20-11-2010
The Executive Director Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Agency (IDDICA), William Kwasi Kuditey, has recommended the sale and usage of adequately iodized salt for consumption, since its absence or inadequacies has severe consequences on the human body, thus affecting the economy at large. According to him, Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) makes most working men and women slow in thinking and reduce their performance. This, he said, does not only make them unproductive but also cause the nation to lose about 27 million dollars annually. Mr. Kuditey, made the disclosure during an Iodine Sensitization Programme held at Nayorigo Primary School in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region. The sensitization programme was jointly organised by the Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Agency and the Foods and Drugs Board (FDB), brought together a cross section of the public, students and pupils, as well as representatives from the district health and education directorate. The Executive Director, Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Agency, Mr. William Kwasi Kuditey in a presentation advised Ghanaians particularly, women to patronize only adequately iodated salt on the markets for consumption. He said the use of rocky and non-iodated salt can lead to unpleasant consequences including infant mortality, brain damages as well as lower intelligent quotient among students. This, he said, contributes to the continuous fallen standard of education, and poor working performance in the country. Mr. Kuditey mentioned the Bongo and Jirapa Districts as the two most endemic areas when it comes to Iodine Deficiency Disorders. These two districts recorded low iodine level with high prevalence of iodine deficiency according to a baseline study conducted on adults and children between the ages of 6-12 years in 2007. He said in Sub-Saharan Africa, only Nigeria was able to increase cooking with iodated salts to 97 percent, almost hitting the maximum of 100 percent set by the United Nations, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo at 79 percent. Only 32 percent of Ghanaians, he added, cook with iodized salt. A Representative from the Regional Office of the FDB, Mr. Zakaria Braimah hinted that plans are far advance to halt the sale and importation of non-iodized salts into the region in order to achieve the Universal Salt Iodization Goal of at least 90 percent households consuming only adequately iodized salts. He expressed his outfit’s preparedness to mobilize the needed resources and personnel to clamp down on perpetrators. Mr. Braimah, however, entreated residents in the area to be cautious of salts they buy from the markets and stick to preventive measures of patronizing iodized salts for consumption since its consequences are enormous and irreversible. A representative from the Nutrition Unit of the District Health Directorate, Mumuni Abdul Jaleel, outlined most of the health implications associated with the consumption of non-iodized salts and called on the people to constantly patronize only adequately iodized salts for good health. This he noted would help improve upon the academic performance of students in the area. Pupils at the Nayoriogo primary school who were later presented with iodized salt containers and school bags
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Inauguration of Solar Water Purifier At Anaafobiisi Primary
A team of young graduate engineers from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (CEESD), an NGO have provided pupils of Annafobiisi Primary School in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region with a solar water purifier for the treatment of fluoride contamination in their source of drinking water. The commissioning and handing over ceremony of the project which took place at the school premises is being supported by Vodafone foundation through the World of Difference Programme. The inauguration of the water solar distillation unit which is the first of its kind in the region attracted various community members including traditional chiefs drawn from Bongo and its catchment area. Representatives from Vodafone foundation, the District Health Directorate and the Ghana Education Service were present to grace the occassion. The Bongo district was chose for the said project due to the high incidence of fluoride in their source of drinking water, which are mainly hand dug wells and boreholes. As a result of the high fluoride contamination in their water, most people particularly children between the ages of 1-5 years have unpleasant colourization of the teeth with health and others social implications. The colourization of the teeth which often make it brown and black is known in medical terms as ‘flourosis’. The provision of the solar water purifier is therefore aimed at addressing the issue of dental flourosis in the district. The facility which is an apparatus that makes use of the sun radiation to generate steam from liquid water and subsequently condenses the steam into pure distilled water is capable of providing a litre of water to each pupil at the Anaafobiisi School. One of the initiators of the project who is also an it expert, Mr Frank Mensah said the project tagged ‘SOWDA’ is expected to yield positive results since samples of the distillate have been analyzed, approved and declared by the Ghana water Company Limited as safe for drinking. The results of the samples he indicated show very low concentration of fluoride ions, far below the accepted Ghana/WHO standards for drinking water. Mr. Mensah said in cases where there are excessive concentrations of fluoride ions, the ions will be left in the residue while the distillate will be free from any contamination. On the issue of sustainability, he said personnel have been trained to maintain and repair the facility when it develops any fault. The Regional Coordinator for Vodafone in-charge of the three northern regions, Abdul Majeed Inusa, pledged his outfit continuous support to towards the realization of its set objective and appealed to the beneficiaries to help prolong its lifespan. The headmaster of Annafobiisi Primary School, Mr. Atabire Joseph Ayamga was grateful to the young graduate engineers for putting their knowledge and skills to the benefit of mankind. He pledged to put the facility to good since it has come to address some of the health challenges affecting the community and the district in general
