By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
All the fourteen people who were in contention for the Asunafo South District Chief Executive position, but unfortunately failed to make it have expressed their support for the President’s nominee, Mr Fleance Danso.
Mr Kwabena Gyau, a spokesperson for the losing contestants, who is also the father of the NDC in the district made this known to newsmen in Sunyani when he led some party executives in the area to pay a courtesy call on the Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku.
They pledged their support for the nominee and called on other party members to also rally behind him to show their respect for the President.
Mr Gyau also appealed to the district assembly to approve Mr Danso's nomination to ensure the rapid development of the district.
The executives of the Asunafo South constituency of the NDC also commended President John Evans Atta Mills for nominating Mr Danso as the Asunafo South District Chief Executive.
The executive members described Mr. Danso as a man whose competence, experience, loyalty and commitment to the party were unquestionable and said members of the party from the constituency were ready to support him to perform his duties after his endorsement by the assembly.
He urged the President to ignore "all forms of unwarranted and mischievous attempts by some internal dissidents of the party hiding under the cover of anonymity to throw dust into the eyes of the general public."
"By these acts, they sought to create the wrong impression that party executives and members in the Asunafo South are unhappy with the choice of Mr. Danso by His Excellency the President," he said.
He emphasised that the rank and file of the party and the general public across the political divide were in a "jubilant mood.”
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Opoku, for his part advised the executives to support the nominee and settle all differences behind close doors.
Meanwhile the Brong Ahafo Region is relatively calm despite some protests and demonstrations within the rank and file of the NDC after the nomination of DCEs and MCEs.
So far there have been protests at Wenchi, Atebubu, Nkoranza North and Sunyani.
In Sunyani, about 80 NDC supporters with placards demonstrated in the municipality on the nomination of Mr Akwasi Oppong as the new MCE for the Sunyani Municipal assembly.
The demonstrators carried placards some of which read, ”We won’t tolerate any nonsense”, “No Justice No MCE” and “Prof. remember what you said”, among others.
The demonstrators later submitted their petition to the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
TUOBODOM IN ARMS ...Against new movie (LEAD STORY, GRAPHIC NSEMPA)
By David Owusu-Antwi, Kumasi & Samuel Duodu, Tuobodom
NKASEI’S “Tuobodom” song became a hit overnight but not without a fierce controversy that nearly resulted in physical attacks on some executives of the Music Association of Ghana (MUSIGA) and the artistes themselves by some natives of Tuobodom.
But even before the dust on that could settle, a similar controversy has started with the release three weeks ago of “Ye firi Tuobodom” a Ghanaian movie.
Apparently fed up with what they perceive as a continuous denigration of the people of the town, the natives are now threatening court action against Parlance Productions, for producing the movie.
The natives are fuming over why artistes and moviemakers could not display anything positive about the town and its citezens but always try to tell the world that they were primitives.
According to some indigenes and residents of the town who spoke to the Graphic Nsempa team that visited the town last Wednesday, the new film was another move to ridicule the people of Tuobodom.
They stated that every movie or song that does not promote social cohesion but put people in a bad light and also promoted ethnocentrism should be banned outright, and cited the new movie as one of such bad films that should not be entertained on the market.
The people cited the film industries of other countries, which seek to make society better and not to destroy a section of their citizens.
Mr Nicholas Sarkodie, a former assembly member for Dompoase Electoral Area in Tuobodom and an indigene, said the movie was just one of those mediocre and amateurish films produced by some few individuals who wanted to satisfy their self-ambitions at the expense of the entire society.
He said the movie lacked the basic morals and values and the producers of the movie were just cashing in on the name of their town to make money since a group of musicians, who “I have consigned to history” made money out of a similar venture not long ago.
Mr Sarkodie added that every community or town had its own unique history, which could be built on or used to bring about development but a few unprofessionals who find themselves in the showbiz industry were exposing their ignorance through their works.
Mr Yaw Sarfo, a resident of the town, said the film was in bad taste as it portrayed the people of Tuobodom as ‘villagers’ and the town as a village, which lacks modern ways of doing things.
Mr Kwasi Fosu, owner of Hi-Tech spot, a popular drinking spot at Tuobodom, said, “the producers of the film should have gone to the town to consult the elders and get the right information before going out with the movie, since it was a calculated attempt to distort the history of our town and put the citizens in a bad light.”
