in the construction of teachers quarters at Abesim.
THERE REMANDED OVER MURDER (SPREAD, AUGUST 28, 2010)
THE Sunyani Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Mr Joseph Mensah, has remanded in police custody three of the four persons who were suspected to have murdered a female teacher at Nkwabeng, a suburb of Sunyani, on March 19, this year.
They are Alhaji Alhassan Atta, 57, a car dealer based in Accra; Kaadri Seidu, alias Rambo, 22, a trader resident in Accra and Fuseini Ibrahim, 35, an errand boy based at Ashaiman.
The fourth accused person, known only as Moro, is now at large.
Seidu, Ibrahim and Moro were said to have been contracted by Alhaji Atta at a fee of GH¢1,200.00 to kill Alice Amma Nimo, aka Alice Agyepong now deceased, because of a matrimonial dispute.
The perpetrators, wearing masks , were alleged to have embarked on their mission from Accra and at 1:30 a.m. arrived at the Nkwabeng residence of the Alice Agyepong and her former husband, who is based in the United States of America. According to the prosecution, they used Sellotape to seal the mouth of the Alice Agyepong, tied her hands and legs and shot her at close range, killing her instantly.
They would reappear before the court on September 3, 2010.
The presiding magistrate, after listening to the appeal for bail for the three accused persons by their counsel, Mr Amoaku Frimpong, refused bail, arguing that he had no jurisdiction to grant bail, since it was a first degree felony.
Mr Mensah added that the decision to remand the accused persons in police custody was to assist in further investigations.
The facts of the case as presented in court by Police Superintendent, Mr F. K. Agyei, were that the complainant in the case, a farmer and a brother to the deceased, said at about 1:30 a.m. on March 19, 2010 the complainant was informed on phone by her niece, Alice Kisiwaa Nimo, that her grandmother, who was the complainant’s sister, had been brutally murdered by some armed men.
Mr Agyei said the complainant rushed to the scene and saw the deceased lying in a pool of blood. He, therefore, reported the case to the police who visited the scene and detected that the alleged armed men entered the room of the deceased through the back door after forcing it open with an object.
The prosecutor told the court that the deceased, who had a gun-shot wound under her left breast, had her mouth sealed with Sellotape with her hands and legs tied while the police also found a mask at the scene.
Mr Agyei said while investigations were ongoing, the police had information that Moro, now at large, went to the garage of Alhaji Atta about one-and-a-half months earlier and threatened to burn all the cars in his garage at Tesano near the Achimota overhead bridge.
He said an informant who heard this persuaded Moro to rescind his decision and leave the issue for him to settle and added that the suspect thereafter disclosed to him (informant) that Alhaji Atta in March 2010 contracted him and Ibrahim to go and kill the Alice for a fee of GH¢1,200.00.
Mr Agyei stated further that Alhaji Atta gave them the picture of the deceased and a Toyota Corolla saloon car driven by Seidu for the trip to Sunyani.
He also added that the three accused arrived in Sunyani on March 19, 2010, killed Alice Agyepong and returned to Accra where they were paid GH¢600.00 out of the GH¢1,200.00.
He said up till date Alhaji Atta had not paid the remainder of the total amount, hence the attack by Moro, and that investigations by the police revealed that the house in which the Alice Agyepong lived was a subject of litigation in a local court in Sunyani.
The prosecutor said just when the case was coming to a close, Alice Agyepong was murdered.
Mr Agyei said it was also learnt that the former husband of the deceased, who was contesting the property with her, came to Ghana on February 26, 2010 and left for the USA on March 21, 2010.
They are Alhaji Alhassan Atta, 57, a car dealer based in Accra; Kaadri Seidu, alias Rambo, 22, a trader resident in Accra and Fuseini Ibrahim, 35, an errand boy based at Ashaiman.
The fourth accused person, known only as Moro, is now at large.
Seidu, Ibrahim and Moro were said to have been contracted by Alhaji Atta at a fee of GH¢1,200.00 to kill Alice Amma Nimo, aka Alice Agyepong now deceased, because of a matrimonial dispute.
The perpetrators, wearing masks , were alleged to have embarked on their mission from Accra and at 1:30 a.m. arrived at the Nkwabeng residence of the Alice Agyepong and her former husband, who is based in the United States of America. According to the prosecution, they used Sellotape to seal the mouth of the Alice Agyepong, tied her hands and legs and shot her at close range, killing her instantly.
They would reappear before the court on September 3, 2010.
The presiding magistrate, after listening to the appeal for bail for the three accused persons by their counsel, Mr Amoaku Frimpong, refused bail, arguing that he had no jurisdiction to grant bail, since it was a first degree felony.
Mr Mensah added that the decision to remand the accused persons in police custody was to assist in further investigations.
The facts of the case as presented in court by Police Superintendent, Mr F. K. Agyei, were that the complainant in the case, a farmer and a brother to the deceased, said at about 1:30 a.m. on March 19, 2010 the complainant was informed on phone by her niece, Alice Kisiwaa Nimo, that her grandmother, who was the complainant’s sister, had been brutally murdered by some armed men.
Mr Agyei said the complainant rushed to the scene and saw the deceased lying in a pool of blood. He, therefore, reported the case to the police who visited the scene and detected that the alleged armed men entered the room of the deceased through the back door after forcing it open with an object.
The prosecutor told the court that the deceased, who had a gun-shot wound under her left breast, had her mouth sealed with Sellotape with her hands and legs tied while the police also found a mask at the scene.
Mr Agyei said while investigations were ongoing, the police had information that Moro, now at large, went to the garage of Alhaji Atta about one-and-a-half months earlier and threatened to burn all the cars in his garage at Tesano near the Achimota overhead bridge.
He said an informant who heard this persuaded Moro to rescind his decision and leave the issue for him to settle and added that the suspect thereafter disclosed to him (informant) that Alhaji Atta in March 2010 contracted him and Ibrahim to go and kill the Alice for a fee of GH¢1,200.00.
Mr Agyei stated further that Alhaji Atta gave them the picture of the deceased and a Toyota Corolla saloon car driven by Seidu for the trip to Sunyani.
He also added that the three accused arrived in Sunyani on March 19, 2010, killed Alice Agyepong and returned to Accra where they were paid GH¢600.00 out of the GH¢1,200.00.
He said up till date Alhaji Atta had not paid the remainder of the total amount, hence the attack by Moro, and that investigations by the police revealed that the house in which the Alice Agyepong lived was a subject of litigation in a local court in Sunyani.
The prosecutor said just when the case was coming to a close, Alice Agyepong was murdered.
Mr Agyei said it was also learnt that the former husband of the deceased, who was contesting the property with her, came to Ghana on February 26, 2010 and left for the USA on March 21, 2010.
BEANS SELLER ATTEMPTS TO SELL DAUGHTER (PAGE 20, MIRROR, AUGUST 28, 2010)
From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
A-27-year-old beans seller, who attempted to sell her baby girl for GH¢5,000 at Ntotroso in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region has been remanded by the Sunyani Magistrate Court “B” presided over by Mr Joseph Mensah.
Anitatu Dauda in her caution statement to the police when she was arrested said she gave birth to the child but his father had not been taking care of the child hence her decision to sell her.
Anitatu, who is facing a count of attempt to commit crime, but whose plea was not taken in court will re-appear in court on September 3, 2010.
The presiding judge said he decided to remand the accused in police custody to enable her assist the police to make further investigations after listening to the appeal for bail by the counsel of the accused, Mr Amoaku Frimpong.
Prosecuting, Police Superintendent (Supt), F. K. Agyei told the court that the complainant was a contractor and on August 19, 2010 while he (complainant) was out of his office the accused went there and met a security officer in his absence.
He said, the accused told the security officer that she wanted to see the complainant for some discussions.
The security officer, according to the prosecutor inquired from the accused what the issue was and the accused told the security officer that she wanted to sell her daughter.
Supt. Agyei said the security officer called the complainant and informed him about what had transpired between him and the accused.
He said the complainant then told the security officer to let the accused wait since he was on his way to the office.
The prosecutor said the accused repeated her resolve to sell her daughter to the complainant when he finally met the accused .
Supt. Agyei told the court that the complainant then feigned interest to buy the baby and therefore alerted the police, who later arrested the accused.
A-27-year-old beans seller, who attempted to sell her baby girl for GH¢5,000 at Ntotroso in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region has been remanded by the Sunyani Magistrate Court “B” presided over by Mr Joseph Mensah.
Anitatu Dauda in her caution statement to the police when she was arrested said she gave birth to the child but his father had not been taking care of the child hence her decision to sell her.
Anitatu, who is facing a count of attempt to commit crime, but whose plea was not taken in court will re-appear in court on September 3, 2010.
The presiding judge said he decided to remand the accused in police custody to enable her assist the police to make further investigations after listening to the appeal for bail by the counsel of the accused, Mr Amoaku Frimpong.
Prosecuting, Police Superintendent (Supt), F. K. Agyei told the court that the complainant was a contractor and on August 19, 2010 while he (complainant) was out of his office the accused went there and met a security officer in his absence.
He said, the accused told the security officer that she wanted to see the complainant for some discussions.
The security officer, according to the prosecutor inquired from the accused what the issue was and the accused told the security officer that she wanted to sell her daughter.
Supt. Agyei said the security officer called the complainant and informed him about what had transpired between him and the accused.
He said the complainant then told the security officer to let the accused wait since he was on his way to the office.
The prosecutor said the accused repeated her resolve to sell her daughter to the complainant when he finally met the accused .
Supt. Agyei told the court that the complainant then feigned interest to buy the baby and therefore alerted the police, who later arrested the accused.
SIX ORGSNISSTIND FIGHT BURUI ULCER (PAGE 22, AUGUST 27, 2010)
SIX organisations have initiated a project to eradicate or reduce to the barest minimum, Buruli Ulcer, a tropical flesh eating disease in endemic areas of the country.
The organisations are Rotary Clubs of Sunyani Central and Rocky Mount, United States of America (USA), the Rotary Foundation in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), George Fisher Jubilee Clean Water Foundation based in Switzerland and the Carter Centre, Ghana.
Six regions in the country, namely the Brong Ahafo, Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Central and the Greater Accra have been zoned as the Buruli Ulcer endemic areas in the country.
The nation records at least 1,000 new cases of the disease annually which affects mostly children under 15, according to the Ghana Buruli Ulcer Eradication Project.
Buruli Ulcer is also said to be one of the tropical diseases in the country that has been neglected, hence the partnership to fight it through the provision of clean water at a cost of $103,000. The Ghana Buruli Ulcer Eradication Project under the GHS has hailed the intervention.
Currently, the project has received a grant of $72,000 for the drilling of boreholes in the Brong Ahafo and Western regions, while the Rotary Foundation, Rotary Club of Rocky Mount, USA, George Fisher Foundation other partners of the project have also contributed $100,000 and $70,000, respectively towards the project.
Additional $275,000 is expected by the close of this year under the project for the drilling of more wells and boreholes, the repair of 13 existing wells, the construction of 179 sanitation facilities, and education on water-borne diseases and basic medical care for the endemic areas in the country.
Interacting with the media at a ceremony in Sunyani organised by the Rotary Club of Sunyani Central to throw more light on the project, the Director of the Ghana Buruli Ulcer Eradication Project, Dr Edwin Ampadu, lauded the initiative.
He said the project, which sought to give attention to Buruli Ulcer in the same manner as the guinea worm eradication programme, would help deal with the disease in the country.
Dr Ampadu said the disease was caused by drinking from unsafe water sources and was prevalent in areas where the environment is disturbed by human activities.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that the approach to deal with the disease through the provision of safe drinking water and education would help reduce it to the barest minimum in the endemic areas.
Dr Ampadu disclosed that Upper Denkyira in the Central Region recorded the highest number of Buruli Ulcer cases with the severest cases being recorded in the Ga West District in the Greater Accra region, while eight municipalities and districts in the Brong Ahafo Region, including Sunyani, Goaso, Kukuom, Dadiasoaba, Nkoranza were the endemic areas in the region.
He stated that the government had made the treatment of Buruli Ulcer free-of-charge in the country.
The President of the Rotary Club of Sunyani Central, Rotarian Samuel Ankama Obour, said the partnership was to provide clean and safe drinking water to fight Buruli Ulcer and other water-borne diseases in the endemic areas.
Mr Obour said apart from the Buruli Ulcer project, the club, with the support of Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville, both in Canada and the Rotary Foundation, had purchased computers, textbooks, cupboards, teaching aids, basic health and sanitation materials worth $20,765 for the pupils of the Sunyani Municipal Primary School.
He added that the club had through those partners, constructed one mechanised borehole, purchased a computer and accessories and mosquito nets worth $11,735 for Korkor’s Charity Orphanage at Techiman.
Mr Obour stated that with support from Rotary Clubs of Rocky Mount, Crossville and Rotary Foundation, the club was undertaking another project to provide clean and safe water in the Brong Ahafo and Western regions at a cost of $51,926 to eliminate guinea-worm and reduce water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery and the provision of boreholes for five rural communities in the Kassena-Nankana District in the Upper East Region at a cost of $38,000.
Pastor Walter Hughes from the Rotary Club of Rocky Mount and Mr Jim Niquitte, the Director of Cater Centre in Ghana, who took turns to speak at the ceremony, were hopeful that the project would help eradicate Buruli Ulcer from Ghana.
They, however, called for support from all to achieve the objectives of the project.
The organisations are Rotary Clubs of Sunyani Central and Rocky Mount, United States of America (USA), the Rotary Foundation in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), George Fisher Jubilee Clean Water Foundation based in Switzerland and the Carter Centre, Ghana.
Six regions in the country, namely the Brong Ahafo, Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Central and the Greater Accra have been zoned as the Buruli Ulcer endemic areas in the country.
The nation records at least 1,000 new cases of the disease annually which affects mostly children under 15, according to the Ghana Buruli Ulcer Eradication Project.
Buruli Ulcer is also said to be one of the tropical diseases in the country that has been neglected, hence the partnership to fight it through the provision of clean water at a cost of $103,000. The Ghana Buruli Ulcer Eradication Project under the GHS has hailed the intervention.
