Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
Society for National Affairs (SoNA), a national youth think tank, has admonished the youth of Ghana to reject any attempts by groups or individuals to use them to cause chaos before, during and after the December 2008 general election.
This is because the self-seeking politicians and their partners who goad the youth into fomenting trouble always shield their own children and relatives from such troubles.
Mr Anane Agyei, Executive Director of SoNA, gave the admonition in Sunyani at a national youth forum organised by SoNA to deliberate on some national issues.
The forum, which had the theme “Towards Ghana@100, the New Vision and the Nation in Retrospect”, was attended by members of various youth groups, political parties, traditional rulers, religious groupings and a cross-section of the public.
Mr Agyei further advised leaders of the various political parties and their followers to refrain from using untoward and unguarded statements in their campaigns, since such remarks had the tendency of inflaming passions which could eventually plunge the nation into chaos.
He stressed that Ghana was bigger and more important than any organisation, hence any political party that would use threats and intimidation in its campaign must be rejected by the electorate.
Mr Agyei disclosed further that the objectives of SoNA, were, among others, the promotion of nationalism and patriotism among the youth, upholding of democracy and good governance, instilling in the youth a higher sense of tolerance and discipline and encouraging proper stewardship of the environment.
He said the forum was to sensitise the youth to the need to be concerned about national issues because it was when the youth were actively involved in such issues that the sustainable development of the nation could be guaranteed, stressing that the time had come for the young ones to be included in decision-making.
Osahene Boakye Djan, the Head of Government and Spokesperson of the erstwhile Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), who was one of the speakers at the forum, blamed the current state of the nation on coup makers, but he was quick to justify the June 4 1979 coup, which he claimed was to restore constitutional governance.
He stated further that the December 31, 1981 coup led by former President Rawlings and previous ones were blatant violations of the Constitutions of the various periods.
Osahene Djan vouched that Ghana had come too far to entertain coups and other trends that retard national progress and condemned the recent statement by the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, that sought to invoke fear that there would be “Kenya in Ghana” if the 2008 elections were rigged.
“The time has come for us, the silent majority in the country, to speak up and tell them bluntly that while we may endure some of their antics, when the threatened mayhem does come they and they alone must be made to bear its brunt and pain,” he remarked.
For his part, Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu, a Deputy Minister of Trade, PSD and PSIs, expressed the hope that because of the excellent performance by the Kufuor Administration Ghanaians would retain the NPP in power after the general election.
He, however, bemoaned some bad practices such as faking of documents, examination malpractice and laziness which some of them had resorted to, and called for a change in attitude, stressing that it was through good conduct that the nation could be placed on the right pedestal.
Mr Thomas Ahimah, the 1987 National Best Farmer, also pointed out that the only way by which the nation could attain its desired middle-income status was to put premium on agriculture and modernise it to make it attractive to the youth.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Youth Co-ordinator of the National Youth Council, Mr Kobina Afena Sam, briefing the gathering on the draft national youth policy, said attention was being given to the youth so they take advantage of it to make their importance felt in all facets of national life.
Mr Joseph Danso, Superintendent of Community Development at Newmont Gold Ghana Limited, in a leadership session earlier, schooled the participants on some secrets for excellence in leadership.
He hinted that if one was successful but did not have a successor, then he could not be said to be successful. He, therefore, called for effective leadership in which members of an organisation would be encouraged to exhibit their potential.
Nana Kwame Korang V, Omanhene of Awua-Odumase Traditional Area, and Vice-President of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, who co-chaired the function with Nana Yeboah Pene, the Queen of Chiraa, near Sunyani and Benkumhemaa of the Dormaa Traditional Area, commended SoNA for its initiative and urged the youth to always channel their energies into productive ventures which would promote national progress.
Monday, January 21, 2008
BA RESIDENTS ASSURED OF UNINTERRUPTED TV RECEPTION (Page 24)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Mr Victor Appeah, and the Public Relations Officer of the Sunyani Office of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Alaasan Abaaba, have given the assurance that they have put the necessary measures in place to enable people in the region to watch the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations matches uninterrupted.
