31-01-2010 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS URGED TO GRANT WOMEN LOANS
Narration: the Director for the Center of Sustainable Rural Development (CESRUD), Rex Asanga has appealed to financial institutions to help women access loans to help solidate their income generating activities. This, he said, would go a long way to ease the financial burden on their spouses. Mr Asanga disclosed this at the annual reunion Festival of the Sumbrungu Business Women Association (SUBWA) at Sumbrungu, a community in the Bolgatanga municipality. It was on the theme: “Local Dishes for Better Nutrition”. The event which is being supported by CESRUD was attended by a section of the public chiefs, assembly members, and various women groups among others. Isaac Asare has the rest of the story.
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The Sumbrungu Business Women Association comprises 82 women groups with a total membership of 2000 women drawn from all the four communities of Sumbrungu. The annual reunion festival was instituted by these women three years ago with the aim of bringing women in together in fostering unity amongst themselves to advocate and lobby on issues affecting women in the society. It is also aimed at helping to contribute to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women as well as ensuring their own economic wellbeing. As part of activities marking the festival, a competition on the preparation of local dishes was organized for 46 women groups of which ten of them were commended after it was inspected by the award team. On display were some palatable local dishes including Kili, Tinton-Suma, Sammadaka, Ma-Asa among others. The Director of CESRUD, Mr Asanga called for the support of financial institutions to help women by granting them loans to help boost their income generating activities since it constitute as one of the major challenges facing women in the area and the region as a whole. He noted that despite the enormous contribution women play in bridging the poverty gap in the region, their plight and responsibilities are relegated to the background thus, making them poor and vulnerable in the society. Mr. Asanga also advised the chiefs and opinion leaders in the region to abolish all socio-cultural and dehumanizing practices against women to ensure their development. He therefore recommended awareness creation in education as the surest way at which women can be empowered. Mr Asanga later appealed to the Bolgatanga Municipal to help construct a permanent community library to facilitate the habit reading among students in the area. The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni catalogued some of the pro poor policies instituted by the government and urged the people to embrace them. Mrs. Awuni entreated women to also take advantage of government’s Micro finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) to expand their businesses and ultimately enhance their livelihood. She called on Ghanaians to do away with the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in our various localities but rather adapt to good sanitary practices to rid the country of filth. Mrs. Awuni, accompanied by the Director of CESRUD, earlier commissioned two bedroom houses estimated at the cost of 16,000 Ghana cedis to some poor families in the community.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
CAMPAIGN ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ENDS AT BOLGATANGA
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31-01-2010 CAMPAIGN ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ENDS AT BOLGATANGA
Narration: In commemoration with the annual 16 days of activism against violence of all forms, the Domestic Violence Coalition in collaboration with the Ministry of Woman and children’s affairs (MOWAC) have embarked on a campaign walk to sensitize the public on domestic violence and the content of the domestic violence act at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The forum dubbed “Let us unite to “Commit, Act, Demand: We Can End Violence against Woman, was attended by members from MOWAC, representatives from the DV coalition, as well as representatives from the Embassy of the kingdom of Netherlands. Afia Konama Afrifa and Isaac Asare were at the ceremony for Radio Ghana and have filed this report.
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Participants including school children were taken through the designated streets of Bolgatanga amidst drumming and dancing with some holding placards with the inscriptions such “Cooperation is in peaceful co-existence, Manage your anger to reduce violence,” ”Domestic violence is like a cancer “STOP IT’’, “All woman have the right to equal access to health” among others. The Programmes Manager of the Centre for Sustainable Development Initiatives, CENSUDI, Madam Margaret-Mary Issaka, in an address said although the forum is a follow up to the implementation of the domestic violence bill, it also aims at protecting the right of individuals who always fall prey to their marriage partners . She indicated that victims of abuse go through a lot of physical, emotional and psychological trauma, thus, affecting their mental capabilities. Miss Issaka however cautioned the public to desist from the act of domestic abuse adding that women and children are the most affected when it comes to abuse. The deputy chief medical assistance of the Bolgatanga hospital Mr.Sarpak Sampson mentioned excision, child abuse, marital rape among others as some of the forms of domestic violence. He emphasised that the implications of physical and psychological torture of victims of violence are enormous and should not be condoned in any way. He therefore urged spouses to desist from all sorts of assaults that could causes injuries, and asked woman to be respectful and submissive to their partners and work hand in hand in the upbringing of their wards .The Executives Director of Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE) Madam Adwoa Bame advised victims to report cases of harassment and abuse to the police for the necessary action to be taken. She also urged them to seek medical attention at any regional hospital available to them since it is the responsibility of the government to give financial support to victims of domestic abuse. Madam Bame therefore appealed for government’s support to set up a special fund to cater for the medical expenses for victims of domestic violence.
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31-01-2010 CAMPAIGN ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ENDS AT BOLGATANGA
Narration: In commemoration with the annual 16 days of activism against violence of all forms, the Domestic Violence Coalition in collaboration with the Ministry of Woman and children’s affairs (MOWAC) have embarked on a campaign walk to sensitize the public on domestic violence and the content of the domestic violence act at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The forum dubbed “Let us unite to “Commit, Act, Demand: We Can End Violence against Woman, was attended by members from MOWAC, representatives from the DV coalition, as well as representatives from the Embassy of the kingdom of Netherlands. Afia Konama Afrifa and Isaac Asare were at the ceremony for Radio Ghana and have filed this report.
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Participants including school children were taken through the designated streets of Bolgatanga amidst drumming and dancing with some holding placards with the inscriptions such “Cooperation is in peaceful co-existence, Manage your anger to reduce violence,” ”Domestic violence is like a cancer “STOP IT’’, “All woman have the right to equal access to health” among others. The Programmes Manager of the Centre for Sustainable Development Initiatives, CENSUDI, Madam Margaret-Mary Issaka, in an address said although the forum is a follow up to the implementation of the domestic violence bill, it also aims at protecting the right of individuals who always fall prey to their marriage partners . She indicated that victims of abuse go through a lot of physical, emotional and psychological trauma, thus, affecting their mental capabilities. Miss Issaka however cautioned the public to desist from the act of domestic abuse adding that women and children are the most affected when it comes to abuse. The deputy chief medical assistance of the Bolgatanga hospital Mr.Sarpak Sampson mentioned excision, child abuse, marital rape among others as some of the forms of domestic violence. He emphasised that the implications of physical and psychological torture of victims of violence are enormous and should not be condoned in any way. He therefore urged spouses to desist from all sorts of assaults that could causes injuries, and asked woman to be respectful and submissive to their partners and work hand in hand in the upbringing of their wards .The Executives Director of Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE) Madam Adwoa Bame advised victims to report cases of harassment and abuse to the police for the necessary action to be taken. She also urged them to seek medical attention at any regional hospital available to them since it is the responsibility of the government to give financial support to victims of domestic abuse. Madam Bame therefore appealed for government’s support to set up a special fund to cater for the medical expenses for victims of domestic violence.
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Tuesday, 26 January 2010
UNWHOLESOME DRUG ALERT-FDB
26-01-2010 UNWHOLESOME DRUG ALERT-FDB
The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has ordered the recall of substandard Ciprofloxacin Tablets (500mg) USP, manufactured by GR Industries Limited, a pharmaceutical Company based in Accra. According to FDB, after the product was sampled and analysed through the FDB post market surveillance activities, it was found to be unwholesome. This was contained in a release signed by the Upper East Zonal Officer of FDB, Mrs. Rodgers Kwarteng and the Chief Executive Officer of FDB, Dr Stephen Opuni. The release outlined some of the quality defects of the product stating that it has no batch number and manufacturing dates on the primary and secondary packages. Also there is no date of expiry on the secondary package as well as the primary package. The product is said to have also failed to meet the USP requirement for dissolution for the tablets. It further stated that the product which is a pink paper carton and has its writing in white is not registered by the FDB. This, the release said, is in contravention of section 18 of the Food and Drugs Board Law (PNDCL 305B). The public is further informed that in view of the danger that non-compliance with existing regulatory measures pose to the public health and safety, the FDB shall not hesitate to seek the Minister’s approval for the closure of any facility that is found to be flouting the law. Meanwhile, FDB is compiling a list of unregistered products found on the market to be published for the information of the general public. The FDB has therefore ordered GR Industries Limited, Accra to recall their substandard Ciprofloxacin tablets from the market and submit a full recall report by the 29th January 2010. Additionally, information from the general public on persons suspected to be manufacturing illegally or in any practice possible of endangering public health and safety with respect to FDB’s mandate is most welcomed.
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The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has ordered the recall of substandard Ciprofloxacin Tablets (500mg) USP, manufactured by GR Industries Limited, a pharmaceutical Company based in Accra. According to FDB, after the product was sampled and analysed through the FDB post market surveillance activities, it was found to be unwholesome. This was contained in a release signed by the Upper East Zonal Officer of FDB, Mrs. Rodgers Kwarteng and the Chief Executive Officer of FDB, Dr Stephen Opuni. The release outlined some of the quality defects of the product stating that it has no batch number and manufacturing dates on the primary and secondary packages. Also there is no date of expiry on the secondary package as well as the primary package. The product is said to have also failed to meet the USP requirement for dissolution for the tablets. It further stated that the product which is a pink paper carton and has its writing in white is not registered by the FDB. This, the release said, is in contravention of section 18 of the Food and Drugs Board Law (PNDCL 305B). The public is further informed that in view of the danger that non-compliance with existing regulatory measures pose to the public health and safety, the FDB shall not hesitate to seek the Minister’s approval for the closure of any facility that is found to be flouting the law. Meanwhile, FDB is compiling a list of unregistered products found on the market to be published for the information of the general public. The FDB has therefore ordered GR Industries Limited, Accra to recall their substandard Ciprofloxacin tablets from the market and submit a full recall report by the 29th January 2010. Additionally, information from the general public on persons suspected to be manufacturing illegally or in any practice possible of endangering public health and safety with respect to FDB’s mandate is most welcomed.
