Upper East set for today’s nationwide pilot registration exercise

 The Upper East Regional Director of the EC, James Arthur Yeboah says the decision by the commission to use Bolgatanga and Bongo as part of today’s nationwide pilot registration exercise is highly commendable.

 He said considering the prevailing harsh weather condition, his outfit will be able to tell whether the upgraded biometric kits meant for the exercise could withstand heat. 

He however noted with the firm believe that, the commission was going to adopt alternative methods of conducting the upcoming limited registration, should the kits fail to perform as expected. 

Speaking to Radio Ghana's Isaac Asare in Bolgatanga, Mr Yeboah reiterated that the efficiency of the new software is assured, therefore prospective voters including those that have attained the age of 18 years should present their valid ID cards and go through the registration process peacefully. 

He said the trial card to be issued at the designated registration centres is not a valid card to be used in voting. Mr Arthur Yeboah disclosed that though there could not be the need for journalists to be issued with accreditation cards during the exercise, they are expected to comport themselves well and see to the success of the day’s exercise. 

He encouraged the various political party representatives can be a centers to observe how it is conducted.

GBC

Upper East Regional Police Command cautions drivers of heavy duty trucks

An abandoned heavy duty truck

The Upper East Regional Police Command has issued a stern warning to drivers of heavy duty trucks that often abandon their faulty vehicles on the road at the peril of road users.

It said though offenders are mostly in transit from neighbouring countries, they are obliged under the ECOWAS protocol to respect the country’s road traffic regulations, adding that the law enforcement agencies cannot compromise on the security and safety of the citizenry under such circumstances, hence their resolve to clamp down on lawbreakers.

The Regional Police Commander, DCOP Simon Afeku gave the caution in an interview with Radio Ghana's Isaac Asare after a special operation that saw 14 persons arrested and arraigned before court after being cited for various traffic related offenses.

DCOP Afeku attributed most road crashes to the attitude of both drivers and passengers as available statistics have confirmed that over 90 percent of road crashes are due to the negligence of drivers and road users.

He, however, cautioned passengers to be bold in reporting such obstinate drivers to the appropriate agencies for prompt action.


GBC

Afrikids Ghana engineers the maiden Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Logre Primary School

 

Mr Silas Ayaaba in a symbolic presentation

Chief of  Logre doing the presentation

For the third successive time, Afrikids Ghana, a child right NGO has facilitated the maiden speech and prize giving day for Logre Primary School, in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region.  

 The move is in line with the organization's  campaign struggle to increase met enrollment in schools by 2017 under a three-year project nicknamed “Opening Doors to School (ODTS).   

The project is also intended to ensure a 15 percent increase in the pass rate of student within the said period.

 

Craft work from the pupils

Prizes on display

Established in October, 1991, Logre Primary School is one of the oldest schools in the newly created Nabdam District. 

The school began with a little over fifty pupils sheltered in a 3-classroom mud structure with late Patrick Samare, serving as both headteacher and the only teacher at that time. 

Few years later, the school was assisted with a permanent structure through the benevolence of Monsignor Roger Aboteyuure, a Catholic Priest. 

Government with the support of faith based organizations and the PTA also ensured the provision of adequate classroom accommodation and other ancillaries for the school to augment its infrastructure deficit. 

In September 2010, the school realizing the need to contain the increasing number of school enrollment went further to establish a Junior High School, JHS, to cater for the number of pupils that complete their primary education and struggle to pursue JHS education. 

This, notwithstanding has enhanced the level and quality of education in the area and with the support of Afrikids Ghana, the community has appreciated the relevance of giving priority attention to the education of children. 

The school’s maiden Speech and Prize-Giving Day was instituted by Afrikids Ghana to demonstrate its commitment to motivating both teachers and pupils, while complementing government’s effort in ensuring effective teaching and learning. 

Speaking on the chosen theme: Poverty should not be a barrier to Education, the Talensi/Nabdam Area Manager of Afrikids, Silas Ayaaba said the goal of ODTS Project was to nurture poor and marginalized children through school to enable them grow in holistic manner.

