Students of Kongo JHS vacates block as building faces imminent collapse

  

A number of students attending the Kongo Junior High school in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region have been forced to perch with a nearby primary school to take lessons. 

This is because the main block ‘A’ that accommodate students in form one to three, is in a terrible state and could  collapse any time soon. 

A visit to the school by Radio Ghana, saw deep cracks that have developed on sections of the building. 

In an interview with Correspondent Isaac Asare, the Headteacher of the school, Emmanuel Ditamina said the deterioration of the virtually collapsed building came to his notice when school reopened for the second term of the academic year.

 He was however informed that the situation was critical to the extent that whenever the wind blows heavily, pieces of the blocks fall on the learners and that obviously distract their attention. 

For him, the state of the building requires urgent attention as it poses a death trap not only to students but teachers as well. 

The cracked walls, he lamented, have incidentally left portions hanging and one could barely see through to the next classroom. 

To avert any possible accident, students are compelled to vacate their classrooms and join their counterparts at the next block. 

Mr. Ditamina said the firm decision was taken by the school’s management body in consultation with the district circuit supervisor. 

According to him, the District Education Directorate had been equally notified about the condition of block. 

The move, he stated, had prompted the District Director of Education, Joe Amesimeku to visit the school to examine the state of the building.  

 Meanwhile, the directorate had sent a report to the District Assembly for assistance. 

Mr. Ditamina appealed to the authorities concerned to swiftly expedite action and provide possible remedies to the problem because temporal measures taken by the school had led to undue pressure and overcrowding at each classroom. 

The situation, he noted had taken a toll on academic work as teachers had to endure the worry of handling between sixty to eighty students in a class. 

The Kongo JHS has a current student population of 204 comprising 100 girls and 104 boys.

 Moreover, the school is faced with numerous infrastructural challenges with teacher accommodation topping the list of required resources. 

On daily basis, about 80 percent of teachers commute from Bolgatanga, the regional capital, to Kongo to offer tuition. 

This, has resulted in lateness and teacher absenteeism due to frequent breakdown of their vehicles.

 The school is again challenged with lack of potable drinking water and shortage of teaching and learning materials particularly, English text books, which have evidently affected the teaching and learning of the language. 

Mr. Ditamina believe that with funding and timely release of capitation grant, the school will be able to deal with other challenges and   purchase a photocopier and other printing accessories for examination materials. 

He therefore called on the government through the GES to assist in that regard. 

GBC

Reconstruction of Bolga-Bawku-Pulmakon trunk road will be completed on schedule: Queiroz Galvao assures

The reconstruction and upgrade work on the 116 kilometre Bolga-Bawku-Pulmakon trunk road is expected to be completed on schedule barring any unforeseen circumstance.

The ongoing project which will take 30 months to complete will have a dual carriage road way with asphalt that come along with a modern lorry parks street lights, clinics and restaurants among other recreational facilities.

The Chief Resident Engineer of Delin consult, Francis Hammond who gave the assurance in an interview with Radio Ghana said with the needed government support backed by contractors request for payment being honoured regularly, the execution of the project will be finalized.

Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari had inspected progress of work on the 103 kilometer stretch among other major roads in the region.

Radio Ghana's Correspondent, Isaac Asare reports that, in the heat of last year's electioneering campaign, government through the Road and Highway Ministry sealed the signing of a contractual agreement with a Brazilian engineering group, Queiroz Galvao to kick start the reconstruction and upgrade work on the 103-kilometer Bolga-Bawku trunk road linking Pulmakon in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

Aftermath the deal, Former President John Dramani Mahama cut sod for work to begin on the stretch which is currently in a deplorable state.

For residents in the region, the successful execution of the project was critical to boosting major trading activities.

The completion of the project estimated to cost 600 million Ghana Cedis will as well be a great relief as the livelihood of the majority depends it.

Since the beginning of the year, about 8 kilometers out of the estimated 103 kilometers have been completed up to bitumen level and receiving additional layers.

Meanwhile, the entire stretch is earmarked to cover the construction and rehabilitation of 3 bridges on the Red and White Volta as well as 170 culverts among other drainage works.

Recounting the progress of work during a visit by the Upper East Regional Minister, a consultant with Delin Consult, an Engineering and Management Services Consultancy, Francis Hammond revealed that 2 kilometers of the road from Bolga will have a dual carriage way with asphalt.

This, he said will come along with, axle load and toll stations including street lights and lorry parks on some portions along the road.

He said though there are challenges that has to do with relocation of utilities and issue of compensation, work is progressing steadily and from all indication, the project will be completed within the stipulated time line.

Mr. Hammond who doubles as the Chief Resident Engineer for the project further revealed that experts have been engaged to facilitate the marking of corridors where buildings and other properties will be affected.

According to him, Bawku will be the worst affected due to the proposed construction of a by-pass to cater for articulated trucks and other heavy duty vehicles.

Meanwhile, about 13 kilometers out of the entire stretch covering the Red Volta basin had been given out to a local contractor, MAWUMS construction.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari accompanied by other officials of the RCC took turns to inspect some major roads networks currently undergoing some upgrading in Navrongo and Sandema.

These include the partial reconstruction of the 34.23 km Navrongo-Chuchuliga-Tumu road funded by the Ghana Road Fund. He also inspected the upgrading of the 40 kilometre Sandema-Wiesi by Myturn Construction and Wilhelm consultancy.