Efforts by the Graphic Nsempa team to get some chiefs and elders of the town to speak to the issue proved futile, because they said they did not want to react to mediocre works like the movie so as to make it popular for it to enjoy heavy patronage.
Speaking to this reporter over the controversy that had greeted the movie, the producer of the movie, Mr Francis Yeboah Sekyere, said he was shocked that the movie could create such discomfort for the people of Tuobodom.
According to him, the main motive for the movie was to prove the point that residing in a remote area did not mean that such persons could not make it in life and that living in a city or town did not make a person any better than a rural dweller.
“In fact, one of my motivations for producing this movie stemmed from the wrong picture that had been created that those from Tuobodom were primitive.
“This movie was aimed at correcting that wrong perception so it came as a big surprise when I heard that the natives were threatening court action because I had used the name of their town for a movie,” he said apologetically.
The 29-year-old producer questioned whether those angry natives had taken their time to watch the movie and found any offensive scenes.
“I wish that I can go there and try to settle this matter calmly but judging from the fact that they nearly assaulted Nkasei and the executives of MUSIGA, I fear for my life,”he said.
Meanwhile, he has apologised to the chiefs and people of Tuobodom, asking for their forgiveness if he had wronged them in anyway.
NKASEI’S “Tuobodom” song became a hit overnight but not without a fierce controversy that nearly resulted in physical attacks on some executives of the Music Association of Ghana (MUSIGA) and the artistes themselves by some natives of Tuobodom.
But even before the dust on that could settle, a similar controversy has started with the release three weeks ago of “Ye firi Tuobodom” a Ghanaian movie.
Apparently fed up with what they perceive as a continuous denigration of the people of the town, the natives are now threatening court action against Parlance Productions, for producing the movie.
The natives are fuming over why artistes and moviemakers could not display anything positive about the town and its citezens but always try to tell the world that they were primitives.
According to some indigenes and residents of the town who spoke to the Graphic Nsempa team that visited the town last Wednesday, the new film was another move to ridicule the people of Tuobodom.
They stated that every movie or song that does not promote social cohesion but put people in a bad light and also promoted ethnocentrism should be banned outright, and cited the new movie as one of such bad films that should not be entertained on the market.
The people cited the film industries of other countries, which seek to make society better and not to destroy a section of their citizens.
Mr Nicholas Sarkodie, a former assembly member for Dompoase Electoral Area in Tuobodom and an indigene, said the movie was just one of those mediocre and amateurish films produced by some few individuals who wanted to satisfy their self-ambitions at the expense of the entire society.
He said the movie lacked the basic morals and values and the producers of the movie were just cashing in on the name of their town to make money since a group of musicians, who “I have consigned to history” made money out of a similar venture not long ago.
Mr Sarkodie added that every community or town had its own unique history, which could be built on or used to bring about development but a few unprofessionals who find themselves in the showbiz industry were exposing their ignorance through their works.
Mr Yaw Sarfo, a resident of the town, said the film was in bad taste as it portrayed the people of Tuobodom as ‘villagers’ and the town as a village, which lacks modern ways of doing things.
Mr Kwasi Fosu, owner of Hi-Tech spot, a popular drinking spot at Tuobodom, said, “the producers of the film should have gone to the town to consult the elders and get the right information before going out with the movie, since it was a calculated attempt to distort the history of our town and put the citizens in a bad light.”
Efforts by the Graphic Nsempa team to get some chiefs and elders of the town to speak to the issue proved futile, because they said they did not want to react to mediocre works like the movie so as to make it popular for it to enjoy heavy patronage.
Speaking to this reporter over the controversy that had greeted the movie, the producer of the movie, Mr Francis Yeboah Sekyere, said he was shocked that the movie could create such discomfort for the people of Tuobodom.
According to him, the main motive for the movie was to prove the point that residing in a remote area did not mean that such persons could not make it in life and that living in a city or town did not make a person any better than a rural dweller.
“In fact, one of my motivations for producing this movie stemmed from the wrong picture that had been created that those from Tuobodom were primitive.
“This movie was aimed at correcting that wrong perception so it came as a big surprise when I heard that the natives were threatening court action because I had used the name of their town for a movie,” he said apologetically.
