The Upper East Regional Disease Surveillance Officer, Thomas Abachie has refuted claim that the region is experiencing an outbreak of perennial Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM). He described such pronouncements and publications across some section of the media as null and void though the region has recorded some suspected and confirmed cases of the disease, this year. Mr. Abachie who disclosed this to Radio Ghana at Bolgatanga said the region this year has recorded 351 suspected and 118 confirmed cases with less than 10 deaths. This, he added, is a clear indication that the disease has not reached its epidemic threshold and called on the public to exercise restraints since the regional health directorate has instituted adequate measures to ensure minimal cases. Mr. Abachie said his outfit with the support of other stakeholders, have put in place various interventions to that regard. According to him, the region is currently embarking on community sensitization to educate residents on the need to take precautionary measures in order not to acquire the disease. The epidemic management committees at the regional and district levels, he noted, has also been strengthened to deal with the situation when the need arises. He also mentioned close collaboration with key stakeholders including the media, security agencies, MOFA, NADMO the Navrongo Health Research Centre for confirmation of causative organism, as some of the interventional measures. Moreover ,clinicians and other health workers stationed at the epidemic prone areas have been sensitize on how to deal with cases of CSM, W135 and Strep pneumonia among other related diseases in case of any outbreak. Mr. Abachie advised the public to report to the nearest health post in case of any unusual feeling such as stiffness of the neck, flu, severe headache as well as fever and vomiting, adding that untreated viral and bacteria meningitis may pose serious consequences including permanent brain damage and death. He said Cerebrospinal meningitis, commonly referred to as CSM is an infection of the lining of the brain and spine and stressed the need urgent medical help because the disease can become extremely serious in just a few hours. Mr Abachie therefore called on affected persons to report and also seek early treatment to prevent serious complications and outbreak.
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Sunday, 12 December 2010
Gov’t to give Technical and Vocational Education and Training a major boost
12-12-2010 Narration: Government in its policy intervention of investing in people to achieve the Better Ghana Agenda, has put in place measures to give Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) the needed push in order to prepare students adequately for the job market and also assist them to establish their own business enterprises. Government is this regard, will partner the private sector to ensure a massive increase in access to facilities for computer technology in the teaching and learning process at all level in the coming year. Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, gave the assurance at the climax of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Notre Dame Seminary and Senior High School at Navrongo in the Upper East Region. The event was on the theme: “The Citadel of Quality Education in Northern Ghana: The Way Forward” Correspondent Isaac Asare witnessed the occasion and has come through with this report for Radio Ghana.
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In attendance were various dignitaries including chiefs, government officials, and directors of education, catholic missionaries, and founding fathers of the school as well as the entire student body among other academicians. The Minister of Education, Alex Tetteh- Enyo who spoke on behalf of the Vice President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, commended staff and students of Notre Dame Senior High school for contributing its quota in the provision of affordable access to quality education to the youth particularly brilliant but needy students and for also maintaining its high standard of discipline, which he said forms the key foundation to achieving academic excellence. He however pledged government commitment in addressing all the infrastructural needs of the school to create a congenial atmosphere for effective teaching and learning. He said government in its effort to providing quality and affordable education for all is collaborating with the private sector to give ICT education a major boost for the purpose of skill acquisition particularly for technical and vocational institutions and called on relevant stakeholders to partner government to bring about the change for accelerated development. Mr. Tetteh Enyo also expressed government’s desire to making girl child education a reality, hence the need for their empowerment. He later on behalf of the Vice President pledged to provide the school with a bus and a pick up. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo who is a product of the school, reiterated government’s determination to restructure and revamp the educational sector to meet the manpower requirements of the nation with focus being the implementation of an education strategic plan. The plan, he noted, identifies new areas for acceleration, effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of education in the country. It also seeks to address the challenges in management structure and content of education. On the part of teacher motivation, Mr. Woyongo said government is working tirelessly to ensure that salaries of teachers are competitive and comparable with other professionals and urged them to exercise restraints since their grievances are well taken note by the government. Mr. Woyongo commended the academic performance of the school over the years and charge management and staff of the school to maintain discipline at all times and ensure that students do no not engage in acts of vandalism. The Rector of the school, Rev. Fr Francis Kudelogo praised the consistent ascendancy in the quality of academic performance stressing that the school since its establishment in 1960 has produce high calibre of academicians locally and internationally and attributed the success story to the efforts of the Catholic Church and other stakeholders including the chiefs and community members. Awards in the form of citations were later given to co-operate personalities and individuals for their meritorious services to humanity through the school. The Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, the MP for Navrongo, Kofi Adda and the Missionaries of Africa were among the 10 awardees at the function.
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In attendance were various dignitaries including chiefs, government officials, and directors of education, catholic missionaries, and founding fathers of the school as well as the entire student body among other academicians. The Minister of Education, Alex Tetteh- Enyo who spoke on behalf of the Vice President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, commended staff and students of Notre Dame Senior High school for contributing its quota in the provision of affordable access to quality education to the youth particularly brilliant but needy students and for also maintaining its high standard of discipline, which he said forms the key foundation to achieving academic excellence. He however pledged government commitment in addressing all the infrastructural needs of the school to create a congenial atmosphere for effective teaching and learning. He said government in its effort to providing quality and affordable education for all is collaborating with the private sector to give ICT education a major boost for the purpose of skill acquisition particularly for technical and vocational institutions and called on relevant stakeholders to partner government to bring about the change for accelerated development. Mr. Tetteh Enyo also expressed government’s desire to making girl child education a reality, hence the need for their empowerment. He later on behalf of the Vice President pledged to provide the school with a bus and a pick up. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo who is a product of the school, reiterated government’s determination to restructure and revamp the educational sector to meet the manpower requirements of the nation with focus being the implementation of an education strategic plan. The plan, he noted, identifies new areas for acceleration, effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of education in the country. It also seeks to address the challenges in management structure and content of education. On the part of teacher motivation, Mr. Woyongo said government is working tirelessly to ensure that salaries of teachers are competitive and comparable with other professionals and urged them to exercise restraints since their grievances are well taken note by the government. Mr. Woyongo commended the academic performance of the school over the years and charge management and staff of the school to maintain discipline at all times and ensure that students do no not engage in acts of vandalism. The Rector of the school, Rev. Fr Francis Kudelogo praised the consistent ascendancy in the quality of academic performance stressing that the school since its establishment in 1960 has produce high calibre of academicians locally and internationally and attributed the success story to the efforts of the Catholic Church and other stakeholders including the chiefs and community members. Awards in the form of citations were later given to co-operate personalities and individuals for their meritorious services to humanity through the school. The Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, the MP for Navrongo, Kofi Adda and the Missionaries of Africa were among the 10 awardees at the function.
Friday, 10 December 2010
Paga Airstrip to be Commercialized
08-12-10
A team made up of the Civil Aviation Authority, the 4th Infantry Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, and the Ghana Air Force have visited the Paga Airstrip at Paga in the Upper East region to have a feasibility study that will lead to realigning and the reduction of obstacles on the run way to make way for commercial use in the near future. The facility is intended to facilitate medical evacuation in the region to other parts of the country and boost commercial activities and also easily link the region to other regions and neighboring countries. The Manager of Aerodrome, Safety and standards of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Mrs. Anita Adjei Nmashie disclosed that, 500 million Dollars has been earmarked for expansion of the Tamale Airport for International use and part of this amount will be used to develop the Paga Airstrip to boost the transportation industry in the region. She said after the study the Minister will be briefed on the details of the possible options what will be feasible to restructure the airstrip. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, called on the people living around the airstrip to co-operate and understand so that work can go on. He said though the land has been paid for by Government before the Second World War, the people who will be affected in the process of expanding the area will be compensated after the completion of the facility. He stressed that there will be a cold storage facility that will store vegetables produced by farmers in the region for easy airlifting to the southing part of the country. This he said will also raise the standard of agriculture in the region and reduce poverty especially among the farmers. The Wing Commander of the Ghana Armed Forces, Frank Hanson, stated that the airstrip can be used as it is now but be limited to some specific aircrafts. He said it is possible to reshape the run way to do away with landing aircraft running into the air space of Burkina Faso which he said always cause inconveniences.
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A team made up of the Civil Aviation Authority, the 4th Infantry Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, and the Ghana Air Force have visited the Paga Airstrip at Paga in the Upper East region to have a feasibility study that will lead to realigning and the reduction of obstacles on the run way to make way for commercial use in the near future. The facility is intended to facilitate medical evacuation in the region to other parts of the country and boost commercial activities and also easily link the region to other regions and neighboring countries. The Manager of Aerodrome, Safety and standards of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Mrs. Anita Adjei Nmashie disclosed that, 500 million Dollars has been earmarked for expansion of the Tamale Airport for International use and part of this amount will be used to develop the Paga Airstrip to boost the transportation industry in the region. She said after the study the Minister will be briefed on the details of the possible options what will be feasible to restructure the airstrip. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, called on the people living around the airstrip to co-operate and understand so that work can go on. He said though the land has been paid for by Government before the Second World War, the people who will be affected in the process of expanding the area will be compensated after the completion of the facility. He stressed that there will be a cold storage facility that will store vegetables produced by farmers in the region for easy airlifting to the southing part of the country. This he said will also raise the standard of agriculture in the region and reduce poverty especially among the farmers. The Wing Commander of the Ghana Armed Forces, Frank Hanson, stated that the airstrip can be used as it is now but be limited to some specific aircrafts. He said it is possible to reshape the run way to do away with landing aircraft running into the air space of Burkina Faso which he said always cause inconveniences.
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TAB poised to rectify abnormalities in the country’s business sector
Narration: The Chairman of the Tariff Advisory Board (TAB), Tawia Achia said his outfit is poised to provide a level playing field for all economic operators through effective and systematic application of a transparent tariff regime. This he revealed would help remove restrictions in Ghana’s import and export regime to encourage investment and raise competitiveness. The set goal would also ensure that tariffs are set in accordance with national economic development goals. Mr. Achia made these revelations at a training programme organized for private sector operators on how to access the services of the TAB at Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Capital. Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has filed this report.
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The training programme which was being organized by the Tariff Advisory Board under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry brought together heads of various institutions across the region, security and law enforcement agencies, business entrepreneurs and other relevant stakeholders including the press. Mr. Achiaa said the formation of the board which is the first of its kind to be established in the West African Sub region hopes to rectify all anomalies in the country’s tariff system to minimize interest group influence over contentious issues of trade policy including tariff adjustment decisions, dumping, subsidization and sharp import surges among other safeguard measures. Government in this regard seeks to deepen policy research and analysis, ensure a fairer trade approach to providing relief to domestic industries, and above all strengthen inter-institutional coordination in the implementation of trade law and policy in the country. These measures by the government are permitted under the World Trade Organization’s agreement with Ghana. He said the board on its part is to train private sector operators on how to petition and access the services of the board. The board in partnership with government hopes to provide technical support and solutions to all trade imbalances and deepen understanding of the impact of Ghana’s international trade commitments. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo said the establishment of the board which is supposed to advice the Trade and Industry Ministry on trade and tariff issues, till it becomes a fully fledged Ghana International Trade Commission by the end of 2012, would go a long way to boost the business and financial sector of the economy and also stem the negative activities of some foreign companies and their local counterparts. This realization he said could be sustained depending on the effectiveness of the board and to a large extend be predicated on the readiness of prospective petitioners to provide timely, accurate, sufficient and relevant data. He urged the board to therefore treat all information in a form of data with confidentiality and ensure that data collected from individual companies does not fall into the hands of their perceived competitors to enhance fair trade. Mr. Woyongo urged them to encourage competition to ensure that both local producers and foreigners operate on an even field. He pledged governments support for all business communities across the country and called for cooperation.
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The training programme which was being organized by the Tariff Advisory Board under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry brought together heads of various institutions across the region, security and law enforcement agencies, business entrepreneurs and other relevant stakeholders including the press. Mr. Achiaa said the formation of the board which is the first of its kind to be established in the West African Sub region hopes to rectify all anomalies in the country’s tariff system to minimize interest group influence over contentious issues of trade policy including tariff adjustment decisions, dumping, subsidization and sharp import surges among other safeguard measures. Government in this regard seeks to deepen policy research and analysis, ensure a fairer trade approach to providing relief to domestic industries, and above all strengthen inter-institutional coordination in the implementation of trade law and policy in the country. These measures by the government are permitted under the World Trade Organization’s agreement with Ghana. He said the board on its part is to train private sector operators on how to petition and access the services of the board. The board in partnership with government hopes to provide technical support and solutions to all trade imbalances and deepen understanding of the impact of Ghana’s international trade commitments. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo said the establishment of the board which is supposed to advice the Trade and Industry Ministry on trade and tariff issues, till it becomes a fully fledged Ghana International Trade Commission by the end of 2012, would go a long way to boost the business and financial sector of the economy and also stem the negative activities of some foreign companies and their local counterparts. This realization he said could be sustained depending on the effectiveness of the board and to a large extend be predicated on the readiness of prospective petitioners to provide timely, accurate, sufficient and relevant data. He urged the board to therefore treat all information in a form of data with confidentiality and ensure that data collected from individual companies does not fall into the hands of their perceived competitors to enhance fair trade. Mr. Woyongo urged them to encourage competition to ensure that both local producers and foreigners operate on an even field. He pledged governments support for all business communities across the country and called for cooperation.
10-12-2010 Walling of Bolgatanga Senior High School to Begin
Narration: Controversy surrounding the walling of the Bolgatanga Senior High School Popularly known as “Big Boss” due to chieftaincy dispute over the years, has been finally resolved to pave way for work to begin. Consensus was reached after the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, in the company of other dignitaries including district and regional directors of education met with the chiefs and custodians of the land to settle the issue once and for all. A sod cutting ceremony aftermath the meeting took place at the school premises to herald the commencement of the wall project. Isaac Asare has more for Radio Ghana.
