Bongo Constituency Executives rebel against the removal of Dr Avea

Bongo Constituency Executives of the NDC

 Residents of the Upper East have expressed their displeasure over the recent ministerial reshuffle that saw the removal of the Regional Minister, Dr Ephraim Avea Nsoh from office. Per the recent changes in government, the President has nominated James Zuugah Tiiga, Ghana’s Permanent Mission to the UN as minister designate for the Upper East. Since the news broke out, series of meetings and press conferences have been held in the region to register their misgivings about the exit of Dr Avea Nsoh. The latest to organize a press conference on the turn of event is the Bongo Constituency Executives of the NDC. The press conference was attended by executive members of the NDC as well sympathizers among other interest groups. It was characterized by motor bike display and wanton destruction of posters and banners of President John Dramani Mahama. Some members were also in possession of placards with inscriptions that read ‘We are tired of NDC in Bongo’, ‘Unbelievable’,  ‘ JM reshuffle yourself’, and ‘No Dr Avea No vote in 2016’, among others. In a statement signed by the Bongo Constituency Chairman, Solomon Adongo Aduko, it said the entire region was taken aback upon hearing about the removal of Dr Nsoh from office. The news according to him did not go down well with the people of Bongo as well, considering his strong leadership qualities. This, he noted was evident is his performance output in the Upper West Region,  where he was re-assigned to execute the President’s better Ghana agenda.  In spite the sterling leadership traits, Dr Nsoh was able to mobilize the support of key development partners and stakeholders to develop a regional strategic framework that could propel the development of the region. However the return of all regional ministers to their originally assigned regions was welcoming news. And since his return, Dr Avea Nsoh has sent clear signals of his resolve to work with all interest groups irrespective of party affiliation with the aim of quickening the pace of development. At the constituency level, Dr Avea Nsoh has been instrumental in party activities and has paid his dues as a true founding member of the party. It said unlike the President’s nominee, Dr Avea Nsoh, had assisted various women and youth groups with funding to engage in economic activities. Beside that his effort has ensured that the Gurune language that is spoken among the people of BONABOTO catchment areas of had been considered an examinable subject written at the BECE level, and a programme being studied at the University College of Education Winneba. The statement therefore described the removal of Dr Avea Nsoh as suicidal and called on the President to as a matter of urgency rescind its decision and reinstate him or face the wrath of the party in the constituency. He gave a five day ultimatum to that effect. The youth wing of the party, who are equally not pleased with the President’s decision exit have also threatened to vote against the party come 2016 if nothing is done to reinstate Dr Avea Nsoh.

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Stakeholders in education brainstorm on fallen academic standards

13-06-14     

MP For Builsa North, Mr James Agalga

Narration: Despite the huge investment made in the area of education over the years, academic performances of students in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region continue to decline especially at the basic level. In the last Basic Education Certificate Examination, BECE, the district performed abysmally and that gave it the enviable 165th position out of 167 districts that took part in the examination nationwide. Relatively, out of four thousand 200 candidates that participated in 2011-2013 BECE, only one thousand 321 passed, leaving whooping gap of two thousand 279 students.  The statistics showed that female candidates were more, thereby putting the district in a crisis situation. Following this worrying trend, stakeholders in the educational sector of the district met in Sandema to deliberate on how to arrest the situation. Correspondent Isaac Asare has the rest of the story for Radio Ghana

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Mr Charles Adama (Philanthropist)  presenting the items to the Sandem-Nab

Report

The meeting attended by renowned educationists, directors of education and government functionaries, brought to the fore action plans and strategies necessary in ensuring effective teaching and learning.  The meeting also identified possible causes of poor academic standards among BECE candidates some of which are poverty, high level of truancy among students, early sex and early marriages as well as child labour and neglect. Others are weak and non-functional PTAs and school management committees, poor monitoring and supervision, little effort by pupils in their studies and high incidence of lateness and absenteeism on the part of teachers. The Kassena-Nankana Municipal Director of Education, Augustine Ayirezang, said in order for the district to tackle its educational challenges, it was imperative to roll out workable interventions that can support pupils and communities, particularly the less privileged. He noted that priority should also be given to the exiting constitutional provisions that give education a sense and purpose. Mr Ayirezang, stressed the need to revisit the 1961 education act, (Act 87), the 2007 education reforms and the girl child education policy introduced in 2000 to give education a sound fitting. He called for strong collaboration among all stakeholders in the district and urged them to work for a just cause. The Paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Council, Sandem-Nab Azantilo, emphasized on the need for parents to regard and train their wards the traditional way. This way, he said children will not despise their own culture, language and traditions. Sandem Naba also underscored the need for a special school for girls beginning from the primary up to the senior high school level to whip their interest in girls education.  The MP for the Area, James Agalga, who is also doubles as a Deputy Minister for the interior, called on stakeholders to effectively play their roles to enable the district to reclaim its past academic glory. A group of philanthropists led by Mr Charles Adama, presented seven boxes of Mathematical sets and ball pens to the Sandem Nab to support education in the district. The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Daniel Syme, who comes from the area, graced the occasion.