The 29-year-old producer questioned whether those angry natives had taken their time to watch the movie and found any offensive scenes.
“I wish that I can go there and try to settle this matter calmly but judging from the fact that they nearly assaulted Nkasei and the executives of MUSIGA, I fear for my life,”he said.
Meanwhile, he has apologised to the chiefs and people of Tuobodom, asking for their forgiveness if he had wronged them in anyway.
TECHIMAN TO CELEBRATE 'APOO' IN STYLE (GRAPHIC NSEMPA, PAGE 15)
By Samuel Duodu, Techiman.
THIS year’s ‘Apoo’ festival of the chiefs and people of the Techiman Traditional Area in the Brong Ahafo Region would be used to initiate the construction of an ultra modern cultural centre to help protect, promote and preserve the cultural heritage and the identity of the people of the area.
The cultural centre, which would have a museum, theatre, conference room, artisans’ village, an auditorium, open space, internet café and administrative block and a restaurant would be undertaken by the Techiman Traditional Council in conjunction with the University of Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Michigan and the Michigan State University both in the United State of America (USA).
According to the Adontenhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, Nana Asare Twi Brempong II, who is also a member of the ‘Apoo’ Festival Planning Committee, the centre would be used for the preservation and conservation of the cultural heritage of Techiman.
He stated that the centre would also educate other residents of the traditional area who hail from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds to educate them on the need to respect each other’s culture, and also help erase the negative perceptions that some people held about the culture of the area.
Nana Twi Brempong said this year’s ‘Apoo’ festival began on April 11, 2009, and it would end on May 11, 2009, on the theme “Our Culture, Our Heritage: the Tool for Social Integration” and the high point of the festival would be a colourful grand durbar of the chiefs and people of Techiman which would be held on May 1, 2009.
He explained that this year’s festival is being used to rally all citizens of Techiman both home and abroad for the development of the area, adding that the festival would also be marked with a Miss Apoo pageant.
Nana Twi Brempong who gave a brief history about the ‘Apoo’ festival said it began during the reign of Nana Kwakye Ameyaw who was an authoritarian and, therefore, the people of Techiman at that time could not express their views freely on what was happening.
He noted that the people were peeved during that period but could express their views.
Since the people could also not let them those in authority account for their stewardship, they consulted the gods of the area who asked them to set aside some days for them to come out and say what was on their chest more especially about the traditional authorities at that time.
During the period of “Apoo” it was agreed that one could not be held responsible for what he or she said.
The people would say “Mereko po me haw” which literally meant “I am going to say what was on my chest” and this was how the “Apoo” festival came into existence.
Nana Twi Brempong said the festival was not only about the people getting out what was on their chest about traditional authorities but also all who were in leadership positions in the traditional area at
He said the “Apoo” was also used to recognise those in society who had distinguished themselves or done something good for the society.
The Adontenhene said the “Apoo” is also used to promote social interaction as well as settle family disputes among citizens of the area. It is also it which citizens both home and abroad come together to undertake community projects.
He said Nananom also pour libation during that period to ask for prosperity, peace and success..
Nana Twi Brempong said the significance of the festival among others are to measure the people in authority and also to enable them give account of their stewardship, protect and preserve their cultural identity as a people as well as promote the well being of the people.
He said this year’s festival is focusing on things that would help fight poverty, illiteracy and ignorance in the society.
Nana Twi Brempong mentioned one of the highlights of the festival, which begins on April 11, 2009 as ‘Hyereko’ (Collection of white clay). This is when white clay collected from the Aponkosu River, is used to decorate the shrines in the traditional area, while the priests/priestesses also used the clay when they are possessed by spirits.
THIS year’s ‘Apoo’ festival of the chiefs and people of the Techiman Traditional Area in the Brong Ahafo Region would be used to initiate the construction of an ultra modern cultural centre to help protect, promote and preserve the cultural heritage and the identity of the people of the area.
The cultural centre, which would have a museum, theatre, conference room, artisans’ village, an auditorium, open space, internet café and administrative block and a restaurant would be undertaken by the Techiman Traditional Council in conjunction with the University of Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Michigan and the Michigan State University both in the United State of America (USA).
According to the Adontenhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, Nana Asare Twi Brempong II, who is also a member of the ‘Apoo’ Festival Planning Committee, the centre would be used for the preservation and conservation of the cultural heritage of Techiman.