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The Bolgatanga Senior High School which ranks among the best second cycle schools in the country began in 1974 through the efforts of the chiefs and people of the region. Efforts to wall the school since its establishment has proved futile due to conflicting issues of chieftaincy and land litigation among community members, chiefs as well as custodians of the land. At the just ended 40th anniversary celebration of the school this year, a special appeal was once again made to the government through the Ministry of Education to help fence the school with all the urgency to prevent more people encroaching onto the school land. The Regional Minister upon the request made, lobbied to secure funds for the commencement of the school wall project which has been the bone of contention between the chiefs and custodians of the land as well as the school authorities. Several attempts were made by the school authorities to deal with the situation but fell on rocky grounds. This is because some community members including the land owner kicked against the move claiming that they owe some portion of the land which they use for their farming activities. Moreover, their royal cemetery is also cited on the school land. These portions of the land, according to them, were not part of the school land when the demarcation took place in late 70s. The headmaster of the school, Mr. Didacus Afegra, who earlier on briefed the regional minister and his entourage on the matter said refusal by the custodian of the land to hand over the other portion of the land for the project has being a source of worry to staff as well as the student body and appealed for dialogue. To this end, an emergency meeting was organized to find an amicable solution to the problem. The Regional Minister after hours of heated deliberations, appealed to the chiefs and custodians of the land to willingly release it for its intended purpose in order not to disturb the relative peace prevailing in the area. He said land has become a very scarce commodity in the region and appealed to chiefs and land owners to help release land for developmental purposes since it will serve the interest of the people in the region. He said issue of land litigation and compensation has become a major set-back to the development of the region and called for mutual cooperation and understanding. The Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, accompanied by other dignitaries including the Traditional Chief of Winkongo, Naba Moses Akanzua, and the Paramount Chief of Tongo, Tongorana, later cut the sod to officially mark the commencement of the project which would be undertaken by Plan Construction Limited, a local construction firm.
Narration: Controversy surrounding the walling of the Bolgatanga Senior High School Popularly known as “Big Boss” due to chieftaincy dispute over the years, has been finally resolved to pave way for work to begin. Consensus was reached after the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, in the company of other dignitaries including district and regional directors of education met with the chiefs and custodians of the land to settle the issue once and for all. A sod cutting ceremony aftermath the meeting took place at the school premises to herald the commencement of the wall project. Isaac Asare has more for Radio Ghana.
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The Bolgatanga Senior High School which ranks among the best second cycle schools in the country began in 1974 through the efforts of the chiefs and people of the region. Efforts to wall the school since its establishment has proved futile due to conflicting issues of chieftaincy and land litigation among community members, chiefs as well as custodians of the land. At the just ended 40th anniversary celebration of the school this year, a special appeal was once again made to the government through the Ministry of Education to help fence the school with all the urgency to prevent more people encroaching onto the school land. The Regional Minister upon the request made, lobbied to secure funds for the commencement of the school wall project which has been the bone of contention between the chiefs and custodians of the land as well as the school authorities. Several attempts were made by the school authorities to deal with the situation but fell on rocky grounds. This is because some community members including the land owner kicked against the move claiming that they owe some portion of the land which they use for their farming activities. Moreover, their royal cemetery is also cited on the school land. These portions of the land, according to them, were not part of the school land when the demarcation took place in late 70s. The headmaster of the school, Mr. Didacus Afegra, who earlier on briefed the regional minister and his entourage on the matter said refusal by the custodian of the land to hand over the other portion of the land for the project has being a source of worry to staff as well as the student body and appealed for dialogue. To this end, an emergency meeting was organized to find an amicable solution to the problem. The Regional Minister after hours of heated deliberations, appealed to the chiefs and custodians of the land to willingly release it for its intended purpose in order not to disturb the relative peace prevailing in the area. He said land has become a very scarce commodity in the region and appealed to chiefs and land owners to help release land for developmental purposes since it will serve the interest of the people in the region. He said issue of land litigation and compensation has become a major set-back to the development of the region and called for mutual cooperation and understanding. The Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, accompanied by other dignitaries including the Traditional Chief of Winkongo, Naba Moses Akanzua, and the Paramount Chief of Tongo, Tongorana, later cut the sod to officially mark the commencement of the project which would be undertaken by Plan Construction Limited, a local construction firm.
Friday, 3 December 2010
Stakeholders Meeting on GEMP implementation
Narration: Participants at a 2-day stakeholders meeting aimed at reversing land degradation in the three northern regions has called on the country’s security agency to institute stiffer punishment of those who engage in activities that results to bush burning and desertification. They also appealed to assemblies and traditional rulers to also help salvage the situation by enacting bye-laws that could help protect the environment from total depletion. The meeting which was being attended by stakeholders drawn from the three northern regions is took place in the Upper East Regional Capital, Bolgatanga. Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has the rest of the story.
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The two-day workshop was organized by the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). It was held for relevant stakeholders to brainstorm on the impact of illegal activities affecting the environment and also share experiences in the three northern regions with respect to the implementation of the Ghana Environmental Management Project, which is a 5-year project designed by the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology. It was also organized for stakeholders to propose social interventions to help to mitigate the effects of bush burning among other illegal activities. The participants expressed concern that the country’s law enforcement agencies have failed to put in place the necessary policy and legislation would deter groups and individuals, from causing severe damage to the environment. According to them activities of illegal chainsaw operators coupled with the activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen are contributing immensely to the destruction of the country’s forest and savanna, which they perceived could compound the plight of the rural poor without the necessary interventions. Consequently, the participants called for appropriate alternatives to flush out Fulani herdsmen whose activities are said to be hampering the environment. One of the participants, Mr. Mac Mathew Chancellor, a Senior officer at the Regional Office of the NCCE, Tamale expressed great concern on the activities of Fulani herdsmen that often results to bush burning and recommended stiffer punishment for offenders. He also appealed to the country’s law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with chiefs and community members who through their own selfish interest shield Fulani herdsmen. The Acting Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Upper west Region, Mr. Asher Nkegbe emphasized the need to bring on board all relevant stakeholders including departments and district assemblies to help fashion out ways to halt activities that degrades the environment particularly the activities of farmers and Fulani herdsmen. Participants also stressed the need for strong institutional collaboration between the chiefs and other stakeholders including the Forestry commission and EPA to intensify the campaign for afforestation. This they emphasized demands the support of the media in reversing land degradation in the three northern regions and the country at large. The Regional EPA Director, Madam Zenabu Wasai-King in a presentation outlined the successes achieved under the GEMP project and encouraged the various management committees to step up their efforts in ensuring that the projects achieves its set objectives. She also appealed to all and sundry to help minimize bush burning, this harmattan season.
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The two-day workshop was organized by the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). It was held for relevant stakeholders to brainstorm on the impact of illegal activities affecting the environment and also share experiences in the three northern regions with respect to the implementation of the Ghana Environmental Management Project, which is a 5-year project designed by the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology. It was also organized for stakeholders to propose social interventions to help to mitigate the effects of bush burning among other illegal activities. The participants expressed concern that the country’s law enforcement agencies have failed to put in place the necessary policy and legislation would deter groups and individuals, from causing severe damage to the environment. According to them activities of illegal chainsaw operators coupled with the activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen are contributing immensely to the destruction of the country’s forest and savanna, which they perceived could compound the plight of the rural poor without the necessary interventions. Consequently, the participants called for appropriate alternatives to flush out Fulani herdsmen whose activities are said to be hampering the environment. One of the participants, Mr. Mac Mathew Chancellor, a Senior officer at the Regional Office of the NCCE, Tamale expressed great concern on the activities of Fulani herdsmen that often results to bush burning and recommended stiffer punishment for offenders. He also appealed to the country’s law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with chiefs and community members who through their own selfish interest shield Fulani herdsmen. The Acting Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Upper west Region, Mr. Asher Nkegbe emphasized the need to bring on board all relevant stakeholders including departments and district assemblies to help fashion out ways to halt activities that degrades the environment particularly the activities of farmers and Fulani herdsmen. Participants also stressed the need for strong institutional collaboration between the chiefs and other stakeholders including the Forestry commission and EPA to intensify the campaign for afforestation. This they emphasized demands the support of the media in reversing land degradation in the three northern regions and the country at large. The Regional EPA Director, Madam Zenabu Wasai-King in a presentation outlined the successes achieved under the GEMP project and encouraged the various management committees to step up their efforts in ensuring that the projects achieves its set objectives. She also appealed to all and sundry to help minimize bush burning, this harmattan season.
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SS PETER AND PAUL PRIMARY SCHOOL HOLDS PTA MEETING
Parents as a matter of concern have been advised to guide protect their children from uncensored videos and materials to help promote good values in the society. The appeal was made by the headmaster of SS Peter and Paul Primary School at Fumbisi, Robert Amwawumi, during the school’s PTA/SMC meeting held at Fumbisi in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region. Mr Amwawumi expressed worry that some children are often exposed to nudity that comes in the form of videos and pictures saying, such pictures pushes them to indulge in sexual activities which tend to affect them spiritually and morally. He said parents as guidance owe it a duty to guard and prevent their children against such vices since it has the tendency of jeopardizing their academic capabilities and performance. Mr. Awawumi also charged parents to ensure that their wards attend school regularly, and not be used as agents for income generation. He condemned parents who shirk their responsibilities on children at the neglect of their education and appealed to parents to change their attitudes towards such actions. A representative of the District Director of Education who is also the circuit Supervisor for the Fumbisi zone, Madam Margaret Akanbang also reminded parents of their civic responsibilities. He charged parents to make the education of the wards a priority adding that the development of every nation depends on the high level of education, which she said, is a panacea for development. Madam Akanbang commended the Catholic Church for their immense contribution to education in the district and the country as a whole. He therefore charged authorities of the school to maintain discipline at all levels. This, according to him, forms the basis at which the school was established. The Proprietor of the School, Rev. Dominic Broni expressed the church’s managerial and spiritual support for students at the school.
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UPPER EAST REGIONAL NAGRAT SPEAKS OUT
30-11-2010
The Upper East Regional Council of the National Association of Graduate Teachers, NAGRAT, at a meeting in Bolgatanga has observed that their migration unto the Single Spine Salary Structure is long overdue and its high time the Fair Wages Commission (FWSC) adhere to their road map since they can no longer stay calm as requested by the National officers of the association. According to the Regional Chairman of the Association, John Brown Chiravira, the welfare of teachers in the country has been taken for granted over the years. He said the Regional Council members have observed with concerns statements made on Joy Fm on November, 3rd 2010 by the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salary Commission, George Smith Graham and subsequent press releases by the National office of NAGRAT asking teachers to exercise restraint. To him, the continuous postponement of uploading teachers onto the SSSS is a source of worry to the association and that efforts must be made to ensure that teachers are hooked up unto the pay policy in December, this year. Mr. Chiravira also described pronouncements by the FWSC to the effect that the migration of the remaining public workers onto the SSSS will be in March 2010, as unfortunate, adding that, leadership is not happy about the statement since it is causing instant fear and panic among the rank and file of the Association. The Association he indicated would be forced to lay down their tool if the implementation of the Single Spine for teachers is postponed beyond December 2010. This, he said, is in strict compliance to the release issued by the National office of the association to that effect. Speaking of behalf of the Regional Office, Mr. Chiravira called on teachers in the country to prepare themselves for a showdown if GES and the FWSC fail to upload them onto the spine come December, 2010.
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The Upper East Regional Council of the National Association of Graduate Teachers, NAGRAT, at a meeting in Bolgatanga has observed that their migration unto the Single Spine Salary Structure is long overdue and its high time the Fair Wages Commission (FWSC) adhere to their road map since they can no longer stay calm as requested by the National officers of the association. According to the Regional Chairman of the Association, John Brown Chiravira, the welfare of teachers in the country has been taken for granted over the years. He said the Regional Council members have observed with concerns statements made on Joy Fm on November, 3rd 2010 by the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salary Commission, George Smith Graham and subsequent press releases by the National office of NAGRAT asking teachers to exercise restraint. To him, the continuous postponement of uploading teachers onto the SSSS is a source of worry to the association and that efforts must be made to ensure that teachers are hooked up unto the pay policy in December, this year. Mr. Chiravira also described pronouncements by the FWSC to the effect that the migration of the remaining public workers onto the SSSS will be in March 2010, as unfortunate, adding that, leadership is not happy about the statement since it is causing instant fear and panic among the rank and file of the Association. The Association he indicated would be forced to lay down their tool if the implementation of the Single Spine for teachers is postponed beyond December 2010. This, he said, is in strict compliance to the release issued by the National office of the association to that effect. Speaking of behalf of the Regional Office, Mr. Chiravira called on teachers in the country to prepare themselves for a showdown if GES and the FWSC fail to upload them onto the spine come December, 2010.
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Teachers asked to participate in Upcoming Local Level elections
29-11-2010 Teachers have been urged to get involved in the upcoming district assembly elections so as ensure the realisation of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the country’s constitution. The call was made by the Builsa District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, P.P Apaabey Baba at a GNAT forum held in Sandema in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region. Mr. Apaabey Baba described the forthcoming local level elections slated for 28 December 2010 as crucial, since it has the tendency of promoting good governance through enhanced public participation. He therefore emphasized the need for teachers to get directly involved in the exercise. According to him, if teachers are voted as Assembly or Unit Committee Members, they would bring their zeal and critical mindedness to bear on the deliberative legislature and executive functions of the District assemblies. He said at the Unit Committee level they would utilize their inherent community development skills to facilitate development at that level. Mr. Appabey also bemoaned the practice where people canvass for vote with money which according to him only results in wealthy people getting elected at the disadvantage of women, the unemployed and persons with disability. This, he said, also results in compromising standards as well as quality services and selfless commitments on the part of other people. Mr. Appabey urged teachers to educate community members on the relevance of participating in the upcoming local level elections. he also encouraged teachers to be abreast with the 1992 constitution and also ensure that they uphold the principles of justice freedom, probity and accountability all of which form the basic elements of good governance. Making reference with respect to political objectives of the constitution, Mr. Apaabey Baba said the state through its agencies is enjoined to ensure that Ghana remains a democratic state dedicated to the realization of freedom and justice. Mr. Appabey also in the course of his presentation took participants through the various national symbols particularly the Ghana coat of arm and urged them to constantly remind their pupils of the significance of these symbols as a measure to sustain their naturalistic and patriotic tendencies. Mr. Appabey in his closing remark acknowledged the enormous contributions of teachers towards local development and commended them for actively supporting the various civic education clubs at the school level.