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Education in Bunkpurugu Yunyoo District under threat
21-11-2010
Education in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district in the Northern Region is said to be under threat due to the continuous ethnic and chieftaincy conflict in the area. To this effect most schools are at the verge of collapse as school enrollment has reduced to the barest minimum. The District Director of Education, Mr. J.B Dakorah who disclosed this to Radio Ghana said most people particularly, pupils as a result of the conflict had fled to neighbouring Togo to seek refuge with their friends and relatives. He described the conflict in the area as devastating, since it has claimed lives and properties with houses burned down rendering most people homeless. This, he said, has brought about insecurity, poverty, deprivation and a general setback to development particularly, on education. According to Mr Dakor, 24 schools within the Dekperu, Nadong, Nakuk and its catchment area have been greatly affected by the conflict. This he added has had serious consequences on school attendance, educational infrastructure and psychological trauma among pupils. School enrollment over the years has not been encouraging as most teachers had refused to accept postings to district to teach. Most qualifies tutors including teaching assistants have also relocated to safer areas waiting for calm to return to the area. A circuit Supervisor, Mr. Evans Dramani, who also spoke to Radio Ghana said school attendance in 11 primary schools with 1,800 pupils comprising 885 boys and 915 girls, have greatly reduced. According to him, to a little above 50 percent of the said student population in the Binde North Circuit, now attend to school. Mr. Dramani appealed to the security authorities to prevent school children from crossing the country’s borders to neighbouring towns and cities. He commended the Catholic Church for its role in the maintenance of peace in the district and called on others to help in that direction. He appealed to his chiefs, traditional authorities and colleague teachers to preach peace to their subjects to help ensure development. Mr. Dramani also called on the feuding factions involve in the conflict to bury their differences and prohibit violence in all forms.
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Education in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district in the Northern Region is said to be under threat due to the continuous ethnic and chieftaincy conflict in the area. To this effect most schools are at the verge of collapse as school enrollment has reduced to the barest minimum. The District Director of Education, Mr. J.B Dakorah who disclosed this to Radio Ghana said most people particularly, pupils as a result of the conflict had fled to neighbouring Togo to seek refuge with their friends and relatives. He described the conflict in the area as devastating, since it has claimed lives and properties with houses burned down rendering most people homeless. This, he said, has brought about insecurity, poverty, deprivation and a general setback to development particularly, on education. According to Mr Dakor, 24 schools within the Dekperu, Nadong, Nakuk and its catchment area have been greatly affected by the conflict. This he added has had serious consequences on school attendance, educational infrastructure and psychological trauma among pupils. School enrollment over the years has not been encouraging as most teachers had refused to accept postings to district to teach. Most qualifies tutors including teaching assistants have also relocated to safer areas waiting for calm to return to the area. A circuit Supervisor, Mr. Evans Dramani, who also spoke to Radio Ghana said school attendance in 11 primary schools with 1,800 pupils comprising 885 boys and 915 girls, have greatly reduced. According to him, to a little above 50 percent of the said student population in the Binde North Circuit, now attend to school. Mr. Dramani appealed to the security authorities to prevent school children from crossing the country’s borders to neighbouring towns and cities. He commended the Catholic Church for its role in the maintenance of peace in the district and called on others to help in that direction. He appealed to his chiefs, traditional authorities and colleague teachers to preach peace to their subjects to help ensure development. Mr. Dramani also called on the feuding factions involve in the conflict to bury their differences and prohibit violence in all forms.
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Peace Building Education Workshop for Teachers
20-11-2010
Narration: About 5,000 persons have been displaced with some rendered homeless over the past five years as a result of ethnic based conflicts in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district of the Northern Region. Moreover, 24 lives have been lost with over 1,000 houses have been burnt down within the same period. In view of these unfortunate occurrences, the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese Development Office (NAVOCADO) has organized a 2-day Peace Building Education Workshop for some selected teachers in conflict communities in the district. The workshop which is being supported by Dialogue and Advocacy for Good Governance (DDAG) is geared at promoting peace and co-existence among all the ethnic divides in the area. Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has come through with this report.