He stated that the centre would also educate other residents of the traditional area who hail from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds to educate them on the need to respect each other’s culture, and also help erase the negative perceptions that some people held about the culture of the area.
Nana Twi Brempong said this year’s ‘Apoo’ festival began on April 11, 2009, and it would end on May 11, 2009, on the theme “Our Culture, Our Heritage: the Tool for Social Integration” and the high point of the festival would be a colourful grand durbar of the chiefs and people of Techiman which would be held on May 1, 2009.
He explained that this year’s festival is being used to rally all citizens of Techiman both home and abroad for the development of the area, adding that the festival would also be marked with a Miss Apoo pageant.
Nana Twi Brempong who gave a brief history about the ‘Apoo’ festival said it began during the reign of Nana Kwakye Ameyaw who was an authoritarian and, therefore, the people of Techiman at that time could not express their views freely on what was happening.
He noted that the people were peeved during that period but could express their views.
Since the people could also not let them those in authority account for their stewardship, they consulted the gods of the area who asked them to set aside some days for them to come out and say what was on their chest more especially about the traditional authorities at that time.
During the period of “Apoo” it was agreed that one could not be held responsible for what he or she said.
The people would say “Mereko po me haw” which literally meant “I am going to say what was on my chest” and this was how the “Apoo” festival came into existence.
Nana Twi Brempong said the festival was not only about the people getting out what was on their chest about traditional authorities but also all who were in leadership positions in the traditional area at
He said the “Apoo” was also used to recognise those in society who had distinguished themselves or done something good for the society.
The Adontenhene said the “Apoo” is also used to promote social interaction as well as settle family disputes among citizens of the area. It is also it which citizens both home and abroad come together to undertake community projects.
He said Nananom also pour libation during that period to ask for prosperity, peace and success..
Nana Twi Brempong said the significance of the festival among others are to measure the people in authority and also to enable them give account of their stewardship, protect and preserve their cultural identity as a people as well as promote the well being of the people.
He said this year’s festival is focusing on things that would help fight poverty, illiteracy and ignorance in the society.
Nana Twi Brempong mentioned one of the highlights of the festival, which begins on April 11, 2009 as ‘Hyereko’ (Collection of white clay). This is when white clay collected from the Aponkosu River, is used to decorate the shrines in the traditional area, while the priests/priestesses also used the clay when they are possessed by spirits.
ENSURE CLEAN, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT (PAGE 40)
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Department of Women, Madam Victoria Owusu-Kyeremaa, has urged Ghanaians, especially women, to always ensure a clean and healthy environment wherever they find themselves to help reduce out-patient department (OPD) attendance at health facilities in the country.
According to her, every citizen had a role to play in keeping the environment clean at all times to prevent diseases such as malaria and typhoid fever, which are a drain on the nation’s scarce resources.
She, therefore, urged women, the agents of change in the society and in homes, to lead the crusade against filth in the country to help achieve a clean and healthy environment.
Madam Owusu-Kyeremaa made the call at a clean-up exercise organised by the Regional Directorate of the department in collaboration with Zoomlion Ghana Limited at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital.
The exercise formed part of activities marking this year’s women’s week celebration in the region.
The celebration was on the theme: “Men and women working together for a better Ghana”.
The clean-up exercise, which was supported with logistics and staff from Zoomlion, involved the clearing of weeds, sweeping, clearing of choked gutters and the removal of cobwebs on the hospital’s premises.
Among the women’s groups that took part in the exercise were Prisons Officers Wives’ Association (PROWA), Fire Service Ladies and Wives’ Association, Ghana National Hairdressers and Beauticians Association, Unity Ladies Club, Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) Ladies and Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Ladies.
Madam Owusu-Kyeremaa urged women to inculcate the habit of environmental cleanliness in their children so that they would grow with it.
She said since cleanliness is next to Godliness, women must always ensure clean environment wherever they found themselves, especially at the markets, in the homes and offices.
Madam Kyeremah appealed to all residents in the municipality to help maintain and sustain the status of Sunyani as one of the neatest cities in the country by desisting from littering and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
She expressed the hope that the women’s groups would embark on regular clean-up exercises in their various communities.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Nicholas Ofori, commended the women for their massive turnout and pledged the support of Zoomlion to groups or organisations whose objective was to keep the environment clean and healthy at all times.