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30-11-2010 Teachers asked to participate in Upcoming Local Level elections
Teachers have been urged to get involved in the upcoming district assembly elections so as ensure the realisation of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the country’s constitution. The call was made by the Builsa District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, P.P Apaabey Baba at a GNAT forum held in Sandema in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region. Mr. Apaabey Baba described the forthcoming local level elections slated for 28 December 2010 as crucial, since it has the tendency of promoting good governance through enhanced public participation. He therefore emphasized the need for teachers to get directly involved in the exercise. According to him, if teachers are voted as Assembly or Unit Committee Members, they would bring their zeal and critical mindedness to bear on the deliberative legislature and executive functions of the District assemblies. He said at the Unit Committee level they would utilize their inherent community development skills to facilitate development at that level. Mr. Appabey also bemoaned the practice where people canvass for vote with money which according to him only results in wealthy people getting elected at the disadvantage of women, the unemployed and persons with disability. This, he said, also results in compromising standards as well as quality services and selfless commitments on the part of other people. Mr. Appabey urged teachers to educate community members on the relevance of participating in the upcoming local level elections. he also encouraged teachers to be abreast with the 1992 constitution and also ensure that they uphold the principles of justice freedom, probity and accountability all of which form the basic elements of good governance. Making reference with respect to political objectives of the constitution, Mr. Apaabey Baba said the state through its agencies is enjoined to ensure that Ghana remains a democratic state dedicated to the realization of freedom and justice. Mr. Appabey also in the course of his presentation took participants through the various national symbols particularly the Ghana coat of arm and urged them to constantly remind their pupils of the significance of these symbols as a measure to sustain their naturalistic and patriotic tendencies. Mr. Appabey in his closing remark acknowledged the enormous contributions of teachers towards local development and commended them for actively supporting the various civic education clubs at the school level.
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Teachers have been urged to get involved in the upcoming district assembly elections so as ensure the realisation of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the country’s constitution. The call was made by the Builsa District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, P.P Apaabey Baba at a GNAT forum held in Sandema in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region. Mr. Apaabey Baba described the forthcoming local level elections slated for 28 December 2010 as crucial, since it has the tendency of promoting good governance through enhanced public participation. He therefore emphasized the need for teachers to get directly involved in the exercise. According to him, if teachers are voted as Assembly or Unit Committee Members, they would bring their zeal and critical mindedness to bear on the deliberative legislature and executive functions of the District assemblies. He said at the Unit Committee level they would utilize their inherent community development skills to facilitate development at that level. Mr. Appabey also bemoaned the practice where people canvass for vote with money which according to him only results in wealthy people getting elected at the disadvantage of women, the unemployed and persons with disability. This, he said, also results in compromising standards as well as quality services and selfless commitments on the part of other people. Mr. Appabey urged teachers to educate community members on the relevance of participating in the upcoming local level elections. he also encouraged teachers to be abreast with the 1992 constitution and also ensure that they uphold the principles of justice freedom, probity and accountability all of which form the basic elements of good governance. Making reference with respect to political objectives of the constitution, Mr. Apaabey Baba said the state through its agencies is enjoined to ensure that Ghana remains a democratic state dedicated to the realization of freedom and justice. Mr. Appabey also in the course of his presentation took participants through the various national symbols particularly the Ghana coat of arm and urged them to constantly remind their pupils of the significance of these symbols as a measure to sustain their naturalistic and patriotic tendencies. Mr. Appabey in his closing remark acknowledged the enormous contributions of teachers towards local development and commended them for actively supporting the various civic education clubs at the school level.
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NORGAE Launched At Bolgatanga
30-11-2010 The Internal launching of the Northern Ghana Association of Entrepreneurs (NORGAE) has been held at Bolgatanga with a call on business entrepreneurs to be acquainted with prudent financial management and proposal writing know how to solicit funding to expand their businesses. It was on the theme: Championing the Developmental Process of Northern Ghana: the Role of the Enterpreneur”. The Chairman of the Association, Mr. Noble Alagskoma Asakeya who made the call said the growth of a business entity solely depends on how it is managed and resourced. This he noted is vital since most business prospective still find it difficult to survive due to poor financial and managerial skills. Mr Asakeya in an interview with Radio Ghana said the NORGAE which is the brain child of the Ghana Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (GHACED) involves a group of active and upcoming business individuals, striving to promote the growth of businesses in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Region. The overarching goal of the association, he explained is also geared at providing a common platform for interaction among entrepreneurs and to facilitate networking and also support members to take advantage and make good use of government policies instituted for the private sector particularly, the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA). In view of this, the association has put in place training programmes to build the capacity of its members in the area of goal setting, financial management, risk management, effective communication process, and proposal writing know how among other training intervention. He said the association with to pull its resources, talents and expertise together to tap the untapped potentials in Northern Ghana and called for effective collaboration, hard work, commitment and mutual support among entrepreneurs from the northern sector. A founding member of GHACED and a patron of NORGAE, Mr. Benjamin Anyana, challenged young and upcoming business entrepreneurs to set goal in their finances through proper planning. He further charged them to take up the challenge of facing crisis and difficulties in business since it cannot be avoided. This he said involves prudent marketing strategies and skills to succeed. He mentioned effective communication with stakeholders and the practice of intra-preneurship as some of the interventions. Mr Anyana urged members to help fulfils the association’s financial obligations by adhering strictly to its rules and regulations. He called for the upgrade of human resource and discipline among members to ensure its sustainability. Mr Anyana stressed the need for entrepreneurs in the north to change their way of thinking to push forward the business sector of the three northern regions. John Osman Salifu who was the chairman for the occasion called on members of NORGAE to contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of the association. Representatives from the National Board for Small Scale Industry NBSSI and SIC life were there to lend their support
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8TH Matriculation of Bolgatanga Polytechnic
Narration: The Acting Rector of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic, John Bosco Azigwe, says for the country to produce the requisite human capital for development, efforts must be made by the country’s institutions in ensuring more enrolment in the sciences and engineering, which according to him is the focus of polytechnic education. This, he, said can be done by adopting an integrated strategy approach and called for the involvement of all stakeholders in the educational sector. Mr. Azigwe made the observation on the occasion of the 8th Matriculation ceremony held at Bolgatanga. Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has come through with this report
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The Reforms to the Tertiary Education system in 1993, suggested the accessibility of polytechnic education throughout the country for which regionally based polytechnics were to be established. The Bolgatanga Polytechnic was therefore established in 1999 and started operations in the year 2001. Its establishment was to fulfill the mandate of delivering quality Higher National Diploma (HND) products that are career –focused, hands-on to problem solving and responsive to the needs and demands of society, employers and professional bodies. The institution since its inception has been working closely with its collaborators to fulfil the mandate. In achieving the set objective, the school through the efforts of its governing Council, is collaborating with the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso and some universities in that country for exchange programs for staff and students. Students from the francophone countries will enroll for proficiency in English and would be admitted to offer HND programs after they have gained proficiency in the language. The Acting Rector of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Mr. John Bosco Azigwe, was happy about the development of the institute which he noted would grow from strength to strength if he is given the needed cooperation and support by staff and students. Mr. Azigwe implored students to desist from examination malpractices and stick to discipline and quality assurance which he said form the general principle guiding academic work in the polytechnic. Mr. Azigwe outlined the provision academic facilities for the school and urged students to make good use of such facilities when provided. The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Harry Epson Ayamga, in a speech read for him reaffirmed government’s commitment to the development of Polytechnic education in the country. This he stated has become necessary due to the emergence of the country’s oil exploration. He mentioned discipline and hardwork as the hallmark for academic achievement and called on students to strive to attain more academic potentials. A founding member of the Polytechnic and a retired educationist, Mr. Robert Ajene, said obtaining a degree do not necessary makes one a product of an institution but what one can do to help contribute to the country’s middle level manpower development. Mr. Ajene therefore urged the students to study hard in order to achieve their career objectives since their knowledge and skills would go along way to solving numerous community based problems. The school’s Registrar, Mr. Ibrahim Yakubu, administered the matriculation oath of matriculants admitted to pursue programs in applied arts and Sciences, engineering and business. In all 503 fresh students made up of 348 males and 155 females took part in the ceremony. The President of the school’s SRC warn students against all acts of indiscipline adding that his outfit would not support any act that would bring the name of the institution into disrepute
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The Reforms to the Tertiary Education system in 1993, suggested the accessibility of polytechnic education throughout the country for which regionally based polytechnics were to be established. The Bolgatanga Polytechnic was therefore established in 1999 and started operations in the year 2001. Its establishment was to fulfill the mandate of delivering quality Higher National Diploma (HND) products that are career –focused, hands-on to problem solving and responsive to the needs and demands of society, employers and professional bodies. The institution since its inception has been working closely with its collaborators to fulfil the mandate. In achieving the set objective, the school through the efforts of its governing Council, is collaborating with the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso and some universities in that country for exchange programs for staff and students. Students from the francophone countries will enroll for proficiency in English and would be admitted to offer HND programs after they have gained proficiency in the language. The Acting Rector of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Mr. John Bosco Azigwe, was happy about the development of the institute which he noted would grow from strength to strength if he is given the needed cooperation and support by staff and students. Mr. Azigwe implored students to desist from examination malpractices and stick to discipline and quality assurance which he said form the general principle guiding academic work in the polytechnic. Mr. Azigwe outlined the provision academic facilities for the school and urged students to make good use of such facilities when provided. The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Harry Epson Ayamga, in a speech read for him reaffirmed government’s commitment to the development of Polytechnic education in the country. This he stated has become necessary due to the emergence of the country’s oil exploration. He mentioned discipline and hardwork as the hallmark for academic achievement and called on students to strive to attain more academic potentials. A founding member of the Polytechnic and a retired educationist, Mr. Robert Ajene, said obtaining a degree do not necessary makes one a product of an institution but what one can do to help contribute to the country’s middle level manpower development. Mr. Ajene therefore urged the students to study hard in order to achieve their career objectives since their knowledge and skills would go along way to solving numerous community based problems. The school’s Registrar, Mr. Ibrahim Yakubu, administered the matriculation oath of matriculants admitted to pursue programs in applied arts and Sciences, engineering and business. In all 503 fresh students made up of 348 males and 155 females took part in the ceremony. The President of the school’s SRC warn students against all acts of indiscipline adding that his outfit would not support any act that would bring the name of the institution into disrepute
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Community Members Sensitized On Girl Child Education
Government through the Ministry of Education has noted with concern the wide disparity gap that exists between the enrolment of boys and girls in schools in the country, particularly northern Ghana. As part of efforts to bridge this disparity, 50 percent of various scholarships have been allocated to girls by the assemblies. Meanwhile, a Basic Education Support Programme (BESP) through Information, Education and Communication Campaigns (IEC) has also been instituted by the Girl Child Education Unit of GES to help in that direction. The Upper East Regional Girl Child Education Officer, Madam Rose Akanson disclosed this at a community sensitization programme on girl child education at Tarongo, a community in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region. The BESP programme which was being sponsored by USAID brought together community members, chiefs, elders, role models, teachers as well as officials from the GES among others. Madam Akanson indicated that her outfit attaches great importance to girl child education in the deprived communities and explained that education in those areas is generally hindered by traditional practices and stereotyping. She also mentioned poverty and ignorance on the part of parents as some of the challenges confronting girl child education. According to her the aim of the IEC campaign is to encourage community participation in the quest to increasing girl’s enrolment and retention in schools. This, she added, creates an opportunity for community members to make meaningful contributions on factors that militate against girl child education in the various communities. Madam Akanson also emphasized the need for Ghanaians to give equal opportunity to young people irrespective of their sex stressing that the education of the girl child is as important as that of boys. The Deputy Education Director of Bongo, Mr. Louis B. Asakeya pointed out that education of the girl child should be a major concern to all since government cannot shoulder the responsibility alone. He called on parents to help educate their girl child devoid of discrimination. Mr. Asakeya also bemoaned the practice where parents abandon their children whilst they are in school. The practice, he said, compel the girl child to migrate down south for menial jobs. He pledged his outfit’s support for poor and needy students in the district and charged parents to take the education of their girl child seriously.
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Bolgatanga Polytechnic introduces new program
2010
The Bolgatanga Polytechnic has introduced an innovative program (HND) Procurement and Logistics Management, the first of its kind in the country. This will help address the need for procurement and logistics professionals whose relevance has increased with the promulgation of the Public Procurement act of 2004, Act 663. The Acting Rector of the Bolgatanga polytechnic, Mr. John Bosco Azigwe, who disclosed this in an interview with Radio Ghana described the introduction of the said program as timely and called on the media to help give it the needed publicity it deserves. According to the rector, public procurement accounts for between 5—70 percent of total government expenditure, representing 14 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product hence the need to place much emphasis on the program. Other professional and innovative programs he stated would be introduced to help the institute produce the needed human resource base and capacity for the growth of industrial development, particularly the private sector which is said to be the engine of growth for the country. Mr Azigwe however entreated government and stakeholders in the educational sector to give polytechnic education the needed support and assistance for accelerated growth and development at all levels. He also entreated products of the various polytechnics to be innovative in their fields of study and contribute to solving problems pertaining in the communities across the country. Touching on the academic facilities of the school, Mr Azigwe said management has put in place adequate measures to address the infrastructural needs facing the institute. Managment he indicated has awarded a contract for the supply of 50 computers and other teaching aids to improve on the school’s computer laboratory. Also management has placed an order for an additional 400 chairs and desk for use in lecture theatres. Plans, he added, are also far advance to stock and furnish the school’s library complex with modern furniture and equipments for effective teaching and learning. He said the school’s governing council as a matter of concern is poised to providing leadership and enabling environment for effective teaching and learning and called on government and relevant stakeholders in the education al sector to put their shoulders to the wheel to ensure the growth and development of the polytechnic. Mr Azigwe, however, cautioned students against acts of indiscipline and urged them use the knowledge and skills acquired to help benefit the society.