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Bawku Workers Demands Fair Prosecution of Perpetrators in the Protracted Conflict
26-01-2010
Narration: Aggrieved workers in the Bawku Municipality are demanding a speedy trial and prosecution of perpetrators involved in the protracted Bawku conflict that has led to the destruction of lives and properties of innocent citizens particularly, public servants. They made particular reference to three suspects who were arrested and detained last year in connection with the murder of two workers who died as a result of the conflict. These came to light when the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in collaboration with the Bawku Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) met and interacted with workers at Bawku. Isaac Asare has the rest of the story.
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The meeting which was heavily attended by some security agencies as well as workers in the private and public sectors, was in response to the threats and petitions sent to the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo by workers in the Bawku municipality. The workers for sometime now have sent various petitions to Mr. Woyongo with threats of leaving the Bawku township if nothing concrete is done to restore peace to the area. The workers claimed to have lost most of their colleagues over the years due to the incessant conflict in the area with particular reference to two workers, namely Shaibu Asunka, an Environmental Health Officer and Felix Asibi, former head of CHRAJJ who died during last year’s conflict in Bawku. The Workers therefore made certain recommendations and suggestions to the government on how to manage the security challenges in the area. A member of the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) Bawku branch, Mrs. Lucy Gariba who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved workers, demanded that prosecution of perpetrators leading to the death of the two workers be fast tracked to serve as a deterrent to others. They also appealed to the government to ensure that the Bawku-Inter-ethnic Peace Committee is revived and sustained to help bring lasting solution to the conflict. The security agencies were also urged to ensure confidentiality of informants so as to win trust and confidence of people who voluntarily gives out relevant information to them at all times. The Bawku Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Eugene Zongo-Naah Domah in his submission to the Regional Minister, proposed that a special uniform be given to teachers in the municipality for easy identification since teachers constitute the greater workforce in the Bawku municipality. Mr. Woyongo, who is also the chairman of REGSEC called for effective collaboration between the two feuding factions in the conflict. He recommended the use dialogue by the two factions as the only alternative that can bring peace to Bawku. Mr. Woyongo catalogued some of the interventional policies and strategies adopted by REGSEC to restore peace to the area and advised the workers to remain neutral by disassociating themselves from the conflict but rather contribute their quota in ensuring their safety. He commended the aggrieved workers for their patience and sacrifices despite the problems and urged them to give out vital information to the police leading to the arrest of perpetrators since reward packages await them.
Narration: Aggrieved workers in the Bawku Municipality are demanding a speedy trial and prosecution of perpetrators involved in the protracted Bawku conflict that has led to the destruction of lives and properties of innocent citizens particularly, public servants. They made particular reference to three suspects who were arrested and detained last year in connection with the murder of two workers who died as a result of the conflict. These came to light when the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in collaboration with the Bawku Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) met and interacted with workers at Bawku. Isaac Asare has the rest of the story.
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The meeting which was heavily attended by some security agencies as well as workers in the private and public sectors, was in response to the threats and petitions sent to the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo by workers in the Bawku municipality. The workers for sometime now have sent various petitions to Mr. Woyongo with threats of leaving the Bawku township if nothing concrete is done to restore peace to the area. The workers claimed to have lost most of their colleagues over the years due to the incessant conflict in the area with particular reference to two workers, namely Shaibu Asunka, an Environmental Health Officer and Felix Asibi, former head of CHRAJJ who died during last year’s conflict in Bawku. The Workers therefore made certain recommendations and suggestions to the government on how to manage the security challenges in the area. A member of the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) Bawku branch, Mrs. Lucy Gariba who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved workers, demanded that prosecution of perpetrators leading to the death of the two workers be fast tracked to serve as a deterrent to others. They also appealed to the government to ensure that the Bawku-Inter-ethnic Peace Committee is revived and sustained to help bring lasting solution to the conflict. The security agencies were also urged to ensure confidentiality of informants so as to win trust and confidence of people who voluntarily gives out relevant information to them at all times. The Bawku Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Eugene Zongo-Naah Domah in his submission to the Regional Minister, proposed that a special uniform be given to teachers in the municipality for easy identification since teachers constitute the greater workforce in the Bawku municipality. Mr. Woyongo, who is also the chairman of REGSEC called for effective collaboration between the two feuding factions in the conflict. He recommended the use dialogue by the two factions as the only alternative that can bring peace to Bawku. Mr. Woyongo catalogued some of the interventional policies and strategies adopted by REGSEC to restore peace to the area and advised the workers to remain neutral by disassociating themselves from the conflict but rather contribute their quota in ensuring their safety. He commended the aggrieved workers for their patience and sacrifices despite the problems and urged them to give out vital information to the police leading to the arrest of perpetrators since reward packages await them.
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Disability is not a Barrier to Progress- Minister
23-01-2010 Disability is not a Barrier to Progress- Minister
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo has entreated all physically challenged persons not to look down upon themselves since they can also take the mantle of leadership through education. He pointed out that disability is not a barrier to progress. Mr. Woyongo made these remarks when he presented a number of items to students of Gbeogo School for the Deaf at Tongo in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region. Accompanied by the Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni and the Talensi-Nabdam District Chief Executive, Mrs. Vivian Anarfo, Mr. Woyongo presented 50 student mattresses, 10 cartons of washing soaps, 200 pieces of plastic plates, 2 boxes of matches, 100 plastic buckets, hundred plastic bowls, 20 plastic cups, twenty lanterns, 5 cartons of cooking oil as well as other toiletries. In his presentation, Mr. Woyongo advised the students to take their studies seriously so that they can become responsible persons in the future. He pledged his outfit’s commitment to provide the school with the needed basic infrastructure and amenities to facilitate their studies. The Deputy Director of the School, Mr Francis Andiiba who received the items on behalf of the school thanked the Regional Minster for the kind gesture and promised to use them for the intended purposes. He outlined some of the challenges facing the school and appealed to the Regional Minister to put in place the appropriate mechanisms in ensuring that all facilities under construction at the school are successfully completed on schedule. He also expressed worry about the poor road network within the district and appealed to the Regional Minister to as a matter of urgency, get the appropriate authorities concerned to rectify the situation since it becomes unmotorable during rainy season.
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The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo has entreated all physically challenged persons not to look down upon themselves since they can also take the mantle of leadership through education. He pointed out that disability is not a barrier to progress. Mr. Woyongo made these remarks when he presented a number of items to students of Gbeogo School for the Deaf at Tongo in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region. Accompanied by the Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni and the Talensi-Nabdam District Chief Executive, Mrs. Vivian Anarfo, Mr. Woyongo presented 50 student mattresses, 10 cartons of washing soaps, 200 pieces of plastic plates, 2 boxes of matches, 100 plastic buckets, hundred plastic bowls, 20 plastic cups, twenty lanterns, 5 cartons of cooking oil as well as other toiletries. In his presentation, Mr. Woyongo advised the students to take their studies seriously so that they can become responsible persons in the future. He pledged his outfit’s commitment to provide the school with the needed basic infrastructure and amenities to facilitate their studies. The Deputy Director of the School, Mr Francis Andiiba who received the items on behalf of the school thanked the Regional Minster for the kind gesture and promised to use them for the intended purposes. He outlined some of the challenges facing the school and appealed to the Regional Minister to put in place the appropriate mechanisms in ensuring that all facilities under construction at the school are successfully completed on schedule. He also expressed worry about the poor road network within the district and appealed to the Regional Minister to as a matter of urgency, get the appropriate authorities concerned to rectify the situation since it becomes unmotorable during rainy season.
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Saturday, 9 January 2010
Let’s Collaborate to Fight Cross-Border Crimes”-Says Minister
Tenkodogo/Burkina-Faso: “Let’s Collaborate to Fight Cross-Border Crimes”-Says Minister
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Ann: The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo has bemoaned the proliferation of small arms and narcotic drugs in the West African sub region. He said the deepening of cross border cohesion, peaceful co-existence and free movement of goods and persons between countries in the ECOWAS sub-region will be a mirage if the problems associated with insecurity are not addressed. Mr Woyongo was speaking at a 3-day tripartite
R. Tape meeting for the reinforcement of cross border cooperation, at
T Tape: Tenkodogo, capital of the Central Province of Burkina –Faso
Ann V/O: The meeting, which was on the theme: “Lets fight together against cross border crimes, insecurity, child trafficking, diseases, excision, corruption and fraud” brought together delegates from the Upper East Region of Ghana, the Savanna Region of Togo and the Central East Province of Burkina-Faso. It was aimed at deepening cooperation between communities of the three regions through the exchange of ideas in the sectors of environment, trade, security, transport, health and excision among other anti social practices. The Governor of the Central East Province of Burkina-Faso, Mr. Simeon Sawadogo, who expressed sadness about the incessant ethnic conflict in Bawku, advised the communities of the three regions to stay away from the conflict. He therefore called for peace in the area.
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Cue At…Secs The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo, reiterated the need for unity and effective cooperation between countries in the ECOWAS Sub-region to help overcome the daunting challenges facing member countries. He deplored the proliferation of small arms in conflict prone areas such as Bawku and called on participating countries to work closely to reduce the inflow of arms and narcotics in such areas, since the three regions share the same cultural and ethic backgrounds. Mr Woyongo also expressed his outfit’s preparedness to host the next meeting in the Upper East Region.