According to her, every citizen had a role to play in keeping the environment clean at all times to prevent diseases such as malaria and typhoid fever, which are a drain on the nation’s scarce resources.
She, therefore, urged women, the agents of change in the society and in homes, to lead the crusade against filth in the country to help achieve a clean and healthy environment.
Madam Owusu-Kyeremaa made the call at a clean-up exercise organised by the Regional Directorate of the department in collaboration with Zoomlion Ghana Limited at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital.
The exercise formed part of activities marking this year’s women’s week celebration in the region.
The celebration was on the theme: “Men and women working together for a better Ghana”.
The clean-up exercise, which was supported with logistics and staff from Zoomlion, involved the clearing of weeds, sweeping, clearing of choked gutters and the removal of cobwebs on the hospital’s premises.
Among the women’s groups that took part in the exercise were Prisons Officers Wives’ Association (PROWA), Fire Service Ladies and Wives’ Association, Ghana National Hairdressers and Beauticians Association, Unity Ladies Club, Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) Ladies and Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Ladies.
Madam Owusu-Kyeremaa urged women to inculcate the habit of environmental cleanliness in their children so that they would grow with it.
She said since cleanliness is next to Godliness, women must always ensure clean environment wherever they found themselves, especially at the markets, in the homes and offices.
Madam Kyeremah appealed to all residents in the municipality to help maintain and sustain the status of Sunyani as one of the neatest cities in the country by desisting from littering and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
She expressed the hope that the women’s groups would embark on regular clean-up exercises in their various communities.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Nicholas Ofori, commended the women for their massive turnout and pledged the support of Zoomlion to groups or organisations whose objective was to keep the environment clean and healthy at all times.
ATEBUBU-AMANTIN AND PRU REJECT NOMINEES (PAGE 16)
The President’s nominees for the positions of District Chief Executive for Atebubu-Amantin and Pru districts in the Brong Ahafo Region were rejected by their respective assemblies at separate special meetings held at Amantin and Yeji on Tuesday.
The nominees, Mr Sanja Nanja, 41, a teacher, and Masawud Mohammed, a tutor at the Atebubu Teacher Training College, who were nominated for the positions of DCE for the Atebbubu-Amantin and Pru districts failed to secure the two thirds of votes from the assembly members present at the meeting.
Subsequently both nominees have within 10 days to present themselves for approval by their respective assemblies for the second time.
At the meeting held at the Roman Catholic School at Amantin about 47miles from Atebubu, the district capital, to confirm Mr Nanja, 19 out of the 32 Assembly members present voted ‘Yes’ while 13 voted ‘No’, which fell short of the required 21 votes needed to get the two-thirds majority to enable him to get the approval.
There was also heavy police and military presence at the venue for the confirmation of Mr Nanja to maintain law and order while his supporters gathered round the building to catch a glimpse of the proceedings, which was supervised by the District Directorate of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Immediately the results of the polls was announced, some supporters of Mr Nanja who were angered flared up and cast insinuation at the assembly members.
However, there were pockets of jubilation at the Atebubu township when information got there that Mr Nanja failed to get the approval.
Mr Nanja, who expressed shock about the inability of the assembly members to confirm him, pledged that he was going to do his home work well to be confirmed by the assembly when they meet again.
Mr Nanja’s nomination as the DCE for Atebubu-Amantin was kicked against by the chiefs, sub-chiefs and people of the Atebubu Traditional Area when the announcement was made recently.
In a statement signed by the Omanhene of Atebubu, Nana Owusu Akyeaw Brempong II, after an emergency meeting at his palace the Atebubu Traditional Council appealed to the President to reconsider his decision as the council would find it very difficult, if not impossible, to work with him.
According to the statement, nobody from the Atebubu Traditional Area, and for that matter Atebubu, the district capital, had ever been appointed to the position of DCE ever since the decentralisation concept started.
Nana Brempong, before the meeting on Tuesday to confirm Mr Nanja, had gone public to make known his stand against the President’s nominee.
At the Pru District Assembly Hall at Yeji, the district capital, Mr Mohammed also failed to secure the two thirds of the votes cast by the 36 assembly members after two rounds of voting of which the second was nullified as a ballot paper that was not validated was found among the validated ones after the voting.
