GEMP project records appreciable results- EPA boss

19-11-13   

Regional EPA Boss, Mr Asher Nkegbe

The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, DFATD, formerly the Canadian International Development Agency, CIDA, have met in Bolgatanga to deliberate on desertification issues in the three northern regions of the north. The round table meeting was to afford community members the opportunity to share experiences, lessons and good practices on the implementation of the Ghana Environmental Management Project, GEMP, and the Ghana Sustainable Land and Water Management. Addressing participants, the Upper East Regional Minister,  Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru expressed appreciation to the World Bank and its donor partners was taking a bold step to support the implementation of the GEMP project, which he noted had been made to benefit about 200 communities of Northern Ghana. He said the impact of the project has been greatly felt by beneficiary communities as they have come to the realisation that the environment was fragile enough for them to neglect. More so, they have deem it necessary to protect, rehabilitate and manage it sustainably to ensure their survival. Alhaji Mohammed Muniru also observed that under the phase two of the project, communities have become more responsive and are currently managing to cope with the harsh and unpredictable environment. Women on the other hand have been supported and encouraged to appreciate the relevance of forest conservation. He however urged participants including stakeholders in the land sector to support government in its bid to combat environmental degradation since it cannot shoulder the responsibility alone. The Regional Director of the EPA, Mr Asher Nkegbe expressed worry about the behaviour of the people towards their campaign to reduce land degradation and desertification in the region. He therefore cautioned the various departments to be steadfast in all their endeavours to help eradicate degradation and desertification in the region. Mr. Asher Nkegbe later commended the various departments and the Canadian government for their support.  The meeting was attended by dignitaries including the Chief Director at the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovations, Dr Sylvester Anemana and the Chief of Kayoro who also represented as the chairman for the occasion. Stakeholders including small holder farmers drawn from the three regions of the north were also present to share their experiences.

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Bongo DCE worried over fallen academic standards among BECE candidates

22-11-13   

BECE Candidates in action

The District Chief Executive [DCE] for the Bongo District in the Upper East Region, Alexis Adugdaa Ayamdor  is worried about  the increasing fallen academic performance of students in the Basic Education Certificate Examinations [BECE] within the district. The DCE expressed the sentiment in his maiden address to the second ordinary meeting of the third session of the sixth Assembly.  Mr. Ayamdor noted that the assembly over the years has injected enough resources into the provision of educational infrastructure but much cannot be shown for it in terms of excellent performance at prescribed examinations. He said in spite of the assembly’s numerous efforts including financial assistance it gives to students at various levels of education, the performance of especially basic school pupils at their final exams keeps on dwindling and has taken a nose dive for some time now. The situation, he denounced could hold a bleak future for the human resource base of the Bongo district if nothing was done to salvage it. Meanwhile, 3-unit classroom blocks are under construction for the communities of Nayorogo and Atanseka while a teachers’ quarters at Vea is being renovated, all geared at beefing up educational infrastructural needs of the district. According to My Ayamdor, another area of concern was the increasing rate of girls becoming pregnant within the basic school system of the district and appealed to members of the assembly to join forces with parents and other stakeholders to educate the girl child and community members on the negative repercussions of teenage pregnancies. He pledged that the Assembly in conjunction with the Ghana Education Service will to the effective monitoring and supervision across the district in order to identify and remedy the obstacles effecting quality teaching and learning. He also mentioned teacher motivation as one of the surest ways to reverse the dwindling academic performance. Turning his attention on health, Mr. Ayamdor observed that malaria continues to top the list of all reported cases to health facilities throughout the district as well as account for most infant morbidity cases. He commended the district health directorate for instituting measures such as the Motor King Referral Scale-Up Project funded by the Doris Duke Charital Foundation. He emphasized that the time was due for the district to have a robust ambulance services unit which will help save lives in times of emergencies. He revealed that the Assembly has been supporting the Ghana Health Service by constructing CHPS facilities, giving financial support for immunization exercises, carting of food supplies to supplementary feeding  centres amongst others and that this will be improved in the coming years. On revenue mobilization, Mr. Ayamdor said the assembly is doing well but there is more room for improvement and accordingly tasked the finance directorate to come up with workable plans to mobilize more internally generated funds for developmental purposes and also plug all leakages in the revenue chain of the assembly.