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Cue At…Secs The Chief Executive of Dapaone, Togo, Mr. Ali Seydou Mossyamba urged participants to observe a two minutes silence for flood victims who died during the recent heavy downpour in Ouagadougou. He called for the eradication of cross border crimes, which he said, pose a challenge.
Up Sound
Cue At..Secs As part of the meeting, work on a thematic committee was instituted to deliberate on security, social and economic issues affecting the three regions. The Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Samuel N’lary later read a joint communiqué signed, by the leaders of the three regions.
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Cue At..Secs Some of the participants who took part in the sub-committee meeting later spoke to GTV.
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The Upper East Regional Minister and his entourage, earlier paid courtesy call on Naba Saaga Dima of Zoungrantengo, King of Tenkodogo at his palace.
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…….SECs
Ann: The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo has bemoaned the proliferation of small arms and narcotic drugs in the West African sub region. He said the deepening of cross border cohesion, peaceful co-existence and free movement of goods and persons between countries in the ECOWAS sub-region will be a mirage if the problems associated with insecurity are not addressed. Mr Woyongo was speaking at a 3-day tripartite
R. Tape meeting for the reinforcement of cross border cooperation, at
T Tape: Tenkodogo, capital of the Central Province of Burkina –Faso
Ann V/O: The meeting, which was on the theme: “Lets fight together against cross border crimes, insecurity, child trafficking, diseases, excision, corruption and fraud” brought together delegates from the Upper East Region of Ghana, the Savanna Region of Togo and the Central East Province of Burkina-Faso. It was aimed at deepening cooperation between communities of the three regions through the exchange of ideas in the sectors of environment, trade, security, transport, health and excision among other anti social practices. The Governor of the Central East Province of Burkina-Faso, Mr. Simeon Sawadogo, who expressed sadness about the incessant ethnic conflict in Bawku, advised the communities of the three regions to stay away from the conflict. He therefore called for peace in the area.
Up Sound
Cue At…Secs The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo, reiterated the need for unity and effective cooperation between countries in the ECOWAS Sub-region to help overcome the daunting challenges facing member countries. He deplored the proliferation of small arms in conflict prone areas such as Bawku and called on participating countries to work closely to reduce the inflow of arms and narcotics in such areas, since the three regions share the same cultural and ethic backgrounds. Mr Woyongo also expressed his outfit’s preparedness to host the next meeting in the Upper East Region.
Up Sound
Cue At…Secs The Chief Executive of Dapaone, Togo, Mr. Ali Seydou Mossyamba urged participants to observe a two minutes silence for flood victims who died during the recent heavy downpour in Ouagadougou. He called for the eradication of cross border crimes, which he said, pose a challenge.
Up Sound
Cue At..Secs As part of the meeting, work on a thematic committee was instituted to deliberate on security, social and economic issues affecting the three regions. The Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Samuel N’lary later read a joint communiqué signed, by the leaders of the three regions.
Up Sound
Cue At..Secs Some of the participants who took part in the sub-committee meeting later spoke to GTV.
Up Sound
The Upper East Regional Minister and his entourage, earlier paid courtesy call on Naba Saaga Dima of Zoungrantengo, King of Tenkodogo at his palace.
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TRIPARTITE MEETING BETWEEN GHANA, BURKINA-FASO AND TOGO
09 A tripartite meeting for the reinforcement of cross-border cooperation has taken place at Tenkodogo, in the central East Province of Burkina- Faso. Participants include delegates from the Upper East Region of Ghana, the Savannah Region of Togo and the Central-East Province of Burkina–Faso. The meeting, which was the first of it kind, was on the theme: “Lets Fight Together against Cross-Border Crimes, Insecurity, Child Trafficking, Diseases, Excision, Corruption and Fraud”. Isaac Asare was there and has sent this report.
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The meeting was initiated by the three regions as part of the reinforcement of the cross border cooperation, peaceful coexisting between populations and the optimization of development actions in the deconcentrated and decentralized cross border areas of Burkina-Faso, Ghana and Togo was aimed at reinforcing trans-border cohesion, good neighbouring co-existence, free-movement of goods and persons and bond of friendship between the population of the three regions. It is also aimed at deepening cooperation between communities of the three regions through the exchange experiences and ideas in the sectors of environment, security, transport, customs, animal husbandry, trade, health, child trafficking and the eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), among other anti-social practices. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, bemoaned the proliferation of small arms and narcotic drugs into the three regions, and called for total collaboration to reduce the menace. He also reiterated the need to combat cross- border crimes and poverty in the three regions. This, he said, could be done by fast tracking the proposed Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and opening it up to other regions to benefit from it. Mr. Woyongo appealed to member countries to establish good cordial relations to deepen the relationship between them in order to benefit their people. The Governor of the Central-East of Tenkodogo, Burkina –Faso, Simeon Sawadogo, for his part, pledged his support and preparedness to liaise with other neighbouring countries to tackle some of the challenges confronting the sub-regions and also help deepen the cooperation of the three regions, by sharing experiences with the local authorities on ways to minimizing cross-border crimes to enhance economic ties. He condemned the recent clashes in Bawku and called on the other regions to help restore peace to the area. As part of the tripartite meeting work on a thematic committee was instituted to deliberate on security, social and economic issues affecting three regions. These committees reflected on the main common concerns experienced in the spheres of cross border cooperation among the three regions. After fruitful discussions, a communiqué signed by leaders of each delegation was issued to climax the occasion. A 36-member delegation led by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, earlier paid a courtesy call on the king of Tenkodogo, Naba Saaga Dima of Zoungrantengo, at his palace.
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The meeting was initiated by the three regions as part of the reinforcement of the cross border cooperation, peaceful coexisting between populations and the optimization of development actions in the deconcentrated and decentralized cross border areas of Burkina-Faso, Ghana and Togo was aimed at reinforcing trans-border cohesion, good neighbouring co-existence, free-movement of goods and persons and bond of friendship between the population of the three regions. It is also aimed at deepening cooperation between communities of the three regions through the exchange experiences and ideas in the sectors of environment, security, transport, customs, animal husbandry, trade, health, child trafficking and the eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), among other anti-social practices. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, bemoaned the proliferation of small arms and narcotic drugs into the three regions, and called for total collaboration to reduce the menace. He also reiterated the need to combat cross- border crimes and poverty in the three regions. This, he said, could be done by fast tracking the proposed Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and opening it up to other regions to benefit from it. Mr. Woyongo appealed to member countries to establish good cordial relations to deepen the relationship between them in order to benefit their people. The Governor of the Central-East of Tenkodogo, Burkina –Faso, Simeon Sawadogo, for his part, pledged his support and preparedness to liaise with other neighbouring countries to tackle some of the challenges confronting the sub-regions and also help deepen the cooperation of the three regions, by sharing experiences with the local authorities on ways to minimizing cross-border crimes to enhance economic ties. He condemned the recent clashes in Bawku and called on the other regions to help restore peace to the area. As part of the tripartite meeting work on a thematic committee was instituted to deliberate on security, social and economic issues affecting three regions. These committees reflected on the main common concerns experienced in the spheres of cross border cooperation among the three regions. After fruitful discussions, a communiqué signed by leaders of each delegation was issued to climax the occasion. A 36-member delegation led by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, earlier paid a courtesy call on the king of Tenkodogo, Naba Saaga Dima of Zoungrantengo, at his palace.
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UPPER EAST REGIONAL MINISTER INTERACTS WITH CHIEFS
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo has started a ten-day visit of paramount chiefs in the region. The visit afforded the minister to interact with the chiefs and elders to introduce himself to them as well as spelt out his vision for the region. Paramouncies being visited include kayoro, Chiana, Sandema, Paga, Kologo, Mirigu, Sakoti, and Bawku. Addressing the president of the upper east regional house of chiefs, Pio Charles Awampaga who is also the paramount chief of Paga at his palace, Mr Woyongo told the Paga Pio that he will draw a comprehensive development plan to address poverty alleviation and other problems facing the region. The regional minister said the region can only be developed in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. He commended paramouncies in the region who have over the years maintained peace. Mr. Woyongo however appealed to the people of Bawku to give peace a chance. The president of the upper regional house of chiefs Pio Awampaga thanked the minister for the visit. The regent of Sandema Pio Alex Atampoure however, called on the government to help reduce prices of fertilizer and also bring more tractors to the area to enhance development of agriculture in the area. The regional minister promised to construct more dams in addition to the existing dams to boost irrigation system in the region. He also gave the assurance that work on Kayoro-Sandema-Paga road would soon commence and his outfit will see to its execution before his term of office ends.
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UNICEF COUNTRY REP. PAYS COURTESY CALL ON
27-08-09 The Deputy Country Representative of UNICEF, Rene Van Dongen, has paid a courtesy call on the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo at his office in Bolgatanga. He was accompanied by personnel from the Ghana Health Service and representatives from UNICEF. The visit was to enable him learn more about the region and also know their concerns and challenges. This was also his first maiden visit to the region since his assumption of office. Mr. Dongen pledged his outfits support in the area of sports, education and health. He commended the Regional Health Directorate for deploying health volunteers to assist doctors and nurses in the performance of their duties. This initiative, according to him, has helped the region, address most of its health problems, even though the region can boast of only few qualified doctors. He again pledged his commitment to liaise with other UN agencies to support the region in terms of development since UNICEF cannot shoulder all the responsibilities. Mr. Dongen expressed his preparedness to team up with other UN agencies to help restore peace at Bawku, which according to him, has been a source of worry to the UN. Mr. Woyongo, who enumerated a number of problems in the region, also expressed dissatisfaction about the fallen standard of education in the area and called on UNICEF to come to their aid by providing basic logistics and infrastructure, particularly, at the second cycle institutions. He said inadequate teaching materials coupled with lack of computers poses a major challenge in the area of education in the region.