Currently, the project has received a grant of $72,000 for the drilling of boreholes in the Brong Ahafo and Western regions, while the Rotary Foundation, Rotary Club of Rocky Mount, USA, George Fisher Foundation other partners of the project have also contributed $100,000 and $70,000, respectively towards the project.
Additional $275,000 is expected by the close of this year under the project for the drilling of more wells and boreholes, the repair of 13 existing wells, the construction of 179 sanitation facilities, and education on water-borne diseases and basic medical care for the endemic areas in the country.
Interacting with the media at a ceremony in Sunyani organised by the Rotary Club of Sunyani Central to throw more light on the project, the Director of the Ghana Buruli Ulcer Eradication Project, Dr Edwin Ampadu, lauded the initiative.
He said the project, which sought to give attention to Buruli Ulcer in the same manner as the guinea worm eradication programme, would help deal with the disease in the country.
Dr Ampadu said the disease was caused by drinking from unsafe water sources and was prevalent in areas where the environment is disturbed by human activities.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that the approach to deal with the disease through the provision of safe drinking water and education would help reduce it to the barest minimum in the endemic areas.
Dr Ampadu disclosed that Upper Denkyira in the Central Region recorded the highest number of Buruli Ulcer cases with the severest cases being recorded in the Ga West District in the Greater Accra region, while eight municipalities and districts in the Brong Ahafo Region, including Sunyani, Goaso, Kukuom, Dadiasoaba, Nkoranza were the endemic areas in the region.
He stated that the government had made the treatment of Buruli Ulcer free-of-charge in the country.
The President of the Rotary Club of Sunyani Central, Rotarian Samuel Ankama Obour, said the partnership was to provide clean and safe drinking water to fight Buruli Ulcer and other water-borne diseases in the endemic areas.
Mr Obour said apart from the Buruli Ulcer project, the club, with the support of Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville, both in Canada and the Rotary Foundation, had purchased computers, textbooks, cupboards, teaching aids, basic health and sanitation materials worth $20,765 for the pupils of the Sunyani Municipal Primary School.
He added that the club had through those partners, constructed one mechanised borehole, purchased a computer and accessories and mosquito nets worth $11,735 for Korkor’s Charity Orphanage at Techiman.
Mr Obour stated that with support from Rotary Clubs of Rocky Mount, Crossville and Rotary Foundation, the club was undertaking another project to provide clean and safe water in the Brong Ahafo and Western regions at a cost of $51,926 to eliminate guinea-worm and reduce water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery and the provision of boreholes for five rural communities in the Kassena-Nankana District in the Upper East Region at a cost of $38,000.
Pastor Walter Hughes from the Rotary Club of Rocky Mount and Mr Jim Niquitte, the Director of Cater Centre in Ghana, who took turns to speak at the ceremony, were hopeful that the project would help eradicate Buruli Ulcer from Ghana.
They, however, called for support from all to achieve the objectives of the project.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
NHIA RELEASES MONEY FOR PAYMENT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS ...In Brong Ahafo Region (PAGE 42, AUGUST 26, 2010)
THE National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has released GH¢141,263,158.40 for the payment of all service providers in the Brong Ahafo Region from January to May, this year.
The NHIA will soon disburse additional funds to cover the total payment for the bills from June this year to date, as submitted by service providers in the region.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of the NHIA, Mr Foster Agyei-Korang, disclosed this at the mid-year review meeting of the Sunyani Municipal Health Insurance Scheme and its accredited service providers in Sunyani.
Mr Foster Agyei-Korang said last year, the NHIA paid a total of GH¢27,632,139.05 to the service providers.
He observed that delay in the submission of claims from some service providers in the region continued to be a major challenge.
Mr Agyei-Korang, therefore, urged all service providers to submit their claims promptly for vetting, processing and payment to ensure the smooth operation of the scheme in the region.
He debunked rumours that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would be abolished, and gave the assurance that the scheme, which was established by an Act of Parliament, could not be abolished as being peddled round.
Mr Agyei-Korang said currently, all regional hospitals’ claims were being vetted and processed at the claims centre in Accra which, would reduce the burden and pressure on the region and also pave way for early and prompt payment.
The Manager of the Sunyani Municipal Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Isaac Afari, said the membership of the scheme in the municipality was 216,223, representing 87.19 per cent of the estimated total population of the municipality.
Mr Afari added that within the period under review, the scheme was able to register 14,232 new members and also renewed the membership of 34,900 existing clients.
He stated that the scheme would not relent in its efforts to register at least 90 per cent of the people within the municipality.
According to him, from January to June, this year, the scheme paid healthcare providers a total of GH¢5,124,211.94 for medical bills and prescribed drugs.
Mr Afari called on pharmaceutical and chemical shops which collected money from clients for drugs to desist from such practice.
The head pharmacist, Mrs Mary Saan Diedong and the head of finance, Mr Vincent Tawiah, both at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani, also spoke at the ceremony.
They spoke on the topics: “Prescribing of medicines to NHIS clients and issues of poly pharmacy” and “contribution of accredited health providers towards the sustainability of the NHIS,” respectively.
The two officers called on all stakeholders to help sustain the scheme.
The NHIA will soon disburse additional funds to cover the total payment for the bills from June this year to date, as submitted by service providers in the region.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of the NHIA, Mr Foster Agyei-Korang, disclosed this at the mid-year review meeting of the Sunyani Municipal Health Insurance Scheme and its accredited service providers in Sunyani.
Mr Foster Agyei-Korang said last year, the NHIA paid a total of GH¢27,632,139.05 to the service providers.
He observed that delay in the submission of claims from some service providers in the region continued to be a major challenge.
Mr Agyei-Korang, therefore, urged all service providers to submit their claims promptly for vetting, processing and payment to ensure the smooth operation of the scheme in the region.
He debunked rumours that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would be abolished, and gave the assurance that the scheme, which was established by an Act of Parliament, could not be abolished as being peddled round.
Mr Agyei-Korang said currently, all regional hospitals’ claims were being vetted and processed at the claims centre in Accra which, would reduce the burden and pressure on the region and also pave way for early and prompt payment.
The Manager of the Sunyani Municipal Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Isaac Afari, said the membership of the scheme in the municipality was 216,223, representing 87.19 per cent of the estimated total population of the municipality.
Mr Afari added that within the period under review, the scheme was able to register 14,232 new members and also renewed the membership of 34,900 existing clients.
He stated that the scheme would not relent in its efforts to register at least 90 per cent of the people within the municipality.
According to him, from January to June, this year, the scheme paid healthcare providers a total of GH¢5,124,211.94 for medical bills and prescribed drugs.
Mr Afari called on pharmaceutical and chemical shops which collected money from clients for drugs to desist from such practice.
The head pharmacist, Mrs Mary Saan Diedong and the head of finance, Mr Vincent Tawiah, both at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani, also spoke at the ceremony.
They spoke on the topics: “Prescribing of medicines to NHIS clients and issues of poly pharmacy” and “contribution of accredited health providers towards the sustainability of the NHIS,” respectively.
The two officers called on all stakeholders to help sustain the scheme.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
ADUANA BLAME HERBERT ADDO..For Top 4 poor show (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, AUGUST 24, 2010)
The Director of Operations of Aduana Stars Football Club (FC), Mr George Gyawu, has atributed the first home defeat of Aduana Stars, league champions at the hands of Kpando-based Heart of Lions in their GHALCA Top 4 match at the Nana Agyeman Badu Park at Dormaa-Ahenkro on Sunday, to the limited time the Head Coach of the team, Mr. Herbert Addo, spends with it.
According to him, Coach Addo’s time is so limited that he was hardly seen at the training sessions of the team to help blend the new signings with the old players. This had been the bane of the poor showings of the champoin club in the just-ended GHALCA Top 4 competition.
Mr Gyawu, who expressed this view in a post-match interview with the Graphic Sports added that the reason why the coach had had limited time for the team might be due to his national assignment as coach of the local Black Stars.
Coach Addo was not in charge of affairs when Lions defeated Aduana Stars 2-1 at their own backyard at Dormaa-Ahenkro on Sunday. The venue has been a fortress ever since Aduana were promoted to the eleite Division.
Mr. Gyawu was quick to add that he was not implying that Coach Addo’s Assistant, Ben Zola who stood in for him when the team tasted their first home defeat was not a good coach, saying “ Assistant Coach Zola is good as any coach and he is also competent, that is why he was signed on by the club. But it’sjust that things did not go on well for him getting to last 15 minutes of the game”.
He stated further that as at the time of the match, coach Addo was also attending a coaches course in Accra and had been away for the past week, coupled with the limited time he spent with the team that has affected their play.
Subsequently, he said, the management of the team had scheduled a meeting yesterday to discuss the issue and come out with conditions that would make the coach at least spend some quality time with the team vis-a-vis national assignments.
“I am not saying he should not coach the local national team, but he should devise means or a strategy that would enable him to have time for Aduana as well”, he said.
Mr Gyawu stated another problem worth mentioning was that the team had made some new singnings and it was not the same team that won the league that featured in the GHALCA Top 4, saying it would take some time before the new players adapt to Aduana’s style of play.
The Aduana Director of Operations, therefore, assured their numerous fans that the team would bounce back to its winning ways before the start of the upcoming season as well as in the CAF Champoins League, noting there was no cause for alarm.
To ensure that the team was in top form, Mr Gyawu said the owner and bank roller of Aduana, Osagyefo Oseedeyo Agyeman Badu II, the Dormaahene would soon roll out a programme to ensure the high performance of the team.
According to him, Coach Addo’s time is so limited that he was hardly seen at the training sessions of the team to help blend the new signings with the old players. This had been the bane of the poor showings of the champoin club in the just-ended GHALCA Top 4 competition.
Mr Gyawu, who expressed this view in a post-match interview with the Graphic Sports added that the reason why the coach had had limited time for the team might be due to his national assignment as coach of the local Black Stars.
Coach Addo was not in charge of affairs when Lions defeated Aduana Stars 2-1 at their own backyard at Dormaa-Ahenkro on Sunday. The venue has been a fortress ever since Aduana were promoted to the eleite Division.
Mr. Gyawu was quick to add that he was not implying that Coach Addo’s Assistant, Ben Zola who stood in for him when the team tasted their first home defeat was not a good coach, saying “ Assistant Coach Zola is good as any coach and he is also competent, that is why he was signed on by the club. But it’sjust that things did not go on well for him getting to last 15 minutes of the game”.
He stated further that as at the time of the match, coach Addo was also attending a coaches course in Accra and had been away for the past week, coupled with the limited time he spent with the team that has affected their play.
Subsequently, he said, the management of the team had scheduled a meeting yesterday to discuss the issue and come out with conditions that would make the coach at least spend some quality time with the team vis-a-vis national assignments.
“I am not saying he should not coach the local national team, but he should devise means or a strategy that would enable him to have time for Aduana as well”, he said.
Mr Gyawu stated another problem worth mentioning was that the team had made some new singnings and it was not the same team that won the league that featured in the GHALCA Top 4, saying it would take some time before the new players adapt to Aduana’s style of play.
The Aduana Director of Operations, therefore, assured their numerous fans that the team would bounce back to its winning ways before the start of the upcoming season as well as in the CAF Champoins League, noting there was no cause for alarm.
To ensure that the team was in top form, Mr Gyawu said the owner and bank roller of Aduana, Osagyefo Oseedeyo Agyeman Badu II, the Dormaahene would soon roll out a programme to ensure the high performance of the team.
NKORANZA DCE CLEARED OF IMPROPRIETY (PAGE 12, AUGUST 24, 2010)
THE Nkoranza North District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Kwadwo Adjei Dwomor, has been cleared of the alleged impropriety levelled against him by 13 members of the Nkoranza North District Assembly in the Brong Ahafo Region in December, last year.
His exoneration followed a report submitted by the three-member committee set up by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, on the directives of the President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, and chaired by Mr Agyenim Boateng, the Presiding Member for Sunyani West District, to investigate the alleged impropriety levelled against the DCE.
A statement signed on behalf of the Regional Minister Mr Felix B. Chaahaah, and issued to the press in Sunyani by the Regional Co-ordinating Director, said after the submission of the findings by the committee, “the President observed that the charges levelled against the DCE were without merit.
He has, accordingly, been exonerated.”
The statement said after interrogating 88 persons who appeared before the committee, the committee found out that “the push for a vote of no confidence by 13 members of the assembly on December 17, 2010, was illegal and had no basis, since it was against Part 14 Section 54 (3) AND Section 54 (5) of the Model Standing Orders for District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies.”
It said: “The procurement of the grader was properly laid before the Executive Committee on June, 18, 2009, and also before its First Ordinary Meeting on July 9, 2009. The assembly gave its approval for the purchase of the grader and a Resolution was duly signed by the Presiding Member, Mr Benjamin Adu Donkor, and the DCE, Mr Dwomor.”
It added that “on the hiring out of the grader, it was established that the DCE took the decision, in consultation with the management of the Assembly, in line with Section 20(1) 6 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Act 462) and the proceeds of Gh¢2,000.00 generated was duly paid into the Assembly’s Account. It was established that the DCE did not hire out the grader to a contractor.
The committee also established that “the assembly’s tractor was indeed used by the DCE to plough his personal farm at Konkonpe. However, it was released to him by the Acting Chairman of the Management Committee of the Tractor, Mr Sylvester Amankwaa, in line with the modalities of the operations of the tractor, which allowed management staff access to the use of the tractor as an incentive. Staff were to buy fuel for the services they required. So the DCE accessed the services of the tractor under the same terms.”
“It was also established that one of the petitioners, Mr Kofi Agyemang, also used the tractor on his farm under the same facility and did not even buy fuel as stipulated in the conditions, but the assembly rather provided the fuel to the tune of Gh¢55.00 to be used on his farm,” the findings stated.
The committee again established, as a fact, that “the bribery allegation against the DCE could not be substantiated and 10 of the respondents denied knowledge of such an incident taking place.”