GBC                                                                                END                                                                  IA/

Resident of Tidonsolgo in Bolgatanga commits suicide

20-11-13                 

The lifeless body of Abuwa 

Barely 72 hours after a contract staff of the Volta River Authority in Bolgatanga got electrocuted while at post, Residents of Tidonsolgo , a suburb of Bolgatanga woke up early this morning to witness yet another tragic death of a young mason, Nyaaba Abuwa, aged  28. Abuwa committed suicide at the Abuwa cemetery around the area.  As at the time Radio Ghana got to the scene, the young man was found hanged on an air-bony tree in the cemetery, an area  just close to the Baptist Basic School and about 200 metres away from his residence. A teacher at the school, who spoke to Radio Ghana on condition of anonymity, said he reported very early for school only to find both residents and students gathered around the scene.  He believed that the incident might have happened last night. Some relatives of the deceased who also spoke to the media were perturbed and could not unravel the circumstances leading to the horrific  action of late Abuwa. Meanwhile, the police had conveyed the body back to their custody and had invited family members for investigations. This brings to two the number of unfortunate death incidents recorded within the week in Bolgatanga.

GBC                                                                 END                                                   /IA

Youth Harvest Foundation graduates 15 trainees under its STEP-UP Project

18-11-13     

The first batch of 15 out of 25 trainees that underwent a year training course in sewing and other entrepreneurial skills, have been honoured in a brief ceremony at Bolgatanga. The graduants who were offered the opportunity to develop and present business plans for consideration, were also taken through skill training in quality control and reproductive health under a special project dubbed: Seamstresses Training Enterprise Project in the Upper East Region (STEP-UP). The project is being spearheaded by Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana (YHFG) with financial support from the UN-Habitat. The project among other interventions provides the opportunity for 25 seamstresses in the municipality to be trained on annual basis with the aim of reducing poverty among the youth, particularly girls. Currently, four projects are running alongside the STEP-UP project with focus on equipping young people with entrepreneurial and employable skills for self- reliance and sustainability. The Financial Administrative Officer of YHFG, David Ayine, in his welcome address, explained that the strategy for adopting the STEP-UP project was to assist the trainees set up their own businesses and take advantage of the job market via the training they have acquired. To this end, the trainees  are taught  on how to develop business plans,  adding that such plans when identified as  viable are opened up for investment opportunities. He said though they do not provide money directly for the implementation of the plans, they were in the position to link these plans to other concerned organisations, particularly , the Local Enterprise and Skills Development Program (LESDEP)  for consideration. Mr Ayine, encouraged the graduants to focus on developing their talent and take advantage of the project in order to prepare them adequately for the job market. According to him, the training offered to the graduants gives them the comparative advantage over other seamstresses already on the market and further urged them to develop the right attitude towards work. Mr Ayine, showed gratitude to LESDEP, UN-Habitat and the Municipal Assembly for their invaluable support and anticipated more support in the ensuing years. The 15 graduants were later presented with certificates of participation. Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Regional Coordinator, National Youth Council, Mr Daud James Abang-gos emphasized the need for refresher training for the graduants to sharpen their skills. He moreover, encouraged the graduants to come under one umbrella and form cooperatives. This way, they would be able to present themselves as young people in business and  avail themselves as guarantee for loans to establish their own businesses.