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East Mamprusi assembly declares war on sanitation
The East Mamprusi District Assembly in the Northern Region has resolved to undertake an intensive communal clean up exercise throughout the district every month. This decision was taken at the Assembly’s First Ordinary Session held at Gambaga. Announcing the decision, the District Chief Executive, DCE, Adam Imoro said, the more was in line with the more Presidents directive s to Metropolitan, Municipal, District and government agencies to embark on regular clean up exercises to keep the country clean. Mr. Imoro noted that most diseases are sanitation related and the exercise would go a long way to reduce the rate of infection. The DCE disclosed that, the assembly received 142,217 Ghana cedis as its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund for the first quarter of 2008. The amount he said was used to complete European Union projects, extension of electricity to Langbumsi, provision of street lights for the Gambaga township and the repair of the assembly vehicles and other equipments. Mr. Imoro said the assembly cannot solely rely on the common fund and charged the Finance Committee to explore new ways of generating local revenue. He was happy that so far 470 business organisations have been registered. The DCE hinted that more police stations would soon be constructed in communities within the district that are known to be trouble spot areas to pre-empt any breach of peace and order since his outfit places more importance in the area of peace and security which he said plays a vital role in the district’s developmental agendas. Mr. Imoro pledge his commitment to renovate existing state quarters adding that plans are far advance to team with other development partners to build new bungalows to encourage professionals to accept postings to the district. In the area of security, the East Mamprusi District Police Commander, ASP Jose Sanze, advised assembly members to form neighbourhood watch dog committees in their respective areas to help check crime in the district. He also entreated the general public to report criminal activities to the police for prompt action to be taken. A number of projects were later approved for commencement soon. These include the construction of classroom blocks, KVIPs, Market complex as well as schools for some selected communities within the district.
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Minister Ends tour…
09 The Upper East Regional Director for Center for National Culture, Naa Luciano Tungbani has made a passionate appeal to the government and other stakeholders to help complete the centre’s theatre that has been abandoned for the past eleven years. He attributed the stagnation of the project to lack of funds adding that the centre’s craft shop which serves as the main training centre for unemployed youth in the region and need to be resuscitated. This he said will help encourage more unemployed youth to be trained. Naa Tungbani made this appeal when the Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo paid a courtesy call to the centre to round up his 5-day familiarization tour of Departments and agencies within the municipality. The Minister’s visit was to acquaint himself to head and staff of the various department and agencies and to also know their successes and challenges confronting them for rectification. At the Information Services Departments, the Regional Information Officer, Ayamga Nelson Mba called on Municipal and District Chief Executives in the region to involve the District Information Officers, (DIOs) in their respective areas in their programmes to enhance their capacity in the dissemination of government policies to the general public. Mr. Mba also appealed to the Regional Minister to help facilitate the opening of an information office in the newly created Kassena-Nankana West District to enable them reach out to more communities in their public education campaign activities. The Regional Minister urged the general public to discard the negative perception that staffs of ISD are sympathizers of NPP but rather see them as the mouthpiece of the ruling government in order to maintain their credibility. Mr. Woyongo advised staffs of ISD to be neutral and proactive in the discharge of their duties. He entreated the general public to patronize the ISD website for more information on current policies and programmes of the government. Some of the offices the Regional Minister visited were the New Times Corporation, Ghana Tourist Board, the Ghana Library Board, and the Ghana Museum and Monument Board. His last point of call was at the Regional office of the NHIS.
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MINISTER BEMOANS SPATE OF GIRL CHILD MIGRATION
09 The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Lucy Awuni has bemoaned the increasing spate of girl child migration down south for non-existing jobs. Mrs. Awuni was speaking at the official opening of the Regional Girls Camp at Bolgatanga. According to her, these innocent girls, who out of ignorance, migrate to the southern parts of the country, are exposed to all kinds of activities and dangers including rape and robbery attack. The Regional Girls Camp which was aimed at empowering girls from the deprived communities to develop greater interest in schooling, build their self-esteem and also aspire them to higher levels in life was on the theme: “Empowering Girls Through Education: Safe Schools, Better Performance.” It was jointly organized by the Upper East Regional Development Programme (UERDP) of Action-Aid-Ghana, a non governmental Organization operating in the country and the Regional Girls Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service. Girls who took part in the camp were selected from various districts at the basic level. The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs., Lucy Awuni, in an address described the theme of the occasion as appropriate, since the constitution guarantees the free and compulsory Basic Education to every child of school going age irrespective of gender, religion, ethnic or geographical location. This she said is enshrined in the UN Convention on the right of the child. She expressed worry about the incessant migration of girls to the southern parts of the country due to ignorance and poverty. She noted that the region as a matter of concern has instituted measures to halt this incessant practice. Mrs. Awuni was of the view that the education of children, particularly, the girl child should be taken seriously else the desire to attain the millennium Development Goals by 2015 would be a mirage. The Programme Manager of Action-Aid-Ghana, Mr. Alhassan Sulemana advised the girls to study hard in order to achieve their desire objectives in life. He assured his outfit support to brilliant and needy students particularly, to girls who excel in the Basic Education Certificate Examination. Speakers at the programme include the Vice Principal of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute and the Regional Director of Girls education Unit of GES.
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District to tackle spate of lynching and witch-hunting
District to tackle spate of lynching and witch-hunting
The Bongo District Assembly in the Upper East Region, in collaboration with the Bongo Traditional Council led by the Paramount chief of the Area, Naaba Baba Aleemyaarum, is mapping out strategies to deal with the lynching of innocent persons suspected to be witches and wizards. As part of measures to halt this dehumanizing practice meted out innocent citizens, the Assembly is forming justice and security sub-committees, comprising the police, Judiciary, Traditional Authorities and, some Assembly Members to educate and sensitize the people on the implications of trying people by ordeal. This sensitization process would be done in almost all the communities within the district. This was revealed by the Presiding Member of the assembly, Emmanuel Nsor- Atindana, in an interview with Radio Ghana. Mr. Nsor-Atindana, bemoaned the spate of lynching and witch-hunting in the area, which according to him are meted out to women, particularly, widows, who fall between the ages of 35 and 90. These women, he said, are the weak and vulnerable in the society alleged to have masterminded the death, incapacitation or failure of some persons in their families or communities. They are beaten, disgraced and exposed to public ridicule. Some of them, he said are sometimes banished and sent to ‘witch camps’, scattered within the three Northern Regions. He added that in some remotest part of the district, women are lynched after being accused of witchcraft, the recent being a lynching case at Gowrie Kokua.
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The Bongo District Assembly in the Upper East Region, in collaboration with the Bongo Traditional Council led by the Paramount chief of the Area, Naaba Baba Aleemyaarum, is mapping out strategies to deal with the lynching of innocent persons suspected to be witches and wizards. As part of measures to halt this dehumanizing practice meted out innocent citizens, the Assembly is forming justice and security sub-committees, comprising the police, Judiciary, Traditional Authorities and, some Assembly Members to educate and sensitize the people on the implications of trying people by ordeal. This sensitization process would be done in almost all the communities within the district. This was revealed by the Presiding Member of the assembly, Emmanuel Nsor- Atindana, in an interview with Radio Ghana. Mr. Nsor-Atindana, bemoaned the spate of lynching and witch-hunting in the area, which according to him are meted out to women, particularly, widows, who fall between the ages of 35 and 90. These women, he said, are the weak and vulnerable in the society alleged to have masterminded the death, incapacitation or failure of some persons in their families or communities. They are beaten, disgraced and exposed to public ridicule. Some of them, he said are sometimes banished and sent to ‘witch camps’, scattered within the three Northern Regions. He added that in some remotest part of the district, women are lynched after being accused of witchcraft, the recent being a lynching case at Gowrie Kokua.
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Take Keen Interest in Science and Mathematics - Minister
Take Keen Interest in Science and Mathematics - Minister
Narration: A Regional Science, Technology and Mathematics Education Clinic (STME), has been held at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The four –day programme which was attended by 240 students from various districts in the region, was on the theme: “Promoting Quality Science and Technology Education for Sustainable National Development”. In an address, the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni urged the youth to accept the challenges of the fast changing world which automatically makes science and technology literacy indispensable by taking keen interest in its study at school. Isaac Asare has the rest of the story.
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The STME which is an integral part of the wider national campaign aimed at developing and maintaining a science and technology culture among Ghanaians, particularly girls for national development was instituted as a project in 1987 with the main objective of bridging the gap between the field of science and technology and the promotion of gender balance in the study of and application of science. It also provides an ideal atmosphere for exposing the youth in general to STME and help bring out the best in them in the area of science and technology. Addressing the participants, the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni said, as students, it behoves on them to take advantage of the opportunity given them to pursue science, mathematics and technology courses at higher institutes of learning for the accelerated development of the region and the country as a whole. She commended the various stakeholders who in diverse ways, contributed to the development and success of the programme over the years. The Regional STME Co-ordinator, Veronica Ayamba, who expressed grave concern about the low enrolments of girls in schools and the subsequent low representation of women in all fields of endeavour. She attributed the continuous existence of hunger and diseases in Ghana and Africa to lack of requisite knowledge in science and technology despite the enormous natural resources that abound in the African continent. Mrs. Ayamba, therefore entreated the youth to take the study of Mathematics and Science seriously in their respective schools since the future lies in their hands. The headmaster of the Bolgatanga Senior High School, Didacus Afegra, commended the government for reintroducing the programme, which he said, had been abandoned for the past years and urged the girls to develop keen interest in STME programme to enhance their educational career. Certificates were later awarded to students who excelled during a science and mathematics quiz competition.
