THE German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) has presented office equipment valued at GH¢23,000 to the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and three other district assemblies in the region, namely Tano North, Kintampo South and Pru.
The items, which included computers and their accessories, printers, air conditioners, photocopiers, scanners and laptops, are to support the RCC and the beneficiary districts to establish an effective District Database System (DDS) for internal revenue generation and planning.
The gesture formed part of the GTZ’s support towards the country’s decentralisation reform programme.
The Programme Director of the Support for the Decentralisation Reform Programme of the GTZ, Mr Nikolas Beckman, who presented the items, said the donation was only a token to support the efforts of the beneficiary districts towards effective planning and revenue generation.
He mentioned the success of the Tain District, an earlier beneficiary under the programme, for the establishment of its database system, which has increased internally generated revenue by over 400 per cent.
He expressed the hope that the new beneficiary districts would take advantage of the gesture to increase their revenue generation.
Mr Beckman stressed the importance of the ongoing District Development Fund (DDF).
He said it was no surprise that assessments carried out nation-wide on performance had seen districts in the Brong Ahafo Region standing out among the others.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Tano North, Mr Nicholas Lenin Anane Agyei, expressed gratitude on behalf of the RCC and the other beneficiary districts, giving the assurance that the equipment would be put to good use.
He also appealed to the country’s development partners for further assistance to the district assemblies to deepen the decentralisation process of the nation.
The Fiscal Decentralisation and Financial Management Advisor of the GTZ, Ms Lynda Amengor, said the programme had led to an improvement in district planning, budgeting and revenue mobilisation since the inception of the programme in 2004.
Seven districts, namely Jaman North and Jaman South, Asunafo North and Asunafo South, Dormaa, Wenchi and Tain, have so far been supported under the programme to establish functional databases, which had led to a significant improvement in their planning and revenue mobilisation.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
UNEMPLOYED, 21, FINED FOR RESISTING ARREST (MIRROR, PAGE 25)
From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
The Sunyani Magistrate’s Court ‘B’, presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah, has sentenced a 21-year-old unemployed man who resisted arrest and with the help of an irate mob assaulted the two policemen who were detailed to effect his arrest for stealing, to a fine of GH¢92 or in default serve a six-month imprisonment with labour.
The convict, Appiah Kubi, pleaded guilty to the counts of stealing, resisting arrest and escape from lawful custody and was subsequently sentenced by the court based on his own plea.
The facts of the case as presented in court by Chief Inspector Alex Fosu were that in October, last year, two policemen, Lance Corporals Emmanuel Akatsi and Solomon Tettey, were detailed to effect the arrest of Appiah Kubi who was being sought for by the police in a stealing case.
He said the two policemen managed to trace the convict to Abesim, and when the policemen were about to arrest him he became furious and resisted arrest.
The prosecutor stated that the policemen managed to handcuff him on the left wrist but he prevented them from handcuffing the other hand and in the process an irate mob besieged the scene and obstructed the policemen and helped the convict to flee.
Chief Inspector Fosu told the court that in the process the policemen were assaulted and all efforts to trace Appiah Kubi proved futile.
Appiah Kubi was arrested again in an assault case by the police at Ejura where he had absconded to.
He said the Ejura police detected a scar on the left wrist of the convict and when he was interrogated he confessed having destroyed the handcuff put on his wrist by the police in Sunyani, at Abesim, but he was helped by a mob to run to Accra where he was assisted by a welder to destroy the handcuff around his left wrist, hence the scar.
Chief Inspector Fosu added that the convict was brought down to Sunyani and after investigations he was charged with the offence and subsequently put before the court.
The Sunyani Magistrate’s Court ‘B’, presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah, has sentenced a 21-year-old unemployed man who resisted arrest and with the help of an irate mob assaulted the two policemen who were detailed to effect his arrest for stealing, to a fine of GH¢92 or in default serve a six-month imprisonment with labour.
The convict, Appiah Kubi, pleaded guilty to the counts of stealing, resisting arrest and escape from lawful custody and was subsequently sentenced by the court based on his own plea.
The facts of the case as presented in court by Chief Inspector Alex Fosu were that in October, last year, two policemen, Lance Corporals Emmanuel Akatsi and Solomon Tettey, were detailed to effect the arrest of Appiah Kubi who was being sought for by the police in a stealing case.