Mr. Bukari after the inspection tour expressed satisfaction on the progress of work done so far and made some recommendations to the Road and Highway Ministry for consideration.

He proposed to the sector Minister to abrogate the contract of MAWUMS and add it to Queiroz Galvao for the sake of uniformity and quality of work.

Currently, road networks within the Navrongo Municipality are receiving some rehabilitation works with asphalting to give it a phase lift.

This is being done under the supervision of the Department of Urban Roads.

GBC

Robbers invade shop, injures four at Sandema

Four persons yesterday sustained gunshot wounds through a robbery attack by some unknown armed men at Sandema in the Upper East Region. 

Two of the injured persons were shot on target resulting in the injury of the other two who were affected by stray bullets.

 The robbers numbering three attacked a popular supermarket in the Sandema Township known as “No Hurry in Life”. 

Narrating the incident to Radio Ghana, the owner of the shop, Adabiyak Akanlugba, said at about 5pm in the evening, he was with the wife taking care of the shop, when suddenly three men wielding guns and other offensive weapons emerged and opened fire on them. 

He said while firing was underway, three other persons also in possession of guns had mounted a road block outside the shop to ensure the safety of their accomplices. 

According to him, the robbers made away with the sales for day and various telecom scratch cards that were on display for sale.  

 In the shooting process, a 35 year old, Anyueta Aparik and Anthony Akosua 25, were shot on the thigh. 

As a result of the indiscriminate shooting, one, Anyakpang Akantialie, 42 and Asiakatoa Emmanuel, 20 also sustained various degree of injuries.  

 Akosua Anthony, who was badly hit by the stray bullet is currently in a critical condition and receiving treatment at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital. 

Meanwhile, Anyueta Aparik and Anyakpang Akantialie are still on admission at the Sandema Hospital while Asiakatoa Emmanuel has since been treated and discharged. 

An eye-witness, Kenneth Lawine told Radio Ghana that the incident occurred when he was transacting business at the banking hall of the Builsa Community Bank, which is directly opposite the said shop. 

He said out of curiosity, he came out of the banking hall to saw the robbers firing at all angles.

When contacted, the Sandema District Commander, ASP Yaw Dankwah Agyekum, said he was in the office at the time of the incident. 

He confirmed hearing the gun shots and said he rushed out only to realize that it was an armed robbery attack.

 He then quickly dispatched his men to the scene and upon arrival, the robbers manning the road block outside the shop opened fire on them.   

ASP Agyekum also pointed out that a Nissan Pick-up with registration number GP 3576 belonging  to the District Police Command was not spared during the shooting.

He added that in order to avert further casualty and save innocent lives, the police declined to fire back at the robbers because it was a market day and the incident took place right in the middle of the town.

 For him, it would have been suicidal mission if the police had engaged the robbers in a shoot-out. 

So far, no arrest had been made but the police say it was conducting investigation into the attack and perpetrators will be fished out and be made to face prosecution.  

GBC

Existing modules will be reviewed for upgrade - YEA

The National Youth Employment Agency (YEA), under the Akufo-Addo led administration says existing structures and modules under the programme will not be truncated as speculated, but will be reviewed for possible upgrading.

In doing so, the agency shall concentrate on building an exit plan that will inure to the benefit of beneficiaries.

The exit plan will be structured such that after completing the two year mandatory contract, one may have the opportunity to be sustained or absorbed under an entirely different module.

In an interview with GBC’s Radio Ghana's Isaac Asare, the Deputy National CEO of the YEA in-charge of Operations, Bashiru Ibrahim, said his administration will see to the rolling up of more modules to benefit majority of the teeming unemployed youth.

The addition, he said, will be done in conformity with the NPP’s manifesto which specifically guarantees jobs for the youth.

Mr Ibrahim described as regrettable, the level of corruption and mismanagement that characterized the Agency under the watch of the former administration.

According to him, the Agency has gone through some massive restructuring to spice up its operations. With this in place, the agency is poised to work in tandem with the laid down rules and regulations governing it.

He said under the new youth employment Act, only 5 percent of total revenue can be used for administrative purposes including payment of salaries.

Under the same act, the agency is required to give out not more than 2 percent of the projected revenue to its mother ministry with the rest going to beneficiaries. This basically means that the agency will operate with 3 percent of its revenue contrary to what pertained in the previous Act.

Mr Ibrahim, was certain that per the new Act, issues of corruption and other wrongdoings relating to abuse of procurement laws, ghost names and awards of contract will be a thing of the past because the laws frown on such illegalities.

Asked whether the new administration was ready to settle the debt owed YEA beneficiaries, Mr Ibrahim stated that his office was considering the payment of allowances due beneficiaries though most of them were enrolled few months to the elections.

He disclosed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration recruited 65,000 people but was able to migrate about 59,000 onto the pay roll system adding that the new policy mandates the Agency to address such financial hiccups considering the delay it may take to do that.

The appointment of Mr Ibrahim came not as a surprise to many, as evident in his proven track records both in academics and party business.

He will now be in charge of rolling out new models, ensure payment of allowances and also play monitoring and evaluation role on functional models.

Mr Ibrahim who is yet to be endorsed by the Public Services Commission under paragraph 7 of the Youth Employment Act told GBC’s Radio Ghana that in spite of the daunting task ahead, he will put his expertise to bear and abreast himself with the operations of the programme.

Before his appointment by President Akufo-Addo, Mr. Bashiru Ibrahim was the former Upper East Regional Youth Organiser of the NPP.

GBC