According to Mr Appeah, one of the two TV transmitters, which were inaugurated some 15 years ago, broke down in the first week of this month, but had since been repaired and was in good working condition.
“The engineers who worked on the transmitter left Sunyani last Friday, and all things being equal, the people of this region will watch the whole tournament,” he stressed.
Mr Appeah, who made this known to the Daily Graphic in Sunyani, stated that a team had also been put in place to tour the country to repair any TV transmitter that might go off during the tournament.
He denied that the Sunyani transmitter, which broke down on January 2, this year, was due to the technical inefficiency of the management and staff of the Brong Ahafo Regional GBC office, but said the equipment was rather old and it was difficult in securing its parts.
For his part, Mr Abaaba said VRA, as a utility provider, had carried out its maintenance work in all its areas of operations to ensure that the people in the region enjoyed uninterrupted power supply throughout the tournament.
He told the Daily Graphic that a standby team had been put in place to move in to restore power immediately, in case of any power outage in any part of the region.
Mr Abaaba explained that most of the outages experienced in the region were caused by human activities.
According to him, some people used tall bamboo TV poles that usually interfered with their power lines, while branches of cocoa, teak and plantain plantation under VRA high tension poles sometimes also tripped the lines.
Mr Abaaba also attributed some of the power outages to illegal connections.
He, therefore, appealed to people whose plantations were under the VRA lines to call on the company to clear the way to prevent such human trips.
At a recently held press soiree in Sunyani, the Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, made an appeal to the two state organisations, GBC and VRA, to ensure that the people in the region had a feel of the Ghana 2008 tournament.
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Mr Victor Appeah, and the Public Relations Officer of the Sunyani Office of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Alaasan Abaaba, have given the assurance that they have put the necessary measures in place to enable people in the region to watch the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations matches uninterrupted.
According to Mr Appeah, one of the two TV transmitters, which were inaugurated some 15 years ago, broke down in the first week of this month, but had since been repaired and was in good working condition.
“The engineers who worked on the transmitter left Sunyani last Friday, and all things being equal, the people of this region will watch the whole tournament,” he stressed.
Mr Appeah, who made this known to the Daily Graphic in Sunyani, stated that a team had also been put in place to tour the country to repair any TV transmitter that might go off during the tournament.
He denied that the Sunyani transmitter, which broke down on January 2, this year, was due to the technical inefficiency of the management and staff of the Brong Ahafo Regional GBC office, but said the equipment was rather old and it was difficult in securing its parts.
For his part, Mr Abaaba said VRA, as a utility provider, had carried out its maintenance work in all its areas of operations to ensure that the people in the region enjoyed uninterrupted power supply throughout the tournament.
He told the Daily Graphic that a standby team had been put in place to move in to restore power immediately, in case of any power outage in any part of the region.
Mr Abaaba explained that most of the outages experienced in the region were caused by human activities.
According to him, some people used tall bamboo TV poles that usually interfered with their power lines, while branches of cocoa, teak and plantain plantation under VRA high tension poles sometimes also tripped the lines.
Mr Abaaba also attributed some of the power outages to illegal connections.
He, therefore, appealed to people whose plantations were under the VRA lines to call on the company to clear the way to prevent such human trips.
At a recently held press soiree in Sunyani, the Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, made an appeal to the two state organisations, GBC and VRA, to ensure that the people in the region had a feel of the Ghana 2008 tournament.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
BUSINESSMAN GRANTED BAIL FOR ILLEGAL POWER CONNECTION (Page 21)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Fiapre
THE Fiapre Circuit Court near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region has granted a Sunyani-based businessman bail in the sum of GH¢2,000 for illegal connection of electricity, stealing power and tampering with a pre-paid meter belonging to the Volta River Authority (VRA).
The accused, Mark Oppong Bossman, who pleaded guilty to the charges, explained that the power was illegally tapped by his younger brother during his absence.