He said the two policemen managed to trace the convict to Abesim, and when the policemen were about to arrest him he became furious and resisted arrest.
The prosecutor stated that the policemen managed to handcuff him on the left wrist but he prevented them from handcuffing the other hand and in the process an irate mob besieged the scene and obstructed the policemen and helped the convict to flee.
Chief Inspector Fosu told the court that in the process the policemen were assaulted and all efforts to trace Appiah Kubi proved futile.
Appiah Kubi was arrested again in an assault case by the police at Ejura where he had absconded to.
He said the Ejura police detected a scar on the left wrist of the convict and when he was interrogated he confessed having destroyed the handcuff put on his wrist by the police in Sunyani, at Abesim, but he was helped by a mob to run to Accra where he was assisted by a welder to destroy the handcuff around his left wrist, hence the scar.
Chief Inspector Fosu added that the convict was brought down to Sunyani and after investigations he was charged with the offence and subsequently put before the court.
STUDENT, 19, FOR STRAYING INTO PRESIDENTIAL LODGE (PAGE 34)
From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
A 19-year-old student who strayed into the presidential lodge at the Residency in Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Regional Minister’s official residence) has been sentenced to a fine of Gh¢360 or in default serve one year imprisonment in hard labour.
The student, David Andani, whose school was not mentioned in court, pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful entry and was subsequently sentenced on his own plea by the Sunyani Magistrate’s Court ‘B’ presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah.
Passing judgment, Mr Zoogah said he considered the student’s age and the fact that he was a first offender.
The facts of the case as presented in court by Sergeant Augustine Oppong were that the complainant is a steward supervisor at the presidential lodge at the residency in Sunyani, while the convict is a student.
On June 4, 2008 about 6.30 a.m the complainant reported for duty at the residency and when he opened the main door to the hall of the presidential lodge he saw the convict comfortably seated.
Sergeant Oppong told the court that when the complainant questioned the student as to how he entered the hall he could not give any tangible excuse or reason.
He said the student was, therefore, arrested and handed over to the police and after investigations he was charged with the offence and subsequently arraigned.
A 19-year-old student who strayed into the presidential lodge at the Residency in Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Regional Minister’s official residence) has been sentenced to a fine of Gh¢360 or in default serve one year imprisonment in hard labour.
The student, David Andani, whose school was not mentioned in court, pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful entry and was subsequently sentenced on his own plea by the Sunyani Magistrate’s Court ‘B’ presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah.
Passing judgment, Mr Zoogah said he considered the student’s age and the fact that he was a first offender.
The facts of the case as presented in court by Sergeant Augustine Oppong were that the complainant is a steward supervisor at the presidential lodge at the residency in Sunyani, while the convict is a student.
On June 4, 2008 about 6.30 a.m the complainant reported for duty at the residency and when he opened the main door to the hall of the presidential lodge he saw the convict comfortably seated.
Sergeant Oppong told the court that when the complainant questioned the student as to how he entered the hall he could not give any tangible excuse or reason.
He said the student was, therefore, arrested and handed over to the police and after investigations he was charged with the offence and subsequently arraigned.
2 DIE AFTER MISTAKING FERTILISER FOR SALT (PAGE 3)
THREE farmers who were believed to have mistaken fertiliser for salt and used it to prepare a meal died after enjoying the food on a farm at Nsawkaw in the Tain District.
The deceased, Kwaku Num, 22, Kwadwo Dagati, 36, and Kofi Dagati, 34, were said to have used the ‘salt’ to prepare soup and consumed it with fufu.
After taking the meal, they started developing severe abdominal pains and died later on the farm.
Their bodies were found on the farm three days later by a search party.
A fourth person, Bemtolaze Erfaanibe Dagati, who partook of the meal but left earlier for home, was rushed to the Wenchi Methodist Hospital and is responding to treatment.
The Wenchi District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr Prince Sam Kwame Osae, who confirmed the story to the Daily Graphic, said the four had gone to the farm on June 2, 2008 and while they were there, they decided to prepare soup to enjoy it with the fufu that they had pounded.
Mr Osae said upon realising, after preparing the soup, that there was no salt, one of them rode a bicycle somewhere and brought a whitish substance which they believed was salt and put it into the soup.
He said after enjoying the meal, they started experiencing severe stomach pains but Erfaanibe left for home, where he started vomiting blood.
Mr Osae said Erfaanibe became unconscious and was rushed to the Wenchi Methodist Hospital where a test confirmed that he had taken in fertiliser.