GBC                                                              END     

Rural women urged to embrace ICT to reduce poverty

18-11-13     

CEO of OLAMCS, Emmanuel Atiiga

Some handiwork of OLAMCS trainees 

The Kassena-Nankana East Municipal Director of Education, Augustine Ayirezong, has underscored the need for women to take key interest in the learning of ICT. For him, ICT education as a tool for development has become useful and an understatement of the word lucrative since it was no longer an added advantage to one’s employability but a basic requirement in today’s global village. To this end, it was high time women rise beyond secretaryship and delve into ICT to enable them break out of poverty and marginalisation. Mr Ayirezong made the call at the inauguration and exhibition of products of Our Lady of Mercy Community Services (OLAMCS) in Navrongo. OLAMCS vision is to empower underserved communities with employable skill training and entrepreneurship through ICT. Since its inception in 2005, the centre with the support of partner organisations have undertaken youth development and formation targeting over 300 youth. With financial and technical support from COTVET-SDF, Ghanaman Trust fund and OSWA-Senegal, the centre has since provided ICT training for 150 illiterates and semi illiterates with young girls and school drop outs constituting the majority. These beneficiaries are also being trained in new skills in soap and beads making, smock weaving dressmaking, floral decoration as well as basic financial management education among others. The first batch of trainees numbering 81 have successfully completed their one year training and are now being taken through entrepreneurship and small business management. The CEO of OLAMCS, Mr Emmanuel Atiiga announced that the centre was admitting the second batch of beneficiaries for which training was on-going for a period of 3 months. Moreover there were plans to introduce new skill training targeting the teeming unemployed youth and expressed hope to extend their activities to benefit other communities of Northern Ghana. The Kassena-Nankana Municipal Chief Executive, Dr Stanislaus Kadingdi, said investing in people particularly the youth was one of the key areas of government, therefore efforts must be made to complement governments effort in that regard. He however expressed his outfit’s readiness to engage COTVET and its partners to chart the way forward in tackling poverty among the people. The Municipal Director of Education, who was the guest speaker Augustine Ayirezong, for his part, encouraged women to venture into ICT and not see it as a preserve for men.  He underlined some recommendation necessary to reducing poverty and unemployment among the teeming youth including prison inmates. Meanwhile, an ICT centre for trainees of OLAMCS was later inaugurated, whilst an exhibition to showcase the various artefacts and products by the trainees were put on display. The event which was characterised with a cultural display by the Gia cultural troop was on the theme: ‘ICT, Alternative Employable Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Development’.

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Man, 25 electrocuted to death in Bolgatanga

18-11-13               

Deceased hanging after being electrocuted

   

Residents of Bolgatanga were this morning thrown into a state of disbelief when a young man aged 25 got himself electrocuted and died whilst on duty. The deceased who is identified as Edward Adapore, a contract staff of the VRA was said to be working on one of the 3 phase lines of a high tension pole around the library junction, when the unfortunate incident occurred. An eye witnessed who decline to be mentioned told   Radio Ghana that the deceased was busily working on the said pole when he mistakenly touched a live voltage line killing him instantly. He said initially there was no power on the lines, but were surprise to see the deceased struggling with a live wire later on. He described the incident as bizarre and urged management of the VRA to explain to the public what really happened leading to the death of the young man. All effort to get clarification from authorities of the VRA had proven futile. Meanwhile, investigations are on-going by the police to unravel the mystery behind the death of the deceased person. The body of late Adapore has since being deposited at the Bolgatanga Mortuary morgue.

GBC                                                        END                                               

GBC: Advertisement on food and drugs requires approval-...

GBC: Advertisement on food and drugs requires approval-...: 06-11-13     Herbal drugs The Food and Drugs  Board now Food and Drugs Authority   says it has the sole prerogative to institute app...

GBC: Advertisement on food and drugs requires approval-...

GBC: Advertisement on food and drugs requires approval-...: 06-11-13     Herbal drugs The Food and Drugs  Board now Food and Drugs Authority   says it has the sole prerogative to institute app...

GBC: Organised labour groups in U/E sets Nov. 14 as dem...

GBC: Organised labour groups in U/E sets Nov. 14 as dem...: 07-11-13  Section of participants at the meeting The leadership of Organised Labour groups in the Upper East Region have expressed t...

GBC: Veterans advocate for upward adjustment of allowan...

GBC: Veterans advocate for upward adjustment of allowan...: 11-11-13       Security personnel on parade Ex WOI Said Abubakar Sadik A wreath laying activity to commemorate the 68 Remembra...