Twenty of the assembly members voted ‘Yes’ while 16 of them voted ‘No’, which fell short of the 24 votes required to enable him to be confirmed.
After a 30-minute closed-door meeting with the assembly members with the presence of the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, who was there to witness the proceedings, the assembly members came into the hall again for the second round of voting to confirm the nominee but he failed to make the mark once again as he polled 22 votes as against 14.
However, the round-off was nullified as an invalidated ballot paper was found among the validated ones.
Supporters of Mr Mohammed who had converged on the venue left for home disappointed, and promised to go and do their home work well to enable the nominee to get the nod the next time.
Mr Mohammed appealed to the assembly members to vote to confirm him when they reconvene the second time.
The Assembly elected Mr Wisdom K. Zor, 38, a tutor at the Yeji Senior High School, as the Presiding Member for the Pru District Assembly after two rounds of voting, obtaining 23 against his contender during the first voting. Mr Frank Atti, also a worker at the assembly who secured 13 votes while after the second round of voting Mr Zor got 28 votes as against eight votes secured by Mr Atti.
Mr Opoku earlier in his remarks called on all local government actors, especially assembly members, traditional rulers, the losing contestants and opinion leaders to bury their differences and give their support as well as their maximum cooperation to ensure that the President’s nominees for the position of Municipal and District Chief Executives gets the nod to hasten the development pace in their various districts.
The nominees, Mr Sanja Nanja, 41, a teacher, and Masawud Mohammed, a tutor at the Atebubu Teacher Training College, who were nominated for the positions of DCE for the Atebbubu-Amantin and Pru districts failed to secure the two thirds of votes from the assembly members present at the meeting.
Subsequently both nominees have within 10 days to present themselves for approval by their respective assemblies for the second time.
At the meeting held at the Roman Catholic School at Amantin about 47miles from Atebubu, the district capital, to confirm Mr Nanja, 19 out of the 32 Assembly members present voted ‘Yes’ while 13 voted ‘No’, which fell short of the required 21 votes needed to get the two-thirds majority to enable him to get the approval.
There was also heavy police and military presence at the venue for the confirmation of Mr Nanja to maintain law and order while his supporters gathered round the building to catch a glimpse of the proceedings, which was supervised by the District Directorate of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Immediately the results of the polls was announced, some supporters of Mr Nanja who were angered flared up and cast insinuation at the assembly members.
However, there were pockets of jubilation at the Atebubu township when information got there that Mr Nanja failed to get the approval.
Mr Nanja, who expressed shock about the inability of the assembly members to confirm him, pledged that he was going to do his home work well to be confirmed by the assembly when they meet again.
Mr Nanja’s nomination as the DCE for Atebubu-Amantin was kicked against by the chiefs, sub-chiefs and people of the Atebubu Traditional Area when the announcement was made recently.
In a statement signed by the Omanhene of Atebubu, Nana Owusu Akyeaw Brempong II, after an emergency meeting at his palace the Atebubu Traditional Council appealed to the President to reconsider his decision as the council would find it very difficult, if not impossible, to work with him.
According to the statement, nobody from the Atebubu Traditional Area, and for that matter Atebubu, the district capital, had ever been appointed to the position of DCE ever since the decentralisation concept started.
Nana Brempong, before the meeting on Tuesday to confirm Mr Nanja, had gone public to make known his stand against the President’s nominee.
At the Pru District Assembly Hall at Yeji, the district capital, Mr Mohammed also failed to secure the two thirds of the votes cast by the 36 assembly members after two rounds of voting of which the second was nullified as a ballot paper that was not validated was found among the validated ones after the voting.
Twenty of the assembly members voted ‘Yes’ while 16 of them voted ‘No’, which fell short of the 24 votes required to enable him to be confirmed.
After a 30-minute closed-door meeting with the assembly members with the presence of the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, who was there to witness the proceedings, the assembly members came into the hall again for the second round of voting to confirm the nominee but he failed to make the mark once again as he polled 22 votes as against 14.
However, the round-off was nullified as an invalidated ballot paper was found among the validated ones.
Supporters of Mr Mohammed who had converged on the venue left for home disappointed, and promised to go and do their home work well to enable the nominee to get the nod the next time.
