Bunkpurugu-Yonyoo holds peace talk

19-05-2010
Narration: a few years ago at Wulensi in the Northern Region, a guinea fowl triggered an ethnic conflict leading to the loss of many lives and just last month ,claims over a piece of land between two clans in the Bumkpurugu-Yonyoo District of the Northern Region also led to communal clashes. The people however appealed to the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church under which the district falls to help bring peace to the area. A stakeholder’s dialogue was therefore organized by the church at Bolgatanga to find an amicable solution to the conflict. Correspondents, Isaac Asare and Abraham Dimmie were at the dialogue and throw more light on the issue.

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The Bunkprugu –Yonyoo District has in recent times been characterized by violent conflicts. This, worrying trend has compelled some residents of the area to resettle in other areas for safety. The recent unpass is a land conflict involving two clans namely Nakuk and Nandog. The unfortunate incident has necessitated a peace dialogue between the two clans to ensure that sanity prevails. The Navrongo – Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, under which East and West Mamprusi Districts as well as the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District fall, organized the peace talks. In attendance were the Bunkpurugu chief, the chiefs of Nakuk and Nandog, the M.P for Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo, Assembly Members as well as youth and women leaders. On March 18th, 20th and 21st April this year, disagreements between the Nakuk and Nandog clans over the ownership of a piece of land led to a bloody clash. Four people lost their lives, 346 houses in six communities were completely destroyed and 3,768 people displaced. The peace talk was therefore in response to an appeal by the people in the district to the Catholic Church to intervene and bring peace to the area. The Nayiri, Na-Game Buhagu said, he has set his own investigations in motion and that those identified to be fanning the conflict would be dealt with severely. He therefore appealed to the two clans to lay down their arms and give peace a chance. He said the raining season is at the corner and that instead of the people fighting among themselves, they should go to the land and fight against poverty which is their greatest enemy. The MP for Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo, Duut Emmanuael Kwame was not happy that he has used his almost two years in parliament to fight for soldiers and police to keep peace in the district instead of fighting for development projects. He therefore appealed especially to the youth in the area to think of the future of the district and give peace a chance. The Rev. Fr Lazarus Amnyere of the Damango Centre for Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies said while the world spends about 450 billion dollars annually on peace keeping, only 5 percent of that amount is given as development support. According to him, if such an amount was given for development, over 450,000 clinics would be built throughout the world.
Rev Fr Amnyere said if the money Ghana spends on peace keeping was used for development areas, there would have been great improvement in the lives of the people. The Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocesan Administrator, Monsignor Thomas Anamooh said the Catholic Church is not only interested in the spiritual welfare of its people but the physical and total wellbeing as well. He gave the assurance that the church would continue to work until total peace returns to the area. He commended government and all those who in diverse ways have helped to bring peace to the area. Ghana today is hopeful that the peace talk would help in settling their differences. From the Upper East Region, this has been Isaac Asare and Abraham Dimmie reporting from Bolgatanga.
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MDAs urged to help eliminate child right abuses

18-05-2010
Narration: Major stakeholders at a day’s evaluation workshop at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, have tasked Municipal and District Assemblies MDAs of Northern Ghana to partner child right NGOs and organisations to eliminate all worse forms of child labour and child migration. They also urged MDAs to include in their long term development plans, adequate steps in ensuring that child rights are respected by all. Participants at the workshop organized by Afrikids Ghana with support from Comic Relief, include representatives from the various assemblies, heads of departments, health officials, and child right activists among others. Isaac Asare and Susuana Ago were there for Radio Ghana and have filed this report.
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Established five years ago, Afrikids Ghana as a grassroots organisation has been working in Northern Ghana to improve the lives of most vulnerable and deprived children. In view of this, Afrikids over the years has provided continuous assistance and support to most disadvantaged children living in deprived communities of the region. The external evaluation workshop was therefore aimed at bringing on board all stakeholders to evaluate and assess the impact of their service delivery on beneficiaries and also deliberate on issues affecting vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the three regions of the north. In an address, the Country Director of Afrikids Ghana, Nicholas Kumah said despite the daunting challenges, Afrikids-Ghana with support from the various stakeholders has made significant strides in changing the lives of some vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the society. He mentioned spirits child phenomenon as one of the major challenges affecting children of deprived communities in the Talensi-Nabdam district. On the achievement chalked so far, Mr Kuma said about 160 children who migrated down to Kumasi for non-existing jobs are currently receiving formal education after they were made to resettle with their families back home. About 155 children have been rescued from the various mining sites in the region. Moreover, 400 women had also been given micro-finance loans to set up businesses whilst 34 child right clubs have been established with a total membership of 1,960 across the region. According to Mr. Kumah, Afrikids is currently collaborating with soothsayers and concoction men to handle special cases relating to 27 children accused of being spirit children in Talensi-Nabdam District. These achievements he noted has impacted on the lives of theses vulnerable children and however called on all stakeholders in the region to collaborate with Afrikids to achieve its set objectives. Speaking to Radio Ghana, An Independent evaluator, Madam Paulin Wilson said recommendations and contributions from relevant stakeholders would help the external evaluators come out with credible and comprehensive evaluation report. She emphasized the need for awareness creation on dangers of child labour and migration to reduce its widespread. Madam Wilson charged stakeholders to strengthen their collaboration with Afrikids in fighting child right abuses in the society. Representatives from banking institutions, the Ghana Police service, transport unions, and vocational traders association among others, pledged to support Afrikids in ensuring that deprived children are given the needed attention and assistance they deserve.
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Northern Ghana launches its first ever Awards Scheme for Journalists

