Attitudinal change vital in reducing conflict of Northern Ghana -Fr Thaddeus Kuusah

Fr Thaddeus Kuusah

 08-03-2013     

A Peace advocate, Fr. Thaddeus Kuusah says one key strategy that ought to be employed in reducing violent conflict is to advocate for a paradigm shift in our expression and attitudes towards conflict. He said conflict particularly in Northern Ghana occurs as a result of parties’ inability to settle and respond to their differences. According to him, the Northern sector is prone to violence because people through unhealthy tendencies prefer violent confrontations as a means to resolving issues instead of channelling their grievances to mediation and dialogue. This, he noted gives cause for conflict to erupt and called for attitudinal change to addressing the issue especially in areas identified as violent prone .  Fr Kuusah who was speaking at a two day workshop for coalition of women and youth network in peace building touched on the need for improved women and youth participation in resolving conflict situations. For him, women are gatekeepers capable of influencing positive change in society. Furthermore, women as compared to men are considered as agents of change since children right from infancy adopt and develop positive and negative character traits from their mothers. He was therefore of the conviction that if women are given the audience to fully participate on matters of conflict, there will be a positive change  in our quest to reducing the canker, which he observed has led to the destruction of property and loss of human lives. He moreover, appealed to the youth in particular to redirect their energies to developing their God given talents, adding that poverty and unemployment constitute violent behaviours.  Mrs Adishetu Salifu of Women in Peace Building and Development, an NGO confirmed to Radio Ghana that women involvement in decision of peace building was vital to resolving conflict both at the household and community level. She identified early warning signs as one of the surest ways to reducing conflict and advised women to play a key role in that regard. According to her it is highly imperative for women to inform their husbands when they see conflict looming in their localities, explaining that women and children were the most vulnerable in times of conflict. She said in order to minimize violent expressions, public attention should be drawn to the fact that there is no winner in conflict, hence the need for all to refrain from the act.  The formation of the movement she said was informed by conflict in Northern Ghana often characterised by unnecessary killing of innocent women and children and also the killing of the Overlord of Dagbon, which she further noted has over the years develop controversies in various quarters, thus  leading to retaliatory tendencies among ethnic divides in the trouble area. She recalled how most married men lost their precious lives compounding the woes of their wives and children. Mrs Salifu however appealed to all conflicting parties to put heads together and use non-violence means to resolve their differences instead of resorting to arms. She stated that conflict as a natural phenomenon would always emerge, however there was the need to involve women and the youth in addressing conflict since they are key actors to the promotion of peace in society. The two workshop funded by the United Nations Joint Programme on Human Security (UN-HSP)  brought together gender advocates including representatives from the Department of Gender and Social Protection among other Women Right NGOs. It was held at Bolgatanga and supported by UNDP and other sister agencies under the theme: ‘Strengthening the Umbrella of Women and Youth in Peace Building: Key to Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development’.

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Section of dignataries present

Adishetu Salifu of Women in Peace Building Movement

 

 

                                                                                                                        

Talensi District Celebrates 56th Independence Anniversary

Talensi DCE, Edward Awunnore delivering his welcome address

St.  Theresa’s Primary school Park at Tongo in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region was the venue for this year’s 56th Independence Day celebration held in the district. Thirty one basic and senior high schools students including teachers, hairdressers and other non formal labour groups in the Talensi District participated in today’s event characterized by acrobatic and colorful display of patriotism by the students. The Talensi District Chief Executive, Edward Awunnore, who inspected the parade lauded the efforts of teachers, civil servants, labourers , market women and all citizens who have in their own diverse ways, contributed greatly  to the growth of the  District and the country as a whole. He called on all to take inspiration from the selfless efforts of these great people and remain faithful and loyal to Ghana as they go ahead with their normal duties and responsibilities. Mr.  Awunnore emphasized the need for all to reflect on their individual contributions towards the development of the district and strive to achieve more.  He said government remains committed to providing adequate school facilities to various schools in the country to enhance effective teaching and learning. Also as part of efforts to enhance the security of every citizen in the country, he announced that, government has increased the strength of security personnel and have resourced with the necessary logistics including vehicles to enable them discharge their duties professionally. He however encouraged all to assist the security in their work by abstaining from all forms of wrong doings and report any criminal act to the police for the necessary action to be taken. Mr. Awonnore later took the opportunity to call on all to live at peace with one another. For his part, the Talensi District Director of Education, Faara Joachim, expressed gratitude to teachers for the hard work and dedication towards improving the quality of education in the District. According to him, the Talensi District topped the entire Upper East Region by an improved performance of 46.85% in the 2012 B.E.CE.  He encourage teachers and parents to inculcate in the pupils strong democratic values of justice, equity, peace, responsibility, freedom, and citizenship to help them grow with it. Speaking to Radio Ghana, the President of Talensi District National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) Mr. Jones Zeborah lauded the contribution of his colleagues towards the growth and development of the Talensi District. He called on them not to relent in their bids to sacrifice for mother Ghana. Meanwhile, Chiefs and Elders of Talensi, Heads of departments and other invited guests were present to grace the occasion.