On the question of being disrespectful to the Assembly members, it was established by the committee that because the members were denied some protocol treatment by the organisers of “Greening Ghana” and “Emancipation Day” functions, they felt slighted and thought the DCE must be blamed for such occurrence.
The committee also established that it was not true that the DCE awarded contracts without the knowledge of the District Tender Committee. The petitioners were misinformed by Mr P.K. Kyeremeh, Chairman of the Finance and Administration Sub-committee, out of mischief and ignorance. He was not aware of the composition of the District Tender Committee under the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (ACT 633).
The committee recommended that Nananom, Youth Groups, Opinion and Religious Leaders and Civil Society Organisations should embark upon a campaign to discourage and fight the canker of writing anonymous letters and petitions by the people in the district against political appointees and leaders to ensure peace in the District and efficiency in the performance of the assembly.
It further recommended that the Assembly should, as a matter of importance, constitute a committee to manage the operations of the grader and the tractor and a forum on Peace and Reconciliation should be organised by the District Assembly, comprising all stakeholders including Political Parties, Traditional Authorities, Opinion and Religious Leaders, Civil Society Organisations and Youth Groups. The regional minister may be invited to the event as a guest speaker.
The committee finally recommended that members of the Assembly should be taken through the Model Standing Orders of the Assembly to help them to build their capacity in the conduct of business of the Assembly.
The President expressed his gratitude to the committee for the expeditious work done.
His exoneration followed a report submitted by the three-member committee set up by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, on the directives of the President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, and chaired by Mr Agyenim Boateng, the Presiding Member for Sunyani West District, to investigate the alleged impropriety levelled against the DCE.
A statement signed on behalf of the Regional Minister Mr Felix B. Chaahaah, and issued to the press in Sunyani by the Regional Co-ordinating Director, said after the submission of the findings by the committee, “the President observed that the charges levelled against the DCE were without merit.
He has, accordingly, been exonerated.”
The statement said after interrogating 88 persons who appeared before the committee, the committee found out that “the push for a vote of no confidence by 13 members of the assembly on December 17, 2010, was illegal and had no basis, since it was against Part 14 Section 54 (3) AND Section 54 (5) of the Model Standing Orders for District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies.”
It said: “The procurement of the grader was properly laid before the Executive Committee on June, 18, 2009, and also before its First Ordinary Meeting on July 9, 2009. The assembly gave its approval for the purchase of the grader and a Resolution was duly signed by the Presiding Member, Mr Benjamin Adu Donkor, and the DCE, Mr Dwomor.”
It added that “on the hiring out of the grader, it was established that the DCE took the decision, in consultation with the management of the Assembly, in line with Section 20(1) 6 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Act 462) and the proceeds of Gh¢2,000.00 generated was duly paid into the Assembly’s Account. It was established that the DCE did not hire out the grader to a contractor.
The committee also established that “the assembly’s tractor was indeed used by the DCE to plough his personal farm at Konkonpe. However, it was released to him by the Acting Chairman of the Management Committee of the Tractor, Mr Sylvester Amankwaa, in line with the modalities of the operations of the tractor, which allowed management staff access to the use of the tractor as an incentive. Staff were to buy fuel for the services they required. So the DCE accessed the services of the tractor under the same terms.”
“It was also established that one of the petitioners, Mr Kofi Agyemang, also used the tractor on his farm under the same facility and did not even buy fuel as stipulated in the conditions, but the assembly rather provided the fuel to the tune of Gh¢55.00 to be used on his farm,” the findings stated.
The committee again established, as a fact, that “the bribery allegation against the DCE could not be substantiated and 10 of the respondents denied knowledge of such an incident taking place.”
On the question of being disrespectful to the Assembly members, it was established by the committee that because the members were denied some protocol treatment by the organisers of “Greening Ghana” and “Emancipation Day” functions, they felt slighted and thought the DCE must be blamed for such occurrence.
The committee also established that it was not true that the DCE awarded contracts without the knowledge of the District Tender Committee. The petitioners were misinformed by Mr P.K. Kyeremeh, Chairman of the Finance and Administration Sub-committee, out of mischief and ignorance. He was not aware of the composition of the District Tender Committee under the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (ACT 633).
The committee recommended that Nananom, Youth Groups, Opinion and Religious Leaders and Civil Society Organisations should embark upon a campaign to discourage and fight the canker of writing anonymous letters and petitions by the people in the district against political appointees and leaders to ensure peace in the District and efficiency in the performance of the assembly.
It further recommended that the Assembly should, as a matter of importance, constitute a committee to manage the operations of the grader and the tractor and a forum on Peace and Reconciliation should be organised by the District Assembly, comprising all stakeholders including Political Parties, Traditional Authorities, Opinion and Religious Leaders, Civil Society Organisations and Youth Groups. The regional minister may be invited to the event as a guest speaker.
The committee finally recommended that members of the Assembly should be taken through the Model Standing Orders of the Assembly to help them to build their capacity in the conduct of business of the Assembly.
The President expressed his gratitude to the committee for the expeditious work done.
Monday, August 23, 2010
LIONS BREAK ADUANA AT HOME (BACK PAGE, AUGUST 23, 2010)
Aduana Stars’ much-dreaded home invincibility finally crumbled yesterday as they were beaten 2-1 by visiting Kpando Heart of Lions in their GHALCA Top 4 match at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park at Dormaa-Ahenkro.
Two quick goals by Lions in the 84th and 89th minutes from Godfred Asante and Gilbert Fiamenyo respectively broke the unblemished home dominance Aduana Stars have enjoyed since their promotion into the elite league last year.
Indeed, they did not only become the first team to win the local premiership in their first season among the top flight competition, but did so with a flawless home record, winning 13 and drawing two of their 15 games at the venue that became an instant fortress.
Yesterday, they featured Bernard Dong Bortey of Hearts of Oak fame, while attendance was one of the best at Dormaa-Ahenkro, perhaps to witness a consolation victory. The home side grabbed the lead on 17 minutes through Daniel Bonsu and sent the park agog as they took control of proceedings for the rest of the first half.
Even the start of the second half hardly brought relief to Lions as Aduana Stars, with their attack revolving around Dong Bortey, pinned their opponents to their own half until the last 15 minutes when Lions seized the midfield with incisive passes and good ball distribution.
This finally paid off in the 84th and 89th minutes when Asante and Fiamenyo connected home passes from midfield to give their side victory.
Two quick goals by Lions in the 84th and 89th minutes from Godfred Asante and Gilbert Fiamenyo respectively broke the unblemished home dominance Aduana Stars have enjoyed since their promotion into the elite league last year.
Indeed, they did not only become the first team to win the local premiership in their first season among the top flight competition, but did so with a flawless home record, winning 13 and drawing two of their 15 games at the venue that became an instant fortress.
Yesterday, they featured Bernard Dong Bortey of Hearts of Oak fame, while attendance was one of the best at Dormaa-Ahenkro, perhaps to witness a consolation victory. The home side grabbed the lead on 17 minutes through Daniel Bonsu and sent the park agog as they took control of proceedings for the rest of the first half.
Even the start of the second half hardly brought relief to Lions as Aduana Stars, with their attack revolving around Dong Bortey, pinned their opponents to their own half until the last 15 minutes when Lions seized the midfield with incisive passes and good ball distribution.
This finally paid off in the 84th and 89th minutes when Asante and Fiamenyo connected home passes from midfield to give their side victory.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
STRENGTHEN RELATIONS BETWEEN GHANA AND SWAZILAND (PAGE 22, AUGUST 21, 2010)
THE Queen of Swaziland, Her Royal Highness Nomsah E. Matsebula, has called on the government of Ghana and Swaziland to open offices in their respective countries to help strengthen the existing relationship between them.
She stated that the opening of the consulates would not only help deepen the ties between the two countries, but also enable citizens to do business with ease.
The Swazi Queen made the call when she paid a courtesy call on the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, at the residency in Sunyani as part of her visit to the region.
Queen Matsebula stated that Ghana and Swaziland shared things in common, being members of the Commonwealth and the African Union (AU) and therefore there was the need for further co-operation between the two countries for their mutual benefit and that of their citizens.
She further called for regular state visits at the presidential and ministerial levels between Ghana and Swaziland to cement the existing bond of friendship.
The Queen of Swalizand said her visit was more of a private one but due to the courtesies extended to her and her entourage by the government, coupled with the warm hospitality of the people, she saw the visit as a formal one than private.
She expressed her gratitude to the government of Ghana and her people for the warm reception.
In his response, Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said the chiefs and people of the region were grateful for her visit which, he said, had also gone a long way to strengthen the existing relationship between the two countries that dated as far back as Dr Nkrumah’s regime.
He said Brong Ahafo produced about 30 per cent of the country’s food and cash crop needs, notably cocoa, cashew and timber for export, as well as minerals such as Gold.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said the region could also boast of clean cities and towns as well as the evergreen forests coupled with the many tourist sites.
He, therefore, called on the business and investor communities in Swaziland to invest in Ghana, especially, in the agro-processing sector where the region had comparative advantage.
Her Royal Highness Matsebula later presented a parcel on behalf of the King of Swaziland, the President and people of Swaziland to Mr Nyamekye-Marfo.
The regional minister also reciprocated the gesture with the presentation of a pure Kente cloth to the Queen on behalf of the government, the Regional Co-ordinating Council, the chiefs and people of the region.
The Swazi Queen also visited the Kintampo Waterfalls in the region and paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawirie II, at his palace.
She stated that the opening of the consulates would not only help deepen the ties between the two countries, but also enable citizens to do business with ease.
The Swazi Queen made the call when she paid a courtesy call on the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, at the residency in Sunyani as part of her visit to the region.
Queen Matsebula stated that Ghana and Swaziland shared things in common, being members of the Commonwealth and the African Union (AU) and therefore there was the need for further co-operation between the two countries for their mutual benefit and that of their citizens.
She further called for regular state visits at the presidential and ministerial levels between Ghana and Swaziland to cement the existing bond of friendship.
The Queen of Swalizand said her visit was more of a private one but due to the courtesies extended to her and her entourage by the government, coupled with the warm hospitality of the people, she saw the visit as a formal one than private.
She expressed her gratitude to the government of Ghana and her people for the warm reception.
In his response, Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said the chiefs and people of the region were grateful for her visit which, he said, had also gone a long way to strengthen the existing relationship between the two countries that dated as far back as Dr Nkrumah’s regime.
He said Brong Ahafo produced about 30 per cent of the country’s food and cash crop needs, notably cocoa, cashew and timber for export, as well as minerals such as Gold.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said the region could also boast of clean cities and towns as well as the evergreen forests coupled with the many tourist sites.
He, therefore, called on the business and investor communities in Swaziland to invest in Ghana, especially, in the agro-processing sector where the region had comparative advantage.
Her Royal Highness Matsebula later presented a parcel on behalf of the King of Swaziland, the President and people of Swaziland to Mr Nyamekye-Marfo.
The regional minister also reciprocated the gesture with the presentation of a pure Kente cloth to the Queen on behalf of the government, the Regional Co-ordinating Council, the chiefs and people of the region.
The Swazi Queen also visited the Kintampo Waterfalls in the region and paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawirie II, at his palace.
Friday, August 20, 2010
USAG HAPPY ABOUT NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY (PAGE 11, AUGUST 20, 2010)
THE University Students’ Association of Ghana (USAG) has commended the government for coming out with a national youth policy which spells out the government’s vision on development and direction of the youth and their place in the socio-economic transformation of the country.
The association said now that the policy has been launched, it should not be kept on the shelves but should be implemented in order to give a focus to the youth to accelerate the Better Ghana attainment.
The association however appealed to the government as a matter of urgency to institute a probe into the use of the internally generated funds (IGFs) of the universities and also for the establishment of a system whereby university education will be made free for all to curtail the hardship confronting students and their guardians in the quest for higher education in the country.
Mr Enoch Anhwere Afoakwah, the National President of USAG made the commendation on behalf of the association at its 8th Annual Congress at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus at Fiapre, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The four-day congress is on the theme “Re-engineering the mentality of the youth towards national development: the role of government and university students”. The association also celebrated this year’s International Youth Day, which fell on August 12, 2010. It would also elect new national officers for the association.
Mr Afoakwah in his address noted with regret that governments had not done much on the implementation of Article 25 clause 1 section ‘C’ and ‘E’ under the Educational rights enshrined in the 1992 constitution which states that; higher education shall be made equally accessible to all on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means and in particular, by progressive introduction of free education and the development of a system of schools with adequate facilities at all levels.
Mr Afoakwah on behalf of the association also appealed to President J.E.A. Mills as a matter of urgency to ratify the African youth charter, institute a national youth commission and continue to implement and improve upon the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the School Feeding Programme, National Youth Employment Programme among others.
He noted that good governance required that, beyond general elections, the people have enough space to participate in national decision making and this required information.
The association therefore added its voice to the call by the Ghana Coalition on the Right to Information for the government to expedite action on the passage of the right to information bill into law within the shortest time possible.
In an address read on his behalf by Mr Mike Gyamfi, a Deputy Director at the Regional Coordinating Council the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo urged tertiary students to be pacesetters for their peers to emulate since indiscipline among the youth was undermining the fabric of the Ghanaian society in recent times.
He gave the assurance that the government would continue to provide modern infrastructure at all levels of education .
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated further that the land acquisition process for the university had started and upon its conclusion, the construction stage will take off in earnest in the shortest time possible with the first batch of student intake for the university scheduled for August 2011, the latest.
The association said now that the policy has been launched, it should not be kept on the shelves but should be implemented in order to give a focus to the youth to accelerate the Better Ghana attainment.
The association however appealed to the government as a matter of urgency to institute a probe into the use of the internally generated funds (IGFs) of the universities and also for the establishment of a system whereby university education will be made free for all to curtail the hardship confronting students and their guardians in the quest for higher education in the country.
Mr Enoch Anhwere Afoakwah, the National President of USAG made the commendation on behalf of the association at its 8th Annual Congress at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus at Fiapre, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The four-day congress is on the theme “Re-engineering the mentality of the youth towards national development: the role of government and university students”. The association also celebrated this year’s International Youth Day, which fell on August 12, 2010. It would also elect new national officers for the association.