07-05-2010
Narration: Launching of the first ever 2010 annual Northern Journalists Awards has ended at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region with a call on media practitioners to exhibit high professional and ethical standards in order to ensure accuracy and fairness in their reportage. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo who made the call also entreated journalists to desist from making inflammatory statements that tend to heighten tension and create confusion and anarchy in conflict areas such as Bawku. Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has filed this report.
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The event which was organized by Flip Media Consult-Ghana, a media consultancy firm based in Tamale, was attended by various stakeholders including chiefs, departmental heads, heads of security agencies, representatives from civil society organisations, pressure groups among others. It was on the theme: ‘The Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) - A tool for national Development, the Role of the Northern Journalist”. Launching the anniversary, Mr. Woyongo said it behoves on journalists as fourth estate of the realm to refrain from irresponsible journalism to promote peace and development in the profession. He said the Right to Information Bill currently before parliament for debate and passage, is a clear indication of government’s quest to enhance high journalistic standard to enable the practitioners work effectively to increase the flow of information from the government, stressing that, citizens can only make meaningful contribution to national development only if they are well informed. Mr. Woyongo, encourage journalists to see themselves as role models since they are the mouthpiece of the masses. He therefore called on journalists to help project and promote the image of the three Northern Regions through responsible reportage since many resources abound in the region. This, according to Mr. Woyongo would help bring more investors into the north to ensure development. The Managing Director of Flip Media Consult-Ghana, Prince Tawfik Tikum-ma said the rationale for instituting such an award scheme is aimed at rewarding selfless and dedicated journalists in Northern Ghana, who over the years have distinguish themselves diligently in the discharge of the duties. He revealed that the climax of the award scheme which is schedule to take place in Tamale on June, 5, will see hardworking journalists in the north receiving various categories of awards. Mr Tikum-ma said plans are underway to give skill training to journalists in order to enable them meet the challenges confronting the profession and called for the support of individuals and organisations in that direction. The Secretary of GJA, Upper East branch, Mr. George Akambo, condemned the verbal and physical attack on journalists. Mr Akambo entreated the public to appreciate the efforts of journalists so as to encourage them perform their core functions dutifully and effectively for the benefit of all. An appeal for fund was later launched to support the sheme.
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Gov't asked to update beneficiaries on SADA

06-05-2010
Narration: Participants at a day’s regional forum on the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) have expressed grave concern about the lack of citizen’s participation in the draft bill currently before parliament. According to them, the impact of the beneficiaries would make the authorities more belonging .They therefore appealed to parliament to make the draft bill available for the input of the public. The forum organized by SEND-Ghana in partnership with the Northern Development Forum (NDF) held at Bolgatanga, was on the theme: “Realizing the goal of SADA: The Responsibility of government and citizens “Correspondents Abraham Dimmie and Isaac Asare have the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.