He said three days later the families of the three deceased persons realised that their relatives had not returned home so they organised a search party to look for them. Their bodies, which had started decomposing, were found on the farm.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Wenchi Methodist Hospital morgue, while the post mortem conducted also confirmed that they died as a result of the consumption of fertiliser.
The deceased, Kwaku Num, 22, Kwadwo Dagati, 36, and Kofi Dagati, 34, were said to have used the ‘salt’ to prepare soup and consumed it with fufu.
After taking the meal, they started developing severe abdominal pains and died later on the farm.
Their bodies were found on the farm three days later by a search party.
A fourth person, Bemtolaze Erfaanibe Dagati, who partook of the meal but left earlier for home, was rushed to the Wenchi Methodist Hospital and is responding to treatment.
The Wenchi District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr Prince Sam Kwame Osae, who confirmed the story to the Daily Graphic, said the four had gone to the farm on June 2, 2008 and while they were there, they decided to prepare soup to enjoy it with the fufu that they had pounded.
Mr Osae said upon realising, after preparing the soup, that there was no salt, one of them rode a bicycle somewhere and brought a whitish substance which they believed was salt and put it into the soup.
He said after enjoying the meal, they started experiencing severe stomach pains but Erfaanibe left for home, where he started vomiting blood.
Mr Osae said Erfaanibe became unconscious and was rushed to the Wenchi Methodist Hospital where a test confirmed that he had taken in fertiliser.
He said three days later the families of the three deceased persons realised that their relatives had not returned home so they organised a search party to look for them. Their bodies, which had started decomposing, were found on the farm.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Wenchi Methodist Hospital morgue, while the post mortem conducted also confirmed that they died as a result of the consumption of fertiliser.
Friday, June 13, 2008
104 HOUSEHOLDS IN TECHIMAN RECEIVE LEAP GRANT (PAGE 21)
TWO thousand four hundred and fifty Ghana cedis has been disbursed to 104 households from four selected communities in the Techiman Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region, for the second payment of the LEAP grant.
The money is part of a social protection package for people who have been classified as extreme poor in the society.
The amount for the second payment was different from the first payment, which was fixed at GH¢8.00 per household.
Under the new package, one beneficiary in a household received GH¢16, two received GH¢20, three had GH¢24 while four and above received GH¢30 for two months.
The beneficiary communities in the Techiman Municipality were Tanoso where 22 households benefited from the facility; Kenten, 29; Asueyi, 19, and Tuobodom, 34.
The disbursement was done on June 3 and 4, 2008 at the established payment points in the selected communities.
The Deputy Director for Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in charge of LEAP and Social Development at the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Mr Mawutor Ablo, who made the payment, said the LEAP programme started with 21 districts, and 32 more would be added to the number by the end of the year.
He stated that the complementary services that could be useful to the beneficiaries would be added as the programme progressed.
The Regional Director of Social Welfare, Ms Josephine Peace Atsu, advised the beneficiaries to regulate their birth rate such that they could have sizeable families to cater for, instead of producing many children whose maintenance would be a burden for them.
Touching on some of the challenges encountered during the payment days, he sited an instance when one Mr Yaw Ampofo of Tanoso, who was ill, delegated his wife to collect the money on his behalf, but the pay officers refused the request, since the picture on the identity card was not his wife’s.
According to Mr Atsu, the old and disabled in society who were not part of the programme initially but had now been added to it, did not receive the money because their identity cards were not ready at the time of payment.
Some of the beneficiaries said they used the money to purchase school uniforms, books and pens for their children.
A total of 91 households were present at the payment points but 13 of them were absent.
The money is part of a social protection package for people who have been classified as extreme poor in the society.
The amount for the second payment was different from the first payment, which was fixed at GH¢8.00 per household.
Under the new package, one beneficiary in a household received GH¢16, two received GH¢20, three had GH¢24 while four and above received GH¢30 for two months.
The beneficiary communities in the Techiman Municipality were Tanoso where 22 households benefited from the facility; Kenten, 29; Asueyi, 19, and Tuobodom, 34.
The disbursement was done on June 3 and 4, 2008 at the established payment points in the selected communities.
The Deputy Director for Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in charge of LEAP and Social Development at the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Mr Mawutor Ablo, who made the payment, said the LEAP programme started with 21 districts, and 32 more would be added to the number by the end of the year.