Veterans advocate for upward adjustment of allowances

11-11-13      

Security personnel on parade

Ex WOI Said Abubakar Sadiq

A wreath laying activity to commemorate the 68 Remembrance Day celebration has been held at Bolgatanga with a call on government to increase the allowances of veterans. Bewailing their woes to Radio Ghana, Ex WOI Said Abubakar Sadiq, said it was high time the nation begin to recognize the invaluable contribution of veterans considering the role their played in the military during times of war and peace. Beyond that government is expected to attend to the plight of the veterans by increasing their entitlement since their monthly allowances paid them was nothing to boast of.  According to Ex WOI Sadiq, observed that most ex-service men have died owing to their inability to make a living. Worst of it all, allowances paid them could only take care of their medical expenses not to talk of taking care of their wards.  He was optimistic that with the little support from government, veterans would be able to adjust and respond to the present economic situation without engaging in any hazardous activity. The Kongo Chief, Sapaat-Naab David Dok Dong, urged government to take into consideration the welfare of veterans and attend to their plight. He best described the condition of veterans as appalling and urged the state to honour them adequately. Meanwhile, the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Daniel Syme, payed growing tribute to veterans across Ghana and acknowledge their enormous role in the fight for freedom for the country. He said the level of devotion, courage and self-sacrifice by veterans of the first and second world wars was worthy of commendation, hence the significant of the day. Mr Syme, urged Ghanaians to respect and honour veterans as their role in the sustenance of world peace cannot be quantified. He said as citizens of the country, our role was to uphold and jealously guard the prevailing peace, therefore any activity that was likely to derail the country’s quest for peace ought to be discarded.  The Remembrance Day celebration is observed annually to remember, honour and pay tribute to the gallant men and women that played various roles in the defence of the country and parts of the world. The regional event was characterised by a joint parade of the police and personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service.  Personnel from the military including revered chiefs and service commanders were present  to grace the occasion.  

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Organised labour groups in U/E sets Nov. 14 as demonstration day

07-11-13 

Section of participants at the meeting

The leadership of Organised Labour groups in the Upper East Region have expressed their readiness to embark on a regional demonstration to drum home their demand for a reduction in utility tariffs ahead of the proposed strike action by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Labour unions  at an emergency meeting in Bolgatanga have therefore  set aside November 14, as the day for the intended public demonstration should  government fails to heed to their call. The Regional Chairman of the TUC, Naba Thomas Akolgo Saabo, told Radio Ghana that the move to embark on the said demonstration follows a directive requesting all labour unions to convene emergency meetings as soon as possible to adopt necessary resolutions to back the planned nationwide industrial action.  Moreover, organised labour groups nationwide are requested to meet, plan and stage demonstrations ahead of the national sit down strike action. According to him, organised labour under the said directive is calling on all workers in both formal and informal sectors to stay at home on November 18, 2013, in protect against the astronomical increase in utility tariffs. Naba Saabo further called on workers to fully participate in the intended strike actions in order to send strong signals to government that decisions cannot be made on behalf of the general public without taking into consideration, the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian. He said organised labour is dissatisfied about the failure on the part of government and the PURC to reduce tariffs to affordable levels, therefore any action to demand an appreciable reduction was justified. He however appealed to concerned organised groups to support the TUC in its on-going struggle to enable them achieve their set objective. There were fraternal and goodwill messages from representatives of the various labour union groups including NAGRAT, POTAG, ICU, PAAG and GNAT. They all used the platform to express their preparedness to rally behind the TUC to compel government to reduce the astronomical utility hikes.

GBC                                                  END                                                                        IA

Advertisement on food and drugs requires approval- FDB insist

06-11-13    

Herbal drugs

The Food and Drugs  Board now Food and Drugs Authority   says it has the sole prerogative to institute appropriate sanctions to persons and group of individuals that insist on advertising drugs that are not certified for human consumption. A statement from the authority and copied to Radio Ghana in Bolgatanga suggest that advertisement on food, drugs, cosmetic, tobacco, household chemicals as well as herbal and homeopathic medicines among other food supplements  require adequate approval from the authority.  Therefore, it was an offence to advertise on any of the said items without the necessary approval and certification from the FDB. According to the Regional Officer of the FDB, Eugene Addo, the sale and advertisement of the categories of items without authorization from his outfit was considered a violation to section 114 subsections (1) and (2) of the Public Health Act 2012 (Act 851). Under section of the Act, ‘ a person shall not advertise a drug, a herbal medicinal product or household chemical substance to the general public as a treatment ,preventive or cure for a disease ,disorder or abnormal physical state ,unless the advertisement has been approved by the authority’. Per section (2) of the same Act, ‘a persons is restricted not to advertise a drug, a herbal medicinal product, medical device or cosmetic for the treatment or cure for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, fibroid, hernia, hypertension and sexual impotence among other sexually transmitted diseases including diseases connected with the human reproductive functions. He warned that failure to adhere to the directive will result to sanctions and could possibly result to court actions when the need arises. Mr Addo further challenged the public to be wary of fake drugs on the market and report to the authority for action to be taken on offenders.