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The Bolgatanga Polytechnic has introduced an innovative program (HND) Procurement and Logistics Management, the first of its kind in the country. This will help address the need for procurement and logistics professionals whose relevance has increased with the promulgation of the Public Procurement act of 2004, Act 663. The Acting Rector of the Bolgatanga polytechnic, Mr. John Bosco Azigwe, who disclosed this in an interview with Radio Ghana described the introduction of the said program as timely and called on the media to help give it the needed publicity it deserves. According to the rector, public procurement accounts for between 5—70 percent of total government expenditure, representing 14 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product hence the need to place much emphasis on the program. Other professional and innovative programs he stated would be introduced to help the institute produce the needed human resource base and capacity for the growth of industrial development, particularly the private sector which is said to be the engine of growth for the country. Mr Azigwe however entreated government and stakeholders in the educational sector to give polytechnic education the needed support and assistance for accelerated growth and development at all levels. He also entreated products of the various polytechnics to be innovative in their fields of study and contribute to solving problems pertaining in the communities across the country. Touching on the academic facilities of the school, Mr Azigwe said management has put in place adequate measures to address the infrastructural needs facing the institute. Managment he indicated has awarded a contract for the supply of 50 computers and other teaching aids to improve on the school’s computer laboratory. Also management has placed an order for an additional 400 chairs and desk for use in lecture theatres. Plans, he added, are also far advance to stock and furnish the school’s library complex with modern furniture and equipments for effective teaching and learning. He said the school’s governing council as a matter of concern is poised to providing leadership and enabling environment for effective teaching and learning and called on government and relevant stakeholders in the education al sector to put their shoulders to the wheel to ensure the growth and development of the polytechnic. Mr Azigwe, however, cautioned students against acts of indiscipline and urged them use the knowledge and skills acquired to help benefit the society.
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Stanbic Bank Donates Towards Tripartite Tennis Tournament
02-11-2010
Stanbic bank, one of the renowned banking institutions in the country, as part of its corporate social responsibility, has donated a cheque of 4,000 Ghana Cedis towards the prestigious triangular tennis tournament schedule to take place at Bolgatanga, this December. The 3-day tournament which is in commemoration of the Upper East @ 50 celebrations, starting from today December 2nd to 5th, would be featuring by Bolgatanga, Wa and Tamale Lawn tennis clubs. The Regional Branch Manager, Stanbic Bank, Mr. Ismael Baiden said the donation which is aimed at building strong customer relations between the bank and its customers comes along with 75 branded T-shirts and other Stanbic souvenirs. This, he said, shows the commitment of the bank in the promotion of sports in the region and the country in general and called on beneficiary teams to help connect more people to the bank. Mr. Baiden revealed that Stanbic bank of Ghana, which is a subsidiary of the Standard Bank in South Africa, has 22 branches in 9 regions. The bank he also noted, still maintains its track record in the Ghana Club 100. The successes and achievements by the bank according to Mr. Baiden was not achieve on a silver platter but rather the bank’s ability in providing financial solution to people’s financial needs. Mr. Baiden said as major sponsors for the tournament the bank is ready to conduct business with the club members to enhance their relationship and appealed to them to save at the bank and also take advantage of all the incentive packages offered by the bank, which, he added, comes in the form of loan acquisition among others. This he said is vital since most people lack prudent financial zeal and planning to save. He pledged the bank’s continuous support to the game of sports in the region and called on the support of other institution in that regard. The Chairman of the Bolgatanga Tennis Club, Martin Amana commended Stanbic bank for the kind gesture, emphasizing that the donation would go a long way to help improve their finances towards the upcoming tournament. The opening ceremony which begins on Friday December 3rd would be addressed by the Upper East Regional Minster, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo at the forecourt of the Bolgatanga Tennis court.
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Stanbic bank, one of the renowned banking institutions in the country, as part of its corporate social responsibility, has donated a cheque of 4,000 Ghana Cedis towards the prestigious triangular tennis tournament schedule to take place at Bolgatanga, this December. The 3-day tournament which is in commemoration of the Upper East @ 50 celebrations, starting from today December 2nd to 5th, would be featuring by Bolgatanga, Wa and Tamale Lawn tennis clubs. The Regional Branch Manager, Stanbic Bank, Mr. Ismael Baiden said the donation which is aimed at building strong customer relations between the bank and its customers comes along with 75 branded T-shirts and other Stanbic souvenirs. This, he said, shows the commitment of the bank in the promotion of sports in the region and the country in general and called on beneficiary teams to help connect more people to the bank. Mr. Baiden revealed that Stanbic bank of Ghana, which is a subsidiary of the Standard Bank in South Africa, has 22 branches in 9 regions. The bank he also noted, still maintains its track record in the Ghana Club 100. The successes and achievements by the bank according to Mr. Baiden was not achieve on a silver platter but rather the bank’s ability in providing financial solution to people’s financial needs. Mr. Baiden said as major sponsors for the tournament the bank is ready to conduct business with the club members to enhance their relationship and appealed to them to save at the bank and also take advantage of all the incentive packages offered by the bank, which, he added, comes in the form of loan acquisition among others. This he said is vital since most people lack prudent financial zeal and planning to save. He pledged the bank’s continuous support to the game of sports in the region and called on the support of other institution in that regard. The Chairman of the Bolgatanga Tennis Club, Martin Amana commended Stanbic bank for the kind gesture, emphasizing that the donation would go a long way to help improve their finances towards the upcoming tournament. The opening ceremony which begins on Friday December 3rd would be addressed by the Upper East Regional Minster, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo at the forecourt of the Bolgatanga Tennis court.
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Residents of Upper East Cautioned on Food Poisoning
02-11-2010
The use of fake agro chemicals coupled with its misapplication by farmers in the Upper East Region has resulted in the death of 12 persons in the Bawku West, Talensi- Nabdam and Garu Tempane districts. In view of this unfortunate incidence, the Regional Coordinating Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Environmental Protection Agency and the National Disaster Management Authority (NADMO) among other collaborators had cautioned farmers in the region on the wrongful use of poisonous agro chemicals which are said to be the cause of deaths recorded in the past two week. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Owen Woyongo, who disclosed this in a press briefing at Bolgatanga, said a special task force to that effect, had been set up to monitor and control the wrongful use of chemicals in the region to avert any further calamity. According to Mr Woyongo, 12 deaths out of 74 cases in the three affected districts had so far been recorded since its discovery by officials from the regional health directorate. The task force he added had therefore been established to help save lives of people and animals as well, since they are all victims of the food poisoning. Mr Woyongo was not happy about the current turn of event, emphasising that his outfit would ensure that fake agro chemical dealers’ are apprehended and be made to face the full rigours of the law. He also cautioned people who import these toxic chemicals into the region and charged the security agencies at the region’s borders to step up their activities to clamp down on perpetrators. The Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ms Zenabu Wasai-king entreated residents of the region to be cautious of what they take as food through thorough washing. She also advised farmers to take into account chemicals that they use on their farms. As a matter of precaution Ms Wasai- King entreated farmers to read or seek information from any extension worker on the methods of application of the chemicals especially those that contain endo sulphar, though it is an approved chemical for use by farmers.
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The use of fake agro chemicals coupled with its misapplication by farmers in the Upper East Region has resulted in the death of 12 persons in the Bawku West, Talensi- Nabdam and Garu Tempane districts. In view of this unfortunate incidence, the Regional Coordinating Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Environmental Protection Agency and the National Disaster Management Authority (NADMO) among other collaborators had cautioned farmers in the region on the wrongful use of poisonous agro chemicals which are said to be the cause of deaths recorded in the past two week. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Owen Woyongo, who disclosed this in a press briefing at Bolgatanga, said a special task force to that effect, had been set up to monitor and control the wrongful use of chemicals in the region to avert any further calamity. According to Mr Woyongo, 12 deaths out of 74 cases in the three affected districts had so far been recorded since its discovery by officials from the regional health directorate. The task force he added had therefore been established to help save lives of people and animals as well, since they are all victims of the food poisoning. Mr Woyongo was not happy about the current turn of event, emphasising that his outfit would ensure that fake agro chemical dealers’ are apprehended and be made to face the full rigours of the law. He also cautioned people who import these toxic chemicals into the region and charged the security agencies at the region’s borders to step up their activities to clamp down on perpetrators. The Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ms Zenabu Wasai-king entreated residents of the region to be cautious of what they take as food through thorough washing. She also advised farmers to take into account chemicals that they use on their farms. As a matter of precaution Ms Wasai- King entreated farmers to read or seek information from any extension worker on the methods of application of the chemicals especially those that contain endo sulphar, though it is an approved chemical for use by farmers.
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EC adopts strategy to conduct free fair and transparent local level elections
03-12-2010 Narration: The Electoral Commission is to introduce conflict management in their electioneering activities to ensure free, fair and transparent elections, free from violent. This was announced by the Upper East Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Bruce Ayisi, at a cross sectoral stakeholders workshop held at Bolgatanga. The workshop organized by the electoral Commission and facilitated by the KAB Governance Consult was on the theme: “Harnessing the Resources of EC, NCCE and ISD for Improved Citizen Participation in the 2010 District Level Elections”. Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has come through with this report.
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The workshop which was being organized for District Directors of the Electoral Commission, (EC) National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Services Departments (ISD) formed part of efforts aimed at strengthening publicity on the upcoming 2010 District Level Elections slated for December, 28. It was held to create an opportunity for key stakeholders to join forces with the EC to deliver on its core mandate. This was also to remind and educate people on the need to participate meaningfully in the upcoming district assembly and unit committee elections devoid of conflict and other misconduct. The Regional Director, EC, Mr Bruce Ayisi, in a brief welcome address saw the need for key collaborators in the electoral process to execute their responsibilities diligently and effectively to enhance citizen’s participation in the upcoming event, which he said is geared at promoting governance at the grassroot level. Mr Ayisi was also emphatic about the role of the media in that regard, stressing that his outfit with the help of its collaborators is poised to conduct an exercise free from all forms of violence. The Director In-Charge of Administration and Finance at the Electoral Commission, Mr. David Azey Adenze Kanda, expressed worry about the low patronage of the district level elections over the years and attributed it to a number of factors, some of which he noted are based on ethnic religious and political grounds. He mentioned more women’s participation in local level elections as vital so that the various assemblies would have a fair representative during assembly sessions to enhance decision making processes. women he added are believed to be in a better position to bring to fore issues affecting them in all facets of life when given the opportunity, hence the need to support them . Mr. Azende Kanda reiterated the importance of the recent demarcation of electoral areas across the country and called on the populace to bear with the EC to rectify all the anomalies associated with the break ups. The Regional Director of the ISD, Mr. Nelson Mba Ayamga in an interview with Radio Ghana, pledged his outfit’s continuous support to the EC to help raise public awareness on the upcoming event and called on residents to participate fully in the exercise.
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The workshop which was being organized for District Directors of the Electoral Commission, (EC) National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Services Departments (ISD) formed part of efforts aimed at strengthening publicity on the upcoming 2010 District Level Elections slated for December, 28. It was held to create an opportunity for key stakeholders to join forces with the EC to deliver on its core mandate. This was also to remind and educate people on the need to participate meaningfully in the upcoming district assembly and unit committee elections devoid of conflict and other misconduct. The Regional Director, EC, Mr Bruce Ayisi, in a brief welcome address saw the need for key collaborators in the electoral process to execute their responsibilities diligently and effectively to enhance citizen’s participation in the upcoming event, which he said is geared at promoting governance at the grassroot level. Mr Ayisi was also emphatic about the role of the media in that regard, stressing that his outfit with the help of its collaborators is poised to conduct an exercise free from all forms of violence. The Director In-Charge of Administration and Finance at the Electoral Commission, Mr. David Azey Adenze Kanda, expressed worry about the low patronage of the district level elections over the years and attributed it to a number of factors, some of which he noted are based on ethnic religious and political grounds. He mentioned more women’s participation in local level elections as vital so that the various assemblies would have a fair representative during assembly sessions to enhance decision making processes. women he added are believed to be in a better position to bring to fore issues affecting them in all facets of life when given the opportunity, hence the need to support them . Mr. Azende Kanda reiterated the importance of the recent demarcation of electoral areas across the country and called on the populace to bear with the EC to rectify all the anomalies associated with the break ups. The Regional Director of the ISD, Mr. Nelson Mba Ayamga in an interview with Radio Ghana, pledged his outfit’s continuous support to the EC to help raise public awareness on the upcoming event and called on residents to participate fully in the exercise.