He stated that the complementary services that could be useful to the beneficiaries would be added as the programme progressed.
The Regional Director of Social Welfare, Ms Josephine Peace Atsu, advised the beneficiaries to regulate their birth rate such that they could have sizeable families to cater for, instead of producing many children whose maintenance would be a burden for them.
Touching on some of the challenges encountered during the payment days, he sited an instance when one Mr Yaw Ampofo of Tanoso, who was ill, delegated his wife to collect the money on his behalf, but the pay officers refused the request, since the picture on the identity card was not his wife’s.
According to Mr Atsu, the old and disabled in society who were not part of the programme initially but had now been added to it, did not receive the money because their identity cards were not ready at the time of payment.
Some of the beneficiaries said they used the money to purchase school uniforms, books and pens for their children.
A total of 91 households were present at the payment points but 13 of them were absent.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
CHILDREN RESCUED FROM CHILD LABOUR PROVIDED UNIFORMS, FOOTWEAR (PAGE 17)
THE government, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), has donated school uniforms and footwear valued at GH¢3,819.70 to 132 children rescued from child labour in the Techiman municipality.
This was made possible with the support of the Techiman Municipal Assembly and the Bureau of Rural Urban Mobilisers for Development (BRUM), a non-governmental organisation.
Techiman is one of the 20 districts selected by the government to benefit from this project nation-wide.
In all, 10 communities were selected as beneficiaries, with six of them located in the Techiman, namely, Wangara Line, Tunsuase, Abanim, Dagomba Line, Ahenbronoso and Dwomo.
The rest are Tanoso, Asueyi, Offuman and Tuobodom.
Mr Davis Boamah Asumadu, the co-ordinator of BRUM, said at the presentation ceremony that the Techiman Municipal Assembly had provided funds to facilitate the withdrawal of 200 children working under worst forms of child labour, particularly head portage (Kayayei), at the markets and in commercial agriculture.
He also said BRUM had been able to withdraw 132 children, from a targeted figure of 150, and placed them in schools since its inception in June 2007.
Again, 50 children had been identified and registered to receive vocational skills training, he said, adding that so far nine of them had been placed with master craftsmen and women to undergo training in hairdressing, tailoring, bakery, aluminium modelling and fabrication.
Mr Asumadu mentioned that a total sum of GH¢915.00 had been spent on the rescued children so far, while GH¢3,819.70 had been used in providing the aforementioned support.
He disclosed that well-packed support programmes had been earmarked for beneficiaries, including their parents.
He, therefore, urged Community Child Labour Committee members from the various beneficiary communities to join the NGO to collate and compile the names of all the parents and guardians of the beneficiary children.
In a speech, the Techiman Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Prince Yaw Donyina, advised the beneficiaries to carry the news about the good policies of the New Patriotic Party government, which included the Capitation Grant, the school feeding programme, the health insurance scheme, among others, to their parents.
He said the government would continue to come up with good policies to move the nation forward.
This was made possible with the support of the Techiman Municipal Assembly and the Bureau of Rural Urban Mobilisers for Development (BRUM), a non-governmental organisation.
Techiman is one of the 20 districts selected by the government to benefit from this project nation-wide.
In all, 10 communities were selected as beneficiaries, with six of them located in the Techiman, namely, Wangara Line, Tunsuase, Abanim, Dagomba Line, Ahenbronoso and Dwomo.
The rest are Tanoso, Asueyi, Offuman and Tuobodom.
Mr Davis Boamah Asumadu, the co-ordinator of BRUM, said at the presentation ceremony that the Techiman Municipal Assembly had provided funds to facilitate the withdrawal of 200 children working under worst forms of child labour, particularly head portage (Kayayei), at the markets and in commercial agriculture.
He also said BRUM had been able to withdraw 132 children, from a targeted figure of 150, and placed them in schools since its inception in June 2007.
Again, 50 children had been identified and registered to receive vocational skills training, he said, adding that so far nine of them had been placed with master craftsmen and women to undergo training in hairdressing, tailoring, bakery, aluminium modelling and fabrication.
Mr Asumadu mentioned that a total sum of GH¢915.00 had been spent on the rescued children so far, while GH¢3,819.70 had been used in providing the aforementioned support.
He disclosed that well-packed support programmes had been earmarked for beneficiaries, including their parents.