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Narration: A Regional Science, Technology and Mathematics Education Clinic (STME), has been held at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The four –day programme which was attended by 240 students from various districts in the region, was on the theme: “Promoting Quality Science and Technology Education for Sustainable National Development”. In an address, the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni urged the youth to accept the challenges of the fast changing world which automatically makes science and technology literacy indispensable by taking keen interest in its study at school. Isaac Asare has the rest of the story.
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Report
The STME which is an integral part of the wider national campaign aimed at developing and maintaining a science and technology culture among Ghanaians, particularly girls for national development was instituted as a project in 1987 with the main objective of bridging the gap between the field of science and technology and the promotion of gender balance in the study of and application of science. It also provides an ideal atmosphere for exposing the youth in general to STME and help bring out the best in them in the area of science and technology. Addressing the participants, the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni said, as students, it behoves on them to take advantage of the opportunity given them to pursue science, mathematics and technology courses at higher institutes of learning for the accelerated development of the region and the country as a whole. She commended the various stakeholders who in diverse ways, contributed to the development and success of the programme over the years. The Regional STME Co-ordinator, Veronica Ayamba, who expressed grave concern about the low enrolments of girls in schools and the subsequent low representation of women in all fields of endeavour. She attributed the continuous existence of hunger and diseases in Ghana and Africa to lack of requisite knowledge in science and technology despite the enormous natural resources that abound in the African continent. Mrs. Ayamba, therefore entreated the youth to take the study of Mathematics and Science seriously in their respective schools since the future lies in their hands. The headmaster of the Bolgatanga Senior High School, Didacus Afegra, commended the government for reintroducing the programme, which he said, had been abandoned for the past years and urged the girls to develop keen interest in STME programme to enhance their educational career. Certificates were later awarded to students who excelled during a science and mathematics quiz competition.
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SECTOR MINISTER INAUGURATE 16 MEMBERS
19-08-09 SECTOR MINISTER INAUGURATE 16 MEMBERS
Narration: The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has inaugurated a 16-member reconstituted Upper East Regional Lands Commission at a ceremony in Bolgatanga. It was attended by a section of the public, chiefs, landowners, members of the regional lands commission, as well as other dignitaries. The Sector Minister charged staff of the commission to change their attitudes in the discharge of their duties and also commit themselves to the work ethics of the commission at all times. Here is a report filed by Isaac Asare.
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The commission was inaugurated at the threshold of the implementation of one of the key reforms in the land sector which is the passage of the new lands commission Act of 2008. This commission is now responsible for all issues involved in land administration, surveying and mapping, compensation and evaluation, and registration and land management. Moreover, all these areas have been brought under a new lands commission with four divisional functions which is going to be the new structure of the commission that will provide a one-stop shop for providing land administration services. The sector minister, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who made these revelations entreated the commission to help reduce the system of bureaucracy, inefficiencies and frustrations during land registration adding that failure to do so will nullify all the reform efforts irrespective of the good intentions He also challenged staff of the commission to be up and doing by adhering to the work ethics of the commission to ensure the success of the reform. Mr. Dauda later inaugurated 16 members of the commission drawn from various districts and departments in the region. They were taken through the official oath of office and secrecy, administered by the Bolgatanga Circuit Court Judge, Justice William Boampong. The chairman of the commission, Alfred Afulani Ajene, commended the authorities for the powers bestowed on them and pledged to liaise with the Regional Coordinating Council and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in the formulation of policies and programmes geared towards the advancement of the region and the country in general. In a speech read on his behalf of the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo said the reconstitution of the commission will help provide invaluable services and guidance to the public and policy makers on the issue pertaining to the regional land resources for the region’s development. He attributed the level of poverty in relations to land in the region, not only to its mismanagement, but also the nature of land policies that were pursued in the post colonial and immediate post colonial era in the Northern part of the country.
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19-08-09 SOCIAL AUDITING WORKSHOP ENDS AT BAWKU WEST
A Workshop on Social Auditing has taken place at Zebilla in the Bawku West district of the Upper East Region on the theme: “Local Participation and Social Auditing for Good Governance”. The workshop was jointly organized by the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) and Action-aid Ghana, a non governmental organization operating in the country and attended by some district directors of the NCCE, heads of departments, chiefs as well as representatives of various organizations. In an address, the Acting Regional Director of the NCCE, Peter Mensah said the Social Auditing Project is which aimed at making the exercise transparent so as to remove all possible misconceptions about its objectives, adding that social auditing is basically a monitoring process that seeks to hold public officers accountable for their stewardship. In this regard, the process requires public officials to explain and justify what they have done or failed to do for public accountability since this strives for greater quality of service delivery and for an ever –increasing improvement of the functioning of the public sector. The Bawku West District Director of the NCCE, Dominic Akugri said as citizens we have the mandate to demand accountability from duty bearers but one must also be mindful that we have a duty to perform since rights goes with responsibilities. He commended the level of democracy in the country, saying citizens as well as duty bearers owe it a task to adopt new methods and approaches to social auditing process as society is dynamic.
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Narration: The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has inaugurated a 16-member reconstituted Upper East Regional Lands Commission at a ceremony in Bolgatanga. It was attended by a section of the public, chiefs, landowners, members of the regional lands commission, as well as other dignitaries. The Sector Minister charged staff of the commission to change their attitudes in the discharge of their duties and also commit themselves to the work ethics of the commission at all times. Here is a report filed by Isaac Asare.
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ANCR V/O
Report
The commission was inaugurated at the threshold of the implementation of one of the key reforms in the land sector which is the passage of the new lands commission Act of 2008. This commission is now responsible for all issues involved in land administration, surveying and mapping, compensation and evaluation, and registration and land management. Moreover, all these areas have been brought under a new lands commission with four divisional functions which is going to be the new structure of the commission that will provide a one-stop shop for providing land administration services. The sector minister, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who made these revelations entreated the commission to help reduce the system of bureaucracy, inefficiencies and frustrations during land registration adding that failure to do so will nullify all the reform efforts irrespective of the good intentions He also challenged staff of the commission to be up and doing by adhering to the work ethics of the commission to ensure the success of the reform. Mr. Dauda later inaugurated 16 members of the commission drawn from various districts and departments in the region. They were taken through the official oath of office and secrecy, administered by the Bolgatanga Circuit Court Judge, Justice William Boampong. The chairman of the commission, Alfred Afulani Ajene, commended the authorities for the powers bestowed on them and pledged to liaise with the Regional Coordinating Council and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in the formulation of policies and programmes geared towards the advancement of the region and the country in general. In a speech read on his behalf of the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo said the reconstitution of the commission will help provide invaluable services and guidance to the public and policy makers on the issue pertaining to the regional land resources for the region’s development. He attributed the level of poverty in relations to land in the region, not only to its mismanagement, but also the nature of land policies that were pursued in the post colonial and immediate post colonial era in the Northern part of the country.
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19-08-09 SOCIAL AUDITING WORKSHOP ENDS AT BAWKU WEST
A Workshop on Social Auditing has taken place at Zebilla in the Bawku West district of the Upper East Region on the theme: “Local Participation and Social Auditing for Good Governance”. The workshop was jointly organized by the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) and Action-aid Ghana, a non governmental organization operating in the country and attended by some district directors of the NCCE, heads of departments, chiefs as well as representatives of various organizations. In an address, the Acting Regional Director of the NCCE, Peter Mensah said the Social Auditing Project is which aimed at making the exercise transparent so as to remove all possible misconceptions about its objectives, adding that social auditing is basically a monitoring process that seeks to hold public officers accountable for their stewardship. In this regard, the process requires public officials to explain and justify what they have done or failed to do for public accountability since this strives for greater quality of service delivery and for an ever –increasing improvement of the functioning of the public sector. The Bawku West District Director of the NCCE, Dominic Akugri said as citizens we have the mandate to demand accountability from duty bearers but one must also be mindful that we have a duty to perform since rights goes with responsibilities. He commended the level of democracy in the country, saying citizens as well as duty bearers owe it a task to adopt new methods and approaches to social auditing process as society is dynamic.
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PROJECT THE IMAGE OF UPPER EAST THROUGH TOURISM
23-09-09 PROJECT THE IMAGE OF UPPER EAST THROUGH TOURISM
Residents in the three Northern Regions of Ghana, particularly, those in the Upper East Region, have been called upon to help project the image of the region through tourism. In spite of the rich potentials that abound in the region, the picture and perception about the region to the outside world is always one that is associated with deprivation, poverty, misery and violent conflicts. The Upper East Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mary Agangmikre made the appeal in an interview with Radio Ghana AT Bolgatanga. She mentioned some of the attractive tourist sites in the region as Tenzug Shrine, Tongo hills, Paga crocodile pond, Sirigu Pottery and Arts, Tono irrigation dam site, the Navrongo Catholic Cathedral, Bongo rocks and caves, the Kulungungu bomb site , Woriyanga legendary mosque among others. Mrs. Agangmikre stressed that despite all these great potentials of the region, it is still viewed as one of the most deprived areas where most people live in abject poverty and misery. She therefore called on the people in the region to embrace the on-going World Tourism Day by showcasing the regions great tourist potentials to the outside world. This according to her, would not only demystify the negative perceptions that outsiders have about the region but would also attract qualified professionals and investors to the region to propel its developmental efforts. Mrs. Agangmikre is therefore appealing to public and private sectors, NGOs, as well as the municipal and district assemblies to contribute their quota in raising public awareness on the need for people to patronized tourist sites in the region in order to generate more revenue to develop such sites.