 He therefore challenged stakeholders in the education sector of the district to see to the high retention rate of students particularly the girls despite the growing challenges.

Delivering a speech on behalf of the DCE, an Administrative Officer at the Nabdam District Assembly, John Mumuni, reiterated the fact that in this era of technological advancement, where computers and other devices are increasingly becoming the means of communication, the topmost priority of very community must be the education of their children and that poverty should not be a barrier.

Bernard Bonga, Nabdam District Education Directorate

A representative from the Nabdam District Education Directorate, Bernard Bonga emphasized the need to instil discipline in the youth because nurturing the youth in a responsive manner will affect their total wellbeing and behaviour to be able to contribute effectively to the development communities. 

The headteacher of Logre Primary and Kindergarten, Solomon Abu Asumnaya highlighted a number of challenges bedeviling the school and mentioned lack of potable water, classroom accommodation, ICT laboratory, a library and a place for sporting activities as some of the deficiencies.

 He however called for support in that regard. 

Chief of Logre and his sub-chiefs exhibit some  traditional dance moves during a fund raising

Master Francis Tii is a JHS student of the school and shared the same sentiment with Radio Ghana.

Prizes were later given to deserving pupils who excelled in their various academic fields.

 They were presented with exercise and text books as well as mathematical sets among other stationary

GBC

11th Anniversary Celebration of Fruitful Life Chapel ends with a donation

Fruitful Life Chapel International, Ghana Chapter has rounded up activities marking its 11^th anniversary celebration with a donation of assorted food items to inmate of God’s Love Orphanage in Bolgatanga. 

They presented bags of maize, sugar, rice, cartons of milk as well as detergents and other toiletries. 

General Overseer of the church, Prophet Kwao Dadzie said it has always been the interest of the church as Christ believers to see to the comfort of the poor and destitute. 

He observed that the lives of many children especially orphans and those from broken homes are endangered because they are often left to their fate instead of providing for their welbeing. 

He expressed the belief that if children are not rightfully nurtured to become responsible adults, they will eventually pose a threat to society, hence the need to care for the poor and the needy.

The Bolgatanga branch of the Fruitful Life Chapel International, which is the headquarters of the church in Ghana has over the past six years adopted the option of reaching out to poor and destitute children with the view to reducing their vulnerability.   

Aside its core mandate of winning souls for Christ through evangelism, the church has made it an annual ritual to restore hope in poor and vulnerable children as part of its humanitarian outreach services. 

The church which currently has two branches in the country believes that bringing salvation to unbelievers is not the only way to please God but it was also important to do His will by showing love and compassion to those that are in need. 

The donation was to therefore renew the church’s commitment to serving mankind. Presenting the items on behalf of the entire congregation, the General Overseer of the Fruitful Life Chapel, Prophet Kwao Dadzie, reaffirmed the desire of the church to promote social inclusion through its benevolence. 

The donation, he noted, was for a worthy cause and that such a gesture will go a long way to sustain the livelihood of the inmates most of whom are born of women with mental illness. 

Prophet Dadzie, however called on corporate bodies and well-meaning Ghanaians to develop the habit of giving to the poor.

God’s Love Orphanage, a subsidiary of God’s Love Ministry works through the support of individuals and institutions and has since its inception in 2008 grown to become one of the recognized public institutions in the region. 

Children brought to the home are mostly malnourished children who are identified, monitored and adopted to the orphanage with the support of the Department of Social Welfare. 

Those, that are able to recover from their predicaments are made to integrate back to their families when identified.  Mr Francis Akampoi, is the caretaker. 

He thanked the church for the gesture and called for more of such support.

A staff of GBC and a Reverend Minister from the Upper West branch of the church, Rev. Simon Tie, told Radio Ghana that the donation was to demonstrate the church’s commitment to bringing smiles on the faces of vulnerable children as a way of giving back to the community. The, move he added was intended to bring relief to the beneficiary children who through no fault of theirs are neglected.

GBC