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Participants including teachers and assembly members drawn from the various conflict zones in the district were taken through topics such as “the role of the diocese in conflict reduction and peace building”, the effect of conflict in education in the district and the “church’s perspective in the concept of conflict and peace building” among others. The workshop which was however organized to help participants appreciate the enormity of the conflict situation in the area, brought to fore emerging issues and causes of the increasing occurrences of conflict that has characterized the area within the past five years. Some of the causes identified include land ownership and use, loyalty to chiefdoms, unclear land boundaries, lack of chieftaincy succession schemes and poor traditional leadership structures. Political patronage which is the influence of politics on resource allocation and leadership power was also identified as a major challenge resulting to conflict in the district. The Acting Development Co-ordinator of Navrongo –Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, Mr. Joseph Ayambillah, said the conflict in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district over the years has brought untold hardship to people living in the area with women and children being the most affected. He said many people resident in the district has fled to neigbouring Togo as a result of undue tension in the area and appealed to the feuding factions to smoke the peace pipe t bring development and brotherliness among the people. This year’s conflict, he noted has recorded 11 deaths with 4463 people displaced and 442 houses razed down by fire. Mr. Ayambilla outlined various intervention adopted by his outfit to bring lasting peace to the area. He mentioned community sensitization and the formation of peace building clubs and committees as some of the interventional measures. Mr. Ayambilla therefore called on teachers in conflict communities of the district to inculcate in their students the relevance of peaceful co-existence and the act of forgiveness. This, he explained, would help erase pain, anger and hatred from students who have fallen victim to the conflict. A facilitator from the Catholic Education Unit, Mr. Daniel Akanyani Abambilla the church and teachers are strong forces for conflict reduction in communities ,hence the need for them to teach people high moral values, and more importantly the need for acceptance, adjustment and reconciliation. He also called for dialogue and mediation among persons involved in the conflict to prevent more lost of lives and properties and pledged on the church’s support in that direction. The District Director of education, Mr. J.B Dakora, whose speech was read for him, commended the Catholic diocese for the peace initiative and appealed to the chiefs, clans and groups in conflict to re-unite and find an amicable solution to the long ethnic and chieftaincy dispute since it is having a downward trend on education in the district.
Narration: About 5,000 persons have been displaced with some rendered homeless over the past five years as a result of ethnic based conflicts in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district of the Northern Region. Moreover, 24 lives have been lost with over 1,000 houses have been burnt down within the same period. In view of these unfortunate occurrences, the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese Development Office (NAVOCADO) has organized a 2-day Peace Building Education Workshop for some selected teachers in conflict communities in the district. The workshop which is being supported by Dialogue and Advocacy for Good Governance (DDAG) is geared at promoting peace and co-existence among all the ethnic divides in the area. Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has come through with this report.
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Participants including teachers and assembly members drawn from the various conflict zones in the district were taken through topics such as “the role of the diocese in conflict reduction and peace building”, the effect of conflict in education in the district and the “church’s perspective in the concept of conflict and peace building” among others. The workshop which was however organized to help participants appreciate the enormity of the conflict situation in the area, brought to fore emerging issues and causes of the increasing occurrences of conflict that has characterized the area within the past five years. Some of the causes identified include land ownership and use, loyalty to chiefdoms, unclear land boundaries, lack of chieftaincy succession schemes and poor traditional leadership structures. Political patronage which is the influence of politics on resource allocation and leadership power was also identified as a major challenge resulting to conflict in the district. The Acting Development Co-ordinator of Navrongo –Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, Mr. Joseph Ayambillah, said the conflict in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district over the years has brought untold hardship to people living in the area with women and children being the most affected. He said many people resident in the district has fled to neigbouring Togo as a result of undue tension in the area and appealed to the feuding factions to smoke the peace pipe t bring development and brotherliness among the people. This year’s conflict, he noted has recorded 11 deaths with 4463 people displaced and 442 houses razed down by fire. Mr. Ayambilla outlined various intervention adopted by his outfit to bring lasting peace to the area. He mentioned community sensitization and the formation of peace building clubs and committees as some of the interventional measures. Mr. Ayambilla therefore called on teachers in conflict communities of the district to inculcate in their students the relevance of peaceful co-existence and the act of forgiveness. This, he explained, would help erase pain, anger and hatred from students who have fallen victim to the conflict. A facilitator from the Catholic Education Unit, Mr. Daniel Akanyani Abambilla the church and teachers are strong forces for conflict reduction in communities ,hence the need for them to teach people high moral values, and more importantly the need for acceptance, adjustment and reconciliation. He also called for dialogue and mediation among persons involved in the conflict to prevent more lost of lives and properties and pledged on the church’s support in that direction. The District Director of education, Mr. J.B Dakora, whose speech was read for him, commended the Catholic diocese for the peace initiative and appealed to the chiefs, clans and groups in conflict to re-unite and find an amicable solution to the long ethnic and chieftaincy dispute since it is having a downward trend on education in the district.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Regional Launch of Measles Campaign
30-10-10 In its quest to improve the health of its citizenry, Government has provided 3.5million Ghana Health Service to under take a campaign on measles immunization in the country. This was disclosed by the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni, during the regional launch of the Integrated Measles Supplementary Immunization Campaign at Widana in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East region on the theme: “Measles Can Kill, Immunize Your Child Now”. The exercise which will start on the 3- 6 of next month, is targeted at children between the age group of 9 months to 5 years as a strategy by government to ensure the country meets the goal of the African Union to eliminate measles by the year 2020. The exercise is also targeting about 274,409 children in the Upper East Region. In addition to the measles immunization, the children who were not dosed in the Upper East Region with the Vitamin A during its exercise will be given the dose so that every child in the Region will be guaranteed with good health. The Deputy Regional Minister urged everyone to learn and know about the disease and also take measures to prevent people from getting measles, and eliminating it within the shortest possible time. Mrs. Lucy Awuni appealed to the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health to strengthen the capacity of the Reference Laboratory in Tamale to serve the three Northern Regions, to reduce the delays and cost of sending specimen to Accra for laboratory examination. She also stressed that health service providers should be trained on Management of adverse events following immunization so that they would better manage the conditions. The Deputy Regional Director of Public Health Service, James Akpabli, said measles is a virus that is transmitted by direct or through airborne droplets when an infected person sneezes, cough or talk. He said that when one is infected there is an incubation period of 9 – 12 days before symptoms such as fever, irritability, red eye; difficulties in seeing through light, coughing and nasal discharge are seen. He cautioned the public that, though measles is a childhood disease, it can also occur at any age especially in areas such as the Upper East Region when it is introduced by an infected person. In pregnant women he lamented that it could cause an abortion or death in the womb of the foetus. Addressing the public, the Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, Musah Abdulai, urged parents not to shirk their responsibilities and appealed to men not to see the health issues of the children as the sole responsibility of women because fathers also have a role to play to ensure total immunization of the children. Representatives from the Health Services of both Togo and Burkina Faso were there to witness the event.