GBC/Rel                                                      End                                                       IA/

Trade Aid predicts possible food shortage in Upper East

06-11-13   

The Executive Director of Trade Aid Integrated, an NGO, Nicholas Apokera, has warned of a possible food shortage in the Upper East Region due to the late start of the farming season coupled with poor rainfall pattern. From his observation, the erratic nature of the rains was likely to affect the availability of food in the region this year and could result in a serious food crisis if nothing is done to salvage the situation. Mr Apokera tells Radio Ghana that his interaction with farmers went ahead to confirm that there was low production on crops as most farms are experiencing post-harvest loses. Meanwhile, most  cereal plants  such as rice, millet and maize have already dried up though harvesting of such varieties  have not been harvested. The current trend, Mr Apokera noted was an ample indication that food shortage was likely to occur. Beyond that, signs are clear since most farms have been deserted and left under the mercy of birds, predators and the harsh climatic condition of the prevailing weather. He said, considering the volatile nature of the situation, government had to intervene by putting in measures to assist the region with additional food supply if there is availability of food stock. If not, government has to plan on how to get additional food to support the people in the region.  On the way forward, Mr Apokera suggested the urgent the need for small holder farmers to prioritize climate change adaptation. He moreover stressed the need for an integrated change in the entire agriculture system as this was vital to identifying innovative farming methods to address the problem of climate change. He disclosed that Trade Aid as an NGO has over the years trained and assisted farmers to implement climate change adaptation actions and urged government to complement its effort  in that regard. Another area worthy of mentioning was the issue of water harvesting which he noted was to be revisited and taken up with all the seriousness it deserves. 

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Call for comprehensive policy to promote the teaching and learning of science

04-11-13   

Prof Haruna Yakubu

The Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) , Professor Haruna Yakubu has underlined the urgent need for a comprehensive government policy aimed at promoting the teaching and learning in the first and second cycle institutions. In a speech read for him at the 21^st Matriculation ceremony of UDS in Navrongo, Prof Yakubu said the time was rife for an increase in the number of students offering science based subjects at the undergraduate and graduate level, therefore adopting the policy will be a useful step towards a national increase in the quality and number of science students. By this, the rapid growth and development of the country will be ensured. He bemoaned the dwindling percentage of science students in relation to those pursuing the humanities, arts and business, and called for concerted effort to address the challenge. Prof Yakubu stressed that looking at the nation’s current level of development and given the need for scientific research and technology as a propellant of development, it was highly crucial for emphasis to be placed on the training of scientists in the country’s universities. This, he observed, was vital since there had been great scientific revolution in countries that invested in the teaching and learning of science at the tertiary level.

GBC                                                      END                                                            IA/

UDS cries for adequate infrastructure to increase intake

03-11-13   

Freshers 

Section of participants

Team of Senior Lecturers at UDS

The University for Development Studies (UDS) is calling on government to furnish the school with adequate infrastructure to enable it increase its student intake. This had become imperative considering the university’s contribution towards mopping up the huge numbers of  WASSCE graduates yearning for admission into the country’s universities.  In a speech read for him at the 21^st Matriculation ceremony of the UDS in Navrongo, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Haruna Yakubu, said in as much as government and stakeholders expect universities to adjust their admission figures upward to contain the two batches of WASSCE graduates this year, it was necessary to expand and improve the infrastructure of the multi-campus university. He disclosed that the  school for the 2013/2014 academic year recorded a 69 percent increase in the admission of undergraduate applicants over last year’s figure, a situation, he emphasized  could affect the delivery of quality teaching and learning if nothing was done to increase its academic infrastructure and facilities.  According to him, it was the wish for the school to admit more students, but was quick to add that any further increase was going to exert pressure on the school’s limited facilities.  The Dean of faculty of Mathematical Sciences who also doubles as the dean in charge of the Navrongo campus, Professor Kazeem Gbolagade commended past and present governments for their effort in ensuring massive infrastructural development for the school and appealed for additional support. He was hopeful that in the near future, offices for lecturers and an administrative block would be provided for the campus. Prof Gbolagade congratulated  the matriculants for securing admission into the school implored them to work towards achieving their academic pursuit. He warned   that students that do not perform up to expectation were going to be dropped or advised to be withdrawn at the end of the academic year.  Whilst urging them to work hard in order to achieve success, Prof Gbolagade reminded the freshers of their role to comply with the rules and regulations governing the school since authorities would not spare any student cited for misconduct. This year, 943 students comprising 807 males and 126 females were admitted into the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS) and the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences (FAS) whilst 40 students were offered the chance to undertake various Post Graduate Programmes including MSc and PhD.