The Presiding Judge, Mr John Kwadwo Owusu Gyamfi, after listening to the explanation of the accused, ordered him to produce his younger brother or he would be dealt with drastically.
He, therefore, adjourned the case to January 28, 2008 when the accused is to report with his brother.
The court, however, remanded in prison custody, Kwasi Appiah, a barber who also resides in Sunyani, on the same counts.
Appiah, who pleaded not guilty to the charges of stealing power, illegal connection and tampering with a meter, is to reappear before the court on January 21, 2008.
The court also issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kwaku Amoah, who has also been charged for the same offences but failed to appear before court.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector E.K. Boison said the complainant in the cases, was the chief security man of the Sunyani branch of VRA while the accused persons were all resident in Sunyani.
He said between October and December, 2007, the VRA formed a task force to clamp down on people who had tampered with their pre-paid meters and were enjoying electricity free of charge as a resulting of illegal connection, which had deprived others from getting good supply.
Chief Inspector Boison told the court that Bossman failed to buy the card to feed his pre-paid meter so he had no power in his house, but decided to use the flexible wire under the meter to tap power free of charge.
He said the VRA task force arrested him and charged him with the offences, while Appiah was also arrested for tampering with the VRA’s pre-paid meter as well as illegal connection.
The prosecutor stated that Appiah, who illegally connected power from the main meter to his store which was not approved by the VRA, was subsequently arrested and charged with the offence.
THE Fiapre Circuit Court near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region has granted a Sunyani-based businessman bail in the sum of GH¢2,000 for illegal connection of electricity, stealing power and tampering with a pre-paid meter belonging to the Volta River Authority (VRA).
The accused, Mark Oppong Bossman, who pleaded guilty to the charges, explained that the power was illegally tapped by his younger brother during his absence.
The Presiding Judge, Mr John Kwadwo Owusu Gyamfi, after listening to the explanation of the accused, ordered him to produce his younger brother or he would be dealt with drastically.
He, therefore, adjourned the case to January 28, 2008 when the accused is to report with his brother.
The court, however, remanded in prison custody, Kwasi Appiah, a barber who also resides in Sunyani, on the same counts.
Appiah, who pleaded not guilty to the charges of stealing power, illegal connection and tampering with a meter, is to reappear before the court on January 21, 2008.
The court also issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kwaku Amoah, who has also been charged for the same offences but failed to appear before court.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector E.K. Boison said the complainant in the cases, was the chief security man of the Sunyani branch of VRA while the accused persons were all resident in Sunyani.
He said between October and December, 2007, the VRA formed a task force to clamp down on people who had tampered with their pre-paid meters and were enjoying electricity free of charge as a resulting of illegal connection, which had deprived others from getting good supply.
Chief Inspector Boison told the court that Bossman failed to buy the card to feed his pre-paid meter so he had no power in his house, but decided to use the flexible wire under the meter to tap power free of charge.
He said the VRA task force arrested him and charged him with the offences, while Appiah was also arrested for tampering with the VRA’s pre-paid meter as well as illegal connection.
The prosecutor stated that Appiah, who illegally connected power from the main meter to his store which was not approved by the VRA, was subsequently arrested and charged with the offence.
LANCE CPL DARBAH LAID TO REST ... (Page 20)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
THE mortal remains of the late Police General Lance Corporal Moses Kofi Darbah were laid to rest at the Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Bakoniaba, a suburb of Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, at the weekend.
The late Lance Cpl Darbah, 26, of the Volta Regional Police Task Force at Ho lost his life while on official duty during the Anloga chieftaincy dispute in the Volta Region last year.
He was among 150 policemen deplored in Anlo to maintain law and order.
Among the dignitaries who attended the burial and funeral service for the late Cpl Darbah, held at the Ghana@50 Jubilee Park in Sunyani, were the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) James Oppong-Boanuh and his Volta Regional counterpart, DCOP B.G. Dery.
Also present were representatives from the military, and Prisons and Fire services, as well as a cross-section of the public, who could not withhold their tears.