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LAUNCHING OF UPPER EAST ALL LADIES BAND
04-11-2010 Narration: Government and for that matter stakeholders in the music and entertainment industry, have been challenged to help fashion out very stringent censorship legislature that will protect and guard the youth against profanity on the airwaves. The Bolgatanga Municipal chief Executive, Epsona Ayamga, who made the call at the launch of the All-Ladies Band at Bolgatanga, said the move when enforced would instill sanity and decency in the entertainment industry. Correspondent Isaac Asare was at the launch and has filed this story for Radio Ghana.
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The launching ceremony dubbed ‘Music Project’, attracted a cross section of the public, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Departmental heads as well as representatives from the security agencies among others. The All ladies Music Project initiated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Women Awareness Training Centre, Mrs. Mary Bosombel, is to replace the Uppers International Band which was the first to be established in the Upper East Region. The Uppers Band which dates back to the late 70s was originated by the late A.A Ampofo, popularly known as ‘Kofi Charlie’ the then Upper East Regional Administrative Officer during the Col. I.K Acheampong’s regime. While the band was a mixture of men and women, the All-Ladies band is however, an all- female affair. Under the said project, women are encouraged to learn how to use and play musical instruments through training by experts. This will afford the young ladies the opportunity to exhibit and discover their inherent talents. The music project goes beyond the handling of the musical instruments since they would be taught lessons in ICT, Mathematics and English free of charge. The project also seeks to discourage the north-south migration typical of the teenage girls, who through poverty and deceit travel down south to engage in non existing jobs. The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Harry Epsona Ayamga, stressed the importance of music and dance describing it as an aspect of culture and socialization. He said the economic importance and music and dance in the Ghanaian society today cannot be over emphasized hence the need to handle it with care and decency. Mr. Epsona Ayamga encouraged the ladies to take advantage of the opportunity given them. He cautioned them against the production of profane music since it impacts negatively on the youth and also have the tendency of influencing negative public behaviours in society. The formation of the all-ladies band he noted is yet another testimony to the fact that women have the potential to compete with their men folks hence the need for adequate financial and logistical support. He expressed worry about certain unacceptable lyrics and scenes on the airwaves and challenged the government and other stakeholders in the music and entertainment industry to help rectify the situation. The Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Awareness Centre, Mrs. Mary Bosombel in a short statement said her outfit is into the training of skills acquisition in dressmaking hairdressing, masonry, batik tie and dye, carpentry and other vocational activities with school drop-outs being the targeted individuals. The establishment of the All-ladies band would create an employment opportunity for some disadvantage girls in the region and called on public assistance to see them through. Some hiplife artistes including Wuta, Mzbel and Reggie Zippy were there to grace the occasion.
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The launching ceremony dubbed ‘Music Project’, attracted a cross section of the public, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Departmental heads as well as representatives from the security agencies among others. The All ladies Music Project initiated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Women Awareness Training Centre, Mrs. Mary Bosombel, is to replace the Uppers International Band which was the first to be established in the Upper East Region. The Uppers Band which dates back to the late 70s was originated by the late A.A Ampofo, popularly known as ‘Kofi Charlie’ the then Upper East Regional Administrative Officer during the Col. I.K Acheampong’s regime. While the band was a mixture of men and women, the All-Ladies band is however, an all- female affair. Under the said project, women are encouraged to learn how to use and play musical instruments through training by experts. This will afford the young ladies the opportunity to exhibit and discover their inherent talents. The music project goes beyond the handling of the musical instruments since they would be taught lessons in ICT, Mathematics and English free of charge. The project also seeks to discourage the north-south migration typical of the teenage girls, who through poverty and deceit travel down south to engage in non existing jobs. The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Harry Epsona Ayamga, stressed the importance of music and dance describing it as an aspect of culture and socialization. He said the economic importance and music and dance in the Ghanaian society today cannot be over emphasized hence the need to handle it with care and decency. Mr. Epsona Ayamga encouraged the ladies to take advantage of the opportunity given them. He cautioned them against the production of profane music since it impacts negatively on the youth and also have the tendency of influencing negative public behaviours in society. The formation of the all-ladies band he noted is yet another testimony to the fact that women have the potential to compete with their men folks hence the need for adequate financial and logistical support. He expressed worry about certain unacceptable lyrics and scenes on the airwaves and challenged the government and other stakeholders in the music and entertainment industry to help rectify the situation. The Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Awareness Centre, Mrs. Mary Bosombel in a short statement said her outfit is into the training of skills acquisition in dressmaking hairdressing, masonry, batik tie and dye, carpentry and other vocational activities with school drop-outs being the targeted individuals. The establishment of the All-ladies band would create an employment opportunity for some disadvantage girls in the region and called on public assistance to see them through. Some hiplife artistes including Wuta, Mzbel and Reggie Zippy were there to grace the occasion.