Mr Afoakwah in his address noted with regret that governments had not done much on the implementation of Article 25 clause 1 section ‘C’ and ‘E’ under the Educational rights enshrined in the 1992 constitution which states that; higher education shall be made equally accessible to all on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means and in particular, by progressive introduction of free education and the development of a system of schools with adequate facilities at all levels.
Mr Afoakwah on behalf of the association also appealed to President J.E.A. Mills as a matter of urgency to ratify the African youth charter, institute a national youth commission and continue to implement and improve upon the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the School Feeding Programme, National Youth Employment Programme among others.
He noted that good governance required that, beyond general elections, the people have enough space to participate in national decision making and this required information.
The association therefore added its voice to the call by the Ghana Coalition on the Right to Information for the government to expedite action on the passage of the right to information bill into law within the shortest time possible.
In an address read on his behalf by Mr Mike Gyamfi, a Deputy Director at the Regional Coordinating Council the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo urged tertiary students to be pacesetters for their peers to emulate since indiscipline among the youth was undermining the fabric of the Ghanaian society in recent times.
He gave the assurance that the government would continue to provide modern infrastructure at all levels of education .
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated further that the land acquisition process for the university had started and upon its conclusion, the construction stage will take off in earnest in the shortest time possible with the first batch of student intake for the university scheduled for August 2011, the latest.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
REWIEW TERMS OF MPS (PAGE 13, AUGUST 18, 2010)
PARTICIPANTS at a two-day Brong Ahafo regional hearing and mini consultations organised by the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) in Sunyani have called for a review of the number of terms that a member of parliament (MP) can serve.
According to them, the Constitution should limit the number of terms for MPs to two as the Constitution had spelt out for that of the President.
They were of the view that some MPs were taking advantage of the ex-gratia award paid at the end of every term to enrich themselves whilst refusing to give the chance for others to also serve the people.
They said if someone went for four terms or more, that person was entitled to receive ex-gratia for each tenure and, therefore, people who aspired to become MPs had to fight ‘tooth and nail’ to become MPs which did not augur well for the growth of democracy in the country.
The participants also called for a review of the provision in the Constitution which allowed the President to appoint at least one-third of his ministers from Parliament .
This, they said would enable the President or the party in power to select competent members within its rank and file to serve as ministers to free parliamentarians from interference by the ruling government.
Others also suggested that the pension scheme should be decentralised so that people who were due for retirement did not travel long distances to chase their retirement benefits.
Among the participants at the consultative forum were traditional rulers, the clergy, assembly members, farmers and a cross section of the public.
Some of the submissions also included “changing the status of the Ghana Education Service (GES) into a commission to be responsible for educational matters to prevent governments from playing politics with education”, “creation of an independent body to determine the emoluments of those covered under Article 71, Clauses ‘One’ and ‘Two’ instead of the current arrangement where the President and Parliament determine the emoluments and “the payment of operational duty allowances to Assembly members”
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, in his opening remarks advocated the review of the provision of the Constitution which limits the tenure of municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) to only two terms.
He was of the view that the limitation on the MDCEs made them insecure in terms of their political career and thereby compelled them to wrest power from members of parliament (MPs) in their areas in order to earn their keeps after eight years in office.
This leads to tension and acrimony between the two political office holders.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said his suggestion was to help cure the apprehension of MDCEs in relation to the constitutional limitation on their tenure as well as the political tension it generates between them and MPs.
The Brong Ahafo regional minister stressed that the review of the provision that placed a cap on the tenure of DCEs would engender political partnership at the local level instead of rivalry.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo entreated the people of the Brong Ahafo Region to utilise “the unique opportunity the Commission had offered to actively make submissions to help push the country’s democracy to a higher pedestal”.
The Chairman of the CRC, Prof. Albert K. Fiadjoe, announced that the Commission had received about 32,000 submissions after community and district consultations as well as two regional ones in the northern part of the country.
He pointed out that the Constitution review was not just to listen to submissions but to put together a document that would be owned by the citizenry.
The President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and Omanhene of Kukuom Traditional Area, Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi, who chaired the function challenged people to make submissions that would help address the weaknesses of the 1992 Constitution.
According to them, the Constitution should limit the number of terms for MPs to two as the Constitution had spelt out for that of the President.
They were of the view that some MPs were taking advantage of the ex-gratia award paid at the end of every term to enrich themselves whilst refusing to give the chance for others to also serve the people.
They said if someone went for four terms or more, that person was entitled to receive ex-gratia for each tenure and, therefore, people who aspired to become MPs had to fight ‘tooth and nail’ to become MPs which did not augur well for the growth of democracy in the country.
The participants also called for a review of the provision in the Constitution which allowed the President to appoint at least one-third of his ministers from Parliament .
This, they said would enable the President or the party in power to select competent members within its rank and file to serve as ministers to free parliamentarians from interference by the ruling government.
Others also suggested that the pension scheme should be decentralised so that people who were due for retirement did not travel long distances to chase their retirement benefits.
Among the participants at the consultative forum were traditional rulers, the clergy, assembly members, farmers and a cross section of the public.
Some of the submissions also included “changing the status of the Ghana Education Service (GES) into a commission to be responsible for educational matters to prevent governments from playing politics with education”, “creation of an independent body to determine the emoluments of those covered under Article 71, Clauses ‘One’ and ‘Two’ instead of the current arrangement where the President and Parliament determine the emoluments and “the payment of operational duty allowances to Assembly members”
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, in his opening remarks advocated the review of the provision of the Constitution which limits the tenure of municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) to only two terms.
He was of the view that the limitation on the MDCEs made them insecure in terms of their political career and thereby compelled them to wrest power from members of parliament (MPs) in their areas in order to earn their keeps after eight years in office.
This leads to tension and acrimony between the two political office holders.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said his suggestion was to help cure the apprehension of MDCEs in relation to the constitutional limitation on their tenure as well as the political tension it generates between them and MPs.
The Brong Ahafo regional minister stressed that the review of the provision that placed a cap on the tenure of DCEs would engender political partnership at the local level instead of rivalry.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo entreated the people of the Brong Ahafo Region to utilise “the unique opportunity the Commission had offered to actively make submissions to help push the country’s democracy to a higher pedestal”.
The Chairman of the CRC, Prof. Albert K. Fiadjoe, announced that the Commission had received about 32,000 submissions after community and district consultations as well as two regional ones in the northern part of the country.
He pointed out that the Constitution review was not just to listen to submissions but to put together a document that would be owned by the citizenry.
The President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and Omanhene of Kukuom Traditional Area, Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi, who chaired the function challenged people to make submissions that would help address the weaknesses of the 1992 Constitution.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
ADUANA NEED TOTAL SUPPORT — DORMAAHENE (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, AUGUST 17, 2010)
The overlord of the Dormaa state and Patron of Aduana Stars Football Club, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, has called on football-loving fans and Aduana citizens across the length and breadth of the country and overseas to support the 2010 Glo Premier League champions in cash and in kind towards its participation in the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Champions League to lift the flag of Ghana high.
According to the Omanhene of Dormaa Traditional Area, Aduana Stars have the potential to revive the nostalgic feelings and memories of traditional clubs such as Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts Oak in the annals of CAF club championships.
He said if Aduana got the needed support from all and sundry the club could win the Champions League to make Ghana proud and also revive the fortunes and the massive patronage recorded in the past at the various stadia on the domestic front which is fast dwindling as a result of the poor showing at the continental level.
“This is the time that all football fans in the country, no matter their club affiliation, should throw their weight behind Aduana in its campaign in the CAF Club Championship since the club is going to Africa to defend the flag of Ghana, and its success would help enhance the image of football in the nation”, he stressed.
Nana Agyeman Badu II made the call at a fund-raising durbar at Dormaa-Ahenkro, the base of Aduana in the Brong Ahafo Region at the weekend to raise funds to support the team’s preparations and subsequent participation in the upcoming CAF Club championship.
In all, a total of GH¢130,000 (¢1.3billion) was realised at the durbar, with the Dormaahene himself donating GH¢15,000 towards the cause.
He noted that Aduana had come to stay in the Premier League and that the club was determined to go to Africa to prove a point that the debutants winning the domestic elite club division championship was not a fluke, or accidental, which has been recorded in the annals of continental and world football as one of the newly promoted side to the elite division to win the domestic champions title in its first year of promotion to the premiership.
Nana Agyeman Badu, therefore, urged fans of the club both within and outside the country not to relent in their support for the team but to contribute financially to enable the team win more laurels at both the domestic, continental and international levels.
The Omanhene of Dormaa added that since the running of football club, especially at the premiership level, requires huge financial support and more especially going to Arica, there was a need to raise funds to support the team at those levels of the game.
He stated further that the resolve of Aduana to go to Africa implied that the team should be able to play all its home matches at its Nana Agyeman Badu Sports Stadium at Dormaa Ahenkro and therefore tasked the Dormaa Municipal and Dormaa East District Assemblies as part of their development efforts to upgrade the stadium to meet international standards immediately to enable the team honour its home matches during the CAF club competition.
Nana Agyeman Badu noted that when the club played its home matches at Dormaa Ahenkro during the CAF clubs championship, the two assemblies stood to benefit in terms of revenue generation, while commercial activities in the area would also receive a massive boost.
He appealed to the assemblies to, as a matter of urgency, do all they could to rehabilitate the Dormaa Stadium to meet international standards so they would be approved by the CAF inspection team which is expected in the country soon.
He urged the playing body and technical team of the club not to rest on their oars but work harder to win more laurels to justify the investment and confidence reposed in them by both management and fans of the club so as to mobilise more support for the club.
According to the Omanhene of Dormaa Traditional Area, Aduana Stars have the potential to revive the nostalgic feelings and memories of traditional clubs such as Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts Oak in the annals of CAF club championships.
He said if Aduana got the needed support from all and sundry the club could win the Champions League to make Ghana proud and also revive the fortunes and the massive patronage recorded in the past at the various stadia on the domestic front which is fast dwindling as a result of the poor showing at the continental level.
“This is the time that all football fans in the country, no matter their club affiliation, should throw their weight behind Aduana in its campaign in the CAF Club Championship since the club is going to Africa to defend the flag of Ghana, and its success would help enhance the image of football in the nation”, he stressed.
Nana Agyeman Badu II made the call at a fund-raising durbar at Dormaa-Ahenkro, the base of Aduana in the Brong Ahafo Region at the weekend to raise funds to support the team’s preparations and subsequent participation in the upcoming CAF Club championship.
In all, a total of GH¢130,000 (¢1.3billion) was realised at the durbar, with the Dormaahene himself donating GH¢15,000 towards the cause.
He noted that Aduana had come to stay in the Premier League and that the club was determined to go to Africa to prove a point that the debutants winning the domestic elite club division championship was not a fluke, or accidental, which has been recorded in the annals of continental and world football as one of the newly promoted side to the elite division to win the domestic champions title in its first year of promotion to the premiership.
Nana Agyeman Badu, therefore, urged fans of the club both within and outside the country not to relent in their support for the team but to contribute financially to enable the team win more laurels at both the domestic, continental and international levels.
The Omanhene of Dormaa added that since the running of football club, especially at the premiership level, requires huge financial support and more especially going to Arica, there was a need to raise funds to support the team at those levels of the game.
He stated further that the resolve of Aduana to go to Africa implied that the team should be able to play all its home matches at its Nana Agyeman Badu Sports Stadium at Dormaa Ahenkro and therefore tasked the Dormaa Municipal and Dormaa East District Assemblies as part of their development efforts to upgrade the stadium to meet international standards immediately to enable the team honour its home matches during the CAF club competition.
Nana Agyeman Badu noted that when the club played its home matches at Dormaa Ahenkro during the CAF clubs championship, the two assemblies stood to benefit in terms of revenue generation, while commercial activities in the area would also receive a massive boost.
He appealed to the assemblies to, as a matter of urgency, do all they could to rehabilitate the Dormaa Stadium to meet international standards so they would be approved by the CAF inspection team which is expected in the country soon.
He urged the playing body and technical team of the club not to rest on their oars but work harder to win more laurels to justify the investment and confidence reposed in them by both management and fans of the club so as to mobilise more support for the club.
NTOTROSO TRADITIONAL COUNCIL COLLABORATES WITH INVESTOR (PAGE 35, AUGUST 18, 2010)
THE Ntotroso Traditional Council has decided to collaborate with Rana Sports Company Limited, exporters of teak, agricultural produce and dealers in sportswear to provide technical and financial support for farmers in the area.
The aim of the collaboration is to boost agricultural production and raise the income of the farmers.
In this regard, the company is to offer assistance to farmers who are mostly engaged in subsistence farming to go into large-scale mechanised agricultural production as a way of reducing poverty and ensuring food security in the area in particular and the nation as a whole.
Subsequently, the company would provide farmers in the area with tractors to plough their lands free-of-charge, supply them with high yielding seedlings and fertilisers.
Apart from the assistance for farmers in the area, the company would as part of the collaboration with the council, also establish a sports academy to help train the youth in the area who wish to play football.
To ensure the success of the partnership, the council donated a parcel of land to the company for the establishment of the sports academy.
Speaking at the launching of the collaboration at Ntotroso in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Emmanuel Arthur, the General Manager of the company, said the initiative formed part of the company’s social responsibility for the area.
He said the company would buy the teak produced by the farmers for export.
Mr Arthur said apart from assisting the youth who had interest in football to unearth their talents, the company would also help those with no interest in the sport to acquire employable skills.
He stated that the company was already operating at Kasoa in the Central Region and at Nzema in the Western Region where it bought dry coconut from local farmers who had been assisted to go into that production for export.
The Chairman of Rana Sports Group of companies, Mr Rana Mohammed Yaseen, expressed gratitude to the chief and people of Ntotroso for their warm reception, adding that the decision to partner the company to help improve the livelihoods of the people in the area is his prime insterest.