The IGP, who was also the chief mourner, and DCOP Oppong-Boanuh read the first and second Bible readings respectively.
In a sermon the Rev S.K. Abayie, the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Chaplain and the officiating minister, consoled the bereaved family and paid glowing tribute to the late Lance Cpl Darbah for his exceptional qualities as a policeman.
He stated that the work of the police officer was a call to national duty and a sacrificial one.
Rev Abayie, therefore, urged all personnel of the service not to be deterred by what happened to their late colleague but must resolve to maintain law and order, more especially before, during and after this year’s general election.
Rev Abayie said the death of Lance Cpl Darbah must also strengthen the Police Service to continue to discharge their duties without fear or favour as specified in the nation’s Constitution.
He urged Ghanaians not to take the laws of the country into their own hands, especially in chieftaincy and land matters, which have been rampant in recent times, to unleash violence and mayhem on others, but to resort to dialogue to resolve the disputes.
The Police Regional Chaplain noted that it was because of the greed and litigation of others that the late Darbah lost his life.
He, therefore, called on people involved in chieftaincy and land disputes across the country to follow the due process instead of resorting to violence that resulted in the loss of lives and property and also stalled development.
A citation read in honour of the late Lance Cpl Darbah by Superintendent Charles Botwe, the Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, described him as a brave, hard-working and respectful police officer.
It said it was in recognition of his exceptional qualities that the Police Administration promoted him posthumously on November 1, last year, to the rank of lance corporal.
“By his death, the service has lost a gallant officer. His death is a big blow to the entire police service,” the citation stated.
The late Lance Cpl Darbah was born in Sunyani, the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region, on July 24, 1981 to Mr Victor Kwasi Darbah and Madam Nina Asamoah.
He had both his basic and secondary education in Sunyani and joined the police service in February 15, 2005.
THE mortal remains of the late Police General Lance Corporal Moses Kofi Darbah were laid to rest at the Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Bakoniaba, a suburb of Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, at the weekend.
The late Lance Cpl Darbah, 26, of the Volta Regional Police Task Force at Ho lost his life while on official duty during the Anloga chieftaincy dispute in the Volta Region last year.
He was among 150 policemen deplored in Anlo to maintain law and order.
Among the dignitaries who attended the burial and funeral service for the late Cpl Darbah, held at the Ghana@50 Jubilee Park in Sunyani, were the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) James Oppong-Boanuh and his Volta Regional counterpart, DCOP B.G. Dery.
Also present were representatives from the military, and Prisons and Fire services, as well as a cross-section of the public, who could not withhold their tears.
The IGP, who was also the chief mourner, and DCOP Oppong-Boanuh read the first and second Bible readings respectively.
In a sermon the Rev S.K. Abayie, the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Chaplain and the officiating minister, consoled the bereaved family and paid glowing tribute to the late Lance Cpl Darbah for his exceptional qualities as a policeman.
He stated that the work of the police officer was a call to national duty and a sacrificial one.
Rev Abayie, therefore, urged all personnel of the service not to be deterred by what happened to their late colleague but must resolve to maintain law and order, more especially before, during and after this year’s general election.
Rev Abayie said the death of Lance Cpl Darbah must also strengthen the Police Service to continue to discharge their duties without fear or favour as specified in the nation’s Constitution.
He urged Ghanaians not to take the laws of the country into their own hands, especially in chieftaincy and land matters, which have been rampant in recent times, to unleash violence and mayhem on others, but to resort to dialogue to resolve the disputes.
The Police Regional Chaplain noted that it was because of the greed and litigation of others that the late Darbah lost his life.
He, therefore, called on people involved in chieftaincy and land disputes across the country to follow the due process instead of resorting to violence that resulted in the loss of lives and property and also stalled development.
A citation read in honour of the late Lance Cpl Darbah by Superintendent Charles Botwe, the Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, described him as a brave, hard-working and respectful police officer.