Manhunt for allege robber and killer
30-10-2010 The Northern and Upper East Regional Police Commands are on the look out for the allege notorious armed robber and killer, Johnson Soloma Kombia, who is said to have shot and killed two policemen on patrol duties at Nankpanduri in the Northern Region last Sunday. 17 suspected persons including a woman have been held by the police for their allege involvement in the activities of the Soloma Kombia and are due for screening and questioning. Meanwhile intelligence report gathered by the joint police force indicates that the said criminal is hiding in neighbouring Togo. These came to light during a press briefing by the Upper East Regional Police Commander, ACP Bright Oduro at Bolgatanga. According to him the criminal activities of Kombia, popularly known as ‘Burger’ is not only confined to the Northern Region alone but stretches into the Upper East Region and in particular the Garu Tempane –Bawku areas where he has been responsible for several incidents of motor bikes snatching at gun points. He said the Upper East Regional Police command is interested in the recapture of Kombia because he has his roots in the Upper East adding that his father who hails from Nanpkanduri in the Northern Region also has lineage to the twin villages of Davorga and Danugu in the Garu Tempane District where his mother comes from. He described his recapture as crucial and significant to the effect that 25 additional operational policemen from Accra has been invited to ensure his arrest. The aim he said is to hunt him down, cut links with those in Nankpanduri and nearby villages who have been collaborating and providing information to him on police movement and intensions by arresting them for questioning and also arrest his accomplices. He denied media publications that the police went to Nankpanduri to brutalise innocent people, and explained that the move was to meant surprisingly to clamp down on Kombien from his hide out the operation was done upon a tip off by an informant. He called on residents of Nakpanduri to exercise restraints whilst they put up measures to effect the arrest of Kombien, who he termed as a torn in the flesh of the police and the people of Northern and Upper East region. He called on residents in the two regions to give out information to the police to help arrest the criminal. ACP Oduro said a price tag of 5,000 Ghana Cedis has been placed on the suspected criminal for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of Kombia.
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Bawku Students Union Calls For Reconciliation Process in Bawku
31-10-2010
Members of the Bawku Students Union of the of the university of Development Studies, UDS Navrongo Campus are appealing to the various stakeholders in the Bawku peace process not to rest on their oars until permanent peace is restored in the area. According to them, all efforts must be made to ensure that the once boisterous northern commercial town is free from all retaliatory violence and attacks though residents are experiencing relative calm in the area. This was contained in a release signed by the President of the union, David Aladogo, at Bolgatanga. The released said Bawku students of the UDS and elsewhere see themselves as one people irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political background. It further called on residents of the Bawku Municipality to emulate their sterling example by coming together to reconcile in love to salvage Bawku from its current developmental status to a higher height. This, release explained, would prove to the outside world that Bawku is capable of maintaining peace and development. It also appealed to institutions and individuals who had flee the area due to the past conflict to return home and contribute their quota to the development of Bawku and the region in general. The Ghana education Service the release stated should consider posting more teachers to Bawku since most school in the municipality lack teachers due to the conflict. The union also appealed to the government to come to the aid of the good people of Bawku by organizing skill-training programmes for the idle youth of the area so that their energies can be directed towards productive ventures. The release also showed appreciation to the various stakeholders in the peace process for their role in maintaining the relative peace in the municipality.
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Members of the Bawku Students Union of the of the university of Development Studies, UDS Navrongo Campus are appealing to the various stakeholders in the Bawku peace process not to rest on their oars until permanent peace is restored in the area. According to them, all efforts must be made to ensure that the once boisterous northern commercial town is free from all retaliatory violence and attacks though residents are experiencing relative calm in the area. This was contained in a release signed by the President of the union, David Aladogo, at Bolgatanga. The released said Bawku students of the UDS and elsewhere see themselves as one people irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political background. It further called on residents of the Bawku Municipality to emulate their sterling example by coming together to reconcile in love to salvage Bawku from its current developmental status to a higher height. This, release explained, would prove to the outside world that Bawku is capable of maintaining peace and development. It also appealed to institutions and individuals who had flee the area due to the past conflict to return home and contribute their quota to the development of Bawku and the region in general. The Ghana education Service the release stated should consider posting more teachers to Bawku since most school in the municipality lack teachers due to the conflict. The union also appealed to the government to come to the aid of the good people of Bawku by organizing skill-training programmes for the idle youth of the area so that their energies can be directed towards productive ventures. The release also showed appreciation to the various stakeholders in the peace process for their role in maintaining the relative peace in the municipality.