GBC                                                       END                                                             IA/

Gbeogo School for the deaf fail to defend title in this year’s soccer tournament by Youth Harvest Foundation

     

Some players from the Gbeogo School for the Deaf

Officiating team ( In-Green)

Director of Youth Harvest, John Kugru (Right)

 

Stoppers, a local base team in Bolgatanga gave a good account of themselves by emerging winners at this year’s soccer tournament organised by Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana. The two day soccer fiesta, which is held annually in honour of the Gbeogo School for the Deaf, witnessed an excellent display of footwork by ten participating teams involving five female teams and five male teams. At the grand finale, stoppers engaged their opponents, Juventus in a penalty shoot-out with stoppers winning 5-2 to lift this year’s trophy. Defending champions, Gbeogo School for the deaf came close by winning the trophy but failed in their effort.  They surprisingly took the third position in the male category, whilst their female counterpart emerged as runners- up in the final female competition. They were thrashed by Soe Soccer Queens by a pulsating five goals to one. The tournament, organised in partnership with Kuntinkantan Foundation, an international NGO, was on the theme: ‘The Deaf Can Do Anything except to Hear’. It was to showcase and unearth football talents in persons living with disabilities, particularly the deaf and dumb. Before the beginning of the tournament, representative of the Kuntinkantan Foundation from Holland, Lucien Ulrich said children are able to give the best of themselves when given the opportunity, therefore every child irrespective of his physical condition, should be given the chance to exhibit what he possesses. Kuntinkantan, he explained means ‘Don’t make yourself bigger than you are’, an expression, he said, gives children the courage to pursue what they desire to be in future. Mr Ulrich urged the public to respect the right of children with all forms of deformities and work towards ensuring their wellbeing. The Director of Youth Harvest Foundation, John Kugru, used the platform to emphasise the need for the youth to show issues on reproductive health as it plays a vital role in improving their health status. He moreover charged the youth to take active part in sports to enable them unearth their hidden talents.

GBC                                                     END                                                                      IA/

Farmers advised to keep records of Guinea Fowls to increase their production

Facilitator of OFAB on the floor

Farmers involved in guinea fowl rearing have been implored to keep records of the birds in order for them to make an accurate judgement on inputs, outputs as well as cost and returns. When proper records are kept on the birds, farmers will be able to know the mortality rate of their flocks, know the quantity of feed the flock consumes and above all ensure the growth rate and feed conversion efficiencies of the birds. It also helps in farm planning and budgeting and assists in identifying sick, dead, as well as stray and weak birds. The call comes in the wake of low production in guinea fowl rearing in the three regions of the north due to unguided management practices. A guinea fowl expert, Edgar Draah, who made the call at a sensitisation training workshop in Bolgatanga, said the production of guinea fowl which was supposed to serve as an income generating activity for rural households was gradually losing its value. The workshop he explained was therefore organised to build the capacity of farmers on best practices in the production of guinea fowl. It was also held to sensitize farmers on the need to improve on the health status of the birds and boost their ability on improved feed production formulation and general feeding of guinea fowls. Mr Draah,  in a presentation further identified feed as one of the major cost items in guinea fowl production. He observed that in the absence of a good feed mortality among the birds was likely to be high whilst production is also adversely affected. He said under intensive systems of production, the owner is responsible for giving the bird all its nutrient requirements. This therefore becomes challenging, particularly when owners had no training in feed formulation, hence the need for the capacity training workshop. This among other interventions helps farmers to value the production of the birds and venture into the feed milling business. Participating farmers drawn from the various districts were taken through topics including, egg handling and storage, brooding and medication, housing, incubation, prevention and control of diseases as well as constraints of keeping guinea fowl among others.  The President of the Upper East Guinea Fowl Association, Adongo Nyaaba, who later spoke with Radio Ghana, underscored the need for the unemployed to venture into guinea fowl rearing so as to generate income for themselves and sustain their livelihood. Farmers, he moreover advised should consider guinea fowl rearing as a lucrative venture and not a hobby. Mr  Nyaaba re-echoed the need for farmers to put into practice what they have learnt and extend the knowledge acquired to benefit other farmers.

GBC                                         END                                                                                    IA/