The Ntotrosohene, Barima Twereku Ampem, gave the assurance that Nananom would continue to collaborate with groups and individuals such as Rana Sports to invest in the area.
The aim of the collaboration is to boost agricultural production and raise the income of the farmers.
In this regard, the company is to offer assistance to farmers who are mostly engaged in subsistence farming to go into large-scale mechanised agricultural production as a way of reducing poverty and ensuring food security in the area in particular and the nation as a whole.
Subsequently, the company would provide farmers in the area with tractors to plough their lands free-of-charge, supply them with high yielding seedlings and fertilisers.
Apart from the assistance for farmers in the area, the company would as part of the collaboration with the council, also establish a sports academy to help train the youth in the area who wish to play football.
To ensure the success of the partnership, the council donated a parcel of land to the company for the establishment of the sports academy.
Speaking at the launching of the collaboration at Ntotroso in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Emmanuel Arthur, the General Manager of the company, said the initiative formed part of the company’s social responsibility for the area.
He said the company would buy the teak produced by the farmers for export.
Mr Arthur said apart from assisting the youth who had interest in football to unearth their talents, the company would also help those with no interest in the sport to acquire employable skills.
He stated that the company was already operating at Kasoa in the Central Region and at Nzema in the Western Region where it bought dry coconut from local farmers who had been assisted to go into that production for export.
The Chairman of Rana Sports Group of companies, Mr Rana Mohammed Yaseen, expressed gratitude to the chief and people of Ntotroso for their warm reception, adding that the decision to partner the company to help improve the livelihoods of the people in the area is his prime insterest.
The Ntotrosohene, Barima Twereku Ampem, gave the assurance that Nananom would continue to collaborate with groups and individuals such as Rana Sports to invest in the area.
Monday, August 16, 2010
ASHGOLD HOLD ADUANA (BACK PAGE, AUGUST 16, 2010)
League champions Aduana Stars and Ashantigold settled for a goalless drawn game in their GHALCA Top 4 encounter at the Nana Agyeman Badu Park at Dormaa-Ahenkro yesterday.
Both teams, aware of the emerging rivarly between them, went into the game with all seriousness to prove a point but Coach David Duncan’s tactics could not break down the iron-clad defence of Herbert Addo’s team.
Aduana, determined to revive their so-called one-goal project and lift the spirits of their numerous fans who watched the game, pinned their opponents to their own half after recess but were wasteful in front of goal with skipper Samuel Asiedu being the worst culprit.
Ashantigold who were also poised to complete the double over their opponents whom they beat 1-0 in the first round built their attack around Frederick Quayson, but they were kept at bay by the solid Aduana defence which revolved around Gabriel Opokuware.
Both teams, aware of the emerging rivarly between them, went into the game with all seriousness to prove a point but Coach David Duncan’s tactics could not break down the iron-clad defence of Herbert Addo’s team.
Aduana, determined to revive their so-called one-goal project and lift the spirits of their numerous fans who watched the game, pinned their opponents to their own half after recess but were wasteful in front of goal with skipper Samuel Asiedu being the worst culprit.
Ashantigold who were also poised to complete the double over their opponents whom they beat 1-0 in the first round built their attack around Frederick Quayson, but they were kept at bay by the solid Aduana defence which revolved around Gabriel Opokuware.
WIDEN HORIZON FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE — PREZ (SPREAD LEAD, AUGUST 16, 2010)
THE President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, has tasked security committees to focus on human security and seek ways and means of widening the horizon for social justice.
He said they should not only focus on chieftaincy disputes, tribal conflicts and armed robberies.
The various security committees must also seek ways to ensure the provision of social amenities and economic opportunities and reawaken a sense of communal togetherness which would ensure peaceful co-existence and cut down on the crime wave in the country.
President Mills threw the challenge to members of the various security committees from the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions attending a two-day orientation workshop organised by the National Security Council (NASEC) Secretariat in Sunyani last Friday.
The President, in an address read on his behalf by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, to open the workshop, stated that without opportunities for economic development and social advancement in the rural areas, national security would continue to be under siege and, therefore, urged the security committees to make the planning and implementation of development programmes at the grass-root level their primary concern.
“It is my expectation that at the end of this orientation, participants will come to recognise that the essence of security committees at the national, regional and district levels is to offer leadership that gets things done to achieve the better Ghana agenda and make Ghana the beacon of Africa,” he stated.
The workshop, which was on the theme, “Understanding and appreciating the interface between security and development at the metropolitan, municipal and district levels”, was attended by the National Security Co-ordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey; his deputy in charge of Operations, Mr E. G. Kosivi-Degbor; Messrs E.T. Mensah and Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare and the Eastern Regional Minister, respectively.
President Mills noted that the era when the term ‘national security’ invoked fear in the minds of the ordinary Ghanaian must give way to a better understanding in which national security thrived on the Constitution working to the satisfaction of all.
He commended the NASEC Secretariat for organising the workshop to present the Better Ghana agenda from the National Security perspective, saying the novelty might be of surprise to some people.
Turning to the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), President Mills urged them not to limit their development efforts to the building of markets and places of convenience but also the production of goods and services at the local level by owning productive enterprises, providing social amenities and reviving the communal sprit which, in the past and by Ghanaian tradition, had been responsible for development in the rural areas.
Participants at the workshop were taken through topics including, “The role and focus of DISEC/MUSEC/METROSEC in the Better Ghana agenda”, “Leadership at the district level”, “The effective use of by-laws for the Better Ghana agenda at the district level”, “The roles of the DCE/MCE and the district assembly in the youth-in-agriculture programme” and “Resource mobilisation at the district/municipal and metropolitan level”.
He said they should not only focus on chieftaincy disputes, tribal conflicts and armed robberies.
The various security committees must also seek ways to ensure the provision of social amenities and economic opportunities and reawaken a sense of communal togetherness which would ensure peaceful co-existence and cut down on the crime wave in the country.
President Mills threw the challenge to members of the various security committees from the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions attending a two-day orientation workshop organised by the National Security Council (NASEC) Secretariat in Sunyani last Friday.
The President, in an address read on his behalf by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, to open the workshop, stated that without opportunities for economic development and social advancement in the rural areas, national security would continue to be under siege and, therefore, urged the security committees to make the planning and implementation of development programmes at the grass-root level their primary concern.
“It is my expectation that at the end of this orientation, participants will come to recognise that the essence of security committees at the national, regional and district levels is to offer leadership that gets things done to achieve the better Ghana agenda and make Ghana the beacon of Africa,” he stated.
The workshop, which was on the theme, “Understanding and appreciating the interface between security and development at the metropolitan, municipal and district levels”, was attended by the National Security Co-ordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey; his deputy in charge of Operations, Mr E. G. Kosivi-Degbor; Messrs E.T. Mensah and Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare and the Eastern Regional Minister, respectively.
President Mills noted that the era when the term ‘national security’ invoked fear in the minds of the ordinary Ghanaian must give way to a better understanding in which national security thrived on the Constitution working to the satisfaction of all.
He commended the NASEC Secretariat for organising the workshop to present the Better Ghana agenda from the National Security perspective, saying the novelty might be of surprise to some people.
Turning to the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), President Mills urged them not to limit their development efforts to the building of markets and places of convenience but also the production of goods and services at the local level by owning productive enterprises, providing social amenities and reviving the communal sprit which, in the past and by Ghanaian tradition, had been responsible for development in the rural areas.
Participants at the workshop were taken through topics including, “The role and focus of DISEC/MUSEC/METROSEC in the Better Ghana agenda”, “Leadership at the district level”, “The effective use of by-laws for the Better Ghana agenda at the district level”, “The roles of the DCE/MCE and the district assembly in the youth-in-agriculture programme” and “Resource mobilisation at the district/municipal and metropolitan level”.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
B.A. MATCH COMMISSIONERS END COURSE (PAGE 30, AUGUST 14, 2010)
Match Commissioners in the Brong Ahafo Region have ended an in-service training course in Sunyani to be abreast of the current development of the game and to prepare them for the upcoming football season.
The training course was attended by 45 participants and they were taken through the rules and regulations of the game by Messrs Amediok and Ayamba, FIFA and CAF Instructor and National Vice Chairman of the Match Commissioners Association, respectively.
Other topics the participants were taken through were the FIFA current amendment for referees and match reporting.
The Chairman of the Brong Ahafo Match Commissioners Association, Mr A. Danso, thanked the organisers for beginning the training programme from the Brong Ahafo.
Certificates were later presented to the first batch of members of the association who attended a similar training course in Accra recently.
The training course was attended by 45 participants and they were taken through the rules and regulations of the game by Messrs Amediok and Ayamba, FIFA and CAF Instructor and National Vice Chairman of the Match Commissioners Association, respectively.
Other topics the participants were taken through were the FIFA current amendment for referees and match reporting.
The Chairman of the Brong Ahafo Match Commissioners Association, Mr A. Danso, thanked the organisers for beginning the training programme from the Brong Ahafo.
Certificates were later presented to the first batch of members of the association who attended a similar training course in Accra recently.
Friday, August 13, 2010
MOTHER DUMPS BABY INTO PIT (MIRROR, PAGE 27, AUGUST 14, 2010)
From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
The Sunyani Magistrate Court “B”, presided over by Mr Justice Joseph Mensah, has remanded into prison custody a 25–year-old nursing mother who dumped her one-and-half-year-old baby girl, now deceased into a pit latrine at Chiraa in the Sunyani West District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The accused, Ama Tusor, a farmer who has been charged with murder but whose plea was not taken in court will re-appear before court on August 20, 2010.
The court, however, ordered that the accused be sent to the psychiatric hospital for an examination to ascertain whether she is mentally sound or not.
The facts of the case as presented in court were that the accused was a farmer residing at Chiraa while the complainant, Amadu Salifu, a farmer also lived in the same vicinity with the accused.
On July 16, 2010, at about 9.30 a.m. the complainant who lived closer to the accused heard the accused had gone to dump her one-and-half-year –old baby girl into pit which they also used as a place of convenience.
The complainant, therefore, decided to ask the accused the whereabouts of her baby and the accused who was bold enough told the complainant that she had dumped the baby in a pit.
The complainant in the company of three others marched the accused to the pit and found the baby in the maggot infested pit.
The complainant then took the accused to the Chiraa police station who led the police to the pit.
The Police after rescuing the baby from the pit sent her to the Chiraa Clinic but was pronounced dead on arrival and after investigations the accused was put before the court.
The Sunyani Magistrate Court “B”, presided over by Mr Justice Joseph Mensah, has remanded into prison custody a 25–year-old nursing mother who dumped her one-and-half-year-old baby girl, now deceased into a pit latrine at Chiraa in the Sunyani West District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The accused, Ama Tusor, a farmer who has been charged with murder but whose plea was not taken in court will re-appear before court on August 20, 2010.
The court, however, ordered that the accused be sent to the psychiatric hospital for an examination to ascertain whether she is mentally sound or not.
The facts of the case as presented in court were that the accused was a farmer residing at Chiraa while the complainant, Amadu Salifu, a farmer also lived in the same vicinity with the accused.
On July 16, 2010, at about 9.30 a.m. the complainant who lived closer to the accused heard the accused had gone to dump her one-and-half-year –old baby girl into pit which they also used as a place of convenience.
The complainant, therefore, decided to ask the accused the whereabouts of her baby and the accused who was bold enough told the complainant that she had dumped the baby in a pit.
The complainant in the company of three others marched the accused to the pit and found the baby in the maggot infested pit.
The complainant then took the accused to the Chiraa police station who led the police to the pit.
The Police after rescuing the baby from the pit sent her to the Chiraa Clinic but was pronounced dead on arrival and after investigations the accused was put before the court.
SILLSPORT ACADEMY GETS £80,000 BOOAST (GRAPHIC SPORT, PAGE 11, AUGUST 13, 2010)
Sillsport Group football development, management and consulting company based in the United Kingdom (UK) has donated sports equipment worth £80,000 to the Sillsport Football Academy and Sillsport Football Club (FC), a division two side based in Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital.
The items included football jerseys, boots, footballs, training equipment, computers and its accessories, a 4x4 Land Rover vehicle, a sit-on-mower and gym equipment to help the academy and the club to unearth talents and also improve the game in the region and the country as a whole.
Speaking at a brief presentation ceremony, Mr Christopher Antoh Forsythe, African consultant of the group and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sillsport FC, said the donation from the group was to support the academy and the club in its training activities.
He said since the take-over of the Glentoran Football Academy, now Sillsport Football Academy, the group had decided to equip the academy to groom more young players for clubs and the national cause.
Mr Forsythe said the group was also into sports development in which it identifies potential players, trains them for onward transfer to both local and foreign clubs, buys franchise in clubs and offers training tours for clubs all over Europe and for national teams.
The CEO said the group is a UEFA-licensed match agency which organises matches for national teams and also a FIFA- licensed player management firm which recruits players for onward transfer to European clubs.
Kwaku Yeboah and Stephen Amissah, both skippers of Sillsport FC and Academy respectively, thanked the group for the gesture.
In a related development, Sillsport Group, UK, has donated boxing equipment worth £1,200 to the Brong Ahafo Regional Secretariat of the National Sports Council (NSC) in Sunyani.
The items included boxing gloves, punching bags and head guards. The group has also made available a sit-on mower for the clearing of the pitch at the Sunyani Coronation Park and its gym for the training of sports men and women in the region free of charge.
Mr Forsythe, who made the donation on behalf of the group, said it was their contribution towards the development of boxing in the region.
A former World Boxing Council (WBC) superflyweight and World Boxing Authority (WBA) bantamweight champion in 2000 and now Regional Boxing Coach, “Marvellous” Nana Yaw Konadu, and the Regional Sports Development Officer, Mr Kofi Duku Duodu, who received the items, expressed their gratitude to the group and said the donation would go a long way to help the region to produce world champions for the country like it did some years ago.
The items included football jerseys, boots, footballs, training equipment, computers and its accessories, a 4x4 Land Rover vehicle, a sit-on-mower and gym equipment to help the academy and the club to unearth talents and also improve the game in the region and the country as a whole.