Mr Mohammed appealed to the assembly members to vote to confirm him when they reconvene the second time.
The Assembly elected Mr Wisdom K. Zor, 38, a tutor at the Yeji Senior High School, as the Presiding Member for the Pru District Assembly after two rounds of voting, obtaining 23 against his contender during the first voting. Mr Frank Atti, also a worker at the assembly who secured 13 votes while after the second round of voting Mr Zor got 28 votes as against eight votes secured by Mr Atti.
Mr Opoku earlier in his remarks called on all local government actors, especially assembly members, traditional rulers, the losing contestants and opinion leaders to bury their differences and give their support as well as their maximum cooperation to ensure that the President’s nominees for the position of Municipal and District Chief Executives gets the nod to hasten the development pace in their various districts.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
ZOOMLION PROVIDES STREELIGHT BULBS FOR SUNYANI MAGAZINE (PAGE 21)
ZOOMLION Ghana Limited, a waste management company, has provided bulbs for streetlight rehabilitation project and refuse containers at the Sunyani Magazine (Light Industrial Area). The company has also removed refuse dump from the area.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Benjamin Ason, made this known at a ceremony when the cpmpany handed over 10-seater water closet toilet facility with an overhead tank and bathrooms to the Sunyani Municipal Branch of the Ghana National Association of Garages (GNAG) at Sunyani Magazine.
The facility, under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) Domestic Trade and Industrial Management Services Project (DOTIP), seeks to improve environmental sanitation at the workplace. The project, funded by MOTI, was executed by Zoomlion.
Mr Ason said the project would go a long way to improve sanitation in the area. He added that Zoomlion had also provided streetlight bulbs for use at Techiman Magazine, while a toilet facility had been provided for the Dormaa Ahenkro Magazine under the project.
Mr Ason said with the hand over of the project to the garages association, the management of the facility was now in the hands of the beneficiaries but gave the assurance that Zoomlion would assist them with the necessary detergents and disinfectants to enable them to keep the facility clean at all times.
He charged the management committee of the facility to ensure its proper maintenance and management to increase the lifespan of the facility and gave the assurance that Zoomlion would continue to partner all organisations and groups whose objective was to keep a healthy and a clean environment.
The Chairman of the Sunyani Municipal Garages Association, Mr George Baafi-Mensah, thanked Zoomlion and MOTI for the facility , stating that it would enhance environmental sanitation in the area.
He appealed to the relevant departments and agencies responsible for the reshaping and tarring of the magazine roads to speed up with the work and also extend water to the area.
Mr Baafi Mensah also renewed the appeal to the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to work fast at the new site for the Sunyani Light Industrial Area at old Abesim, near Sunyani, to be relocated.
Present at the ceremony was Mr Kwame Gariba, the Head of Northern Sector and Mr Nicholas Ofori, the Deputy Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Benjamin Ason, made this known at a ceremony when the cpmpany handed over 10-seater water closet toilet facility with an overhead tank and bathrooms to the Sunyani Municipal Branch of the Ghana National Association of Garages (GNAG) at Sunyani Magazine.
The facility, under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) Domestic Trade and Industrial Management Services Project (DOTIP), seeks to improve environmental sanitation at the workplace. The project, funded by MOTI, was executed by Zoomlion.
Mr Ason said the project would go a long way to improve sanitation in the area. He added that Zoomlion had also provided streetlight bulbs for use at Techiman Magazine, while a toilet facility had been provided for the Dormaa Ahenkro Magazine under the project.
Mr Ason said with the hand over of the project to the garages association, the management of the facility was now in the hands of the beneficiaries but gave the assurance that Zoomlion would assist them with the necessary detergents and disinfectants to enable them to keep the facility clean at all times.
He charged the management committee of the facility to ensure its proper maintenance and management to increase the lifespan of the facility and gave the assurance that Zoomlion would continue to partner all organisations and groups whose objective was to keep a healthy and a clean environment.
The Chairman of the Sunyani Municipal Garages Association, Mr George Baafi-Mensah, thanked Zoomlion and MOTI for the facility , stating that it would enhance environmental sanitation in the area.
He appealed to the relevant departments and agencies responsible for the reshaping and tarring of the magazine roads to speed up with the work and also extend water to the area.