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Saturday, 20 November 2010
Residents Urged To Patronized Only Iodized Salts
20-11-2010
The Executive Director Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Agency (IDDICA), William Kwasi Kuditey, has recommended the sale and usage of adequately iodized salt for consumption, since its absence or inadequacies has severe consequences on the human body, thus affecting the economy at large. According to him, Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) makes most working men and women slow in thinking and reduce their performance. This, he said, does not only make them unproductive but also cause the nation to lose about 27 million dollars annually. Mr. Kuditey, made the disclosure during an Iodine Sensitization Programme held at Nayorigo Primary School in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region. The sensitization programme was jointly organised by the Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Agency and the Foods and Drugs Board (FDB), brought together a cross section of the public, students and pupils, as well as representatives from the district health and education directorate. The Executive Director, Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Agency, Mr. William Kwasi Kuditey in a presentation advised Ghanaians particularly, women to patronize only adequately iodated salt on the markets for consumption. He said the use of rocky and non-iodated salt can lead to unpleasant consequences including infant mortality, brain damages as well as lower intelligent quotient among students. This, he said, contributes to the continuous fallen standard of education, and poor working performance in the country. Mr. Kuditey mentioned the Bongo and Jirapa Districts as the two most endemic areas when it comes to Iodine Deficiency Disorders. These two districts recorded low iodine level with high prevalence of iodine deficiency according to a baseline study conducted on adults and children between the ages of 6-12 years in 2007. He said in Sub-Saharan Africa, only Nigeria was able to increase cooking with iodated salts to 97 percent, almost hitting the maximum of 100 percent set by the United Nations, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo at 79 percent. Only 32 percent of Ghanaians, he added, cook with iodized salt. A Representative from the Regional Office of the FDB, Mr. Zakaria Braimah hinted that plans are far advance to halt the sale and importation of non-iodized salts into the region in order to achieve the Universal Salt Iodization Goal of at least 90 percent households consuming only adequately iodized salts. He expressed his outfit’s preparedness to mobilize the needed resources and personnel to clamp down on perpetrators. Mr. Braimah, however, entreated residents in the area to be cautious of salts they buy from the markets and stick to preventive measures of patronizing iodized salts for consumption since its consequences are enormous and irreversible. A representative from the Nutrition Unit of the District Health Directorate, Mumuni Abdul Jaleel, outlined most of the health implications associated with the consumption of non-iodized salts and called on the people to constantly patronize only adequately iodized salts for good health. This he noted would help improve upon the academic performance of students in the area. Pupils at the Nayoriogo primary school who were later presented with iodized salt containers and school bags
The Executive Director Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Agency (IDDICA), William Kwasi Kuditey, has recommended the sale and usage of adequately iodized salt for consumption, since its absence or inadequacies has severe consequences on the human body, thus affecting the economy at large. According to him, Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) makes most working men and women slow in thinking and reduce their performance. This, he said, does not only make them unproductive but also cause the nation to lose about 27 million dollars annually. Mr. Kuditey, made the disclosure during an Iodine Sensitization Programme held at Nayorigo Primary School in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region. The sensitization programme was jointly organised by the Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Agency and the Foods and Drugs Board (FDB), brought together a cross section of the public, students and pupils, as well as representatives from the district health and education directorate. The Executive Director, Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Agency, Mr. William Kwasi Kuditey in a presentation advised Ghanaians particularly, women to patronize only adequately iodated salt on the markets for consumption. He said the use of rocky and non-iodated salt can lead to unpleasant consequences including infant mortality, brain damages as well as lower intelligent quotient among students. This, he said, contributes to the continuous fallen standard of education, and poor working performance in the country. Mr. Kuditey mentioned the Bongo and Jirapa Districts as the two most endemic areas when it comes to Iodine Deficiency Disorders. These two districts recorded low iodine level with high prevalence of iodine deficiency according to a baseline study conducted on adults and children between the ages of 6-12 years in 2007. He said in Sub-Saharan Africa, only Nigeria was able to increase cooking with iodated salts to 97 percent, almost hitting the maximum of 100 percent set by the United Nations, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo at 79 percent. Only 32 percent of Ghanaians, he added, cook with iodized salt. A Representative from the Regional Office of the FDB, Mr. Zakaria Braimah hinted that plans are far advance to halt the sale and importation of non-iodized salts into the region in order to achieve the Universal Salt Iodization Goal of at least 90 percent households consuming only adequately iodized salts. He expressed his outfit’s preparedness to mobilize the needed resources and personnel to clamp down on perpetrators. Mr. Braimah, however, entreated residents in the area to be cautious of salts they buy from the markets and stick to preventive measures of patronizing iodized salts for consumption since its consequences are enormous and irreversible. A representative from the Nutrition Unit of the District Health Directorate, Mumuni Abdul Jaleel, outlined most of the health implications associated with the consumption of non-iodized salts and called on the people to constantly patronize only adequately iodized salts for good health. This he noted would help improve upon the academic performance of students in the area. Pupils at the Nayoriogo primary school who were later presented with iodized salt containers and school bags
Inauguration of Solar Water Purifier At Anaafobiisi Primary
A team of young graduate engineers from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (CEESD), an NGO have provided pupils of Annafobiisi Primary School in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region with a solar water purifier for the treatment of fluoride contamination in their source of drinking water. The commissioning and handing over ceremony of the project which took place at the school premises is being supported by Vodafone foundation through the World of Difference Programme. The inauguration of the water solar distillation unit which is the first of its kind in the region attracted various community members including traditional chiefs drawn from Bongo and its catchment area. Representatives from Vodafone foundation, the District Health Directorate and the Ghana Education Service were present to grace the occassion. The Bongo district was chose for the said project due to the high incidence of fluoride in their source of drinking water, which are mainly hand dug wells and boreholes. As a result of the high fluoride contamination in their water, most people particularly children between the ages of 1-5 years have unpleasant colourization of the teeth with health and others social implications. The colourization of the teeth which often make it brown and black is known in medical terms as ‘flourosis’. The provision of the solar water purifier is therefore aimed at addressing the issue of dental flourosis in the district. The facility which is an apparatus that makes use of the sun radiation to generate steam from liquid water and subsequently condenses the steam into pure distilled water is capable of providing a litre of water to each pupil at the Anaafobiisi School. One of the initiators of the project who is also an it expert, Mr Frank Mensah said the project tagged ‘SOWDA’ is expected to yield positive results since samples of the distillate have been analyzed, approved and declared by the Ghana water Company Limited as safe for drinking. The results of the samples he indicated show very low concentration of fluoride ions, far below the accepted Ghana/WHO standards for drinking water. Mr. Mensah said in cases where there are excessive concentrations of fluoride ions, the ions will be left in the residue while the distillate will be free from any contamination. On the issue of sustainability, he said personnel have been trained to maintain and repair the facility when it develops any fault. The Regional Coordinator for Vodafone in-charge of the three northern regions, Abdul Majeed Inusa, pledged his outfit continuous support to towards the realization of its set objective and appealed to the beneficiaries to help prolong its lifespan. The headmaster of Annafobiisi Primary School, Mr. Atabire Joseph Ayamga was grateful to the young graduate engineers for putting their knowledge and skills to the benefit of mankind. He pledged to put the facility to good since it has come to address some of the health challenges affecting the community and the district in general
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Education in Bunkpurugu Yunyoo District under threat
21-11-2010
Education in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district in the Northern Region is said to be under threat due to the continuous ethnic and chieftaincy conflict in the area. To this effect most schools are at the verge of collapse as school enrollment has reduced to the barest minimum. The District Director of Education, Mr. J.B Dakorah who disclosed this to Radio Ghana said most people particularly, pupils as a result of the conflict had fled to neighbouring Togo to seek refuge with their friends and relatives. He described the conflict in the area as devastating, since it has claimed lives and properties with houses burned down rendering most people homeless. This, he said, has brought about insecurity, poverty, deprivation and a general setback to development particularly, on education. According to Mr Dakor, 24 schools within the Dekperu, Nadong, Nakuk and its catchment area have been greatly affected by the conflict. This he added has had serious consequences on school attendance, educational infrastructure and psychological trauma among pupils. School enrollment over the years has not been encouraging as most teachers had refused to accept postings to district to teach. Most qualifies tutors including teaching assistants have also relocated to safer areas waiting for calm to return to the area. A circuit Supervisor, Mr. Evans Dramani, who also spoke to Radio Ghana said school attendance in 11 primary schools with 1,800 pupils comprising 885 boys and 915 girls, have greatly reduced. According to him, to a little above 50 percent of the said student population in the Binde North Circuit, now attend to school. Mr. Dramani appealed to the security authorities to prevent school children from crossing the country’s borders to neighbouring towns and cities. He commended the Catholic Church for its role in the maintenance of peace in the district and called on others to help in that direction. He appealed to his chiefs, traditional authorities and colleague teachers to preach peace to their subjects to help ensure development. Mr. Dramani also called on the feuding factions involve in the conflict to bury their differences and prohibit violence in all forms.
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Education in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district in the Northern Region is said to be under threat due to the continuous ethnic and chieftaincy conflict in the area. To this effect most schools are at the verge of collapse as school enrollment has reduced to the barest minimum. The District Director of Education, Mr. J.B Dakorah who disclosed this to Radio Ghana said most people particularly, pupils as a result of the conflict had fled to neighbouring Togo to seek refuge with their friends and relatives. He described the conflict in the area as devastating, since it has claimed lives and properties with houses burned down rendering most people homeless. This, he said, has brought about insecurity, poverty, deprivation and a general setback to development particularly, on education. According to Mr Dakor, 24 schools within the Dekperu, Nadong, Nakuk and its catchment area have been greatly affected by the conflict. This he added has had serious consequences on school attendance, educational infrastructure and psychological trauma among pupils. School enrollment over the years has not been encouraging as most teachers had refused to accept postings to district to teach. Most qualifies tutors including teaching assistants have also relocated to safer areas waiting for calm to return to the area. A circuit Supervisor, Mr. Evans Dramani, who also spoke to Radio Ghana said school attendance in 11 primary schools with 1,800 pupils comprising 885 boys and 915 girls, have greatly reduced. According to him, to a little above 50 percent of the said student population in the Binde North Circuit, now attend to school. Mr. Dramani appealed to the security authorities to prevent school children from crossing the country’s borders to neighbouring towns and cities. He commended the Catholic Church for its role in the maintenance of peace in the district and called on others to help in that direction. He appealed to his chiefs, traditional authorities and colleague teachers to preach peace to their subjects to help ensure development. Mr. Dramani also called on the feuding factions involve in the conflict to bury their differences and prohibit violence in all forms.
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Peace Building Education Workshop for Teachers
20-11-2010
Narration: About 5,000 persons have been displaced with some rendered homeless over the past five years as a result of ethnic based conflicts in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district of the Northern Region. Moreover, 24 lives have been lost with over 1,000 houses have been burnt down within the same period. In view of these unfortunate occurrences, the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese Development Office (NAVOCADO) has organized a 2-day Peace Building Education Workshop for some selected teachers in conflict communities in the district. The workshop which is being supported by Dialogue and Advocacy for Good Governance (DDAG) is geared at promoting peace and co-existence among all the ethnic divides in the area. Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has come through with this report.
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Participants including teachers and assembly members drawn from the various conflict zones in the district were taken through topics such as “the role of the diocese in conflict reduction and peace building”, the effect of conflict in education in the district and the “church’s perspective in the concept of conflict and peace building” among others. The workshop which was however organized to help participants appreciate the enormity of the conflict situation in the area, brought to fore emerging issues and causes of the increasing occurrences of conflict that has characterized the area within the past five years. Some of the causes identified include land ownership and use, loyalty to chiefdoms, unclear land boundaries, lack of chieftaincy succession schemes and poor traditional leadership structures. Political patronage which is the influence of politics on resource allocation and leadership power was also identified as a major challenge resulting to conflict in the district. The Acting Development Co-ordinator of Navrongo –Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, Mr. Joseph Ayambillah, said the conflict in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district over the years has brought untold hardship to people living in the area with women and children being the most affected. He said many people resident in the district has fled to neigbouring Togo as a result of undue tension in the area and appealed to the feuding factions to smoke the peace pipe t bring development and brotherliness among the people. This year’s conflict, he noted has recorded 11 deaths with 4463 people displaced and 442 houses razed down by fire. Mr. Ayambilla outlined various intervention adopted by his outfit to bring lasting peace to the area. He mentioned community sensitization and the formation of peace building clubs and committees as some of the interventional measures. Mr. Ayambilla therefore called on teachers in conflict communities of the district to inculcate in their students the relevance of peaceful co-existence and the act of forgiveness. This, he explained, would help erase pain, anger and hatred from students who have fallen victim to the conflict. A facilitator from the Catholic Education Unit, Mr. Daniel Akanyani Abambilla the church and teachers are strong forces for conflict reduction in communities ,hence the need for them to teach people high moral values, and more importantly the need for acceptance, adjustment and reconciliation. He also called for dialogue and mediation among persons involved in the conflict to prevent more lost of lives and properties and pledged on the church’s support in that direction. The District Director of education, Mr. J.B Dakora, whose speech was read for him, commended the Catholic diocese for the peace initiative and appealed to the chiefs, clans and groups in conflict to re-unite and find an amicable solution to the long ethnic and chieftaincy dispute since it is having a downward trend on education in the district.
Narration: About 5,000 persons have been displaced with some rendered homeless over the past five years as a result of ethnic based conflicts in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district of the Northern Region. Moreover, 24 lives have been lost with over 1,000 houses have been burnt down within the same period. In view of these unfortunate occurrences, the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese Development Office (NAVOCADO) has organized a 2-day Peace Building Education Workshop for some selected teachers in conflict communities in the district. The workshop which is being supported by Dialogue and Advocacy for Good Governance (DDAG) is geared at promoting peace and co-existence among all the ethnic divides in the area. Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has come through with this report.
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Participants including teachers and assembly members drawn from the various conflict zones in the district were taken through topics such as “the role of the diocese in conflict reduction and peace building”, the effect of conflict in education in the district and the “church’s perspective in the concept of conflict and peace building” among others. The workshop which was however organized to help participants appreciate the enormity of the conflict situation in the area, brought to fore emerging issues and causes of the increasing occurrences of conflict that has characterized the area within the past five years. Some of the causes identified include land ownership and use, loyalty to chiefdoms, unclear land boundaries, lack of chieftaincy succession schemes and poor traditional leadership structures. Political patronage which is the influence of politics on resource allocation and leadership power was also identified as a major challenge resulting to conflict in the district. The Acting Development Co-ordinator of Navrongo –Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, Mr. Joseph Ayambillah, said the conflict in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district over the years has brought untold hardship to people living in the area with women and children being the most affected. He said many people resident in the district has fled to neigbouring Togo as a result of undue tension in the area and appealed to the feuding factions to smoke the peace pipe t bring development and brotherliness among the people. This year’s conflict, he noted has recorded 11 deaths with 4463 people displaced and 442 houses razed down by fire. Mr. Ayambilla outlined various intervention adopted by his outfit to bring lasting peace to the area. He mentioned community sensitization and the formation of peace building clubs and committees as some of the interventional measures. Mr. Ayambilla therefore called on teachers in conflict communities of the district to inculcate in their students the relevance of peaceful co-existence and the act of forgiveness. This, he explained, would help erase pain, anger and hatred from students who have fallen victim to the conflict. A facilitator from the Catholic Education Unit, Mr. Daniel Akanyani Abambilla the church and teachers are strong forces for conflict reduction in communities ,hence the need for them to teach people high moral values, and more importantly the need for acceptance, adjustment and reconciliation. He also called for dialogue and mediation among persons involved in the conflict to prevent more lost of lives and properties and pledged on the church’s support in that direction. The District Director of education, Mr. J.B Dakora, whose speech was read for him, commended the Catholic diocese for the peace initiative and appealed to the chiefs, clans and groups in conflict to re-unite and find an amicable solution to the long ethnic and chieftaincy dispute since it is having a downward trend on education in the district.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Regional Launch of Measles Campaign
30-10-10 In its quest to improve the health of its citizenry, Government has provided 3.5million Ghana Health Service to under take a campaign on measles immunization in the country. This was disclosed by the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni, during the regional launch of the Integrated Measles Supplementary Immunization Campaign at Widana in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East region on the theme: “Measles Can Kill, Immunize Your Child Now”. The exercise which will start on the 3- 6 of next month, is targeted at children between the age group of 9 months to 5 years as a strategy by government to ensure the country meets the goal of the African Union to eliminate measles by the year 2020. The exercise is also targeting about 274,409 children in the Upper East Region. In addition to the measles immunization, the children who were not dosed in the Upper East Region with the Vitamin A during its exercise will be given the dose so that every child in the Region will be guaranteed with good health. The Deputy Regional Minister urged everyone to learn and know about the disease and also take measures to prevent people from getting measles, and eliminating it within the shortest possible time. Mrs. Lucy Awuni appealed to the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health to strengthen the capacity of the Reference Laboratory in Tamale to serve the three Northern Regions, to reduce the delays and cost of sending specimen to Accra for laboratory examination. She also stressed that health service providers should be trained on Management of adverse events following immunization so that they would better manage the conditions. The Deputy Regional Director of Public Health Service, James Akpabli, said measles is a virus that is transmitted by direct or through airborne droplets when an infected person sneezes, cough or talk. He said that when one is infected there is an incubation period of 9 – 12 days before symptoms such as fever, irritability, red eye; difficulties in seeing through light, coughing and nasal discharge are seen. He cautioned the public that, though measles is a childhood disease, it can also occur at any age especially in areas such as the Upper East Region when it is introduced by an infected person. In pregnant women he lamented that it could cause an abortion or death in the womb of the foetus. Addressing the public, the Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, Musah Abdulai, urged parents not to shirk their responsibilities and appealed to men not to see the health issues of the children as the sole responsibility of women because fathers also have a role to play to ensure total immunization of the children. Representatives from the Health Services of both Togo and Burkina Faso were there to witness the event.