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Man dies over goat meat
01-11-10 A 30 year old farmer, Adamu Adama, resident at Nakong Tingbane, a village near Pusiga in the Bawku East District of the Upper East Region, has been charged for the murder of Baba Abunkundug, over a goat meat. According to the Public Relations Officer of the Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector, Thomas Agbanyo, both the accused and the deceased some few weeks ago, were among a group of people who went to worship the fetish god “Tingbane” in Nakong as part of their annual ritual to show appreciation to the god for its guidance and protection. The annual festivity is done with sacrificial activities to pacify and appease the fetish god. According to Chief Inspector Agbanyo, after the sacrificial goat has been slaughtered for ritual purposes and the carcass has been cooked, a quarrel ensued between the accused Adamu and the deceased, Baba Abunkudug, 24 over the goat meat. During the scuffle, the deceased was mercilessly beaten because the accused had the upper hand in terms of strength. The deceased after the assault was rushed to Akanye Clinic at Pusiga, a village near Bawku and finally referred to the Bawku Hospital where he died. The deceased Baba Abunkudug died at exactly 7.00pm on the 23rd of September, 2010. The accused was apparently arrested and would be put before the Bawku Circuit court for prosecution over the murder of his colleague. Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Bolgatanga Regional Morgue for autopsy.
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War Memorial Hospital Receive Insecticide Treated Bed Nets
03-1-2010
Authorities at the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital have taken delivery of treated insecticides bed nets valued at the cost of 3,000 Ghana Cedis at a ceremony held at the hospital premises in Navrongo. The donation was done on behalf of the Kassena Development Lead, a benevolent non-governmental Kassena-Nankana youth group based in the UK. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo who was the guest to witness the presentation said the provision of the bed nets would go a long way to prevent Malaria and other related diseases at the hospital. He commended the group for their exemplary leadership and urged others to emulate their shining examples. He appealed to the hospital authorities to equitably distribute the items among residents of both Kassena-Nankana East and West, in order to ensure transparency and fairness, which he said is the hallmark for development. Making the presentation, the youth organizer of the group, Mr. Kasise Pwamang said the presentation forms part of his outfit’s determination to reach out to the poor and vulnerable in society adding that the insecticide treated bednets would help reduce maternal and infant mortality particularly, among pregnant women and children as a result of malaria and other related illnesses. Mr. Pwamang noted that his colleagues are poised to support their various communities in the two districts and have therefore put in place measures to address some of the challenges in the districts and the region at large. He entreated the hospital authorities to use the items for its intended purposes so as to achieve their desired objective. A Medical Superintendent at the War Memorial Hospital, Dr Abdullai Forgor, was grateful for the gesture and called for support in addressing other daunting challenges confronting the hospital. He said lack of portable water, irregular power supply and inadequate medical equipments among others, poses a major challenge to the hospital. Dr Forgor, however charged other benevolent societies and organisations to come to the aid of the hospital so as to ensure adequate healthcare delivery in the district.
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Authorities at the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital have taken delivery of treated insecticides bed nets valued at the cost of 3,000 Ghana Cedis at a ceremony held at the hospital premises in Navrongo. The donation was done on behalf of the Kassena Development Lead, a benevolent non-governmental Kassena-Nankana youth group based in the UK. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo who was the guest to witness the presentation said the provision of the bed nets would go a long way to prevent Malaria and other related diseases at the hospital. He commended the group for their exemplary leadership and urged others to emulate their shining examples. He appealed to the hospital authorities to equitably distribute the items among residents of both Kassena-Nankana East and West, in order to ensure transparency and fairness, which he said is the hallmark for development. Making the presentation, the youth organizer of the group, Mr. Kasise Pwamang said the presentation forms part of his outfit’s determination to reach out to the poor and vulnerable in society adding that the insecticide treated bednets would help reduce maternal and infant mortality particularly, among pregnant women and children as a result of malaria and other related illnesses. Mr. Pwamang noted that his colleagues are poised to support their various communities in the two districts and have therefore put in place measures to address some of the challenges in the districts and the region at large. He entreated the hospital authorities to use the items for its intended purposes so as to achieve their desired objective. A Medical Superintendent at the War Memorial Hospital, Dr Abdullai Forgor, was grateful for the gesture and called for support in addressing other daunting challenges confronting the hospital. He said lack of portable water, irregular power supply and inadequate medical equipments among others, poses a major challenge to the hospital. Dr Forgor, however charged other benevolent societies and organisations to come to the aid of the hospital so as to ensure adequate healthcare delivery in the district.