Mr Baafi Mensah also renewed the appeal to the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to work fast at the new site for the Sunyani Light Industrial Area at old Abesim, near Sunyani, to be relocated.
Present at the ceremony was Mr Kwame Gariba, the Head of Northern Sector and Mr Nicholas Ofori, the Deputy Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
DON'T INVOLVE YOURSELVES IN CHIEFTAINCY MATTERS...Bishop Gyamfi urges Christians (page 20)
THE Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, has called on Christians not to get involved in chieftaincy matters and other activities that do not promote peace in their communities.
He said the duty of a Christian was always to ensure peace and unity wherever they found themselves as their Lord Jesus Christ did, since Christians were the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
Most Rev. Gyamfi made the call at the inauguration of the St Anthony Quasi Parish at Drobo in the Jaman South District in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He, therefore, urged Christians and churches to continue to preach peace and reconciliation which were the requisite ingredients for the forward march of the nation.
The parish which started in 1998 with 40 members, now boast 1,100 members with 12 outstations, including Nyamefie, Asuogya, Jenjemireja, Miremaano, Ampenkro/Asratoa, Tegese, Yaa Mansa, Faaman, Baanafour, Kofiko and Famekwa.
Most Rev. Gyamfi said now that the general election was over, it was time Ghanaians got united to move the country forward.
He said with the establishment of the parish, the members must endeavour to preach the good news as Jesus Christ told the Apostles and also be ambassadors of forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, love and understanding.
Most Rev. Gyamfi urged the people in the area to allow the power of God and the resurrection to work in their lives.
The Catholic Bishop advised the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Adjei, to be faithful to the church and to also preach to address particular problems confronting the area and also give the message of Christ to his members.
In an address read on his behalf, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, paid glowing tribute to the church for its contribution to the development of the country.
He called on the church to continue with its good works in the provision of healthcare, education and other social services apart from the spiritual aspect.
He urged the people to accept the President’s nominee for the position of District Chief Executive (DCE) to enable work to commence in earnest.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo thanked Most Rev. Gyamfi for the good work he had done, saying “I wish the parish well and pray that the church will continue to grow from strength to strength in all its dealings”.
For his part, the Omanhene of Drobo Traditional Area, Beyeeman Bosea Gyinantwi, commended the Catholic Church for its contribution to the development of the area, and pledged the support of the traditional council to the church.
He called on the people to work in unity towards the rapid development of the area.
He said the duty of a Christian was always to ensure peace and unity wherever they found themselves as their Lord Jesus Christ did, since Christians were the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
Most Rev. Gyamfi made the call at the inauguration of the St Anthony Quasi Parish at Drobo in the Jaman South District in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He, therefore, urged Christians and churches to continue to preach peace and reconciliation which were the requisite ingredients for the forward march of the nation.
The parish which started in 1998 with 40 members, now boast 1,100 members with 12 outstations, including Nyamefie, Asuogya, Jenjemireja, Miremaano, Ampenkro/Asratoa, Tegese, Yaa Mansa, Faaman, Baanafour, Kofiko and Famekwa.
Most Rev. Gyamfi said now that the general election was over, it was time Ghanaians got united to move the country forward.
He said with the establishment of the parish, the members must endeavour to preach the good news as Jesus Christ told the Apostles and also be ambassadors of forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, love and understanding.
Most Rev. Gyamfi urged the people in the area to allow the power of God and the resurrection to work in their lives.
The Catholic Bishop advised the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Adjei, to be faithful to the church and to also preach to address particular problems confronting the area and also give the message of Christ to his members.
In an address read on his behalf, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, paid glowing tribute to the church for its contribution to the development of the country.
He called on the church to continue with its good works in the provision of healthcare, education and other social services apart from the spiritual aspect.
He urged the people to accept the President’s nominee for the position of District Chief Executive (DCE) to enable work to commence in earnest.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo thanked Most Rev. Gyamfi for the good work he had done, saying “I wish the parish well and pray that the church will continue to grow from strength to strength in all its dealings”.
For his part, the Omanhene of Drobo Traditional Area, Beyeeman Bosea Gyinantwi, commended the Catholic Church for its contribution to the development of the area, and pledged the support of the traditional council to the church.
He called on the people to work in unity towards the rapid development of the area.
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