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Residents in the three Northern Regions of Ghana, particularly, those in the Upper East Region, have been called upon to help project the image of the region through tourism. In spite of the rich potentials that abound in the region, the picture and perception about the region to the outside world is always one that is associated with deprivation, poverty, misery and violent conflicts. The Upper East Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mary Agangmikre made the appeal in an interview with Radio Ghana AT Bolgatanga. She mentioned some of the attractive tourist sites in the region as Tenzug Shrine, Tongo hills, Paga crocodile pond, Sirigu Pottery and Arts, Tono irrigation dam site, the Navrongo Catholic Cathedral, Bongo rocks and caves, the Kulungungu bomb site , Woriyanga legendary mosque among others. Mrs. Agangmikre stressed that despite all these great potentials of the region, it is still viewed as one of the most deprived areas where most people live in abject poverty and misery. She therefore called on the people in the region to embrace the on-going World Tourism Day by showcasing the regions great tourist potentials to the outside world. This according to her, would not only demystify the negative perceptions that outsiders have about the region but would also attract qualified professionals and investors to the region to propel its developmental efforts. Mrs. Agangmikre is therefore appealing to public and private sectors, NGOs, as well as the municipal and district assemblies to contribute their quota in raising public awareness on the need for people to patronized tourist sites in the region in order to generate more revenue to develop such sites.
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DISCARD DIVISIVE POLITICS
08-08-09 DISCARD DIVISIVE POLITICS
Residents of the East Mamprusi District have been asked to discard divisive politics that tend to mar the development of the area. The East Mamprusi District Chief Executive, Adam Imoro disclosed this at a meeting with Sakogu community members in the Northern Region to learn at first hand the needs and expectations of the community from his administration, he noted that development in the district cannot strive without unity from the ruling NDC, and sympathizers from the opposition NPP, adding that his administration will develop each community devoid of political affiliation. The Sakogu Chief, Kosarana Azabu appealed to the DCE to construct a police station for his community to ensure continues peace and order among the people. Naa Kosaran also asked for the repair and extension of street lights within the community which according to him have for the past four years remain defunct in order to ward off criminal activities at night. To this end, the DCE expressed his readiness to ensure that portable water supply systems are extended to all parts of the district and promised to hook the remaining communities to the national grid. The Assembly man for Sakogu Salifu Mamtamia commended the DCE for his timely intervention in roofing the Sakogu Junior High and L/A Primary schools, whose roofs were ripped off in a stormy rain that hit the district. Meanwhile, The Chief of Dindani, Poa Naba Azah, during the DCE’s visit appealed to the assembly to construct a road that can link his village to the main road that runs through Sakogu to the rest of the region. He also requested the provision of a borehole pump to supply portable drinking water to the people. Mr. Imoro had earlier visited Kolinvai village also in the district, where he commissioned a borehole pump constructed by the Catholic Relief Service at the cost of 8,500 dollars.
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Residents of the East Mamprusi District have been asked to discard divisive politics that tend to mar the development of the area. The East Mamprusi District Chief Executive, Adam Imoro disclosed this at a meeting with Sakogu community members in the Northern Region to learn at first hand the needs and expectations of the community from his administration, he noted that development in the district cannot strive without unity from the ruling NDC, and sympathizers from the opposition NPP, adding that his administration will develop each community devoid of political affiliation. The Sakogu Chief, Kosarana Azabu appealed to the DCE to construct a police station for his community to ensure continues peace and order among the people. Naa Kosaran also asked for the repair and extension of street lights within the community which according to him have for the past four years remain defunct in order to ward off criminal activities at night. To this end, the DCE expressed his readiness to ensure that portable water supply systems are extended to all parts of the district and promised to hook the remaining communities to the national grid. The Assembly man for Sakogu Salifu Mamtamia commended the DCE for his timely intervention in roofing the Sakogu Junior High and L/A Primary schools, whose roofs were ripped off in a stormy rain that hit the district. Meanwhile, The Chief of Dindani, Poa Naba Azah, during the DCE’s visit appealed to the assembly to construct a road that can link his village to the main road that runs through Sakogu to the rest of the region. He also requested the provision of a borehole pump to supply portable drinking water to the people. Mr. Imoro had earlier visited Kolinvai village also in the district, where he commissioned a borehole pump constructed by the Catholic Relief Service at the cost of 8,500 dollars.
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MAKE ENGLISH AND FRENCH COMPULSORY IN SCHOOLS
20-09-09 MAKE ENGLISH AND FRENCH COMPULSORY IN SCHOOLS
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, has proposed the teaching and learning of English and French languages in English as well as French speaking countries, compulsory in schools. He emphasized that language barrier pose a major challenge in the attainment of cross –border cohesion, co-existence, free movement of goods and persons, as well as nurture the bond of friendship between neighboring countries. Mr Woyongo was speaking at a cross-border tripartite meeting between the Upper East of Ghana, Central East Province of Burkina-Faso, and the Savannah Region of Togo, at Tenkodogo in Burkina-Faso. Mr. Woyongo said the deepening of cooperation between the three regions and Africa as a whole would be achieved, only if people are trained to speak the English and French language. He therefore called on opinion leaders and the various governments to help institute measures in making the teaching and learning of English and French in schools starting from the basic level. The Chief Executive of Dapaong,Togo, Mr. Mossyamba Ali Seydou stressed the need for the needed cooperation between English and French speaking countries, within the African continent, since some of these countries share similar characteristics in terms of culture, vegetation, climate and agriculture among others.
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The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, has proposed the teaching and learning of English and French languages in English as well as French speaking countries, compulsory in schools. He emphasized that language barrier pose a major challenge in the attainment of cross –border cohesion, co-existence, free movement of goods and persons, as well as nurture the bond of friendship between neighboring countries. Mr Woyongo was speaking at a cross-border tripartite meeting between the Upper East of Ghana, Central East Province of Burkina-Faso, and the Savannah Region of Togo, at Tenkodogo in Burkina-Faso. Mr. Woyongo said the deepening of cooperation between the three regions and Africa as a whole would be achieved, only if people are trained to speak the English and French language. He therefore called on opinion leaders and the various governments to help institute measures in making the teaching and learning of English and French in schools starting from the basic level. The Chief Executive of Dapaong,Togo, Mr. Mossyamba Ali Seydou stressed the need for the needed cooperation between English and French speaking countries, within the African continent, since some of these countries share similar characteristics in terms of culture, vegetation, climate and agriculture among others.
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Friday, 8 January 2010
Bongo: Minister Inspects Projects in the Upper East
07-01-2010: Bongo: Minister Inspects Projects in the Upper East
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Ann: The Minister of Water Resources works and Housing, Mr. Albert Abongo has inspected some completed and on-going water projects in Bongo, Kassena-Nankana and Kassena-Nankana West Districts and the Bolgatanga Municipality all in the Upper East Region, as part of his working visit to the region. The sector Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Bongo was accompanied by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo, project
Roll Tape: contractors as well as management and staff of the Ghana Water
Take Tape: Company and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency.
ANCR V/O: The Minister’s first point of call was at Gowrie in the Bongo District where he inspected water pumping machines and the treatment plant the Vea dam site. The dam which supplies water to the people of Bolgatanga and parts of Bongo is faced with numerous challenges due to illegal farming activities which pose a serious threat to the dam. Moreover, some operational facilities at the pumping station are over aged and need replacement. According to the Regional Water Distribution Manager, Mr. Geoarge Yanaore, most of the facilities are not in use due to operational cost.
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ANCR V/O Mr. Abongo later inspected 18 stand pipes installed for the people of Bongo and its environs. The project which is said to be completed by the end of January this year is being undertaken by the Community Water and Sanitation Programme.
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The project after its successful completion would afford the people of Bongo the opportunity of having access to safe and reliable drinking water and free from fluoride. The Acting Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Mr. Gilbert Amoah Ayamga expressed his outfit’s readiness to provide beneficiary communities with water meters since the stand pipes could serve a small number of people in the area. Mr Ayamga said negotiations are on-going with the Ghana Water Company to put their system in place so that a year after its completion, the water board can allow the various communities to connect privately.
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ANCR V/O At Sirigu in the Kassena–Nankana East District, Mr. Abongo paid a courtesy call on the chief and elders of Sirigu. He appealed to the people to contribute to ensure that each household in the community gets a household latrine. He called for co-operation between the community and the water companies operating in the region. Mr. Anyoka Akwana who spoke on behalf of the chief called on the assembly to help provide funds for the construction of the household latrines in order to promote the level of sanitation in the community.
CUE IN AT: ………………………..
END CUE AT …………………….
ANCR V/O THE Minister’s last point of call was Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana District. Mr. Abongo expressed satisfaction about the projects being undertaken in the areas he visited. He stressed the urgent need to fast track the urban water programme for the benefit of the people in the region. Mr. Abongo disclosed that government is in the process of finalizing agreement with some Korean investors for the delivery of 200,000 housing units to be constructed nationwide.
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He noted that land banks have already being acquired in the various towns and cities in the country, adding that his outfit is now working closely with the Upper East Regional co-ordinating Council on the acquisition of land banks for the 10,000 hosing units allocated for the people of Upper East Region.
GTV END ISAAC ASARE
VTR
…..SECs
Ann: The Minister of Water Resources works and Housing, Mr. Albert Abongo has inspected some completed and on-going water projects in Bongo, Kassena-Nankana and Kassena-Nankana West Districts and the Bolgatanga Municipality all in the Upper East Region, as part of his working visit to the region. The sector Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Bongo was accompanied by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo, project
Roll Tape: contractors as well as management and staff of the Ghana Water
Take Tape: Company and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency.