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UPPER EAST @ 50 AND NAFAC 2010 CELEBRATION
02-11-2010
Narration: Parents have been recommended to encourage their wards to take maximum interest in all activities related to arts and culture. This will help enlighten the minds of the children in making them conscious of their cultural heritage, which is an indispensable condition for the nation’s identity and survival. The Upper East Regional Director, Centre for National Culture, Kombat Fuzzy made the call at the opening of a 5-day long district and regional festival held at Bolgatanga on the theme: Promoting unity Technology and Wealth creation for a better Ghana: the Role of the youth IN Nation Building. The event is being organized in preparation towards this year’s National Festival of Arts and culture (NAFAC) which is slated to take place in Tamale, this month. Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has come through with this report.
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The festival also forms part of activities marking the upcoming 50th anniversary celebration of the Upper East Region. It is therefore aimed to enhance the rich and endowed cultural heritage of the people in the three regions of the north. Cultural activities including traditional cultural dances and drama among others are performed by representatives drawn from the nine districts of the region. This is in line with the roadmap of NAFAC 2010, which is schedule to take place on the 20-27 of this month in Tamale, the Northern Regional Capital. Winners in the drama and dance competitions would be automatically selected to participate in the upcoming event which is poised to receive massive participation from representatives across the 1o regions of the country. The Regional Festival of Arts and Culture was slated for 1st to 5th of this month at Bolgatanga but could not come off due to financial and logistical constraints. The Regional Director, Centre for National Culture, Mr. Kombat Fuzzy, bemoaned the state at which the youth have lost and ignored their moral and cultural values as a result of what he termed strange foreign culture. He said the lives of the youth are being endangered and are also imbued to the notion that their cultural heritage is nothing to be proud of. Most children still do not appreciate the relevance of their own arts and culture. They are made to hold high, certain foreign cultural values, thus, abandoning their own culture which is embedded with folklores, traditional dances and songs as well as attire for traditional occasions. He therefore charged parents to inculcate in their children high moral values and culture to help maintain dignity and respect in society. Mr. Fuzzy also appealed to the government to help complete the only theatre complex in the region which he noted is still at the foundation stage after several changes of government. He moreover, called for collaborative support in the management of the region’s craft village. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, said the region’s upcoming event could be celebrated in grand style only if it is given the needed support and cooperation. He therefore charged residents of the region to play their expected role in ensuring that the event is celebrated in pump and pageantry. He said his Excellency, Prof. John Evans Attah Mills among other dignitaries would be in the region to grace the occasion. The Builsa District Chief Executive, Mr. Norbert Awulley in a brief message, advised residents living outside the region to return home and participate in this historic occasion
Narration: Parents have been recommended to encourage their wards to take maximum interest in all activities related to arts and culture. This will help enlighten the minds of the children in making them conscious of their cultural heritage, which is an indispensable condition for the nation’s identity and survival. The Upper East Regional Director, Centre for National Culture, Kombat Fuzzy made the call at the opening of a 5-day long district and regional festival held at Bolgatanga on the theme: Promoting unity Technology and Wealth creation for a better Ghana: the Role of the youth IN Nation Building. The event is being organized in preparation towards this year’s National Festival of Arts and culture (NAFAC) which is slated to take place in Tamale, this month. Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has come through with this report.
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The festival also forms part of activities marking the upcoming 50th anniversary celebration of the Upper East Region. It is therefore aimed to enhance the rich and endowed cultural heritage of the people in the three regions of the north. Cultural activities including traditional cultural dances and drama among others are performed by representatives drawn from the nine districts of the region. This is in line with the roadmap of NAFAC 2010, which is schedule to take place on the 20-27 of this month in Tamale, the Northern Regional Capital. Winners in the drama and dance competitions would be automatically selected to participate in the upcoming event which is poised to receive massive participation from representatives across the 1o regions of the country. The Regional Festival of Arts and Culture was slated for 1st to 5th of this month at Bolgatanga but could not come off due to financial and logistical constraints. The Regional Director, Centre for National Culture, Mr. Kombat Fuzzy, bemoaned the state at which the youth have lost and ignored their moral and cultural values as a result of what he termed strange foreign culture. He said the lives of the youth are being endangered and are also imbued to the notion that their cultural heritage is nothing to be proud of. Most children still do not appreciate the relevance of their own arts and culture. They are made to hold high, certain foreign cultural values, thus, abandoning their own culture which is embedded with folklores, traditional dances and songs as well as attire for traditional occasions. He therefore charged parents to inculcate in their children high moral values and culture to help maintain dignity and respect in society. Mr. Fuzzy also appealed to the government to help complete the only theatre complex in the region which he noted is still at the foundation stage after several changes of government. He moreover, called for collaborative support in the management of the region’s craft village. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, said the region’s upcoming event could be celebrated in grand style only if it is given the needed support and cooperation. He therefore charged residents of the region to play their expected role in ensuring that the event is celebrated in pump and pageantry. He said his Excellency, Prof. John Evans Attah Mills among other dignitaries would be in the region to grace the occasion. The Builsa District Chief Executive, Mr. Norbert Awulley in a brief message, advised residents living outside the region to return home and participate in this historic occasion
BAARE YOUTH DAA FESTIVAL CELEBRATED
04-11-2010 Narration: The Traditional Chief of Baare, a farming community in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region, Naab Nyaakora Mantii, has declared a permanent ban on record playing and dances after 6.00p.m during funeral festivities. This, he noted, is due to the fact that school children in the community and its catchment area have taken undue advantage of such occasions to indulge in absurd and immoral activities. He said the unfortunate trend has had a serious adverse effect on the academic performance of students in the area. Naab Mantii made the pronouncement at the climax of this year’s Baare Youth Daa Festival Celebrated by the Chiefs and People of the Baare. Correspondent Isaac Asare witnessed the ceremony and has the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.
