Sirigu Women’s Co-operative Sheabutter Extraction Society appeals for electricity

A research finding conducted by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) has indentified lack of electricity as the major problem affecting the operations of the Sirigu Women’s Co-operative Extraction society. It said though the group despite its large membership drive is unable to extract sheabutter in larger quantity to meet the current high demand of the product at both local and the international markets. Lack of electricity to the sheabutter extraction plant had affected the growth of the sheabutter production engaged by the group. Presenting the findings, a Service Provider to the group from BUSAC, Braimah Sanjage, recommended that the group be separated into two to help normalize their operations. Mr.  Sanjage was of the firm conviction that should electricity be extended to the plant it would not only impact on their manual way of processing sheabutter but also help reduce poverty among members since the processing of  sheabutter was their main income generating activity. Mr. Sanjage on behalf of the group appealed to government through the Kassena-Nankana West District Assembly to assist the women by providing them with electricity to boost sheabutter production. When this is done, the women would be able to produce much sheabutter for export. Adherence, he noted, would also better their living conditions. Mr Sanjage made the appeal at a sensitization programme held at Sirigu to brief members on the research findings by BUSAC.  In a related development Wesonomodaga Women Co-operative Raw Food Sellers Society Limited from Navrongo has also made a passionate appeal to the Kassena-Nankana Municipal assembly to expedite action by rehabilitating the Navrongo Central market to make it viable and congenial for traders. The main problem affecting the society has to do with their inability to display their wares since they are always crowded. The group, also at a day’s sensitization workshop, called on the municipal assembly to expand the market, to enable it meets the status of a municipality. Mr.  Sanjage who is also a service provider to the group said series of meetings involving stakeholders and the media would be held to deliberate on the way forward. For his part, the Upper East Regional Monitoring Officer for Busac Fund, Vincent Subbey urged all the group members to consider the project as their own since they are the sole beneficiaries.

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NPP to provide more jobs for the teeming youth

30-11-2012   

One major factor facing the youth in Ghana is lack of job creation which makes them idle around aimlessly thereby jeopardizing the development process of Ghana. This unfortunate situation undermines their self-confidence; elude their dignity, thereby making them a threat to social peace and development. Job creation must necessary be the priority for any government and leader that aspire to govern the country. In this direction, the New Patriotic Party, NPP, has pledged to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youth to better their living conditions. Addressing enthusiastic party supporters and students of the University of Development Studies (UDS) Navrongo Campus, the Presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo said his party was poised to advancing the cause of the youth through jobs. Nana Addo stressed that if given the nod, the NPP will focus on solving the unemployed canker by equipping the youth with requisite skills at the senior high and tertiary levels to enable them fit the job market. Nana Addo’s visit to the campus, formed part of his one day visit to the Upper East Region to attend a Regional Rally at Bolgatanga. He was accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Parliamentary candidate for Navrongo Central, Kofi Adda and some NPP National and Regional Executives.  He said the economy size and structure of Ghana’s economy was not big enough to provide jobs for the people and as a result, the Nana Addo led -government will modernize the economy to improve upon the educated workforce.   On the free senior high school policy, he stated that, there will be a rapid educational infrastructure in the first eighteen months in office. He also disclosed that about 350 new senior high schools will be established from the scratch as well as rehabilitate and expand the existing ones. With all these, he added, will ensure that there is value for money in all that they do.  Nana Addo Dankwa said, building more schools and expanding existing ones means that there will be high demand for teachers to fill the vacant classrooms. In this regard, they will empower and expand the colleges of education to operate in full capacity to train more teachers’ for distribution to the numerous senior high schools through out the country as envisaged. Nana Addo Dankwa said the universities of Cape Coast and Winneba will be given incentives to stick to the core mandate of training more teachers, adding that the next NPP led-government will put high premium on science and technology to train more scientists and technologist to innovate the economy through research. Such innovation, he stressed, will give Small and medium scale entrepreneurs, a boast in terms of high and quality production to increase revenue.

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National Lottery Authority support Builsa Traditional Council