Speaking at a brief presentation ceremony, Mr Christopher Antoh Forsythe, African consultant of the group and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sillsport FC, said the donation from the group was to support the academy and the club in its training activities.
He said since the take-over of the Glentoran Football Academy, now Sillsport Football Academy, the group had decided to equip the academy to groom more young players for clubs and the national cause.
Mr Forsythe said the group was also into sports development in which it identifies potential players, trains them for onward transfer to both local and foreign clubs, buys franchise in clubs and offers training tours for clubs all over Europe and for national teams.
The CEO said the group is a UEFA-licensed match agency which organises matches for national teams and also a FIFA- licensed player management firm which recruits players for onward transfer to European clubs.
Kwaku Yeboah and Stephen Amissah, both skippers of Sillsport FC and Academy respectively, thanked the group for the gesture.
In a related development, Sillsport Group, UK, has donated boxing equipment worth £1,200 to the Brong Ahafo Regional Secretariat of the National Sports Council (NSC) in Sunyani.
The items included boxing gloves, punching bags and head guards. The group has also made available a sit-on mower for the clearing of the pitch at the Sunyani Coronation Park and its gym for the training of sports men and women in the region free of charge.
Mr Forsythe, who made the donation on behalf of the group, said it was their contribution towards the development of boxing in the region.
A former World Boxing Council (WBC) superflyweight and World Boxing Authority (WBA) bantamweight champion in 2000 and now Regional Boxing Coach, “Marvellous” Nana Yaw Konadu, and the Regional Sports Development Officer, Mr Kofi Duku Duodu, who received the items, expressed their gratitude to the group and said the donation would go a long way to help the region to produce world champions for the country like it did some years ago.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
DELAY IN PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION WORRIES FARMERS (PAGE 42, AUGUST 12, 2010)
THE Klo-Begoro Farmers Association has expressed worry over the delay in the payment of compensation to them for crops destroyed by a company mining limestone in the area.
The farmers have, therefore, petitioned Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Eastern Regional Minister, to have the situation addressed.
A petition signed by Mr Moses K. Kudji, the Chairman of the association, Mr Okrah M. Amanor, the Secretary, and Mr Akufo Narh, a member, said the undue delay in the payment of compensation to them by A.J. FANJ Construction, the company engaged in the mining of limestone, was having a negative effect on them and their families.
“We live in a relatively hilly area, with most of the land infertile. We are, however, lucky to have a very broad flat-bottomed fertile valley we have over the years been cultivating for our survival,” it said.
It said with the discovery of limestone in the area, the company started mining the mineral about five years ago without any proper laid down community enhancement programmes.
It said the company removed the vegetation cover and directed all the large volumes of drainage water from the mines towards the direction of their farms.
“Anytime it rains heavily, run-off from the quarry site flows downstream to flood our farms and this leads to the destruction of all the crops on the land where we have been farming from time immemorial,” the petition said.
It said on May 24, last year, during the major farming season, all the crops they planted were flooded as a result of the drains from the quarry and the incident was reported to officials of the company but they failed to respond.
It said they contracted a legal advisor to help them pursue the matter and the company agreed to meet them for the necessary negotiations.
It said at the first meeting on the matter on September 18, 2009, the company proposed a compensation amount which was less than the cost involved in farming an acre of land.
The petition said many of the farmers could not pay back the loans they had contracted from banks, since all the crops were destroyed by the activities of the construction company.
It, therefore, appealed to the regional minister to intervene and compel the company to pay them compensation for the crops destroyed in the 2009 major and minor farming seasons, as well as the 2010 major season, within the shortest possible time. — GNA
The farmers have, therefore, petitioned Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Eastern Regional Minister, to have the situation addressed.
A petition signed by Mr Moses K. Kudji, the Chairman of the association, Mr Okrah M. Amanor, the Secretary, and Mr Akufo Narh, a member, said the undue delay in the payment of compensation to them by A.J. FANJ Construction, the company engaged in the mining of limestone, was having a negative effect on them and their families.
“We live in a relatively hilly area, with most of the land infertile. We are, however, lucky to have a very broad flat-bottomed fertile valley we have over the years been cultivating for our survival,” it said.
It said with the discovery of limestone in the area, the company started mining the mineral about five years ago without any proper laid down community enhancement programmes.
It said the company removed the vegetation cover and directed all the large volumes of drainage water from the mines towards the direction of their farms.
“Anytime it rains heavily, run-off from the quarry site flows downstream to flood our farms and this leads to the destruction of all the crops on the land where we have been farming from time immemorial,” the petition said.
It said on May 24, last year, during the major farming season, all the crops they planted were flooded as a result of the drains from the quarry and the incident was reported to officials of the company but they failed to respond.
It said they contracted a legal advisor to help them pursue the matter and the company agreed to meet them for the necessary negotiations.
It said at the first meeting on the matter on September 18, 2009, the company proposed a compensation amount which was less than the cost involved in farming an acre of land.
The petition said many of the farmers could not pay back the loans they had contracted from banks, since all the crops were destroyed by the activities of the construction company.
It, therefore, appealed to the regional minister to intervene and compel the company to pay them compensation for the crops destroyed in the 2009 major and minor farming seasons, as well as the 2010 major season, within the shortest possible time. — GNA
Sunday, August 8, 2010
CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTE HALTS ERECTION OF STATUTE (NSEMPA, PAGE 3, AUGUST 9, 2010)
By Samuel Duodu, Berekum.
The erection of a full bronze casted statue of an unknown female farmer carrying a baby at her back with a basket full of cocoa pods on her head and a cutlass in the right hand to be sited at the centre of the Berekum Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region has stalled as a result of furore and tensions being created by the two factions in a 10-year-old chieftaincy dispute pending in the town.
The Gh¢50,000 (¢500million) statue to be sited at the roundabout which is also the Central Business District (CBD) area of the town as part of the beautification projects to give the town a facelift to befit its status as one of the leading commercial and farming areas in the region has also led to skirmshes between the two factions in the chieftancy dispute and the traditional council and the Berekum Municipal Assembly on the other hand.
The statue which was ready for erection on, July 23, 2010 could not come on when it was alleged that some faceless youth believed to be supporters of one of the factions in the cheiftancy dispute at dawn went to demolish the concrete platform constructed on which the statue would be placed thereby escalating the extisting tension between the two factions in the chieftaincy dispute in the town.
The Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) had to quickly hold an emergency meeting to calm down tempers when the news made rounds that the concrete platform on which the statue was to be erected had been demolished on last Friday.
A report has been made to the police by the traditional council led by the disputed Paramount Chief, Daasebre Amankona Diawuo, initiators of the project but no arrest has been made as at the time of filing this report.
When the Graphic Nsempa visited Berekum to assess the situation on the ground some residents told the Graphic Nsempa that they were for the erection of the statue while others were against it.
But according to the traditional council , the erection of the statue of the unknown female farmer at the centre of the Berekum township was to honour the memory of hardworking farmers, especially females who supported their husbands on their large cocoa farms to build most of the storey buildings in Berekum which has added some prestige and brought beauty to the town.
The council added that it was also to inspire the youth of the town and the present generation, which most of them are also cocoa farmers that they could also equal that of their forefathers who through the cultivation of the cash crop, also the leading foreign exchange earner of the country has brought development to the town.
The council added that the erection of the statue was part of an initiative by the traditional council to mobilise Berekum Citizens both within and outside the country to help bring development to their town to befit its status as one of the popular and well planned towns in the region.
It stated further that it was through such meetings with citizens of the town in Accra and Kumasi that a prominent businessman of the town based in Accra decided to sponsor the erection of the statue as part of the development agenda for the town by the traditional council.
The traditional council stated that the erection of the statue which is the first of many projects to come to give a facelift to the town has been stalled by the Municipal Assembly which claimed the project would heighten the tension in the town as a result of the chieftancy dispute.
The council said to ensure that the erection of the statue went on unhindered obtained a court other restraining the assembly and its agents as well as anybody from stopping the project but added that some faceless people whom they described as nation wreckers at dawn on last Friday went to demolish the concrete platform.
When the Graphic Nsempa contacted the Berekum Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Stephen Lord Oppong who is also Chairman of the MUSEC, he said the assembly as the statutory body which has the power to initiate development projects or give the consent to individuals or groups to undertake any development progect has called for a halt in the erection of the statue.
He said the reason was that their investigations indicated that the erection of the statue which is being done under the auspices of the disputed paramount chief of Berekum also one of the factions in the chieftaincy dispute has the pontential to breach the relative calm and peace being enjoy in the town.
Mr. Oppong said the Municipal Security Council had to convey an emergency meeting following the demolishing of the concrete platform on which the statue would be erected to prevent any clashes and it was during the meeting that the assembly invoked its emergency powers to halt the continuation of the project in spite of a court order filed by the traditional council to restrain the assembly from stopping the project.
The erection of a full bronze casted statue of an unknown female farmer carrying a baby at her back with a basket full of cocoa pods on her head and a cutlass in the right hand to be sited at the centre of the Berekum Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region has stalled as a result of furore and tensions being created by the two factions in a 10-year-old chieftaincy dispute pending in the town.
The Gh¢50,000 (¢500million) statue to be sited at the roundabout which is also the Central Business District (CBD) area of the town as part of the beautification projects to give the town a facelift to befit its status as one of the leading commercial and farming areas in the region has also led to skirmshes between the two factions in the chieftancy dispute and the traditional council and the Berekum Municipal Assembly on the other hand.
The statue which was ready for erection on, July 23, 2010 could not come on when it was alleged that some faceless youth believed to be supporters of one of the factions in the cheiftancy dispute at dawn went to demolish the concrete platform constructed on which the statue would be placed thereby escalating the extisting tension between the two factions in the chieftaincy dispute in the town.
The Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) had to quickly hold an emergency meeting to calm down tempers when the news made rounds that the concrete platform on which the statue was to be erected had been demolished on last Friday.
A report has been made to the police by the traditional council led by the disputed Paramount Chief, Daasebre Amankona Diawuo, initiators of the project but no arrest has been made as at the time of filing this report.
When the Graphic Nsempa visited Berekum to assess the situation on the ground some residents told the Graphic Nsempa that they were for the erection of the statue while others were against it.
But according to the traditional council , the erection of the statue of the unknown female farmer at the centre of the Berekum township was to honour the memory of hardworking farmers, especially females who supported their husbands on their large cocoa farms to build most of the storey buildings in Berekum which has added some prestige and brought beauty to the town.
The council added that it was also to inspire the youth of the town and the present generation, which most of them are also cocoa farmers that they could also equal that of their forefathers who through the cultivation of the cash crop, also the leading foreign exchange earner of the country has brought development to the town.
The council added that the erection of the statue was part of an initiative by the traditional council to mobilise Berekum Citizens both within and outside the country to help bring development to their town to befit its status as one of the popular and well planned towns in the region.
It stated further that it was through such meetings with citizens of the town in Accra and Kumasi that a prominent businessman of the town based in Accra decided to sponsor the erection of the statue as part of the development agenda for the town by the traditional council.
The traditional council stated that the erection of the statue which is the first of many projects to come to give a facelift to the town has been stalled by the Municipal Assembly which claimed the project would heighten the tension in the town as a result of the chieftancy dispute.
The council said to ensure that the erection of the statue went on unhindered obtained a court other restraining the assembly and its agents as well as anybody from stopping the project but added that some faceless people whom they described as nation wreckers at dawn on last Friday went to demolish the concrete platform.
When the Graphic Nsempa contacted the Berekum Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Stephen Lord Oppong who is also Chairman of the MUSEC, he said the assembly as the statutory body which has the power to initiate development projects or give the consent to individuals or groups to undertake any development progect has called for a halt in the erection of the statue.
He said the reason was that their investigations indicated that the erection of the statue which is being done under the auspices of the disputed paramount chief of Berekum also one of the factions in the chieftaincy dispute has the pontential to breach the relative calm and peace being enjoy in the town.
Mr. Oppong said the Municipal Security Council had to convey an emergency meeting following the demolishing of the concrete platform on which the statue would be erected to prevent any clashes and it was during the meeting that the assembly invoked its emergency powers to halt the continuation of the project in spite of a court order filed by the traditional council to restrain the assembly from stopping the project.
Friday, August 6, 2010
RUN-AWAY FARMER JAILED FOR DEFILEMENT (PAGE 20, MIRROR, AUGUST 7, 2010)
From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
A 27-year-old farmer who went into hiding after defiling a co-tenant’s 13-year-old daughter at Yamfo in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region on May 21, 2010 has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Agyemang Prempeh, who was arrested at his hide-out at Yamfo on July 12, 2010 pleaded guilty to the offence and was subsequently sentenced by the Fiapre Circuit Court in the Sunyani West District presided over by Mr Justice Benjamin Yaw Osei.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwaku Amoako, who is also the Regional Co-Coordinator of the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), told the court that the convict lived in the same house with the victim and her parents.
He said on May 21, 2010, the parents of the victim travelled and about 7.30 p.m. the same day, while the victim was taking her bath, the convict, who saw that there was nobody in the house entered the bathroom and forcibly had sex with her.
DSP Amoako said while in the act, the victim, who could not withstand the pain screamed which drew the attention of a witness and the accused bolted.
He stated that on May 22, 2010, the victim was seen walking abnormally and when she was questioned by her parents, she revealed her ordeal to them.
He said the convict, who was immediately confronted, admitted the offence and later sent a delegation to the victim’s parents to plead on his behalf, but a report was made to the Yamfo Police on June 29, 2010 and the vitim was issued with a medical form for examination at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani.
DSP Amoako told the court that on June 6, 2010, the case was referred to DOVVSU for further investigations and on that same day, the victim returned with the endorsed medical form which indicated that “hymen broken”.
He said the accused, who went into hiding, was arrested on July 12, 2010 for investigation and in his caution statement in the presence of an independent witness admitted the offence and also stated having informed his parents to go and plead on his behalf.