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Residents unhappy with recent ministerial reshuffle

10-06-14         

section of angry protesters

Section of market women that besieged the premises of the RCC

Residents of the Upper East Region have expressed misgivings over the recent ministerial reshuffle that saw the removal of Upper East Regional Minister, Dr Avea Nsoh from office. President John Dramani Mahama has nominated James Zuugah  Tiiga, Ghana’s permanent Mission to the UN as minister designate for the Upper East. The exit of Dr Nsoh, who assumed office two months ago, has generated mixed reaction among concerned individuals and groups in the region. Radio Ghana’s interaction with some residents reveals that if urgent steps are not taken to appease and sooth the people of the region with regards to the on-going ministerial reshuffle, the development of the region will stall since the region has witnessed three ministers in a year. A pressure group, the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy, NORPRA, who are equally not happy with the turn of event, is meeting today to discuss the way forward and if possible stage a public demonstration to register their displeasure over the exit of Dr Nsoh. They expressed dissatisfaction about the ongoing process and urged the Presidents and his advisors to reconsider their decision by maintaining Dr Nsoh, to enable him execute his development agenda. The President of NORPRA, Bismark Adongo, told Radio Ghana that the region was one of the deprived ones in the country, and needed more development projects to catch up with the well-endowed ones. Therefore the occasional removal of ministers was going to draw the development of the region backwards. He said Dr Nsoh, was a visionary man that has the development of the region at heart and that it will be suicidal if he is removed from office without cause.  He stated that his quest to rebrand the region will be a mirage if government refuse to respond positively to their plea.

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Pusu-Namongo JHS takes delivery of classroom furniture

10-06-14       

Chief of Pusu -Namongo (Left) DCE for Talensi, Mr  Awunnore (Right)

The uncompleted ICT Lab

The Pusu-Namongo Junior High School has taken delivery of 40 dual desks with chairs and tables for the teachers to help facilitate effective teaching and learning. The classroom furniture was made possible through the efforts of the chief and people of the area and the Talensi District Assembly. At a ceremony held at the school’s premises at Pusu-Namongo, the head teacher, David Volmeng Nansong, said the school since its inception two years ago had been battling with inadequate infrastructure; therefore the provision of the furniture will go a long way to improve its infrastructure deficit.  He thanked the assembly and the chief for the area, Naab Zambul Kumbelimsaa, for their support and appealed to corporate institutions and NGOs to come to the aid of the school. Naab Kumbelimsaa, was grateful to the assembly for heeding to their request. He said the community has taken ownership of the school and will assist in any way possible to address its academic and infrastructural challenges. He announced that the school’s computer laboratory is under construction is expected to be completed by next year. The District Director of Education, Joachim Farrah who handed over the furniture to the school said the Ghana Education Service is pleased with the effort of the community and urged members to complement the effort of government by working to harness additional resources to undertake other projects for the school and the community. Mr Farrah used the platform to advised teachers to eschew lateness and absenteeism to enhance academic performance. The Talensi DCE, Edward Awunnore, was grateful to the community for demonstrating its commitment to education in the area. He pledged to furnish the school’s computer laboratory when completed.  Mr Awunnore disclosed  that the assembly’s composite budget for 2014 makes adequate provision for classroom furniture, construction of 3-unit classroom blocks, boreholes and rehabilitation of existing dams. He pledged the community will benefit from the provisions made.

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Stakeholders in education bemoan neglect of child safety issues

06-06-14    

Stakeholders in the education sector of the Talensi district have filed a petition to draw authorities’ attention to the gross neglect of school safety issues at the basic level of education by parents, teachers and regrettably duty bearers. The petition jointly filed by concerned groups including parents and community members raised issues that infringe on the rights of children to study in safe environment. It moreover underscored the need for duty bearers to rise up to the challenge of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in schools.  The presentation of the petition was done at the forecourt of the district assembly by Grace Kpelim-etme, a student from St Thomas Aquinas school. It was officially presented to the DCE, Edward Awunnore through the District Director of Education, Joaquim Farrah. The safety of learners the release stated was central to the provision of quality education in all schools. While this is essential for learners at all levels of education, it was particularly critical for learners at the basic education level in view of their ages. This is because children are vulnerable threats such as bullying, intimidation as well as verbal and physical assault among all manner of harassments. Apart from such abuses, insecurity for children can emanate from poor school infrastructure including inadequate toilets facilities. Therefore the safety of children at schools cannot be over-emphasised, hence the need to consider actions that may ensure their security to enable them stay in schools. The release proposed some solutions to ensure safe schools as a way of promoting the function of increased enrolment, retention and completion. It requested both the GES and the PTA to form and strengthen School Safety Sub-committees in collaboration with School Management Committees. It also implored them to allocate more resources to ensure that schools are safe in terms of infrastructure and environment to promote quality teaching and learning. It further proposed actions to ensure that learners are safe from any form of physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect. As a way forward, the release underlined the urgent need for authorities to create conducive environment for other stakeholders to be involved in a wide range of school activities. A route march characterized by the use of placards was earlier organized to deepen public awareness on the need to prioritize school safety issues. It was jointly organized by Rise –Ghana , an NGO and World Vision Talensi.

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