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Personel of Zoomlion in action

Students of  Golden Step SHS

Colourful display by students

National Service Personnel taking their turn

Small Ruminant Support Project takes off in Kazugu



Pe Parekuri Alua, Kazugu pe

A livelihood support programme aimed at empowering rural women to cater for themselves and their households has been duly implemented in Kazugu, a predominantly farming community in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region. The programme spearheaded by an NGO, Student and Youth Travel Organisation (SYTO) seeks to improve the living condition of beneficiaries whose activities to a larger extend poses a major threat to the environment. The livelihood support programme is therefore geared at alleviating the plight and vulnerability of beneficiaries; particularly women to enable them cater for their basic needs in their respective households. At a brief durbar held at Kazugu, 26 out of a 350 targeted household members involving the youth were given a goat and a sheep each to manage so that as the animals multiply they will sell them out to sustain their livelihood. Another batch of beneficiaries numbering 25 would receive theirs in April this year.  In the next two years, 100 ruminants under the small ruminant programme embarked on by SYTO, will be made to benefit about 50 people in the community.  Distribution of the ruminants would be done on regular basis till all beneficiaries get their share of the offer. The Programme Development Manager of SYTO, Rasmond Anyina told Radio Ghana that his outfit since its inception in 1994 has remained focussed on empowering young people to take up challenges for themselves.  Additionally, the NGO also channel its activities to addressing the global challenge of climate change as well as forest degradation among other environmental issues.  The overarching goal he said was to help redeem the degraded forest through community empowerment and advocacy. He said in 2009, a major reforestation programme was implemented in the Kazugu community, employing more women tasked with the responsibility of raising nursery bed. These women who work on daily basis also engage in tree transplanting on a large scale, whilst their men folks play the role of monitoring their activities for best results. According to Mr Anyinah, the small ruminants programme would be scaled up to benefit more people in the community and beyond. This, he explained, would go a long way to empower the women, thereby reducing their vulnerability since they are disadvantaged when it comes to property and land ownership. Majority of the women, he lamented are poor, compelling them to engage in tree cutting and other degrading activities for their livelihood. It is at the backdrop that the NGO came out with the initiative to help empower them to take care of themselves and their households. The Kazugu Pe Parekuri Alua also in an interview thanked SYTO for the good initiative and appeal to government and other NGOs to support vulnerable women with income generating activities to help improve their living standards. He advised the women to take ownership of the animals and ensure their proper up keeping sustaining their livelihood. Pe Alua also advised the women to remain committed to the project as he holds discussion with MOFA to deal with the health aspect of the animals.

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Mr Anyinah in pose with some beneficiaries

Talensi District embark on clean-up exercise ahead of the 56th Independence Anniversary




DCE, Edward Awonore (White) in action

04-03-2013       

Narration:  Community members in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region over the weekend participated in a clean-up exercise ahead of the 56^th Independence Anniversary celebration expected to be observed nationwide. The intensive clean-up exercise involving staff of the assembly, Zoomlion, as well as environmental and sanitation workers began as early as 7.00 am right from the forecourt of the assembly block to the district health facility. The exercise organised by the assembly forms part of activities earmarked for the nationwide upcoming event. It was also in response to a call for all Municipal and District Assemblies MMDAs to embark on the exercise in order to ensure a clean environment necessary to herald the big event. Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Ghana today and has filed this report.



National Service Personnel contributing  her bit



Men at work

Report

The exercise actively participated by staff of World Vision Ghana and an appreciable number of National Service Personnel took place simultaneously in the various communities of the district. Strategic areas including the various communities and business centres of the district were thoroughly cleaned with the involvement of the District Chief Executive who was instrumental in the build-up to the exercise.  The DCE, Edward Awonore at the end of the exercise congratulated the people for coming out in their numbers to participate for a worthy cause. He said the level of maturity exhibited goes ahead to demonstrate their commitment to ensuring a clean and sustained environment. According to him clean up exercise has been part and parcel of the decentralised assembly concept and had been pursued over the years as propagated by the former President, John Evans Attah Mills. He said the current regime is responsive to addressing the problem of poor sanitation and would employ all possible means to curb the menace which has become a societal phenomenon. Mr Awonore, however implored members of the community to complement the effort of government by inculcating the habit of environmental cleanliness. He stated that the assembly was bent on improving sanitation in the district, hence the assembly’s resolve to partner all agencies concerned to bring proper sanitation to the doorstep of the people. The exercise, he declared was not going to be a nine day wonder but rather be replicated occasionally to instil discipline to the environment. Mr Awonore commended World Vision Ghana for their role in putting up private places of convenience in various households of the district and encouraged private developers to consider putting up toilet facilities during construction. He said environmental cleanliness was key to building a health nation and urged the people to be environmental conscious since the assembly bye-laws on sanitation was going to be enforced to the latter. An educationist, Farra Joachim in a short message said GES is looking at integrating environmental issues into all level of education so as to influence a positive change in addressing poor sanitation. The idea, he said was to reach out to students at the early stages to pursue a positive attitude towards the environment so that as they grow up they will develop a positive perception towards the environment.