23-11-2012   

A team of officials from the National Lottery Authority (NLA) had presented a cheque for GHc 5,000 to support the upcoming Feok festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Builsa Traditional Area. This donation is in line with its mandate of promoting culture and heritage in the country. The team led by the Director, Special Projects, George Gyamfi –Osew also handed over 50 NLA labeled T-shirts to support the upcoming event. Receiving the cheque at the office of the District Chief Executive, the Siniesi Nab, Nab Apig-Jiak Afulang expressed the council’s heartfelt gratitude to NLA and assured them that the gesture would be used for its intended purpose. Nab Afulang observed that with the presentation of the cheque, the celebration of this year’s Feok Festival which usually comes off every December will be celebrated with pump and pageantry. He therefore on behalf of the Acting Sandem-Nab, Nab Clement Akanko, thanked the authority for the gesture and appealed to other cooperate institutions to also contribute their bit towards a successful Feok Festival. The Director, Special Projects of the NLA, Mr Gyamfi –Osew, said the donation which forms in line with their corporate social responsibility was not only meant to support the activities of the upcoming event but also to provide educational support in the district. The donation, he further explained, forms part of the authorities 50 years of existence, indicating that similar donations have been made in other regions to support their respective festivities. He disclosed that his outfit as part of its silver Jubilee had supported various health facilities in the country with assorted items to enhance the quality of health care delivery. Mr.  George Osew, took the opportunity to educate the council about the operations of the NLA, stressing that the NLA was established to generate revenue for national development through games and was the only institution mandated by an Act, Act 722 of 2006 to conduct lotto business in the country. The said Act, he pointed out, affords the authority the exclusive right and license to operate lotto services in Ghana, therefore any activity in contravention with the law was considered as illegal. Mr George-Osew, therefore appealed to the council to help clamp down on illegal lotto operators otherwise referred to as ‘Banker to Banker’ since their activities was affecting their operations. Such miscreants, he lamented should be seen as saboteurs and must not be entertained in any form. He said with the introduction of the automated machine, persons interested in working for the authority are advised to register with the authority since it comes with no fee. Mr. George- Osew urged the general public, particularly the teeming unemployed youth to register with the NLA to help improve their livelihood. The DCE, Mr. Norbert Awulley, for his part thanked NLA for the gesture and encouraged the public to cooperate with the NLA to enable them rake more revenue for rapid development. The annual celebration of the Feok festival is marked to signify the good harvest throughout the farming season, and to honour their ancestors for capturing Babatu and Samori, the notorious slave raiders who use to worry the people. It is also an occasion to drum home the need for peace and an opportunity to bring all the people together. 

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Ballot Papers for 2012 Elections Arrives

26-11-2012                                  

The ballot papers for the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections have arrived in Bolgatanga and currently at the custody of the Regional Police headquarters for onward distribution to the fifteen constituencies in the upper East Region. The papers which arrived at about 5; 30 am amid heavy security escort was welcomed by all the political parties that were present to witness the inspection exercise by officials of the electoral commission (EC) and the police. As part of preparations towards next month general elections, the EC in its efforts to adequately make available electoral materials to the various constituencies has dispatched adequate ballot papers to constituencies in the Upper East Region. The papers which came in bails were carefully inspected and examined by all the political parties, the police and EC officials. The quality of the print, the quantity, the serial numbers of the papers, and the seal serial numbers were thoroughly checked in order to ensure transparency of the records at their disposal, which was supply by the EC earlier before the arrival of the papers. The Regional Director of the EC, Bruce Ayisi, said his outfit is ever ready to maintaining its track record of delivering on its constitutional mandate as far as credible, transparent and violent- free elections are concern. He said the ballot papers are in the right quantity and in the right sequence which the political parties present are satisfied. He therefore encouraged political parties to educate their supporters on the voting process and procedures so as to avoid many spoiled ballots and disturbances at polling stations. The Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP Peterkin Gyinae has assured Ghanaians and the region of the safety of the ballot papers. He said the service is ready to contribute to the success of the elections and beyond, due to the importance of peace and economic stability of the country.

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Bissa’s are champs

26-11-2012                                                                                     

Bissa’s with the support of other ethnic tribes in the Kusaug kingdom over the weekend humiliated a combine Frafra and Dagaaba team by a lone goal. The goal which was scored in the second half of the fiercely fought game saw the Bissa team winning a puppy, which symbolically represented as the trophy for the day.  This year’s inter tribal fun games held at the Garu Catholic Junior High School Park at Garu, was jointly organized by world Vision Ghana and the National Democratic Party (NDP) to foster unity and peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups in the Kusaug area, particularly Bawku. The yearly event  often characterized by inter tribal jokes and sporting  disciplines including sack race and tag of peace is also being organized to drum home the need for tolerance and brotherliness among tribal groups in the Kusaug area and beyond. “Unity In Tribal Diversity: The Role of the Play Mates Concept”, was chosen for this year’s event attended by large section of the various ethnic divide including the Fulanis. At the end of the fun games, champs from the Bissa team won the Men’s sack race competition, followed by Kusasi’s and Frafra’s respectively, whilst lads from the Frafra side emerged as winners in the female competition. During the Men’s tag of peace competition, Bissa’s showed their superiority over the Frafras in what was described by many as unusual. In the female competition, Frafras won against the Bissa’s, whilst Kusasis were automatically declared winners as their opponent the Mossi’s refused to show up. Master Emmanuel Azure, a frafra by tribe triumphed over his opponents in the filling of bottles competition. Augustina Akapalu also a Frafra by tribe won in the female competition followed by Nafisa Wahabu, with Salla Mohammed claiming the third position. Also in the egg and spoon competition, Bio Mengabor, a Bissa emerged as winner in the Men’s category, whilst his colleague Faustina Asunkiya also a Frafra, won in the ladies category.  A keenly contested eating competition was also held to spice up the game. The Assembly member for Garu Zongo Electoral Area, Ben Moro, told Radio Ghana that this year’s event was significant as compared to the previous ones, stating the event was in solidarity to the upcoming general election which he indicated, had being centered on the need for peace before, during and after the elections. He was hopeful that with the current peace and unity prevailing within the various ethnic divide, the country was poised to maintaining its democratic track record. Mr.  Moro however appealed to Ghanaians to be ambassadors of peace and ensure that the country completes its electoral journey peacefully devoid of violence and intimidation.