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LAUNCHING OF UPPER EAST ALL LADIES BAND
04-11-2010 Narration: Government and for that matter stakeholders in the music and entertainment industry, have been challenged to help fashion out very stringent censorship legislature that will protect and guard the youth against profanity on the airwaves. The Bolgatanga Municipal chief Executive, Epsona Ayamga, who made the call at the launch of the All-Ladies Band at Bolgatanga, said the move when enforced would instill sanity and decency in the entertainment industry. Correspondent Isaac Asare was at the launch and has filed this story for Radio Ghana.
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The launching ceremony dubbed ‘Music Project’, attracted a cross section of the public, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Departmental heads as well as representatives from the security agencies among others. The All ladies Music Project initiated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Women Awareness Training Centre, Mrs. Mary Bosombel, is to replace the Uppers International Band which was the first to be established in the Upper East Region. The Uppers Band which dates back to the late 70s was originated by the late A.A Ampofo, popularly known as ‘Kofi Charlie’ the then Upper East Regional Administrative Officer during the Col. I.K Acheampong’s regime. While the band was a mixture of men and women, the All-Ladies band is however, an all- female affair. Under the said project, women are encouraged to learn how to use and play musical instruments through training by experts. This will afford the young ladies the opportunity to exhibit and discover their inherent talents. The music project goes beyond the handling of the musical instruments since they would be taught lessons in ICT, Mathematics and English free of charge. The project also seeks to discourage the north-south migration typical of the teenage girls, who through poverty and deceit travel down south to engage in non existing jobs. The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Harry Epsona Ayamga, stressed the importance of music and dance describing it as an aspect of culture and socialization. He said the economic importance and music and dance in the Ghanaian society today cannot be over emphasized hence the need to handle it with care and decency. Mr. Epsona Ayamga encouraged the ladies to take advantage of the opportunity given them. He cautioned them against the production of profane music since it impacts negatively on the youth and also have the tendency of influencing negative public behaviours in society. The formation of the all-ladies band he noted is yet another testimony to the fact that women have the potential to compete with their men folks hence the need for adequate financial and logistical support. He expressed worry about certain unacceptable lyrics and scenes on the airwaves and challenged the government and other stakeholders in the music and entertainment industry to help rectify the situation. The Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Awareness Centre, Mrs. Mary Bosombel in a short statement said her outfit is into the training of skills acquisition in dressmaking hairdressing, masonry, batik tie and dye, carpentry and other vocational activities with school drop-outs being the targeted individuals. The establishment of the All-ladies band would create an employment opportunity for some disadvantage girls in the region and called on public assistance to see them through. Some hiplife artistes including Wuta, Mzbel and Reggie Zippy were there to grace the occasion.
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The launching ceremony dubbed ‘Music Project’, attracted a cross section of the public, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Departmental heads as well as representatives from the security agencies among others. The All ladies Music Project initiated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Women Awareness Training Centre, Mrs. Mary Bosombel, is to replace the Uppers International Band which was the first to be established in the Upper East Region. The Uppers Band which dates back to the late 70s was originated by the late A.A Ampofo, popularly known as ‘Kofi Charlie’ the then Upper East Regional Administrative Officer during the Col. I.K Acheampong’s regime. While the band was a mixture of men and women, the All-Ladies band is however, an all- female affair. Under the said project, women are encouraged to learn how to use and play musical instruments through training by experts. This will afford the young ladies the opportunity to exhibit and discover their inherent talents. The music project goes beyond the handling of the musical instruments since they would be taught lessons in ICT, Mathematics and English free of charge. The project also seeks to discourage the north-south migration typical of the teenage girls, who through poverty and deceit travel down south to engage in non existing jobs. The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Harry Epsona Ayamga, stressed the importance of music and dance describing it as an aspect of culture and socialization. He said the economic importance and music and dance in the Ghanaian society today cannot be over emphasized hence the need to handle it with care and decency. Mr. Epsona Ayamga encouraged the ladies to take advantage of the opportunity given them. He cautioned them against the production of profane music since it impacts negatively on the youth and also have the tendency of influencing negative public behaviours in society. The formation of the all-ladies band he noted is yet another testimony to the fact that women have the potential to compete with their men folks hence the need for adequate financial and logistical support. He expressed worry about certain unacceptable lyrics and scenes on the airwaves and challenged the government and other stakeholders in the music and entertainment industry to help rectify the situation. The Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Awareness Centre, Mrs. Mary Bosombel in a short statement said her outfit is into the training of skills acquisition in dressmaking hairdressing, masonry, batik tie and dye, carpentry and other vocational activities with school drop-outs being the targeted individuals. The establishment of the All-ladies band would create an employment opportunity for some disadvantage girls in the region and called on public assistance to see them through. Some hiplife artistes including Wuta, Mzbel and Reggie Zippy were there to grace the occasion.
Manhunt for allege robber and killer
30-10-2010 The Northern and Upper East Regional Police Commands are on the look out for the allege notorious armed robber and killer, Johnson Soloma Kombia, who is said to have shot and killed two policemen on patrol duties at Nankpanduri in the Northern Region last Sunday. 17 suspected persons including a woman have been held by the police for their allege involvement in the activities of the Soloma Kombia and are due for screening and questioning. Meanwhile intelligence report gathered by the joint police force indicates that the said criminal is hiding in neighbouring Togo. These came to light during a press briefing by the Upper East Regional Police Commander, ACP Bright Oduro at Bolgatanga. According to him the criminal activities of Kombia, popularly known as ‘Burger’ is not only confined to the Northern Region alone but stretches into the Upper East Region and in particular the Garu Tempane –Bawku areas where he has been responsible for several incidents of motor bikes snatching at gun points. He said the Upper East Regional Police command is interested in the recapture of Kombia because he has his roots in the Upper East adding that his father who hails from Nanpkanduri in the Northern Region also has lineage to the twin villages of Davorga and Danugu in the Garu Tempane District where his mother comes from. He described his recapture as crucial and significant to the effect that 25 additional operational policemen from Accra has been invited to ensure his arrest. The aim he said is to hunt him down, cut links with those in Nankpanduri and nearby villages who have been collaborating and providing information to him on police movement and intensions by arresting them for questioning and also arrest his accomplices. He denied media publications that the police went to Nankpanduri to brutalise innocent people, and explained that the move was to meant surprisingly to clamp down on Kombien from his hide out the operation was done upon a tip off by an informant. He called on residents of Nakpanduri to exercise restraints whilst they put up measures to effect the arrest of Kombien, who he termed as a torn in the flesh of the police and the people of Northern and Upper East region. He called on residents in the two regions to give out information to the police to help arrest the criminal. ACP Oduro said a price tag of 5,000 Ghana Cedis has been placed on the suspected criminal for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of Kombia.
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Bawku Students Union Calls For Reconciliation Process in Bawku
31-10-2010
Members of the Bawku Students Union of the of the university of Development Studies, UDS Navrongo Campus are appealing to the various stakeholders in the Bawku peace process not to rest on their oars until permanent peace is restored in the area. According to them, all efforts must be made to ensure that the once boisterous northern commercial town is free from all retaliatory violence and attacks though residents are experiencing relative calm in the area. This was contained in a release signed by the President of the union, David Aladogo, at Bolgatanga. The released said Bawku students of the UDS and elsewhere see themselves as one people irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political background. It further called on residents of the Bawku Municipality to emulate their sterling example by coming together to reconcile in love to salvage Bawku from its current developmental status to a higher height. This, release explained, would prove to the outside world that Bawku is capable of maintaining peace and development. It also appealed to institutions and individuals who had flee the area due to the past conflict to return home and contribute their quota to the development of Bawku and the region in general. The Ghana education Service the release stated should consider posting more teachers to Bawku since most school in the municipality lack teachers due to the conflict. The union also appealed to the government to come to the aid of the good people of Bawku by organizing skill-training programmes for the idle youth of the area so that their energies can be directed towards productive ventures. The release also showed appreciation to the various stakeholders in the peace process for their role in maintaining the relative peace in the municipality.
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Members of the Bawku Students Union of the of the university of Development Studies, UDS Navrongo Campus are appealing to the various stakeholders in the Bawku peace process not to rest on their oars until permanent peace is restored in the area. According to them, all efforts must be made to ensure that the once boisterous northern commercial town is free from all retaliatory violence and attacks though residents are experiencing relative calm in the area. This was contained in a release signed by the President of the union, David Aladogo, at Bolgatanga. The released said Bawku students of the UDS and elsewhere see themselves as one people irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political background. It further called on residents of the Bawku Municipality to emulate their sterling example by coming together to reconcile in love to salvage Bawku from its current developmental status to a higher height. This, release explained, would prove to the outside world that Bawku is capable of maintaining peace and development. It also appealed to institutions and individuals who had flee the area due to the past conflict to return home and contribute their quota to the development of Bawku and the region in general. The Ghana education Service the release stated should consider posting more teachers to Bawku since most school in the municipality lack teachers due to the conflict. The union also appealed to the government to come to the aid of the good people of Bawku by organizing skill-training programmes for the idle youth of the area so that their energies can be directed towards productive ventures. The release also showed appreciation to the various stakeholders in the peace process for their role in maintaining the relative peace in the municipality.
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Man dies over goat meat
01-11-10 A 30 year old farmer, Adamu Adama, resident at Nakong Tingbane, a village near Pusiga in the Bawku East District of the Upper East Region, has been charged for the murder of Baba Abunkundug, over a goat meat. According to the Public Relations Officer of the Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector, Thomas Agbanyo, both the accused and the deceased some few weeks ago, were among a group of people who went to worship the fetish god “Tingbane” in Nakong as part of their annual ritual to show appreciation to the god for its guidance and protection. The annual festivity is done with sacrificial activities to pacify and appease the fetish god. According to Chief Inspector Agbanyo, after the sacrificial goat has been slaughtered for ritual purposes and the carcass has been cooked, a quarrel ensued between the accused Adamu and the deceased, Baba Abunkudug, 24 over the goat meat. During the scuffle, the deceased was mercilessly beaten because the accused had the upper hand in terms of strength. The deceased after the assault was rushed to Akanye Clinic at Pusiga, a village near Bawku and finally referred to the Bawku Hospital where he died. The deceased Baba Abunkudug died at exactly 7.00pm on the 23rd of September, 2010. The accused was apparently arrested and would be put before the Bawku Circuit court for prosecution over the murder of his colleague. Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Bolgatanga Regional Morgue for autopsy.
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War Memorial Hospital Receive Insecticide Treated Bed Nets
03-1-2010
Authorities at the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital have taken delivery of treated insecticides bed nets valued at the cost of 3,000 Ghana Cedis at a ceremony held at the hospital premises in Navrongo. The donation was done on behalf of the Kassena Development Lead, a benevolent non-governmental Kassena-Nankana youth group based in the UK. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo who was the guest to witness the presentation said the provision of the bed nets would go a long way to prevent Malaria and other related diseases at the hospital. He commended the group for their exemplary leadership and urged others to emulate their shining examples. He appealed to the hospital authorities to equitably distribute the items among residents of both Kassena-Nankana East and West, in order to ensure transparency and fairness, which he said is the hallmark for development. Making the presentation, the youth organizer of the group, Mr. Kasise Pwamang said the presentation forms part of his outfit’s determination to reach out to the poor and vulnerable in society adding that the insecticide treated bednets would help reduce maternal and infant mortality particularly, among pregnant women and children as a result of malaria and other related illnesses. Mr. Pwamang noted that his colleagues are poised to support their various communities in the two districts and have therefore put in place measures to address some of the challenges in the districts and the region at large. He entreated the hospital authorities to use the items for its intended purposes so as to achieve their desired objective. A Medical Superintendent at the War Memorial Hospital, Dr Abdullai Forgor, was grateful for the gesture and called for support in addressing other daunting challenges confronting the hospital. He said lack of portable water, irregular power supply and inadequate medical equipments among others, poses a major challenge to the hospital. Dr Forgor, however charged other benevolent societies and organisations to come to the aid of the hospital so as to ensure adequate healthcare delivery in the district.
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Authorities at the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital have taken delivery of treated insecticides bed nets valued at the cost of 3,000 Ghana Cedis at a ceremony held at the hospital premises in Navrongo. The donation was done on behalf of the Kassena Development Lead, a benevolent non-governmental Kassena-Nankana youth group based in the UK. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo who was the guest to witness the presentation said the provision of the bed nets would go a long way to prevent Malaria and other related diseases at the hospital. He commended the group for their exemplary leadership and urged others to emulate their shining examples. He appealed to the hospital authorities to equitably distribute the items among residents of both Kassena-Nankana East and West, in order to ensure transparency and fairness, which he said is the hallmark for development. Making the presentation, the youth organizer of the group, Mr. Kasise Pwamang said the presentation forms part of his outfit’s determination to reach out to the poor and vulnerable in society adding that the insecticide treated bednets would help reduce maternal and infant mortality particularly, among pregnant women and children as a result of malaria and other related illnesses. Mr. Pwamang noted that his colleagues are poised to support their various communities in the two districts and have therefore put in place measures to address some of the challenges in the districts and the region at large. He entreated the hospital authorities to use the items for its intended purposes so as to achieve their desired objective. A Medical Superintendent at the War Memorial Hospital, Dr Abdullai Forgor, was grateful for the gesture and called for support in addressing other daunting challenges confronting the hospital. He said lack of portable water, irregular power supply and inadequate medical equipments among others, poses a major challenge to the hospital. Dr Forgor, however charged other benevolent societies and organisations to come to the aid of the hospital so as to ensure adequate healthcare delivery in the district.