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Navio Pio calls for attitudinal change among health care providers

 

The Chief of Navio in the Kassena-Nankana West District, Pe Adam Asanjojim, has identified the lukewarm attitude of some nurses towards their clients as a major contributory factor refraining persons to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme. According to him, some health professionals’ exhibit gross disrespect to patients entrusted in their care. They are treated with disdain as their plights are being worsened by the attitude of some health professionals who are supposed to be caregivers. He said patients in possession of health insurance are most often not treated with dignity but rather made to swallow the pill of frustration. This, he noted compels others not to register with the scheme in order not to suffer in the hands of some health nurses. Pe Asanjojim made the observation when officials of the Kassena-Nankana District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme paid a courtesy call on him at his palace. The visit formed part of a national exercise embarked upon to enroll more people to the scheme. Under the said program, a mass registration exercise was undertaken to add up to the existing statistical data recorded by the scheme. Pe Asanjojim however appealed to health professionals manning the various health facilities in the region to show love and compassion to patients that visit their facilities to access health care. Any act of intimidation on the part of health professional would compel patients to resort to self medication which is a dangerous practice.  The District Scheme Manager, David Samari, in reaction to the allegation made advised health workers in general to act as caregivers and not agents of destruction. According to him, the NHIS has been made to benefit majority of the rural folks and that any act of intimidation on the part of health workers could undermine the progress of the scheme since patients would have no option than to resort of other dangerous means of accessing medication. Mr  Samari also entreated residents in the district and the region as a whole to register with the scheme since the NHIA has put in place measures to make the scheme more viable and beneficial to majority of Ghanaians.

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Two Landlords fined Ghc220.00 for failure to build toilet facilities

Two Landlords in the Bolgatanga Municipality have been fined an amount of GHC 220.00 each by the Bolgatanga District Magistrate Court for failure to adhere to the orders of the Municipal Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit, to build toilet facilities in their homes. The accused persons, Ayamga Robert and Ayine Abola, were both funded to construct toilet facilities in their various houses, an initiative by the Assembly to reduce the practice of open defecation within the municipality, but failed to do so after taking the money. It is in the light of this that, the Bolgatanga Municipal Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit have obtained a bench warrant from the court to arrest five landlords and arraign them before court. Three others, identified as, Azure James, Ayamba Anaba and Mumuni Asaana, all failed to appear before the court for reasons unknown. Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Bolgatanga Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Evans Bornaa noted that, a bench warrant have been obtained from the court to re- arrest those three landlords to re-appear before the court for trials schedule for  February, 18, 2013. He explained that, the whole exercise was aimed at minimizing open defecation in the municipality. The move he further noted was to serve as a deterrent to house owners that are reluctant to toilet facilities in their homes. Meanwhile, media reports reveal that the Upper East Region is rated as the region with the highest open defecation practices. Mr. Bornaa expressed worry on the issue, calling on the government, stakeholders and the general public to help in the fight against Open defecation in the municipality and the entire region.

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Kassena-Nankana West District Director of Education refutes allegation

 The Kassena-Nankana West District Director of Education, Augustine Bugase has described as false allegations circulating in some section of the media that some category of teachers numbering 35 in the district has been denied their salaries for the past 17 months. He said as far as he is concerned teachers working within his jurisdiction including pupil teachers have been paid their entitlements as directed by management at the GES headquarters. Mr Bugase told Radio Ghana in Bolgatanga that not a single teacher has approached him to lodge any formal complaint even though there might be some iota of truth as speculation in the media because it is a nationwide problem affecting almost all the districts. The challenge, he noted, affects the delivery of effective teaching and learning since motivation plays a critical role in education. He stated that teachers in his district are being paid their salaries and debunk media reports indicating that efforts at getting the GES to pay teachers their monies for the service rendered had proven futile. He said ‘even if there are any group of people that are aggrieved and have any genuine case with regards to payment of salaries, such persons have the constitutional right to complaint but they have to pass through the right channel for redress’. On the issue of pupil teachers, Mr Bugase said payment of salaries due them is often processed per the directive from the GES headquarters. This, he further explained is done after their documents have been imputed and issued their appointment letters.  Payments are subsequently made from GES headquarters sometimes with arrears paid to deserving teachers. Mr Bugase said his outfit is particularly concerned about the plight of teachers in the district and would leave no stone unturned to attend to their pressing needs. The district education directorate, he moreover said have for the past years made frantic effort in ensuring that teachers get paid to enable them continue teaching the children assigned to them. He however implored all categories of teachers to approach him on any default. This way, issues could be addressed at the district level rather than resorting to the other parties for redress.

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