A 27-year-old farmer who went into hiding after defiling a co-tenant’s 13-year-old daughter at Yamfo in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region on May 21, 2010 has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Agyemang Prempeh, who was arrested at his hide-out at Yamfo on July 12, 2010 pleaded guilty to the offence and was subsequently sentenced by the Fiapre Circuit Court in the Sunyani West District presided over by Mr Justice Benjamin Yaw Osei.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwaku Amoako, who is also the Regional Co-Coordinator of the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), told the court that the convict lived in the same house with the victim and her parents.
He said on May 21, 2010, the parents of the victim travelled and about 7.30 p.m. the same day, while the victim was taking her bath, the convict, who saw that there was nobody in the house entered the bathroom and forcibly had sex with her.
DSP Amoako said while in the act, the victim, who could not withstand the pain screamed which drew the attention of a witness and the accused bolted.
He stated that on May 22, 2010, the victim was seen walking abnormally and when she was questioned by her parents, she revealed her ordeal to them.
He said the convict, who was immediately confronted, admitted the offence and later sent a delegation to the victim’s parents to plead on his behalf, but a report was made to the Yamfo Police on June 29, 2010 and the vitim was issued with a medical form for examination at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani.
DSP Amoako told the court that on June 6, 2010, the case was referred to DOVVSU for further investigations and on that same day, the victim returned with the endorsed medical form which indicated that “hymen broken”.
He said the accused, who went into hiding, was arrested on July 12, 2010 for investigation and in his caution statement in the presence of an independent witness admitted the offence and also stated having informed his parents to go and plead on his behalf.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
SAMMY ADJEI SAVES HEARTS (BACK PAGE, AUGUST 5, 2010)
Former Black Stars goalkeeper Sammy Adjei was the toast of fans at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park at Dormaa-Ahenkro yesterday as his heroics saved visiting Accra Hearts of Oak from defeat at the hands of Aduana Stars in their scoreless match of the second week GHALCA Top 4.
Adjei, who was making a comeback after a long lay-off, had to dig deep into his rich experience to make some hair-raising saves in the last 10 minutes of the game to the admiration of the large crowd which watched the match.
Defending Premier League champions Aduana Stars, determined to carry the day with their famous ‘one-goal project’ in mind, mounted incessant pressure on Hearts late in the game, but goalkeeper Adjei who is knocking at the doors of the Black Stars, denied them victory.
The match failed to live up to its pre-match hype as both teams bored the fans with their disjointed play for most part of the afternoon.
Contrary to expectations, Aduana did not feature former Hearts striker Bernard Dong Bortey, who played against Ashantigold in their opening game at Obuasi last Sunday.
Adjei, who was making a comeback after a long lay-off, had to dig deep into his rich experience to make some hair-raising saves in the last 10 minutes of the game to the admiration of the large crowd which watched the match.
Defending Premier League champions Aduana Stars, determined to carry the day with their famous ‘one-goal project’ in mind, mounted incessant pressure on Hearts late in the game, but goalkeeper Adjei who is knocking at the doors of the Black Stars, denied them victory.
The match failed to live up to its pre-match hype as both teams bored the fans with their disjointed play for most part of the afternoon.
Contrary to expectations, Aduana did not feature former Hearts striker Bernard Dong Bortey, who played against Ashantigold in their opening game at Obuasi last Sunday.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
BA NADMO LACKS RELIEF ITEMS (PAGE 35, AUGUST 5, 2010)
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Secretariat of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has no stock of relief items to enable the region to respond to the increasing needs of disaster victims.
In case of any emergency situation, the region has to call on the national secretariat before it can attend to the victims.
Apart from that, the Regional, Municipal and District Secretariats of NADMO have no vehicles, thereby making mobility very difficult for the staff to respond promptly to disasters.
The Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Joseph Blankson Nyarko, who made the disclosure, has therefore made an urgent appeal to the government and the national secretariat to meet the logistical and operational needs of the region to enable it to effectively respond to disasters when they occur.
Mr Nyarko was speaking at the regional launch and inauguration of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Management Platform in Sunyani.
A 30-member executive committee comprising representatives of institutions and selected individuals chaired by Dr Daniel K. Addo-Siaw, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Forest Resource Technology (FFRT) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus in Sunyani and an 11-member working committee selected from the executive committee, were inaugurated at the ceremony.
In an address, Mr Nyarko said 3,000 people had been displaced in the region this year as a result of floods, rainstorms, bush and domestic fires.
He said the region also experienced its first gas explosion on May 25, this year, but due to the timely intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service, NADMO and other stakeholders, the situation was brought under control.
According to him, the region had recorded 16 and 12 confirmed cases of HINI Pandemic Influenza at the Techiman and Kintampo Senior High Schools, respectively, but all the victims had been treated.
Subsequently, Mr Nyarko said a regional communication team on the HINI pandemic had been put in place to intensify public education while plans were far advanced to replicate it in all the municipalities and districts in the region.
The Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo expressed concern about the way some local radio stations in the region were using their media to cause panic and fear about the on-going vaccination on HINI pandemic influenza in the region.
He said some of the stations were disseminating alarming information about the vaccination which was detrimental to efforts by the government to prevent any massive national disaster by the spread of the HINI influenza.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated that disaster prevention and management were a shared responsibility and, therefore, implored all stakeholders, especially the radio stations, to use their media to educate the public on disaster prevention rather than to cause panic and fear.
He stated that the major incidence of disasters in the country had been floods, epidemics, fires, pests and diseases as well as conflicts.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said in recent times, those natural hazards had caused major disruptions in the economic and social development of the country due to the inability to cope with them effectively, and cited a recent disaster that befell Agona Swedru as a typical example.
Mrs Diana Boakye, in-charge of Monitoring, Evaluation, Information and Training (NERIT) at the NADMO Headquarters in Accra, who read an address on behalf of Mr Kofi Portuphy, the National Co-ordinator, urged the regional platform to influence the various municipal and district assemblies in the region to enact policies geared towards disaster risk reduction in their respective areas.
In case of any emergency situation, the region has to call on the national secretariat before it can attend to the victims.
Apart from that, the Regional, Municipal and District Secretariats of NADMO have no vehicles, thereby making mobility very difficult for the staff to respond promptly to disasters.
The Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Joseph Blankson Nyarko, who made the disclosure, has therefore made an urgent appeal to the government and the national secretariat to meet the logistical and operational needs of the region to enable it to effectively respond to disasters when they occur.
Mr Nyarko was speaking at the regional launch and inauguration of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Management Platform in Sunyani.
A 30-member executive committee comprising representatives of institutions and selected individuals chaired by Dr Daniel K. Addo-Siaw, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Forest Resource Technology (FFRT) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus in Sunyani and an 11-member working committee selected from the executive committee, were inaugurated at the ceremony.
In an address, Mr Nyarko said 3,000 people had been displaced in the region this year as a result of floods, rainstorms, bush and domestic fires.
He said the region also experienced its first gas explosion on May 25, this year, but due to the timely intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service, NADMO and other stakeholders, the situation was brought under control.
According to him, the region had recorded 16 and 12 confirmed cases of HINI Pandemic Influenza at the Techiman and Kintampo Senior High Schools, respectively, but all the victims had been treated.
Subsequently, Mr Nyarko said a regional communication team on the HINI pandemic had been put in place to intensify public education while plans were far advanced to replicate it in all the municipalities and districts in the region.
The Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo expressed concern about the way some local radio stations in the region were using their media to cause panic and fear about the on-going vaccination on HINI pandemic influenza in the region.
He said some of the stations were disseminating alarming information about the vaccination which was detrimental to efforts by the government to prevent any massive national disaster by the spread of the HINI influenza.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated that disaster prevention and management were a shared responsibility and, therefore, implored all stakeholders, especially the radio stations, to use their media to educate the public on disaster prevention rather than to cause panic and fear.
He stated that the major incidence of disasters in the country had been floods, epidemics, fires, pests and diseases as well as conflicts.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said in recent times, those natural hazards had caused major disruptions in the economic and social development of the country due to the inability to cope with them effectively, and cited a recent disaster that befell Agona Swedru as a typical example.
Mrs Diana Boakye, in-charge of Monitoring, Evaluation, Information and Training (NERIT) at the NADMO Headquarters in Accra, who read an address on behalf of Mr Kofi Portuphy, the National Co-ordinator, urged the regional platform to influence the various municipal and district assemblies in the region to enact policies geared towards disaster risk reduction in their respective areas.
MP FOR TANO SOUTH SUPPORTS SCHOOL (PAGE 14, AUGUST 4, 2010)
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano South Constituency , Mr Andrews Adjei-Yeboah, has presented a digital duplicator worth Gh¢4,200 to the Techimantia Presbyterian Senior High/Commercial School (PRESCO) in the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The duplicator which has the capacity to print about 1,000 question papers within five minutes was bought from part of the MPs share of the common fund.
Speaking at a brief presentation ceremony at the School, Mr Adjei-Yeboah said the donation was in response to an appeal made by the school authorities for assistance to own its copier machine.
He noted that previously the school authorities had to travel long distances to borrow a duplicator to come and make copies of question papers for internal examination which sometimes compromised the security of the examination papers, hence his decision to assist the school to own one.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said that the promotion of quality education was his top most priority for his constituents and as such had decided to devote 80 per cent of his share of the common fund to education.
He mentioned some of the beneficiary education institutions as the St. Joseph College of Education at Bechem and the Kwahu Presbyterian Basic School that were benefiting from a 10 seater water closet sanitary facility as part of its upgrading it into a tertiary institution and a three unit classroom block for the pre-school respectively.
He said he had also given out about Gh¢10,000 as scholarship packages for students from the constituency who were in schools in the area and outside while Gh¢20,000 had been spent on the Subrisu CHIPS Compound to make it operational.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah urged the students of the school to study hard to compliment the heavy investment being made by the MP and their parents to enhance teaching and learning.
The duplicator which has the capacity to print about 1,000 question papers within five minutes was bought from part of the MPs share of the common fund.
Speaking at a brief presentation ceremony at the School, Mr Adjei-Yeboah said the donation was in response to an appeal made by the school authorities for assistance to own its copier machine.
He noted that previously the school authorities had to travel long distances to borrow a duplicator to come and make copies of question papers for internal examination which sometimes compromised the security of the examination papers, hence his decision to assist the school to own one.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said that the promotion of quality education was his top most priority for his constituents and as such had decided to devote 80 per cent of his share of the common fund to education.
He mentioned some of the beneficiary education institutions as the St. Joseph College of Education at Bechem and the Kwahu Presbyterian Basic School that were benefiting from a 10 seater water closet sanitary facility as part of its upgrading it into a tertiary institution and a three unit classroom block for the pre-school respectively.
He said he had also given out about Gh¢10,000 as scholarship packages for students from the constituency who were in schools in the area and outside while Gh¢20,000 had been spent on the Subrisu CHIPS Compound to make it operational.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah urged the students of the school to study hard to compliment the heavy investment being made by the MP and their parents to enhance teaching and learning.
MP FOR TANO SOUTH SUPPORTS SCHOOL (PAGE 14, AUGUST 4, 2010)
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano South Constituency , Mr Andrews Adjei-Yeboah, has presented a digital duplicator worth Gh¢4,200 to the Techimantia Presbyterian Senior High/Commercial School (PRESCO) in the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The duplicator which has the capacity to print about 1,000 question papers within five minutes was bought from part of the MPs share of the common fund.
Speaking at a brief presentation ceremony at the School, Mr Adjei-Yeboah said the donation was in response to an appeal made by the school authorities for assistance to own its copier machine.
He noted that previously the school authorities had to travel long distances to borrow a duplicator to come and make copies of question papers for internal examination which sometimes compromised the security of the examination papers, hence his decision to assist the school to own one.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said that the promotion of quality education was his top most priority for his constituents and as such had decided to devote 80 per cent of his share of the common fund to education.
He mentioned some of the beneficiary education institutions as the St. Joseph College of Education at Bechem and the Kwahu Presbyterian Basic School that were benefiting from a 10 seater water closet sanitary facility as part of its upgrading it into a tertiary institution and a three unit classroom block for the pre-school respectively.
He said he had also given out about Gh¢10,000 as scholarship packages for students from the constituency who were in schools in the area and outside while Gh¢20,000 had been spent on the Subrisu CHIPS Compound to make it operational.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah urged the students of the school to study hard to compliment the heavy investment being made by the MP and their parents to enhance teaching and learning.
The duplicator which has the capacity to print about 1,000 question papers within five minutes was bought from part of the MPs share of the common fund.
Speaking at a brief presentation ceremony at the School, Mr Adjei-Yeboah said the donation was in response to an appeal made by the school authorities for assistance to own its copier machine.
He noted that previously the school authorities had to travel long distances to borrow a duplicator to come and make copies of question papers for internal examination which sometimes compromised the security of the examination papers, hence his decision to assist the school to own one.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said that the promotion of quality education was his top most priority for his constituents and as such had decided to devote 80 per cent of his share of the common fund to education.
He mentioned some of the beneficiary education institutions as the St. Joseph College of Education at Bechem and the Kwahu Presbyterian Basic School that were benefiting from a 10 seater water closet sanitary facility as part of its upgrading it into a tertiary institution and a three unit classroom block for the pre-school respectively.
He said he had also given out about Gh¢10,000 as scholarship packages for students from the constituency who were in schools in the area and outside while Gh¢20,000 had been spent on the Subrisu CHIPS Compound to make it operational.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah urged the students of the school to study hard to compliment the heavy investment being made by the MP and their parents to enhance teaching and learning.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
20,000 CHILDREN TO GET FREE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS (PAGE 42, AUGUST 4, 2010)
MORE than 20,000 schoolchildren in public basic schools in deprived communities in six municipalities and districts in the Brong Ahafo Region are to benefit from educational materials and other items from the Samaritan’s Purse, a United States of America (USA) based non-governmental organisation (NGO), this year.
The beneficiary municipalities and districts are Kintampo North, Sunyani East, Sunyani West, Kintampo South, Tano North and Asunafo South.
Last year, over 6,000 schoolchildren in five other districts in the region benefited from a similar gesture.
Rev. Acheampong Yiadom-Boakye of Operation Happy Child, the local representatives’ of the NGO, disclosed this at a similar presentation ceremony to schoolchildren of four basic schools at Techire in the Tano North District.