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UPPER EAST @ 50 AND NAFAC 2010 CELEBRATION
02-11-2010
Narration: Parents have been recommended to encourage their wards to take maximum interest in all activities related to arts and culture. This will help enlighten the minds of the children in making them conscious of their cultural heritage, which is an indispensable condition for the nation’s identity and survival. The Upper East Regional Director, Centre for National Culture, Kombat Fuzzy made the call at the opening of a 5-day long district and regional festival held at Bolgatanga on the theme: Promoting unity Technology and Wealth creation for a better Ghana: the Role of the youth IN Nation Building. The event is being organized in preparation towards this year’s National Festival of Arts and culture (NAFAC) which is slated to take place in Tamale, this month. Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has come through with this report.
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The festival also forms part of activities marking the upcoming 50th anniversary celebration of the Upper East Region. It is therefore aimed to enhance the rich and endowed cultural heritage of the people in the three regions of the north. Cultural activities including traditional cultural dances and drama among others are performed by representatives drawn from the nine districts of the region. This is in line with the roadmap of NAFAC 2010, which is schedule to take place on the 20-27 of this month in Tamale, the Northern Regional Capital. Winners in the drama and dance competitions would be automatically selected to participate in the upcoming event which is poised to receive massive participation from representatives across the 1o regions of the country. The Regional Festival of Arts and Culture was slated for 1st to 5th of this month at Bolgatanga but could not come off due to financial and logistical constraints. The Regional Director, Centre for National Culture, Mr. Kombat Fuzzy, bemoaned the state at which the youth have lost and ignored their moral and cultural values as a result of what he termed strange foreign culture. He said the lives of the youth are being endangered and are also imbued to the notion that their cultural heritage is nothing to be proud of. Most children still do not appreciate the relevance of their own arts and culture. They are made to hold high, certain foreign cultural values, thus, abandoning their own culture which is embedded with folklores, traditional dances and songs as well as attire for traditional occasions. He therefore charged parents to inculcate in their children high moral values and culture to help maintain dignity and respect in society. Mr. Fuzzy also appealed to the government to help complete the only theatre complex in the region which he noted is still at the foundation stage after several changes of government. He moreover, called for collaborative support in the management of the region’s craft village. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, said the region’s upcoming event could be celebrated in grand style only if it is given the needed support and cooperation. He therefore charged residents of the region to play their expected role in ensuring that the event is celebrated in pump and pageantry. He said his Excellency, Prof. John Evans Attah Mills among other dignitaries would be in the region to grace the occasion. The Builsa District Chief Executive, Mr. Norbert Awulley in a brief message, advised residents living outside the region to return home and participate in this historic occasion
Narration: Parents have been recommended to encourage their wards to take maximum interest in all activities related to arts and culture. This will help enlighten the minds of the children in making them conscious of their cultural heritage, which is an indispensable condition for the nation’s identity and survival. The Upper East Regional Director, Centre for National Culture, Kombat Fuzzy made the call at the opening of a 5-day long district and regional festival held at Bolgatanga on the theme: Promoting unity Technology and Wealth creation for a better Ghana: the Role of the youth IN Nation Building. The event is being organized in preparation towards this year’s National Festival of Arts and culture (NAFAC) which is slated to take place in Tamale, this month. Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has come through with this report.
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The festival also forms part of activities marking the upcoming 50th anniversary celebration of the Upper East Region. It is therefore aimed to enhance the rich and endowed cultural heritage of the people in the three regions of the north. Cultural activities including traditional cultural dances and drama among others are performed by representatives drawn from the nine districts of the region. This is in line with the roadmap of NAFAC 2010, which is schedule to take place on the 20-27 of this month in Tamale, the Northern Regional Capital. Winners in the drama and dance competitions would be automatically selected to participate in the upcoming event which is poised to receive massive participation from representatives across the 1o regions of the country. The Regional Festival of Arts and Culture was slated for 1st to 5th of this month at Bolgatanga but could not come off due to financial and logistical constraints. The Regional Director, Centre for National Culture, Mr. Kombat Fuzzy, bemoaned the state at which the youth have lost and ignored their moral and cultural values as a result of what he termed strange foreign culture. He said the lives of the youth are being endangered and are also imbued to the notion that their cultural heritage is nothing to be proud of. Most children still do not appreciate the relevance of their own arts and culture. They are made to hold high, certain foreign cultural values, thus, abandoning their own culture which is embedded with folklores, traditional dances and songs as well as attire for traditional occasions. He therefore charged parents to inculcate in their children high moral values and culture to help maintain dignity and respect in society. Mr. Fuzzy also appealed to the government to help complete the only theatre complex in the region which he noted is still at the foundation stage after several changes of government. He moreover, called for collaborative support in the management of the region’s craft village. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, said the region’s upcoming event could be celebrated in grand style only if it is given the needed support and cooperation. He therefore charged residents of the region to play their expected role in ensuring that the event is celebrated in pump and pageantry. He said his Excellency, Prof. John Evans Attah Mills among other dignitaries would be in the region to grace the occasion. The Builsa District Chief Executive, Mr. Norbert Awulley in a brief message, advised residents living outside the region to return home and participate in this historic occasion
BAARE YOUTH DAA FESTIVAL CELEBRATED
04-11-2010 Narration: The Traditional Chief of Baare, a farming community in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region, Naab Nyaakora Mantii, has declared a permanent ban on record playing and dances after 6.00p.m during funeral festivities. This, he noted, is due to the fact that school children in the community and its catchment area have taken undue advantage of such occasions to indulge in absurd and immoral activities. He said the unfortunate trend has had a serious adverse effect on the academic performance of students in the area. Naab Mantii made the pronouncement at the climax of this year’s Baare Youth Daa Festival Celebrated by the Chiefs and People of the Baare. Correspondent Isaac Asare witnessed the ceremony and has the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.
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This year’s Baare Youth Daa Festival on the theme: “Wealth creation, the role of the Individual” brought together sons and daughters of the Baare as well as teachers and district directors of Education among other dignitaries. The annual festival is celebrated by the chiefs and natives of Baare and all other Talensi’s to give thanks to their ancestors and gods for a prosperous farming season and to appeal for good health and abundant harvest the next season. It is usually climaxed with traditional music and dances to show sign of unity, love and appreciation to the gods. The Traditional Chief of Baare, Naab Nyaakora Mantii used the occasion to outlined challenges facing his community. He expressed concern about the lack of discipline on the part of the youth in society and called for attitudinal change to address the problem. He was not happy about the continuous fallen standard of education in the area and attributed it to a number of factors, including lack of reading and learning. He said students are now use to attending public functions and festivities at the neglect of their books. This, according to him is contributing to the decline in the educational ladder of the country and called on policy makers to help stem the trend. Naab Maanti therefore declared a ban on record dances during funerals in Baare and called on teachers to instill discipline in their children and also inculcate in them good learning habits so as to ensure effective teaching and learning. He also called for the extension of electricity to most parts of the community. The President of the Baare Youth association, Abel Balamguyetime said his outfit aims at fostering unity among the youth and to an extend channel their youthful energy resource to bring development to the community. The association though established two years ago, has been able to undertake developmental activities in the area. He mentioned free extra classes, awards scheme for best performed students and repair of road damages as some of the successes chalked by the association. Mr Balaguyetime described Baare as a tourist potential area and called on the public to patronize these untapped resources. He appealed to the government to help undertake more developmental projects in the area since its one of the biggest communities in terms of land mass. A lecturer at the UDS, Navrongo Campus, Mr. Lun Yin Volemkatmi Donatus UDS, educated participants on how to break the cycles of poverty through wealth creation. This he said could be done by improving upon their financial capabilities. Awards were later given to some deserving students who excelled in the 2009/2010 BECE. Quiz competitions were also organized to climax the occasion.
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This year’s Baare Youth Daa Festival on the theme: “Wealth creation, the role of the Individual” brought together sons and daughters of the Baare as well as teachers and district directors of Education among other dignitaries. The annual festival is celebrated by the chiefs and natives of Baare and all other Talensi’s to give thanks to their ancestors and gods for a prosperous farming season and to appeal for good health and abundant harvest the next season. It is usually climaxed with traditional music and dances to show sign of unity, love and appreciation to the gods. The Traditional Chief of Baare, Naab Nyaakora Mantii used the occasion to outlined challenges facing his community. He expressed concern about the lack of discipline on the part of the youth in society and called for attitudinal change to address the problem. He was not happy about the continuous fallen standard of education in the area and attributed it to a number of factors, including lack of reading and learning. He said students are now use to attending public functions and festivities at the neglect of their books. This, according to him is contributing to the decline in the educational ladder of the country and called on policy makers to help stem the trend. Naab Maanti therefore declared a ban on record dances during funerals in Baare and called on teachers to instill discipline in their children and also inculcate in them good learning habits so as to ensure effective teaching and learning. He also called for the extension of electricity to most parts of the community. The President of the Baare Youth association, Abel Balamguyetime said his outfit aims at fostering unity among the youth and to an extend channel their youthful energy resource to bring development to the community. The association though established two years ago, has been able to undertake developmental activities in the area. He mentioned free extra classes, awards scheme for best performed students and repair of road damages as some of the successes chalked by the association. Mr Balaguyetime described Baare as a tourist potential area and called on the public to patronize these untapped resources. He appealed to the government to help undertake more developmental projects in the area since its one of the biggest communities in terms of land mass. A lecturer at the UDS, Navrongo Campus, Mr. Lun Yin Volemkatmi Donatus UDS, educated participants on how to break the cycles of poverty through wealth creation. This he said could be done by improving upon their financial capabilities. Awards were later given to some deserving students who excelled in the 2009/2010 BECE. Quiz competitions were also organized to climax the occasion.
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Sunday, 29 August 2010
Meeting with the Northern Sector News Co-ordinator
23-08-2010 The Northern Sector News Co-ordinator of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Chris Alabila, has entreated staff working at the various news department of the corporation to take keen interest in human interest and development stories since they attract more listeners and viewers. Mr. Alabila gave the advice during an interaction with the news crew of GBC URA Radio at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The meeting forms part of his working visit to the Regional GBC Stations under the northern sector. The purpose was to learn at first hand the activities and challenges facing the various regional stations and also solicit ideas and opinions as well as the way forward. Mr. Alabila was emphatic about the new digital transformation of GBC and encouraged staff of the news department to be abreast with the new trend, by concentrating on more human interest stories which according to him are capable of addressing the numerous challenges facing the people at the grassroot level. He commended staff of the corporation for their hard work despite the growing challenges. The Regional Director of GBC URA Radio, Abdul Razak Mohammed Tahiru and the Editor-In-Chief of the News Department, Abraham Dimmie on their part called on the management of GBC to assist reporters at the regional stations with the needed tools and devices to help facilitate their work. This way, they added, would go along way to motivate them exercise their duties with ease. Mr. Dimmie was grateful for the visit and expressed the hope that the news department would be able to deliver up to expectation if the concerns raised are given the necessary attention so as to serve the purpose at which the station was established.
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Friday, 27 August 2010
Regional ‘Meet the Press’ Series at Bolgatanga
27-08-2010
Narration: The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo has described as unfortunate and unacceptable, the current doctor to patient ratio of 1-34,000 in the region. He however appealed to sons and daughters in the health profession who are native of the region but are working elsewhere to return home and offer humanitarian and voluntary health service delivery to their mother region for the time being. This, according to Mr. Woyongo, would go a long way to complement government’s effort in addressing the situation. Mr. Woyongo expressed this concern at the Regional ‘Meet the Press’ series, held at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. A cross section of the public and dignitaries including the information Minister, John Tia Akologo and his deputy, Mr Agyenim Boateng among others were present at the meeting. Here is a report by Isaac Asare.
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The meeting was to afford media practitioners and the public the opportunity to put to fore relevant issues and matters affecting their socio-economic lives and also be abreast with the developmental activities carried out by the government since its took over power. Mr. Woyongo, who gave a brief presentation of the state of the region with respect to areas such as security, roads, education and agriculture among others, bemoaned the shortage of doctors in the region. He said the state of health delivery in the region is one of the worst in the country, especially with regards to health personnel. He added that despite the manpower shortage of health professionals, there has been significant improvement in the health sector of the region particular in supervised delivery, as well as reduction in malaria and maternal and child mortality. He attributed the success story to the tireless effort of the few health personnel manning the 172 health facilities in the region. This, he noted, include hospitals, health centres, clinics, CHPS Compounds, and a maternity home. Mr. Woyongo said the region is expecting 5 new doctors this year and called on the government through the Ministry of health to help assist the region with more doctors and other health professionals. In the area of water and sanitation, Mr. Woyongo was happy to announce that a loan of 5 million dollars and 40 million euros has been secured for the expansion of the Vea Raw Water treatment plant and the construction of Water treatment plant at Tono to serve areas such as Navrongo, Paga and Bolgatanga respectively. Additionally 75 million dollars have also been sourced for the provision of boreholes and Small Town Water Systems for six regions, including the Upper East. Mr. Woyongo also touched on the increasing school enrolment of the region and attributed it to the number of government’s interventional policies such as the school feeding Programme, provision of basic school infrastructure, capitation grant and free school uniform and exercise books among others. In the area of agriculture, Mr. Woyongo said the region through the provision of fertilizers and other farm machinery, is expecting a high increase in crop yield this year. The Information Minister Mr. Tia Akologo who chaired the meeting, entreated participants to use the occasion to make meaningful and constructive suggestions and opinions to help address most of the challenges affecting the various developmental areas of the region. He also urged the public to impart the information and knowledge of government’s policies and programmes aimed at achieving the ‘Better Ghana Agenda to their fellow counterparts who were not present at the meeting. Mr Tia Akologo, the Regional Minister, Mar Woyongo and the Deputy information Minister, Mr Agyenim Boateng answered questions from the media. There was also an exhibition of photographs of development project carried out in all the districts of the region
Narration: The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo has described as unfortunate and unacceptable, the current doctor to patient ratio of 1-34,000 in the region. He however appealed to sons and daughters in the health profession who are native of the region but are working elsewhere to return home and offer humanitarian and voluntary health service delivery to their mother region for the time being. This, according to Mr. Woyongo, would go a long way to complement government’s effort in addressing the situation. Mr. Woyongo expressed this concern at the Regional ‘Meet the Press’ series, held at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. A cross section of the public and dignitaries including the information Minister, John Tia Akologo and his deputy, Mr Agyenim Boateng among others were present at the meeting. Here is a report by Isaac Asare.