ANCR V/O: The Minister’s first point of call was at Gowrie in the Bongo District where he inspected water pumping machines and the treatment plant the Vea dam site. The dam which supplies water to the people of Bolgatanga and parts of Bongo is faced with numerous challenges due to illegal farming activities which pose a serious threat to the dam. Moreover, some operational facilities at the pumping station are over aged and need replacement. According to the Regional Water Distribution Manager, Mr. Geoarge Yanaore, most of the facilities are not in use due to operational cost.
CUE IN AT: ……………………………
END CUE AT …………………..
ANCR V/O Mr. Abongo later inspected 18 stand pipes installed for the people of Bongo and its environs. The project which is said to be completed by the end of January this year is being undertaken by the Community Water and Sanitation Programme.
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The project after its successful completion would afford the people of Bongo the opportunity of having access to safe and reliable drinking water and free from fluoride. The Acting Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Mr. Gilbert Amoah Ayamga expressed his outfit’s readiness to provide beneficiary communities with water meters since the stand pipes could serve a small number of people in the area. Mr Ayamga said negotiations are on-going with the Ghana Water Company to put their system in place so that a year after its completion, the water board can allow the various communities to connect privately.
CUE IN AT.. ………………………
END CUE AT ………………………
ANCR V/O At Sirigu in the Kassena–Nankana East District, Mr. Abongo paid a courtesy call on the chief and elders of Sirigu. He appealed to the people to contribute to ensure that each household in the community gets a household latrine. He called for co-operation between the community and the water companies operating in the region. Mr. Anyoka Akwana who spoke on behalf of the chief called on the assembly to help provide funds for the construction of the household latrines in order to promote the level of sanitation in the community.
CUE IN AT: ………………………..
END CUE AT …………………….
ANCR V/O THE Minister’s last point of call was Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana District. Mr. Abongo expressed satisfaction about the projects being undertaken in the areas he visited. He stressed the urgent need to fast track the urban water programme for the benefit of the people in the region. Mr. Abongo disclosed that government is in the process of finalizing agreement with some Korean investors for the delivery of 200,000 housing units to be constructed nationwide.
----MORE-----
He noted that land banks have already being acquired in the various towns and cities in the country, adding that his outfit is now working closely with the Upper East Regional co-ordinating Council on the acquisition of land banks for the 10,000 hosing units allocated for the people of Upper East Region.
GTV END ISAAC ASARE
MEASURES TO MTIGATE WORSE FORM OF CHILD LABOUR IN UPPER EAST
08-01-2010 MEASURES TO MTIGATE WORSE FORM OF CHILD LABOUR IN UPPER EAST
One hundred and 50 disadvantaged children in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region are currently receiving formal education and vocational training in various professions. Out of the number, 30 are in various vocations while 120 are in formal education. This move is necessitated as part of measures to mitigate worse forms of child labour in the region and the country as a whole. The District Labour officer, Wilson Badza who made this known in an interview with Radio Ghana said many parents in the district are beginning to understand the need for giving their wards formal education. This success story is as a result of the vigorous sensitization mechanisms put in place by the district assembly and Afrikids Ghana, a Non-governmental organization operating in the region. He said even the non-beneficiary communities are now fighting against child labour in the district due to the positive impartation made by the 10 beneficiary communities, where the children were selected. According to Mr. Badza, the 2009 monitoring and evaluation report on worse forms of child labour in the district, indicate that, all the less privileged children who are currently into schools are doing marvelously well. Mr. Badza expressed his commitment to liaise with other stakeholders in the region to help eradicate the menace of Child labour in the district. He therefore advised parents to corporate fully with the assembly in providing quality education in the district. He said the assembly is working around the clock to sponsor brilliant but needy students in the area.
GBC END IA/
One hundred and 50 disadvantaged children in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region are currently receiving formal education and vocational training in various professions. Out of the number, 30 are in various vocations while 120 are in formal education. This move is necessitated as part of measures to mitigate worse forms of child labour in the region and the country as a whole. The District Labour officer, Wilson Badza who made this known in an interview with Radio Ghana said many parents in the district are beginning to understand the need for giving their wards formal education. This success story is as a result of the vigorous sensitization mechanisms put in place by the district assembly and Afrikids Ghana, a Non-governmental organization operating in the region. He said even the non-beneficiary communities are now fighting against child labour in the district due to the positive impartation made by the 10 beneficiary communities, where the children were selected. According to Mr. Badza, the 2009 monitoring and evaluation report on worse forms of child labour in the district, indicate that, all the less privileged children who are currently into schools are doing marvelously well. Mr. Badza expressed his commitment to liaise with other stakeholders in the region to help eradicate the menace of Child labour in the district. He therefore advised parents to corporate fully with the assembly in providing quality education in the district. He said the assembly is working around the clock to sponsor brilliant but needy students in the area.
GBC END IA/
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Government Committed to the Development of Rural Communities
Bongo: Government Committed to the Development of Rural Communities
VTR
…..SECs
ANN: The Minister for Water Resources, works and Housing, Albert Abongo has assured Ghanaians that government is committed to ensuring that development reaches the rural communities in the country through the provision of basic infrastructure, portable drinking water and electricity. In line with this, government as a matter of concern would ensure that more boreholes are drilled in rural communities of which Bongo is a beneficiary community. Mr. Abongo also disclosed that government with support from some Korean and Chinese investors will construct 200,000 housing units throughout the country to address the problem of accommodation for workers and individuals. Mr. Abongo gave the assurance at the annual Azambene Fire Festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Bongo in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region. The occasion which received a high turnout was on the theme: “Culture Re-Awakening to Promote Education, Sustainable Environment and Afforestation. The occasion brought together government officials, divisional chiefs of the Bongo Traditional Area,
Roll Tape: dignitaries from Korea and China, heads of decentralized departments
Take Tape: as well as sons and daughters of Bongo both at home and abroad
ANCR V/O The annual Azambene festival is in commemoration of the defeat of Busasis by Asikulga and Awubigo descendants from Bongo. It is also in remembrance of the movement of their forefathers from Nalerigu into Bongo. Mr. Abongo who is also the Member of Parliament for Bongo, commended the chiefs and people of the area for maintaining peace and order over the years. He expressed government’s determination in ensuring that rural communities are provided with the needed logistics and infrastructure to help enhance their standard of living. Mr. Abongo pledged his preparedness in ensuring that the Bolga –Bongo trunk road and the Gorigo Bridge linking Bongo with Burkina-Faso are successfully constructed before the end of the year.
CUE IN AT …………………………
END CUE AT ………………………….
ANCR V/O The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni said government has put in place pro-poor policies such as the proposed Savanna Accelerated Development Authority, the Shea Nut Development Board, and the Youth in Agriculture Policy towards the development of Northern Ghana and urged the people to embrace it.
CUE IN AT ……………………………
END CUE AT ……………………………
ANCR V/O The District Chief Executive, Mr. Clement Akugre expressed his desire to make education his topmost priority in the district and charged parents to put premium in their wards education since it is the greatest legacy any parent can bequeath the child.
CUE IN AT ……………………………….
END CUE AT ……………………………..
ANCR V/O The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Salifu Aleemyaarum, called on the government to come out with pragmatic measures to tackle poverty in the area.
GTV END ISAAC ASARE
VTR
…..SECs
ANN: The Minister for Water Resources, works and Housing, Albert Abongo has assured Ghanaians that government is committed to ensuring that development reaches the rural communities in the country through the provision of basic infrastructure, portable drinking water and electricity. In line with this, government as a matter of concern would ensure that more boreholes are drilled in rural communities of which Bongo is a beneficiary community. Mr. Abongo also disclosed that government with support from some Korean and Chinese investors will construct 200,000 housing units throughout the country to address the problem of accommodation for workers and individuals. Mr. Abongo gave the assurance at the annual Azambene Fire Festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Bongo in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region. The occasion which received a high turnout was on the theme: “Culture Re-Awakening to Promote Education, Sustainable Environment and Afforestation. The occasion brought together government officials, divisional chiefs of the Bongo Traditional Area,
Roll Tape: dignitaries from Korea and China, heads of decentralized departments
Take Tape: as well as sons and daughters of Bongo both at home and abroad
ANCR V/O The annual Azambene festival is in commemoration of the defeat of Busasis by Asikulga and Awubigo descendants from Bongo. It is also in remembrance of the movement of their forefathers from Nalerigu into Bongo. Mr. Abongo who is also the Member of Parliament for Bongo, commended the chiefs and people of the area for maintaining peace and order over the years. He expressed government’s determination in ensuring that rural communities are provided with the needed logistics and infrastructure to help enhance their standard of living. Mr. Abongo pledged his preparedness in ensuring that the Bolga –Bongo trunk road and the Gorigo Bridge linking Bongo with Burkina-Faso are successfully constructed before the end of the year.
CUE IN AT …………………………
END CUE AT ………………………….
ANCR V/O The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni said government has put in place pro-poor policies such as the proposed Savanna Accelerated Development Authority, the Shea Nut Development Board, and the Youth in Agriculture Policy towards the development of Northern Ghana and urged the people to embrace it.
CUE IN AT ……………………………
END CUE AT ……………………………
ANCR V/O The District Chief Executive, Mr. Clement Akugre expressed his desire to make education his topmost priority in the district and charged parents to put premium in their wards education since it is the greatest legacy any parent can bequeath the child.
CUE IN AT ……………………………….