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This year’s Baare Youth Daa Festival on the theme: “Wealth creation, the role of the Individual” brought together sons and daughters of the Baare as well as teachers and district directors of Education among other dignitaries. The annual festival is celebrated by the chiefs and natives of Baare and all other Talensi’s to give thanks to their ancestors and gods for a prosperous farming season and to appeal for good health and abundant harvest the next season. It is usually climaxed with traditional music and dances to show sign of unity, love and appreciation to the gods. The Traditional Chief of Baare, Naab Nyaakora Mantii used the occasion to outlined challenges facing his community. He expressed concern about the lack of discipline on the part of the youth in society and called for attitudinal change to address the problem. He was not happy about the continuous fallen standard of education in the area and attributed it to a number of factors, including lack of reading and learning. He said students are now use to attending public functions and festivities at the neglect of their books. This, according to him is contributing to the decline in the educational ladder of the country and called on policy makers to help stem the trend. Naab Maanti therefore declared a ban on record dances during funerals in Baare and called on teachers to instill discipline in their children and also inculcate in them good learning habits so as to ensure effective teaching and learning. He also called for the extension of electricity to most parts of the community. The President of the Baare Youth association, Abel Balamguyetime said his outfit aims at fostering unity among the youth and to an extend channel their youthful energy resource to bring development to the community. The association though established two years ago, has been able to undertake developmental activities in the area. He mentioned free extra classes, awards scheme for best performed students and repair of road damages as some of the successes chalked by the association. Mr Balaguyetime described Baare as a tourist potential area and called on the public to patronize these untapped resources. He appealed to the government to help undertake more developmental projects in the area since its one of the biggest communities in terms of land mass. A lecturer at the UDS, Navrongo Campus, Mr. Lun Yin Volemkatmi Donatus UDS, educated participants on how to break the cycles of poverty through wealth creation. This he said could be done by improving upon their financial capabilities. Awards were later given to some deserving students who excelled in the 2009/2010 BECE. Quiz competitions were also organized to climax the occasion.
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This year’s Baare Youth Daa Festival on the theme: “Wealth creation, the role of the Individual” brought together sons and daughters of the Baare as well as teachers and district directors of Education among other dignitaries. The annual festival is celebrated by the chiefs and natives of Baare and all other Talensi’s to give thanks to their ancestors and gods for a prosperous farming season and to appeal for good health and abundant harvest the next season. It is usually climaxed with traditional music and dances to show sign of unity, love and appreciation to the gods. The Traditional Chief of Baare, Naab Nyaakora Mantii used the occasion to outlined challenges facing his community. He expressed concern about the lack of discipline on the part of the youth in society and called for attitudinal change to address the problem. He was not happy about the continuous fallen standard of education in the area and attributed it to a number of factors, including lack of reading and learning. He said students are now use to attending public functions and festivities at the neglect of their books. This, according to him is contributing to the decline in the educational ladder of the country and called on policy makers to help stem the trend. Naab Maanti therefore declared a ban on record dances during funerals in Baare and called on teachers to instill discipline in their children and also inculcate in them good learning habits so as to ensure effective teaching and learning. He also called for the extension of electricity to most parts of the community. The President of the Baare Youth association, Abel Balamguyetime said his outfit aims at fostering unity among the youth and to an extend channel their youthful energy resource to bring development to the community. The association though established two years ago, has been able to undertake developmental activities in the area. He mentioned free extra classes, awards scheme for best performed students and repair of road damages as some of the successes chalked by the association. Mr Balaguyetime described Baare as a tourist potential area and called on the public to patronize these untapped resources. He appealed to the government to help undertake more developmental projects in the area since its one of the biggest communities in terms of land mass. A lecturer at the UDS, Navrongo Campus, Mr. Lun Yin Volemkatmi Donatus UDS, educated participants on how to break the cycles of poverty through wealth creation. This he said could be done by improving upon their financial capabilities. Awards were later given to some deserving students who excelled in the 2009/2010 BECE. Quiz competitions were also organized to climax the occasion.
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