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The forum attracted women groups, chiefs, Civil Society Organizations, pressure groups, heads of departments, Representatives of youth organizations, a section of the public and the press. It was aimed at bringing together all key stakeholders to deliberate and provide meaningful contribution and ideas for the smooth implementation of the programme to achieve its desired goal. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, in an address, described the forum as laudable since it is one of the opportunities for government to showcase the roadmap of SADA with the hope of bridging the developmental gap between the savanna zones and the rain forest zone of the country. He stated that government is committed to ensuring that the SADA programme takes off according to plan. In this direction, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning is devoting additional budgetary support of 200 million Ghana Cedis over the next four years to boost investment in value-added production, employment creation, and expansion of strategic infrastructure, emphasizing that under SADA, all inaccessible road networks and bridges linking the three regions of the north would be rehabilitated to maximize the use of fertile lands coupled with the provision of irrigation facilities to address the erratic rainfall pattern and ensure all year farming. This, According to him, would help in reducing poverty among the people and also halt the continuous youth migration down south for non-existing jobs. Mr. Woyongo in response to some of the concerns raised, assured the youth of job creation through SADA since several investors have expressed interest in establishing industries in the three regions of the north. A Representative from NDF, Madam Susuana Mahama, advised residents in Northern Ghana to refrain from conflicts and other negativities but rather learn to support each other to ensure peace and development in the north. She pledged his outfit’s support to the government in ensuring that the bill on SADA is given Parliamentary approval. The programme Officer of SEND-Ghana, Jeremiah Atengdem, in a presentation took participants through the features and strategies of SADA as well as its impact on the three regions of the north including the savanna areas of Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions. Mr. Atengdem called on the government to give current update on work done so far on SADA to alley all doubts, fears and misconception associated with its implementation. Participants during an open forum also expressed dissatisfaction about citizen’s non-involvement in the draft bill and appealed to parliament to accommodate views from beneficiaries before passing the bill into law.
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Upper East Records More Road Accidents

01-05-2010
Number of deaths as a result of road accident has increased dramatically in the Upper East Region. 13 persons have so far been killed through road crashes as at the end of the first quarter of the year. To this effect, the Regional Road Safety Commission with support from World Vision, Ghana has organized a sensitization workshop for the chiefs and people of Pwalungu, a community in the Talensi-Nabdam district. The programme which was aimed at educating motorists on the need to avoid road accidents was attended by a cross section of the public, motor and vehicle drivers, personnel from the police service and the press. Addressing participants, the Regional Road Safety Manager, Alexander Ayatah expressed dissatisfaction about the rate at which people are dying as a result of road accident in the region and called on the general public to join hands in fighting the menace. Mr. Ayata attributed the major causes of road carnage to common human error, fatigue and drunk driving, non-enforcement of laws regarding the usage of crash helmet as stipulated in the 2004 Road Safety Act (683). According to Mr. Ayata, the region as at the beginning of the year has recorded 650 percent rise in the number of deaths as against last year’s figure. He described the situation as unfortunate and worrying despite the numerous road safety campaigns organized in the region. He said the most affected people are the motor and bicycle riders who ride without crash helmets. Mr. Ayata told Radio Ghana that very soon the National Road Safety Commission would introduce into the country speed limits for all commercial vehicles operators since 23 percent of deaths in Ghana are occupants of buses, with 70 percent of men being the most affected. He expressed the hope that the initiative if introduced would help in reducing the rampant road accidents in the country. He tasked the populace to report reckless drivers to the police for appropriate action to be taken. Mr. Ayata also called on individuals and organizations to partner effectively with the Road Safety Commission and its relevant stakeholders in ensuring sanity on our roads to help save life and property, stressing that road safety is a shared and collective responsibility.

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01-05-2010 Presentation of Solar Lamps to health facilities
The Upper East Regional Health Directorate has taken delivery of one hundred Solar Lanterns and four Vestfrost Vaccine fridges for distribution to the various health facilities across the Region. Beneficiary centres include CHP Compounds, clinics, and maternity units of hospitals among other health centres. The donation valued at the cost of 74,000 Ghana cedis is being spearheaded by SINGh-Ghana, a subsidiary of Afrikids in partnership with Northlite Solar, a locally based Renewable and Sustainable Solar Services Provider. The presentation funded by the Australian High Commission was aimed at improving health care delivery in various health centres at the rural communities. It is also to provide alternative source of energy to community nurses to enable them contribute meaningfully towards the development of human resources at the community level. Receiving the items, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Koku Awoonor -Williams thanked the donors for their contribution towards improving better health for the people in the region. Dr Awoonor-Williams indicated that 45 health facilities in the region had earlier on benefited from the directorate’s package of solar lamps. This he said forms part of the directorates’ effort to improving working environment and equipment situation at the various facilities. Additionally, 27 compounds are receiving service delivery equipment package including beds from the Ghana Health Services. The initiative is in line with the service policy to strengthen CHP Compounds capacity to deliver community based essential health services to the public. Dr. Awoonor Williams pledged his outfit’s unflinching support for the young community health officers manning the various CHP Compounds across the region to enable them stay at post without travelling long distances to access light. Dr Awoonor-Williams also expressed the directorates mandate to achieving zero maternal mortality at the various health facilities through capacity building of CHP nurses and compounds among others. He emphasized that the training of health staff and upgrading of health infrastructure and equipments would be taken into consideration to effectively enhance health care delivery in the region. The Australian High Commission Representative, Mr. Frank Adabre in his presentation said the Australian High Commission is committed to bringing more facilities to the region if the solar lamps and torch lights are used efficiently.
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