END CUE AT ……………………………..
ANCR V/O The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Salifu Aleemyaarum, called on the government to come out with pragmatic measures to tackle poverty in the area.
GTV END ISAAC ASARE
Gov’t to Place More Emphasis on Trades and Vocation Module
04-01-2010 Gov’t to Place More Emphasis on Trades and Vocation Module
The National Co-ordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme, (NYEP), Abuga Pele, has expressed government’s determination to engage more unemployed youth in the area of trades and vocation to replace the normal module which according to him place more burden on government’s pay roll. Speaking to Radio Ghana, Mr. Pele said the new module under the NYEP include the application of ICT in repairs, servicing and assembling of ,mobile phones, computers, laptops, as well as training in grasscutter rearing, dressmaking, sachet water production among others. In order to ensure a smooth implementation of these new modules, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Communication in collaboration with rLG Communications, recently launched the ICT module in Accra. Mr. Pele said the initiative is in accordance with government’s interventional policy to use ICT as a way of bridging the developmental gap between Ghana and the outside world. He said government would gradually reduce the intake of security personnel recruited under the NYEP and place more emphasis in the training of more youth in trade and vocation module to help unearth their talents.. Mr. Pele disclosed that about 70 thousand people who are currently in the trade and vocation module would be given special attention through the provision of materials and equipments for their training. This, according to Mr. Pele, aims at increasing the quality of businesses in the country and called on the youth to take advantage of it, particularly, residents in the three regions of the north. He added that government as a matter of concern is determined to engage 100,000 youths using the various NYEP modules with 6,000 going into ICT training and mobile phone initiative schedule to begin April 2010.
GBC END IA/
The National Co-ordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme, (NYEP), Abuga Pele, has expressed government’s determination to engage more unemployed youth in the area of trades and vocation to replace the normal module which according to him place more burden on government’s pay roll. Speaking to Radio Ghana, Mr. Pele said the new module under the NYEP include the application of ICT in repairs, servicing and assembling of ,mobile phones, computers, laptops, as well as training in grasscutter rearing, dressmaking, sachet water production among others. In order to ensure a smooth implementation of these new modules, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Communication in collaboration with rLG Communications, recently launched the ICT module in Accra. Mr. Pele said the initiative is in accordance with government’s interventional policy to use ICT as a way of bridging the developmental gap between Ghana and the outside world. He said government would gradually reduce the intake of security personnel recruited under the NYEP and place more emphasis in the training of more youth in trade and vocation module to help unearth their talents.. Mr. Pele disclosed that about 70 thousand people who are currently in the trade and vocation module would be given special attention through the provision of materials and equipments for their training. This, according to Mr. Pele, aims at increasing the quality of businesses in the country and called on the youth to take advantage of it, particularly, residents in the three regions of the north. He added that government as a matter of concern is determined to engage 100,000 youths using the various NYEP modules with 6,000 going into ICT training and mobile phone initiative schedule to begin April 2010.
GBC END IA/
MINISTER'S TOUR TO PWALUGU TOMATO FARM
07-01-2010 BOLGATANGA SEED HOUSE IN DANGER
The Bolgatanga seed warehouse, housing varieties of seed crops including maize, soybean, rice, sorghum, and groundnuts among others is in a state of jeopardy. The warehouse since its establishment in 1972 has not seen any rehabilitation, thus, hampering the activities of staff operating at the company. During rainy season, the roof of the building badly leaks as some parts of the building have developed cracks. The Regional Lands Protection and Regulatory Services Officer, Sylvester Logo, who revealed this to the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, at Bolgatanga, said the machinery used in processing the seeds are broken down and needs replacement. He said the poor maintenance of the warehouse over the years, have greatly affected production citing the seed laboratory which nearly caught fire due to the weak electrical wiring system which, according to him, is in a bad state. Mr. Logo who took the Regional Minister round the warehouse, therefore appealed to the government to come to the aid of the warehouse to help increase food production in the region and the country at large. He disclosed that 11,000 mini bags of certified jasmine rice seed currently stored at the warehouse can occupy at least 13-15 acres of farm lands for the dry season farming. The storage facility, he explained, is under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Expanded Project geared at providing quality seeds to private seed growers and farmers for cultivation. At Pwalugu, Mr. Woyongo inspected a large acreage of land privately owned by individual farmers and MOFA. He also inspected the sprinkler irrigation system adopted by the farmers to irrigate their farms with the White Volta as their source. Mr. Woyongo, who was accompanied by the District Chief Executive of Talensi-Nabdam, Mrs. Vivian Anarfo and the Acting Regional Director of Agric, Alhaji Abdul Razak Zibrim, later interacted with the farmers. Mr. Woyongo cautioned farmers who farm very close to the river bank to desist from the act before the river becomes silted. He commended the farmers for their hard work and pledged his unflinching support when the need arises. Mr. Woyongo advised the farmers to form co-operatives so that they can contribute to purchase water pumps and fertilizers for their seed crops.
GBC END IA/
07-01-10 Northern Star Tomato Factory to Be Ready By End of January
The Ministry of Trade and Industries has assured farmers in the Upper East Region that the Northern Star Tomato Factory, formerly, Pwalugu tomato factory at Pwalugu in the Upper East Region, would be revamped before the end of January, this year. In line with this, the ministry has allocated an amount of 20 million Ghana Cedis for rehabilitation work to begin. This was made known by the Upper East Regional Minister; Mark Woyongo, when he was addressing farmers at Pwalugu as part of his tour to inspect some farm lands and the Bolgatanga seed house. Mr. Woyongo revealed that a 3-member delegation from the ministry is currently in the region to assess the state of the factory. He noted that the factory when finally rehabilitated will create employment for the teeming unemployed youth in the region and also enhance tomato production in the country. This, he said will halt the importation of tomato paste into the country. It will also encourage tomato farmers to increase their yield. Mr. Woyongo disclosed that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has taken delivery of 100 irrigation pumps as parts of efforts to boost irrigation and also increase food production in the region. The pumps would be distributed to farmers in the remotest parts of the region on high purchase and advised the farmers to form groups to help them purchase the pumps with ease. Mr. Woyongo said for the next two years government is going to place much emphasis on the development of agriculture in the three Northern Regions to reduce poverty and also ensure food security. Mr. Woyongo stressed that government is further looking at possible ways of reducing fertilizer and other farm inputs for farmers in the country.
GBC END IA/
The Bolgatanga seed warehouse, housing varieties of seed crops including maize, soybean, rice, sorghum, and groundnuts among others is in a state of jeopardy. The warehouse since its establishment in 1972 has not seen any rehabilitation, thus, hampering the activities of staff operating at the company. During rainy season, the roof of the building badly leaks as some parts of the building have developed cracks. The Regional Lands Protection and Regulatory Services Officer, Sylvester Logo, who revealed this to the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, at Bolgatanga, said the machinery used in processing the seeds are broken down and needs replacement. He said the poor maintenance of the warehouse over the years, have greatly affected production citing the seed laboratory which nearly caught fire due to the weak electrical wiring system which, according to him, is in a bad state. Mr. Logo who took the Regional Minister round the warehouse, therefore appealed to the government to come to the aid of the warehouse to help increase food production in the region and the country at large. He disclosed that 11,000 mini bags of certified jasmine rice seed currently stored at the warehouse can occupy at least 13-15 acres of farm lands for the dry season farming. The storage facility, he explained, is under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Expanded Project geared at providing quality seeds to private seed growers and farmers for cultivation. At Pwalugu, Mr. Woyongo inspected a large acreage of land privately owned by individual farmers and MOFA. He also inspected the sprinkler irrigation system adopted by the farmers to irrigate their farms with the White Volta as their source. Mr. Woyongo, who was accompanied by the District Chief Executive of Talensi-Nabdam, Mrs. Vivian Anarfo and the Acting Regional Director of Agric, Alhaji Abdul Razak Zibrim, later interacted with the farmers. Mr. Woyongo cautioned farmers who farm very close to the river bank to desist from the act before the river becomes silted. He commended the farmers for their hard work and pledged his unflinching support when the need arises. Mr. Woyongo advised the farmers to form co-operatives so that they can contribute to purchase water pumps and fertilizers for their seed crops.
GBC END IA/
07-01-10 Northern Star Tomato Factory to Be Ready By End of January
The Ministry of Trade and Industries has assured farmers in the Upper East Region that the Northern Star Tomato Factory, formerly, Pwalugu tomato factory at Pwalugu in the Upper East Region, would be revamped before the end of January, this year. In line with this, the ministry has allocated an amount of 20 million Ghana Cedis for rehabilitation work to begin. This was made known by the Upper East Regional Minister; Mark Woyongo, when he was addressing farmers at Pwalugu as part of his tour to inspect some farm lands and the Bolgatanga seed house. Mr. Woyongo revealed that a 3-member delegation from the ministry is currently in the region to assess the state of the factory. He noted that the factory when finally rehabilitated will create employment for the teeming unemployed youth in the region and also enhance tomato production in the country. This, he said will halt the importation of tomato paste into the country. It will also encourage tomato farmers to increase their yield. Mr. Woyongo disclosed that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has taken delivery of 100 irrigation pumps as parts of efforts to boost irrigation and also increase food production in the region. The pumps would be distributed to farmers in the remotest parts of the region on high purchase and advised the farmers to form groups to help them purchase the pumps with ease. Mr. Woyongo said for the next two years government is going to place much emphasis on the development of agriculture in the three Northern Regions to reduce poverty and also ensure food security. Mr. Woyongo stressed that government is further looking at possible ways of reducing fertilizer and other farm inputs for farmers in the country.
GBC END IA/
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