The beneficiary schools were the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), District Assembly, Roman Catholic and Islamic basic schools at Techire.
According to Rev. Yiadom-Boakye, the donation of the parcels comprising reading materials such as Christian literature, crayons, colour pencils, sharpeners, toys, among others was being carried out by Operation Happy Child in collaboration with Gospel Ministers Network, a network of pastors in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He stated that the target of the project was to reach out to every Ghanaian child in 20 years time.
Rev. Yiadom-Boakye said the presentation of the parcels to the schoolchildren in deprived communities was to encourage them to study hard and also educate them on the gospel of Jesus Christ to enable them to grow to become responsible citizens of the country.
He expressed the hope that the presents would go a long way to enhance teaching and learning in the beneficiary schools.
The Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, who presented some of the gift boxes to some of the schoolchildren, stated that bringing up a child was a collective responsibility shared by the nation, the community, the school, teachers and pupils.
He, therefore, called on parents not to use the government’s free supply of exercise books and uniforms, as well as other interventions to shirk their responsibilities towards the education of their children.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo admonished parents to invest in the education of their children since it was the greatest legacy they could bequeath their children.
The beneficiary municipalities and districts are Kintampo North, Sunyani East, Sunyani West, Kintampo South, Tano North and Asunafo South.
Last year, over 6,000 schoolchildren in five other districts in the region benefited from a similar gesture.
Rev. Acheampong Yiadom-Boakye of Operation Happy Child, the local representatives’ of the NGO, disclosed this at a similar presentation ceremony to schoolchildren of four basic schools at Techire in the Tano North District.
The beneficiary schools were the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), District Assembly, Roman Catholic and Islamic basic schools at Techire.
According to Rev. Yiadom-Boakye, the donation of the parcels comprising reading materials such as Christian literature, crayons, colour pencils, sharpeners, toys, among others was being carried out by Operation Happy Child in collaboration with Gospel Ministers Network, a network of pastors in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He stated that the target of the project was to reach out to every Ghanaian child in 20 years time.
Rev. Yiadom-Boakye said the presentation of the parcels to the schoolchildren in deprived communities was to encourage them to study hard and also educate them on the gospel of Jesus Christ to enable them to grow to become responsible citizens of the country.
He expressed the hope that the presents would go a long way to enhance teaching and learning in the beneficiary schools.
The Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, who presented some of the gift boxes to some of the schoolchildren, stated that bringing up a child was a collective responsibility shared by the nation, the community, the school, teachers and pupils.
He, therefore, called on parents not to use the government’s free supply of exercise books and uniforms, as well as other interventions to shirk their responsibilities towards the education of their children.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo admonished parents to invest in the education of their children since it was the greatest legacy they could bequeath their children.
SUBMIT PROPOSALS TO ENRICH MINERALS AND MINING ACT (PAGE 42, AUGUST 4, 2010)
COMMUNITIES affected by mining have been urged to make inputs to enrich the Minerals and Mining ACT ( ACT 703 of 2006) and the 1992 Republican Constitution which are currently under review for the enhancement of their rights and welfare .
Mr Richard Adjei- Poku, the Executive Director of Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG), a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) based at Kenyasi in the Brong Ahafo Region, who made the call, said the affected communities’ input would enhance their well-being and address the weaknesses in the existing Minerals and Mining Law.
Speaking at a-day’s community capacity building and sensitisation workshop for opinion leaders in the various mining communities in the district, Mr Adjei-Poku said the existing mineral and mining law had ceded so many privileges to expatriates at the expense of the local people and the nation at large, hence the review of the law.
The workshop, which formed part of the Local Authority Capacity Enhancement Project under the acronym LACEP, is a three-year pilot project designed and being implemented by Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) in partnership with the Asutifi District Assembly, traditional authorities, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) and civil society organisations (CSOs) with LEG as the lead organiser of CSOs, is being funded by the Revenue Watch Institute (RWI).
It is to sensitise opinion leaders in the various mining communities in the Asutifi District on the impact of mining on the economy, the environment and the social life of the people and how to effectively monitor the utilisation of mining revenue at the local level.
Touching on the broader theme for the workshop: “The economic, social and environmental impact of mining, its revenue generation and utilisation,” Mr Adjei-Poku said the project also sought to build the capacity of the people at the local level.
That, he said, was to ensure the judicious use of mining revenue to reduce poverty in the mining communities and to promote national development.
Mr Adjei-Poku stated that because the extractive resources were finite, non-renewable and the damage caused was so huge and long lasting, there was the need for opinion leaders to ensure that dividends from such undertakings were utilised responsibly, transparently and to the benefit of all, especially those who were directly affected by it, as well as future generations.
“We must keep an eye on the money being reported on, we must follow it to the various destinations as they are disbursed, we should scrutinise how they are applied to reduce poverty and to promote development,” he told the participants.
Mr Adjei-Poku urged opinion leaders to partner with the traditional authorities, mining companies, the district assembly and CSOs to safeguard the values of fairness, equity and sustainable use of the environment on which their lives and those of posterity depended.
Touching on the activities of LEG, Mr Adjei-Poku said the organisation currently operated in 35 communities with 23 of them in the Asutifi and Tano North Districts in the Brong Ahafo Region and 12 in the Birim North District in the Eastern Region.
He said LEG had as its main goal to advocate the protection of the environment, community interest and livelihood of men and women.
Mr. Adjei-Poku said the livelihood of the rural people depended on the environment and for that matter, LEG with support from Global Greengrants Fund and Third World Network-Africa (TWN-Africa), had embarked on a four-acre restoration projects around the banks of Rivers Tano and Akantansu in Ntotroso and Kenyasi, respectively, both in the Asutifi District since last year with the aim of conserving the ecology of the two rivers.
Mr Richard Adjei- Poku, the Executive Director of Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG), a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) based at Kenyasi in the Brong Ahafo Region, who made the call, said the affected communities’ input would enhance their well-being and address the weaknesses in the existing Minerals and Mining Law.
Speaking at a-day’s community capacity building and sensitisation workshop for opinion leaders in the various mining communities in the district, Mr Adjei-Poku said the existing mineral and mining law had ceded so many privileges to expatriates at the expense of the local people and the nation at large, hence the review of the law.
The workshop, which formed part of the Local Authority Capacity Enhancement Project under the acronym LACEP, is a three-year pilot project designed and being implemented by Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) in partnership with the Asutifi District Assembly, traditional authorities, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) and civil society organisations (CSOs) with LEG as the lead organiser of CSOs, is being funded by the Revenue Watch Institute (RWI).
It is to sensitise opinion leaders in the various mining communities in the Asutifi District on the impact of mining on the economy, the environment and the social life of the people and how to effectively monitor the utilisation of mining revenue at the local level.
Touching on the broader theme for the workshop: “The economic, social and environmental impact of mining, its revenue generation and utilisation,” Mr Adjei-Poku said the project also sought to build the capacity of the people at the local level.
That, he said, was to ensure the judicious use of mining revenue to reduce poverty in the mining communities and to promote national development.
Mr Adjei-Poku stated that because the extractive resources were finite, non-renewable and the damage caused was so huge and long lasting, there was the need for opinion leaders to ensure that dividends from such undertakings were utilised responsibly, transparently and to the benefit of all, especially those who were directly affected by it, as well as future generations.
“We must keep an eye on the money being reported on, we must follow it to the various destinations as they are disbursed, we should scrutinise how they are applied to reduce poverty and to promote development,” he told the participants.
Mr Adjei-Poku urged opinion leaders to partner with the traditional authorities, mining companies, the district assembly and CSOs to safeguard the values of fairness, equity and sustainable use of the environment on which their lives and those of posterity depended.
Touching on the activities of LEG, Mr Adjei-Poku said the organisation currently operated in 35 communities with 23 of them in the Asutifi and Tano North Districts in the Brong Ahafo Region and 12 in the Birim North District in the Eastern Region.
He said LEG had as its main goal to advocate the protection of the environment, community interest and livelihood of men and women.
Mr. Adjei-Poku said the livelihood of the rural people depended on the environment and for that matter, LEG with support from Global Greengrants Fund and Third World Network-Africa (TWN-Africa), had embarked on a four-acre restoration projects around the banks of Rivers Tano and Akantansu in Ntotroso and Kenyasi, respectively, both in the Asutifi District since last year with the aim of conserving the ecology of the two rivers.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
FOODSTUFF SELLER KILLED (NSEMPA PAGE 3, AUGUST 2, 2010)
By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
A 35-year-old foodstuff seller of Sunyani Area Four met her sudden death when she was brutally murdered by some unknown assailants in the morning of Tuesday July, 27, 2010 at Nwaso, a farming community near Atronie in the Sunyani Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The deceased, Patricia Donkor a.k.a, Abena Pat, who was said to be on her way to see Kwabena Darkwah, a farmer, who resides at Nwaso to purchase plantain from him was killed instantly by the assailants who inflicted deep cutlass wounds on her face, back of her neck and shoulders.
The body of the deceased, was discovered on a footpath leading to the Nwaso village by some schoolchildren of Nwaso Local Authority (L/A) Primary School who had been sent by their teachers to collect a bunch of plantain they had bought from the said farmer at his cottage at the same village.
The police were called in to come for the body when the schoolchildren raised an alarm that attracted a large crowd to the scene.
The body had since been deposited at the regional hospital morgue, but no arrests had been made as at the time of filing this report. According to the police in Sunyani, they had intensified their investigations to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
Atronie, a farming community in the Sunyani municipality, in recent times has been prone to ritual murders in the municipality and it was based on such occurrences that irate youth of Atronie about two years ago took the law into their own hands and lynched the former Goaso Government Hospital Administrator, Mr Anthony Yeboah Boateng, on suspicion of being a ritual murderer.
The youth, according to sources at that time, attacked the hospital administrator who was then in the company of two women conveying the dead body of her mother-in-law to the Regional Hospital mortuary in Sunyani in the boot of his private car.
The youth who had then mounted a roadblock in the town on seeing the body in the boot of the late Yeboah Boateng’s car without listening to his explanation, attacked him and killed him instantly and also vandalised his car in the process.
Chief Superintendent Charles Botwe, the Sunyani Municipal Police Commander who confirmed the story to the Graphic Nsempa said they received a phone call that a woman had been murdered at Nwaso two kilometers from Atronie and therefore, the police went for the body, which had been deposited at the Regional Hospital mortuary.
He added that the woman who hade been buying foodstuffs from farmers at Atronie and its surrounding villages on Tuesday morning called Kwabena Darkwah on his mobile phone to reserve some plantain for her to buy. Chief Supt. Botwe added that the deceased who was on her way to the cottage to collect the plantain was attacked by some unknown assailants who inflicted machete wounds on her killing her instantly.
The Chief Supt. added that the deceased was happily married to Mr Asamoah Boateng, a driver of the Metro Mass Transport (MMT) in Sunyani and according to their investigations, there had not been any misunderstanding whatsoever between the deceased and the husband.
He added that the police did not therefore, suspect any foul play since the husband of the deceased on that morning of the attack on his wife at Nwaso left the house with the three children. While loading at Kumasi to Sunyani, he received a call from his boss in Sunyani and was told to pick another vehicle to Sunyani where news of the death of his wife was broken to him.
A 35-year-old foodstuff seller of Sunyani Area Four met her sudden death when she was brutally murdered by some unknown assailants in the morning of Tuesday July, 27, 2010 at Nwaso, a farming community near Atronie in the Sunyani Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The deceased, Patricia Donkor a.k.a, Abena Pat, who was said to be on her way to see Kwabena Darkwah, a farmer, who resides at Nwaso to purchase plantain from him was killed instantly by the assailants who inflicted deep cutlass wounds on her face, back of her neck and shoulders.
The body of the deceased, was discovered on a footpath leading to the Nwaso village by some schoolchildren of Nwaso Local Authority (L/A) Primary School who had been sent by their teachers to collect a bunch of plantain they had bought from the said farmer at his cottage at the same village.
The police were called in to come for the body when the schoolchildren raised an alarm that attracted a large crowd to the scene.
The body had since been deposited at the regional hospital morgue, but no arrests had been made as at the time of filing this report. According to the police in Sunyani, they had intensified their investigations to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
Atronie, a farming community in the Sunyani municipality, in recent times has been prone to ritual murders in the municipality and it was based on such occurrences that irate youth of Atronie about two years ago took the law into their own hands and lynched the former Goaso Government Hospital Administrator, Mr Anthony Yeboah Boateng, on suspicion of being a ritual murderer.
The youth, according to sources at that time, attacked the hospital administrator who was then in the company of two women conveying the dead body of her mother-in-law to the Regional Hospital mortuary in Sunyani in the boot of his private car.
The youth who had then mounted a roadblock in the town on seeing the body in the boot of the late Yeboah Boateng’s car without listening to his explanation, attacked him and killed him instantly and also vandalised his car in the process.
Chief Superintendent Charles Botwe, the Sunyani Municipal Police Commander who confirmed the story to the Graphic Nsempa said they received a phone call that a woman had been murdered at Nwaso two kilometers from Atronie and therefore, the police went for the body, which had been deposited at the Regional Hospital mortuary.
He added that the woman who hade been buying foodstuffs from farmers at Atronie and its surrounding villages on Tuesday morning called Kwabena Darkwah on his mobile phone to reserve some plantain for her to buy. Chief Supt. Botwe added that the deceased who was on her way to the cottage to collect the plantain was attacked by some unknown assailants who inflicted machete wounds on her killing her instantly.
The Chief Supt. added that the deceased was happily married to Mr Asamoah Boateng, a driver of the Metro Mass Transport (MMT) in Sunyani and according to their investigations, there had not been any misunderstanding whatsoever between the deceased and the husband.
He added that the police did not therefore, suspect any foul play since the husband of the deceased on that morning of the attack on his wife at Nwaso left the house with the three children. While loading at Kumasi to Sunyani, he received a call from his boss in Sunyani and was told to pick another vehicle to Sunyani where news of the death of his wife was broken to him.
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