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The meeting was to afford media practitioners and the public the opportunity to put to fore relevant issues and matters affecting their socio-economic lives and also be abreast with the developmental activities carried out by the government since its took over power. Mr. Woyongo, who gave a brief presentation of the state of the region with respect to areas such as security, roads, education and agriculture among others, bemoaned the shortage of doctors in the region. He said the state of health delivery in the region is one of the worst in the country, especially with regards to health personnel. He added that despite the manpower shortage of health professionals, there has been significant improvement in the health sector of the region particular in supervised delivery, as well as reduction in malaria and maternal and child mortality. He attributed the success story to the tireless effort of the few health personnel manning the 172 health facilities in the region. This, he noted, include hospitals, health centres, clinics, CHPS Compounds, and a maternity home. Mr. Woyongo said the region is expecting 5 new doctors this year and called on the government through the Ministry of health to help assist the region with more doctors and other health professionals. In the area of water and sanitation, Mr. Woyongo was happy to announce that a loan of 5 million dollars and 40 million euros has been secured for the expansion of the Vea Raw Water treatment plant and the construction of Water treatment plant at Tono to serve areas such as Navrongo, Paga and Bolgatanga respectively. Additionally 75 million dollars have also been sourced for the provision of boreholes and Small Town Water Systems for six regions, including the Upper East. Mr. Woyongo also touched on the increasing school enrolment of the region and attributed it to the number of government’s interventional policies such as the school feeding Programme, provision of basic school infrastructure, capitation grant and free school uniform and exercise books among others. In the area of agriculture, Mr. Woyongo said the region through the provision of fertilizers and other farm machinery, is expecting a high increase in crop yield this year. The Information Minister Mr. Tia Akologo who chaired the meeting, entreated participants to use the occasion to make meaningful and constructive suggestions and opinions to help address most of the challenges affecting the various developmental areas of the region. He also urged the public to impart the information and knowledge of government’s policies and programmes aimed at achieving the ‘Better Ghana Agenda to their fellow counterparts who were not present at the meeting. Mr Tia Akologo, the Regional Minister, Mar Woyongo and the Deputy information Minister, Mr Agyenim Boateng answered questions from the media. There was also an exhibition of photographs of development project carried out in all the districts of the region
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Presentation of Resettlement Packages To Street Children
21-08-2010 Narration: Afrikids-Ghana, a grassroots NGO working in the three Regions of the North has demonstrated their commitment to the welfare of poor and vulnerable children by presenting resettlement packages to 66 young men and women under a project dubbed: “Operation Fresh Start.” at a ceremony in Bolgatanga. The beneficiaries are among 160 street children brought home from Kumasi in 2006. They were placed into vocational skills training of their choice under various master trainers to enable them live independent and meaningful lives. Isaac Asare witnessed the presentation ceremony and has the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.
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Operation Fresh start (OFS) was initiated by Afrikids Ghana in November 2005 to relocate poor and vulnerable children who had migrated to southern Ghana for menial jobs. The overall objective of the project among others is to relocate and resettle these children from urban centres, particularly Kumasi, to their individual communities in the region and also support and equip them with employable skills until they are able to lead independent and sustainable lifestyles. The beneficiaries under the project underwent two years apprenticeship training and vocational skills in hairdressing and dressmaking. They were also educated on topics such as personal hygiene, adolescent reproductive health, family ties and social bonding among other issues. The Country’s Director of Afrikids Ghana, Nicholas Kumah, in a speech said Afrikids as part of its core mandate is committed to improving the socio-economic lives of deprived children by empowering them to ensure their total development, hence the establishment of the project. He said 87 street children have so far benefited from the resettlement package, adding that another batch will be receiving theirs by the end of the year. Mr. Kumah, however, called on other NGOs to complement government’s effort in assisting the poor and the needy in society through trade and vocations. This, according to Mr. Kumah, would contribute in reducing poverty among residents of the three Northern Regions. The Area Programme Manager of Afrikids Ghana, Mr. Cletus Anaaya also in a presentation appealed to the government to pass laws against child trafficking and put more investment into resettling street children and child labourers into sustainable lifestyle. He made a passionate appeal to the various district assemblies to allocate some of their market stalls to some of the beneficiaries. Parents, individuals as well as benevolent societies were also called upon to support in that direction. One of the beneficiaries, a trained electrician, Master Samuel Atibii was grateful to Afrikids for their effort in changing the lives of hopeless children in the society and urged other children to rescind their intention of migrating down south since other job opportunities and secure futures can be found in the north. Items presented to the beneficiaries include sewing machines, plastic chairs, and water containers among other hairdressing tools.
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Operation Fresh start (OFS) was initiated by Afrikids Ghana in November 2005 to relocate poor and vulnerable children who had migrated to southern Ghana for menial jobs. The overall objective of the project among others is to relocate and resettle these children from urban centres, particularly Kumasi, to their individual communities in the region and also support and equip them with employable skills until they are able to lead independent and sustainable lifestyles. The beneficiaries under the project underwent two years apprenticeship training and vocational skills in hairdressing and dressmaking. They were also educated on topics such as personal hygiene, adolescent reproductive health, family ties and social bonding among other issues. The Country’s Director of Afrikids Ghana, Nicholas Kumah, in a speech said Afrikids as part of its core mandate is committed to improving the socio-economic lives of deprived children by empowering them to ensure their total development, hence the establishment of the project. He said 87 street children have so far benefited from the resettlement package, adding that another batch will be receiving theirs by the end of the year. Mr. Kumah, however, called on other NGOs to complement government’s effort in assisting the poor and the needy in society through trade and vocations. This, according to Mr. Kumah, would contribute in reducing poverty among residents of the three Northern Regions. The Area Programme Manager of Afrikids Ghana, Mr. Cletus Anaaya also in a presentation appealed to the government to pass laws against child trafficking and put more investment into resettling street children and child labourers into sustainable lifestyle. He made a passionate appeal to the various district assemblies to allocate some of their market stalls to some of the beneficiaries. Parents, individuals as well as benevolent societies were also called upon to support in that direction. One of the beneficiaries, a trained electrician, Master Samuel Atibii was grateful to Afrikids for their effort in changing the lives of hopeless children in the society and urged other children to rescind their intention of migrating down south since other job opportunities and secure futures can be found in the north. Items presented to the beneficiaries include sewing machines, plastic chairs, and water containers among other hairdressing tools.
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Upper East Regional Forum on Public Participation in Local Governance Programme.
19-08-2010 Narration : The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni has called on municipal and district assemblies in the region to comply with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Developments structure by setting aside some percentages of their common fund for the establishment and strengthening of their sub-structures. They should therefore budget adequately for the provision of office infrastructures and equipment and also build the capacities of staff that will work for the proper and efficient functioning of the sub-district structures. Mrs. Lucy Awuni made the call at the Upper East Regional forum on Public Participation in Local Governance at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. .Abraham Dimmie and Isaac Asaresat in for Radio Ghana and has filed this report.
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The forum which was organized by Ibis, West Africa with funding from DANIDA attracted municipal and district chief executives, district co-ordinating directors presiding members and some civil society organizations .Ibis West Africa entered the Upper East Region in 2003. it operates through the Public Participation in Local Governance, PPLG Programme in all the nine district of the region. Among its objectives, the Programme support the district assemblies to ensure that citizens participation in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies that affect local governance is enhanced.
The capacity of civil society organizations is also strengthened to mobilized their communities to demand accountability of government. Under the first phase of the Programme which covered the period from 2003 to 2007 and involved three district assemblies, the salaries of staff of the sub-district structures were paid and the sub-district office furnished. Funding was also provided for the capacity building of the civil society organizations. Under the phase two of the Programme which covers the period of 2008-2013 the remaining six districts in the districts have been included. The forum was therefore organized to assess the performance of the district assemblies for the past two years. Mrs. Awuni said sub-structures are very important in that they form the basic units of Ghana’s decentralization and democratization process which seeks to ensure grassroot participation in decision making. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Awuni said transparency and accountability are key tenets of good governance in any society .she said the role of civil society organizations in consciousness raising and whipping up people’s interest in questioning issues that affect their lives cannot be overemphasized. She said however that in doing so the public should be cautioned not to be over zealous and make unfounded pronouncements on the airwaves about various personalities and institutions in the name of press freedom. Mrs. Awuni also called on municipal and district chief executives in the region to show personal interest and support women and people living with disability to participate in the forthcoming district level elections. The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Epsona Ayamga said through ibis support the assembly has been able to educate the grassroot on their rights and responsibilities. He said as a result the revenue base of the assembly has seen appreciable increase because the people now know how to honour their tax obligations. The Country Director of Ibis, West Africa, Clement Nana Tandor said his organization is happy with the partnership of the district assemblies in the region and was confident that with the same cooperation a lot more would be achieved in the region.
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The forum which was organized by Ibis, West Africa with funding from DANIDA attracted municipal and district chief executives, district co-ordinating directors presiding members and some civil society organizations .Ibis West Africa entered the Upper East Region in 2003. it operates through the Public Participation in Local Governance, PPLG Programme in all the nine district of the region. Among its objectives, the Programme support the district assemblies to ensure that citizens participation in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies that affect local governance is enhanced.
The capacity of civil society organizations is also strengthened to mobilized their communities to demand accountability of government. Under the first phase of the Programme which covered the period from 2003 to 2007 and involved three district assemblies, the salaries of staff of the sub-district structures were paid and the sub-district office furnished. Funding was also provided for the capacity building of the civil society organizations. Under the phase two of the Programme which covers the period of 2008-2013 the remaining six districts in the districts have been included. The forum was therefore organized to assess the performance of the district assemblies for the past two years. Mrs. Awuni said sub-structures are very important in that they form the basic units of Ghana’s decentralization and democratization process which seeks to ensure grassroot participation in decision making. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Awuni said transparency and accountability are key tenets of good governance in any society .she said the role of civil society organizations in consciousness raising and whipping up people’s interest in questioning issues that affect their lives cannot be overemphasized. She said however that in doing so the public should be cautioned not to be over zealous and make unfounded pronouncements on the airwaves about various personalities and institutions in the name of press freedom. Mrs. Awuni also called on municipal and district chief executives in the region to show personal interest and support women and people living with disability to participate in the forthcoming district level elections. The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Epsona Ayamga said through ibis support the assembly has been able to educate the grassroot on their rights and responsibilities. He said as a result the revenue base of the assembly has seen appreciable increase because the people now know how to honour their tax obligations. The Country Director of Ibis, West Africa, Clement Nana Tandor said his organization is happy with the partnership of the district assemblies in the region and was confident that with the same cooperation a lot more would be achieved in the region.
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Party members urged to eschew divisive tendencies
21-08-2010 Members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have been entreated to eschew all forms of divisive tendencies and forge ahead as a strong unified and vibrant body. They were also charged to resist any attempts by their opponents to infiltrate the rank of the party to create disunity. These were contained in a release signed by some regional council of elders and executives of the NPP in the Upper East Region. They include the Regional Chairperson of the party, Mrs. Agnes Chigabatia, the Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central, Mr. Kofi Addah, member council of elders, MR Robert Ajene and the Regional Communication Officer, Mr. William Aduum among others. The release congratulated Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo for his landslide victory in the just ended flagbearership elections that took place in all the regional centres. It also commended the aspirants for their show of magnanimity in conceding defeat and urged them to rally their support behind Nana Addo in his quest to winning the 2012 Presidential Elections. The release further called on party members to bury all forms of acrimony and rancor and put all hands on deck to prosecute a successful campaign. According to the release the constant dismissal of young employees of the National Youth Employment Programme and the National Health Insurance Scheme pose a major challenge in the fight against poverty in the country and called on the incumbent to desist from the practice. It also appealed to the government to help address the general acts of lawlessness in the country since it was assuming an alarming proportion. The release later commended the National Executive Committee and the national Election Committee of the party as well as the electoral commission and the police for their effort in ensuring a free, fair and transparent constituency elections.
GBC/Rel End IA/
GBC/Rel End IA/
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Update of NPP Constituency Elections
From the Upper East Region Isaac Asare reports that polling is going on smoothly with no hitch. I had the opportunity of visiting three electoral centres in 3 constituencies. These are the Bolgatanga Central, Navrongo Central and Chiana-Paga constituencies. Reports Gathered Indicates that 5 police personnel have been dispatched to the various polling centre to ensure smooth electoral process. At the Bolgatanga Constituency, polling had to be delayed until 9.am to allow delegates from distances come in. And by 8.30 am some constituency and regional executives assisted by the police were at the gate of jubilee Park scrutinizing to ensure that only the 690 accredited delegates were allowed into the park for the polls. At the Navrongo Central, polling is taking place in the auditorium of the St John Bosco’s College of Education. The Constituency Chairman, Simon Amoah said polling started exactly at 8.00am .as at 10.00am, 120 out of 490 delegates had voted. Mr. Amoah said the delegates were cooperating with the Police officers and polling was smooth. At the Chiana-Paga Polling station at the Primary school Park, the 589 delegates have queued waiting for their turn. 130 of them had voted by 10:15 am. A four member election committee, agents of the aspirants and five police officers were there to ensure order and transparency. However, the Constituency Chairman, Mr. Philip Babachuweh disclosed that the vehicle conveying some of the delegates from Katui was involved in an accident resulting in five of them sustaining fracture. Earlier the Regional Chairperson of the NPP, Mrs. Agnes Chigabatia said in all 5,590 delegate would be voting in the 13 constituencies of the region. She said at the end of the polls at 3.00pm, the electoral officer at the constituency would count and declare the results. The results are then transmitted to the NPP headquarters in Accra. Mrs. Chigabatia was optimistic that the delegates would elect a flagbearer that would ensure NPP to victory in 2012.
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