He, therefore, urged Community Child Labour Committee members from the various beneficiary communities to join the NGO to collate and compile the names of all the parents and guardians of the beneficiary children.
In a speech, the Techiman Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Prince Yaw Donyina, advised the beneficiaries to carry the news about the good policies of the New Patriotic Party government, which included the Capitation Grant, the school feeding programme, the health insurance scheme, among others, to their parents.
He said the government would continue to come up with good policies to move the nation forward.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
ENCOURAGE GIRLS TO PURSUE MATHEMATICS, SCIENCES (JUNIOR GRAPHIC, PAGE 3)
The Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports (MOESS), Mrs Angelina Baiden-Amissah, has entreated male teachers not to discourage girls from pursuing Mathematics, science and technical based careers.
She noted that gender discrimination, continued to negatively affect girls who had interest in science based careers and, therefore, urged teachers to guide and counsel females in their class to achieve greater heights.
Mrs. Baiden-Amissah said this at the maiden Speech and Prize-giving Day of the OLA Girls Senior High School (SHS) at Kenyasi No.2 in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region. It was on the theme “Girl Child Education, The Role of the State, The Society and Parent”.
The school was founded in 1974 by the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA Sisters) and it was the first all-female secondary school to be established in the Brong Ahafo Region.
She gave the assurance that, the government would continue to fulfil its constitutional mandate in the education sector by pursuing sound policies and programmes to enable more girls to study in areas dominated by boys such as medicine, engineering, mathematics and science.
She gave the assurance that the six-unit classroom block, sick bay and other assistance rrequested for by the headmistress of the school would be considered.
Ms. Lydia Osei, who represented the First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, as the special guest of honour in her address, stressed the need for the talents of the youth to be harnessed and tapped for national development, saying “this would require collective efforts from all”.
Rev. Sister Martha Davis, the Headmistress of the school commended the government for the introduction of the Computerised System for Selection into Senior High School (CSSPS), which she noted had eased a lot of pressure on heads of schools.
She, however, observed that the CSSPS had not favoured the school in realising its aim of bringing quality education to rural girls, since those who were weak academically and had between aggregate 18 and 30 in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were those who had admission to the school.
Rev. Sis. Davis, therefore, appealed to the Ghana Education Service to give the school the permission to enrol young girls from the rural areas who obtainedwith weak grades at the BECE into SHS One.
Three students namely Belinda Aferi, Josephine Bugri and Efia Baaw Afriyie were adjudged the Overall Best Students for SHS forms three, two and one respectively. They were presented with awards, while some teaching and non-teaching staff were also rewarded for their good services to the school.
She noted that gender discrimination, continued to negatively affect girls who had interest in science based careers and, therefore, urged teachers to guide and counsel females in their class to achieve greater heights.
Mrs. Baiden-Amissah said this at the maiden Speech and Prize-giving Day of the OLA Girls Senior High School (SHS) at Kenyasi No.2 in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region. It was on the theme “Girl Child Education, The Role of the State, The Society and Parent”.
The school was founded in 1974 by the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA Sisters) and it was the first all-female secondary school to be established in the Brong Ahafo Region.
She gave the assurance that, the government would continue to fulfil its constitutional mandate in the education sector by pursuing sound policies and programmes to enable more girls to study in areas dominated by boys such as medicine, engineering, mathematics and science.
She gave the assurance that the six-unit classroom block, sick bay and other assistance rrequested for by the headmistress of the school would be considered.
Ms. Lydia Osei, who represented the First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, as the special guest of honour in her address, stressed the need for the talents of the youth to be harnessed and tapped for national development, saying “this would require collective efforts from all”.
Rev. Sister Martha Davis, the Headmistress of the school commended the government for the introduction of the Computerised System for Selection into Senior High School (CSSPS), which she noted had eased a lot of pressure on heads of schools.
She, however, observed that the CSSPS had not favoured the school in realising its aim of bringing quality education to rural girls, since those who were weak academically and had between aggregate 18 and 30 in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were those who had admission to the school.
Rev. Sis. Davis, therefore, appealed to the Ghana Education Service to give the school the permission to enrol young girls from the rural areas who obtainedwith weak grades at the BECE into SHS One.
Three students namely Belinda Aferi, Josephine Bugri and Efia Baaw Afriyie were adjudged the Overall Best Students for SHS forms three, two and one respectively. They were presented with awards, while some teaching and non-teaching staff were also rewarded for their good services to the school.
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