It said it was in recognition of his exceptional qualities that the Police Administration promoted him posthumously on November 1, last year, to the rank of lance corporal.
“By his death, the service has lost a gallant officer. His death is a big blow to the entire police service,” the citation stated.
The late Lance Cpl Darbah was born in Sunyani, the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region, on July 24, 1981 to Mr Victor Kwasi Darbah and Madam Nina Asamoah.
He had both his basic and secondary education in Sunyani and joined the police service in February 15, 2005.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
BRONG AHAFO RECORDS FEWER CRIMES
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
No violent crimes were recorded in all the 19 districts in the Brong Ahafo Region before, during and after the Christmas and the New Year periods.
This was as a result of the deployment of both police and military personnel in the districts and on the Techiman-Kintampo-Tamale highway, which is prone to highway robbers.
According to the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, some members of the patrol team were deployed at watch night services in the various churches and other entertainment centres to provide security,” he stressed.
He gave the assurance that the highway patrols would continue, while the Police Dragons Patrol units would also be in force to sustain the clampdown on criminals in every nook and cranny of the region.
He said the police Dragon Patrol foiled four highway robbery attacks on the Techiman-Kintampo Road in which the robbers had used logs to block a section of the road.
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh expressed his appreciation to the public for their co-operation and urged them to volunteer more information on suspicious characters to the police.
No violent crimes were recorded in all the 19 districts in the Brong Ahafo Region before, during and after the Christmas and the New Year periods.
This was as a result of the deployment of both police and military personnel in the districts and on the Techiman-Kintampo-Tamale highway, which is prone to highway robbers.
According to the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, some members of the patrol team were deployed at watch night services in the various churches and other entertainment centres to provide security,” he stressed.
He gave the assurance that the highway patrols would continue, while the Police Dragons Patrol units would also be in force to sustain the clampdown on criminals in every nook and cranny of the region.
He said the police Dragon Patrol foiled four highway robbery attacks on the Techiman-Kintampo Road in which the robbers had used logs to block a section of the road.
DCOP Oppong-Boanuh expressed his appreciation to the public for their co-operation and urged them to volunteer more information on suspicious characters to the police.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
CHAINSAW OPERATOR KILLS WIFE, COMMITS SUICIDE (Page 20)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Kenyase No. 2
A chainsaw operator, believed to be in his early 30s, decided to end his six-year-old marriage at Kenyasi No.2 in the Asutifi District in the Brong Ahafo Region, when he shot his wife with a single barrelled gun and later committed suicide by shooting himself.
The deceased husband, Kwasi Akowah, alias Amedika shot the wife, Madam Abena Saaman, a 44-year-old farmer in the stomach, after she had attended to nature’s call with the couple’s five year old son at a nearby pit latrine.
Akowah, who for sometime now had been engaging the wife in petty quarrels, took that decision to end their relationship after he had failed in his bid to woo the wife back to their matrimonial home at Bomjampa, a farming community near Kenyasi.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Richard Appiah, the Kenyasi District Police Commander, said the couple lived at Bomjampa and on December 27, 2007 the woman decided to move from their matrimonial home to live with her mother at Kenyasi No.2 as a result of persistent quarrels with her husband.
He said when the woman was leaving , she took along their five-year- old son.
ASP Appiah told the Daily Graphic that the man followed up to Kenyasi No.2 and persuaded his wife to return with him to their village but she refused due to the persistent petty quarrels between them.
According to the District Commander, the husband had been engaging the wife in several quarrels and anytime there was this misunderstanding, his wife’s family came in to settle the dispute but this time around, the wife decided she had had enough and therefore she was no more going to return to the village with the husband.
ASP Appiah said on January 4, this year, the man went again to take the wife to the village but she refused to go with him.
He said at about 5.30 a.m. that day, the woman in the company of their five-year-old son attended natures call at a pit latrine near their house and when they were returning home, her husband who had laid ambush shot the woman in the stomach.
ASP Appiah said after shooting the wife, Akowah fled the scene and their five -year- old son began to shout ‘my father has killed my mother’ which attracted a large crowd to the scene.