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World Vision intensifies grassroot effort to prevent electoral violence

21-11-12 

As part of its contribution to national peace building, World Vision Ghana (WV), a faith based humanitarian NGO, has organized a peace forum in Bawku involving religious and community leaders to demonstrate the essence of peace in the build up to the December general election. Also present were some selected Junior High Schools including personnel from the NCCE and the various security agencies among a cross section of the public. In an opening address read on his behalf, the Zug-ran Bawku Naba, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka demonstrated the need for peace before, during and after the 2012 elections. He said Bawku as one of the economic viable areas of the country, has for years sold its dignity to violent conflict and has since suffered the consequences as a result. He said though the area is currently enjoying relative peace, economic and social activities have dwindled as traders fear to engage the people in their trading activities. This, he noted, has affected the pace of development causing most residents to travel far and near to safeguard their lives and properties. In the educational arena, BECE results collated for the past two years clearly shows that the conflict has taken a toll on academic performance of students. The Spokesperson for Naba Abugrago Azoka, Mr Thomas Abilla said considering the relative peace being enjoyed by the people, development was picking up, emphasizing that people are tired of the conflict and were committed to the current peace process. Mr Abilla therefore encouraged residents of Bawku to sustain the peace and cooperate with the security agencies as the country gears up for the upcoming December polls. He said with discipline and tolerance the area was poised to ensuring a peaceful electoral process devoid of violent behaviours. The youth, he observed are responsible for determining the future of the area. He moreover advised the youth to exercise high sense of decorum and firmness in their decision and not allow themselves to be used as elements for violence.. He thanked the various religious institutions for demonstrating true commitment to peace in Bawku, and urged others to emulate their shining examples.  Speaking on her behalf, the Operations Based Team Manager of World Vision, Benedicta Pealore encouraged the people of Bawku to cultivate the culture of peace in order to allow accelerate the pace of development in the area.  She said though the upcoming election is characterized with tension, Ghanaians with one accord, can once again prove to the world that it was capable of exercising a violent free election.   There were peace messages from Abdulai Wasila of Methodist JHS and Issahaku Hadi of Mother Theresa Educational centre hammering on the essence of peace in the forthcoming elections. 

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Action Aid Ghana advocates for universal land policy from the state

21-11-12    

Government has been reminded to come out with a universal land policy that will afford both male and female farmers the right to owe land without discrimination. Equal access to land will help empower rural women secure land for their farming activities since women in most deprived communities of the country, lags behind in terms of land acquisition. The Upper East Programs Manager of Action Aid, Gregory Dery, who made the call, further appealed to the state to make farm inputs available to rural farmers to enhance their crop production. More so, processing and packaging facilities should be extended to rural women to expand their businesses and expose them to external and domestic markets. Mr. Dery, was addressing participants in commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women at Bolgatanga. The day which was first established by the General Assembly in 2007 and observed on October 15 2008 seeks to recognize the critical role women play in enhancing agricultural and rural development worldwide. The day also sought to acknowledge the tireless contribution of women in improving food security. More importantly, the day is observed to help put an end to rural poverty, which is considered as the number one enemy militating against the effort of rural women. Mr. Dery was optimistic that if women are supported with the necessary farm inputs including fertilizers, issue of food insecurity would be a thing of the past. On the issue of fertilizer,  Mr.  Dery, advocated for improved fertilizer subsidy, urging the government to consider making fertilizers readily available to poor women farmers.  He also challenged government and other relevant stakeholders to help assist women financially to enable them gain access to land. Action Aid he indicated, has contributed its bit by providing improved seed that are drought resistant and of high yield to most rural women and had again supported farmers with compost making facilities.  A lot of training services, he added, had been provided to farmers, stressing, that his outfit is working with various coalitions to build the capacity of women in deprived communities. Through the training, rural women would be able to increase their crop yield, thereby reducing the hunger gap between them and their men folks. Speaking to Radio Ghana, the National Director, Widows and Orphans Movement, (WOM) Madam Betty Ayageba, highlighted the invaluable contribution of women to national development and called on all to explore avenues that will enable rural women acquire secured land for farming activities.  

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