He said the police were later informed and they moved to the crime scene and while there, news came in that a certain man had shot himself at Tutukwa.
He said the police again moved to the scene and found out that it was Akowah who had shot himself in the neck with the same gun that he used to kill his wife.
ASP Appiah said the bodies of the couple had been deposited at the St. Elizabeth Hospital at Hwidiem for autopsy while investigations continue.
A chainsaw operator, believed to be in his early 30s, decided to end his six-year-old marriage at Kenyasi No.2 in the Asutifi District in the Brong Ahafo Region, when he shot his wife with a single barrelled gun and later committed suicide by shooting himself.
The deceased husband, Kwasi Akowah, alias Amedika shot the wife, Madam Abena Saaman, a 44-year-old farmer in the stomach, after she had attended to nature’s call with the couple’s five year old son at a nearby pit latrine.
Akowah, who for sometime now had been engaging the wife in petty quarrels, took that decision to end their relationship after he had failed in his bid to woo the wife back to their matrimonial home at Bomjampa, a farming community near Kenyasi.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Richard Appiah, the Kenyasi District Police Commander, said the couple lived at Bomjampa and on December 27, 2007 the woman decided to move from their matrimonial home to live with her mother at Kenyasi No.2 as a result of persistent quarrels with her husband.
He said when the woman was leaving , she took along their five-year- old son.
ASP Appiah told the Daily Graphic that the man followed up to Kenyasi No.2 and persuaded his wife to return with him to their village but she refused due to the persistent petty quarrels between them.
According to the District Commander, the husband had been engaging the wife in several quarrels and anytime there was this misunderstanding, his wife’s family came in to settle the dispute but this time around, the wife decided she had had enough and therefore she was no more going to return to the village with the husband.
ASP Appiah said on January 4, this year, the man went again to take the wife to the village but she refused to go with him.
He said at about 5.30 a.m. that day, the woman in the company of their five-year-old son attended natures call at a pit latrine near their house and when they were returning home, her husband who had laid ambush shot the woman in the stomach.
ASP Appiah said after shooting the wife, Akowah fled the scene and their five -year- old son began to shout ‘my father has killed my mother’ which attracted a large crowd to the scene.
He said the police were later informed and they moved to the crime scene and while there, news came in that a certain man had shot himself at Tutukwa.
He said the police again moved to the scene and found out that it was Akowah who had shot himself in the neck with the same gun that he used to kill his wife.
ASP Appiah said the bodies of the couple had been deposited at the St. Elizabeth Hospital at Hwidiem for autopsy while investigations continue.
Friday, January 4, 2008
BRONG AHAFO RECORDS 65 ROBBERY CASES
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
SIXTY-FIVE armed robbery cases, including highway and fuel filling station attacks, were recorded in the Brong Ahafo Region during which cash and property running into millions of cedis were seized from the victims last year.
During the same period, 60 drug related cases, 27 rape incidents and 103 defilement cases were also recorded.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, who disclosed this in Sunyani also recalled with regret the unfortunate and dastardly incident which occurred at Atronie last Easter Sunday, where the Administrator of the Goaso Government Hospital, the late Anthony Yeboah-Boateng, lost his life in a mob action.
"In fact, the incident tarnished the enviable image of the region and I wish to take the opportunity to commend the Regional Police Command for the efforts made to arrest the perpetrators for prosecution,” he added.
Addressing the last ordinary meeting of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), Mr Baffour-Awuah further indicated that the most significant drug case was the discovery of a five-acre Indian hemp farm at Ohiamankyene, a village near Nsawkaw in the Tain District, and disclosed that two men who were guarding the farm had been arrested but the owner of the farm was on the run.
He said during the course of the year, the national security council allocated three Toyota Pick-ups to the Police for patrol duties on the highways, and that the donation had helped to reduce the spate of highway robberies.
Turning to the assemblies, the Regional Minister pointed out that almost all the district and municipal assemblies failed to submit their financial statements (trial balance) and quarterly administrative progress reports on time.
According to Mr Baffour-Awuah, only the Dormaa District Assembly was able to submit its November Trial Balance in the second week of December as stipulated by law and added that the remaining 18 assemblies were in arrears, ranging from one to three months.
On revenue mobilisation, he indicated that on the average, all the assemblies improved upon the collection of their internally generated funds.
Mr Baffour-Awuah further indicated that a few of the assemblies were able to exceed their estimated revenues, including Pru, 102 per cent as of September 2007; Kintampo South, 127 per cent as of October 2007; Tano North, 214 per cent as of October; Jaman North, 110 per cent as of October and Atebubu/Amantin as of October.
According to the Regional Minister, as of November 2007, only six of the assemblies were able to use part of their revenue to undertake development projects.
Touching on Education, Mr Baffour-Awuah said at the basic level, each district assembly now had an average of 50 schools constructed since the New Patriotic Party came to power in 2001.
However, he pointed out that an analysis of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results over the last three years indicated that the performance of school children at the basic level had not improved much.
He disclosed that the average performance of the region had been hovering between 63.2 per cent in 2005, 65.1 per cent in 2006 and 65.7 per cent in 2007, adding that Sunyani had consistently been among the top three while Kintampo South, Tain and Wenchi, had been alternating the last three positions.
SIXTY-FIVE armed robbery cases, including highway and fuel filling station attacks, were recorded in the Brong Ahafo Region during which cash and property running into millions of cedis were seized from the victims last year.
During the same period, 60 drug related cases, 27 rape incidents and 103 defilement cases were also recorded.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, who disclosed this in Sunyani also recalled with regret the unfortunate and dastardly incident which occurred at Atronie last Easter Sunday, where the Administrator of the Goaso Government Hospital, the late Anthony Yeboah-Boateng, lost his life in a mob action.
"In fact, the incident tarnished the enviable image of the region and I wish to take the opportunity to commend the Regional Police Command for the efforts made to arrest the perpetrators for prosecution,” he added.
Addressing the last ordinary meeting of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), Mr Baffour-Awuah further indicated that the most significant drug case was the discovery of a five-acre Indian hemp farm at Ohiamankyene, a village near Nsawkaw in the Tain District, and disclosed that two men who were guarding the farm had been arrested but the owner of the farm was on the run.
He said during the course of the year, the national security council allocated three Toyota Pick-ups to the Police for patrol duties on the highways, and that the donation had helped to reduce the spate of highway robberies.
Turning to the assemblies, the Regional Minister pointed out that almost all the district and municipal assemblies failed to submit their financial statements (trial balance) and quarterly administrative progress reports on time.
According to Mr Baffour-Awuah, only the Dormaa District Assembly was able to submit its November Trial Balance in the second week of December as stipulated by law and added that the remaining 18 assemblies were in arrears, ranging from one to three months.
On revenue mobilisation, he indicated that on the average, all the assemblies improved upon the collection of their internally generated funds.
Mr Baffour-Awuah further indicated that a few of the assemblies were able to exceed their estimated revenues, including Pru, 102 per cent as of September 2007; Kintampo South, 127 per cent as of October 2007; Tano North, 214 per cent as of October; Jaman North, 110 per cent as of October and Atebubu/Amantin as of October.
According to the Regional Minister, as of November 2007, only six of the assemblies were able to use part of their revenue to undertake development projects.
Touching on Education, Mr Baffour-Awuah said at the basic level, each district assembly now had an average of 50 schools constructed since the New Patriotic Party came to power in 2001.
However, he pointed out that an analysis of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results over the last three years indicated that the performance of school children at the basic level had not improved much.
He disclosed that the average performance of the region had been hovering between 63.2 per cent in 2005, 65.1 per cent in 2006 and 65.7 per cent in 2007, adding that Sunyani had consistently been among the top three while Kintampo South, Tain and Wenchi, had been alternating the last three positions.
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